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For the last decade, Frances Ryan has been a columnist and reporter at the Guardian. She joins Nuala McGovern to discuss her new book - Who Wants Normal? The Disabled Girls' Guide to Life. Part memoir, part manifesto, it explores six facets of life: education, careers, body image, health, relationships and representation, as well as how to survive life's bumps in the road.Groomed: A National Scandal is a new Channel 4 documentary from award-winning filmmaker Anna Hall, looking at the issue of gang grooming. It puts the experiences of five women who have survived unimaginable abuse at the heart of a story that spans more than 20 years. Nuala speaks to Anna and Chantelle, one of the survivors featured in the film.How much does what you wear to work matter? In today's I newspaper, the journalist and columnist Anniki Sommerville says she loves dressing up for work but her Gen Z colleagues laugh at her blazer. She joins Nuala along with Carolyn Mair, Fashion Business Consultant and author of The Psychology of Fashion.Pioneering Maori scholar, Mākereti Papakura is to receive a posthumous degree more than 100 years after she began her studies at Oxford University. Born in New Zealand, Makereti is believed to be the first indigenous woman to enrol. Professor Clare Harris, Head of the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography tells Nuala about her life and work.
Fire-fighters have contained a blaze at a metal recycling yard in Papakura in Auckland. Manurewa-Papakura ward Councillor Angela Dalton spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
Fire and Emergency has worked through the night to monitor a fire at a metal recycling plant in Papakura. Fire and Emergency Assistant Commander Chris Delfos spoke to Corin Dann.
Change is coming to the Auckland-Hamilton train, Te Huia, which will no longer stop at Papakura. The train will instead call into Pukekohe, in a move to improve efficiency for North Waikato residents. Waikato Regional Councillor Angela Strange talks to Mike Hosking about the change. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A South Auckland community is on tenterhooks after needles were reportedly found in a food products at a local supermarket yesterday. Needles were discovered in two different food products from Woolworth's in Papakura yesterday. Police are investigating, and the items in question have been removed from shelves, but as Finn Blackwell reports, New Zealand Food Safety are refusing to name the actual products.
A $100,000 reward and possible immunity is on offer for clues leading to the conviction of whoever's responsible for killing Auckland man Arthur Easton almost 40 years ago. The case was re-opened after Alan Hall, the man found guilty of the murder, had his conviction quashed by the supreme court after it found a substantial miscrarriage of justice. Mr Hall spent 19 years in jail for the murder of Arthur Easton - who was stabbed to death during a home invasion in Papakura at about 8pm Sunday 13 October 1985. It was later found the description of the attacker and key witness statements has changed with original descriptions describing the offender as Maori, more than 6 foot and right handed; Alan Hall isn't. Earlier this year, three men were charged in relation to the wrongful conviction. Today flanked by photos of the brown wool beanie and knife used by the real killer Detective Inspector Warwick Adkin announced the reward, he spoke to Lisa Owen.
Police are offering a $100,000 reward for information about the killing of Arthur Easton almost forty years ago in Auckland. Mr Easton was stabbed to death in his Papakura home after confronting an inturder in October 1985. His murder led to the wrongful conviction of Alan Hall who was acquitted by the Supreme Court in 2022 after spending eighteen years in prison. Reporter Melanie Earley was at a news conference held by police today.
