Big changes are coming for businesses that mislead shoppers, with the Government set to sharply increase penalties under the Fair Trading Act. The shift will affect Hibiscus Coast residents who rely on clear pricing and honest advertising from both big chains and local operators.Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says serious offenders could soon face fines in the tens of millions of dollars when they gain large sums from breaking the law. Legislation due early next year will lift the current $600,000 maximum to the highest of three times the commercial gain, the value of the transactions, or $5 million.“Presently, there are circumstances in which the gains to be made from breaching the Act can outweigh the penalties for breaching it. The new regime will eliminate the financial incentives for breaching the Act,” Nicola Willis says.The move follows a 23 per cent rise in complaints to the Commerce Commission over the past five years, including recent cases involving misleading pricing at Pak’nSave and Woolworths.Between July 2020 and July 2025, the Commission received more than 48,000 complaints covering inaccurate pricing, refund refusals, subscription traps and misleading advertising.Most breaches will shift to a civil penalties regime, making it easier for the Commerce Commission to act without meeting the higher criminal standard. Serious or deliberate offences will stay criminal.Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson says the tougher approach will protect consumers and stop repeat offenders gaining an unfair edge over honest businesses.The changes are expected to become law late next year after select committee consultation.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Frustration among general practice owners with what they call "bloated bureaucracy" is behind a move to set up a breakaway nationwide primary health organisation (PHO).The General Practice Owners Association (GenPro), which has made an application to Health NZ, said it would ensure more money for frontline patient care.Its chair, Dr Angus Chambers, said the new entity would be a standalone organisation, enabling GenPro to continue to advocate for its members without any conflict of interest."GenPro is not and will not be a PHO. But we'd welcome a lean, cost-effective PHO for GenPro members that reduces the bureaucratic burden on the health system and facilitates greater funding for high-quality, sustainable, accessible, and equitable front-line patient care."PHOs are not-for-profit organisations, funded by Health NZ to oversee primary care, including general practices.There are currently about 30 PHOs, made up of practices working together to care for the patients enrolled with them.GenPro chair Dr Angus Chambers. Photo: SuppliedGenPro's move comes in the same week that Green Cross became the second big corporate to receive approval from Health NZ to set up its own PHO.Its 54 practices - which are currently distributed among multiple PHOs - will shift to a stand-alone entity, Community Care Ltd, from 1 July 2026.Another corporate provider, Tend, started operating its own PHO in July after receiving approval in May.Chambers said his members feared this would give the corporates a competitive advantage."There's a lot of concern among our members that we're heading towards a duopoly like the supermarkets in primary healthcare, and we want to see the settings changed to prevent that because it's not good for consumers."A report by retired accountant Murray Lilley earlier this year highlighted the growth in "bureaucracy" within PHOs, and suggested they were siphoning off too much government funding before it reached frontline GPs.The Lilley report was criticised for ignoring PHOs' role in population health, including programmes for mental health, diabetes, immunisation, sexual health, smoking cessation and community radiology.Chambers said while he was not sure that all the conclusions drawn from the report were accurate, it did "mirror concerns" among some GPs regarding PHOs, especially around "transparency"."Many feel we're struggling, some have borderline viability, and we see PHOs growing and that really concerns our members."Current policy settings and existing PHO structures had significant problems, he said."These include conflicts of interest between patient care and commercial operations, bloated governance and management costs, a focus on accumulating reserves instead of funding front-line services, regional variations creating a postcode lottery, and trust issues."The new PHO will aim to address these challenges head on."PHOs respondGeneral Practice NZ chair Dr Bryan Betty. Photo: SuppliedGeneral Practice NZ, which represents PHOs, said as registered charities, they were set up for transparency and obliged to publish audited accounts.Its chair, Dr Bryan Betty, a Porirua GP, said PHOs were not simply responsible for passing on capitation funding (the funding for enrolled patients), but also for delivering wider population health activities."At the moment 100 percent of capitation gets passed through directly to practices and the majority of what we call 'flexible funding' [for mental health, diabetes and a range of other services] also gets passed through to general practices."But what remains in the PHO is for things like practice support: data and digital, supporting high needs practices that may be marginally sustainable, to ensuring things like interpretation services, transport for rural patients - a whole range of services that practices may not be able to provide on their own."There were some problems with the current funding mechanisms, he conceded."There is a need for more funding to be flexible to support patients across a region to access timely medical care, to access immunisation, screening, and other primary care services."Most individual practices can't afford specialist diabetes nurses or podiatrist, for instance, they need to work across a group of practices."

