Whangaparāoa residents and iwi are calling for a ban on taking seafood from Auckland's Army Bay as they say what was once an "abundance of sea life" was now gone.Local iwi Ngāti Manuhiri was considering asking the minister for a rāhui or halt to collecting seafood from the area to give it time to regenerate.Long time Army Bay resident and founder of the Protect Whangaparāoa rock pools group Mark Lenton, said in the past two years there had been mass stripping of the rock pools at Army Bay with large groups turning up, sometimes in mini buses, with all sorts of tools and buckets to harvest all the kai moana they could find.He told Checkpoint urgent action needed was needed to protect the bay and other beaches too."I walk the rock pools daily and there has been an abundance of sea life in the rock pools [in the past]. Over last Summer, I started seeing more people on the rocks with buckets and tools taking everything out of these pools."He said he had seen people using tongs and chisels to remove limpets and even piano wire to remove sea weed and sea anemone from the rocks."There's a large element of poaching both day and night... it's more concentrated poaching at night."They arrive in cars, mini buses sometimes, with all forms of tool and equipment."Last Sunday evening, he said he saw a group of 15 people on the rocks about 8pm, who were intercepted by some locals before the sealife could be removed."They're taking cushion stars, limpets, crabs, sea anemone, everything goes into the bucket.Starfish at Army Bay. Photo: MARK LENTON / SUPPLIED"The pools used to be an abundance of life... like any Kiwi I have a love of the ocean and that started with rock pools."Lenton said it needed to stop and he believed a rāhui could be the answer."A rāhui would be great, secondly, we need a legal ban for at least two years restricting all gathering at rock pools for that time."He acknowledged two years may not be long enough for the sealife to recover but said it was a step in the right direction.It was a really good chance for New Zealand and Fisheries NZ to take a stand, Lenton said, and show the country would not tolerate that kind of behaviour."There should be no rules in 2025 that allow people to strip rock pools bare on any part of our coastline."Chief Executive of Ngāti Manuhiri, Nicola Rata-MacDonald MNZM, said the iwi had been considering further options to protect shellfish and other taonga species since 2018."Covid-19 temporarily paused this kōrero, but the need has become urgent as pressure on our rocky reefs and intertidal areas has escalated."While the rāhui itself is not a legal closure, it works in tandem with legislation. Together they bring the strength of both cultural practice and government regulation."This is why it is important that we all work together - iwi, agencies, and the wider community - to uphold the rāhui and the closure, so that our moana and taonga species have a chance to recover."Rata-MacDonald said the iwi was seeking closure of the entire eastern coastline of the Rodney Local Board Area and Hibiscus and Bays Local Board Area."Once our application is lodged, it is for the Minister to consider and approve. We are seeking the maximum closure period of two years, though the final decision rests with the Minister."Enforcement would be the responsibility of Fisheries NZ, she said."One way members of the public can potentially contribute is by applying to become honorary fisheries officers, which helps strengthen protection efforts. At the same time, our kaitiaki and volunteers will be focusing on education and awareness - working with the community to build understanding and support for the closure."Fisheries NZ regional manager for the north, Andre Espinoza, said he was grateful for information from the public relating to any suspected illegal fishing.But he noted the compliance rate in Auckland for recreational fishers when inspected was at 94 percent.People could report any suspicious or illegal fishing activity by calling 0800 4 POACHER (0800 47 62 24).

