Midday Report

Thousands of homes across Auckland are flood damaged, and in need of repair, refurbishment, or rebuilding. 

By 11-clock this morning, building assessments teams had issued 138 red, 542 yellow, and 1141 white placards. 

CoreLogic NZ's Cordell Construction Cost Index puts annual residential building price inflation at more than 10-percent, and expected that rate to continue this year.  

Master Builders' chief executive David Kelly spoke to Māni Dunlop.

Some Auckland residents and businesses are again surveying the damage caused by floodwaters, which rose again in some parts of the region overnight.

Hundreds more are seeking help at the Mangere Emergency Centre today, where a co-ordinator says linens, baby foods, nappies and sanitary products are urgently needed.

There is flooding in several suburbs.

And there are several more slips as well as flooding in Swanson. 

Māni Dunlop heard from RNZ reporter Mohammad Alafeshat who was in the area on Scenic Drive.

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Midday Sports News for 1 Febuary 2023 New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson says that while important steps are being made, the sport still has work to do around diversity and inclusion.

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The Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has also announced an extension of half-price public transport until the middle of the year.

It's among other policies to reduce transport costs amid the rising cost of living.

Free Fares coalition spokesperson Kate Day told Māni Dunlop it needed to be made permanent.

The government is extending the petrol tax cut and half price public transport til the 30th of June to help ease the rising cost of living.

Road User Charges are also discounted.

The subsidies, which were first introduced at the start of last year, were due to end on March the 31st. 

In making the announcement a short time ago, the Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, reiterated that his number one priority is the cost of living,

Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand spokesperson Nick Leggett joined Māni Dunlop in the Wellington studio to discuss what it would mean for freight and food prices.

Hundreds of people have been displaced after flooding affected homes across Auckland, and social organisations have been flat out providing shelter and support.

Auckland City Mission has already received more than $300,000 for its flood response fund. 

Auckland City Mission general manager of health and social services Jacqui Dillon spoke to Māni Dunlop.

Auckland is still in clean up mode as it again deals with strong winds, rainfall and flooding in some areas. 

Red heavy rain warnings are already in force for Northland, and from later today for Auckland north of Orewa and Coromandel Peninsula.

There are orange heavy rain warnings for Auckland from Orewa southwards, Great Barrier Island, Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne.

RNZ reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Māni Dunlop from Helensville in Tāmaki Makaurau.

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