A $50 million redevelopment plan of now demolished Waiwera Hot Pools has been unveiled.Concept designs for the currently empty site include 28 pools and wellness experiences along with saunas, reflexology walks and gardens.Resource consent for the project, led by Waiwera Thermal Springs Property LP, would be lodged with Auckland Council on Monday, the group said.The group had signed an agreement to acquire the site from landowners Urban Partners.The Waiwera site seen from above as it currently is. Photo: SUPPLIEDDirector of Waiwera Thermal Springs, Brandon Batagol, said he wanted the attraction to be a "wold-class bathing and wellness destination".Waiwera had been open in some form since the 1800's, but in 2018 the hot pools closed and were later demolished in 2023, leaving the site as a vacant piece of land."Our vision is to create a destination that reconnects people to Waiwera's geothermal heritage, culture and lush native landscape," Batagol said.Waiwera Thermal Springs concept sketch. Photo: SUPPLIED"This will be a place of genuine replenishment where wellness grows from nature."The development team behind the project had experience in thermal wellness destinations, Batagol said, and had operated the award-winning Peninsula Hot Springs in Melbourne and been involved in the revival of Maruia Hot Springs in the South Island."Together, with local experts and local partners, we have taken the upmost care to deliver a plan for Waiwera Thermal Springs that will bring considerable economic and social benefits to the region whilst honouring the natural environment."He said the springs would encourage guests to "slow down" and immerse themselves in nature.Pools set amongst native forest as part of the concept renders. Photo: One to One Hundred Ltd / SUPPLIEDWaiwera was a place of deep ancestral and cultural significance for Ngāti Manuhiri, Batagol said who would be involved as development partners."We recognise this land and water as part of a living whakapapa, shaped by generations and sustained through shared principles."Sharing the plans openly with the public for the first time was "exciting", Batagol said."We look forward to continuing to work closely with Auckland Council through the Resource Consent process."In time, when we are ready to welcome visitors, we want them to come for the calm and stay for the connection in Waiwera's mineral rich hot waters."Waiwera Thermal Pools prior to its demolition. (File photo) Photo: RNZ / Tom TaylorAuckland Mayor Wayne Brown said the $50 million plan had his "full backing"."Waiwera Thermal Springs is expected to attract over 310,000 visitors to the region and generate around $300 million over its first five years, drawing tourism in both winter and summer."It is optimally placed along the tourist route, making the most of what we already have there. I look forward to its opening."

From Sunday, December 14, tertiary students across Auckland get 40 per cent off fares, easing costs for Hibiscus Coast commuters.Auckland Transport is doubling its tertiary student concession from 20 per cent to 40 per cent, matching the discount already offered to children aged 5–12 and secondary students.The move responds to strong calls from students for cheaper travel.Councillor Andy Baker says more than 51,000 students already have the concession on their AT HOP card, so they will pay less overnight when the new rate starts.A regular two or three zone commute could save around $200 to $250 a year.He says students could save about $5 million a year, while the higher discount may generate up to 3.6 million extra trips, without adding costs for ratepayers.AT’s Director of Public Transport and Active Modes, Stacey van der Putten, says, “Public transport fares really do make a difference at a time in their lives when many are having to support themselves financially for the first time.”Auckland University Students’ Association President Gabriel Boyd says, “These changes will allow students to prioritise their education without smashing the piggy bank.”Student leaders at AUT say savings could help cover an extra week’s rent or a few more bus trips to class.Universities say cheaper fares help remove a cost barrier to education and support student participation in campus and Auckland life.They will partner with AT to promote the higher discount ahead of the 2026 academic year.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

A new safety plan for Auckland's city centre aims to improve trips into town for Hibiscus Coast locals.Auckland Minister Simeon Brown and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown say the CBD is at the heart of the country’s economy and should be a place where businesses thrive and people feel safe.The plan brings together government agencies, council, police, businesses and social service providers to lift safety and support people who are struggling.Key actions include rolling out 207 new social houses for Housing First, plus up to 100 more through better use of existing contracts, and outreach teams connecting rough sleepers with housing, mental health and addiction support.Police visibility will increase, with patrols and safety wardens focusing on crime and antisocial behaviour hotspots.Public spaces such as Pocket Park at Queen Street and Fort Street will be designed to feel safer and more welcoming, while litter and graffiti crews work at pace and rubbish collection is kept to a high standard.Bylaws will be reviewed and targeted safety patrols will continue, backed by regular taskforce meetings chaired by the Minister for Auckland.With the City Rail Link, the New Zealand International Convention Centre and the summer cruise season bringing more people into town, the plan will shape everyday CBD visits for Aucklanders, including those travelling in from the Hibiscus Coast for work, shopping and events.