Women’s rugby is growing rapidly worldwide, and now accounts for 25% of the total global playing base.US women’s rugby star Ilona Maher is the most followed rugby player in the world, ahead of men’s stars Siya Kolisi and Antoine Dupont.So there’s more interest than ever in the tenth Women’s Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in England on August 23.As with any big sports event, the pundits will be picking their winners based on recent win-loss records and overall performance trends – key factors that underpin official rankings.Rugby Vision, a suite of statistical models I developed to predict outcomes for major competitions, uses similar information but with some important differences.Notably, it is less sensitive to the outcome of any single game.The model uses three main components: a rating system for international teams; estimation of expected outcomes for each World Cup game using those ratings; and 10,000 simulations of the tournament to account for uncertainty around expected outcomes.Rugby Vision has outperformed betting markets and other algorithms in recent men’s Rugby World Cups.I should add, though, it is not designed to support sports betting, but rather to illustrate how statistical modelling compares with real-world results.Picking a winnerThe probability of each team advancing to each stage of the tournament is shown in the table below.England, which has dominated women’s rugby in recent years and has home advantage, is overwhelming favourite with a 70.3% chance of winning the tournament.New Zealand, which won the previous tournament, is second favourite with an 18.8% chance of defending their title.The next most likely winners are consistent performers Canada (6.7%) and France (3.9%).There is a 99.7% chance the winner will be one of these top four teams.In each pool, one team (from the top four) is almost assured of making the quarterfinals, one team is “likely”, and one team has a fighting chance.For example, in Pool B, Canada has a 99.4% chance of being quarter-finalists, Scotland a 69.8% probability, and Wales a 27.5% chance.Given the tournament schedule, Canada will likely play New Zealand in one semifinal, while England will face France in another.This is a key reason why France has a 75.5% chance of reaching the semifinals, but only a 12.1% chance of playing in the final.Behind the algorithmThe simulations are based on an algorithm used to rank teams.The algorithm used here differs from that used for the official World Rugby Rankings.Rugby Vision rankings and rating points for the participants are shown in the table below.England (with 136.8 rating points) is ranked number one, with a large lead over New Zealand (125.4), Canada (117.5) and France (114.6).Brazil (49.5), which will make its World Cup debut, rounds out the rankings.The Rugby Vision rankings are comparable to the official World Rugby rankings, but a key difference is that Canada is ranked ahead of New Zealand in the official standings.The rating points can be used to predict game results.For the first round of games at the tournament, the table below shows the expected winning margin of the favourite and the probability of each team winning.For example, in the game between Scotland and Wales, Scotland is expected to win by nine points, but there is a 29.5% chance Wales will win.While England enters the tournament as clear favourite, rugby has never been short of surprises.Past Rugby World Cups have seen giants fall and underdogs rise.The simulations give us a guide, but they are not a crystal ball.What is certain is that the women’s game is in excellent shape – growing fast, drawing crowds and showcasing world-class talent.This tournament is bound to be a spectacle.Author - Niven Winchester, Professor of Economics, Auckland University of Technology

If you pull into Waiwera today, you’ll find only bare ground where the hot pools once stood.Demolition in early 2024 removed every trace of the resort that once drew families for slides, spa tubs and steaming movie nights.Photo taken in February 2024.The pools closed in 2018 for planned renovations but never reopened.At the time, owners Urban Partners spoke of a $250 million redevelopment.So far, no work has started.Photo taken in August 2025.Council records now list the 1.7 hectare site as vacant commercial land, valued at $13.5 million with annual rates of $68,433.For Waiwera residents, the absence of redevelopment is less concerning than the letters now arriving from Auckland Council.Locals say they’re drowning in steep rates increases, with bills often climbing well into double figures.Rather than longing for the pools, locals we spoke with say they enjoy the peace.With no busloads of visitors, fewer cars and quieter streets, Waiwera feels more like a seaside village again.For now, the land remains empty, and most residents are more focused on balancing household budgets than debating what might one day replace the landmark.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

State Highway 1 between Oteha Valley Road and the Silverdale interchange will be fully closed northbound for maintenance from Sunday 24 August to Thursday 28 August, between 9pm and 5am.The closures are needed for general upkeep of the motorway and are dependent on weather. Ramp closures and lane restrictions may start earlier than the advertised times.Affected ramps include:Oteha Valley Road northbound on-rampSilverdale northbound off-rampBP Service Station Dairy Flat on-ramp and off-ramp (no public access)A signposted detour will be in place via Oteha Valley Road and Dairy Flat Highway.For Hibiscus Coast commuters, the works mean longer evening journeys and some rerouting around local roads. Planning ahead and allowing extra travel time will help avoid frustration.While the closures may cause short-term inconvenience, the maintenance is designed to keep SH1 safe and reliable for the thousands of Coasties who rely on it daily.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, 22/8 Rephrase Forecasts with a casual, community-friendly version that fits your styleHigh: 13Low: 6Saturday, 23/8Chilly start with morning frosts, then mostly fine under light southeasterlies.High: 12Low: 6Sunday, 24/8Cloudy spells with easterlies picking up and showers by afternoon.High: 14Low: 9Monday, 25/8On-and-off showers with steady easterlies.High: 15Low: 10Want more weather info? Tap into 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.Everything you need, right here in the Hibiscus Coast App – anytime, anywhere!

