PM Edition: Top 10 Business Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for April 9, 2026 – Full Text

Source: Radio New Zealand

Motorcyclists are putting their bike registrations on hold in protest at what they say are unfair increases to ACC levies.

Levies are paid as past of registration. From July this year, motorbikes would be classified into three sizes depending on their size.

Large diesel motorcycles, over 750cc, would be charged the highest annual ACC levy of $638.36 and petrol bikes of that size would pay $624.93. Motorcyclists who completed advanced rider training may be able to access a 25 percent discount.

Medium motorcycles, classed as 251cc to 750cc would pay about $450, and small motorcycles $311.70 for petrol and $325.13 for electric or diesel.

In the previous year, petrol bikes over 600cc had been charged $428.19 a year and diesel or electric $441.87. In the 2024/2025 year, someone with a 500cc motorcycle would have paid just under $300.

All motorcycles were also charged an additional $25 motorcycle safety levy.

The increases were part of wider changes to ACC levies that were announced in 2024.

Motorcycle Advocacy Group spokesperson Richard Tohu said the cost of registration was on track to increase by 68 percent by 2026.

“It’s just a lot of money. Everybody is feeling the crunch and they can’t justify the increases.”

He said there was not sufficient information to back up claims that it was reflecting the risk involved in motorcycles.

The group had asked to meet with officials to talk about the data that was being used, but it had not happened, he said.

‘Show us the data’

His Facebook group protesting the increases was on track to hit 9000 members, he said. “A couple of weeks ago we were 5000 members. Since our protest ride on the 28th, it’s just taken off.

“It’s not that we just want to get away with not paying money, we need to see that it’s justified. Show us the data. You’re saying it’s risk. We all know the bigger the engine does not equal higher risk … They won’t talk to us, nobody will meet with us. So we are advising our members to put your vehicles on hold and stop paying them. We need to try and get them to come to the table.”

He said it was likely people were still riding their bikes without a current registration. “If you ride an unregistered, unlicensed vehicle and you get caught, it’s a $200 fine plus demerit points. If you’re faced with paying $600 [for registration] there is going to be a lot of people out there that will take that risk.”

Legally, people whose vehicle registrations were on hold could not drive it at all.

“We don’t condone riding your motorcycle while it’s not legally registered to be on the road … but we can’t be responsible for what thousands of people are already doing and might choose to do.”

NZTA data showed there was a 9.8 percent decrease in motorcycle registrations between the March 2025 year and March 2026.

That reflected first-time registrations for the time periods, not vehicles already on the road.

But over the same period there was a 2.7 percent increase in passenger car registrations.

ACC deputy chief executive corporate and finance Stewart McRobie said it respected people’s right to protest and express their views.

“ACC forecasts the lifetime cost of motorcycle injuries at around $266 million per year in the current levy cycle. While motorcycles make up 4 percent of the vehicle fleet, motorcycle accidents represent 25 percent of the cost to ACC of all injuries from road crashes. 

 ”Through the levy system, motorcycle owners currently pay 28 percent of the total cost to support people recovering from motorcycle accidents. The remaining 72 percent is paid for and therefore subsidised, by the levies collected from other vehicle owners.  

 ”ACC has heard from owners of other vehicles that motorcyclists should contribute more towards the cost of injuries. Prior to the current levy round which covers the years from 2025 – 2028, levies for motorcycles have not increased since 2014.”

McRobie said police data showed 37 percent of injury claims from motorcyclists were from single-vehicle accidents where the motorcyclist’s actions contributed to the crash.

“The increase to motorcycle levies aligns the proportion of levy contribution from motorcyclists to the proportion of motorcycle crashes that only involved the motorcyclist – single vehicle crashes. 

“It’s important that ACC levies are fair and that the amount contributed by levy payers reflects the level of risk. To keep things fair, the amount motorcycle riders contribute is increasing, to better reflect the risk. Additionally, accidents involving motorcycles often also result in more severe injuries, which are more costly to treat.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/09/motorcyclists-put-rego-on-hold-in-protest-against-acc/

Source: Radio New Zealand

Corrections does not know how many people leave prison with nowhere to live or a reintegration plan, an Auditor-General’s report has revealed.

That information was crucial for preventing homelessness and reducing the risk of reoffending, it said.

