Podcasts about aucklanders

Now to news coming out of Auckland -Biosecurity NZ is urging people to be on the lookout for yellow legged hornets. Why you might ask? Well, for the first time, a yellow legged hornet queen has been discovered building a nest at a house in the suburb of Glenfield. To find out why this is concerning, and what to do if you spot one, Jesse is joined by Lloyd Carpenter a.k.a The Waspman.

It's an idea that some Aucklanders want to see binned before it's even begun, while others say moving from weekly to fornightly rubbish collection is a no brainer. Submissions opened last week on a proposal halve the number of collections in the suburbs of Panmure, Te Atatu Peninsula and Clendon Park, with the pilot scheme to be expanded should it prove successful. Aucklanders create enough rubbish to fill Eden Park pretty much every week and the council hopes it will encourage people to seperate their waste properly and reduce what goes to landfill. Evie Richardson reports.

Work is underway on the Port of Auckland's two biggest wharves, but how long before the city's public get to enjoy more of the waterfront? 

Roughly 70% of Kiwis did not vote in the recent local elections. It's shaping up to be the worst voter turnout in 36 years, with only 23% of Aucklanders voting in the local elections. Senior fellow at the New Zealand Initiative Nick Clark told Ryan Bridge that making local elections in larger cities even more local would encourage more people to vote. "It might be a bit of an out there solution to make councils more local rather than less local." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's First Up pod: Japan could be on it's way towards its first female prime minister; a local council changes plans after spending $4.7 million on pool plans and our reporter Ke Xin Li asks Aucklanders what they're voting for in the upcoming local body elections. First Up - Voice of the Nathan.

At last, a triumph of common sense over well-meaning legislation designed to protect every life, everywhere, no matter how much the cost. The “every sperm is sacred” approach to lawmaking has been in place for about eight years, where every life matters, no matter the cost to business, to taxpayers, to everybody else. The Government announced yesterday that earthquake strengthening legislation will only capture buildings deemed to pose a genuine risk to human life in medium and high seismic zones. The Building and Construction Minister, Chris Penk, said the current new building standard used by engineers was too broad, too inconsistent, and will be scrapped. The rules were brought in under 2017 changes following the Canterbury earthquakes and the subsequent Royal Commission of Inquiry. Penk said the current system is well-intentioned, but had led to an overwhelming financial burden on building owners. He said the price of strengthening buildings often ran from hundreds of thousands of dollars to well into the millions. He said, as a result, these buildings are often left empty and become derelict, making them even more dangerous to bystanders in an earthquake. Buildings need to be lived in. You have to have people in homes and commercial buildings, otherwise they become derelict very, very quickly. Cities and regions, he says, are losing the businesses, churches, town halls, and classrooms that are essential to their local economies and community spirit. And you'll have seen it everywhere and every town, no matter how big or small. Beautiful buildings that have been left abandoned, for all intents and purposes, because their owners cannot afford to modernise them to the level that has been required under legislation, without any kind of purpose, to what point? It has to be at this level. Why? Because we say so. Is it because it's especially risky? No, these are the rules. So what they've done now is say, okay, well, let's look at where there is danger, and buildings must be fortified there. Where there is a limited risk —you can never rule out risk altogether, otherwise you might as well stop living— the changes don't have to be made to such an extent. Auckland, Northland, and the Chatham Islands will be made exempt from earthquake rules due to low seismic risk. And that makes sense. Auckland is at risk of a volcanic eruption, not earthquakes. That's not the main risk. It's not to say they won't happen – we're not called the Shaky Isles for nothing. But the risk isn't considered as high as that of a volcanic eruption. The response to the overhaul has been positive. Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau says the news was a huge win for her city. She said the number of earthquake-prone buildings in Wellington will roughly halve, saving building owners a billion dollars. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown also welcomed the changes. He too points out the risk of an earthquake for Auckland and Northland is less than that of a volcanic eruption. He said we can't expect Aucklanders to be lumped with unnecessary costs, especially now. The previous requirements were expensive and unnecessary. He said it's been a very stressful time, and these changes will be a game changer for example, for apartment owners who will now be spared the cost and financial pain of making upgrades that didn't make sense. And I get it. After you've had a tragic loss of life, and a loss of life that could have been prevented had proper building standards been followed, had more been done —it's a crisis in the country— the pain is very, very real. You see the numbers of grieving families in a country as small as ours, you don't want that to happen again. But what we've seen is Governments overreact. We saw that with the health and safety legislation as well after Cave Creek. There is always going to be a certain amount of risk in life, but you can't legislate away all of that risk. There have to be sensible protocols in place, really sensible. Is have to be dotted, Ts crossed. You have to make sure that the job is done properly. But a massive overreaction to a country's heartfelt pain causes more pain in the long term. Where there is risk, try and mitigate it. Where there are buildings that are deemed to be dangerous, retrofit them, fix them, or tear them down. But in areas of the country where there is minimal risk —still risk, nobody's ruling it out— then you don't have to conform to the most strict legislation. If you take all risk out of life, then you're not really living. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aucklanders can now check out conditions at the beach before they even leave the house thanks to a new online tool. 