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.Jetts Millwater Unveils 70% Bigger GymRead more → Dairy Flat ‘French’ Lifestyle Home Captivates KiwisRead more → No 2026 Pioneer Festival As Businesses Step BackRead more →Pygmy Sperm Whale At Ōrewa Laid To RestRead more → Flood Protection Or Fairways? Takapuna Park Review LoomsRead more → Your Coast. Your news. Your app.Download the Hibiscus Coast App for instant local updates. Anytime, anywhere.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Overnight motorway closures between Silverdale and Oteha will affect many Hibiscus Coast drivers next Wednesday. NZTA says State Highway 1 southbound between the Silverdale interchange and Oteha Valley Road will be closed for maintenance from 9pm to 5am on Wednesday, December 3.The work is weather dependent, with a full southbound closure in place for general maintenance along this stretch.During the closure, the Silverdale southbound on-ramp and the Oteha Valley Road southbound off-ramp will also be closed. Signposted detours will guide traffic.The recommended detour is via Twin Coast Discovery Highway, Dairy Flat Highway and Oteha Valley Road. Drivers travelling south from the Hibiscus Coast during these hours are recommended to follow the detour.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Coasties are rethinking how they click and share online as fears about AI scams grow.New BNZ research shows three in five New Zealanders now check communications and links more carefully, with more than half limiting what they post and half fact-checking news to avoid fake news scams.BNZ Head of Fraud Operations Margaret Miller says AI is making scams more personalised and convincing, from phishing emails and fake websites to deepfake videos and cloned voices that sound like people you know.AI-powered phishing tops the worry list for 64% of respondents, followed by deepfakes at 58% and voice cloning at 53%.Deepfakes are realistic but fake images or videos, while voice cloning uses AI to mimic someone’s voice.Some Kiwis are responding in a very practical way, with 7% setting up family safe words so they can confirm who is really behind a sudden request for money or help.Coasties can expect more scam attempts on social media, which now accounts for 26% of scam approaches, ahead of email at 22% and well down from 40% in 2023.Overall targeting has dipped from 88% in 2023 to 84% this year, but tactics are shifting.BNZ is adding extra layers of security, including small pauses and changed button placement in its app to help people slow down, plus an online banking lock that lets customers quickly shut off digital access if they are worried.Miller says everyone has a role to play, and simple habits like taking time to verify unexpected requests, keeping software updated, never sharing banking details, and calling your bank if something feels wrong can make a real difference for Hibiscus Coast households.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Auckland businesses are shaking off winter gloom, lifting confidence that jobs and investment will improve in the year ahead.Simon Bridges, CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber, says the November survey points to “a business community that’s not out of the woods, but certainly no longer stuck in the darkest part of the forest.” Back in August, confidence was “in a real trough.”Those rating their confidence as negative or very negative have dropped to 44%, down from 64% in August, while neutral sentiment has climbed to 39%. More than half of respondents, 54%, now expect the New Zealand economy to improve over the next 12 months.Performance is still mixed, but the outlook is firmer. Revenue expectations have strengthened, with 56% of businesses expecting higher revenue next year. Hiring plans are also improving, with 47% planning to take on staff. “That’s businesses backing themselves,” Bridges says.The major drag remains costs. A total of 82% expect costs to rise over the next year, driven by labour, compliance and input costs. Demand, productivity, cash flow, inflation and global pressures remain the main concerns, with energy affordability and late payments stuck at the same levels as three months ago. Bridges describes these as “chronic irritants that chip away at resilience.”“Businesses are doing their bit,” he says, but they “need real momentum from government too.” After a tough two years, he calls this “the first solid sign that confidence is returning,” and warns it must not be short-lived.