Live: Power cuts, flood threats as storm hits from Northland to Wellington
RNZ/Mark Papalii
High tide is imminent for the Tauranga-Taupō River and residents are being warned they may need to evacuate if it breaches its banks.
Earlier Strong winds have lifted the roof of a house in the Wellington suburb of Newlands to land on a house on another street.
The gales followed a night of heavy rain, thunderstorm warnings and strong winds across much of the country.
MetService said the downpours across the North Island and parts of the South Island were giving way to snowfall on Wednesday night.
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RNZ News
17 minutes ago
- RNZ News
GP funding changes will worsen Māori health inequities, expert says
The GP funding changes are proposed to take effect from 1 July 2026. Photo: RNZ A public health expert says the government's updated funding formula for general practices will fail to address the country's biggest health inequities because it excludes ethnicity. From July 2026, GP clinics will receive funding based on factors such as age, sex, rurality, socioeconomic deprivation and morbidity. The changes are intended to replace a 20-year-old model that largely used age and sex to determine funding levels. But public health senior research fellow at Otago University Dr Gabrielle McDonald said the government had ignored expert advice to also include ethnicity, despite strong evidence it was a powerful indicator of health need. "It's illogical," she told RNZ. "Leaving ethnicity out means [funding is] not going to be allocated to those highest areas of need, which will make accessing health care more difficult for Māori and Pacific communities." McDonald said data showed Māori lived seven years less than non-Māori and had higher rates of many serious illnesses, including cancer, even when poverty and other social factors were taken into account. "There's a lot of data that shows Māori don't get as good a deal from the health system as non-Māori. We've got a system that doesn't respond to Māori and Pacific people, it's geared towards the so-called majority Pākehā," she said. The funding formula is used to allocate money to general practices based on the characteristics of their enrolled patients. A 2022 government commissioned analysis by consultancy Sapere recommended it should include age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation, morbidity and rurality. "It was very thorough and they produced a high-quality report and put ethnicity in the funding formula because there was evidence to support that. "And so the government has said, yes, that's good, we will use that formula, but they've taken the ethnicity out, which is illogical," McDonald said. McDonald said removing ethnicity would make it harder to reduce inequities in primary care, which acted as the "gatekeeper" to the rest of the health system. "We know that general practices are the backbone of any good public health service. "Measures that don't aim to reduce inequities at that spot mean you're going to be playing catch-up throughout the health system if you can't reduce inequities in accessing primary care." She said including ethnicity was "highly justified." "We know our health dollar is really scarce and it needs to be spent where it's most needed. Leaving ethnicity out means it's not going to be allocated to those highest areas of need, which will make accessing health care more difficult for Māori and Pacific communities." McDonald has been a public health physician since 2011 and is a Pākehā researcher at Kōhātū - the Centre for Hauora Māori at the University of Otago. She has worked as a doctor for about 25 years, including extensive experience reviewing child and adolescent deaths. "I've spent a large amount of time reviewing child and adolescent deaths, and the inequity is very, very obvious there," she said. "Māori and Pacific children bear the brunt of many of the negatives of living in our society and they pay for it with their lives. We've got inequity in death rates for children and adolescents in almost all areas." Minister of Health Simeon Brown says Māori and Pacific peoples, in particular, will benefit from the updated GP funding model. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER In a statement to RNZ Minister of Health Simeon Brown said too many Kiwis were waiting too long for a GP appointment. "The current funding model is outdated and doesn't fully reflect the needs of patients," he said. "That's why we're making changes to the way GP clinics are funded to ensure money goes where it's needed most, with the revised formula going beyond age and sex to also factor in rurality, multimorbidity and socioeconomic deprivation." GP clinics serving communities with higher health needs would receive more funding to care for their patients, he said. "The reweighted formula recognises the impact that age, rurality, complexity and deprivation have on health outcomes, and will ensure resources are targeted to those with the greatest need. "Māori and Pacific peoples, in particular, will benefit from this change." The changes are proposed to take effect from 1 July 2026. Public health physician and Otago University research fellow Dr Gabriel McDonald says data shows Māori often face extra hurdles getting the right care and the same treatment as non-Māori, even when poverty is factored in. Photo: Supplied / Gabrielle McDonald However, McDonald said she expected the government to implement a "state-of-the-art, fully fit-for-purpose formula," but that the final version "ignored the ethnicity funding factor". "We know from the data that outcomes are not the same for Māori and non-Māori, even when you take into account poverty and other factors. "Māori face additional barriers to accessing care, to accessing appropriate care, and to receiving the same level of treatment once they do access care. There's a lot of data showing Māori don't get as good a deal from the health system as non-Māori." "And then there are the determinants of health, things like poverty, level of education and other factors, which we know are not equally distributed, with Māori marginalised in almost every area." She also believed the decision reflected a wider trend in government policy. "There's a lot of pushback to talking about the needs of ethnic groups, even where there's really good reason to pay attention to ethnicity." She argued the government should adopt a complete, evidence-based mechanism for funding general practices, rather than the partial formula announced, to align with its stated goal of needs-based funding. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Community celebrates opening of colossal Hindu temple in Wellington
