Latest news with #AngusDreaver
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
State Highway 1 closed in Canterbury amid police raid
Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver A section of State Highway 1 in Canterbury has been closed as police carry out a raid. The stretch of road in Rolleston was closed between Burnham Road and Dunns Crossing Road on Thursday morning. Detours are in place.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Secondary teachers won't cancel strikes until government improves offer
PPTA president Chris Abercrombie speaks at a teachers strike in 2023. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver The secondary teachers' union says it will only cancel its planned strikes if the government improves its pay offer. But the minister responsible has made no indication it is likely to budge, urging teachers to ditch their "political stunt" and return to the bargaining table. Teachers will walk off the job next Wednesday following a one percent pay rise offer during collective bargaining , which the union said was the lowest in a generation. The Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) also warned of further strikes in September if the offer did not improve. President Chris Abercrombie said the decision to strike was not taken lightly, and he did not want it to come to that. "We're meeting with the ministry this Friday for bargaining, so we're really hopeful we might be able to alleviate all of this industrial action, if the ministry comes to the table. "We need to see some movement on all of our claims, at the moment the government has addressed basically none of them." But Education Minister Erica Stanford said the PPTA had not made any counter offer or clarified what it wanted, instead jumping to take "drastic" action after just six days of bargaining. "I'm really worried about the rolling strikes in September, it is so very close to final exams and the unions know that," she said. "And that's why it really bites that they're not at the bargaining table, bargaining in good faith. These students are being used as bargaining chips, it's not fair on those kids and it's not fair on parents." Stanford urged the union to call off the strikes and engage with the government in good faith. Secondary school teachers were paid an average of $100,000, but that was not high enough to attract and retain staff, Abercrombie said. "That is the pay rate, but we know we don't have subject specialist teachers in front of young people, and we're about to go through the biggest change package in curriculum and assessment in a generation. "If we want that to work, we need to have a workforce there to deliver that." The country was about 800 secondary school teachers short, he said. The government offered a one percent salary increase each year for three years. But the PPTA wants a four percent increase each year for three years, and another four percent in the first year "in recognition of the removal of pay equity", Abercrombie said. Teachers also receive annual stepped pay progression. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Large slip blocks Lower Hutt road
State Highway 35 north of Tologa Bay has been closed Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver A large slip has blocked a road in Lower Hutt. Eastern Hutt Road was blocked in both directions after the slip between Stokes Valley Road and Reynolds Bach Drive on Tuesday morning. Diversions were being put in place. Have you seen the slip? Send images to news@ Police advised motorists to avoid the area where possible, and to expect delays. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
'Extremely icy' road south of New Plymouth closed
SH60 closed off north of Tākaka. Shortly up the road is the bridge across the Tākaka River to Collingwood. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Emergency services have been called to Pembroke Road in Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki, formerly known as Egmont National Park, after a report of several vehicles sliding on ice and coming off the road. No injuries have been reported. The road is currently extremely icy and will be closed. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
06-08-2025
- RNZ News
Man charged after baby critically injured in Masterton
A 22-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver A man has been charged after a three-month-old baby in Masterton suffered critical injuries. The baby was admitted to Masterton Hospital on 25 July and moved to Starship Hospital in Auckland shortly afterwards. A 22-year-old man was arrested in Hawke's Bay on Wednesday and charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and contravening a protection order, police said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