Auckland Council's Policy and Planning committee met yesterday to vote on a new plan that would zone the city for two million homes, primarily around train stations and rapid bus routes.  This plan is a response to legislation put forward by housing minister Chris Bishop which requires councils across the country to zone for higher density housing. This plan has not been without controversy, with councillors claiming that Aucklanders are being “put to the firing squad”  Deputy PM David Seymour has publicly disagreed with his own housing minister, arguing that suburbs like Epsom and Parnell don't have the right infrastructure to accommodate for this growth.  Advocates for the plan, including mayor Wayne Brown argue that the council cannot continue to drag its feet on the need for housing that is closer to the city, and is more affordable. They argue that it's better to build in places with pipes, public transport routes and job opportunities.  The plan passed with a majority last evening, so Producer Sanat talked to Councilor Julie Fairey about the plan change and what it means for the future of the city.

Auckland is under pressure to make space for two million homes, and councillors have little choice in the matter. On September 24, the city’s policy and planning committee will decide whether to press ahead with the existing Plan Change 78, which allows three-storey housing across most of the city, or back a new plan that concentrates apartment blocks up to fifteen storeys around key transport hubs. Both options have sparked heated debate. From fears of flooding and towers overshadowing suburban homes, to arguments that the city desperately needs more density to tackle the housing crisis. Minister for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop has made it clear that Auckland must provide for growth, while promising locals a stronger voice in how it plays out. So, what’s really at stake for Aucklanders — and how much power does the council actually have? Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald senior reporter Simon Wilson joins us to break down the battle over Auckland’s housing future. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host/Editor: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's division among Aucklanders over whether more events should take place at Eden Park. The Government's set to review the current regulations impacting the stadium, including the number of concerts taking place and their duration. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave weighs in on the debate - and what incoming changes could mean for the future of New Zealand sport. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Has Auckland lost it's mojo? At over 6%, the super city has the highest unemployment rate in the country. Meanwhile, small businesses continue to struggle, with hopes now pinned on the Central Rail Link to deliver a boost in patronage. To escape the doldrums there are calls for the city of sails to back more high-profile events, although some Aucklanders don't support that approach. Lucy Xia reports.

Urgent meetings in several Auckland's inner suburbs as residents chew over new plans which could see 15 story apartment blocks and less protection for heritage.

There's a very good reason National's talking about a revamping the major events fund - or as the PM said on Monday, stuffing the pipeline with more events. It's the same reason you're seeing them announce just half an hour ago they're creating a new business investor visa - foreigners will get a fast-track to residency for chucking $2m into a Kiwi business. It's the same reason they'll announce in a few weeks that some wealthy investors will be able to buy expensive houses here. From November, they're trialling visa-free holidays for the Chinese coming here via Australia. Expect to see more where this came from. The reason is to boost growth, but specifically, they hope, in our largest city. It's all about Auckland. It's the giant missing piece of the puzzle. Their runway for sorting the economy by election time hinges on them throwing the kitchen sink at the Jaffas. It's 40% of our GDP but a sort of economic malaise has set in. Not everywhere and not in every industry, but the two speed recovery is real, the vibe's off, and the numbers back it up. I asked the PM about this on Monday, he says they're basically looking at everything and anything for Auckland. I reckon they'll campaign on a bed tax and announce they intend to that late this year or early next. To win the next election, you don't need to win all of Auckland, but if you lose Auckland, you're stuffed. Ask Chippy - Labour scored 29% of the party vote in Auckland. This is increasingly a city of migrants, and these policies are aimed at them, their families, and their businesses. 42% of Aucklanders were born overseas. Along with Otago, it's where most of the expensive houses are that wealthy investors will be able to buy. To boost this economy in a short to medium term window the government's clearly targeting migration, foreign investment (which often comes through existing connections to this city), foreign students, Chinese tourists, and big events. The question is how quickly they can give this city the tickle up in needs and whether they've left enough runway to turn things around. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aucklanders are being warned not to go onto beaches or into the water, as the country remains under a tsunami advisory. Auckland Emergency Management General Manager Adam Maggs spoke to Corin Dann.

