Wellington business Paradigm Group has bought the GrabOne brand and assets.It relaunches on Tuesday, offering vouchers for discounts at local businesses.Global Retail Marketplace, which bought GrabOne in 2021, went into liquidation last October.At the time, liquidators said it was due to funding constraints.Many consumers were left with vouchers they were not able to use, although some businesses said they would still honour them.Paradigm said it already had 30 businesses on board for the relaunch.Jonty Hodge, chief executive of Paradigm Group, said GrabOne going into liquidation was not just a platform shutting down."Real merchants lost a channel that was genuinely working for them, and over 350,000 Kiwis lost a way to discover what's on their doorstep. For some of these businesses, GrabOne was generating millions in revenue. That matters. We couldn't just watch that disappear."We understand it was a really difficult time for a lot of merchants and customers as well. We went and talked to a bunch of them, we talked to a lot of businesses and we understood there was something worth saving ... there was a community of customers and businesses worth saving and that's something that we're looking into the future, how we can stand up the platform again and make it a discovery marketplace where businesses can acquire and find new customers. Customers can discover new places to eat, experience and do activities."He said the new business would not be able to honour any of the vouchers or deals offered by the previous owners.If customers came to the new GrabOne business with questions, it would address that, he said."A lot of them would have done charge backs and stuff like that so they've still got avenues to go in that direction. For us, GrabOne felt like an iconic brand and that's something we thought we can save and see if we can take it back to its roots ... we're focusing on escapes, experiences and activities. We're putting a pause on the product side of things. We'll re-look at that down the track but it will definitely have a really local lens when it comes to promoting products."Paul Raeburn is head of the new GrabOne and said it was good to return, having been involved almost 15 years ago."We were at the forefront of connecting people with local businesses, motivating Kiwis to explore more of the country. Last year's liquidation marked the end of one chapter, but we always knew the platform still had so much to offer Aotearoa. This isn't just a relaunch for nostalgia's sake, but a reset focused on quality and long-term value."He said merchants had made it clear there were aspects of the previous iteration that were not working.Dockside Restaurant and Bar general manger Conrad Banks said it had made more than $6 million in sales from GrabOne over time so the loss of the platform was a blow."We're looking forward to having GrabOne back with a fresh start, backed by a Kiwi team that really gets how to help us grow, reaching new customers and turning first-time visitors into regulars."Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Auckland Council has opened consultation on its Annual Plan 2026/2027, with feedback closing Sunday, March 29.Every year the council consults with the community on its annual plan. Aucklanders are being asked to review the proposed budget for 2026/2027 and share their feedback before councillors agree the final plan that will be underway from 1 July.Mayor Wayne Brown says the 2026/2027 budget is about “continuing to do things better, faster, cheaper to minimise the impact on ratepayers and continue boosting performance across the council.” He says a major focus is transport reform, with a new public transport service provider and other transport functions brought into the council.“Deliver smarter services, maintain what we have, and get more from every asset,” he says.The Annual Plan 2026/2027 continues the council’s focus on strengthening Auckland’s physical and financial resilience, prioritising transport, water and enabling local boards to respond to their communities’ needs.The plan includes $3.9 billion for new capital infrastructure projects across Auckland and $5.3 billion for continuing essential services such as pools, libraries, animal management, public transport and waste collection.The council is planning an overall rates increase of 7.9 per cent for 2026/2027 for the average value residential property, as previously agreed in the Long-term Plan 2024-2034. It says the City Rail Link is the main driver for the rates increase as the council manages additional City Rail Link costs in its budget.For the average household, annual rates are proposed to rise by around $320 next year, from $4055 in 2025/2026 to $4375 in 2026/2027. That is about $6.16 more per week, based on an average $1.28m capital value residential property.The plan also includes a savings target of $106 million for 2026/2027. This includes an additional $20 million on the existing target. The council says the $106 million equates to 3.5 per cent of rates.Auckland Council group chief financial officer Ross Tucker says the annual plan outlines priorities region-wide and locally through all 21 local boards, including local board activities and services planned for each area.Targeted rates and fees are also included. Among proposed fee updates is the Auckland Transport residential parking permit, with the annual $70 fee proposed to increase to $114 per year.Aucklanders can give feedback at akhaveyoursay.nz/ourplan. Consultation closes 11.59pm Sunday, March 29.