Penlink construction has moved past one million cubic metres of earth, with February night diversions set for SH1.Teams returned on Monday, January 5, to keep building the new highway linking Whangaparaoa with State Highway 1.Much of the progress is in earthworks that are not easy to see from the road.A behind-the-scenes video features the engineers working on this stage.In February, work continues on the new SH1 connection near Ara Weiti Road.A base for future signage over SH1 is planned, along with removal of temporary barriers and installation of permanent concrete barriers.Northbound lanes on SH1 will be closed at night for about three weeks, with northbound traffic diverted between Oteha Valley Road and Silverdale.Hibiscus Coast drivers should also expect short-term one-lane sections on key local routes.East Coast Road will drop to one lane for about one week during daytime hours in mid-February.In Stillwater, part of Duck Creek Road will run as a single lane under traffic lights while a retaining wall and drainage are built.In Whangaparaoa, some nights will see parts of Whangaparaoa Road reduced to one lane for wastewater pipe installation and asphalt works.Other February work includes bridge construction over East Coast Road, stormwater pipe installation along Ara Weiti Road, base layers for the new motorway offramp, and widening of Ara Weiti Road.A 104 metre concrete retaining wall is also starting in Whangaparaoa, alongside base layers and underground services visible from Whangaparaoa Road.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Community pharmacies serving the Hibiscus Coast are preparing for 12-month prescriptions from Sunday, February 1, with no detail yet on how dispensing will be reimbursed.From February 1, people with stable long-term conditions such as asthma and diabetes will be eligible for 12-month prescriptions, up from a three-month limit. The change is intended to reduce GP visits and lower costs for patients by allowing medicines to be paid for or collected less frequently.Sector leaders say the public funding model needs urgent reform so pharmacies can be financially sustainable from dispensing and clinical services alone, rather than relying on retail margins to support core healthcare functions.Zoom Health director David Taylor says the shift adds uncertainty for pharmacies already under pressure. He says retail cross-subsidy is no longer sustainable, particularly for New Zealand-owned community pharmacies competing with large discount operators.Te Whatu Ora data cited in the statement shows rising demand. As at September 2025, 1,806,836 New Zealanders were using community pharmacy services each month, up from 1,693,515 in September 2022. Pharmacies dispensed 98.6 million prescription items annually over the same period, up 4.4 percent year on year.Capacity has moved the other way. The number of community pharmacies fell to 1,069 in September 2025, down from 1,091 in September 2022. Workforce constraints are also flagged, with the statement citing around 8 pharmacists per 10,000 people in mid-2025, compared with about 9.4 in Australia and around 11 per 10,000 in Canada and the United States. It also cites regional gaps including Tasman at around 2.5 pharmacists per 10,000 people and Northland at about 6.8 per 10,000.Long-term condition demand is rising. Te Whatu Ora data cited shows publicly funded long-term condition medicine management services increased from 144,733 people in September 2022 to 170,078 in September 2025.Zoom Health pharmacist and director Din Redzepagic says declining physical access can increase the risk of missed doses, delayed treatment, and avoidable deterioration in health. He also says pharmacies have become an essential provider of vaccination services, and reduced access can push more pressure back onto general practice.For Hibiscus Coast residents, the immediate change is eligibility for 12-month prescriptions for stable long-term conditions from Sunday, February 1. Sector leaders are calling for a funding structure that recognises dispensing and clinical work, so access remains reliable as demand grows.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

If someone on the Hibiscus Coast searches for what you do, they should find you in seconds, not scroll past and give up.That is the point of the Hibiscus Coast App’s Local Businesses directory.It puts your key details in one place, so locals and visitors can quickly decide who to call, where to go, or what to book.That matters when someone is searching between Milldale and Gulf Harbour and wants to choose fast.We have added more Featured Listings over summer, and it has been a good reminder that “being good” is not enough if you are hard to find.A few of the newer Featured Listings show the range.NZHL (Brett Haeger), based in Silverdale, supports locals with home loan structuring and practical insurance advice for first home buyers, refinancers and investors.Studio Pilates Silverdale offers 40-minute Reformer workouts with an instructor present, from early morning to evening, plus a 6-classes-for-$60 intro offer for new clients.Auto Service Centre HBC does servicing, repairs and WOFs for Whangaparaoa locals, with diagnostics and EFI work, and courtesy cars if booked ahead.SBA Accounting Silverdale helps small businesses and rental property owners with bookkeeping, GST, tax returns, end-of-year financials, and Xero setup and support.If you want that kind of visibility, a Featured Listing is $87 + GST per quarter.It gives you priority placement and a full profile, including links, a map pin, and photos.If you are ready, use the “Create Featured Listing” link and we will do the setup for you.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

