Like most fellow Kiwis, many Coasties want a cap on card surcharges rather than a full ban, business groups say.Auckland Business Chamber, Retail NZ, the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce Network and other national associations are urging the Government to rethink its plan to outlaw all retail payment surcharges.They argue fresh moves in Australia and stories from New Zealand small businesses show a blanket ban would hit local shops and customers at the till.Across the Tasman, the Reserve Bank of Australia has stepped back from a total ban after strong backlash from small businesses, banks and experts.It is now weighing up a more targeted approach that could still allow surcharges on higher-cost credit and corporate cards and revisiting cuts to interchange fees.Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Simon Bridges says New Zealand should take note.“Across the Tasman, regulators have realised that a one-size-fits-all ban creates more problems than it solves,” he says.“New Zealand risks charging ahead with a policy that even Australia now recognises is too blunt, too disruptive, and unfair on small businesses.”A NZ Herald op-ed on the Whananaki General Store described a small family-run shop coming out of a tough winter and facing higher costs from payroll and KiwiSaver changes, plus the planned surcharge ban.The coalition backs a compromise instead, with debit surcharges capped at 0.5% and credit surcharges at 1% on personal domestic Visa and Mastercard cards.Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young calls this “the sensible middle ground,” warning that without surcharges, costs will not disappear, they will simply be buried in higher prices for everyone, including Coasties.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

A speeding driver on State Highway 1 through Puhoi led police to a suitcase of imitation firearms and weapons after a late-night chase.Police say officers first tried to pull over the vehicle, which was travelling at speed, at about 10.10pm on State Highway 1. The driver failed to stop and continued south along the motorway.Senior Sergeant Brett Henshaw says the Police Eagle helicopter was quickly able to locate the vehicle as it headed down the motorway. Units then spiked the vehicle on State Highway 1 near Mount Wellington, where the driver was swiftly taken into custody.Officers searching the vehicle found a suitcase containing three high powered BB guns and a .22-calibre revolver. Drug paraphernalia and a large knife were also found inside the car.“Taking items like these off our streets makes everyone safer and we’re pleased to be able to hold this person to account,” Senior Sergeant Henshaw says.A 27-year-old man has been charged with failing to stop, speeding, unlawful possession of a pistol, unlawfully carrying an imitation firearm, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of utensils and driving while disqualified. He appeared in the North Shore District Court today.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Hibiscus Coast locals are getting warm season’s greetings from our Hibiscus Coast App team.We are local too and launched the app in 2022. Since then it has been downloaded more than 18,400 times and over 8,000 people now use it every month.Most open it on their phones, with others checking in on desktop when they are at home or work.Every day people use the Hibiscus Coast App for trusted local news, what is on this week, jobs, business listings and community updates, all in one free place to check.We have just rolled out an update, so it is a good time to make sure you have the latest version on your phone.If your apps are not set to update on their own, head to your App Store, search “Hibiscus Coast App” and tap update, then turn on notifications so you do not miss local news or alerts.More and more local businesses are choosing the app to reach people on the Hibiscus Coast, and their support helps us keep local news and updates going for everyone.From all of us at the Hibiscus Coast App, thank you for being part of the community this year and please tell your family, friends and workmates to download the app free so they can stay close to local life over summer.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Overnight works will close SH1 between Orewa and Oteha Valley Road on 8 and 9 December.NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi says maintenance crews will be working between 9pm and 5am, with full closures and detours in place. The work is weather dependent, so dates may change.On 8 December, SH1 southbound will be closed from the Silverdale interchange to Oteha Valley Road for general maintenance. The Silverdale southbound on-ramp and Oteha Valley Road southbound off-ramp will also be closed. Drivers are asked to follow the signposted detour via Twin Coast Discovery Highway, Dairy Flat Highway and Oteha Valley Road.On 8 and 9 December, SH1 northbound will be closed from the Silverdale interchange to the Orewa interchange for wire rope barrier maintenance. The Silverdale northbound on-ramp and Orewa northbound off-ramp will be closed, with a detour via Twin Discovery Coast Highway to the Orewa interchange.Vehicles over 3500kg will not be able to travel along Grand Drive and should instead follow the detour via Hibiscus Coast Highway and Old State Highway 1 to the Warkworth northbound on-ramp.Lane restrictions and ramp closures may begin before 9pm, and nearby properties may notice more noise while work is carried out. Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Making plans? Here’s what’s coming up around the Hibiscus Coast, curated by your team at The Hibiscus Coast App.Orewa Christmas Twilight MarketToday, Friday 5 DecClick here for more details Hibiscus Coast Concert Band at the Silverdale Pioneer VillageSat 6 DecClick here for more details Very Coastie Christmas EventSun 7 DecClick here for more details Find more things to do anytime in the Hibiscus Coast App, your local hub for events, food, and fun.Have an event coming up? Get featured next week! List your Event for FREE now.