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Class action has been filed against national grid operator Transpower and its maintenance contractor Omexom over the toppling of a power pylon in mid-2024 that cut power to the entire Northland region.The legal action is being taken on behalf of the roughly 20,000 businesses affected by the outage and, if successful, could end up costing the two companies millions of dollars.Hannah Brown, a partner in Sydney-based law firm Piper Alderman, said no specific sum was mentioned in the legal papers filed late on Wednesday - but an estimate last June by economic consultants Infometrics put the cost to businesses at $60 million while the Northland Chamber of Commerce gave a figure of $80m.A report last year by Transpower found the pylon at Glorit, northwest of Auckland, fell over on 20 June last year when contractors removed the nuts from at least two of its legs at once.Transpower staff working at dawn to install a temporary tower after a pylon collapse cut power to most of Northland in June 2024. Photo: TranspowerBrown said a subsequent review by the Electricity Authority concluded the collapse was caused by "entirely avoidable" factors including inadequate procedures and training."This wasn't just another power outage or an accidental or unforeseeable event like a weather event or a storm. It was something that was completely avoidable, and for that reason, we think those responsible should be held to account, and if they aren't, that just breeds a sense of complacency in the future."The power cut affected about 180,000 people.Most homes had power restored within seven hours but some large businesses, such as timber mills and dairy plants, lost more than three days' worth of production while restaurants had to throw away spoiled food.After pressure from Northland MP Grant McCallum and the local Chamber of Commerce, Transpower and Omexom each contributed $500,000 to a "resilience fund" for projects designed to lift the region's economy.However, Brown said that amount was "completely disproportionate and insufficient" given the actual losses suffered by Northland businesses.Along with Piper Alderman, the class action was being run by New Zealand law firm LeeSalmonLong and bankrolled by litigation funder Omni Bridgeway.Brown said it was intended to be an "opt-out" lawsuit, which meant all affected businesses would be included unless they chose not to take part.There was no cost to businesses taking part, but if the "no win, no pay" class action was successful, the funder would take a commission.Without class action, Brown said it was hard for individual businesses to take on the might and resources of a state-owned enterprise like Transpower or a large multinational such as Omexom.Omexom's France-based parent company, VINCI Group, declared net income of just under $10 billion last year."This is about giving businesses access to justice and an opportunity to group together to fight for compensation," she said.Class actions have been rare in New Zealand, and reputedly hard to win, in the past.However, Brown said that was changing thanks to recent reforms making class actions more accessible.Successful cases, such as the ASB's settlement in a banking class action over disclosure breaches, showed the legal landscape was evolving.She said the law firms were confident they had a strong case, much of which was built on Transpower and Electricity Authority reports."We wouldn't be pursuing this if we didn't believe it had strong prospects," she said.Northland businesses affected by the outage would be invited to register and provide information about their losses.Some were already on board but now that the class action had been filed, it would be much easier to engage openly with affected businesses across Northland.If the class action was successful, Brown said compensation would be distributed among those businesses in proportion to their losses.A Transpower spokesman confirmed legal papers had been served on the company late on Wednesday, but would not comment given that the matter was before the courts.Omexom could not be contacted.

Fire and Emergency is warning people to take extra care today as paid firefighters strike from 12pm to 1pm, leaving volunteers to cover callouts and slowing responses.Fire and Emergency New Zealand Deputy National Commander Megan Stiffler says the public still needs to call 111, but be prepared for delays.“We will answer 111 calls during the hour and respond to fires in strike affected areas, but our responses will be delayed because our callouts will have to be covered by volunteers.”Volunteers will respond from their own stations in their own trucks, as they usually do when there are multiple emergencies, which takes longer. People and businesses in cities and towns mainly served by paid firefighters are urged to be extra careful with any work that could cause fire and to make sure evacuation procedures are understood.Everyone is advised to evacuate early if there is a fire, stay out once clear, then call 111. Fire and Emergency is also asking people to check smoke alarms and home escape plans.During the one-hour strike, less serious incidents in cities and towns may not get a response, such as private fire alarms with no signs of fire, small rubbish fires, traffic management support and animal rescues. Volunteer crews will not respond to medical calls outside their patch during the strike hour.Stifler says the strike is unnecessary while the Employment Relations Authority considers facilitation, noting Fire and Emergency has offered a 6.2 percent average pay increase over three years and points to previous pay rises and investment in trucks, stations, training and frontline support.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Making plans?Here’s what’s coming up around the Hibiscus Coast. From live music and local markets to family fun and outdoor adventures.Pre-Loved Kids Christmas MarketSat 29 NovClick here for more details Orewa Santa ParadeSat 29 NovClick here for more detailsGJazz5 - Algeria & India FusionSun 30 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.