State Highway 1 between the Orewa interchange and Silverdale interchange will close southbound overnight on Sunday, February 1.NZTA says the full southbound closure is for general maintenance, running between 9pm and 5am. The Orewa (Grand Drive) southbound on-ramp, Millwater (Wainui Road) southbound on-ramp, and the Silverdale southbound off-ramp will also be closed, with signposted detours in place.For Hibiscus Coast drivers heading south late Sunday night, this means a longer trip and changed access from Orewa, Millwater, and Silverdale. NZTA notes ramp closures and lane restrictions may start before the advertised mainline closure times.NZTA’s recommended detour for light vehicles is via Grand Drive, West Hoe Road, Florence Ave, Centreway Road, and Twin Coast Discovery Highway to the Silverdale southbound on-ramp. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes will not be able to use Grand Drive during the closure and must exit at Pohuehue Road, Warkworth, then take Old SH1 to Twin Coast Discovery Highway.On Monday, February 2 and Tuesday, February 3, NZTA says there will be southbound lane restrictions between the Silverdale interchange and Oteha Valley Road, from 9pm to 5am, for safety improvement works near the southbound lanes. Traffic will be able to travel south at all times, with drivers asked to slow down and follow traffic management instructions.NZTA also advises a separate SH1 O Mahurangi Penlink project closure, with a full northbound closure between Oteha Valley Road and Silverdale interchange from Sunday, February 1 to Wednesday, February 4, between 9pm and 5am.This work is weather dependent and NZTA says dates may change. Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Auckland Council says using AI to help sort through bins will make the region's rubbish management more cost-effective.Almost a third of Auckland's recycling now ends up in landfill, and the council said it was costing ratepayers about $3.5 million a year.Auckland Council general waste manager Justine Hayes said that people putting the wrong items in the recycling bin was a big problem."We are getting rubbish in the recycling bins, which essentially means that the sorting process takes longer, and we have to pay to dispose of that rubbish in a landfill rather than recycling it."We're seeing people bagging recyclable items that unfortunately end up going into the rubbish, and nappies and soft plastics are unfortunately a common find in recycling bins."Hayes said the council conducting inspections and giving warning notices before confiscating bins, had been effective, but the new AI technology they had started using would speed up this process."AI is being trialled to see whether we can monitor the recycling that's coming into the truck. Through the use of AI, we can pick up the contamination as it enters the truck instead of having to inspect every bin manually."She said the AI technology would help them focus on areas where rubbish contamination was highest.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Positive sign for the economy: Stats NZ says New Zealand’s annual exports reached a record $80.7b in 2025.Total exports were valued at $80.7 billion in the year ended December 2025. Stats NZ said this is the first time annual exports have reached $80 billion.The value of total exports increased by $9.9 billion, or 14 percent, compared with the year ended December 2024.Stats NZ international accounts spokesperson Viki Ward said milk powder, butter, and cheese led the rise in exports, up $4.2 billion (21 percent) to $24.3 billion in the year ended December 2025.Ward said milk powder was up $1.6 billion and milk fats, including butter, were up $1.4 billion in the same period. She said the increase in milk powder, cheese, and butter was primarily due to higher unit prices.Ward said milk powder, butter, and cheese made up 30 percent of annual exports in December 2025.Meat and edible offal were the second largest value change, increasing by $1.8 billion to $10.4 billion in the year ended December 2025.The largest value increases for meat and edible offal exports by destination were the United States, up $379 million (15 percent), and the United Kingdom, up $343 million (69 percent) in the year ended December 2025. Ward said meat contributed to the largest proportion of increases in exports to the United Kingdom.For the Hibiscus Coast, if export prices stay high, more money can flow into local suppliers and local spending.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Coasties, here’s what the next four days have for us.Friday, 30/1Fine with some cloud, sou’wester breezes ease.High: 25Low: 17Saturday, 31/1Sun and cloud, breezy nor’wester at times, sou’wester may develop late.High: 26Low: 17Sunday, 1/2Mostly sunny, sou’wester breezes ease during the afternoon.High: 27Low: 17Monday, 2/2Partly cloudy, afternoon showers develop, northerlies swing westerly later.High: 27Low: 16See the full Weather section in the app for:🌊 Tides🌬️ Wind☔ Rain radar🌞 UV levels🏖️ Safe swimming spots...and more.The Hibiscus Coast App has everything you need for the region, accessible at any time and from any location.

