Hibiscus Coast employers are about to get a quiet KiwiSaver admin job, right in the middle of the year’s usual payroll grind.From Sunday, February 1, KiwiSaver members can apply for a temporary contribution rate reduction.It is designed to take the edge off the default rate increase coming in April.The default KiwiSaver contribution rate is set to rise from 3% to 3.5% on Wednesday, April 1.If an employee is granted a temporary rate reduction, it will not apply until their first pay on or after that date.You will not need to guess.You will be told what to do, either by your employee or Inland Revenue.That notice will come as one of the following:A certificate from your employee showing the period the rate reduction applies forA letter from Inland Revenue advising which employee has been granted a temporary rate reduction and the approved periodEmployers can choose to match an employee’s temporary rate reduction.When the employee moves back to a higher contribution rate, employer contributions will need to move to the new default 3.5% rate, or to a higher rate the employer chooses.Employees can apply to lower their rate to 3% for between three months and a year.If they have more than one employer, they can choose which employer to notify.A temporary rate reduction is not available for anyone who has a savings suspension.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Police say search efforts will likely resume later today for a man missing after being swept away in water at the Mahurangi River, near Warkworth, a situation that remains distressing for his family and community.Senior Sergeant Carl Fowlie, of Waitematā North Police, says a Police-led operation ran through most of Wednesday after an emergency call was made when the man went missing from Falls Road at around 7.41 am.He says night shift frontline staff carried out some checks in the area overnight, but the man remains outstanding.Police Search and Rescue will redeploy once water levels have subsided and it is safe to continue searching.The Police Eagle helicopter is expected to do a flyover of the river this morning.Police have thanked supporting agencies, including Fire and Emergency NZ, Auckland Emergency Management, and the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter.The missing man is in his 40s and from the wider Mahurangi community, and Police remain in contact with his family.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Calls for Asians to be deported and threats of physical violence are among some of the latest social media comments aimed at people accused of stripping rockpools and breaching fishing rules.On Saturday, at least a hundred people demonstrated at Army Bay in Auckland's Whangaparāoa for the protection of local rock pools, and residents earlier told RNZ that rockpools were being stripped bare of sea life - including shellfish, or any animal life that lives in the pools.The term "bucket people" has been widely used on social media to refer to those accused of over-harvesting, and many have anecdotally pointed to tourism buses and visitors, blaming them for the depletion of the rockpools.The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said Whangaparāoa has a recreational fishing compliance rate of 93 percent between November 1, 2025, and January 5, with 14 non-compliance incidents across 189 inspections conducted in the period - four involved excessive taking of shellfish (cockles), seven were for undersized snapper, two involved illegal netsetting, and none involved tour buses.Over the past week, more posts on the controversy have appeared on Facebook pages, targeting the Asian community - including one person who wrote they were prepared to give a few "knuckle burgers and black eye rings" to those breaking the rules; there have also been several posts calling for the gatherers to be deported.Meanwhile, there have also been posts by rockpools protection advocates calling out the racist comments and urging people to focus on the environmental cause.On Monday, fisheries minister Shane Jones pointed to what he called "unfettered immigration" when interviewed on the topic, and said he's seeking urgent advice from fisheries on the issues.Asian New Zealanders nervous about racial tensions arising from rockpools issuesA Chinese New Zealander living near Whangaparāoa said he doesn't personally collect shellfish, but is worried about the rising tensions over the issue.The man, who did not want to be named, said he's now nervous about taking his kids to the beach."Eventually we'll get targeted, like if we go to the beach, even if we don't bring the bucket, and we just relax on the beach, and people may come up and say something hurtful to me,"My kids are going to grow up here in New Zealand, they're going to contribute to society, what are they going to feel like? They're going to be like 'I'm surrounded by people who hate us only because of our looks,'" he said.The man said he's seen videos posted to social media by people filming the contents of people's buckets, and urging people to throw things back into the ocean.He said he feels it violates people's private space and that the residents doing the patrolling shouldn't be behaving like law enforcement.He said Asian communities are left with the blame when the government has failed to revise the limits on gathering shellfish.A Wellington woman, who posted a photo of her Chinese husband holding a bucket of mussels on Facebook earlier this month, was shocked to see dozens of racist comments under the post.The woman