Orewa’s most anticipated event is nearly here, with the annual New World Santa Parade set to bring festive cheer to the Hibiscus Coast on Saturday, November 29. The parade draws more than 10,000 locals and visitors, making it the biggest Christmas parade north of the bridge. Coasties can look forward to colourful floats, lively marching bands, plenty of cheerful characters, and Santa himself waving along the route.The parade begins at 4:30 pm, setting off from Hillary Square on Florence Avenue, then travelling down Hibiscus Coast Highway before finishing at the Orewa Beach Reserve car park next to the Surf Club. For safety and space, all parking bays along the route will be closed from 8 am, and cars left on Florence Avenue or Hibiscus Coast Highway between 3 pm and 6 pm will be towed.Expect local road closures too: Alice and Edward Avenue will be residents only from 8 am to 2 pm, then fully closed until 6 pm. Florence Avenue and the Hibiscus Coast Highway (from West Hoe Road to Centreway Road) will be shut from 4 pm to 6 pm. Free parking will be at Western Reserve off Centreway Road, weather permitting.Best viewing spots are along Florence Avenue by Hillary Square and The Coffee Club, or anywhere on the Hibiscus Coast Highway between Florence Avenue and the Surf Club. From 3 pm to 7 pm, the Rotary Christmas Carnival will add more fun at the Surf Club car park, with amusement rides for all ages, food trucks, and sweet treats. Locals might see everything from bouncy castles to donuts, snow cones and more.This is a true community day out, and a Coast tradition that signals the start of summer and the Christmas season.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Albany’s North Harbour Stadium will open its doors for a free community open day on Sunday, December 7. Co hosted by Auckland Stadiums, Auckland Conventions, North Harbour Rugby, Moana Pasifika and Auckland FC, the event runs from 10am to 2pm with free entry and on site parking. Visitors can join guided tours into usually restricted areas, heading through the players' tunnel to sit in the dugouts and step inside the home changing rooms. Children can burn off energy with skills, drills and games on the oval training field, led by representatives from the resident teams, while families enjoy local food and music in a relaxed, festival-style setup. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Director of Auckland Stadiums James Parkinson says the day is about giving people a rare look at what happens behind the curtain at one of Auckland’s busiest venues and celebrating a much-loved community asset. Local board chairs Anna Atkinson and Alexis Poppelbaum say the open day caps a standout year for the stadium and gives the North Shore community a chance to explore a venue that supports both grassroots sport and elite teams. For Hibiscus Coast families, it is an easy day out to see where Moana Pasifika, North Harbour Rugby and Auckland FC train and play. Coasties can expect plenty of photo-worthy moments for sports-mad kids and a chance to feel what it is like to walk out towards the hallowed turf.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Welcome to The Week That Was.Your go-to recap of important news, stories, and updates for the Hibiscus Coast community.Coast Seniors Paying Too Much For BroadbandRead more →Where To See Hibiscus Coast BioluminescenceRead more →Hibiscus Coast Commuters. Plan Around Oteha WorksRead more →Spring Listings Surge. More Choice On Hibiscus CoastRead more →Silverdale Pak’nSave Adds Click & Collect Drive-ThroughRead more →Your Coast. Your news. Your app.Download the Hibiscus Coast App for instant local updates. Anytime, anywhere.

