There's a small silver lining for regional councils amid slowing local economic growth.

The March Infometrics Monitor reveals economic activity has increased just 0.2% over a year, the slowest growth since the first Covid-19 lockdown.

Building consents have dropped almost 60% in the Tasman District and fell around 25% for all regions.

Tasman District Mayor Tim King told Roman Travers that despite hard times for regions, it does present councils an opportunity

He says with the current economic downturn it's ironically a good time to invest in infrastructure.

LISTEN ABOVE 

There's a small silver lining for regional councils amid slowing local economic growth. 
The March Infometrics Monitor reveals economic activity has increased just 0.2% over a year, the slowest growth since the first Covid-19 lockdown. 
Building consents have dropped almost 60% in the Tasman District and fell around 25% for all regions. 
Tasman District Mayor Tim King told Roman Travers that despite hard times for regions, it does present councils an opportunity 
He says with the current economic downturn it's ironically a good time to invest in infrastructure. 
LISTEN ABOVE

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Tim King: Tasman District Mayor on the slowing economic growth in the regions

A weather expert says creating one state weather forecasting system is the right decision. 

The Government's announced it's agreed in-principle to NIWA acquiring MetService - merging the two.  

Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says streamlining the two will make it easier to access information from a single trusted source and improve response to severe weather events. 

WeatherWatch head forecaster Phillip Duncan told Ryan Bridge that it’s been a bit of a weird journey to get to this point, but it’s definitely the right thing. 

He said that a government having two opposing agencies doing weather forecasts and saying different things is a recipe for disaster.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

A weather expert says creating one state weather forecasting system is the right decision.&nbsp;
The Government's announced it's agreed in-principle to NIWA acquiring MetService - merging the two. &nbsp;
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says streamlining the two will make it easier to access information from a single trusted source and improve response to severe weather events.&nbsp;
WeatherWatch head forecaster Phillip Duncan told Ryan Bridge that it’s been a bit of a weird journey to get to this point, but it’s definitely the right thing.&nbsp;
He said that a government having two opposing agencies doing weather forecasts and saying different things is a recipe for disaster. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Phillip Duncan: WeatherWatch head forecaster on NIWA acquiring MetService

The All Blacks kept their grip on the Bledisloe Cup last week, beating the Wallabies 31-28 in Sydney.

However, they still have another test to play, the second Bledisloe Cup test being the All Blacks’ final home test for the year. 

Elliott Smith, Newstalk ZB’s voice of rugby, told Ryan Bridge that the team needs to get their “20 minute jinx” sorted out as it’s becoming a real problem for the team.

He said they were still good enough to get the win against Australia last week, but they need to sort that out, and find some points in the last twenty minutes of the game.

LISTEN ABOVE

<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">The All Blacks kept their grip on the Bledisloe Cup last week, beating the Wallabies 31-28 in Sydney.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">However, they still have another test to play, the second Bledisloe Cup test being the All Blacks’ final home test for the year. 
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">Elliott Smith, Newstalk ZB’s voice of rugby, told Ryan Bridge that the team needs to get their “20 minute jinx” sorted out as it’s becoming a real problem for the team.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">He said they were still good enough to get the win against Australia last week, but they need to sort that out, and find some points in the last twenty minutes of the game.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">LISTEN ABOVE

Elliott Smith: Newstalk ZB Voice of Rugby previews the second Bledisloe Cup test in Wellington

An Auckland principal says teaching isn't a job, it's a service. 

The Government's instructing schools to have Stepped Attendance Response plans by 2026. 

It's also instructed them not to take teacher-only days in term time, unless authorised by the Minister. 

May Road Primary School principal Lynda Stuart told Ryan Bridge that it’s a complex situation because she knows that in her school, teachers are basically just limping towards the end of the term. 

She says that teachers need time in the holidays to recuperate before they’re back in their classrooms preparing for next term, and they don't have as long of holidays as some people think.

LISTEN ABOVE

<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">An Auckland principal says teaching isn't a job, it's a service. 
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">The Government's instructing schools to have Stepped Attendance Response plans by 2026. 
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">It's also instructed them not to take teacher-only days in term time, unless authorised by the Minister. 
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">May Road Primary School principal Lynda Stuart told Ryan Bridge that it’s a complex situation because she knows that in her school, teachers are basically just limping towards the end of the term. 
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">She says that teachers need time in the holidays to recuperate before they’re back in their classrooms preparing for next term, and they don't have as long of holidays as some people think.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">LISTEN ABOVE

Tim King: Tasman District Mayor on the slowing economic growth in the regions

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