Latest news with #RNZ
RNZ News
21 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Police seek information about fatal crash near Te Kūiti last Friday
The crash happened on the morning of Friday 11 July. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller Police want to hear from anyone who witnessed a fatal crash involving two vehicles and a boat on State Highway 3, south of Te Kūiti last Friday. A vehicle was struck by a boat and trailer unit that had detached from an oncoming vehicle and one person died as a result of the crash. In a statement, Detective Sergeant Harry Hodgson said police wanted to hear from anyone who witnessed the crash or anyone who saw a southbound black SUV towing the boat prior to the crash. Police also want to hear from any witnesses who left the scene of the crash before emergency services arrived, or anyone who drove past the crash immediately after it had occurred. "This includes the driver of a white ute that was heading south, and white flat-deck ute with a large blue box on the rear, and a Nissan SUV, both heading north," Hodgson said. Anyone who had dashcam footage or was travelling in either direction on State Highway 3 between Otorohanga and Piopio between 11am and 11.30am shoud also contact the police, he said. Anyone with information can contact police on line or via 105 and quote reference number 250711/6167. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
an hour ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Second round of FTA talks with India start in Delhi
Trade Minister Todd McClay says both sides are "making meaningful progress". Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone New Zealand has commenced a second round of free trade negotiations with India in New Delhi. "We have been advancing discussions with India since the launch of FTA (free trade agreement) negotiations in March, including in-person talks in Delhi in May, a series of virtual engagements and a second round of negotiations taking place this week," Trade Minister Todd McClay said. "There has been good engagement from both sides, and we're making meaningful progress. "While there's still significant work ahead, both countries are committed to securing a high-quality, commercially meaningful agreement." The negotiations follow Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's trip to India in March, with both countries agreeing to restart free trade negotiations a decade after earlier talks stalled. The previous negotiations, which took place between 2011 and 2015, were hindered by obstacles, particularly around New Zealand's dairy exports. Talks ended after India joined the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which the South Asian nation exited in 2019. India is New Zealand's 12th two-way trading partner, with total trade value reaching $3.14 billion in 2024. India is New Zealand's 25th largest goods export market - valued at $718 million - mainly in forestry and agricultural products, including wool, timber and apples. "The New Zealand-India FTA will create valuable opportunities for both New Zealand and Indian exporters to diversify their export destination and expand two-way trade between our two countries," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in an overview of the two nations' relationship on its website.
Otago Daily Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Erica Stanford pulls pin on open-plan classrooms
Education Minister Erica Stanford. Photo: RNZ The government will end the construction of open-plan classrooms in favour of a new "flexible" design. Education Minister Erica Stanford said open-plan designs were supposed to foster collaboration but created challenges around noise and managing student behaviour. "Overwhelming feedback I've received from schools across New Zealand is open-plan classrooms aren't meeting the needs of students," Stanford said. "This government is focused on raising achievement and closing the equity gap and an important part of our reform package is ensuring learning spaces are designed to improve student outcomes." New classrooms will be built using standard designs that prioritise flexibility, like the use of glass sliding doors that can open a class when it is time to collaborate and close it for focused learning. Shirley Boys' High School in Christchurch is spending $800,000 to convert their open plan classrooms, built in 2019, into single-cell rooms because to cut down on distractions. "In many cases, open-plan classrooms reduce flexibility, rather than enhance it. We have listened to the sector and new classrooms will no longer be open plan," Stanford said. She said the average cost of a classroom was coming down. "We've lowered the average cost of a classroom by 28 percent so we could deliver 30 percent more classrooms last year compared to 2023. We're continuing to drive down costs so more Kiwi kids can access them, faster. "In 2025, new classrooms cost on average $620,000 compared to $1.2 million at the end of 2023," Stanford said. The Wellington region will get $25 million of targeted investment in areas experiencing population growth. Newlands Intermediate will get 10 new classrooms, while Aotea College will get 16. Stanford said Aotea College was a prime example of where open-plan classrooms did not work. "The lack of functionality of the open design meant spaces could not be shared or multi-purpose due to disruption and noise. This investment will deliver new, standard teaching spaces that better meet the needs of both students and staff." Planning was already under way for these projects, with construction expected to begin within the next 12 months, Stanford said.