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan temple officially opened on Sunday. Photo: Supplied/BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Sanstha Hundreds celebrated the opening of one of the largest Hindu temples in the capital last weekend. The BAPS (Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) Shri Swaminarayan temple officially opened on Sunday after five days of festivities that started in Lower Hutt on 6 August. Spread over 3700 square metres, the temple complex took around two years to build after construction commenced in March 2023. The complex features a prayer hall, dining hall, auditorium, learning centre and commercial kitchen. "This is more than just a temple. It's a home for values that resonate with all New Zealanders: peace, community and service," said Priya Parbhu, spokesperson for BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Sanstha in New Zealand. "It will be a space where people from all walks of life can come together to learn, to give back and to feel a sense of belonging." The temple is expected to host Indian arts, music and dance lessons. Photo: Supplied/BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Sanstha BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Sanstha has already built four temples in Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua and Christchurch. Indian High Commissioner Neeta Bhushan said the temple offered young people in the diaspora a meaningful connection to their heritage, while also sharing their culture with the local community. "When young people come here and learn about our roots and our culture, they carry it with themselves, take it to their friends, to the [wider New Zealand] communities," Bhushan said. The temple is expected to host weekly Gujarati- and Sanskrit-language classes in addition to Indian arts, music and dance lessons. Hundreds attended the opening of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan temple on Sunday. Photo: Gaurav Sharma BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Sanstha thanked the wider public for making the temple a reality. "We've been deeply moved by the support from our neighbours, schools, churches and local leaders," Parbhu said. "This temple is not only for Hindus. It's a place where all are welcome, where hearts and hands come together in service." Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry said the temple was a reflection of the "values of inclusivity and generosity that define Lower Hutt". "Lower Hutt is shaped by many communities that call it home," he said. "Our strength lies in the values we share. ... This temple reflects those values in action."
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Parents left out-of-pocket as dentist moves to Panama
The boy's teeth when he was 10, before straightening treatment began at True Alignment Orthodontics and before all his baby teeth came out. Photo: RNZ / Supplied A former Cambridge dentist took thousands of dollars in payments for teeth straightening treatment days before he shut down his former practice from Panama. Dr Vernon Kruger claims True Alignment Orthodontics was not his practice in November 2023 when it closed unexpectedly, leaving dozens of parents out-of-pocket after they pre-paid in full for their children's treatment. Complaints are being investigated by the Dental Council of New Zealand while Kruger, who is not a trained orthodontist, continues to run an orthodontic consulting business in Panama. * Do you know more? Send us an email: news@ One Hamilton mum, who with her former husband paid $11,000 upfront for their then 10-year-old son to have the straightening aligners, felt they were abandoned in the middle of treatment. Melissa Ferguson said her son, now 13, was about half way through his treatment and "taking a break" while they waited for the last of his baby teeth to fall out, when the clinic suddenly closed. "It would have been nice to get, at least a refund." Ferguson was recommended True Alignment in Alpha St by a friend after a community dentist suggested her son needed orthodontic treatment. "Looking at the website, they claimed to be 'no extractions', very gentle care and I thought 'Oh that sounds like a great way to go'." After a free consultation including X-rays, Ferguson was told her son did not have enough space in his jaw for all of his adult teeth and that his jaw needed to be "grown out". "It all sounded very legit and like a good plan." Growth orthodontics including orthotropics, is a controversial orthodontic approach focused on facial growth and considered unscientific by many orthodontists. "The thing was you pay for all of the treatment up front and with him being so young I realised we were probably going to be looking at many years of orthodontic care and I thought at least it's all covered under one lump sum," Ferguson said. The money covered the aligners, treatment, consultations and X-rays, though they had to do "self-scans" - where Ferguson photographed her son's teeth and provided them to the clinic through an app. Ferguson said despite advertising "no extractions", the clinic removed one of her son's teeth soon after treatment began. Just when her son was taking a break from treatment, Ferguson received an email from Kruger explaining the clinic could no longer operate. Melissa Ferguson's son's teeth about 18 months into treatment with True Alignment Orthodontics. Photo: RNZ / Supplied In the email, seen by RNZ, Kruger said he had been told he could not advise her "as it is regarded as treating a patient without a license! Its