Some residents at an Auckland retirement village want to put the brakes on a policy that would ban any more electric vehicles (EVs) within its gates.Fairview Lifestyle Village in Albany said it was concerned about the risk an EV fire would pose to the busy community's residents and homes.While rare, EV fires can be more difficult to put out than petrol car fires and the village said it was unclear who was legally responsible for managing that risk.The policy was still in mediation, and residents who already owned electric vehicles would be allowed to keep them, but it was not letting any new EVs into the gated North Shore community.As well as cars, the policy extended to e-bikes, e-scooters and wheelchairs.Retirement Village Residents Association chief executive Nigel Matthews told RNZ's Checkpoint this was the first case concerning electric vehicles that he had seen.While the issuing had concerned some retirement residents, he said it was great that consultation was underway."We have been aware that this has been an ongoing discussion since early February, March of this year and, unfortunately, some of these processes take a while."Matthews said concerns about the risks of EVs had seemingly been increased via the media."There's been obviously a tension in the media - as soon as there's an EV that blows up or catches fire, it's on the front page. [If] it's a diesel or a petrol car, you won't hear about it."He said the issue was complicated by policies being formed after people had already moved in with EVs."Prior to people moving in, no policy on this. However, there's obviously - you know - discussion that has occurred, and now they're wanting to put in a policy, which would ban charging in your own garage and obviously underneath in the car parking area of the apartment."I get it, but you know, if the council imposed a sudden policy change on me and said, 'You can no longer charge your EV in your own personal garage', we need to actually change that. I would then want to engage in consultation and I'd want there to be some sort of resolution."Despite the decision causing frustration for some, he said the retirement village had acted properly."The law's pretty clear - if operators change something that's going to have a material impact on you, then you must consult. These operators have done exactly that."There was currently no end in sight for that consultation."At some point, there's going to have to be a resolution at the end and you've got some residents that clearly want to be able to continue to use their EV."It'll be like telling someone who drives a Ford now, 'You can no longer drive your Ford, but we've got some Holdens you might like'."Matthews said if the village wanted to look at also banning things like electric bikes and wheelchairs, they would have taken a broader look at the issue."I've seen the YouTube clips where things have exploded - either ebikes and EV of some sort that are being charged and then just caught alight... but I've also seen it with cell phones."At what point do you actually stop and say, 'We need to have a bigger holistic look at this and come up with some sensible parameters?'"Fairview Lifestyle Village said its overriding concern and objective was the safety of its 300 residents, as well as staff, visitors and property.It said, in New Zealand, the legal responsibility framework around the safe management of EVs in residential care settings was completely undefined, so it had to define its own safety parameters.It said it had taken a measured approach in consulting on and developing a policy to address the current technology and set guidelines for future advancements.Fairview Lifestyle Village said it anticipated debate and welcomed ongoing robust conversation to ensure that the policy ultimately implemented was fit for purpose and put residents' safety first.

State Highway 1 drivers face new overnight closures and daytime lane restrictions near the Hibiscus Coast starting next week.The Wainui Road northbound off-ramp will be closed from 9pm to 5am on Monday, November 17. Motorists should exit at Dairy Flat Highway or Grand Drive in Orewa.Then, on Thursday, November 20, SH1 southbound between Silverdale interchange and Oteha Valley Road will close completely for maintenance from 9pm to 5am. Both the Silverdale southbound on-ramp and Oteha Valley Road southbound off-ramp will be closed. Drivers are advised to detour via Twin Coast Discovery Highway, East Coast Road, and Oteha Valley Road.Further works are planned before Christmas. From Friday, November 21 to Friday, November 28 (weekdays only), there will be southbound lane restrictions from Lonely Track overbridge to Oteha Valley Road between 11am and 6pm each day. The Oteha Valley Road southbound off-ramp will remain open, but all traffic must follow reduced speeds and traffic management. Southbound lanes will stay open, but expect delays.Coasties are urged to plan ahead and allow extra time when travelling through these sections of SH1 this month.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