said the photo came from a family outing to the beach with her in-laws and kids, and the mussels collected came under the limit for seven people.She said the post explained their awareness of gathering limits, but that didn't stop the abuse."It's just like, 'These Chinese people bring their family and hoard everything from New Zealand, they don't know the rules, they should be deported', those kinds of things," she said, noting that about one of five of the over 260 comments were hurtful.The woman said her family hasn't been to the beach since the online abuse.Rockpools protection advocate: no place for racismRockpools protection advocate Mark Lenton, who leads the "Protect Whangaparāoa Rockpools" group, said racism is not helpful to the cause and will not be tolerated on their Facebook page."There's no place for this uneducated bigotry, which only amplifies a lack of intelligence, and it's not a good look for the author."So look, we do not encourage it in any way, and any comments raised and deleted, and the author is banned," he said.Lenton said such comments are the quickest thing that will undermine their credibility as a group.He said he's been talking to gatherers at Army Bay and makes the point that even when people gather within the limits, the sheer volume of gatherers is causing problems for the marine ecology."We're really focused on an attitude change here, we're really trying to amplify conservation," he added.Lenton said he estimates that on any given day at low tide during the weekends, there may be 100 to 300 gatherers on the beach.Researcher of Asians in Aotearoa: "bucket people" trope dehumanisingAuckland-based writer and researcher of Asian diasporas, Tze Ming Mok, said she's concerned that certain ministers in government may be more interested in whipping up division against a small minority than they are in constructively addressing the issue.Mok said the term "bucket people" is creepy and is yet another racial slur being created, which dehumanises communities."The stereotype of the rapacious Asian stripping the coastlines is a trope and a stereotype that has been wielded against us since at least the early 90s, and the thing is that we have approached this issue in good faith, constructive ways before, by building relationships between new migrants, government, iwi and local communities so we can all learn and educate each other, and protect our ecosystems together," she said.Meanwhile, Lenton said he didn't think the term "bucket people" was discriminatory."The term bucket people does not discriminate by age, by gender, nor by race."It is simply a collective term that accurately describes people who rape and pillage rock pools and coastal sea life to fill their buckets," he said.Auckland-based university student of Chinese descent One Wang, who has an interest in researching the relationship between tauiwi and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, said the labelling and online bullying around the rockpools issues have diverted attention away from the environmental issue itself."At this point our focus should be on the whenua, on papatūānuku, and on moana, what people could help with is make information and education accessible to all people who interact with marine life, so they can do that responsibly," said Wang.Wang said it's been devastating to see the environmental impacts on moana, but equally devastating to see how quickly blame has been directed at an entire ethnic group.Ngati Manuhiri, whose rohe extends from Mangawhai to the Okura river mouth south of Whangaparāoa, has applied for a two-year ban on harvesting shellfish from the city's Eastern Coastline.The minister is expected to make a decision next month.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Hibiscus Coast locals heading into Sylvia Park have been part of a huge first month for IKEA in New Zealand.IKEA Sylvia Park welcomed 569,417 visitors between 4 December and 3 January.The busiest day was Sunday, 7 December, when 28,780 people came through the doors.The store also ranked as the top-performing store globally for food sales across Ingka Group during its first month of trading.Online interest matched the in-store rush.The website attracted 1.9 million users and generated more than 12 million page views over the first month.The IKEA app was downloaded 141,000 times in New Zealand in the same period.Deliveries leaned heavily regional, with 71% of all orders coming from outside Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury.Waikato led regional demand, followed by Bay of Plenty and Otago.IKEA Family has grown to 186,000 New Zealand members.Bedroom and storage solutions have been in strong demand, led by MALM, PAX, and ALEX, alongside the BILLY bookcase.Everyday essentials have also sold strongly, including almost 50,000 FRAKTA blue bags.The OFTAST plate sold more than 40,000 units, with the OFTAST bowl at 29,480.Food has been a major pull.In the first month, customers bought over 54,000 hot dogs, more than 21,000 cinnamon buns, and 28,000 meatball and mash dishes.Ice cream was also popular, with more than 26,000 servings sold.Seasonal patterns are already showing up.Sofas surged in the pre-Christmas period, while storage lines like chest of drawers and system wardrobes picked up in the new year as people turned to home organisation.