On the 25th of June, our regular City Counselling guest Julie Fairey was involved in a road collision while she was biking in her local area. Fairey wrote about the close call, which she says could have been a lot worse, in a piece published in the Spinoff, as a reinvigoration of her previous advocacy around the need for road safety measures that improve how safely and efficiently Aucklanders can get around the city. As well, this week we've seen the release of the State of the City report, which compares Auckland on metrics including opportunity and prosperity, culture and experience, place and connectivity, innovation and knowledge, and resilience and sustainability. The report found that we are ‘falling behind' other cities, with the biggest emphasis placed on our poor economic productivity in comparison with similar locations. Producer Sara spoke with Julie Fairey about both of these topics, firstly by asking her what motivated her to write about her recent collision.

On the 25th of June, our regular City Counselling guest Julie Fairey was involved in a road collision while she was biking in her local area. Fairey wrote about the close call, which she says could have been a lot worse, in a piece published in the Spinoff, as a reinvigoration of her previous advocacy around the need for road safety measures that improve how safely and efficiently Aucklanders can get around the city. As well, this week we've seen the release of the State of the City report, which compares Auckland on metrics including opportunity and prosperity, culture and experience, place and connectivity, innovation and knowledge, and resilience and sustainability. The report found that we are ‘falling behind' other cities, with the biggest emphasis placed on our poor economic productivity in comparison with similar locations. Producer Sara spoke with Julie Fairey about both of these topics, firstly by asking her what motivated her to write about her recent collision.

Confusion over the billionaire-backed Auckland Arena proposal being withdrawn from options for Western Springs. Businesswoman Anna Mowbray, her husband and former All Black Ali Williams, and Auckland FC owner Bill Foley withdrew their 12,500 seat proposal, which wouldn't have cost ratepayers a cent. It follows news Aucklanders don't have a clear preference on an option for the site. The group cites unique challenges. Chair of the Stadium Venues Working Group Shane Henderson told Heather du Plessis-Allan they've been left largely in the dark. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mānawatia a Matariki CoachesWelcome back to another episode of Powtearoa - The New Zealand Blood Bowl Podcast!This episode we head to our biggest city to see what is happening with our Auckland coaches. No Trickey this time as he is globetrotting. But, Welshy and Toffer are joined by Mahuika (James) and Makahli (Benjamin) from Auckland to tell us all about it.11 Auckland coaches recently visited Hamilton for Bobsol's Matariki 7s event and we hear how they got on (though Toffer couldn't remember where the event took place). Then we discuss the Grudge at the Crater an upcoming charity 11s event in Auckland, what is happening and how to get involved in helping to raise money for the amazing I am Hope charity.So sit back and listen as the Aucklanders tell us just how amazing things are for Blood Bowl in their neck of the woods.If you would like to donate to I am Hope via the Grudge at the Crater give a little page here is the link - https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/grudge-at-the-crater-rolling-for-mental-health If you are not already on discord, come and join us on the NZBB Discord server here - https://tinyurl.com/joinNZBBC and please visit the NZ Blood Bowl Community FB page here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/NZBBC/ If you are not already on discord, come and join us on the NZBB Discord server here - https://tinyurl.com/joinNZBBC and please visit the NZ Blood Bowl Community FB page here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/NZBBC/ Intro music adapted from Bensound.com. Cheers Bensound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Auckland Council and its water arm Watercare seperate financially, but with it comes a 7.2% price hike in water bills for Aucklanders. Watercare's chief executive Jamie Sinclair spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Send us a textHey legends, welcome back to The Clever Dicks Open Water Podcast — where we dive deep into the minds of swimmers, coaches, and salty sea legends from around the world.Today, we've got an absolute ripper of a guest. She's fast, she's fierce, and she knows her stuff — it's the amazing Merle Maud! Merle's not just your average lane cruiser — she's a certified Swim Smooth Coach, a seasoned Ironman athlete, and a passionate marathon swimmer who's helping Aucklanders of all stripes find their stroke, build confidence, and push limits. You might know her from Swim Smooth Auckland, where she's turning spaghetti arms into streamlined torpedoes every day.We're chatting race prep, mindset, marathon swims, and how to balance coaching, training, and maybe even having a life outside the water — if that's allowed.Buckle in and enjoy the chat with Merle Maud.https://www.swimsmoothauckland.co.nz/

