Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is urging people not to be complacent when it comes to Cyclone Gabrielle.

He says we have to take the red weather warnings seriously.

The Government is also preparing to make an announcement about how it plans to tackle a rise in school truancy.

Attendance rates have trended down since 2015, but the trend has been accelerating during the pandemic.

About 40-percent of parents don't think it's a problem if their children are missing a week of school each term.

The Prime Minister says Cabinet is still to sign off a on the final details, but an announcement is definitely on the way.

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