Coasties, here’s what the next four days have for us.Friday, 30/1Fine with some cloud, sou’wester breezes ease.High: 25Low: 17Saturday, 31/1Sun and cloud, breezy nor’wester at times, sou’wester may develop late.High: 26Low: 17Sunday, 1/2Mostly sunny, sou’wester breezes ease during the afternoon.High: 27Low: 17Monday, 2/2Partly cloudy, afternoon showers develop, northerlies swing westerly later.High: 27Low: 16See the full Weather section in the app for:🌊 Tides🌬️ Wind☔ Rain radar🌞 UV levels🏖️ Safe swimming spots...and more.The Hibiscus Coast App has everything you need for the region, accessible at any time and from any location.

A quarter of New Zealand's peak electricity use could be shifted to times of lower demand, lowering household bills and saving up to $3 billion in infrastructure investment, a new report has found.The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), which commissioned the analysis, said lower network costs from shifting demand should flow through to households and businesses.Households had the most potential to shift their demand, but some industrial processes and manufacturing could also make changes with the right financial incentives, the report found.New Zealand's electricity demands will grow by 35 to 82 percent by 2050, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment estimated last year.Upgrades to accommodate growing demand could cost tens of billions of dollars, EECA chief executive Marco Pelenur said.The electricity network is built to handle peak demand, which only occurs a few times a day for short intervals. Spreading the power load could help to defer or avoid increasing demand capacity."This [analysis] shows we could save billions as a country just by moving when we use power."Rooftop solar and batteries could help shift household demand, but much lower-cost measures - that would also save households money - were also available.That included Wi-Fi-enabled devices that could be retrofitted to most hot water cylinders and heat pumps for a few hundred dollars.The devices, which are being trialled by EECA in hundreds of households at the moment, allow users to control appliances remotely, such as switching on a heat pump in the late afternoon before peak demand kicks in, so a house could already be warm when people arrive home."The early results from the pilots show households are saving on their bills right now - and that doesn't include the system benefits of deferring network upgrades," Pelenur said.Peak demand savings would be even bigger if flexible energy use were enabled at scale, and people were paid directly for shifting electricity use off-peak, EECA said.University of Auckland professor Nirmal Nair said demand-side flexibility, as proposed in the report, had been "widely touted", but if households and other retail customers were being encouraged to change their usage, then what they were charged should be revisited."Expecting [retail customers] to invest in more technologies to give value to other upstream agents like electricity retailers and distribution companies appears unreasonable, if not unfair."Major electricity users surveyed as part of the report said continued production was their top priority, but many were open to more flexible electricity use if it did not disrupt production, or cost more money than it saved.The report identified food processing in Bay of Plenty, Waikato and North Canterbury, farming in Canterbury and Waikato, and offices in the main centres as having significant potential.That could be achieved with similar technology to households, such as battery installation and 'smart load controllers' to defer electricity usage to lower-demand periods, when it was possible to do so.The report suggested a "robust reward system" to compensate industries for their participation.That could include direct payments, along with long-term energy cost reductions, it said.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

New Zealand homeowners who are planning renovations based on AI-generated designs and reality-TV style timelines that have little resemblance to real-world building requirements are unnecessarily exposing themselves to significant financial risk, according to a leading construction expert.Reagan Langeveld, director of Symphony Construction and a Master Builders gold award winner, says digital design apps and media entertainment formats are oversimplifying the building process at a time when homeowners need accurate guidance.He says AI design tools and renovation reality shows are making the situation worse by presenting versions of the building process that do not reflect compliance requirements or regional differences.“AI can generate a perfect room but it cannot tell you what is inside your walls or whether your local council sees the work as exempt from resource consents. It has no understanding of load paths, moisture management or plumbing locations and it cannot flag when a design triggers additional compliance in one region but not in another.“As a result, homeowners are being shown digital concepts and edited television timelines that ignore the complexities of structural planning, waterproofing standards, trades coordination and regulatory obligations.“Reality TV renovation shows add to the problem by making construction look fast and simple. What you see on screen is the highlight reel. Behind the scenes there are engineers, inspectors and weeks of preparation that never make it to air. None of it reflects the actual process for renovating or building a home,” he says.Langeveld says the surge in AI home-design tools has created a growing misconception that construction is simply a matter of selecting styles and layouts from a digital catalogue.