Regular school attendance has hit record levels, with Term 2 showing 58.4% of students attending regularly. That’s up 5 percentage points on the same time last year and 11.4 points on Term 2 in 2023. Associate Education Minister David Seymour says it’s the first time any term has beaten pre covid levels.Every region saw gains, with the biggest lift in Taranaki, Whanganui and Manawatū, up 7.2 points year on year. Chronic absence has also eased, falling to 9.3% compared with 9.6% last year and 12.5% in 2023.For Hibiscus Coast schools, higher attendance means steadier progress in the classroom and less disruption for families. Fewer gaps in learning also ease pressure on teachers, which could make a real difference as students head into exams and end-of-year milestones.The Government’s attendance action plan is rolling out in stages. By Term 1, 2026 all schools must have an attendance plan aligned with the Stepped Attendance Response. Prosecution will be considered only in serious cases where parents refuse to engage after supports are offered.Next year, frontline services will have tighter contracts, better monitoring tools, and a new case management system. Budget 2025 also set aside $140m over four years to boost attendance. Seymour says keeping kids in class is the first step to positive outcomes like higher incomes, stable jobs and stronger communities.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Walking is free, healthy, stress-relieving and kind to the planet, yet most short trips in Auckland are still taken by car. A 2018 Census snapshot showed 82.8 percent of journeys were made behind the wheel.Dr I-Ting Chuang from the University of Auckland set out to understand why, mapping 15-minute walking catchments in several Auckland and Hamilton suburbs. The findings showed that while many neighbourhoods technically meet the “15-minute city” ideal, proximity alone doesn’t get people on their feet.Instead, walking depends on three factors:Street layout – fine-grained networks make short trips feel achievable.Destinations – everyday places like cafés, shops and libraries give people a reason to walk.Experience – greenery, seating and safe lighting make walking enjoyable.Access to destinations emerged as the strongest motivator. “An elegant footpath won’t get people walking if there’s nothing worth walking to,” Dr Chuang noted.The study also found differences between communities. In under-served areas, people often walk out of necessity. In more affluent suburbs, walking is a choice, usually for pleasure.For Coasties, the lessons are clear. The Hibiscus Coast already enjoys leafy paths and scenic walkways, but the challenge is encouraging people to use them for everyday trips, not just leisure. Connecting these routes with daily destinations like schools, shops and community hubs is what will turn a pleasant walk into a practical choice.As Dr Chuang concludes, “Structure enables walking, but experience drives choice.”

New Zealand could soon see money moving within seconds, after BlinkPay announced it has developed the country’s first open banking-enabled real-time payments technology.The system, now ready for rollout, allows payments to settle instantly rather than waiting half-hourly or overnight. BNZ has become the first major bank to back the capability, with BlinkPay calling for other banks to join.BlinkPay CEO Adrian Smith says the change could transform everyday life for New Zealanders. From tradespeople receiving payment as soon as a job is done, to emergency funds reaching families instantly, the benefits are wide-reaching. Businesses could also improve cash flow through immediate invoice payments.The current system, which processes in batches, has long been reliable but causes delays in time-sensitive situations. Real-time payments would remove this lag, allowing faster insurance payouts, rental bond transfers, and even property settlements.BNZ CEO Dan Huggins says the initiative will give people more choice and certainty.“It works alongside the existing payment system, expanding options rather than replacing them,” he says.For Coasties, instant payments could mean quicker wages for contractors, faster refunds when plans change, and more secure ways to pay or receive money directly through their bank.BlinkPay says the system doesn’t require a new app, just broad adoption across banks. With industry-wide participation, New Zealand could soon join other countries already running on real-time payments.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

If you’ve noticed a few more people in the supermarket queue or a bit more traffic on Whangaparāoa Road, you’re not imagining it. Stats NZ has confirmed that New Zealand’s resident population was sitting at 5,324,700 as of 30 June 2025. That’s an increase of 34,700 people over the past year.Most of that growth came from more babies being born than people passing away, adding 21,000 to the total. Net migration accounted for the rest, with 13,700 more arrivals than departures. But here’s a twist: in the most recent quarter, more people actually left the country than arrived, leaving migration at -200.Even with that growth, New Zealand still sits around 124th in the world by population—tiny on the global scale.So what might this mean closer to home? On the Hibiscus Coast, more families could add pressure to housing in Millwater and Orewa, while schools may see busier classrooms. Health providers could also feel the demand as our population steadily ages. The median age is now just under 39 for women and 37 for men, pointing to more grandparents living nearby and more Coasties needing regular healthcare.It’s a reminder that while our numbers creep up, we’re still small enough that you’ll likely bump into a familiar face at Coast Plaza or at the beach. Growth may be steady, but community is still close.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