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Police are searching for a man reported missing after a vehicle was swept away at a river crossing near Warkworth.Senior Sergeant Carl Fowlie, Waitematā North Police, says information came in at 7.41am that a man had been washed away at a river crossing on Falls Road, near the intersection with Woodcocks Road.Police went to the scene and established more details after a passenger was able to get out of the vehicle and raise the alarm.A Police Search and Rescue team has been deployed to the area, with Police assisting Fire and Emergency crews as the search continues.At this stage, the man remains outstanding.A section of Falls Road has been closed.Police are strongly advising the public to avoid the area. People are also being asked to pay close attention to weather warnings in place and take extra care around waterways, with further rain forecast.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Is your business easy to find?Searching for a local service is easier when the details are in one place.The Hibiscus Coast App has added new Featured Listings to its Local Businesses directory this month, expanding the options for locals and visitors across the Hibiscus Coast.The latest additions are:Kids Shuttle NZ provides scheduled school pick ups and drop offs for children across areas including Orewa, Silverdale, Red Beach, Millwater, Stanmore Bay and Whangaparāoa.Charlie Cochrane Real Estate offers straight advice, firm negotiation, and a process you control, backed by 36 years of sales experience from appraisal to settlement, including off-plan homes and developments.Hibiscus Coast Community RSA is a welcoming local club with modern facilities, a bar and restaurant, regular live entertainment, and catering for up to 200 guests (or up to 150 for seated meals).Pit Stop Silverdale can handle WOFs, servicing, tyres, brakes, exhausts, batteries, suspension, diagnostics, and general repairs.You’ll find them in the app’s Businesses section alongside dozens of others.A Featured Listing is $87 + GST per quarter, with priority placement and a full profile (links, map pin, photos) via the “Featured Listing setup” link.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

The Prime Minister says he isn't worried about being offside with National MPs who have supported more housing intensification in Auckland, as he responds to questions about a potential u-turn on the issue.Speaking to reporters after his State of the Nation speech, Christopher Luxon says the conversation in Auckland was about "how much densification" and "where it happens."He said he'd told Aucklanders "we know it's a sensitive issue" and he plans to "listen" and "digest" the feedback."I don't think there's a problem when you actually say, I've listened to feedback and I'm going to do something different about it on the basis of that."RMA Minister Chris Bishop had directed Auckland Council to allocate up to two million homes in the coming decades, but last week he confirmed the coalition was considering weakening housing intensification laws in Auckland.Luxon dismissed the idea he and Bishop weren't on the same page, saying they'd had a "very dynamic conversation" well before Christmas."It won't surprise you, but in our government, we actually talk to each other a lot, and quite dynamically and consistently."It's regular. It's not formalized. We're just very open and transparent."Luxon said the Council should go through its feedback process, and the government would look and "be prepared to listen" to that feedback."There is genuine change that's going to be needed, and we're up for doing that."He said it was for Auckland Council to make decisions about specific suburbs, but he wanted to get the balance right between densification in the CBD, greenfields growth, and what was needed in various suburbs.He wouldn't budge on whether the two million figure would be decreased or not, saying the government would have more to say soon.He said Bishop had been "working hard" on it for a couple of months, "he will come forward with his views and explain that shortly."Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Health experts are warning New Zealanders to be cautious of online and AI-driven weight-loss advice as New Year fitness goals kick off.Dr Kieran Dang, clinical lead for telehealth provider Moshy NZ, says patients are increasingly being misled by social media promotions and AI tools that offer unsafe or ineffective treatments.“I’m deeply concerned by the rise of unregulated weight-loss products being promoted on social media. Patients tell me they’ve tried capsules or supplements sold online with no idea what’s actually in them. These are not prescription medications and can be dangerous,” he says.Medsafe has identified unapproved diet-pill products in New Zealand that were found to contain prescription medicines or controlled substances, including sibutramine and phenethylamine, which are linked to heart rate, blood pressure and valve risks.A 2024 New Zealand study of dietary supplements found high-risk weight-loss products may include undeclared prescription drugs or excessive caffeine, meaning consumers are ingesting unknown and potentially dangerous substances.Dr Dang says the mix of social media, AI tools and unregulated supplements is creating “a perfect storm” for people seeking rapid results after the holiday season.“January is when motivation is at its highest but also when people are most vulnerable to misinformation,” he says.Moshy Clinical lead, Dr Kieran Dang.Dr Dang says not all social media health content is a problem, and that some verified and evidence-based accounts provide valuable education and support.“My message to anyone looking to lose weight this year is simple. Check that any medication is Medsafe-registered, avoid buying supplements or capsules through social media, and always seek guidance from a licensed healthcare professional,” he says.“Safe and effective weight loss needs medical supervision. If something promises instant results or sounds too good to be true, it usually is,” he says.For readers on the Hibiscus Coast, the same caution applies when weight-loss claims show up online.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