Many New Zealand teens report addictive social media habits, as a new Public Health Communication Centre Briefing adds fuel to talks on a minimum age of 16.The University of Auckland-led briefing reports on a survey of 540 teenagers aged 13 to 17. It found that 22% meet criteria for problematic social media use and more than a third sit in a risky category. Problematic use is linked to loss of control, daily life being disrupted and real difficulty logging off. International evidence connects this kind of use with poorer sleep, loneliness, depression, anxiety, stress and reduced attention.Social media use is almost universal among teens, with most starting between 10 and 13. Nearly half said social media disrupts homework, daily routines, family time and sleep. Briefing lead author Dr Samantha Marsh says many young people now question how early they began. “Half of the teens say they started on social media too young and almost four in ten wished social media had never been invented.”As the government considers a minimum access age of 16, support among teens reached 47%, with only a quarter opposed. Support was even stronger among caregivers at 77%, who saw an age limit as the most helpful tool for managing online behaviour.Teens said they would need school-based education, clear advice for parents and safe, supervised online platforms for younger users, which will matter for families on the Hibiscus Coast too.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

The body of a pygmy sperm whale, found stranded at the shore of Orewa, has been taken to a burial site.The Department of Conservation said the whale was about 3.5-4 metres in length and there were no obvious signs of the cause of death.DoC said Wednesday's stranding was the third recorded of a pygmy sperm whale at Orewa, with another previously stranding at Whangaparāoa.The iwi of the Mahurangi peninsula area - Ngāti Manuhiri - said each stranding was significant and treated with care, and the whale had been taken to their whale urupā (cemetery)."From a tikanga and mātauranga perspective, strandings and whale deaths are understood as tohu - indicators of environmental change or events occurring within our wider realm," said Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust chairperson Mook Hohneck. "We observe these carefully and with respect."He said all bones of a whale were taonga (treasure), and each iwi and hapū had its own tikanga (customs) for caring for and managing the remains."For us, the care of a whale is never about one bone or one moment. It is about honouring the taonga as a whole and upholding the tikanga handed to us by our tīpuna (ancestors)," said Hohneck."We appreciate the support of our community and partners in ensuring these remains were treated with dignity."DoC Tāmaki Makaurau operations manager Olivia Kean said between 10-20 pygmy sperm whales are found stranded each year on New Zealand's shores.While they often occur in Mahia, between Poverty Bay and Hawke's Bay, they also strand all around the North Island and as far south as Dunedin, said DoC.

IKEA Sylvia Park is opening with a Kiwi-only pavlova and a menu built for local tastes. When doors open on Thursday, December 4, shoppers will find Swedish favourites beside New Zealand fish and chips, lamb pie and fresh salads, giving families from across Auckland, including the Hibiscus Coast, another reason to make a day of it.Centre stage is the $4 Lingonberry Pavlova, created only for New Zealand. Crisp meringue, soft cream and lingonberry jam nod to Swedish roots while backing the Kiwi Christmas habit of finishing with pavlova.On the hot plates, NZ Fish and Chips made with hoki and an NZ Lamb Pie with kumara sit alongside meatballs, plant balls and vegetable balls. A salmon poke bowl and fresh salads, including Thai Beef and Pumpkin with Hummus, draw on New Zealand produce to keep the menu light and summery.Another talking point will be the Eatball Medley, a tasting plate of twelve meatballs, plant balls and vegetable balls with mash, cream sauce and lingonberry jam so customers can pick a favourite from day one.Food Manager Daniel Souza said the team visited 500 homes across the country to learn which dishes feel most local, and fish and chips and pies topped the list. “Food is central to the IKEA experience and a huge part of our success in New Zealand… hungry customers buy less,” he said, explaining that the menu is built to keep people in store longer with family and friends.There are three places to try it all in store. The sit-down Swedish Restaurant offers the full menu and runs daily from 9am to 8pm, with breakfast from 9am to 11am. After the checkouts, the Bistro serves grab-and-go hot dogs, cinnamon buns and soft serve, while the Swedish Food Market opens from 10am to 9pm for frozen meatballs, lollies and other favourites to take back home to the Hibiscus Coast.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Coasties, here’s what the next four days have in store:Friday, 28/11Mostly cloudy with afternoon showers and a breezy nor’wester.High: 26Low: 17Saturday, 29/11Partly cloudy with a chance of a morning shower and a breezy sou’wester.High: 25Low: 16Sunday, 30/11Rain and showers at times with a breezy northerly tending nor’wester.High: 24Low: 18Monday, 1/12Showers, some heavy, easing with a fresh nor’wester turning sou’wester.High: 24Low: 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.