“These tools skip the messy parts. They do not know what is structurally possible and don’t factor in how the plumbing and ventilation will actually run through a house. They can show homeowners a flawless visual but they cannot tell them how to build it, how long it will take or what compliance steps sit in the background,” he says.Langeveld says builders are seeing an increasing number of AI-generated renovation plans that cannot be constructed without significant redesign. That includes layouts that interfere with bracing lines, cabinetry that covers structural fixings, and bathroom concepts that simply do not work with existing plumbing runs.“Homeowners come to us with beautiful digital images that look achievable at first glance, but once you strip back the layers you find structural conflicts, missing drainage, or design elements that are impossible to deliver safely,” he says.Langeveld says overseas research shows renovation reality shows compress timelines for television and rely on off-camera labour, subsidised materials and rapid-fire editing that misrepresents what a renovation actually requires.“When people watch a bathroom or kitchen transformation completed between ad breaks, they naturally assume the real thing should be just as straightforward. They do not see the engineering reviews, the sequencing of trades or the inspections that make up the bulk of a real project.”He says the combination of AI visuals and TV simplification is creating a “renovation optimism bias” that leaves homeowners unprepared for real pricing, lead times and technical requirements.“It creates a gap between expectation and reality that always lands on the homeowner. They are basing decisions on a fantasy workflow that does not exist outside of an app or a television set.”Langeveld is urging homeowners to seek professional advice early, before committing to a design or budget.“Talk to your builder first. It is the fastest way to understand what is possible, what is compliant and what it will really take to deliver a safe, durable and well-executed renovation.”Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Starship Children’s Hospital and the University of Auckland say paracetamol and ibuprofen are safe to use in babies’ first year of life, with no link to eczema or bronchiolitis.For Hibiscus Coast parents, these are the two pain and fever medicines you are most likely to be given or buy over the counter when your baby is unwell.The research is led by Professor Stuart Dalziel, a paediatrician at Starship, and is based at University of Auckland.Almost 4,000 babies across New Zealand took part from birth.Half were randomised so parents provided paracetamol when needed for fever or pain relief.Half were randomised so parents provided ibuprofen when needed.Parents were asked at regular intervals whether their child had eczema, asthma symptoms, or bronchiolitis.Researchers also checked prescribing and hospital records.The first-year results have been analysed and published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.Eczema affected about 16 percent of babies given paracetamol and 15 percent of those given ibuprofen.Bronchiolitis occurred in about five percent of babies in both groups.The differences were not significant.Serious side effects were rare, and none was caused by the medications.The paper is part of the PIPPA Tamariki study, described as the largest trial ever conducted in children in New Zealand.The children are being followed to age six, with results at age three due soon, and later findings at age six to help test any links with asthma and other conditions that are diagnosed more accurately at school age.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Explainer - A series of unprovoked attacks on Auckland public transport - including a fatal stabbing last month - have raised concerns about the safety of riders and drivers in Aotearoa's biggest city.Auckland Transport says the vast majority of public transport goes by without incident, and it has set up a variety of public safety measures.What can people do if they're worried about their own safety on public transport?Here's what you need to know.What's been happening on Auckland public transport?From January to December 2025, there were 2161 reported incidents of "aggression, violence, racism, discrimination, and inappropriate behaviour" on Auckland public transport, said Auckland Transport's Director of Public Transport and Active Modes, Stacey van der Putten."The number of reported cases fluctuates across the months, ranging from a low of 84 cases in December 2025 to a peak of 249 cases in March 2025," she said.The rough average from those numbers would work out to about six reported incidents per day in 2025.There have been several violent incidents on or around Auckland transport in recent weeks.A passenger suffered moderate injuries in an apparently unprovoked attack by a group of people earlier this month, while a young woman was arrested after two people were assaulted at a bus station in Ōrewa.A 32-year-old man was also arrested after a bus driver was allegedly sprayed with a fire extinguisher in Auckland on 13 January.Some attacks in the past few years have been fatal.On 8 December, a 59-year-old was fatally stabbed on a bus travelling from Glen Innes towards Ōrakei in East Auckland. Another man, 41, was seriously injured after boarding the same bus a short time later. A suspect has since been arrested.In October 2024, an Auckland woman was stabbed to death on a bus in Onehunga and a 16-year-old was charged with murder after another fatal attack