Sunday the 22nd of June was the shortest day of the year, and as is tradition, the winner of National Flash Fiction Day was also announced. The competition has been running since 2012 and it celebrates short stories in all their glory. Aucklanders dominated the podium this year, and our congratulations to runners up Jack Remiel Cottrell and Gretchen Carroll. But the big winner was Claris Harvey, who took out the top spot with her story "The Golden Glove".

Aucklanders have nominated the city's top 100 restaurant dishes. The fifth annual 'Iconic Auckland Eats' list whittled down well over 3000 submissions to a selection of 100 local restaurants. Felix Walton reports.

After 145 years iconic Auckland department store Smith and Caughey's will close its doors for the final time this Sunday at 4pm. The closure was set for the end of July but Aucklanders have been snapping up the discounted items almost all of the stock is gone. Reporter Louise Ternouth spoke to Lisa Owen.

It is as expected - if our office is anything to go by, Auckland is a miserable town today because the house valuations are out, and they're bad. Just about everyone has jumped on the computer to have a look by now, I'd say, and just about everyone's house has gone backwards. So my house - it's gone down in value by 8 percent. One of the bosses, not too bad, only gone back by 4 percent. I don't think anyone's house has gone up in the office. Someone's house has dropped by $250,000. One colleague, and this colleague is suffering more than anybody else - her house has gone down by 21 percent. That's $1.15 million down to $900,000. That's another $250,000 shaved right off right there. Someone's feeling agitated. I called a real estate agent today to see if it's wider than just our office. They told me, yep - and people are not happy. Another real estate agent reckons he's already fielding calls from buyers who are mid-negotiation, who are now saying they're not gonna lift their offer anymore. They're just gonna leave it right where it is, because look at the valuation that's out today. Auckland Council says they normally have about 500 people on their website at any one time. When we called, they said they were watching 12,000 people on their website at any one time. As I said yesterday, spare a thought for Auckland. If you have an Aucklander in your life, spare a thought for them because it's a tough day for Auckland today. Because, I mean, we take the mickey out of Auckland, but there is good reason why Auckland feels like this. Houses in Auckland mean a lot, don't they? I feel like probably more than anywhere else in the country apart from maybe Queenstown and the surrounding area, because houses are expensive in Auckland. Young Aucklanders obsess about it. They scrimp and they save, and they try so bloody hard to get into their first house. It's totally understandable that absolutely no one in this town wants to watch their house then go down in value. But of course, bear in mind, it is slightly irrational. If you are one of these Aucklanders doing this, you are being irrational, you realize that, because you're not suddenly poorer today than you were yesterday, are you? I mean, the value of the thing has not changed overnight. It's simply just been written down. In fact, it was written down a year ago, it's just taken them a year to put it out there. And if you're buying and selling in the same market, it really doesn't matter at all. It's only if you're cashing up to move out of town or to get rid of an investment property or something like that, that this actually matters. Now, I say that knowing that none of that is gonna sink in - we're gonna continue to be irrational because it is all in our heads, isn't it? We feel wealthier when the house is worth more, and that ain't what happened today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The legendary British cabaret La Clique was formed 20 years ago by Australian David Bates. Growing up on a sheep farm playing the piano, David is now an Olivier Award-winner and tours his Spiegeltent of eclectic acts globally.

After years of delay, Aucklanders can expect to receive their property valuations early next month. Auckland Council says it expected to deliver the new valuations, commonly known as capital values (CVs), in the week of June 9 to June 13. Property commentator Ashley Church says it's unlikely this will make a difference in overall valuations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New figures from the Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance show Auckland Council has invested $3 million on communications and advertising alone for the green waste bins. This follows the email campaign aimed at mayor Wayne Brown opposing the $36 million spent on the green bins so far. Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance spokesperson Sam Warren says this doesn't make sense from an economic perspective. "Auckland Council spends about $36 million a year on the programme - that's a lot. And only a third of Aucklanders actually use it - and even that number seems a little high." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Waitākere ward councillor Shane Henderson, siren laden car battles are creating a major public nuisance in West Auckland, particularly in Te Atatū. Henderson spoke to Corin Dann.