The Reserve Bank has lowered the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to 3 percent, trimming 25 basis points, as inflation edges toward the top of its 1 to 3 percent target band. The Monetary Policy Committee says easing pressure in the economy should return inflation to its 2 percent midpoint by mid-2026.The move comes after signs New Zealand’s recovery stalled in the June quarter. Household and business spending has been hit by job losses, high living costs, and weaker house prices. The Committee noted many families are dipping into savings to cover essentials like food, power, fuel, and council rates.Locally, Coast households and businesses are feeling the same squeeze. Rising rates and energy costs are being noticed here just as much as anywhere else, while falling house prices are weighing on confidence. A drop in mortgage rates over the coming months may provide some relief.The Committee voted 4–2 in favour of the smaller cut, saying the balance of risks sits both ways. If inflationary pressures ease further, more reductions are possible.For Coasties, the decision matters because the OCR directly influences mortgage and term deposit rates. With around half of existing mortgages due to re-fix in the next six months, lower rates could help ease pressure on family budgets and free up more spending across the community.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

ANZ’s latest KiwiSaver Insights Report, Turning the Tide, has called for urgent bipartisan action to strengthen New Zealand’s retirement savings system.The report highlights encouraging engagement from younger generations, with 27% of 16–17-year-olds contributing in June–July despite not receiving government or employer matches. A 15-year-old starting full-time work at 21 could save $1.16 million by age 65, or $689,000 if they buy a home at 35.Generational contribution trends show Gen Z at 53%, Millennials around 60%, Gen X at 68–72%, and Baby Boomers at 60%, with one third of pre-1946 members still contributing. Regional disparities persist, with South Island regions exceeding 70% engagement compared to just over 60% in Auckland and Northland.The gender gap remains significant. Men’s average balance is $38,206 compared to $32,133 for women, a difference that widens to $17,000 by age 64. Younger members are more likely to select growth-oriented funds, with 64% of Gen Alpha choosing Growth compared to 41% of Gen Z and 35% of Millennials.Fiona Mackenzie, Managing Director of ANZ Investments, said New Zealand is at a pivotal moment. She urged a review of KiwiSaver settings, including gradually increasing default contribution rates, adjusting the retirement age, supporting disadvantaged savers, and expanding financial literacy.For Hibiscus Coast families, the findings are a timely reminder of how important it is to start saving early. With many locals balancing KiwiSaver as both a pathway to first-home ownership and long-term retirement planning, policy changes will directly affect the way Coast households prepare for the future.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Nine young swimmers are set to represent New Zealand at the 2025 World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Otopeni, Romania, from 19 to 24 August.Four of them, along with their head coach, have strong ties to the Hibiscus Coast.Zoe PedersenMilan GlintmeyerIgor RussanovJames LeighThe NZ team is led by Head Coach John Gatfield, supported by coach Aidan Withington, and team manager Amanda White.New Zealand has won medals at every Junior World Championships since the event began in 2006, and the squad will be aiming to keep that streak alive.For Coasties, it’s a proud moment to see local swimmers competing on the world stage, showing that talent nurtured here can shine anywhere.Swimming NZ will share updates through its website and social media. Go team!Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

New Zealand Food Safety is backing a recall of several imported French cheeses after the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes was detected.The recall, led by importer Goodfood Group Limited, affects Food Snob and Mon Ami brand Brie and Camembert products sold nationwide.Products included are:Food Snob Classic French Brie 125g and 200gFood Snob Classic French Camembert 125g and 200gMon Ami Double Cream French Brie Petit 125gMon Ami Mild & Creamy French Camembert Petit 125gThe products were made in France and sold through supermarkets and retail outlets nationwide, including on the Hibiscus Coast.They have not been re-exported.“The concern with this product is that it may contain Listeria, a foodborne bacterium that can make you sick,” says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.“Listeriosis infection can be serious among vulnerable groups, such as pregnant people and their unborn babies, newborns, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. It is particularly dangerous during pregnancy because it can cause miscarriage, premature labour or stillbirth, and infection in the new-born baby.”The advice is not to eat these cheeses.They can be returned to the place of purchase for a refund, or thrown out.Healthy adults are less at risk, but for vulnerable groups symptoms can take two to three weeks to appear.Anyone concerned after eating these products should contact their health professional or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