Police are going back through Arthur Easton's case file - looking for the person who killed him nearly 40 years ago. Easton was stabbed in his Papakura home in 1985. Alan Hall's wrongful murder conviction was only overturned after he'd spent 19 years in jail. Police are now offering a $100,000 reward - until January 24 - for information leading to a conviction. Detective Inspector Warrick Adkin says interviews are under way. "As investigators, we have a responsibility to look at all options when solving crime, and today's announcement, we hope, will provide the financial incentive to those people who have not shared any information to come forward." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Police have offered a $100,000 reward in relation to the murder of Arthur Easton 39 years ago in Papakura. Easton was stabbed to death in his hallway after confronting an intruder. The killing led to the wrongful conviction of Alan Hall. Senior investigations officer Detective Inspector Warrick Adkin spoke to media. *You can provide information directly to the investigation team by calling 0800 GROVE 1985 (0800 47683 1985). You can also email directly to Operation.Grove1985@police.govt.nz
On Wednesday each week at Papakura High School, students can forget about reading writing and maths, and instead spend their time making jewellery, weightlifting, barbering, broadcasting or one of many other options. By letting them spend a whole day each week working on vocational projects and electives, they've started to see big improvements in student attendance and engagement. In the two years since introducing the scheme, the number of chronically absent students has dropped by 34 percent, the lowest it's been since before Covid-19, Luka Forman has the story. In the two years since introducing the scheme, the number of chronically absent students has dropped by 34 percent, the lowest it's been since before covid.
A football coach was allegedly knocked unconscious by an opposition fan while walking to the bathroom during a junior tournament in Auckland on Sunday. The Ellerslie FC coach was reportedly attacked from behind by a man believed to be the parent of a Papakura City FC player, shortly after her under-10 girls' team had beaten Papakura in a semi-final match. Former All-White and Northern Rovers coach Chris Milich joined D'Arcy to unpack the controversy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week for Made in NZ we meet Neil Woolrige from IP Plastics, which is family owned New Zealand business that's been manufacturing plastics in Papakura since 1982. They make a range of proucts spanning everything from horticultural supplies to furniture, fittings and homeware products
Max Alexander grew up in Papakura, and has been living in London for the past 30 years. He's back in Aotearoa for the next few weeks to participate in Matariki and add a new section to his exhibition "Our Fragile Space - Protecting the Near-Space" that opened at Lloyds of London and has been shown in Europe and the United States.
Enter the realm of greatness as we hunt down the ultimate legends! Joined by Junior Fa, retired boxing champ, we embark on a journey through the magical realm of Disney movies and uncover the iconic figures from Papakura.This is a Frank Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Auckland Transport says KiwiRail has tarnished the reputation of the city's train system after 34 services were cancelled because the tracks were too hot. The Southern line to Papakura was worst affected, registering 48 degrees. Heat restrictions are temporarily applied to tracks that reach 40 degrees and above, due to the risk of track expansion in the heat. Auckland Transport's public transport director, Stacey van der Putten, admits that Aucklanders deserve better. KiwiRail's David Gordon spoke to Corin Dann.
The ban is over and Te Huia, the train service running between Hamilton and Auckland, is allowed back into central Auckland. Te Huia has only carried passengers as far as Papakura instead of The Strand in Parnell since mid-July after trains ran two stop signals. Waikato Regional Council member Angela Strange spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
A passenger train banned from downtown Auckland due to safety concerns after it ran two red lights, has been given the go ahead to return to the CBD from August 7th. Waka Kotahi slapped Te Huia, the Hamilton to Auckland train, with a prohibition order after two different drivers crashed stop signs on the network in two separate incidents; in one case another commuter train was forced to stop to avoid a potential collision. Since then Te Huia has been stopping more than 3km from the CBD at Papakura. As a condition of reentry into the city, the Transport Agency had said the train needed to be fitted with a specific sophisticated electronic control system that monitors the train in real time and can slow or take control of it. That hasn't happened but Waka Kotahi Director of Land Transport Neil Cook, explains they have reached an agreement on safety measures. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6331910711112
The red light running train service from Hamilton to Auckland can't enter Auckland City until it sorts out its safety protocols. Instead of finishing up in Parnell, its final destination is now Papakura, more than 30km from the city. We sent reporter Tom Taylor trainspotting to see how it's affected passengers.
