Latest news with #CentralHawkesBay
RNZ News
30-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Gang gathering prompts increased police for Hawke's Bay
(File photo) Photo: A large gang gathering in Hawke's Bay will be met with an increased police presence during the long weekend, police say. Hawke's Bay Area Commander Lincoln Sycamore said officers would be very visible in central Hawke's Bay, where the gathering is scheduled to take place. "While the gathering will take place over the weekend at a marae that is away from main roads, Police do expect some travel around Central Hawke's Bay by the gang members, particularly on the morning of Sunday 1 June," Sycamore said. Sycamore said Police had made plans to minimise any disruption to residents and holidaymakers visiting the area for King's Birthday weekend. "We have spoken to those organising the gathering and encourage all attendees to respect our local communities and not engage in any unsafe driving behaviour or unlawful activity," he said. "If anyone does witness unsafe driving behaviour or unlawful activity, please report it immediately to 111." Under laws introduced last year it is illegal for anyone to wear gang insignia in public, such as gang patches on clothing or vehicles. Earlier this month, police said a number of arrests and vehicle impoundings followed gang insignia being displayed at a tangi in Hastings. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Tougher benefit rules for young people trigger mixed responses
Social Development Minister Louise Upston. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Tougher rules on benefits for unemployed young people has had a mixed response in some parts of the country. As unveiled in Thursday's budget . Social Development Minister Louise Upston announced 18 and 19-year-olds would now have their Jobseeker and emergency benefits tested against their parents' incomes. The policy is forecast to save the government about $163 million over four years, but the income levels parents would be tested against have not yet been decided by Cabinet. Upston said the parental assistance test would come into force from July 2027. "The purpose of the welfare system is to support those who need it the most," she said. "Our government is taking steps to make sure work or study is the focus for young people, rather than being on welfare. "With this announcement, we're clearly saying that 18- and 19-year-olds who don't study or work and can't support themselves financially, should be supported by their parents or guardians, not by the taxpayer." On Thursday, locals in the Central Hawke's Bay town of Waipukurau reacted to the change. One woman told RNZ the move was "absolutely wrong". "The children are out there doing their own thing... they should be entitled to government to help them out," she said. But one man said there was plenty of parents who could afford to support their children. "They've been doing up to this stage until they have a job, so why not now," he said. Another woman said it was "too easy for young ones to get on the dole now". "They think the government will pay for them. Make the parents responsible if the kids don't get a job." The change was also welcomed by another as it forced parents to be responsible for their kids. But another woman felt young people were becoming too dependent on their parents. "Parents are getting relied on for everything these days, they have to support them if they can't get a job, they have to support them if they can't get a house. What's next?" The Minister said young people could not expect to go automatically onto a benefit, and that parents needed to be ready to help. "This change strengthens financial incentives to enter employment, education or training," she said. Social Development Minister Louise Upston says young people could not expect to go automatically onto a benefit. Photo: RNZ Recent forecasts showed people under the age of 25 on Jobseeker Support would spend an average of 18 or more years on a benefit over their lifetimes. This was 49 percent longer than in 2017, Upston said. "This is a human tragedy. We need to focus on the potential of one of New Zealand's most powerful assets - our young people, and that's why we are taking action. "Our government has already introduced more early intervention for young beneficiaries through a new phone-based employment case management service. "We've got 2,100 more places for young people to get community job coaching, more regular work seminars, and a traffic light system to help them stay on track with their obligations. "Young people who do require support from the Ministry of Social Development will still be able to access it. For instance, in some cases 18- or 19-year-olds may not be able to rely on parental support. "If they meet all other relevant eligibility criteria, they will be able to access some supports." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
14-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
'This is another insult' : Water rates to triple in Central Hawke's Bay
Photo: 123rf Water rates in Central Hawke's Bay are set to triple over the next decade, and angry residents are wondering how they are going to pay. By 2035 Central Hawke's Bay residents connected to the council's water supply could see an increase per household from about $2500 a year to more than $7000. The hike is due to a proposed regional water entity under the replacement for the Three Waters Policy. The new 'Local Water Done Well' scheme sits alongside legislation mandating councils decide, along with their communities, how it meets the new standards government has set for water delivery and quality of infrastructure. Bob in Waipawa is shocked by the figures, he told RNZ that it is simply unaffordable for so many. "It's extreme - and it also means there must have been a significant failure. It's unheard of - and as if the cost of living isn't already through the roof. "We probably can weather it, we'll cut down on any extras.. but for people who can't weather it, it will really badly impact them - anyone on fixed income such as a disability or pension," he said. Fellow resident Debbie Stewart was also worried. "I think it's disgusting. We have very high rates here, the second highest in New Zealand and we get nothing for it - so this is another insult. "You'll notice a lot of houses for sale right now, people are moving