If you're wondering solar power is a good option for your house, there are a few questions to work through, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) says.It has produced a new checklist that offers guidance.EECA lead adviser Gareth Gretton said any decision should start with a basic assessment of the house's roof."Is your roof suitable for solar? The number one other thing, I think, is really the condition of your roof."You really wouldn't want to put a new solar panel on to an old roof that needed replacement or a significant amount of maintenance within a 10-to-15-year period."Ideally, you're really putting it on a pretty new roof that's not going to need any attention for the entire life of the solar system, which would be about 30 years."You should expect these solar panels to be up on your roof for really quite a long time and not require any maintenance other than a bit of cleaning."The system should also be sized to match a household's energy use, he said. New Zealand households typically have anything from eight or nine solar panels through to about 20, but heavy users can have more if roof space and house orientation permits.A system with 10 panels might cost about $12,000."The question there is really, how much energy you use and when you use it and that will influence whether you should go for a slightly bigger or a slightly smaller system."Gretton said people would also need to check their electricity meter could handle exporting power. Most systems export power that is not used back to the grid. Power companies pay for that power, although they currently pay less than a household would pay for power it consumers."That's kind of a chance thing at the moment, whether the meter that you currently have is going to be suitable," Gretton said."If it's not suitable, then that's something that you want to get sorted before you go and install a solar system that then can't actually be connected."He said households should also look at whether their hot water system was controlled.It would be important to check that quotes they received were offering the same thing, he said.Some houses have multiple-phase power that can be dealt with in different ways."The easiest thing really is if you just have single phase, because then you install a single phase inverter and that inverter will be able to put the power directly into your household circuits and you'll be able to use as much as you can. But if you've got three phases, then it's kind of a question of do you still have a single phase inverter and one phase gets loaded up more or do you go for a three-phase inverter that can put it onto different phases and does that three phase inverter have the capacity to do different things on different phases? So it's it's getting really into details, but you know these are the kind of things that make a bit of difference and good installers will be able to guide homeowners through these kind of decisions."Dr Gareth Gretton, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority Photo: SUPPLIED/EECAPeople should also check the inverter in a system would be able to work with demand flexible systems."We think the future is going to be increasing flexibility, which basically means that we get to use the grid to its best advantage. Having smart inverters is a big part of that. It's essentially ensuring that we get more and more devices on the grid that are capable of behaving in a smart way."To maximise the return, people could consider including a battery in their systems so they could store and use more of their own solar power, especially in the evening, EECA said.It said households could improve the return they received from a solar energy system with smart energy use, such as installing timers on hot water systems, and using apps and home energy management systems. Generally, the best return on investment is when power can be used as it is generated.Gretton said for most households right now, batteries would not improve their return on investment but that was expected to change over time.Other things to think about were whether a house was in a wind zone, whether the roof would need scaffolding to have panels installed and whether there could be corrosion if a house was next to the sea.Gretton said panels were usually suitable up to very high or extra high wind zones."But there are wind zones even above that where you basically have to consult an engineer. So it's just making sure that your installer has actually looked at what wind zone you're in and has therefore taken that into account when designing the system."Meanwhile, Westpac released a report on Tuesday looking at the future for solar power.It noted that New Zealand had adopted solar later than its peers."In part that reflects the historical dominance of other renewable energy sources in electricity generation in New Zealand. The opposite is true in the EU, US and Australia, where fossil fuels (and nuclear) have historically dominated."In many of these countries, solar adoption has been supported by generous government subsidies and support measures that have allowed local manufacturers to gain scale. That was not a consideration in New Zealand."The report noted that power demand in New Zealand tended to peak in the morning and evening, when solar was not available."Contrast that to Australia, which also has a mid-day peak during summer, when solar is most prevalent."But New Zealanders were now getting into solar quickly, it noted. Data indicated that solar accounted for 1.3 percent of electricity in 2023 but that had probably risen to more than 2 percent in the first quarter of this year."The accelerated uptake of solar in New Zealand more recently reflects falling costs and the increased viability of installing it, despite a comparatively low average solar irradiance or surface power density …Growth of adoption in New Zealand reflects declining costs, rapid advances in solar technology, and our ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions."The report said solar would be critical if the electricity system was to cater for more demand as transportation and heating electrifies and new industries, such as hyperscale data centres expand."The cost of residential installations continues to fall, but at around $12k for a 5KW system, it's still expensive for most households. However, electricity prices have risen by an average 23 percent since 2019 with the average New Zealand household now paying $2400 per year. That means that the payback for solar has now fallen to between five to seven years."According to Rewiring Aotearoa, borrowing against a mortgage to install solar means the average household will pay 13c/kWh. That falls to 7c without a mortgage. By comparison, the wholesale price of electricity is about 17c/kWh."Falling upfront installation and declining battery costs should make solar more attractive to households. How much though depends on whether wholesale electricity prices rise or fall."Other factors include buy-back rates for surplus electricity sold back into the grid. These currently range from 8c per kWh to 17c depending on the electricity retailer, but should rise with the introduction of new rules by the Electricity Authority. "