A quarter of New Zealand's peak electricity use could be shifted to times of lower demand, lowering household bills and saving up to $3 billion in infrastructure investment, a new report has found.The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), which commissioned the analysis, said lower network costs from shifting demand should flow through to households and businesses.Households had the most potential to shift their demand, but some industrial processes and manufacturing could also make changes with the right financial incentives, the report found.New Zealand's electricity demands will grow by 35 to 82 percent by 2050, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment estimated last year.Upgrades to accommodate growing demand could cost tens of billions of dollars, EECA chief executive Marco Pelenur said.The electricity network is built to handle peak demand, which only occurs a few times a day for short intervals. Spreading the power load could help to defer or avoid increasing demand capacity."This [analysis] shows we could save billions as a country just by moving when we use power."Rooftop solar and batteries could help shift household demand, but much lower-cost measures - that would also save households money - were also available.That included Wi-Fi-enabled devices that could be retrofitted to most hot water cylinders and heat pumps for a few hundred dollars.The devices, which are being trialled by EECA in hundreds of households at the moment, allow users to control appliances remotely, such as switching on a heat pump in the late afternoon before peak demand kicks in, so a house could already be warm when people arrive home."The early results from the pilots show households are saving on their bills right now - and that doesn't include the system benefits of deferring network upgrades," Pelenur said.Peak demand savings would be even bigger if flexible energy use were enabled at scale, and people were paid directly for shifting electricity use off-peak, EECA said.University of Auckland professor Nirmal Nair said demand-side flexibility, as proposed in the report, had been "widely touted", but if households and other retail customers were being encouraged to change their usage, then what they were charged should be revisited."Expecting [retail customers] to invest in more technologies to give value to other upstream agents like electricity retailers and distribution companies appears unreasonable, if not unfair."Major electricity users surveyed as part of the report said continued production was their top priority, but many were open to more flexible electricity use if it did not disrupt production, or cost more money than it saved.The report identified food processing in Bay of Plenty, Waikato and North Canterbury, farming in Canterbury and Waikato, and offices in the main centres as having significant potential.That could be achieved with similar technology to households, such as battery installation and 'smart load controllers' to defer electricity usage to lower-demand periods, when it was possible to do so.The report suggested a "robust reward system" to compensate industries for their participation.That could include direct payments, along with long-term energy cost reductions, it said.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

New Zealand homeowners who are planning renovations based on AI-generated designs and reality-TV style timelines that have little resemblance to real-world building requirements are unnecessarily exposing themselves to significant financial risk, according to a leading construction expert.Reagan Langeveld, director of Symphony Construction and a Master Builders gold award winner, says digital design apps and media entertainment formats are oversimplifying the building process at a time when homeowners need accurate guidance.He says AI design tools and renovation reality shows are making the situation worse by presenting versions of the building process that do not reflect compliance requirements or regional differences.“AI can generate a perfect room but it cannot tell you what is inside your walls or whether your local council sees the work as exempt from resource consents. It has no understanding of load paths, moisture management or plumbing locations and it cannot flag when a design triggers additional compliance in one region but not in another.“As a result, homeowners are being shown digital concepts and edited television timelines that ignore the complexities of structural planning, waterproofing standards, trades coordination and regulatory obligations.“Reality TV renovation shows add to the problem by making construction look fast and simple. What you see on screen is the highlight reel. Behind the scenes there are engineers, inspectors and weeks of preparation that never make it to air. None of it reflects the actual process for renovating or building a home,” he says.Langeveld says the surge in AI home-design tools has created a growing misconception that construction is simply a matter of selecting styles and layouts from a digital catalogue.