Latest news with #Waipukurau
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- General
- RNZ News
Waipukurau residents conserving water after main breaks
Mains break near Cook St in Waipukurau. Photo: Supplied/Central Hawke's Bay District Council Residents in the central Hawke's Bay town of Waipukurau are being urged to conserve water, due to a broken water main. Central Hawke's Bay District Council said the main was broken near Coughlan Road, but it didn't yet know how serious it was, the number of households affected or how long it would take to fix. Staff were trying to isolate the problem by closing the valves and were working to repair the damage. The council said water should be used for emergencies only, and people should limit flushing the toilet, avoid running washing machines and dishwashers, and limit showers to two minutes.
RNZ News
29-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
'There's been no transparency': Ruataniwha Dam protest outside meeting
Wise Water Use protestors. Photo: RNZ/Alexa Cook Opponents of the controversial Ruataniwha Dam in Central Hawke's Bay staged a surprise protest outside a Centralines meeting in Waipukurau discussing the use of trust beneficiaries' money for the fast-tracked dam project. The protest comes a month after Centralines trustee Tony Murphy resigned because the electricity distributor's board put $100,000 towards a re-scope of the fast-tracked and rebranded Ruataniwha Dam , now called the Tukituki Water Security Project. Hawke's Bay power distributor Centralines is one of many sources of funding for the Ruataniwha Dam. It is comprised of a board, which makes operational decisions, and a trust that represents the public stakeholders. Protest group Wise Water Use spokesperson Trevor Le Lievre told RNZ Centralines had now committed $300,000 towards the controversial project . "There's been no transparency around this money. We believe it's a case of cronyism, pure and simple. So we are here to send a message to the trust because the trust appoints the board and so have some sway over what the board does. "We're here to tell the trust to call the board in, hold them to account, rescind that decision on the $100,000 and act in the best interest of beneficiaries," said Le Lievre. However, Centralines board chair Fenton Wilson was confident there was no issue, and makes no apologies for supporting the dam. "I welcome the strong views - from the company point of view we deal with what's in front of us and there's an opportunity to invest in a project that has real growth potential if it comes off. "But we are not in this alone, businesses right across Hawke's Bay are investing - the government is investing. People have done their due diligence and it fits the growth potential with this business and this company," he said. Wise Water Use protestors peacefully talk to Centralines' Board Chair and Trustees Photo: RNZ/Alexa Cook The Central Hawke's Bay Consumer Power trust chair Karen Middelburg told RNZ she has been listening to all of the community's voices on the issue, including the protestors concerns. "We've got a meeting now where we'll discuss what they've brought to the table and we'll certainly be passing that on to the board. "But our role is certainly not to tell the board how to make financial decisions for the company - our role is to appoint the board to do that on our behalf," she said. Wise Water Use is vowing to keep protesting against the dam project and member Murray Rosser said it should not be allowed to proceed under the government's fast track legislation. "It's such an outdated idea - it's going to ruin the river and wreck a whole lot of environmental precious taonga. "And it's going to put money in the hands of a few people and others won't get a dollar," he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
26-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Hawke's Bay firefighters tackle Auckland's Sky Tower Challenge
The 55-year-old said his motivation for the gruelling physical and mental challenge was to honour his nephew Jordan Jackson, who died from leukaemia in 2003, aged 10. 'He was a gentle critter, he was a really neat kid, had a heart of gold, and he would have had a pretty good future ahead of him as being a loyal mate to someone.' Bean previously climbed the tower in 2012 with a time of 20 minutes 41 seconds to the top and again in 2015, which took him 18 minutes 28 seconds. He said he was 'pretty stoked' with his time this year and despite his casual approach to training, he reached the top in 21 minutes and 55 seconds. 'I put bugger-all training in ... I walked the dog every day. 'I started off with a hiss and a roar and went up Pukeora Hill once, and I did four or five times going up and down the Hunter Park climb in the township.' He said the hardest part was not the challenge itself, but the nerves in the lead-up before the start line. 'I thought, 'what the hell am I doing here?' 'I knew why I was there, but I knew it was going to be a lot tougher than it had been in the past.' Fellow Waipukurau firefighter Brad Edwards dedicated his climb to 4-year-old Zack Guest from Cambridge, who is battling leukaemia. Edwards completed the firefighter of steel category, where he carried a steel cylinder, which equalled an extra 9kg of weight, in just over 18 minutes. He also gained an extra little weight during the race to the top in the form of Guest's favourite soft toy 'Sheepie'. 'As I came out of the tower to do my lap around the outside, Zack walked out and gave me a toy to carry up to the top of the tower.' Edwards raised $6833 and said a total of 52 firefighters from Hawke's Bay took part.
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
22-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
18 to 19 year olds will have Jobseeker tested
life and society politics 20 minutes ago One of the surprises in the budget was the announcement that 18 and 19-year-olds will now have their Jobseeker and emergency benefits tested against their parents' incomes. The policy is forecast to save the government about 163 million dollars over four years, but the income levels parents will be tested against have not yet been decided by Cabinet. Alexa Cook hit the streets of Waipukurau in Central Hawke's Bay to find out what people think about the change.