Tonight on The Huddle, CTU economist Craig Renney and Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Why has the CTU been excluded from the Budget lock-up? The green bins debate- do they need to go? Simeon Brown suggested Aucklanders could shave 2 percent off their rates bills if they went away. What do we make of this? The IRD is cracking down on chasing up people overseas who haven't paid back their student loans. Why have they taken so long to do this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Former Local Government Minister's not taking issue with the Auckland Mayor's new manifesto. Wayne Brown has laid out his thoughts and a Beehive to-do list ahead of the 2025 Budget. He scored the Government a B+, saying they're too distracted by mega-projects and press releases. Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking Wayne Brown is just doing his job. He says he's the mayor of our largest city and he's advocating for what he believes is needed, even if they don't agree. The Government's refusing to budge on an Auckland bed tax. Brown's manifesto also includes calling for the government to reconsider an Auckland bed levy, adding a small fee on short term accommodation. Brown told Hosking they don't want to lump Aucklanders with the tax. He says in fact the council should be looking for efficiencies in its own budget instead of new taxes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's mayor is calling for more leadership - and labelling the city's innovation and tech sector 'random'. Wayne Brown has laid out a to-do list for central Government before it releases its Budget this month. He wants a tourist bed tax, looser transit visas, and more preparations for major population growth. Brown says a bed tax would fund bigger projects he has planned for the city - and he's hoping the Government will reconsider one. "We've just had two-thirds of the Aucklanders thinking it's a hell of a good idea to get some funds in to watch big events - and the hoteliers up here think it's a good idea." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been 15 years since Auckland became a supercity, and new data has revealed what people believe the city needs in order to improve. A total of 575 Aucklanders participated in the survey, casting 46,000 votes on statements, creating what's been called a “digital snapshot” of the city's sentiments. Former Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Graham Quirk, outlined some other point of concern - as Brisbane prepares some upgrades ahead of the 2032 Olympics. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since Wednesday last week, Auckland and the wider Northland region were warned of heavy rain and winds expected across the North Island.  On Friday night however, as severe thunderstorms struck Auckland, residents were not sent severe weather alerts until after the worst part of the storm had already arrived. Many Aucklanders have called out the slow response system, in an effort yet again to revitalise discussions around Auckland's storm and natural disaster preparedness. As well, Auckland's public transport system is under the microscope this month as Aucklanders endure just over a fortnight without train services, as workers seek to speed up the completion of Kiwi Rail. Yesterday, Transport Minister Chris Bishop also announced a multi-billion dollar project for a Northland Expressway that he says will improve public transport.  In the meantime, public transport prices have increased — for ratepayers and users —- translating to less bang and more buck for Aucklanders.  Producer Sara spoke with Councillor Julie Fairey about both of these topics, firstly by asking if she was satisfied with Auckland Council's response pace in the lead up to severe weather conditions.

Vector staff will be out in force today with some households still without power after stormy weather at the weekend. Auckland Emergency Management General Manager Adam Maggs spoke to Paddy Gower.

New images have given Aucklanders a closer look at the Western Springs Stadium proposal backed by Auckland FC and their billionaire owners. The images and a new video feature in a campaign to generate public support for the stadium, which has been called Auckland Arena. The website said there would be zero cost to the ratepayer with $300 million in private funding secured already to deliver the project. Auckland FC co-owner Ali Williams says Aucklanders deserve a smaller, intimate 'family-friendly' stadium - and this presents the perfect opportunity. "You've got to remember that the sport is not just about the product on the field, it's about the vibe outside the field, around the field, it's about families feeling comfortable, it's about people being passionate and bringing communities together." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert has warned Aucklanders should be prepared for the chance of a volcanic eruption. Civil Defence estimates there's a 10 percent risk it could happen in the next 50 years. It could cost $65 billion in building damage alone. Victoria University's Dr Finn Illsley Kemp says we'd get a decent warning before an eruption - but every aspect will be expensive, including evacuating the city. "We do think we'll get a warning when it is on the way, because this magma has to come from quite deep - we should be able to see it when it's on its' way, but when it's on the move, it doesn't hang around." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watercare's tunnel boring machine has completed a four-year journey, breaking through this morning. The development comes as Watercare has announced a $14 billion investment to renew ageing and failing pipes over the next decade. Meanwhile, Auckland water charges will rise by 7.2% from July as Watercare becomes financially independent. Incoming Watercare CEO Jamie Sinclair talks to Ryan Bridge about what the investment means. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aucklanders' water bills are set to increase as Watercare prepares to become financially independent and spend billions of dollars improving the city's water services. Jessica Hopkins reports.