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Auckland Surf Park shared new detail at a community event on Saturday morning at Dairy Flat Primary School. Sir John Kirwan and project partners Aventuur hosted the session. Trevor McKewen from Aventuur said he was delighted at the number of people who turned up to see the community plans.The community heard and saw what is in the recently lodged Fast Track substantive application, covering residential and Town Centre details for the Surf Park project. Stage 1 is due to open in 2028, centred on the wave pool, with neighbouring housing and hospitality. Stage 2 is planned by 2030, adding more housing options, a town centre and a bike trail. The wider 2030 vision lists high-performance sports and leisure facilities, including a surf academy, fitness studio, outdoor pools and hot tubs, plus eco-cabins and accommodation. A village centre is also part of the plan, with a members’ clubhouse, restaurant and bar, cafe kiosk, kids playgrounds, and walking and cycling tracks. The plans also show a data centre and a seven-hectare solar farm providing renewable power, alongside three new residential neighbourhoods of up to 500 homes, plus light industrial and live/work precincts, within the wider growth area north of the Hibiscus Coast. Auckland Surf Park says it is aiming to set a new benchmark for responsible, sustainable community development.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

The body of a kayaker missing near Auckland's Waiwera has been found.The man was seen coming out of his kayak, but then did not surface, and emergency services were called about 7.30am on Sunday, a police spokesperson said.Police officers, the police Eagle helicopter team, Surf Lifesaving NZ lifeguards and Coastguard members responded immediately.A police spokesperson said the man's body was found on Sunday afternoon.Police were providing his family with support and the death would be referred to the Coroner.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Watercare will end treated wastewater discharges into the Waiwera Estuary through a $45 million upgrade in Waiwera and Hatfields Beach.The Waiwera water and wastewater upgrade forms part of Watercare’s 10 year, $13.8 billion capital works programme from 2025 to 2034.Watercare head of wastewater planning Andrew Deutschle said removing discharges marks a major shift for the estuary.“This work will eliminate treated wastewater discharges into the Waiwera Estuary entirely - a huge win for water quality and the local environment.”A new wastewater pump station will be built beside the existing Waiwera Wastewater Treatment Plant.A 4.5 kilometre pipeline will connect it to the Hatfields Beach Pump Station.Wastewater will then be pumped to the Army Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant for higher level treatment before being released through the Army Bay outfall.Once the new system is operational, the Waiwera Wastewater Treatment Plant will be decommissioned.The wastewater oxidation ponds at Waiwera Wastewater Treatment Plant.The wider programme also includes an 840 metre replacement watermain.This is expected to improve reliability and cater for an additional 1,600 residents by 2068.Watercare project manager Martin Hughes said crews have begun laying sections of the wastewater pipeline along Hibiscus Coast Highway and Weranui Road.“These initial sections were installed using opencut trenching due to steep, winding terrain.”Most of the remaining pipework will use horizontal directional drilling.“It’s faster, less disruptive and more cost efficient than open trenching.”Permanent lane closures of up to 500 metres are in place on the northbound lane of Hibiscus Coast Highway.Two way traffic signals are managing vehicles on the southbound lane.Hughes said the team is coordinating with Auckland Transport on slip repairs near the work zone.“The slips have created some minor disruption, however we will reschedule the construction of the new wastewater pipeline to accommodate the slip repairs.”He said the wastewater and water upgrades remain on track for completion by the end of the year.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Auckland Council’s 2025 candidate pool skewed older, male and European compared with the city’s adult population.A report by Auckland Council’s Strategic Advice and Research Unit analysed self-reported survey data from 340 of the 435 unique candidates who stood in the 2025 elections, a response rate of almost three-quarters.The analysis was based on final results in November 2025, before the Manukau District Court declared the Papatoetoe subdivision result void in December 2025.Women made up 37 per cent of candidates, down from 43 per cent in 2022.Just 12 per cent of candidates were aged 18 to 34.Those aged 65 and over accounted for 17 per cent, down from 22 per cent in 2022.Seventy-one per cent of candidates identified as European, compared with 51 per cent of Auckland’s adult population.Māori made up 17 per cent of candidates, compared with 10 per cent of the adult population.Sixteen per cent identified with an ethnicity in the broad Asian category, compared with 31 per cent of the adult population.The report notes increased representation among elected Māori and Pacific members compared with 2022.Sixty-nine per cent of candidates were born in New Zealand, compared with 51 per cent of the adult population.Twenty-nine per cent could hold an everyday conversation in at least one language other than English.Seven per cent reported a disability, impairment or long-term condition, the same proportion as the adult population.Voter turnout varied across local boards.In Rodney, 20,089 of 56,192 electors voted, a turnout of 36 per cent.Turnout in Hibiscus and Bays was 33 per cent, meaning most enrolled voters did not take part.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Happy Sunday, Coasties! Grab a hot drink and settle in. This is your essential 5-minute download of the week's most read Hibiscus Coast news and updates.Iconic Fitness Opens In SilverdaleRead more → National To Review Hauraki Gulf Fishing RulesRead more → NZTA Seeks Feedback On Road RulesRead more → Auckland Harbour Tunnel Plan CriticisedRead more → Hibiscus Coast Autumn Warmer, Rain RiskRead 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.