absurd and it sickens me [sic]". He urged Ferguson to create a group and "hound the idiots that have caused this problem". "Make them be answerable to their vindictive and unfair predatory behavior against me that really is hurting you [sic]. "My evidence is strong that we have been unfairly treated leaving you in the wake of the destruction without any care now." He said he did not have a solution, but was holding meetings. "We are looking at all angles but have to be very careful how we do it." Kruger said action needed to be taken "against those that caused this". "The names and contact details of the offenders are on my website. Ask them what now?" Ferguson said she felt some of the messaging was "aggressive". She tried to access her son's patient files and couldn't. Ferguson took her son to another dentist for a second opinion and was told he didn't need treatment and likely never did. In a separate email dated 24 January 2024 from the new practice owners, seen by RNZ, they said they could not afford to honour the treatment. "The huge number of patients needing to finish their Invisalign care has overwhelmed our schedule," they wrote. "Our initial intention to help patients free of charge has been challenged. "We did not receive money from Dr Kruger or True Alignment nor did we give money to buy his business. "We started a new business in its place to try and help the situation and to hopefully create a strong general and cosmetic dental practice." "We have been told there is no money to refund to patients or to help us cover the costs of finishing treatments." They said money paid by patients to Kruger covered business costs. "The business was dissolved and there was no money left." At the time of the closure, Kruger blamed two orthodontists who complained to the Dental Council about concerns they had with his treatment of some patients. Kruger was already in Panama where he said he had been operating remotely for several years. Under New Zealand rules, dentists don't have to be specially trained to carry out orthodontics, but they must directly supervise any dental assistants undertaking the treatment. RNZ understands the clinic was shut by Kruger after he did not renew his annual practising certificate. In an online discussion of the situation by affected parents, provided to RNZ, two parents said they pre-paid in full the week of the closure and their respective children were due to have their first appointment on the day the clinic shut. One had paid $10,300. Another had a payment plan and had paid $8500 but her child had not received any treatment while payment was underway. The former True Alignment Orthodontics clinic in Cambridge. Photo: Googlemaps One mother said her daughter began treatment at six, and another said their child's unfinished treatment left them with teeth that didn't line up and an incorrect bite. Another said their child had a twisted bottom jaw and incorrect bite while another said they'd paid $11,000 upfront and had 18 months of treatment and while "taking a break" the clinic shut. The parents complained of being unable to access files, get information out of the clinic, contact Kruger, and of being out-of-pocket. At least one said they reported the case to police and another said they were advised by the Dental Council to complain to the Privacy Commissioner to recover patient files and lodge a claim with the Disputes Tribunal to recover their money. RNZ spoke to Kruger in Panama, where his website advertises that he runs several businesses including consulting for dental and orthodontic practices, and another in tourism in Boquete. He said he was consulting to dentists in the United States and Australia by providing clear aligners and getting "lots of referrals". Kruger blamed the closure of the clinic on a Waikato orthodontist he alleged was "very aggressive against a dentist doing orthodontics because he felt they had to be a specialist which is nonsense". "I've seen orthodontists do terrible work." Asked what happened to the practice's 450 patients, Kruger answered: "Good question, I dunno. I wasn't allowed to talk to them. If I did I was going to get a $10,000 fine." He said at the time he encouraged patients on his website to start a "class action suit" against the Dental Council. "They've made this decision with no evidence, no proof whatsoever, and with me providing evidence that I've done no harm... that I'm not actually treating patients in New Zealand. "I'm working as a consultant to a company in Panama that was at that time providing clear aligners directly to the patient in New Zealand and they were being looked after by dentists who are registered in New Zealand." He claimed he wasn't treating the patients, only providing aligners to a dentist at True Alignment, and said he didn't own the practice. According to the Companies Office, Kruger was the sole director and shareholder of TSM, the company based in the same building as the practice at 82 Alpha St, when the last annual return was filed in June 2023. He is still listed as the current director and shareholder, however, he said TSM was a management company that managed staff at True Alignment. When asked about the money paid by Ferguson for her son's unfinished treatment, Kruger hung up. Kruger has operated dental practices in Cambridge under different names since 1993 including The Smile Center, Gentle Dental, Gentle Orthodontics and Growth Orthodontics. Gentle Orthodontics and Gentle Dental were put in liquidation in 2010 owing $481,000. Dental Council chief executive Marie MacKay said Kruger was registered with the council but did not hold a current practising certificate and could not legally practice in New Zealand. "Dr Kruger has previously publicly acknowledged that complaints against him were under investigation, however in accordance with privacy legislation, we are not able to disclose the details of any complaints or investigation." She said the Dental Council did not hold any authority over a practitioner's ability to register, practice, or provide clinical advice in any other jurisdiction than New Zealand. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