A new government platform could help Hibiscus Coast employers tackle chronic staff shortages by tapping into the skills of disabled New Zealanders.Developed by workforce development council Hanga-Aro-Rau, the multimedia hub launched on November 10th.It gives manufacturing, engineering, and logistics businesses practical tools to recruit and support disabled workers.The move comes as New Zealand faces record infrastructure spending, with $237.1b in projects planned or underway.Employers nationwide, including those on the Hibiscus Coast, are struggling to find and retain skilled staff.Chief Executive of All is for All, Grace Stratton. Photo: Supplied.Research shows that while 83% of non-disabled adults are in work, only 44% of disabled adults are employed.If that gap were closed, it could deliver up to $1.45b in fiscal benefits and ease the forecast 156,000 vacancies expected by 2030.Deputy chief executive Samantha McNaughton says inclusion is not just good practice but vital to the economy.“Reaching out to parts of the population that haven’t traditionally been targeted, including Māori, Pacific peoples and disabled New Zealanders, is not a social goal, it’s an economic necessity.”Co-designed with Auckland consultancy All is for All, the platform includes podcasts, videos, and short guides to make inclusion simple to apply.Chief executive Grace Stratton says, “Employers told us they wanted to do the right thing but didn’t know where to start.”Engineering New Zealand chief executive Dr Richard Templer says the approach builds resilience.“Inclusion starts with asking what someone needs to thrive,” he says.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

A $1m payment to Mahurangi oyster farmers is only a start, says Under-Secretary Jenny Marcroft, after sewage contamination hit livelihoods at peak harvest.She said Watercare chief executive Jamie Sinclair yesterday announced an immediate $1m compensation payment to Aquaculture New Zealand for distribution to 10 oyster farmers affected by the latest overflow near Warkworth. The spill followed a power surge that tripped pumps.Marcroft welcomed the swift move but said repeated sewage overflows over several years have pushed farmers to the edge. She urged Watercare to work with Aquaculture New Zealand to fully compensate those who have suffered ongoing financial hits and personal strain.Marcroft also warned the public should be concerned about polluted waterways.“The sea is our food basket and our playground. No sewage should ever be flowing into it,” Jenny Marcroft said.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Making plans?Here’s what’s coming up around the Hibiscus Coast. From live music and local markets to family fun and outdoor adventures.Auckland Céilí/Cèilidh Band – Celtic Dance NightFri 14 NovClick here for more detailsHibiscus Coast Colour RunClick here for more detailsRed Beach Food Truck NightSat 15 NovClick here for more detailsFind more things to do anytime in the Hibiscus Coast App, your local hub for events, food, and fun.Have an event coming up? List your event for FREE now.

Need your groceries faster and without the hassle?Pak’nSave is adding EV chargers and a Click & Collect drive-through.Four new ChargeNet bays are due online by the end of November in the main carpark, and construction has begun on the store’s first purpose built Click & Collect drive-through near the main entrance.Owner operator Vinod Bhaga said the project is going well, with the aim to finish by the end of April 2026, weather permitting.“We’re very conscious of having minimal disruption for our customers,” he said.When complete, the drive-through will have six dedicated carpark spaces under full cover, with more planned as demand grows.It’s designed as a concierge service, with staff bringing orders to vehicles and loading them.Coasties can expect quicker pickups and easier charging in one stop.The supermarket opened in early 2012 and was built at 6,540m² with 330 car parks, 24 checkouts, and an on site fuel outlet.The new Click & Collect drive-through will also create four to five roles to run the service.“We’re always looking for ways to give our shoppers even better value, and we look forward to delivering a faster, more seamless online shopping experience," Vinod Bhaga said.Looks like grocery shopping on the Hibiscus Coast is about to get a little easier.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