An Auckland Councillor says he's leaning towards choosing an improved Eden Park to be Auckland's national stadium. The other option is a new stadium at Quay Park. Council staff say neither proposal is entirely feasible - relying on funding from the Council or the Government. Stadium Working Group chair Shane Henderson says Aucklanders want certainty - and they need to decide in Thursday's vote. He says Eden Park's looking preferable. "We can stage that development, the risk is a little bit more manageable. And honestly, looking at the report and the advice - they've got a few less issues out of the two." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aucklanders are split on whether the council should approve a new stadium in the city centre or upgrade Eden Park instead. This week councillors will vote on which of the competing proposals should go ahead. Felix Walton has more.

In what could be the ultimate Christmas present for Aucklanders, IKEA is hoping its new Sylvia Park store will be open in time to get your holiday gift shopping done there. IKEA's chief sustainability officer Karen Pflug spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Aucklanders are being warned to go easy on the long showers and car washes as the city begins to 'prepare for drought'. Watercare chief operations officer Mark Bourne spoke to Corin Dann.

Auckland Council's Community Committee has sent a ‘please help' letter to the government after reports from their Community Impact team showed a 53% rise in the number of people sleeping rough over the past four months. This follows changes last year by the Ministry of Social Development to the rules surrounding emergency housing, introducing stricter entry criteria and new requirements which make it difficult to stay.  While Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, earlier this week, denied that these changes have led to an increase in homelessness, Housing First Auckland programme manager Rami Alrudani said that outreach workers have been stretched thin, dealing with “more and more homelessness every day”. Producer Sara spoke with Councillor Julie Fairey about the rise in homelessness in Tāmaki Makaurau.  As well, Auckland Council are trialling an AI digital assistant to help improve their customer support services. The ‘Ask Auckland Council' pilot, presented at February's Revenue, Expenditure and Value Committee, is being funded by Google Cloud at no cost to ratepayers. Auckland Council receives 1.5 million calls every year and coordinates region-wide services across multiple platforms. The new system is designed to bridge the gap between Aucklanders and digital services, reducing the effort required to seek out information Starting on the topic of homelessness, Sara asked Julie if she was surprised to see a stark increase in the latest data around the number of people sleeping rough.

Auckland Council's Community Committee is urging the Government to help the city as rates of homelessness grow. This comes as new data shows the number of people sleeping rough in the city has gone up by 53 percent since September. Committee Chair, Councillor Angela Dalton, says she's never seen a spike like this before. She also explained that this tied in with a number of other changing factors that were putting significant stress on Aucklanders. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A planning expert is suggesting Aucklanders look to New York City for the impacts of congestion charges. A report, commissioned by Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, has found traffic will cost the city $2.6 billion a year by next year. Auckland University Architecture and Planning Senior Lecturer Timothy Welch says New York and London have effectively implemented congestion charges. He told Mike Hosking revenue in New York City has already increased because of faster buses and more foot traffic. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From couples' axe-throwing to an R-18 zoo exhibition, Aucklanders are finding romance in some strange places this Valentine's Day. While some couples are sticking to flowers and dinner dates, others are being seduced by less conventional activities. Felix Walton has more.

Some good summer news for Aucklanders.... There's a new pool in town! First Up reporter Leonard Powell went for a dip.

Aucklanders returning to work are facing much longer commuting times, thanks to a month-long rail shutdown which started on Boxing Day. Reporter Lucy Xia has more.

Aucklanders say they're still paying steep rent for damp and mouldy homes, and they're not seeing any flow-on benefit from landlords' tax relief. Melanie Earley reports.

Time's up for Aucklanders with 2023 storm-affected homes to register for council buyout or remediation, amid concern those unregistered may be living in potential death traps.