The Hamilton to Auckland train service, Te Huia, has been banned from entering Auckland city due to dangerous driving. Waka Kotahi's issued a prohibition notice effective immediately after drivers on the passenger train crashed red signal lights on two occasions. In one case triggering a safety protocol which halted another passenger train that could have collided with Te Huia. Investigations are underway after Kiwirail reported the safety breaches. From this afternoon Te Huia will have to stop at Papakura station and passengers will have to bus into the city. Waka Kotahi director of Land transport, Neil Cook, explains what happened. Meanwhile Kiwirail says there will be replacement buses in and out of Auckland central to Papakura at no charge to Te Huia passengers this week, but after that, commuters will have to cover the cost. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6330960910112
Waikato Regional Council is bitterly disappointed that Te Huia trains are now forbidden from entering Auckland. Transport agency Waka Kotahi has banned Te Huia from operating north of Papakura after train drivers twice ran red lights in the last three weeks. The most serious was a driver ignoring a stop signal near Penrose which Waka Kotahi says could have resulted in the train crashing into another one. Operator KiwiRail declined to come on the programme this morning. Waikato Regional Councillor Angela Strange spoke to Charlotte Cook.
Transport agency Waka Kotahi has banned the Te Huia train from entering central Auckland city after train drivers twice ran red lights in the last three weeks. An immediate prohibition notice was issued on the Hamilton to Auckland service following the incidents. Passengers must now stop at Papakura on Auckland's southern outskirts and catch a replacement bus to and from the city. RNZ reporter Jordan Dunn spoke to Charlotte Cook from Papakura railway station.
Transport agency Waka Kotahi says one of the Te Huia trains that crossed a red light could have crashed into a busy commuter train. The rail service connecting Waikato and Auckland has been caught running at least two stop signals. Now, it's banned from entering Auckland's central area. Passengers have to get off in Papakura and catch a bus if they want to go into town. Operator KiwiRail declined to be interviewed this morning. Waka Kotahi director of land transport Neil Cook spoke to Corin Dann.
The Te Huia rail service that runs from Hamilton to Auckland has been banned from travelling north of Papakura. This follows multiple incidents of Kiwirail train drivers failing to obey signals, putting the train at risk of collision. The Public Transport Users Association's Jon Reeves says this move will just encourage more commuters back into cars. "Who wants to get on a bus in a traffic jam in peak time around Auckland to get into Parnell? This is just going to kill it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
There was an increased police presence in south Auckland's Papakura this evening, with officers keeping a close eye on an an unusual suspect. A young male fur seal made its way through the suburb, stopping at a fast food car park, crossing busy roads and blocking traffic before visiting a few houses and having a snooze in someone's back yard. The Department of Conservation is now trying to figure out how they can get the lumbering native mammal back to its natural habitat. Sally Wenley reports. And an update staff from Auckland Zoo and DOC have safely caught up with the seal and have relocated him. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6330347091112
Wallace and panellists hear from Prescription Access Initiative ahead of the fee scrap tomorrow and name suppression in New Zealand. Plus, they cross to Papakura where RNZ reporter Rayssa de Almeida is looking out for the seal.
Locals in rural parts south of Auckland city are angry that the council wants to shift the goalposts on how the area is developed. The region is forecast to see thousands of new homes over the next 30 years. Residents from areas including Papakura, Takanini and Drury expected these homes to be built on greenfields, and reject the council's plan to instead go for intensification. Finn Blackwell reports.