Hibiscus Coast shoppers are still seeing food prices move around month to month.Food price inflation reached 4.6% in January, according to Stats NZ, while Foodstuffs recorded a 4.0% year-on-year retail increase across its comparable basket.Foodstuffs NZ Managing Director Chris Quin said the co-op’s basket has tracked below the national rate for 10 of the past 12 months. “This Stats NZ number is a good benchmark and something we watch closely every month,” he said. “It’s good to see that our comparable basket has been under the national food price inflation figure, reflecting the work our teams do to manage costs and pass value through to customers wherever we can.”Strong pipfruit volumes are shaping up as one of the best seasons in decades, with growers in Hawke’s Bay and Nelson reporting excellent quality and high volumes. “Our growers in Hawke’s Bay and Nelson tell us this season is shaping up as one of the best in the past 30 years, with excellent quality apples and strong volumes coming through,” Quin said. Royal Gala remains the most popular variety, followed by Ambrosia and Granny Smith.January price falls were led by kūmara (-15.4%), lettuce (-15.0%) and broccoli (-13.2%). Olive oil dropped 18.3% and eggs fell 9.8%. Red meat and kiwifruit prices remained high, with the steepest annual increases recorded for white bread (+62%), kiwifruit (+45.6%), lamb legs (+38.5%), cabbage (+33.0%), tomatoes (+29.3%), meat pies (+27.3%), beef mince (+24.5%) and porterhouse or sirloin steak (+22.8%). “As New Zealand-owned co-ops, our focus is simple – stock high-quality products that give customers choice and real value,” Quin said. “That means working with local growers and suppliers wherever we can, and sourcing alternatives when it helps keep prices down.”Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Demand for artificial intelligence skills in New Zealand job ads has more than quadrupled over the past decade, though the overall share remains small.SEEK’s new AI Gauge tracks AI-related terms across job listings to measure how demand is shifting over time.The number of ads mentioning AI has been trending up again since mid-2024.AI-related ads now make up 2.6% of total job listings.The share rose between 2016 and 2019, was largely steady through COVID, then declined as the labour market cooled.In late 2024, total job ads began rising again, but AI-related ads grew faster, lifting their share sharply through 2025.Machine Learning and Large Language Model terms appear in most AI-related ads.Generative AI terms that were absent in 2022 now appear in around 4% of AI ads.Mentions of Agentic AI and AI governance have also jumped over the past year.AI skills remain most common in IT roles.The sharpest shift has been in Marketing and Communications.In 2016, just over 0.5% of marketing ads mentioned AI.That figure is now around 6%, or roughly one in 16 roles.Job titles are shifting too.In 2016, common titles included Data Scientist and Data Analyst.In 2025, AI Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer and Automation Engineer are more prominent.Dr Blair Chapman, SEEK’s Senior Economist, says the data reflects growing demand for both technical AI capability and the broader ability to use AI tools in day-to-day work.For jobseekers on the Hibiscus Coast, AI skills are moving beyond specialist tech roles into mainstream business and creative positions.For local employers, AI capability is becoming part of standard role expectations rather than a niche requirement.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

How young people experience school is closely linked to their mental health, Growing Up in New Zealand reports.The Now We Are Fifteen Education and Mental Health and Wellbeing snapshot reports, released on Wednesday show 15-year-olds who feel satisfied at school and confident coping with daily demands report better mental wellbeing. They also report lower anxiety and depression, and stronger peer relationships. Those who experience discrimination at school are more likely to struggle academically and emotionally.The reports draw on data from more than 4000 participants in the country’s largest longitudinal study of child health and wellbeing, led by the University of Auckland. Research director Professor Sarah-Jane Paine said, “School isn’t just a place where young people learn, it’s an environment that plays an important role in shaping their wellbeing.”