at an Albany bus station in 2023, while an American PhD student died after an assault while waiting at a Meadowbank bus stop in April 2025."We are very, very concerned about those specific incidents," NZ Police Inspector Charles Ip, the area prevention manager for Auckland City East, told RNZ."The commissioner has made it quite clear for us as an organisation to ensure that everyone in New Zealand is safe and they feel safe."Is violence actually getting worse? Are buses safe?With schools restarting and the traditional "March madness" traffic surge soon to begin, Auckland's public transport numbers will be on the rise."Public transport is safe," van der Putten said. "These incidents are an absolute minority; it is important to remember that last week Aucklanders took around 1.8 million public transport trips, with the vast majority having safe, comfortable, and enjoyable journeys."AT's data showed that March 2025 was the peak month last year for incidents, at 249, while only 84 incidents were reported in December.Van der Putten said that data is based on reports from the public."This data is based solely on public submissions and may include subjective or anecdotal accounts. As such, they represent perceived incidents rather than confirmed legal breaches or verified violations of operational policy."According to AT, there were also slightly fewer assaults against public transport drivers from 2024 to 2025, down from 60 to 55, although December 2025's numbers are not yet included in that total."This is largely driven through the rollout of bus driver safety screens, with over 650 buses now having them installed," van der Putten said.Police are working hand in hand with AT to address the issues."We're also working very, very hard with our partner agencies such as the local council and AT to do everything that we can to understand what we are facing and how we work together to reduce as much of these incidents as we can," Ip said."The nature of these incidents appears to reflect broader trends in society as many cities have seen violence rise in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, amid wider social pressures and economic strain," van der Putten said.Auckland Transport's app has ways to report dangerous situations. Photo: RNZ / Jessica HopkinsWhat public safety measures are being taken?Auckland Transport has a page on its website with resources to improve safety.AT is "continuously monitoring and adapting our strategies to prevent harm and respond" when incidents happen, van der Putten said.People can report dangerous or threatening behaviour immediately by:Reporting immediately by texting 4030Clicking 'Report feeling unsafe' on the AT Mobile appFiling a Crimestoppers report online"Our awareness of incidents is increasing as we've made it easier for customers to report their experience through to us," van der Putten said.There are also bright orange "safety points" at every major bus, train and ferry terminal.The help button on them will connect people to the Auckland Transport Operations Centre which operates 24 hours a day.It won't connect directly to emergency services so if people are in immediate danger they should contact 111.AT said it has seen a "moderate" increase in safety point usage and has also launched a public awareness campaign to draw more attention to them.There are red emergency buttons on trains which immediately alert the driver to incidents on board.Auckland Transport also has more than 4800 CCTV cameras in place around the city which are monitored from the operations centre.There are also a total of 54 Auckland Transport Officers and six supervisors who monitor buses, trains and ferries."They are trained in self-awareness, situational awareness, incident management and de-escalation and tactical communication techniques," van der Putten said.They also are trained to escalate incidents to NZ Police but not physically intervene."We will be there at the earliest opportunity," Ip said.Police do not patrol buses and trains on a regular basis."We can't be there on every single bus, it's just not feasible," Ip said.The transport officers get a comprehensive six-week induction course supplemented through ongoing mentored field training, van der Putten said."We can confidently say, addressing these complexities has proven challenging across all sectors and takes a collective approach, working with police, other agencies, and communities."Should I be worried about getting on a bus? What can the public do?"Our recommendation is that everyone stay vigilant regardless of how they move around our city and communities," van der Putten said."Stay aware of your surroundings, secure your belongings, and know how to get help when needed.""Trust your gut feeling," Ip said. Avoid confrontations if you can or try to move away or get off the public transport, he said."The key is to try to de-escalate, not to increase the risk to your personal safety."Basic safety tips like keeping valuables out of sight and avoiding being too distracted by your headphones also is important, van der Putten said.If a violent incident is unfolding in front of you while on a bus or train, keep calm, Ip said, and contact police as soon as you can when it's safe to do so."I think the main message that we want to get out there is that whilst reporting an incident is important, nothing is as important as your safety, everyone's safety."It's also important that friends or family generally know where and when you are travelling, and you have access to a phone for emergencies.If you're a tourist, you should be aware of how to contact New Zealand authorities using 111.If you're travelling alone and have concerns, staying in visible lighting, with people around you if possible, or sitting close to the driver can also help."Just trying to be more visible in terms of where you are is actually quite important," Ip said.It's going to be a big year for Auckland Transport with the upcoming $5.5 billion City Rail Link opening, and van der Putten said the agency is well positioned for it."We have developed extensive training and development programmes for our network staff, including transport officers, security and customer service teams, control centre operators."These initiatives aim to enhance monitoring, increase visibility, bolster security, and ensure a rapid response to incidents from the very first day."Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones will decide next week on rockpool gathering limits for Whangaparāoa Peninsula.Officials have given Mr Jones options that include possible new restrictions on gathering from rockpools, plus public education. He says he is gathering full information before making “significant decisions”, including whether rules should better recognise the importance of rockpool species not usually taken for food.Fishery Officers are patrolling popular beaches around Auckland and other regions to enforce current rules. Mr Jones says most people gathering marine life from rockpools are doing so within the rules, but some will exploit the resource.Mr Jones says a recent checkpoint in Clevedon, South Auckland, found “significant non-compliance”. He says Fishery Officers carried out 130 inspections and identified 23 offences, including large hauls of cockles and mussels. He calls that “unacceptable” and says Fisheries New Zealand will hold rule-breakers to account.Ms Marcroft says rule changes are only part of resolving the issue.She says communities need to know how to support protection of marine ecosystems, and she is meeting community leaders and groups with Fisheries officials to help educate people about sustainability and the importance of local rockpools.For Hibiscus Coast residents, any decision could change what people can take from Whangaparāoa Peninsula rockpools. In the meantime, current rules are being enforced through ongoing patrols.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Already eyeing that end-of-term escape?Auckland Airport says airlines are adding China to New Zealand capacity as Lunar New Year travel ramps up, with the peak period running 17 February to 3 March 2026, which may suit families planning ahead from the Hibiscus Coast.Air China is adding extra Auckland to Beijing services, lifting its schedule from seven to 10 flights a week between 24 January and 2 March, a 42% seat increase over that stretch.China Southern has already expanded this summer with up to double-daily Guangzhou to Auckland services, adding over 30 return flights, and it has moved from a 296-seat Boeing 787-9 to a 360-seat Boeing 777-300ER for the summer months.Looking further ahead, China Southern has confirmed 10 flights a week from the end of March to late October, up by a third on winter 2024 and back to pre-pandemic winter flight frequency.Auckland Airport says the extra flights are a demand signal, with China to Auckland direct traveller volumes in November and December up 10% on the same months last year and average load factors around 91%.Visa settings have also shifted, including simplified document translation requirements, electronic transit visas for Chinese nationals, and simpler New Zealand visa requirements for Chinese travellers who already hold an Australian visa.The airport says that helped drive a 44% year-on-year increase in Chinese travelling between Australia and Auckland in November and December, with nearly 23,000 travellers using that route.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

That damp start to the day can feel like summer has packed up early.What’s really happening is a classic La Niña-style setup for New Zealand, where northeasterly winds show up more often and drag warm, moisture-heavy air down from the tropics onto the North Island.Sea surface temperatures around New Zealand are sitting about 1°C to 2°C above average, which adds extra moisture into the atmosphere through evaporation, then any passing system has more to work with.That’s part of why we have seen tropical lows and remnants of tropical cyclones drifting south this January, with some of them slow-moving enough to sit over the upper North Island once the “door” opens between high pressure and the incoming lows.NIWA’s outlook through late February points to normal to above normal rainfall for much of the North Island, and normal to below normal rainfall across much of the South Island, so it’s not an early end to the season, it’s summer arriving in bursts.MetService is still signalling mid to upper 20s in early February with a mix of fine and showery days.Today is a good example on the Hibiscus Coast, peak 23°C under sunny skies, a high UV index of 8, and only a 15% chance of rain.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Manly and Stanmore Bay post shops on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula will lose postal services under a 2026 retail network change.The organisation says it is reshaping its urban retail network to better match how customers use services today, with a bigger focus on parcels and fewer locations overall.It says the aim is a better in-store experience and stores that can handle parcel sending and collection volumes.No rural store changes are being initiated at this time.A recently updated Deed of Understanding with the Government has reset minimum store requirements for the first time since the 1980s, allowing the network to be rebalanced.For Hibiscus Coast residents who use Manly or Stanmore Bay, local timelines will be communicated well before any change in each area.Customers are being directed to nzpost.co.nz/store-changes and in-store notices to see what is changing locally and where nearby services will be available.Nationwide, services will be removed from 142 urban retail partner stores in 2026.The remaining network will include 567 stores, and it says 90% of people living in urban areas will still be within 4km of a store.