From February 1, 2026, New Zealanders on stable long-term treatments can get prescriptions for up to 12 months, cutting costs and repeat appointments for Coasties who manage regular medicines.Patients will still collect repeats at their pharmacy, but they will not need a new script each time.Ministers say this simple change, confirmed in Budget 2025, could save up to $105 a year and free up GP time for people with more complex needs.“We are focused on reducing costs and making it simpler and more convenient for patients to access the medicines they need,” Health Minister Simeon Brown says.Health New Zealand is working with primary care and community pharmacies to support the rollout.Conditions named include asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, and high blood pressure.The Government has also passed the Medicines Amendment Bill to remove pharmacy ownership restrictions that blocked pharmacists from becoming prescribers.Associate Health Minister David Seymour says the change will enable more flexible models of care and increase access to some prescription medicines.About 100 pharmacist prescribers currently work in GP clinics, hospices, and hospitals, but none in community pharmacies because of the previous limits.“Extending prescription lengths and removing ownership barriers for pharmacists makes life easier for patients,” Mr Seymour says.“When people can access their medicines easily, they stay healthier for longer.”Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Coasties, here’s what the next four days have in store:Friday, 14/11Morning showers clear to fine. Fresh southwesterlies.High: 21Low: 14Saturday, 15/11Early showers, then fine. Westerlies turn southerly.High: 21Low: 12Sunday, 16/11Partly cloudy with a developing nor’easter.High: 21Low: 15Monday, 17/11Mainly fine. Nor’easter strengthens later.High: 21Low: 16See the full Weather & Travel section in the Hibiscus Coast App for:🌊 Tide times🌬️ Wind conditions🌊 Wave updates🌞 UV levels🏖️ Safe swimming spots...and plenty more.The Hibiscus Coast App has everything you need, accessible at any time and from any location.

A new study finds online harms rising across New Zealand schools in the past year, putting student mental health at risk.The Linewize Digital Harm Study analysed more than 22,000 high-risk real-time alerts from schools over 12 months.That is about three an hour.Bullying made up nearly 45% of alerts, followed by offensive behaviour (20%) and adult content (15%).In collaborative documents used in classrooms, 1,000 severe bullying alerts were recorded and “Vulnerable Person” was the third most common category.Of 12,310 categorised alerts, 40% came from collaboration and docs, 23% from gaming, 13% from learning platforms, and 10% from AI tools.Students are also turning to AI to explore emotions or ask questions they avoid with adults.Compared with 2024, bullying still dominates but its share is shrinking as offensive behaviour and sexual content rise.“Vulnerable Person” alerts are increasing, pointing to mounting wellbeing concerns.Around 10% of New Zealand schools, more than 250 nationwide, now use early detection and intervention tools that help protect over 60,000 students each day.More than 20% use the broader Linewize ecosystem.The technology monitors seven risks in real time: bullying, violence, self-harm, suicidal ideation, grooming, gang activity, and radicalisation.Linewize Education Director Saunil Hagler says online harm is a critical public health concern.“New Zealand already has disproportionately high levels of bullying compared to other OECD countries nearly double the average. Unlike traditional bullying, harmful content online persists indefinitely, it spreads at speed, and it follows students home where teachers and parents cannot see it.”A Parliamentary Inquiry is now examining the harms young New Zealanders face online.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Well Coasties, I didn’t pick the winning numbers, like anyone else in last night’s Lotto.Hibiscus Coast shoppers now have their eyes on Saturday’s must be won $55m Powerball, the biggest jackpot Lotto NZ has ever offered and only the fourth time the top prize has reached $50m or more.If no one matches all the winning numbers for Powerball First Division, the full $55m prize pool will roll down to the next highest division with winners.Lotto NZ says it’s paid out more than $878m in prizes this year and created 58 new millionaires.Looking to next year, the team is rolling out a major technology upgrade to improve the website and apps.They’re also proposing changes to the game, including more balls in the Powerball machine, some movement in jackpot size, and a review of prizes across the board.“We are also proposing to increase the number of balls in our Powerball machine, with some movement in jackpot size and a review of prizes across the board,” says Lotto NZ Chief Executive, Jason Delamore.Coasties can expect a steady buzz at local counters as hopefuls grab tickets ahead of the draw.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