Otago Daily Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
'Pricey, pointless' council work halted ahead of RMA overhaul
By Craig McCulloch of RNZ The government is putting the brakes on "pricey, pointless" council planning work ahead of its major shake-up of resource management laws. Speaking in Christchurch today, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop described the move as a "kind intervention" designed to relieve pressure on councils' resources. Many councils were still spending time and money reviewing plans under the existing Resource Management Act (RMA) - even though the entire regime would be replaced by 2027, he said. "There is little point in progressing long and costly hearings on a plan change that will be incompatible with the new planning system, or probably won't even be complete by the time the new system is switched on," Bishop told the Local Government NZ conference. The government would suspend the requirement on councils to review plans every 10 years, and prevent new plan changes from being notified - unless they met certain exemptions, such as for natural hazard management or Treaty settlements. Councils would also be required to withdraw proposed plan changes that had yet to reach the hearing stage. Bishop said the decision had been made after careful consideration and a recommendation from an expert advisory group. "The government's intention is that stopping plan requirements for councils will enable them to focus on critical work to prepare to transition to the new system." 'Time for excuses is over' Bishop framed the move in the context of "serious questions" about the performance of councils but acknowledged that central government had historically not made their job easy. He said the coalition was now doing its bit by providing more financing and funding tools and a simpler planning system. "We are getting our house in order. It's time you sorted yours out," he told councils. Bishop revived the coalition's call for councils to tighten their belts and focus their priorities on housing and infrastructure. "It's okay to build a local road without spending hundreds of thousands on artworks," he said. "Not everything you do has to be an architectural masterpiece. "The only awards your projects should be winning are for cost-efficiency and effectiveness." In his speech, Bishop also gave a nod to recent discussion about the possibility of scrapping regional councils - given the RMA changes would remove many of their existing jobs. "We're having a look at the functions we will need in the new system. Nothing is off the table, but I am mindful of the scale and pace of change that we're undertaking already." The government intends to introduce its new legislation by the end of this year, to be passed next year and then brought into force in 2027. "The time for excuses is over," Bishop told the audience. "The culture of 'yes' starts now."
Otago Daily Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Govt pulls pin on open-plan classrooms in schools
Education Minister Erica Stanford. Photo: RNZ The government will end the construction of open-plan classrooms in favour of a new "flexible" design. Education Minister Erica Stanford said open-plan designs were supposed to foster collaboration but created challenges around noise and managing student behaviour. "Overwhelming feedback I've received from schools across New Zealand is open-plan classrooms aren't meeting the needs of students," Stanford said. "This government is focused on raising achievement and closing the equity gap and an important part of our reform package is ensuring learning spaces are designed to improve student outcomes." New classrooms will be built using standard designs that prioritise flexibility, like the use of glass sliding doors that can open a class when it is time to collaborate and close it for focused learning. Shirley Boys' High School in Christchurch is spending $800,000 to convert their open plan classrooms, built in 2019, into single-cell rooms because to cut down on distractions. "In many cases, open-plan classrooms reduce flexibility, rather than enhance it. We have listened to the sector and new classrooms will no longer be open plan," Stanford said. She said the average cost of a classroom was coming down. "We've lowered the average cost of a classroom by 28 percent so we could deliver 30 percent more classrooms last year compared to 2023. We're continuing to drive down costs so more Kiwi kids can access them, faster. "In 2025, new classrooms cost on average $620,000 compared to $1.2 million at the end of 2023," Stanford said. The Wellington region will get $25 million of targeted investment in areas experiencing population growth. Newlands Intermediate will get 10 new classrooms, while Aotea College will get 16. Stanford said Aotea College was a prime example of where open-plan classrooms did not work. "The lack of functionality of the open design meant spaces could not be shared or multi-purpose due to disruption and noise. This investment will deliver new, standard teaching spaces that better meet the needs of both students and staff." Planning was already under way for these projects, with construction expected to begin within the next 12 months, Stanford said.