A new nationwide farm recycling scheme will help local farmers cut plastic waste and costs.The Government has approved regulations for a rural recycling scheme covering agrichemicals and farm plastics.Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says the move is about “fixing the basics while building the future with practical solutions that protect the environment, support our farmers, and ensure a productive, sustainable primary sector.”The industry-led scheme brings the existing Agrecovery and Plasback programmes into a single national system.It will offer free, simple, and accessible services for all users of in-scope agrichemicals and farm plastics, including rural communities.Building on voluntary schemes operating for nearly 20 years, the regulations create a consistent product stewardship framework for agrichemicals, their containers, and farm plastics.The aim is to help farmers cut waste, reduce environmental impact, and support long-term productivity.Plastic products are essential to New Zealand’s agri-economy, but rural communities know that containers, plastic bags, and bale wrap can quickly pile up.The new scheme creates a unified system where producers, sellers, and users share responsibility for the full product lifecycle, rather than leaving disposal to farmers alone.It will also help sectors like forestry, manufacturing, hospitality, tourism, and local authorities, which will gain access to national take-back services.Supporters say it offers a clear alternative to burning or burying plastics, reducing environmental risk and helping keep rural communities cleaner and safer.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Black Friday spending was busy from Orewa to Silverdale and Whangaparaoa, even as Coast shoppers pulled back overall.On Friday, November 28, non-food retailers on Worldline NZ’s payments network recorded $55.6m of spending nationwide, the highest day so far this year and just ahead of Easter Saturday’s $49.1m.After adjusting for changes in who trades on the network, non-food spending on Black Friday was still 6.2% lower than in 2024, and 4.6% lower across the three-day weekend. That pattern lined up with November as a whole, where non-food goods spending sat below last year over most weeks.Worldline NZ Chief Sales Officer Bruce Proffit says tight budgets are showing through. “It appears that consumer budgets are still constrained at this end of the year. Clothing merchants experienced higher spending than Black Friday 2024 over the weekend but spending elsewhere was generally down,” he says.For Coasties, local shops in Orewa, Silverdale and Whangaparaoa sit inside the wider Auckland/Northland region, where Core Retail spending for November slipped 0.3% on last year. Across the country, total Core Retail spending through Worldline reached $4.09b for the month, up 1.1% on November 2024 after adjustments.Growth was strongest in West Coast (up 6.3%), Whanganui (5.4%) and Otago (5.0%), while Wellington fell 1.0% and Gisborne 1.8%. Merchants will be hoping the final weeks before Christmas bring a lift.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, 5/12Mostly sunny with a few early showers and a fresh southwesterly.High: 23Low: 16Saturday, 6/12Sunny spells with leftover cloud and a steady southwesterly.High: 26Low: 15Sunday, 7/12Fine and warm with just a light southerly.High: 27Low: 16Monday, 8/12Dry, mostly sunny conditions with a breezy northerly tending nor’wester later.High: 25Low: 17See 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.

Coasties who book holiday homes through Bachcare now have a court-backed reason to check the fine print.The High Court has ruled that some of Bachcare’s booking terms were unfair under the Fair Trading Act, after action by the Commerce Commission.Bachcare has since changed the clauses that were challenged.The case focused on standard terms that applied to guests across the country.One set of clauses meant guests could lose up to 100% of what they had paid if they cancelled, no matter how far away their stay was.Another meant Bachcare kept its service fee even when a booking was cancelled by Bachcare or the property owner.Commerce Commission Chair Dr John Small said the court action followed real-world complaints.“Our action was prompted by complaints from ordinary Kiwis who had booked a place to stay,” Commerce Commission Chair Dr John Small said.Some complaints related to trips cancelled during Cyclone Hale and Cyclone Gabrielle when travel was unsafe or not possible.Others involved guests losing deposits after simple booking errors.Justice McQueen found the terms created a significant imbalance in Bachcare’s favour and could cause financial or other harm to guests.The judgment is also a signal to other online platforms to review their contracts and to Coast holiday makers to read cancellation and refund clauses with care before they book.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Advanced tracking technology from the Netherlands to trace hornets back to their nests is set to be introduced by Biosecurity New Zealand in the next phase of the eradication project.More than half of the 30 queen hornets found by Biosecurity New Zealand on Auckland's North Shore showed evidence of having a nest.But the Ministry of Primary Industries will soon be able to turn the pests' insatiable desire to build nests against them.North commissioner Mike Inglis said high tech tracking technology from the Netherlands has arrived after advice from international and domestic experts.In the latest update on Tuesday, 19 of the 30 confirmed queen hornets were found with either developed nests or evidence of nesting while seven worker hornets were found in nests.Inglis said the tracking strategy will focus on worker hornets and over the next four to six weeks, traps will be set