University of Auckland researchers have $853,000 to study who benefits from upzoning across Auckland, including the Hibiscus Coast, and what that means for inequality.Project lead Associate Professor Ryan Greenaway-McGrevy and Distinguished Professor Peter Phillips will examine the social and economic effects of large-scale zoning reforms, including Auckland’s Unitary Plan, to see how intensification changes neighbourhoods, opportunity, and social mobility.“Where we live and grow up matters for a variety of life outcomes,” says Greenaway-McGrevy.“On the one hand, the potential for upzoning to exacerbate inequalities within cities raises real concerns. On the other, widespread reforms may also enable housing options in neighbourhoods that were previously inaccessible to many households.”Earlier Marsden-funded work by Greenaway-McGrevy and co-authors found the 2016 reform upzoned about three-quarters of Auckland’s residential land, sparking construction and easing rental pressures.Lead principal investigator Associate Professor Ryan Greenaway-McGrevy (Business School, UoA)The new study aims to provide robust case studies on how large-scale upzoning affects neighbourhood composition and opportunity, informing current policy proposals.The 2025 Marsden Fund awarded 107 grants, including 31 totalling $24.3 million to University of Auckland researchers.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Advanced notice: SH1 Oteha Valley Road southbound lanes face daytime restrictions from Friday, November 21 to Friday, November 28.NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi will install a fence near the edge of the southbound lanes between the Lonely Track overbridge and Oteha Valley Road. Crews will work weekdays from 11am to 6pm. They will be on the slope and may not always be visible, but traffic management will be in place.The Oteha Valley Road southbound off-ramp will stay open. One lane will close between the Lonely Track overbridge and the off-ramp. Expect delays.The later start and finish have been chosen to reduce congestion at peak times. This work is weather dependent, so dates may change. NZTA says it will minimise disruption.For Hibiscus Coast commuters heading south, plan for slower trips during the daytime window.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Auckland is set to get a second Costco store.Property developer Kiwi Property has agreed to sell a 6.4 hectare site in its new Drury development to the US-based mega store.Drury is a small rural town about 35 kilometres south of Auckland city, but has been picked as the site for a new town development, with Kiwi Property recently approved to go ahead with building the town centre."We are very excited to be entering into this agreement with Kiwi Property in a location as great as Drury," Costco country manager Chris Tingman said.An exact opening date for the new store was not immediately clear.Illustration of Kiwi Property's Drury development. Photo: Supplied / Kiwi Property"Whilst still subject to planning and corporate approvals, our aim is to introduce our unique high-quality, low-cost merchandise to Drury, serving our significant membership base in the south of Auckland, as well as Hamilton and the Waikato region," Tingman said.The only other Costco store is at Auckland's Westgate, which opened three years ago.Kiwi Property chief executive Clive Mackenzie said the deal marked a major milestone for its Drury development - which received fast-track consent for its first two stages last week."Costco has been a hit with Kiwi consumers since it opened its first store in Auckland and we're pleased to be working with them on this exciting opportunity to bring Costco further south," he said.The deal followed Kiwi Property's earlier sale of 1.2 hectares to supermarket operator Foodstuffs.

Hibiscus Coast beaches can glow bright blue at night.The light comes from tiny plankton that flash when waves or splashes disturb the water.Locals most often see it from late October to April on calm, dark nights around the new moon, usually a few hours after sunset.A hot, dry day helps.Light onshore winds and gentle tides can gather plankton along the shoreline.After rain, run-off may feed blooms, but strong swell or wind can scatter them.Stanmore Bay is the favourite. On glassy nights Arkles, Red Beach, north Orewa, Manly, Tindalls, and Matakatia also glow.Auckland photographer Matthew Davison is one of the best at capturing the spectacle.When he’s not taking spectacular photographs of bioluminescence at Stanmore Bay, he’s the driving force behind Extreme Pursuit.Matthew has dedicated his life to exploring NZ’s wildest places.See more of his terrific work, including his YouTube channel, here: https://extreme-pursuit.com/.Coasties can expect patchy nights, with one bay lighting up while another stays quiet.For the best chance, try a new-moon window, look for small breakers, and drag a foot through the shallows to check for sparks.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]