A Heavy Rain Watch remains for Auckland, including the Hibiscus Coast, until 3am Thursday.A period of heavy rain is forecast, easing toward evening. Localised downpours are possible north of the Harbour Bridge until early afternoon.Easterlies are forecast, strong in exposed places, with gusts up to 80 km/h.MetService says there is a high chance the Watch will be upgraded to a Warning for Auckland.A Warning remains in place for Northland, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty.Impacts flagged include streams and rivers rising rapidly, surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions.Advice given is to clear drains and gutters if it is safe to do so, avoid low-lying areas, and drive cautiously.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

If you have seen bare rockpools lately, you are not alone. The Government is seeking urgent advice on how to respond to reports of rockpools on Whangaparāoa Peninsula and other areas being stripped of marine life, including at Army Bay on the Hibiscus Coast. Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has asked Fisheries New Zealand officials to provide the advice “with urgency given the situation at Army Bay and elsewhere”. In October 2025, the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust requested a two-year temporary fisheries closure over the Rodney, Hibiscus Coast, and East Coast Bays coastline and some Hauraki Gulf islands.Fisheries New Zealand has collated submissions from public consultation and received feedback from the trust. “I acknowledge people are concerned at what they say is the indiscriminate collection of marine life at intertidal rockpools. These shellfish and other marine creatures reportedly being collected in large numbers by often big groups of people are crucial for the health of these ecosystems,” Mr Jones says. He says, alongside any potential fisheries closures, he is considering other steps to dissuade people from collecting marine life that is not traditionally eaten and is at risk of disappearing from some areas completely, including prohibitions on collecting certain species and social media campaigns “at educating collectors from all cultures about the risks of taking large amounts of sea creatures from tiny ecosystems”. In the past week, Parliamentary Under-Secretary Jenny Marcroft travelled to Whangaparāoa with Fisheries staff and met concerned residents and Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust representatives. “We’re working with all parties to find a solution to the issue that is satisfactory to all, but we need to make sure there are no unintended consequences, such as for oyster farmers who legitimately collect spat from beaches,” Ms Marcroft says. She adds: “It is important to acknowledge that no one in this situation is breaking the law but it is clear that this level of collection of marine life from these intertidal pools is not sustainable.” “Minister Jones and I are determined to ensure these areas recover and thrive so that all Kiwis can enjoy them.”Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Dragon boat racing at the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta on Monday, January 26 is set to be the biggest yet, with well over 500 paddlers lining up at Viaduct Harbour.More than 40 local teams will race, joined by four visiting crews from China. Recent years have typically drawn around 360 paddlers, making this year’s turnout a clear lift in scale and energy.Organisers expect the bigger field to deepen the competition and create a stronger spectacle for spectators along the Viaduct waterfront.The visiting crews from the Guangzhou Liede Dragon Boat Team will be the first China-based dragon boat team to take part in the regatta. Around 50 paddlers and supporters are travelling from Guangzhou, Auckland’s sister city, with the Auckland Dragon Boat Association and Auckland entrepreneur Wayne Huang helping bring the team to Auckland.Regatta Chair Bill Lomas says dragon boat racing has become one of the most exciting and accessible parts of the day, for both participants and spectators.“Seeing the number of teams and paddlers grow, and welcoming international crews for the first time, shows how the regatta is continuing to evolve,” he says.Dragon boat racing runs from 8.30am to 5.00pm at Viaduct Harbour. It sits alongside the regatta’s wider programme of on-water events, including classic yachts, sailing dinghies, keelboats, launches, tugboats and radio controlled yachts.For Coasties heading into the city for the long weekend, it’s a full day of fast-paced racing and a lively waterfront atmosphere.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