We live in an age of declining trust in public institutions: parliament, the health and education systems, courts and police have all suffered over the past decade, both in New Zealand and internationally.And, of course, trust in the news has declined precipitously, according to regular surveys, including our own research.So, it might be tempting to roll declining trust in news media into this wider decline of trust in public institutions in general.But this is where our research disagrees.News isn’t just another institution like the state, a corporation or a non-profit organisation.Ideally, it’s the democratic expression of the public interest in these things.An institutional approach may help us explore the structural issues democracies face (for example, critiquing the nature of media ownership).But it also generalises, and risks obscuring the specifics of the trust problem public interest journalism faces.Nor does it recognise the distinctiveness of the “social contract of the press” – the necessary bond of trust between journalism and its audiences, which is key to the success of the wider social contract between the public and its institutions.News is out of syncOur research shows trust in news has plummeted from 58% of New Zealanders agreeing they can trust “most of the news most of the time” in 2020, to just 32% in 2025.Survey respondents tell us they perceive the news to be politically biased (both left and right), and because too much seems to be opinion masquerading as news.These seemed very different from the trust issues faced by government, business and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).Declining trust in those institutions has been driven more by wars, financial crises, the rise of populism and the COVID pandemic.To differentiate journalism’s trust issues, we explored whether falling trust in news was (or wasn’t) linked to declines in trust in other social institutions.We looked at research from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and the global Edelman Trust Barometer, as well as our own research.We found the trajectories of trust levels for other social institutions – governments, business, NGOs – showed clear links to each other as they rose and fell, more or less in sync, over time.Trust in news, however, has been in its own lane, perhaps influenced by the others, but clearly not tethered to them.A fall in trust in government and politics, in other words, is not a predictor of a fall in trust in news.Global levels of trustGlobally, we found trust in government, business and NGOs fell and then rose, roughly together, from 2020 to 2024.While not tracking each other exactly, there’s a clear grouping of data points.From 2020, trust in all of them (including media in general – television, internet, radio and movies) fell rapidly and levelled out in 2021 before rising again slightly by 2024.Trust in news itself, however, behaved in almost exactly opposite ways, rising from 2020 to 2021 before falling again and levelling out in 2023.Given its impact, the global pandemic is likely a cause for these changes in 2020.However, as trust in government fell, news media – to which the public has historically turned in a crisis – actually rose.Trust levels in New ZealandIn New Zealand, things were very different.While it fell globally, trust in institutions in New Zealand rose from 2020, before falling in 2022.Trust in news, however, was not rising in the early days of the pandemic as it was elsewhere.It was falling. And it continued to fall steadily until 2023. (In 2024, it would fall even more dramatically, but that data was not captured by this study.)Both sets of data – global and local – show trust in news doing largely the opposite of what trust in government and other institutions has been doing, rising when they were falling and vice versa.When journalism does its job well and exposes failings in government, we would indeed expect one to rise and the other to fall.So, we can see there may well be links between changes in levels of trust.But we can also see trust levels are not responding in unison to external sociopolitical pressures.In focus groups, we explored if there were connections between trust in news and trust in government.Older New Zealanders who didn’t trust the news told us there were institutions they mistrusted: banks, insurance companies and universities, some to very high levels, and mostly born from personal experience.But they did not particularly mistrust government as an institution.And we found no direct link between their mistrust of news and their mistrust of other social institutions.Which supports the evidence we found in the global and local trust data trends.It seems the trust problems democracies have with their news services need to be addressed on their own terms, not as part of an overall picture.Authors:Greg Treadwell Senior Lecturer in Journalism, Auckland University of Technology and Merja Myllylahti Senior Lecturer, Co-Director Research Centre for Journalism, Media & Democracy, Auckland University of Technology.