“Teenagers spend a large part of their lives at school, so it’s not surprising that school experiences matter for mental health. What’s powerful about these findings is that feeling supported, able to cope, and treated fairly is closely linked to wellbeing. That tells us school environments are an important lever for adolescent mental health.”Key findings include:Higher school satisfaction and academic buoyancy were linked to better mental wellbeing, lower anxiety and depression, and stronger peer relationships.Young people who experienced discrimination were less likely to feel satisfied with school, 34% compared with 44%. They also reported lower academic buoyancy, 3.9 compared with 4.5, and poorer mental wellbeing.Only 26% of disabled young people reported high school satisfaction, compared with 43% of those without a disability. Disabled young people also reported higher levels of discrimination, 34% compared with 17%, and less positive peer relationships.Strong friendships, cultural connection, and feeling supported at school were linked to better wellbeing and more positive school experiences.Professor Paine said, “How young people feel at school influences their wellbeing, and their wellbeing in turn affects how they cope with learning. Supporting young people means looking beyond academic achievement alone and recognising that wellbeing, inclusion, connection, and learning are deeply intertwined.”The reports outline opportunities for action across education, health, and community settings. These focus on anti-discrimination responses, inclusive education, cultural connection, wellbeing and career guidance, and a whole-system approach to adolescent mental health.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Incentives to build in Auckland's CBD would do more to boost affordability than planning changes, an Auckland apartment developer says.The council's Plan Change 120, which was set to require two million more homes, was weakened by the government last week.Housing Minister Chris Bishop called the proposed plan "divisive" when announcing the government's changes.But Ockham Residential's Mark Todd told Morning Report the plan would not meaningfully increase housing supply or affordability.Ockham residential co-founder Mark Todd. Improved supply and lower prices were due to the Auckland unitary plan removing density controls more than a decade ago, "not because of any policy that's come out of Wellington in the last eight years."House prices had dropped 30 per cent and with wage inflation over the last four years, houses are about 34 per cent more affordable than they were, Todd said.The government would do better to focus on the cost of improving incomes than lowering house prices, he said."I think planning's done the heavy lifting that it can to reduce housing costs and enable supply - the rest is on the income side."We need to seriously focus on how we can increase family incomes over the next 15 years, rather than trying to continually believe we're going to lower the cost of housing."The cost of building houses had stabilised, he said."It's not getting more expensive, but nor is it getting cheaper."Todd said the sector had definitely slowed."I think that's actually a good thing. I can't see prices around rebounding in any significant manner or a steep rise over the next five years, but that's actually success."What we need now is to focus on building, planning our cities properly and leveraging the billions of dollars that have been spent upgrading, things like the CRL, our bus lanes, our cycleways."We've got to start taking seriously the fact that the free market doesn't plan cities never has, never will."The biggest issue Auckland faced was the lack of people living in the CBD, which was less than half of what it should be, he said.The city needed to decide on how and where it wanted to more growth, rather than the current "agnostic" approach to location."There's no tier one designation that housing being built in the CBD or other high-value locations where you want people is encouraged or supported."Priority areas should be identified, then incentivised for developers."A good start would be you don't have to