The head of one of New Zealand's biggest mortgage broking firms has taken aim at the country's biggest bank for its latest interest rate increase.ANZ last week lifted its floating home loan rate by 0.1 percent.That takes it to 5.79 percent.Squirrel chief executive David Cunningham said the lift would mean an extra $12 million in profit for the bank each year.He said the rate had previously been in a "no man's land" between Kiwibank and the other major lenders - not the cheapest on offer, but not the most expensive either."Why have your floating rate lower than the bulk of your competitors? Just quietly put it up and go 'we may as well just take a bit more profit'. It's as simple as that."Cunningham said all other major influences on home loan rates had remained the same since ANZ last changed its floating home loan rate on 26 November, so it seemed that market conditions were the sole driver of the move.He said it would also help to fund the bank's 1.5 percent cashback offer for new home loan customers, which had been extremely popular. One Squirrel customer had received more than $30,000."For mortgage brokers it was sort of a gold rush, almost everyone that had the opportunity took it ... even as mortgage advisers, where we see a lot happening, we were pretty gobsmacked when we saw ANZ come out with that."He said banks were now competing with cash back rather than better interest rates, which meant those who did not move missed out.Customers should "play the game" when they could and move banks to earn cash back when it was available, he said.A spokesperson for ANZ said it was committed to offering competitive home loan rates."Since the OCR began to fall in August 2024, we've lowered our floating rate by 2.95 percent, more than any of the other main banks."On Tuesday we announced a small change to our floating and flexi rates to align with market conditions."Ahead of the November OCR cut, our floating rate was already below most of the main banks, our new rate remains competitively positioned among the main banks in the market today."We'll continue to review rates as global and local conditions evolve."Cunningham said the New Zealand banking system was hard to break into because the existing banks could adjust prices across their range to alter what profit they made."You've always got a bunch of products you can compete to protect your margin."Whereas if you're a mono-line provider and the competition turns to fixed rate loans and you haven't got a floating rate loan to subsidise it or a credit card or a personal loan at a high margin or cheap deposits to subsidise it... that's why the system is so resilient against attackers."Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Massey University’s drug survey shows cheaper meth and more weekly use across New Zealand.The New Zealand Drug Trends Survey is an anonymous online survey of 8,883 people, run from Friday, May 9 to Monday, October 6, 2025. About 60% of respondents said they lived in a city.The first 2025 release reports meth prices falling from $563 a gram in 2017 to $334 a gram in 2025.After adjusting for inflation, it drops to $253 a gram, a 55% fall since 2017.Professor Chris Wilkins, from Massey University’s NZ Drugs Research Team, says cheaper meth has “important implications” for who can afford to start using it, and how much people can buy and use. “Higher and more frequent use of meth is linked to greater harms, like dependency, psychosis and pressures on partners and family relationships,” he says.The number of people reporting meth use stayed static, while frequency increased. The share of surveyed users taking meth weekly or more often almost doubled, from 27% in 2018 to 57% in 2025. Users increasingly said they were using more because “it costs less”.For locals, the cocaine findings are close to home. The survey says cocaine supply and use continue to grow, and use remains particularly high in Auckland.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

If you are waking to heavy rain tonight, MetService says it could intensify fast. A Yellow Heavy Rain Watch is in place for Auckland north of the Harbour Bridge and for Northland from tonight to tomorrow, with periods of heavy rain, possible thunderstorms, and localised downpours. MetService says rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria, or possibly exceed them in localised areas, and there is a moderate chance the Watch will be upgraded to a Warning. Rain RadarMore heavy rain is expected on Wednesday, and MetService says another Watch or Warning may be issued, as a low with tropical origins is likely to impact New Zealand’s weather from Wednesday. For Hibiscus Coast households, it is one to keep on the radar overnight and into tomorrow as conditions develop.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Hibiscus Coast shoppers should see sharper fruit and vege value this summer as seasonal supply builds.Foodstuffs says summer supply is pushing produce prices down across New Zealand.Stats NZ reported annual food price inflation of 4.0% for December. Foodstuffs says its comparable basket rose 3.5% year on year.Some of the biggest December price drops were cucumbers (down 37.0%), lettuce (-19.4%), cauliflower (-19.3%), courgettes (-18.7%), broccoli (-17.5%) and kumara (-14.9%).Foodstuffs Managing Director Chris Quin says, “The summer months are prime time for salads, and in December lettuce and cucumbers were in strong supply.” He also points to stone fruit coming through well and Central Otago cherries in a short six-week season.Not everything is cheaper. Kiwifruit rose 66.8% year on year, with the local season finishing early and a switch to imported supply. Tomatoes were up 33.2%, with lower planting and strong export demand.Foodstuffs says supplier costs rose 4.7% year on year for products in its basket. The Infometrics Grocery Supplier Cost Index was up 2.4% a year.Red meat supply is steady, but global demand is keeping prices elevated, including beef steak (up 25.4%) and lamb chops (+18.3%). Quin says promoted cuts can offer value, while chicken and pork remain more affordable.Looking ahead, Foodstuffs says summer harvest will keep building into February, with sweetcorn, watermelon and new-season apples coming through.