One of the biggest problems Grant Robertson's going to have delivering his sixth budget on Thursday is just getting us to believe to him. This budget- we've been told- is going to be about infrastructure. Hands up- who believes this Government when they announce they're putting a huge of money into building infrastructure? Yeah, probably not a lot of us. We all remember the big song and dance announcing the bike bridge to Birkenhead, or the Light Rail in Auckland, or the Let's Get Wellington moving project in the Capital. And we all know where we're at with those projects. In order: Cancelled, not started, one pedestrian. But let me also tell you about the New Zealand upgrade programme, which I've been personally watching for years. The New Zealand upgrade programme is a bunch of extremely important roads, which this Government cancelled when they came in in 2017. But then, in an obvious election move, just a day after announcing the 2020 election date, Grant Robertson brought them back. But after the election- what a surprise- some of the most important roads were downgraded and cancelled in 2021. Mill Road, south of Auckland, alternative to SH1 upgrade- cancelled. Whangarei to Port Marsden- cancelled. Takitimu Northern Link- second stage cancelled. Then fast forward to last Friday, and we find out that even the roads that did survive might now be ‘rescoped'. I'm taking about Otaki to north of Levin and widening the Southern Motorway from Papakura to Drury. So here we are again, just before an election, and Grant Robertson is about to announce a massive infrastructure spend. How many of us are actually going to fall for that again? I think five and a half years of a complete lack of delivery is finally catching up with these guys. That really limits what Robertson can do on Thursday. The only available trick to them is to hand out money. Because that's believable. The money's in the bank, done, no promises broken. So expect that on Thursday. Because what else can they do? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transport Minister Michael Wood has left the door open to delaying the delivery of some of New Zealand's most high-profile roading projects. They include widening the southern motorway from Papakura to Drury south of Auckland and the Ōtaki to north of Levin expressway. The government is “rescoping” projects in the $8.7 billion NZ Upgrade programme, which includes 19 high-profile transport projects. The projects were announced back in 2020 but massive cost blowouts saw several of the most high-profile roads axed in 2021 despite a $1.9b cash injection. It comes after an appeal to the Ombudsman revealed many of the projects face “red” ratings for their potential to go over budget. Upgrade roads include Auckland's Penlink, and Wellington's Ōtaki to North of Levin (O2NL) and the Melling interchange, and Tauranga's Takitimu North Link. Wood was keen to say there would be no cuts to the programme this time, but has not taken back some trimming of the projects and rephasing to deal with cost inflation. “The Government is committed to delivering the significant transport projects that are funded through NZUP,” Wood said. “There will be no cuts or significant paring back, but as is always the case there will be work to find efficiencies as projects go through detailed design and implementation. Waka Kotahi warned projects are likely to go over budget. Photo / Waka Kotahi An announcement is expected on the future of the programme in the weeks following the Budget. No decisions have been made on whether the projects will need an additional cash injection. “Many NZUP projects are already in delivery. Confirmed arrangements for the final few large projects will be confirmed in the near future,” Wood said. National's transport spokesman Simeon Brown said the Govenment needed to “come clean about the status of the NZ Upgrade programme” “These are roads they cancelled and then promised and now they look like they may be cancelled again. “Labour misled New Zealanders when they committed to this programme of works. They already cancelled Mill Road and Whangārei to Port Marsden,” Brown said. “Labour can't be trusted with roads,” he said. In February, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency chief executive Nicole Rosie confirmed in a select committee some of the projects were being “rescoped”. When asked by Brown whether more money was needed to deliver the entire NZUP, Rosie said that if Waka Kotahi did not know the “scope” of the projects it was impossible to know if they needed more funding. “If we don't know the scope, we can't tell you the answer to that,” Rosie said. “In reality the Government has been very clear that it wants to operate within the envelope that's available to them, so the rescoping is around looking at how they can continue on those projects within the money that's available,” she said. Waka Kotahi provides regular reporting on the health of the projects. Details from these reports were withheld from Official Information Act requests, but a successful appeal to the Ombudsman by Brown and the National Party has seen details released. The report, already nearly a year old, but released by the Ombudsman this year, gave each of the transport projects a health rating on a traffic light scale for their propensity to go over budget or over time. Roads like Penlink, were given a “green” rating for all criteria, but roads like Ōtaki to north of Levin or the Melling interchange were given “red” ratings for their likelihood to go over budget. - Thomas Coughlan, NZ HeraldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
South Auckland has been outdone by other areas of the city in the number of public submissions on Auckland Council's controversial proposed budget. Forty thousand people across the super city have submitted on the budget proposed by Mayor Wayne Brown to help fill a gapping $295m shortfall. Just over 900 Mangere residents gave feedback compared with 1700 in Devonport, despite having a bigger population. Around 500 people in Papakura made submissions, compared to 1700 in the Waitakere Ranges, despite it having a similar population. Manukau Ward councilor Lotu Fuli spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
Papakura High School has released CCTV footage after three brazen break-ins at the school in a month. The thieves, wearing masks and hoods, took off with Chromebooks and iPads, kicking in doors and throwing food during the raid. Principal of Papakura High Simon Craggs talks to Lisa Owen.
