Parts of country to go to Alert Level 3
All regions outside of the Auckland and Northland region will move to Alert Level 3 11.59pm Tuesday August 31.
In a press conference Friday afternoon, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed that Auckland and Northland will likely need to complete a further full two weeks at level 4 in order to keep the Delta variant from spreading further in the regions.
Here's what you need to know
- There will be regional boundaries, there will be no travel allowed between regions unless required for essential services.
- Boundaries maintained in the last February lockdown will be reinstated.
- Around 500 locations of interest have been identified.
- The exposure site in Warkworth is a large workplace. Ardern hoped the people of Northland will understand why they're moving with caution. Northland won't always be grouped in with Auckland.
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Poll: Is the increase in disability parking fines fair?
In October, the fine for parking in a designated mobility car park without a permit has jumped from $150 to $750—a 400% increase!
The goal is to keep these spaces open for those who truly need them. Do you think this big increase in the fine is fair? Share your thoughts below.
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89.2% Yes, it's fair
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10.1% No, it's unreasonable
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0.7% Other - I'll share below
Cyclists forced to use ‘more dangerous’ crossing if cycleway closed
Closing a Christchurch cycleway to avoid an unsafe rail crossing will lead cyclists across an even “more dangerous” crossing, cycling advocates say.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has weighed in on the issue, calling the move to shut a 1.5km section of the Heathcote Expressway for up to two years, “illogical”. He has asked KiwiRail to explain.
KiwiRail is demanding Christchurch City Council close part of the expressway until $6.5 million worth of safety improvements can be made to the Scruttons Rd rail crossing.
It said the “unsafe” crossing posed the risk of death or serious injury once every thousand years.
What do you do think? Read the full story by reporters Sinead Gill and Tina Law here and tell us what you think in the comments. (A subscription is required, but you can see two free articles a month).
House fire causing road closures
Pages Road is closed this afternoon from Breezes Road, this is due to a house that has caught fire in the area.
Coastal Ward Community Board member, Alex Hewison, shared the closure on a local Facebook page.
Fire and Emergency are at the scene but further details have not been shared at this stage.
Avoid the area where possible.