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Hibiscus Coast homeowners can get free help with insurance claims after severe weather damages a home.The New Zealand Claims Resolution Service (NZCRS) says it provides independent advice, case management, and access to legal and technical services after a natural disaster.“Dealing with the aftermath of a severe weather event, like that experienced recently in Northland, Gisborne, Bay of Plenty, Hauraki District and Coromandel, can be extremely stressful for homeowners,” says Gemma Wiig, Acting Head of Accommodation and Insurance Response.NZCRS says the first steps are to take detailed photos of any damage, then contact your insurer to lodge a claim.If you have questions or concerns at any point, NZCRS says you can seek free independent advice during the insurance process. It says people often want clarity on who manages repairs, or how to respond to settlement offers.It says claims for land damage, including landslips, can be complex and take time, with assessments often involving experts such as geotechnical engineers.NZCRS can be reached on 0508 624 327, email [email protected], or visit nzcrs.govt.nz.If your building is damaged, NZCRS also points to information on the Building Performance website about the rapid building assessment process and next steps.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

SEEK says job ads dipped in December, with Auckland down 1.1% and competition still high.Nationally, job ad volumes fell 0.3% after six months of rises.Applications per job ad eased by 0.1%, so the fight for roles remains tight.Rob Clark, SEEK NZ Country Manager, says: “This first decline in ad volumes in over a year was only slight, but has halted the stable-to-positive trend we were enjoying throughout 2025.”For Coasties watching the Auckland market, the report says the monthly drop was linked to weaker demand in Retail & Consumer Products (-5.2%) and Hospitality & Tourism (-3.3%), among other areas.Auckland also recorded a 0.7% fall year on year.Some regions still moved the other way.Taranaki rose 3.0% month on month, with Manawatu and Gisborne both up 2.1%.The report links much of that lift to increased hiring in Construction.Construction also led industry growth nationally in December, up 3.4% month on month.Over the past year, Construction job ads rose 42.9%.Engineering grew 2.6% in December, and Trades & Services lifted 1.5%.SEEK says the long-term picture points to a labour market recovery, with opportunities expanding in pockets as New Zealand heads into 2026.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Flushable “smart sensors” trialled at Browns Bay could help stop sewage reaching Auckland beaches.A single wrong pipe connection underground can send wastewater into stormwater lines, making the water unsafe for swimming.Two associate professors from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dr Wei-Qin Zhuang and Dr Colin Whittaker, with a wider team, have invented biodegradable sensors that can detect misconnected or blocked pipes.The devices use ultra-high frequency radio frequency identification (UHF-RFID). A radio signal can be picked up and traced as a sensor moves through sewer and stormwater networks.They are battery-free, flushable, and no bigger than a cigarette lighter. They are made from plant-based plastic and float naturally, so they can travel through pipes while staying easier to detect.“Each sensor carries a unique code, so we know exactly where it was released from,” says Dr Wei-Qin Zhuang. “If it appears in the wrong pipe system, it immediately flags a faulty or illicit connection.”The sensors are flushable, battery-free and no bigger than a cigarette lighter. Photo: Wei-Qin ZhuangIn two field trials with Auckland Council and Watercare at Browns Bay, the sensors detected an illicit connection in a newly built house. Zhuang says each sensor costs less than a cup of coffee to produce, and the unique digital ID meant the fault could be traced back to an individual property.The team says the sensors can also help detect blockages, including fatbergs, where congealed fat and hygiene products build up and cause overflows. They say existing methods like dye testing, smoke testing and CCTV can be time-consuming and labour-intensive.With about 8000–9000km of sewer pipes under Auckland, the team says the technology is designed to be affordable and scalable. For Hibiscus Coast swimmers, faster fault-finding upstream could mean fewer surprise closures after wastewater ends up in the wrong place.