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The AA has analysed a decade of crash statistics in New Zealand for its first annual Road Safety Review. The numbers show an improvement in road safety, but people aged 15-24 continue to experience the highest rate of death and serious injury, and there are opportunities for improvement. AA's Research & Road Safety Manager Dylan Thomsen spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The latest news and sport from RNZ Pacific.

In 2023, 36% of Manurewa's enrolled voters didn't cast a ballot in the election. Ke-Xin Li spoke to residents about their concerns and their motivations to vote.

University of Auckland vaccinologist Associate Professor Helen Petousis-Harris tells First Up about case numbers and the signs of meningococcal disease to watch out for.

The Minister of Fruit and Veg recommends greens for the shopping list and mandarins for the lunchbox.

Asparagus is also in healthy supply and shaved asparagus is one way to enjoy the spring vegetable. Wash and dry the asparagus, lay the spear flat on a chopping board using the woody end as a handle, use a sharp vegetable peeler and draw it away from your fingers and towards the tip of the asparagus. Rotate as needed to keep the spear stable and repeat to make enough ribbons for your recipe. 

Glenn has a few tips for using the shaved asparagus: lemon, Parmesan and asparagus salad, shaved asparagus pizza and ricotta and asparagus toast.

Correspondent Anita Purcell Sjolund brings First Up the latest from Europe.

Sports migration

Fun Facts about the game 'Hopscotch', Codi helps us learn how to say 'wait' in te reo Māori, and tamariki talk about holidays. There's a book review and heaps of jokes too!

We start a new series of time-travel adventures with Ali & Gab, there's a brain-teaser for you to solve, and Laura talks about the book Sleep Little Kiwi, Sleep. Plus, picnics, jokes, and Cool to Kōrero.

In this final episode, Shamubeel brings together all the things he learned about how struggling towns can get their mojo back. That involves 'playing to your strengths' - often the things a small town has that big cities lack - but also something that economists don't normally measure: community, self-reliance and a can-do attitude.