An academic specialising in health systems is worried this year’s Budget is ‘‘playing it very risky’’ with health spending over the next few years.

Two Ravensbourne retirees have had a gutsful of slippery pavements, blocked drains and out-of-control grass verges and have set out to fix them.

Home-school students and their parents say the government’s decision to delay sweeping changes is a relief after being scared they would face ‘‘a ton of bricks’’ of rules and regulations.

 Intermediate aged pupils are being treated as ‘‘guinea pigs’’ and are being set up to fail when new tougher qualifications are introduced, a Dunedin teacher says.