Hawke’s Bay Disaster Relief Trust Approves New Funding Eligibility To $10,000Trustees of the Hawke’s Bay Disaster Relief Trust have approved an update to the eligibility criteria for the Disaster Relief Trust and increased eligible amounts up to $10,000. Commencing 8 May, this second phase will also allow previous applicants to reapply for additional support where they have been severely impacted. The trustees felt that a change in eligibility was warranted to ensure that payments can be made to those most in need. Since 27 March, the Disaster Relief Trust, administered by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC), has made payments of over $2m to approximately 3,500 applicants. When the Trust was first established, the eligibility criteria were set to enable it to fairly distribute to people in need across the whole of Hawke’s Bay.

Cycling fans and competitors have been left outraged after a transgender rider won a women’s race. Austin Killips (centre) won the Tour of the Gila becoming the first transgender woman to win the title. “Transgender cyclist Austin Killips wins women's Tour of the Gila. A third wrote: “Transgender cyclist Austin Killips wins women's Tour of the Gila! now try to compete at the Women's Tour de France and the Olympics.

There are a host of solutions to help climate change action, but how do we tell what's worth the hype, and what's just greenwashing? From solar pv, to wind power, plus nuclear and even geoengineering. So are renewables worth it, and could the future of fusion save the day? Adam Levy ...

An alleged burglar with a penchant for high-end sneakers got a nasty surprise when police showed up on his doorstep after he tried to sell them online. A 37-year-old man appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday charged with two burglaries of student flats and a count of shoplifting. Nike shoes valued at $2500 were stolen from a house in St David St on Saturday during the Hyde St Party, Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said. The student found them advertised on Facebook Marketplace and organised to meet at the man’s home address. He was declined bail by Judge David Robinson and will appear in court again next week.

Here's our summary of key economic events overnight that affect New Zealand, with news deposit insurance and financial stability are getting involved in an unhealthy mix. Meanwhile, regulators are reviewing their deposit insurance scheme, one that was found wanting during the recent turmoil. The RBNZ is due to institute a deposit guarantee scheme here, so they will no doubt be assessing what lessons they can draw from all this. The Canadian PMI was out overnight too and recorded a tiny expansion with price pressures not easing. The political pressure is to lower the policy rate levels to give highly-leveraged households debt-payment relief despite the unusually high level of inflation.

A pair of alleged shoplifters were arrested for stealing cider from the South Dunedin Pak'n'Save last night, police say. Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said police arrested a 30-year-old male and 28-year-old male for shoplifting in the store they had previously been trespassed from about 10pm. The pair were stealing alcohol — one of the alleged thieves also had a warrant for his arrest for missing a court appearance, among other charges, Snr Sgt Bond said. Both would appear in court this morning for burglary, he said. titus.lambertlane@odt.co.nz

Wellington lawyer Alwyn O'Connor was due to attend a Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal hearing to face misconduct charges. Photo / LinkedInWellington lawyer Alwyn O'Connor was due to attend a Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal hearing to face misconduct charges. Photo / LinkedInA lawyer accused of withdrawing $150,000 from his jailed client’s bank account failed to appear on charges of misconduct before the Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal today. A complaint by Wayne Coles, that O’Connor took almost $150,000 from his bank while he was in jail, formed the basis of the charge of misconduct. The Standards Committee alleged O’Connor withdrew funds from Coles’ account without permission and used it to pay the woman back in $1000 instalments.

Before throwing himself into this year’s appendage-swinging contest with Australian Rugby League Commission Chair, Peter V’Landys, Rugby Australia Chair Hamish McLennan threw himself into last year’s appendage-swinging contest with New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson. “We need people who are thinking Super Rugby every day. The more we grow Super Rugby, the more we grow the ability to reinvest. Hint: I’ll wager it’s not the one who just announced a significant financial loss for the financial year, with prioritised Super Rugby investment as one of the explanations offered. Remember, they just need “stability and continuity … to enable Rugby to grow in stature and importance across the region.”Hopefully, sometime soon ideally, some light might be shed on what is actually a pretty important piece of structural work for Super Rugby Pacific.

Here at Sportstalk, we love a bit of armchair team selection. So naturally, Jason Pine was delighted to see Herald sport writer Paul Lewis writing about which halfbacks the All Blacks need to take to France for the World Cup. Paul spoke to Piney on Sportstalk about why he wants Hurricanes rookie Cameron Roigard on the list. LISTEN ABOVE

An oath of allegiance? Sorry, but this national 'Homage of the People' sounds more like the stuff of a Stalinist people's republic. The authoritarian regime in North Korea, after all, is very keen on compulsory public oaths of loyalty to Kim Jong Un. An oath of allegiance? But even from the monarchists' point of view, this so-called Homage sounds like a bad idea.

Potato chips manufacturer Bluebird, based in New Zealand, says its parent company PepsiCo has invested over $66 million into the development of its Auckland factory, with a $26m-plus packing machine under construction. As Aimee Shaw reports for Stuff.co.nz, the Wiri potato chips manufacturer says snacking, and therefore its sales, have increased since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020. The most recent accounts on the Company’s Office show Bluebird made just over $4m profit after tax in 2021, on sales revenue of $174.6m. Bluebird says it spends $34m a year on New Zealand potatoes and corn, and uses about 33,000 tonnes of potatoes. Read the full story herePhoto: It takes just 20 minutes to make potato chips from washing the whole potato to bagging the seasoned chips.

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High fees and opaque exchange rates are hitting New Zealanders who send money overseas. (Image: Tina Tiller)Tristan Dakin says this is a problem for many New Zealand migrants trying to send money back home. All charge more if you attempt to send money in person. There may also be currency conversion fees associated with the transaction, and the bank receiving the money may also charge a fee. Stuff recently reported the top four banks were making about $16 million in after-tax profit – including from international transaction fees – every single day.

The 2023 Census for the first time included questions about sexual identity and orientation. Deputy government statistician Simon Mason said in that advisory that, from May 9, people who had not completed all their census forms would receive a “final notice”. “We had more boots on the ground, more paper forms and more community engagement.”Whatever the final completion rate, the 2023 Census would be an improvement on the results obtained in 2018 Census, she noted. “The overall response rate for the 2018 Census was 81.6% excluding partial responses. “Stats NZ has asked Cabinet for another $37 million to try and finish the Census and get accurate and fulsome data.

Police work at the scene of an unexplained death at a house on the corner of Mull and Birsa Sts, in Palmerston, yesterday afternoon. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIENPolice are investigating an unexplained death in Palmerston at the weekend. Officers were called to a Mull St property in the East Otago town early on Saturday. A police spokesman said officers were called to the Mull St address about 12.15am. Another Mull St resident contacted the ODT and said apart from noisy parties at weekends, the house was occupied by a "quiet and normal family" with four children.