But Corrections said “we don’t need to know” where people are going to be living – aside from those released on parole, or with conditions.

Corrections should do better at understanding that, to inform social services who could help those people, the report said.

But Minister Mark Mitchell said “Corrections is not a housing agency” and was not responsible for prisoners’ housing needs after they’re released.

‘We don’t need to know’ – Corrections

People are not obliged to tell Corrections where they are going or whether they have anywhere to live, and some did not want to share that information, the report said.

However, that data could ensure other agencies – like the housing and social development ministries – understand what support people need when they leave prison, and help prevent homelessness.

“This work would be particularly crucial given the importance of stable housing in reducing the risk of someone reoffending and returning to prison,” it said.

But Corrections’ reintegration and community services director Bronwyn Morrison said while it was concerned if people left prison without anywhere to go, it was only responsible for them if they were released on parole or with conditions.

“We don’t need to know, and they don’t need to tell us, where they’re going to be living,” she said.

“And it probably won’t surprise you to learn that most people would prefer we don’t know.”

Remand prisoners most at risk

Corrections case managers work with people in prison to plan for their rehabilitation and return to society.

Prisoners who have served more than two years are generally well supported to find accommodation, because that was often a condition of parole, the report said.

But remand prisoners – 40 percent of the prison population who are awaiting trial or sentencing – are most at risk.

Staff told the Auditor-General’s office many were not getting sufficient support, largely because their release can be hard to predict.

Most people on remand spend less than a month in prison, though it can range for a day to more than a year, and they can be released at short notice without a plan for housing.

“As a result, they risk falling into, or returning to, an unstable housing situation that could lead to them reoffending and returning to prison.”

Morrison said some people on remand were dealing with mental health and addiction challenges, coupled with the stress of upcoming court dates.

“A lot of people aren’t actually with Corrections very long and there is an element of being in and out of custodial remand as people really struggle to retain their time in the community, without either re-offending or causing a risk or perhaps losing accommodation,” she said.

“So it is quite dynamic and our concern is always going to be focused on community safety.”

Corrections does not track how often case managers meet with prisoners, or the quality of that support, the report said.

Morrison said that work was variable by nature, and prisoners were prioritised based on their re-offending risk.

“We are always focused on making sure those people at high risk of re-offending do have stable accommodation, because that is what’s core for us, achieving community safety outcomes as well as reduced re-offending.”

Corrections had a better grasp on the living situation for people who were being released on parole or with conditions.

Of those, 12 percent – about 6000 people – were recorded in 2024/25 as having no fixed abode, said Morrison.

But that data was not necessarily accurate because often those people found accommodation soon after their release, she said.

Corrections’ role in helping prisoners find homes

Corrections was responsible for ensuring people being released could find “secure, safe and long-term housing”, relying on the wider housing system including social service agencies, the report said.

There are barriers: “A lack of available suitable housing, landlord reluctance to offer tenancy agreements to people with previous convictions, and community safety concerns can make this difficult.”

Corrections contracts accommodation providers to provide homes for up to 1200 people (across 300 beds) each year, at a cost of $27 million (2024/25).

It also funds a service called Out of Gate, which connects people released from prison to different supports, including support finding accommodation.

The department also has accommodation on prison land for high-risk people who have nowhere to go.

They typically stay more than two years, but in some cases, their stay could be indefinite because of the lack of suitable housing.

‘Corrections is not a housing agency’ – minister

Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell said the agency was not responsible for prisoners’ housing needs after they’re released.

“That is for our social service agencies and the wider housing system,” he said.

“What I do expect from Corrections is that they connect prisoners with relevant support services, including referrals to housing agencies, doing everything possible to ensure there is stable accommodation for them to go to once they leave prison.”

Corrections assured him that was happening and was doing everything it could do ensure people had a place to live, he said.

“While some areas can be strengthened, I am pleased to hear there is work already planned and underway which is in line with the intent of the report’s recommendations.”

Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka said the report’s findings reinforce the importance of agencies working together to help prisoners into stable housing.

“That includes improving information sharing and targeting support more effectively to reduce the risk of homelessness and reoffending,” he said.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

LiveNews: https://livenews.co.nz/2026/04/08/corrections-does-not-know-how-many-leave-prison-with-nowhere-to-go-report-reveals/