Auckland residents in the suburb of Papakura are concerned about chemical spillage affecting their properties after a truck explosion yesterday on the Southern Motorway. The truck was carrying gas canisters and other chemicals, and exploded into fire, forcing some people to evacuate their homes. Auckland Council's Environmental Health specialists have been visiting affected homeowners offering advice. They say an oily residue that has appeared on some properties is most likely to be canola oil. Council general manager licensing and regulatory compliance Mervyn Chetty.
Top stories for 9 March 2023 Doubt is cast over Te Whatu Ora's claims of improved wait times in hospital emergency departments-- National says the numbers are either wildly optimistic, or wrong The opposition mixes up its Ministries in an attack on the Government's rising spend on contractors. Papakura residents worried about chemical contamination from yesterday's Auckland motorway truck explosion are told soap and water should fix any problem. Overseas, Ukraine denies involvement in the sabotage of Europe's Nord Stream gas pipelines.
There are major traffic problems in Auckland this morning with the Southern Motorway closed just north of Papakura, because of a huge truck fire in the early hours of this morning. Nearby houses were evacuated but have now been allowed back home. Reporter Felix Walton is at the scene of the fire. He spoke to Corin Dann.
A Papakura resident evacuated from his home because of a huge truck fire this morning says he couldn't believe the pyrotechnic display unfolding before him. Sam Durbin spent about three hours out of his home this morning and says the experience is was one he won't forget in a hurry. He spoke to Guyon Espiner.
There are major traffic problems in Auckland this morning with the Southern Motorway closed just north of Papakura, because of a huge truck fire in the early hours of this morning. Nearby houses were evacuated but have now been allowed back home. Reporter Charlotte Cook spoke to Guyon Espiner.
Auckland's Southern Motorway, north of Papakura, has been closed by a huge truck fire. Nearby houses were evacuated. Reporter Charlotte Cook spoke to Guyon Espiner.
Top stories for 8 March 2023 Big problems at Auckland Hospital's emergency department. It was so busy on Monday it had to divert ambulances to other hospitals. Traffic chaos on Auckland's Southern Motorway after a major truck fire near Papakura. Thousands of dollars are still being paid to the public media entity board, even though the TVNZ-RNZ merger's been scrapped New Zealand's Census day is over, so what was the turnout like?
Absolutely none of us should be surprised that criminals think they can get away with committing crime in front of people in broad daylight at the moment. I don't need to list the examples, you know them. The people walking a supermarket trolley of groceries out of Countdown in Papakura on Sunday. The guy who took $20K from the safe of a New Plymouth café while the worker was inside and distracted. The kids with hammers robbing the jewellery store on Queen Street in the middle of the day and the kids flaunting their haul from a ram raid in TikTok videos. Obviously what's happening is that these guys are brazen because they think they will get away with it. They think no one's going to stop them or catch them, or if they do catch them, no one's going to punish them. And that is because right now the authorities are soft on crime. They are trying to find alternative ways to punish the bad guys other than charging them, sending them to court, and then sending them to the slammer. Those figures that Mark Mitchell from the Nats released tell you everything you need to know. “Over half of young people who offend receive a warning or consent to take part in alternative action.” What's alternative action? It's anything alternative to court. Case in point: The 14-year-old ram raider whose mum told the Herald in December that her daughter has been busted committing several ram raids and had even ploughed a stolen car into the rear end of another. And even though the cops knew about this, she hasn't been charged. They've just sent her to youth aid on several occasions. Our authorities seem to want to keep finding ways not to punish people. The ultimate end point of that is not that the offenders suddenly have a road-of-Damascus moment and realise they should change their ways. The ultimate end point is that they just keep re-offending because it's lucrative and fun, but they only get more brazen about it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today on the show - 0.00 - Jimmy Carr Show Review On The Intro 10.54 - Around The World 14.55 - Jon Broke His Balls On A Bike 17.41 - Mulls' Claw Machine Incident 22.09 - Bear News 28.10 - Bad Weeks At Work 37.29 - Obscure Competition Wins 44.41 - Bryce Is Going To Hell 52.53 - BBQ Blow Outs Join the 'Here's The Podcast...' Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/793615811995120/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Transport Minister is defending the ballooning cost of three Auckland train stations. When funding for two new train stations between Papakura and Pukekohe was announced in 2020, it was expected to cost 247 million dollars. But another station has since been added to the project, and it's now expected to cost about 495 million dollars. Michael Wood says the third station was added after a 2021 review found it was neccessary to support the area's growing population. He says they made the call to ensure the area had sufficient infrastructure to keep up with the growth, with the new cost funded at the time. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A property development company is taking Kāinga Ora to court, over its refusal to fast track a $4 billion housing development in Papakura. Winton Land is accusing the state housing agency of engaging in anti-competitive behaviour, by refusing private developers fair access to fast-track powers and paying well above market rate for land.Chief Executive Chris Meehan won't say how much money is being sought, but says the money is significant. He told Mike Hosking they don't actually want money, they just want Kāinga Ora to process their application. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sky-high food prices are being felt in classrooms, with one charity saying it is feeding 10,000 more hungry students compared to the beginning of the year. As children return to school for Term 4 today, children's charity Kidscan said it had fielded calls from principals who were in tears about the hunger and poverty they were seeing among students. "It's the worst we have ever seen it," said chief executive Julie Chapman, who founded the charity in 2005. "Parents are living in deficit every week. For the first time in 17 years, we are having teachers and principals break down on the phone to us because they are seeing the level of deprivation, particularly in that food space." In the 1000 schools and daycares which Kidscan supported, the number of children needing food support had risen from 44,000 in Term 1 and 2 to 54,500 in Term 4. Food prices are at a 13-year high, with data from Stats NZ last week showing prices rose 8.3 per cent in the year to September, including a 16 per cent increase for fruit and vegetables. This is being driven by a combination of pandemic supply problems, the war in Ukraine, labour shortages and tough local growing conditions. The latest official data on child poverty last week showed material deprivation rates were falling, but those gains were uneven and the data did not cover the full impact of Covid-19, the cost of living crisis, the Government's response to it, or children in temporary homes like emergency housing. Edmund Hillary School in Papakura is one of 39 schools on the wait-list for Kidscan support. "The kids are tired about 20 minutes into class time," principal Kataraina Nock said. "They are literally lying on the floor and I am thinking 'What on earth is the matter?'. They can't concentrate because they haven't got anything in their tummy." In the newly-introduced equity index for schools, the lowest possible score is 569. Edmund Hillary School is rated as 539. It is one of 950 schools around New Zealand which qualifies for the Government's food in school's programme. But that was not a complete solution, Nock said. "The kids are arriving at school hungry and we can't wait until the delivery of the lunches. We had to start making them toast in the classroom." The school has reintroduced a breakfast club and is feeding between 50 and 80 students each morning with temporary funding from the Ted Manson Foundation. That funding will run out at the end of the year. As the high cost of living had worsened the impact of Covid, some schools have played an increasing role in supporting families. Te Puke Primary School principal Andrea Dance said the last two years had been difficult for families in their region. Fuel, food, and housing costs had all risen, and some had struggled to get back into work. Children are tired about 20 minutes into class time, says Edmund Hillary School principal Kataraina Nock. Photo / Supplied For some students, her school was now providing breakfast, lunch, dinner, and in a handful of cases, a hot shower and a lift to school. "The kids are really happy and they want to be at school. But we have families that are really struggling, so we try to eliminate all those barriers so that school is one thing these kids can count on." Dance said there had been a silver lining to Covid-19, because schools had to become more connected with families while they were at home. "What I've noticed in the last couple of years is parents are actually asking for help when they need it - with food packages and other things. It is actually okay to ask when they are struggling, which is great." Shelley Cook, a special education needs coordinator at Coastal Taranaki School, said between 40 and 50 children ate breakfast at the school each morning. Students were initially ashamed about asking for help with meals, she said. The school had to work hard to remove the stigma of food assistance. "People on the outside of the communities might comment that surely it's the whanau's job to be able to feed their kids. It's not that they can't or won't, but … there is massive financial pressure on whanau at the moment."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Surprise maintenance closures are heading down the tracks for Auckland train passengers and the disruption to commuters will last years. Rock foundations under several lines around the city need to be removed and rebuilt so they can cope with more trains on the lines when the network hooks into the City Rail Link, hopefully by the end of 2024. That means rolling months long closures on the Onehunga and Southern line, the Eastern Line, between Ōtāhuhu and Britomart and the Southern line, Pukekohe to Papakura. Commuters will be offered replacement buses. Auckland Transport's Darek Koper joined Lisa Owen.