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Auckland could benefit from congestion charges, if done well, but a lot could go wrong if realistic alternatives to driving to work are not available, an expert says.The Land Transport Management (Time-of-Use-Charging) amendment bill to bring in congestion charges passed its final reading in Parliament last November.Government has already signalled Auckland Council would be the first local authority likely to have the charge, although council said it was still investigating and there would be public engagement before anything was introduced.Aimed at tackling congestion, and improving travel times on New Zealand's busiest roads, the scheme could charge drivers a toll at busy times to enter a downtown area, or just target busy roads and corridors.Quantitative geographer expert and University of Auckland lecturer Dr Hyesop Shin believed if done well, congestion charges could encourage more people to take public transport, scooter or walk to work.Shin, who was conducting an independent study on the potential impacts of different charging schemes, said the new legislation had the potential to reduce vehicle use, traffic jams, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.Dr Hyesop Shin is a quantitative geographer expert and an environmental science lecturer at the University of Auckland. Photo: SUPPLIED / LDR"However, congestion charges could increase emissions, if people take detours and end up driving longer distances to avoid toll points," he said."To avoid this, better public transport and active transport pathways need to be available, so people have realistic alternatives to driving."His team completed a study of Auckland's traffic, and how it might change under a charging option, using a cordon around the central business district.Computer modelling suggested if the cordon around the city centre was imposed, some drivers would take longer routes to avoid paying."It could create new bottlenecks, increase noise and emissions in local neighbourhoods, and push traffic onto roads that haven't been designed for heavy traffic."The council will need to monitor areas near toll points to make sure diversion hotspots aren't having harmful impacts on people's health, through air pollution and noise in residential areas or near schools."The study found travel to the Auckland city centre took 50 percent longer at peak times on Tuesday to Thursday mornings and evenings, with Monday and Friday's showing fewer cars on roads.More vehicles were hitting the roads on rainy winter days, adding to traffic jams.Most morning peak traffic came from suburbs immediately surrounding the city centre, like Grey Lynn, Mount Eden and Remuera.Shin said residents in these neighbourhoods travel a fairly short distance into the city centre, but create severe traffic jams some mornings.High numbers of vehicles travel from south Auckland into downtown were shown on Tuesdays to Thursdays; and while state highways from the west and north were also busy, traffic intensity was lower than from the inner-city suburbs.In the next phase of their research, Shin said they planned to map out how charging scenarios may shift traffic patterns and affect transport accessibility in socio-economically disadvantaged areas.Auckland Transport's programme director of infrastructure and place, Graeme Gunthorpe, said it welcomed research on possible solutions to the region's traffic congestion."Auckland commuters lose an average of 66 hours each year stuck in traffic at peak times - and as Auckland continues to grow, our congestion problem is only projected to get worse," he said.Council were presented with six options of locations at a meeting last year, where time-of-use charging programme may work in Auckland - including alternative routes so that drivers would have a choice.They included the city centre, city centre and fringe areas, city centre and inner isthmus, core motorways, core motorways plus city centre, as well as targeted motorway hotspots."They are very early indications of time-of-use systems that could work for Auckland and they consider the wider policy and operational settings required to implement a successful programme."To be clear, they are technical documents and not actual plans from Auckland Council or Auckland Transport."He said since 2024, council have studied time-of-use charging as a potential tool to reduce congestion and improve the efficiency of Auckland's transport network."It's important to say that no decisions on options have been made by Auckland Council, and there would be a period of substantial engagement with Aucklanders ahead of any time-of-use charging system being introduced."LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

For many people this summer – especially those across Northland Auckland and Coromandel – showery days and bursts of heavy rain have become all too familiar.Last week, fresh downpours on already saturated ground have again triggered flood warnings and road closures across the upper North Island.These are individual weather events, but they are unfolding against unusually warm seas that load the atmosphere with extra moisture and energy.Understanding ocean heat – and how it shapes rainfall, storms and marine heatwaves – is central to explaining what we experience on land.Looking beyond the surfaceFor decades, scientists have recognised sea surface temperatures as a key influence on weather and climate.Warmer surfaces mean more evaporation, altered winds and shifting storm tracks.But surface temperatures are only the skin of a deeper system.What ultimately governs how those sea surface temperatures persist and evolve is the ocean heat content stored through the upper layers of the ocean.A clearer global picture of that deeper heat began to emerge in the early 2000s with the deployment of profiling floats measuring temperature and salinity down to 2,000 metres worldwide.Those observations made it possible to extend ocean analyses back to 1958; before then, measurements were too sparse to provide a global view.While sea surface temperatures remain vital for day-to-day weather, ocean heat content provides the foundation for understanding climate variability