pay connection fees to connect to the water, which is currently $20,000 per unit."Development contributions should be removed from priority areas and it shouldn't cost anything to connect to the electricity network, which routinely costs me half a million dollars for an apartment building."Todd rebuffed calls for car parking requirements for new developments.It should be put to Aucklanders not mandated by central government, but Todd said the call had already been made during two years of hearings to pass the Unitary Plan.He was personally strongly against the move."If you legislate two car parks for every house, what you get is a car-focused urban form.""95 percent of all buildings in Auckland and all terraced housing have car parking, but at least there's the opportunity to build buildings without car parking. Ockham Residential built five buildings in the last ten years that have zero car parking, all in appropriate locations."I think it's a matter of choice and free market. There's many suburbs and high-value central locations that haven't had parking for on-street parking for generations. Roads are not for private car parking," he said.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

A batch of Pams Beef Lasagne 1.3kg has been recalled after an incorrect use-by date was printed on the pack. Pams Beef Lasagne 1.3kg has been recalled because the pack was labelled with the wrong use-by date. The affected product shows “USE BY 01MAY26”, but the correct date mark is “USE BY 01MAR26”. It should not be consumed after Sunday, March 1, 2026. The recall applies only to Pams Beef Lasagne 1.3kg with the date mark “USE BY 01MAY26”, and it does not affect any other Pams products.It was sold at Four Square, New World, and Pak’n Save supermarkets in the North Island. The product was imported from Australia and was not re-exported. Customers are asked to check the date mark on the product and return any affected pack to their retailer for a full refund. Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

NZTA will close SH1 southbound from Silverdale to Oteha Valley Road overnight Sunday and Monday.The Silverdale interchange to Oteha Valley Road section will be closed southbound for general maintenance on Sunday, March 1 and Monday, March 2, between 9pm and 5am. NZTA said signposted detours will be in place.The following ramps will also be closed:Silverdale southbound on-rampOteha Valley Road southbound off-rampNZTA’s recommended detour is via:Twin Coast Discovery HighwayDairy Flat HighwayOteha Valley RoadNZTA also advised a full northbound closure between Oteha Valley Road and Silverdale interchange over the same hours for the SH1 O Mahurangi–Penlink project.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Business owners on the Hibiscus Coast are being invited to take part in a short national survey to identify day-to-day workflow bottlenecks that may be holding back revenue growth in New Zealand SMEs.The latest Auckland Business Chamber survey shows demand remains the top issue for 55% of Auckland businesses, even as confidence has lifted sharply in early 2026. Revenue remains mixed, with 41% reporting revenue down year-on-year and 38% reporting growth. The same survey shows 30% cite cashflow and accounts receivable as a key concern, and 36% report customers paying late.With hiring intentions softening to 41%, many firms are looking to lift performance without adding much headcount.Townsquare Media’s survey focuses on the practical steps between demand and revenue, including responding to inbound enquiries, preparing quotes, following up prospects, sending invoices, and managing bookings.The survey takes around two minutes to complete and is open to NZ business owners only. It closes Sunday, March 8. Business owners can take part here.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Making plans?Three Hibiscus Coast events to check out this week.Auckland Surf Park Community EventSat 28 FebClick here for more details Children's DaySun 1 MarClick here for more detailsOrewa Beach Sandcastle CompetitionSat 7 MarClick here for more detailsFind more things to do anytime in the Hibiscus Coast App. Browse the full What’s On calendar for what’s on this week.Got an event coming up?List it free now. We’ll review submissions for next week’s Top Picks.