to catch them."We then put this tracking technology on the hornet and what we can do is then follow it back to the nest. We then go to the nest and destroy it."It's like a small tracking device with a small antenna on it, which can go onto the [worker] hornet and again, we then trace that back at particular times of the day or night back to the nest."Biosecurity NZ North Commissioner Mike Inglis. Photo: RNZ/Marika KhabaziInglis said the tracker had been extremely effective and successful in the United Kingdom.He said the timing was also important, with the nest making behaviour of the hornets to change in the coming weeks.Biosecurity NZ will also look to start using a bait poison called Vespex."The next stage will be this, as they start to develop the secondary nest, it will get slightly bigger and be found in higher trees."So it is important that we utilise this technology as well as part of that is putting out more protein traps and we will also use a product called Vespex in terms of protein bait.""That will also potentially, if the [worker hornets] pick that up, take it back to the nest, that will also destroy the inhabitants of the nest too."So it's a mixed approach, we make sure that we're belt and braces, so a bit of trapping, a bit of surveillance, the electronic sort of tagging of the hornets as well as doing the work that we're doing all guided by that technical advisory group and scientific evidence."Spreading the messageInglis said Biosecurity NZ has had an excellent response from the public, with nearly 4400 notifications received to date.Tomorrow he will be speaking at a forum hosted by Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital (TMBC), bringing together national experts to discuss the ongoing yellow-legged hornet response.Inglish said it was important to spread messaging not just within Auckland, but across the North Island."I've spent my time also in Northland speaking to Northland Council's biosecurity team going into Tauranga."Just expanding that as we've been doing over the period. Again, we've been really pushing in terms of that message and out there. The website and the Facebook hits have been incredible."If you've got a photograph, then send it in to us and we'll send our expert team. So it is important that we're in this together, that members of the public, our beekeepers are all involved in terms of that active surveillance as we all together try and ensure that we eradicate this hornet."The Bay of Plenty group - which was launched in 2018 - aims at leading a co-ordinated community response to biosecurity risks and advocating for better biosecurity protections.TMBC comms and event manager Natalie Rutene said the group played an important role in ensuring members and the wider community stayed informed about biosecurity risks like the yellow-legged hornet."As a neighbouring region to Auckland, we are closely following all information, guidance, and updates released by MPI regarding the yellow-legged hornet, and we continue to share relevant advice to support a coordinated, informed response."TMBC will host an online Partners Forum focused on this issue, providing an overview of the current operational response, discussion of potential impacts on apiculture, horticulture, communities, and wider industries, and guidance on how individuals and organisations can support early detection and rapid reporting."Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from leading experts," said Rutene.

New Zealand visitor spending reached $12.3 billion over the year to September 2025.That is a 5.3% rise on the previous year, with holidaymakers alone contributing $7.8 billion, up 8.9%.Across that time 3.43 million people arrived, and Australia stayed our biggest market with $3.6 billion in total spend, followed by the United States on $1.8 billion and China on $1.2 billion.International visitors put more than $3.2 billion into accommodation and $1.7 billion into dining, which helps keep tourism and hospitality running across the country, including here on the Hibiscus Coast.Indonesian travellers had the highest average daily spend at $485, with visitors from the United States at $350 and Taiwan at $314.Even with a lower daily spend, German visitors remained the biggest holiday spenders per trip, with the United Kingdom next, reflecting longer stays.Landscapes and scenery were the main reason for visiting, at 74.4%.Nature is still a strong pull, with 80% of holidaymakers visiting lakes, mountains or rivers, 79% heading out for a walk, hike, trek or tramp, and 62% visiting a national park.For tourism operators and local hosts on the Hibiscus Coast, Coasties can expect that strong interest in nature and local experiences to keep shaping the kind of visitors who arrive in Auckland and explore our part of the country.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Waiwera, a $45 million upgrade is under way on local water and wastewater systems. On the Hibiscus Coast, that means new pipes, a new pump station and, in time, no more treated wastewater flowing into the Waiwera estuary. Under Watercare’s Waiwera Water and Wastewater Servicing Programme, the work will support expected growth of about 1,600 people by 2068 and improve the reliability of local supplies. Crews are already installing the first 500 metres of a 4.5 kilometre wastewater pipe beside Hibiscus Coast Highway, using horizontal drilling up to seven metres deep for about 2.7 kilometres and open trenches where the steep, winding hill makes drilling impractical. The new main will carry flows to the Hatfields Beach Pump Station, then on to the Army Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant for full treatment and discharge via the Army Bay outfall, allowing the ageing Waiwera plant to be shut down once the new system is running. Wielding of the new wastewater raising main on Hibiscus Coast Highway. Photo: WatercareA new watermain from the existing reservoirs at the top of Waiwera Hill will also help keep taps running for homes and businesses. Locals can expect ongoing lane closures on the northbound side of Hibiscus Coast Highway, with two way traffic signals on the southbound lane in sections of about 500 metres while crews move along the route. Watercare says the first section should take around 10 weeks, with several teams working across the programme next year to keep progress steady for Waiwera and nearby communities.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