House prices are down, but rent rises have flattened.In both markets, people looking for a home have the power.So is it better, financially, to own or rent?That's a question that ANZ economist Matt Galt has been pondering.He said how the cost of renting compared to home ownership was a big driver of house prices."The balance between the running costs of owning a home over time - interest, council rates, insurance - and rents is one of the main anchors for house prices, to which they gravitate."When the costs of owning a home are low compared to renting, both owner-occupiers and investors are more likely to buy, bidding up prices.But when ownership costs are high relative to rents, house prices come under pressure.To compare the cost of owning versus renting, he used the interest cost on a home loan with a 50 percent loan-to-value ratio at a five-year fixed rate, plus council rates, insurance, maintenance and a small buffer for other costs."What you often find is when you first buy a house, you have quite a big mortgage, like 80 percent loan-to-value for example, and when you have a big mortgage, the cost of owning a house will typically be quite a bit more than renting. But over the full time you own that house, hopefully you'll be able to repay principal and the LVR will come down and what we find is that the cost of renting and the cost of owning are about equal when the loan is 50 percent of the house value and that might be the experience over a number of years for some people."In Auckland, the median rent is about $650 a week. Someone with a 20 percent deposit buying a house for $900,000 - the median price for first-home buyers in the city - would pay about $890 a week on a five-year fixed term.But someone with a mortgage of $500,000 would be paying less than $620 as week.He said between 2022 and 2024 high interest rates and other costs put downward pressure on house prices. At that point, it was a lot more expensive to own a house than to rent one.But between 2019 and 2021, home ownership running costs were well below rents, which prompted some tenants to think they might as well buy if they could."I think a lot of people when they go to buy a house they'll look at what they might be paying in rent versus what they'll pay in mortgage and then they'll add on perhaps council rates or insurance and other costs as they learn more about the types of housing they are wanting to buy. If owning a house does look very cheap, like when interest rates were low in 2019 and 2020, it would really encourage people to jump into the market and they did in large numbers despite prices being very high at that time," Galt said."I think it does shape people's housing choices and particularly for investors. as well. who will be quite carefully weighing up the rent income they receive versus the cost of owning a house."Things are now back in balance compared to where they have generally been over history."Home ownership running costs have since eased as interest rates have fallen and overall are now more or less back in line with their historical relationship with rents."Interest is the dominant cost and also the main source of variation," he said. "The home ownership running costs proxy has dropped over the past month due to a sizeable fall in fixed mortgage rates over October."But the story is nuanced."Changes in interest costs reflect not only changes in interest rates but also changes in house prices, as the proxy is for buying a house now. Over 2021, both were rising, which explains the particularly sharp increase in home ownership costs over that period."Galt said several changes over the past year had brought ownership costs and rents back in balance."Home ownership costs have decreased as both house prices and interest rates have fallen, but this has been partly offset by increases in other ownership costs such as council rates and insurance. Rents have fallen a little, meaning home ownership costs have had to fall further to close the gap."The combination of falling rents and high council rates and insurance costs has been a significant drag on house prices in recent years, which has dampened the impact of falling interest rates," he said,He said it was likely that five-year mortgage interest rates would rise a bit from where they are now through next year, but the comparison between renting and owning was not likely to change a lot."Our forecasts anticipate home ownership costs and rents staying in balance over the next couple of years, which points to broad stability in house prices, potentially with a modest increase in prices as the economy experiences a cyclical recovery next year."The current balance of these costs and benefits of home ownership certainly doesn't suggest that house prices are likely to race away."Overall, the market's looking quite well balanced at the moment. We are expecting the ongoing costs of home ownership and rents to stay roughly around balance over the next couple of years and that just reflects interest rates staying relatively low."We do have them ticking up in our forecasts towards the end of 2026 but that's very much a placeholder at this stage. The broad story is interest rates staying down for a while and house prices only increasing at a gradual rate next year as the economy recovers."Council rates were likely to rise at a slower rate, he said."They increased 12 percent a couple of years ago, that's dropped to 9 percent and then we expect them to keep easing but still going up."Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

The SPCA is again warning Coastie dog owners not to leave pets in parked cars this summer. The reminder follows a recent case in the Wellington region where inspectors found a large crossbreed dog left in a locked car for at least an hour in full sun at just 22°C outside, but far hotter inside. The dog was panting heavily, drooling and trying to hide in the footwell, all clear signs of heat distress, yet the owner insisted it “was fine” and twice kept the dog in the hot vehicle, earning a $300 infringement and a lesson on the risks. SPCA says that even on a 21°C day, a car parked in the shade with windows down can climb above 31°C in ten minutes and over 40°C in thirty minutes, with hotter days seeing inside temperatures exceed 50°C and causing brain damage, organ failure or death. Dogs cannot cool themselves properly in enclosed spaces, and shade or cracked windows do little to help. SPCA receives hundreds of calls every summer about dogs in hot cars, and “You wouldn’t leave a child in a hot car,” says SPCA’s Todd Westwood. “Please do the same for your furry family members.” If you cannot take your dog with you into shops, SPCA suggests cooler early or late trips, leaving them at home in the shade, or asking friends or family for help, and locals might see more people speaking up when a dog looks in trouble. If you see a dog in distress inside a vehicle, call SPCA on 0800 SPCA NZ or contact Police immediately, and do not try to break a window yourself.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Job ads across New Zealand kept rising in October, giving Hibiscus Coast job seekers more options but tougher competition.SEEK reports national job ads up 1% for the fourth month in a row and 7% higher than a year ago, while applications per ad rose 2% and remain at record highs. Country manager Rob Clark says October shows "some continued incremental activity" in a market that is still "extremely tough" for many people looking for work.He says the lift is not limited to one pocket of the country, with "modest gains across most industries and in most regions." Regional data backs that up, with every area except Gisborne flat or growing in October and Hawkes Bay and Otago leading the monthly rises on 3%. Auckland’s job ads have grown year on year for the first time in two and a half years, which matters for Coast residents who often look to the city for work. Only Gisborne, Manawatu and Taranaki still have fewer ads than a year ago.Most industries are also turning a corner, with Sport & Recreation up 4% in October and Education & Training, Legal, Construction, and Hospitality & Tourism all rising 3%. Over the year, demand is especially strong for Information & Communication Technology, Science & Technology and Construction roles, with ICT up 15% and Construction up 28% annually. Clark says there are "plenty of candidates in the market", including many New Zealanders applying for jobs in Australia as well as at home.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

A pygmy sperm whale has been found dead on the shores of Ōrewa."I can confirm that DOC is responding to the body of a pygmy sperm whale at Ōrewa."At this point I have few other details," Department of Conservation spokesperson Nicole Steven said.Steven said they don't know the cause of death yet."This info would require a necropsy," she said.

The Reserve Bank has cut the official cash rate to its lowest level in three years to support economic recovery.The central bank dropped the rate by 25 basis points to 2.25 percent, the lowest since June 2022.The bank's rate setting committee says the economic recovery is patchy and slow but inflation is expected to ease next year, allowing another reduction.The cut was expected and brings the OCR to a three-year low.Attention will be on the central bank's commentary and forecasts and how wide it leaves the door open for a further rate cut next year if needed.Partial indicators over the past two months have pointed to the economy turning the corner after it effectively stalled in the first half of the year.