A substantial miscarriage of justice is how the Supreme Court has described Alan Hall's conviction for murder. The conviction has been quashed after an almost four decade fight to clear his name. Hall spent 19 years in jail for the murder of Arthur Easton - who was stabbed to death during a home invasion in Papakura in 1985. It was later found the description of the attacker and key witness statements were concealed or altered by police. Concerns were also raised about police interviews with Mr Hall who was later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Our reporter Rosie Gordon was in court when the decision was delivered. Investigator and supporter of Alan Hall Tim McKinnel told Checkpoint today has been emotional for everybody, and it has taken far too long to get to the quashing of Hall's conviction. He said it is a day of celebration but also sadness that so much of Hall's life has been wasted. He said the NZ justice system often gets things right but when it doesn't it seems to go catastrophically wrong, which it really did for Alan Hall.
Who needs Uber when public transport will pick you up pretty much right outside your place? In Auckland, a trial is underway where travellers can order an electric van or car to pick you up and take you to work - or to the train station. Similar to Metlink's Wellington trial, Auckland Transport's trial is underway in Papakura and Takanini - with plans to expand to other suburbs. Reporter Louise Ternouth and Camera Operator Marika Khabazi went for a ride along. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6307397838112
The south Auckland suburb of Papakura was rocked by a shooting this afternoon... right outside its the district court, next to the police station. The incident unfolded just before one-o-clock, and one person was taken to Middlemore hospital in a critical condition. Devika Sharma manages the Unichem pharmacy over the road. She told our reporter Katie Todd she was right in the thick of a busy day at work, when she realised something had happened.
The police are investigating five drive by shootings in Auckland last night. The shootings, believed to be gang-related, happened in Otara, Papatoetoe, Flat Bush, Papakura, and Te Atatuū between 6:40pm and 9:20pm. Four of the shootings happened between 6:40pm and 7:40pm. Police say nobody was injured, but several homes were damaged. Corin Dann spoke to Manukau Ward councillor, Alf Filipaina.
There were at least five drive by shootings in Auckland last night, across Otara, Papatoetoe, Flat Bush, Papakura, and Te Atatū. Our reporter Rayssa Almeida spoke to some of the residents down at Caspar Road in Papatotoe.
Auckland Council has endorsed the business case for a $306 million dollar plan to construct cycleways in the city. It means construction will now be sped up, but the topic is still proving divisive, with 13 councillors in favour of the plan, three against and seven abstaining. Among those at odds were the two Manurewa-Papakura Ward councillors, Angela Dalton and Daniel Newman - she was for and he against. They spoke to Susie Ferguson.
Aucklanders' food scraps will soon be kept out of landfill and instead used to power homes and help grow crops. The city council's been running a trial of green waste bin collections on the North Shore and Papakura - and it's going to roll it out to the rest of the city next year. Our reporter Louise Ternouth and Camera Operator Marika Khabazi have the story.