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Hibiscus Coast commuters will pay a little more for buses, trains, ferries, and paid parking from Sunday, February 1.Auckland Transport’s annual price review means public transport fares and the price for on-street parking and Auckland Transport-managed carparks will rise on the same day.Public transport fares will increase by a weighted average of 5.1 percent.That works out to an extra 10 to 25 cents per trip for adult bus and train fares.Adult ferry trips will rise by 40 to 60 cents.On-street parking and Auckland Transport-managed carparks will also increase from February 1.Prices rise by 50 cents an hour across the region, excluding areas that have already had a price change over the past year.Auckland Transport says it has kept both changes as low as possible.It says they are below the rate of cost increases it has faced over the past year, which it puts between 10 and 16 percent for running the public transport network and parking services.AT Director of Public Transport and Active Modes Stacey van der Putten says: “We would love to keep our fares where they are, but annual increases are necessary to keep pace with rising costs and ensure we can continue delivering reliable and frequent public transport services.”The $50 weekly fare cap introduced last year remains unchanged.Auckland Transport says the cap delivered 886,000 free trips and saved customers more than $2 million in its first year.Auckland Transport also notes the tertiary concession increased from 20 percent to 40 percent in December, and the Community Connect concession continues to offer half-price fares for Community Services Card holders.For locals driving into Silverdale, Orewa, or the city for work, the parking change means higher hourly rates from February 1.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

It’s a good feeling when a local favourite gets recognised. The Top 50 finalists have been revealed in NZ’s Best Beach 2026 competition, and Orewa Beach has been shortlisted in three categories: Best Family Beach, Best City Beach, and Best Camping Beach. Voting is open now, and you have until 11.59pm on Sunday, January 25, to vote for your favourites in each category. Votes are cast online. Winners will be announced on Sunday, February 1. For Hibiscus Coast locals, it’s a simple way to back a beach many of us use year-round, whether it’s for a swim, a walk, or an easy family outing, and every vote counts.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Jetting off soon? Hibiscus Coast travellers will see duty-free construction at Auckland Airport, with shops staying open during a late-2026 upgrade.Work has started in the international terminal’s airside duty-free area, and it will be done in stages over the coming year.If you’re heading through departures, you may notice temporary hoardings and ceilings going up beyond security.In the months ahead, staged work is due to move into the arrivals duty-free space too.Expect the layout to change as temporary shopping bays appear. Some stores will be shifted to new spots while the refurbishment continues.The airport says wide walkways will be kept, and duty-free stores will keep trading during the works.The upgrade is due to be completed in late 2026, with changes introduced progressively as the fit-out rolls on.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

The Government has asked for urgent advice after reports of rockpools at Army Bay being stripped of marine life.Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Jenny Marcroft say officials have been asked to respond quickly, given what’s being reported at Army Bay and other spots.In October 2025, a settlement trust asked for a two-year temporary fisheries closure covering the Rodney, Hibiscus Coast and East Coast Bays coastline, plus some Gulf islands.Mr Jones says officials have collated submissions from public consultation and also received feedback from the trust.“I acknowledge people are concerned at what they say is the indiscriminate collection of marine life at intertidal rockpools,” Mr Jones says. He says the shellfish and other marine creatures reportedly being taken in large numbers are crucial for the health of these ecosystems.Mr Jones says he is also considering steps to dissuade people from collecting marine life that is not traditionally eaten and is at risk of disappearing from some areas completely. He says options could include prohibitions on collecting certain species not usually taken for food, and social media campaigns to educate collectors from all cultures about the risks of taking large amounts of sea creatures from tiny ecosystems.Oceans and Fisheries - Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Jenny Marcroft.Ms Marcroft says she travelled to the peninsula in the past week with Fisheries staff, meeting concerned residents and representatives from the settlement trust.“It is important to acknowledge that no one in this situation is breaking the law but it is clear that this level of collection of marine life from these intertidal pools is not sustainable,” Ms Marcroft says.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]