Sales activity lifted across New Zealand in July 2025, according to new figures from the Real Estate Institute (REINZ), even as fewer homes came onto the market. Listings were down 4.2% compared to last July, while sales rose 4% nationwide, suggesting buyers remain active despite tighter supply.REINZ Chief Executive Lizzy Ryley said the seasonal pattern is clear. “We’re seeing the usual winter slowdown in listings, but buyers are still out there. The lift in sales compared to last July suggests there’s solid interest despite fewer new homes coming to market.”The national median price nudged up 1.8% year-on-year to $767,250. Auckland recorded a 2.6% rise to $975,000. Excluding Auckland, the median price increased 3.9% to $695,000. Eleven regions saw annual price gains, with Nelson and Otago showing the sharpest growth.For Coasties, the numbers reflect what many are noticing in local open homes – fewer new properties listed, but steady demand. While some vendors are holding off until spring, salespeople say most are realistic and prepared to meet the market now.Across the country, the number of days to sell eased slightly to 48, while auctions made up 13.5% of sales. Inventory dipped by 0.4%, leaving just over 30,000 properties for sale.Ryley noted that while buyers remain active, they are not rushing. “With steady days to sell, it’s clear people feel they have time to weigh up their options.”Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

The Government is planning the biggest shake-up of the building consent system since 2004, aiming to cut delays and lower costs for builders and homeowners.Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says the changes are needed because consenting red tape is slowing projects and driving up costs.He noted that a typical standalone house in New Zealand is now 50 percent more expensive to build than in Australia.The first change will scrap the current “joint and several liability” model, which often leaves councils paying the full bill when building defects arise. Instead, a new “proportionate liability” system will make each party responsible only for their share of the work. Options such as mandatory home warranties and professional indemnity insurance are being explored to protect building owners.The second reform will allow councils to consolidate their Building Consent Authority functions. With 66 authorities nationwide, builders currently face inconsistent interpretations of the Building Code. Consolidation is expected to bring consistency, reduce paperwork, and save ratepayers money.For the Hibiscus Coast, where housing demand and infrastructure growth are pressing issues, the reforms could make it easier to get projects moving and reduce the risk of costly delays.A Bill to amend the Building Act is expected to be introduced to Parliament in early 2026.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Auckland CBD's business association is asking the government to collaborate on a plan to revive the city's economy.On Morning Report, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon shut down Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown's renewed calls to charge visitors a bed-night levy."We just don't think a bed tax is the right way forward at this time and we're not looking at it this term."The levy would fund destination marketing and events to attract people to the city.Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck said central city businesses suffering after Covid-19 and from ongoing construction due to the delayed City Rail Link needed a lifeline."If the government doesn't want to do [a bed levy] what we need is a discussion about what the alternatives are."If the prime minister had said, 'Look, we are not supporting a bed tax, but we are keen to talk to groups in Auckland concerned about the economic turnaround there,' that would be helpful so we could actually end up with a plan of attack."We need a solution, and we're not going to get one if it keeps staying at a public stalemate."Beck said the government returning the GST it charged on rates would also help Auckland's economy.

Burger fans, mark your calendars. On Thursday 29 August at 15:00, YouTube megastar Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, will see his famous MrBeast Burger brand open its very first New Zealand store in Auckland.The launch brings the internet-famous menu closer to home, with options like the Beast Style Burger, Chandler Style Burger, Nashville Chicken and Crinkle Fries available via UberEats, DoorDash or takeaway from the new Auckland outlet.Opening weekend comes with plenty of extras. Every order will include a free MrBeast Burger shoe charm and a can of Pepsi, plus surprise giveaways for lucky customers.Dec Penfold, co-founder of VBNZ and MrBeast Burger’s New Zealand operator, says the buzz isn’t just about the hype. “We’re bringing an iconic American burger brand and giving it a Kiwi twist. From the pickles to the patties, nearly every ingredient is sourced from local producers.”MrBeast Burger NZ will focus on a delivery-first model using commercial kitchens. The Auckland site is takeaway only, with more locations planned around the country soon.For Hibiscus Coast families who already make the trip into town for a taste of something new, Auckland’s launch means the world’s most viral burger brand is finally just down the motorway.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]