and change.It determines how long warm surface conditions last and how they interact with the atmosphere above.Recent analysis by an international team, in which I was involved, show ocean heat content in 2025 reached record levels, rising about 23 zettajoules above that of 2024’s.That increase is equivalent to more than 200 times the world’s annual electricity use, or the energy to heat 28 billion Olympic pools from 20C to 100C.Ocean heat content represents the vertically integrated heat of the oceans, and because other forms of ocean energy are small, it makes up the main energy reservoir of the sea.The ocean’s huge heat capacity and mobility mean it has become the primary sink for excess heat from rising greenhouse gases.More than 90% of Earth’s energy imbalance now ends up in the ocean.For that reason, ocean heat content is the single best indicator of global warming, closely followed by global sea-level rise.This is not a passive process.Heat entering the ocean raises sea surface temperatures, which in turn influence exchanges of heat and moisture with the atmosphere and change weather systems.Because the ocean is stably stratified, mixing heat downward takes time.Warming of the top 500 metres was evident globally in the late 1970s; heat in the 500–1,000 metre layer became clear in the early 1990s, the 1,000–1,500 metre layer in the late 1990s, and the 1,500–2,000 metre layer around 2004.Globally, it takes about 25 years for surface heat to penetrate to 2,000 metres.Ocean heat content does not occur uniformly everywhere.Marine heatwaves develop, evolve and move around, contributing to impacts on local weather and marine ecosystems.Heat is moved via evaporation, condensation, rainfall and runoff.As records are broken year after year, the need to observe and assess ocean heat content has become urgent.What happens in the ocean, matters on landIt is not just record high OHC and rising sea level that matter, but the rapidly increasing extremes of weather and climate they bring.Extra heat over land increases drying and the risk of drought and wildfires, while greater evaporation loads the atmosphere with more water vapour.That moisture is caught up in weather systems, leading to stronger storms – especially tropical cyclones and atmospheric rivers, such as one that has soaked New Zealand in recent days.The same ocean warmth that fuels these storms also creates marine heatwaves at the surface.In the ocean surrounding New Zealand and beyond, these marine heatwaves are typically influenced by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation.This Pacific climate cycle alternates between El Niño, La Niña and “neutral” phases, strongly shaping New Zealand’s winds, temperatures and rainfall from year to year.During 2025, a weak La Niña, combined with record high sea surface temperatures around and east of New Zealand, has helped sustain the recent unsettled pattern.Such warm seas make atmospheric rivers and moisture-laden systems more likely to reach Aotearoa, as seen in early 2023 with the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.For these reasons, continued observations – gathering, processing and quality control – are essential, tested against physical constraints of mass, energy, water and sea level.Looking further ahead, the oceans matter not only for heat but also for water.Typically, about 40% of sea-level rise comes from the expansion of warming seawater; most of the rest is from melting glaciers and the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets.Sea levels are also influenced by where rain falls.During El Niño, more rain tends to fall over the Pacific Ocean, often accompanied by dry spells or drought on land.During La Niña, more rain falls on land – as seen across parts of Southeast Asia in 2025 – and water stored temporarily in lakes and soils can slightly reduce the amount returning to the ocean.A striking example occurred in Australia in 2025, when heavy rains from May through to late in the year refilled Lake Eyre, transforming the desert saltpan into a vast inland sea.Such episodes temporarily take water out of the oceans and dampen sea-level rise.Monitoring sea-level rise through satellite altimetry is therefore an essential complement to tracking ocean heat content.Tracking both heat and water is crucial to understanding variability and long-term trends.Author: Kevin Trenberth - Distinguished Scholar, NCAR; Affiliate Faculty, University of Auckland.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

On the Hibiscus Coast, Auckland Anniversary Day can feel like a simple long weekend.Its roots go back to a much bigger turning point. Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson arrived in the Bay of Islands on Thursday, January 29, 1840, sent to establish British sovereignty and set up a new government in New Zealand.A week later came another defining date. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed shortly after on Thursday, February 6, 1840.The odd part is the name. Auckland’s “anniversary” is tied to a moment that happened in the Bay of Islands, and the capital had not yet been established when Hobson arrived. The seat of government did not move from the Bay of Islands to Auckland until 1841.Over time, the holiday gathered its own local traditions. The Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta became one of the best-known, with the first one held on Saturday, January 29, 1842, two years after Hobson’s arrival.It’s also not just an Auckland day. The modern public holiday is observed across Northland, where it’s known as Northland Day, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne, as well as parts of Manawatū-Whanganui and Hawke’s Bay.Each year, the holiday falls on the Monday closest to 29 January.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