“These tools skip the messy parts. They do not know what is structurally possible and don’t factor in how the plumbing and ventilation will actually run through a house. They can show homeowners a flawless visual but they cannot tell them how to build it, how long it will take or what compliance steps sit in the background,” he says.Langeveld says builders are seeing an increasing number of AI-generated renovation plans that cannot be constructed without significant redesign. That includes layouts that interfere with bracing lines, cabinetry that covers structural fixings, and bathroom concepts that simply do not work with existing plumbing runs.“Homeowners come to us with beautiful digital images that look achievable at first glance, but once you strip back the layers you find structural conflicts, missing drainage, or design elements that are impossible to deliver safely,” he says.Langeveld says overseas research shows renovation reality shows compress timelines for television and rely on off-camera labour, subsidised materials and rapid-fire editing that misrepresents what a renovation actually requires.“When people watch a bathroom or kitchen transformation completed between ad breaks, they naturally assume the real thing should be just as straightforward. They do not see the engineering reviews, the sequencing of trades or the inspections that make up the bulk of a real project.”He says the combination of AI visuals and TV simplification is creating a “renovation optimism bias” that leaves homeowners unprepared for real pricing, lead times and technical requirements.“It creates a gap between expectation and reality that always lands on the homeowner. They are basing decisions on a fantasy workflow that does not exist outside of an app or a television set.”Langeveld is urging homeowners to seek professional advice early, before committing to a design or budget.“Talk to your builder first. It is the fastest way to understand what is possible, what is compliant and what it will really take to deliver a safe, durable and well-executed renovation.”Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Starship Children’s Hospital and the University of Auckland say paracetamol and ibuprofen are safe to use in babies’ first year of life, with no link to eczema or bronchiolitis.For Hibiscus Coast parents, these are the two pain and fever medicines you are most likely to be given or buy over the counter when your baby is unwell.The research is led by Professor Stuart Dalziel, a paediatrician at Starship, and is based at University of Auckland.Almost 4,000 babies across New Zealand took part from birth.Half were randomised so parents provided paracetamol when needed for fever or pain relief.Half were randomised so parents provided ibuprofen when needed.Parents were asked at regular intervals whether their child had eczema, asthma symptoms, or bronchiolitis.Researchers also checked prescribing and hospital records.The first-year results have been analysed and published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.Eczema affected about 16 percent of babies given paracetamol and 15 percent of those given ibuprofen.Bronchiolitis occurred in about five percent of babies in both groups.The differences were not significant.Serious side effects were rare, and none was caused by the medications.The paper is part of the PIPPA Tamariki study, described as the largest trial ever conducted in children in New Zealand.The children are being followed to age six, with results at age three due soon, and later findings at age six to help test any links with asthma and other conditions that are diagnosed more accurately at school age.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Explainer - A series of unprovoked attacks on Auckland public transport - including a fatal stabbing last month - have raised concerns about the safety of riders and drivers in Aotearoa's biggest city.Auckland Transport says the vast majority of public transport goes by without incident, and it has set up a variety of public safety measures.What can people do if they're worried about their own safety on public transport?Here's what you need to know.What's been happening on Auckland public transport?From January to December 2025, there were 2161 reported incidents of "aggression, violence, racism, discrimination, and inappropriate behaviour" on Auckland public transport, said Auckland Transport's Director of Public Transport and Active Modes, Stacey van der Putten."The number of reported cases fluctuates across the months, ranging from a low of 84 cases in December 2025 to a peak of 249 cases in March 2025," she said.The rough average from those numbers would work out to about six reported incidents per day in 2025.There have been several violent incidents on or around Auckland transport in recent weeks.A passenger suffered moderate injuries in an apparently unprovoked attack by a group of people earlier this month, while a young woman was arrested after two people were assaulted at a bus station in Ōrewa.A 32-year-old man was also arrested after a bus driver was allegedly sprayed with a fire extinguisher in Auckland on 13 January.Some attacks in the past few years have been fatal.On 8 December, a 59-year-old was fatally stabbed on a bus travelling from Glen Innes towards Ōrakei in East Auckland. Another man, 41, was seriously injured after boarding the same bus a short time later. A suspect has since been arrested.In October 2024, an Auckland woman was stabbed to death on a bus in Onehunga