because of rates being hiked up all the time. It used to be a cheap option to live here, but now we pay more rates than Hastings," she said. Debbie Stewart Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook Another resident, who did not want to be named, shared Bob and Debbie's fears. "I'm quite concerned about it, I think people are struggling already just paying their rates fees as they are.. and if they're projected to rise it's just going to take more money out of people's pockets," he said. Bob wanted to see the government offering incentives for tax and rate payers who take more responsibility - such as conserving water and reusing grey water. "If someone isn't doing anything, then their rates should be higher. There should be incentives to improve and reduce, and make the region better - rather than a blanket cost that negatively impacts everyone," said Bob. Central Hawke's Bay District Council (CHBDC) said the water rates were derived from modelling completed for business cases for each of the three options. It said costs were determined from what each council indicated it needed to do in their long-term plans. And while there were still a number of details to be worked out, it has been assumed each council would pay its own way for its water infrastructure. Mayor Alex Walker said this was the basis of the numbers presented to the community - so everyone can clearly see what costs and increases are looming over the next 10 years. "We're in a perfect storm in Central Hawke's Bay. We're having to invest in catch-up from past underinvestment, meet growing regulatory expectations and invest for the future all at the same time," said Walker She told RNZ a tripling of water rates by 2035 would be very tough for residents. "This is intimidating for a householder to think about what $7000 of just water would mean for their household," she said. He said it was also intimidating to deal with the huge list of problems that CHBDC had on its plate with its 'three waters' infrastructure, which is the combined services of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater management. "Twenty-five percent of our drinking water piping network is at high risk of failure, 40 percent of our wastewater pipe network is at high risk of failure. We have two water reservoirs that feed our main towns - both of which are over 100 years old and earthquake prone and need replacement. "We have six wastewater treatment plants - none are compliant and one is under an environment court order and all needed to be upgraded. And all of this is in the context of a growing community," said Walker. Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Alex Walker. Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook Under the new 'Local Water Done Well' scheme, the Central Hawke's Bay District Council has three options to choose from: A regional controlled organisation, a stand-alone district council controlled organisation, or an in-house delivery unit. The mayor said the council's preferred option was the regional model. "If we are going to make inroads into these huge numbers, then we need to be in a bigger entity, we need a team approach," she said. Walker also acknowledged that cost to councils and ratepayers would have been 'significantly less' under the previous government's Three Waters policy. But she said being part of a much larger water entity with about 22 councils, rather than four, would have been challenging, so this latest scheme was the best way forward. "It's very clear to the councillors and I that the model is not a silver bullet to our affordability issues, but in the current changing legislative and regulatory environment, we are stronger together as Hawke's Bay." Submissions on the new water infrastructure scheme are open until 12 June A spokesperson for the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) told RNZ that as Mayor Walker has pointed out, Central Hawkes Bay District Council, like many councils around the country, required major investment in water services infrastructure to address underinvestment. "The cost of the required investment will ultimately be met by households and businesses, whether that's directly via council rates or water charges from council owned water organisations," they said. Local Water Done Well is the coalition government's plan to address New Zealand's long-standing water infrastructure challenges, and the DIA said it recognised the importance of local decision making, and flexibility for communities and councils to determine how their water services will be delivered in the future. "It does this while ensuring a strong emphasis on meeting rules for water quality and investment in infrastructure." The DIA said the scheme included key features and significant differences from the previous government's policy, which were more supportive of affordability for households. Waipawa main street Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook "The previous government's policy imposed mandatory amalgamation of council water services and assets into a handful of large water services entities. It relied on significant efficiency gains and price harmonisation, with some communities within each entity's service delivery area subsidising costs for others to keep household costs low. "This is not a requirement under Local Water Done Well, instead it is up to individual councils and regions to determine what the best arrangements are for their communities." The DIA said an arrangement the coalition government secured last year with Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA) supports affordability for households and other users. "It gives council water organisations under Local Water Done Well better access to financing. This allows them to spread the cost of required investment for long-term capital improvements over future users of the asset, rather than front loading the costs onto the current ratepayer base." Local Government Minister Simon Watts agreed that water rates rises for residents would not have been less under Three Waters, and he said councils are progressing well with their new plans. "They're putting those plans to me in September and when we receive those we will review them and make sure they are fit for purpose. "I don't believe they (residents) will be paying more under our scheme," said Watts. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