If you are looking for a simple day out beyond the Hibiscus Coast, the Waitematā will be busy for Auckland Anniversary Day.The Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta is back today.It marks 186 years since the first event in 1840.It’s free to watch from the waterfront, beaches and headlands.Racing runs across the region through the day.A new Sail Past leaves Westhaven at 12pm for North Head.Boats of all kinds can join in, whether they are racing or not.Three NZ Warbirds Harvards are due to fly over the harbour at the same time.On the water you’ll see everything from dinghies and keelboats to classic yachts, launches, waka ama, dragon boats and radio-controlled yachts.Dragon boat racing is the biggest it has been, with more than 40 local teams and four visiting crews from China.That takes it to over 500 paddlers, racing throughout the day in the Viaduct Harbour for close-up viewing.The tugboat race also marks 20 years since it was added in 2007, and it remains a crowd favourite in the central harbour.Youth sailing is again in focus at Kohimarama Yacht Club, with the Optimist and Starling Auckland Championships incorporating the regatta and bringing hundreds of young sailors onto the water.Competitors can round the day off at a new After Party at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, with live entertainment from the Royal New Zealand Navy Band.It’s a nice family day out in the City of Sails.From the Hibiscus Coast, you can head in for a look, get a feel for the boats in motion, and head home once you’ve had your fill.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Happy Sunday, Coasties! Grab a coffee and settle in.This is your essential 5-minute download of the week's most read Hibiscus Coast news and updates. Don't miss a thing!Vote: Orewa Beach Hits NZ Top 50Read more →Hibiscus Coast Commute Costs To RiseRead more →Asian Families Fear Abuse After Army Bay PostsRead more →Auckland Confidence Rises As Jobs SlideRead more →Need A Local Tradie? Check New ListingsRead more →Never miss a beat again. Get instant alerts and local updates delivered straight to your pocket.Download the Hibiscus Coast App now for news, jobs, events, and essential community info, anytime, anywhere.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

A body has been recovered from the Mahurangi River near Warkworth, ending a difficult search.Inspector Simon Walker, Waitematā Police, says the body was located yesterday evening during ongoing search efforts.Formal identification is still underway, but Police believe it is the 47-year-old Kiribati man reported missing after being washed away during severe weather on Wednesday.Police have extended condolences to the man’s family.Family members have been informed and are being supported by Police.Police also thanked those involved in the search over recent days, including Land Search and Rescue, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, other supporting agencies, and community members who assisted in challenging conditions.Police say the death is not being treated as suspicious and will be referred to the Coroner.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Hibiscus Coast locals can have their say on proposed Auckland waste rule changes, with consultation open until 11.59pm on Sunday, February 22, 2026.Auckland Council is consulting on updates to its Waste Bylaw and associated controls.The bylaw sets the rules for how waste is stored, collected, transported, and disposed of across Auckland.The council says the rules help keep footpaths clear of bins, reduce contamination in recycling, and ensure it collects the data needed to plan for future waste services.Regulatory and Safety Committee chair Cr Josephine Bartley says the proposed changes will not affect most people’s day-to-day routines.“It’s important we have clear and robust rules around how and where people can dispose of their waste and who can collect waste in our growing city,” she says.The council says the proposed changes are largely administrative and will not affect kerbside collections.It says they will help ensure waste is better managed across the region and that it has the data needed to meet long-term waste minimisation goals.Key proposed changes include:Expanding the range of waste facilities requiring a licence to include cleanfills and resource recovery facilities, while limiting the licence focus to data collection.Streamlining licensing rules for waste collectors, removing the current 20-tonne licensing exemption and adding exemptions for incidental waste services.Expanding approved options for waste disposal, such as supermarket soft-plastic drop-off points.Adding clearer rules to ensure waste is properly stored and contained on site, including for waste collection on private properties.Removing unnecessary or duplicated rules where matters are already regulated through the Auckland Unitary Plan.The proposal also recommends clearer explanations about approved containers, what can be placed in each type of bin, prohibited items, food scraps, use of public bins, and private-property collections.The council says waste collectors and facilities must continue to obtain a licence to operate in Auckland.Construction and demolition waste is not included in this review, with further investigation planned.Coasties can take part by visiting AKHaveYourSay.nz to view the proposed changes, find engagement events, and submit feedback.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]