A university researcher who tracks the amount of ultra-processed products and ingredients coming into New Zealand is calling for stronger regulations around marketing, especially to children.Ultra-processed foods are not just junk food, but anything full of chemical based preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fats, and artificial colours and flavours.A US attorney is suing some of the biggest food manufacturers, accusing them of deliberately designing products to be addictive - despite the harm they are known to cause. David Chiu says with products from all companies involved in the lawsuit also available in New Zealand, it should be a worry here.In 2023, ultra-processed foods made up 23 percent of New Zealand's imports, compared to only 7 percent in 1990, says Dr Kelly Garton from the University of Auckland.She told Checkpoint it was time for the government to step in, because consumers were influenced in ways they could not control.A major step would be better labelling and restrictions around packaging directed at children."I would love for our labels to give much clearer indication to consumers and what's in their food. Getting rid of any of those misleading claims around healthiness or environmental friendliness, for example, as well as not allowing ultra-processed foods to have marketing packaging that's targeting kids."Dr Kelly Garton Photo: RNZ/Marika KhabaziGarton said much of the marketing was currently targeted at young people, along with their parents."A lot of these products will have colours, shapes, or flavours or textures that are meant to appeal to children and younger people. And so obviously that's meant to sell more product."A lot of the marketing is targeted at parents. It might have a certain amount of health washing, you know, a good source of protein when maybe it's a protein derivative that's been added back in. not necessarily a healthy whole protein that you could be consuming otherwise."But marketing was only one of the reasons that ultra-processed foods were so prominent in New Zealanders diets."We are now reliant on these products in many ways that we can't control, these are the products that are by and large the most available and affordable, and they're heavily marketed to us."Also in terms of our social and economic circumstances, many of us, most of us are time poor. Many of us are financially constrained. We're overly reliant on foods that are cheap, shelf stable, and very convenient. Added to that, fresh fruit and veg is absurdly expensive these days."Photo: RNZ/Marika KhabaziAlongside Checkpoint, Garton examined a number of ultra-processed products to decipher the contents.She said flavourings were often a warning sign."These flavours or natural colourings are put there to emulate or to mask or enhance flavours that whole foods would have. So they're inherently manipulating our sense receptors."However, just because something falls under the ultra processed category did not mean it had to be avoided."These products would fall under the ultra-processed classification. Not all of them are going to be bad for us. Some of them, especially those that give us a lot of fibre and low in sugar, can be absolutely part of a healthy diet, especially given the constraints that we're under these days."But if possible, Garton said the less processed option was always preferable.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Coasties, here’s what the next four days have for us.Friday, 27/2Mainly fine, isolated afternoon showers, light winds with sea breezesHigh: 26Low: 17Saturday, 28/2Mainly fine, a few showers morning and afternoon, breezy easterliesHigh: 23Low: 17Sunday, 1/3A few showers clearing in the evening, breezy sou’easters then southerly laterHigh: 24Low: 15Monday, 2/3Fine and mainly sunny, brisk southerliesHigh: 22Low: 13See 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.

There’s that new-gym buzz in the air, with plates stacked, bikes set, and the room ready for its first crowd.Iconic Fitness officially opens this Saturday, February 28, from 8am at 3/23 Wainui Road, Silverdale, with a free Spin Class at 9.30am.The new gym focuses on small group strength and conditioning training.Owner Danny Frost says Iconic Fitness is built to feel different to a franchised gym, including a membership cap of 350.Personal training courses will also be available.Opening Day comes with join-on-the-day giveaways, including seven Smart Rings valued at $350 each, plus five three-month memberships, one six-month membership, and one 12-month membership.There are personal trainer challenges running through the day, alongside a supplement table hosted by Zombie Labs.People can sign up on the day, with everything centred around the official launch.You can learn more about Iconic Fitness here.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Auckland’s economic activity rose 1.3%pa in the December 2025 quarter, below the national 1.6%pa, Infometrics says.Provisional estimates in Infometrics’ December 2025 Quarterly Economic Monitor put national activity up 1.6%pa in the quarter and up 0.4%pa over the 2025 calendar year. Higher activity was recorded in all but one region in the December 2025 quarter. Infometrics Principal Economist Nick Brunsdon said the quarter showed “meaningful economic recovery across regions”, including in the North Island, while Auckland “continues to lag”.Bay of Plenty and Waikato are now growing faster than the national average, with better primary sector returns cited as a key support. The dairy pay-out has improved and is tracking just below last year’s record high, while milk solid production increased 2.6%pa. Over the 2025 calendar year, beef export values rose 21%pa and horticulture exports lifted 28%pa.In the December quarter, Infometrics reported higher manufacturing sentiment, concrete volumes and construction intentions, tourism arrivals, and job ads. Retail spending was mixed, inflationary pressures increased, and hours worked eased slightly. “Households continue to scrimp with their money,” Mr Brunsdon said, adding that Infometrics estimates consumer spending volumes fell 1.7%pa over the 2025 calendar year.Housing market activity picked up, with sales up 11% over the year to December 2025. Prices fell 0.9%pa in the December 2025 quarter, which Infometrics described as a buyers’ market based on its analysis of Cotality data. Employment remained weaker than activity, with Auckland employment down 0.9%pa and Wellington down 1.5%pa, while only three South Island regions recorded employment growth. “We expect employment will be one of the last indicators to recover,” Mr Brunsdon said.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]