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Auckland weather: All schools, early childhood centres and tertiaries to shut for a week

Published

4 years ago

January 31, 2023

The Ministry of Education has directed that all of the Auckland region’s schools, early childhood centres and tertiary institutions stay closed until 7 February.

Principals were told the shut-down instruction was issued after the National Emergency Management Agency asked the ministry to help minimise traffic on Auckland roads while vital infrastructure is repaired.

30 January – Red level weather warnings (the most severe warnings) are currently in place for Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula. Because of this the National Emergency Management Agency has issued a safety warning that the forecast heavy rain could cause flooding, slips and damage. Scroll down to find the full list of their advice for keeping safe.

Secretary for Education Iona Holsted has directed all Auckland schools, early childhood services and tertiary institutes to remain shut for physical instruction until 7 February.

“Early Learning Services may allow the physical attendance of any child whose parent needs them to do so but must otherwise be closed. Early learning services will continue to be funded.

“Principals and education leaders have done a fantastic job of readying their schools for opening, and I know that this decision will be upsetting for some of them and for some parents.

“I know this is a late announcement that will cause disruption and I thank the sector in advance. We need to get Tamaki Makaurau back up and running as quickly as possible.”

About 20 schools in the regions have been badly damaged, while others have slips or contamination from floodwaters in their grounds.

The order covers the area from Wellsford in the north to Pukekohe in the South.

Auckland Grammar principal now says school closed until further notice

Auckland Grammar School had announced they intended to open tomorrow despite the Ministry of Education’s directive, but the principal then reversed that emailing parents to say the school would be closed until further notice.

“So informed our parents it was still our decision to remain open unless we were directed to close” – Tim O’Connor told Checkpoint 4:17

from Checkpoint

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Auckland Grammar School headmaster Tim O’Connor had told Checkpoint the ministry’s statement left room for the school to make their own call.

“There is a line in the media release that says school and kura can open on their own instruction,” he said.

The school started teaching 60 students last week and another 60 are on the way.

“It was still our decision to remain open unless we were directed to close.”

“At this point we haven’t been told it is a directive to close, and if it is,” the school will close, he said.

However, later on Monday evening the principal emailed parents to advise that Auckland Grammar would now close until further notice.

Businesses ‘angry, bemused, frustrated’

Employers and Manufacturers Association chief executive Brett O’Riley told Checkpoint he believed the decision did not take into consideration the impact on businesses.

“Our concern is that right at the time when we need to have as many people working on the recovery, we’re going to have a lot of families and communities impacted by schools and other education facilities not being open.

“This feels like a de facto lockdown for Auckland right at the time when we need people working on that recovery and very disappointed that there was no discussion with the business community before this decision was taken.”

“Well I think it [the decision to close Auckland schools] has been made without a lot of thought about the impact on businesses” – Brett O’Riley 6:34

from Checkpoint

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O’Riley said some businesses would be short-staffed because they would need to stay home and look after their children.

“Literally, we were on this call and getting emails and text messages from members and people saying ‘what do we do? What’s our position here? How does this impact annual leave if people can’t come to work?'”

While at an Auckland business roundtable meeting, businesses found out about the news and were “angry, bemused, frustrated”, he said.

“If it is a safety issue, then that’s fine. But are suggesting people aren’t going to work because of the conditions of the road? Are we suggesting that we’re closing down transport companies from delivering essential products? Just what is going on here.”

He said he had talked to Mayor Wayne Brown on Monday afternoon, and he had told him it was not council’s suggestion that people don’t go to work.

“His definitive position is that it’s up to businesses to decide but now we have some of that decision taken out of businesses’ hands by the Ministry of Education.”

Primary principals group expresses relief at order

Auckland Primary Principals’ Association president Wendy Kofoed is the principal at Newmarket School and said that while her organisation had not lobbied for the call she was relieved it had been made.

“It’s been a good call. We have no idea what tomorrow’s weather bomb or Wednesday’s is going to bring. And while my school might be fine at the moment, I would not like to submit children and staff to the sorts of features that we had … on Friday – health and safety is paramount.

“It will give people a chance to catch their breath, the infrastructure a chance to be repaired … that’s going to take some time. And also we have some of our staff affected with their own homes.”

“As a principal I’m a little relieved because we have no idea what tomorrow’s weather bomb or Wednesday’s is going to bring” – Wendy Kofoed 4:53

from Checkpoint

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Kofoed said some schools were still being used to house families displaced by the storms and floods.

And schools were also still being affected by Covid-19, which was making it difficult to maintain good staffing levels. Kofoed said a colleague and three of her staff were currently sick with it.

While some parents may be concerned about students missing more school time, Kofoed said the safety and well-being of staff and students must come first.

“Auckland is facing some huge challenges in getting back to normal and we want to give the people trying to repair our roads the best chance to do that.

“Thousands and thousands of students cross Auckland every day, you’re looking at 20,000 to 30,000 cars back and forth to various schools … that’s certainly not … desirable at this stage.”

She said many families would have lost school uniforms and stationery they had ready for the start of the year and some families could now be displaced, staying in different districts to the schools the children were enrolled in.

“Schools are going all out to support these families, and will be going all out to mitigate [those problems]. We want these children back at school when they can, we’re looking after our communities again – we’ve shown that we were good at that through the Covid years, and we will continue to do that.”

Before the shut-down order, schools had been scheduled to reopen between 31 January and 7 February.

SOURCE RNZ

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Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

rnz

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New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

rnz

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Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

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