and a 16-year-old was charged with murder after another fatal attack at an Albany bus station in 2023, while an American PhD student died after an assault while waiting at a Meadowbank bus stop in April 2025."We are very, very concerned about those specific incidents," NZ Police Inspector Charles Ip, the area prevention manager for Auckland City East, told RNZ."The commissioner has made it quite clear for us as an organisation to ensure that everyone in New Zealand is safe and they feel safe."Is violence actually getting worse? Are buses safe?With schools restarting and the traditional "March madness" traffic surge soon to begin, Auckland's public transport numbers will be on the rise."Public transport is safe," van der Putten said. "These incidents are an absolute minority; it is important to remember that last week Aucklanders took around 1.8 million public transport trips, with the vast majority having safe, comfortable, and enjoyable journeys."AT's data showed that March 2025 was the peak month last year for incidents, at 249, while only 84 incidents were reported in December.Van der Putten said that data is based on reports from the public."This data is based solely on public submissions and may include subjective or anecdotal accounts. As such, they represent perceived incidents rather than confirmed legal breaches or verified violations of operational policy."According to AT, there were also slightly fewer assaults against public transport drivers from 2024 to 2025, down from 60 to 55, although December 2025's numbers are not yet included in that total."This is largely driven through the rollout of bus driver safety screens, with over 650 buses now having them installed," van der Putten said.Police are working hand in hand with AT to address the issues."We're also working very, very hard with our partner agencies such as the local council and AT to do everything that we can to understand what we are facing and how we work together to reduce as much of these incidents as we can," Ip said."The nature of these incidents appears to reflect broader trends in society as many cities have seen violence rise in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, amid wider social pressures and economic strain," van der Putten said.Auckland Transport's app has ways to report dangerous situations. Photo: RNZ / Jessica HopkinsWhat public safety measures are being taken?Auckland Transport has a page on its website with resources to improve safety.AT is "continuously monitoring and adapting our strategies to prevent harm and respond" when incidents happen, van der Putten said.People can report dangerous or threatening behaviour immediately by:Reporting immediately by texting 4030Clicking 'Report feeling unsafe' on the AT Mobile appFiling a Crimestoppers report online"Our awareness of incidents is increasing as we've made it easier for customers to report their experience through to us," van der Putten said.There are also bright orange "safety points" at every major bus, train and ferry terminal.The help button on them will connect people to the Auckland Transport Operations Centre which operates 24 hours a day.It won't connect directly to emergency services so if people are in immediate danger they should contact 111.AT said it has seen a "moderate" increase in safety point usage and has also launched a public awareness campaign to draw more attention to them.There are red emergency buttons on trains which immediately alert the driver to incidents on board.Auckland Transport also has more than 4800 CCTV cameras in place around the city which are monitored from the operations centre.There are also a total of 54 Auckland Transport Officers and six supervisors who monitor buses, trains and ferries."They are trained in self-awareness, situational awareness, incident management and de-escalation and tactical communication techniques," van der Putten said.They also are trained to escalate incidents to NZ Police but not physically intervene."We will be there at the earliest opportunity," Ip said.Police do not patrol buses and trains on a regular basis."We can't be there on every single bus, it's just not feasible," Ip said.The transport officers get a comprehensive six-week induction course supplemented through ongoing mentored field training, van der Putten said."We can confidently say, addressing these complexities has proven challenging across all sectors and takes a collective approach, working with police, other agencies, and communities."Should I be worried about getting on a bus? What can the public do?"Our recommendation is that everyone stay vigilant regardless of how they move around our city and communities," van der Putten said."Stay aware of your surroundings, secure your belongings, and know how to get help when needed.""Trust your gut feeling," Ip said. Avoid confrontations if you can or try to move away or get off the public transport, he said."The key is to try to de-escalate, not to increase the risk to your personal safety."Basic safety tips like keeping valuables out of sight and avoiding being too distracted by your headphones also is important, van der Putten said.If a violent incident is unfolding in front of you while on a bus or train, keep calm, Ip said, and contact police as soon as you can when it's safe to do so."I think the main message that we want to get out there is that whilst reporting an incident is important, nothing is as important as your safety, everyone's safety."It's also important that friends or family generally know where and when you are travelling, and you have access to a phone for emergencies.If you're a tourist, you should be aware of how to contact New Zealand authorities using 111.If you're travelling alone and have concerns, staying in visible lighting, with people around you if possible, or sitting close to the driver can also help."Just trying to be more visible in terms of where you are is actually quite important," Ip said.It's going to be a big year for Auckland Transport with the upcoming $5.5 billion City Rail Link opening, and van der Putten said the agency is well positioned for it."We have developed extensive training and development programmes for our network staff, including transport officers, security and customer service teams, control centre operators."These initiatives aim to enhance monitoring, increase visibility, bolster security, and ensure a rapid response to incidents from the very first day."Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones will decide next week on rockpool gathering limits for Whangaparāoa Peninsula.Officials have given Mr Jones options that include possible new restrictions on gathering from rockpools, plus public education. He says he is gathering full information before making “significant decisions”, including whether rules should better recognise the importance of rockpool species not usually taken for food.Fishery Officers are patrolling popular beaches around Auckland and other regions to enforce current rules. Mr Jones says most people gathering marine life from rockpools are doing so within the rules, but some will exploit the resource.Mr Jones says a recent checkpoint in Clevedon, South Auckland, found “significant non-compliance”. He says Fishery Officers carried out 130 inspections and identified 23 offences, including large hauls of cockles and mussels. He calls that “unacceptable” and says Fisheries New Zealand will hold rule-breakers to account.Ms Marcroft says rule changes are only part of resolving the issue.She says communities need to know how to support protection of marine ecosystems, and she is meeting community leaders and groups with Fisheries officials to help educate people about sustainability and the importance of local rockpools.For Hibiscus Coast residents, any decision could change what people can take from Whangaparāoa Peninsula rockpools. In the meantime, current rules are being enforced through ongoing patrols.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Already eyeing that end-of-term escape?Auckland Airport says airlines are adding China to New Zealand capacity as Lunar New Year travel ramps up, with the peak period running 17 February to 3 March 2026, which may suit families planning ahead from the Hibiscus Coast.Air China is adding extra Auckland to Beijing services, lifting its schedule from seven to 10 flights a week between 24 January and 2 March, a 42% seat increase over that stretch.China Southern has already expanded this summer with up to double-daily Guangzhou to Auckland services, adding over 30 return flights, and it has moved from a 296-seat Boeing 787-9 to a 360-seat Boeing 777-300ER for the summer months.Looking further ahead, China Southern has confirmed 10 flights a week from the end of March to late October, up by a third on winter 2024 and back to pre-pandemic winter flight frequency.Auckland Airport says the extra flights are a demand signal, with China to Auckland direct traveller volumes in November and December up 10% on the same months last year and average load factors around 91%.Visa settings have also shifted, including simplified document translation requirements, electronic transit visas for Chinese nationals, and simpler New Zealand visa requirements for Chinese travellers who already hold an Australian visa.The airport says that helped drive a 44% year-on-year increase in Chinese travelling between Australia and Auckland in November and December, with nearly 23,000 travellers using that route.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

That damp start to the day can feel like summer has packed up early.What’s really happening is a classic La Niña-style setup for New Zealand, where northeasterly winds show up more often and drag warm, moisture-heavy air down from the tropics onto the North Island.Sea surface temperatures around New Zealand are sitting about 1°C to 2°C above average, which adds extra moisture into the atmosphere through evaporation, then any passing system has more to work with.That’s part of why we have seen tropical lows and remnants of tropical cyclones drifting south this January, with some of them slow-moving enough to sit over the upper North Island once the “door” opens between high pressure and the incoming lows.NIWA’s outlook through late February points to normal to above normal rainfall for much of the North Island, and normal to below normal rainfall across much of the South Island, so it’s not an early end to the season, it’s summer arriving in bursts.MetService is still signalling mid to upper 20s in early February with a mix of fine and showery days.Today is a good example on the Hibiscus Coast, peak 23°C under sunny skies, a high UV index of 8, and only a 15% chance of rain.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Manly and Stanmore Bay post shops on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula will lose postal services under a 2026 retail network change.The organisation says it is reshaping its urban retail network to better match how customers use services today, with a bigger focus on parcels and fewer locations overall.It says the aim is a better in-store experience and stores that can handle parcel sending and collection volumes.No rural store changes are being initiated at this time.A recently updated Deed of Understanding with the Government has reset minimum store requirements for the first time since the 1980s, allowing the network to be rebalanced.For Hibiscus Coast residents who use Manly or Stanmore Bay, local timelines will be communicated well before any change in each area.Customers are being directed to nzpost.co.nz/store-changes and in-store notices to see what is changing locally and where nearby services will be available.Nationwide, services will be removed from 142 urban retail partner stores in 2026.The remaining network will include 567 stores, and it says 90% of people living in urban areas will still be within 4km of a store.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Hibiscus Coast homeowners can get free help with insurance claims after severe weather damages a home.The New Zealand Claims Resolution Service (NZCRS) says it provides independent advice, case management, and access to legal and technical services after a natural disaster.“Dealing with the aftermath of a severe weather event, like that experienced recently in Northland, Gisborne, Bay of Plenty, Hauraki District and Coromandel, can be extremely stressful for homeowners,” says Gemma Wiig, Acting Head of Accommodation and Insurance Response.NZCRS says the first steps are to take detailed photos of any damage, then contact your insurer to lodge a claim.If you have questions or concerns at any point, NZCRS says you can seek free independent advice during the insurance process. It says people often want clarity on who manages repairs, or how to respond to settlement offers.It says claims for land damage, including landslips, can be complex and take time, with assessments often involving experts such as geotechnical engineers.NZCRS can be reached on 0508 624 327, email [email protected], or visit nzcrs.govt.nz.If your building is damaged, NZCRS also points to information on the Building Performance website about the rapid building assessment process and next steps.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

SEEK says job ads dipped in December, with Auckland down 1.1% and competition still high.Nationally, job ad volumes fell 0.3% after six months of rises.Applications per job ad eased by 0.1%, so the fight for roles remains tight.Rob Clark, SEEK NZ Country Manager, says: “This first decline in ad volumes in over a year was only slight, but has halted the stable-to-positive trend we were enjoying throughout 2025.”For Coasties watching the Auckland market, the report says the monthly drop was linked to weaker demand in Retail & Consumer Products (-5.2%) and Hospitality & Tourism (-3.3%), among other areas.Auckland also recorded a 0.7% fall year on year.Some regions still moved the other way.Taranaki rose 3.0% month on month, with Manawatu and Gisborne both up 2.1%.The report links much of that lift to increased hiring in Construction.Construction also led industry growth nationally in December, up 3.4% month on month.Over the past year, Construction job ads rose 42.9%.Engineering grew 2.6% in December, and Trades & Services lifted 1.5%.SEEK says the long-term picture points to a labour market recovery, with opportunities expanding in pockets as New Zealand heads into 2026.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Flushable “smart sensors” trialled at Browns Bay could help stop sewage reaching Auckland beaches.A single wrong pipe connection underground can send wastewater into stormwater lines, making the water unsafe for swimming.Two associate professors from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dr Wei-Qin Zhuang and Dr Colin Whittaker, with a wider team, have invented biodegradable sensors that can detect misconnected or blocked pipes.The devices use ultra-high frequency radio frequency identification (UHF-RFID). A radio signal can be picked up and traced as a sensor moves through sewer and stormwater networks.They are battery-free, flushable, and no bigger than a cigarette lighter. They are made from plant-based plastic and float naturally, so they can travel through pipes while staying easier to detect.“Each sensor carries a unique code, so we know exactly where it was released from,” says Dr Wei-Qin Zhuang. “If it appears in the wrong pipe system, it immediately flags a faulty or illicit connection.”The sensors are flushable, battery-free and no bigger than a cigarette lighter. Photo: Wei-Qin ZhuangIn two field trials with Auckland Council and Watercare at Browns Bay, the sensors detected an illicit connection in a newly built house. Zhuang says each sensor costs less than a cup of coffee to produce, and the unique digital ID meant the fault could be traced back to an individual property.The team says the sensors can also help detect blockages, including fatbergs, where congealed fat and hygiene products build up and cause overflows. They say existing methods like dye testing, smoke testing and CCTV can be time-consuming and labour-intensive.With about 8000–9000km of sewer pipes under Auckland, the team says the technology is designed to be affordable and scalable. For Hibiscus Coast swimmers, faster fault-finding upstream could mean fewer surprise closures after wastewater ends up in the wrong place.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Auckland could benefit from congestion charges, if done well, but a lot could go wrong if realistic alternatives to driving to work are not available, an expert says.The Land Transport Management (Time-of-Use-Charging) amendment bill to bring in congestion charges passed its final reading in Parliament last November.Government has already signalled Auckland Council would be the first local authority likely to have the charge, although council said it was still investigating and there would be public engagement before anything was introduced.Aimed at tackling congestion, and improving travel times on New Zealand's busiest roads, the scheme could charge drivers a toll at busy times to enter a downtown area, or just target busy roads and corridors.Quantitative geographer expert and University of Auckland lecturer Dr Hyesop Shin believed if done well, congestion charges could encourage more people to take public transport, scooter or walk to work.Shin, who was conducting an independent study on the potential impacts of different charging schemes, said the new legislation had the potential to reduce vehicle use, traffic jams, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.Dr Hyesop Shin is a quantitative geographer expert and an environmental science lecturer at the University of Auckland. Photo: SUPPLIED / LDR"However, congestion charges could increase emissions, if people take detours and end up driving longer distances to avoid toll points," he said."To avoid this, better public transport and active transport pathways need to be available, so people have realistic alternatives to driving."His team completed a study of Auckland's traffic, and how it might change under a charging option, using a cordon around the central business district.Computer modelling suggested if the cordon around the city centre was imposed, some drivers would take longer routes to avoid paying."It could create new bottlenecks, increase noise and emissions in local neighbourhoods, and push traffic onto roads that haven't been designed for heavy traffic."The council will need to monitor areas near toll points to make sure diversion hotspots aren't having harmful impacts on people's health, through air pollution and noise in residential areas or near schools."The study found travel to the Auckland city centre took 50 percent longer at peak times on Tuesday to Thursday mornings and evenings, with Monday and Friday's showing fewer cars on roads.More vehicles were hitting the roads on rainy winter days, adding to traffic jams.Most morning peak traffic came from suburbs immediately surrounding the city centre, like Grey Lynn, Mount Eden and Remuera.Shin said residents in these neighbourhoods travel a fairly short distance into the city centre, but create severe traffic jams some mornings.High numbers of vehicles travel from south Auckland into downtown were shown on Tuesdays to Thursdays; and while state highways from the west and north were also busy, traffic intensity was lower than from the inner-city suburbs.In the next phase of their research, Shin said they planned to map out how charging scenarios may shift traffic patterns and affect transport accessibility in socio-economically disadvantaged areas.Auckland Transport's programme director of infrastructure and place, Graeme Gunthorpe, said it welcomed research on possible solutions to the region's traffic congestion."Auckland commuters lose an average of 66 hours each year stuck in traffic at peak times - and as Auckland continues to grow, our congestion problem is only projected to get worse," he said.Council were presented with six options of locations at a meeting last year, where time-of-use charging programme may work in Auckland - including alternative routes so that drivers would have a choice.They included the city centre, city centre and fringe areas, city centre and inner isthmus, core motorways, core motorways plus city centre, as well as targeted motorway hotspots."They are very early indications of time-of-use systems that could work for Auckland and they consider the wider policy and operational settings required to implement a successful programme."To be clear, they are technical documents and not actual plans from Auckland Council or Auckland Transport."He said since 2024, council have studied time-of-use charging as a potential tool to reduce congestion and improve the efficiency of Auckland's transport network."It's important to say that no decisions on options have been made by Auckland Council, and there would be a period of substantial engagement with Aucklanders ahead of any time-of-use charging system being introduced."LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]