It's only the first few days of summer but already a code brown is casting an unwanted shadow over Auckland's beaches.Sewage overflows from thunderstorms over the weekend have impacted water quality at beaches across the central city, with swimmers being warned to stay out of the Waitematā - or risk a nasty bug.At Auckland's Herne Bay Beach, friends Chris and Lauren were making the most of their day off.But danger lurked under the surface. The beach was one of 13 to be marked black by Auckland Council on Monday, denoting a wastewater overflow.Dozens more were marked red, meaning poor water quality.Chris was relieved they hadn't been swimming."[We] just wanted to enjoy the sun at the beach on our day off," she said."I had no idea. I think I'm not going to swim right now, actually. I think we're going to have to maybe drive further down to be able to swim in the sea."Lauren said she preferred to keep her distance from faeces, but she had seen a lot worse."I have very sensitive skin, especially with like folliculitis and like skin irritations, so water quality is important to me," she said."I did yoga training in Bali and there was literal trash and like faecal matter in the water and I wouldn't want to do that again. Wouldn't recommend it."Thunderstorms over the weekend had filled Auckland's wastewater infrastructure to the brim and spilled out into the harbour.Victoria University freshwater ecologist Dr Mike Joy told Midday Report the warming climate would cause more frequent spills over time."You've got climate change, which means warmer temperatures, which means more growth of, you know, dangerous bacteria, but also more extremes in weather," he said."So we get these flooding events and high rainfall events."He said the ageing wastewater infrastructure across New Zealand couldn't handle the volume."Huge amounts of water that shouldn't be in a sewage system that gets in through, you know, old broken infrastructure plus illegal connections, meaning massive flows, you know, additional flows coming into wastewater treatment plants and they just can't handle it," he said."They don't have storage. They open the gates and let it out."At Sentinel Beach in Herne Bay, beachgoer Michael wished he could just go for a swim without ending up waist deep in waste."Yeah, I think that's pretty bad... It would be nice to be able to like come down here, have a swim and know it's safe without checking," he said.Auckland Council's SafeSwim technical lead Dr Martin Neale said swimmers risked catching a nasty bacterial infection."The source of the contamination is pathogens in the water. So, that's the risk you're exposing yourself to," he said."Generally, those will manifest as either respiratory or tummy upsets. But sometimes if you have a cut or something like that, it can infect the cut."He warned of similar interruptions throughout the rest of summer."During summer is when we get these sort of intense thunderstorm situations like we had yesterday, there was thunderstorm warnings out and we'll see them in summer," Neale said."We don't know how many, but when those things do happen, we would encourage people to check out SafeSwim."Neale expected the contaminated waters to clear over the following two days.In a statement, Watercare noted that it was already investing in upgrading wastewater infrastructure to reduce spills."We are investing $8 billion in new and upgraded wastewater infrastructure in the next decade, which includes $4.8b specifically in wastewater networks to reduce overflows," head of wastewater Jon Piggot said."For Herne Bay and St Marys Bay, the real results will come around 2028 when we finish the Herne Bay Collector tunnel."

A new Government plan to cap council rates rises could help ease bill pressure for Hibiscus Coast households.Local Government Minister Simon Watts says ratepayers need councils to live within their means. “Rates are taking up more of household bills, and some communities have faced double-digit increases year after year. This is unsustainable and is only adding to the cost of living for many Kiwis,” Simon Watts says.The model sets a target range for annual rates increases of 2 to 4 per cent per capita, per year. The lower end is intended to keep essential services running, while the upper end is designed to keep rate rises affordable. The cap would apply to all forms of rates, including general rates, targeted rates and uniform annual charges, but not to water charges or other fees.Councils wanting to move outside the upper limit would need approval from a central regulator. Permission would be reserved for extreme situations such as natural disasters, or where councils can justify catching up on past underinvestment and show how they will move back to the target range.A transition period starts on Friday, January 1, 2027, when councils must factor the cap into long-term plans and report on key financial measures. The full regulatory model is due to be in place by Sunday, July 1, 2029, with officials watching rate rises closely and urging councils, including Auckland Council, not to wait before controlling increases for their communities.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Auckland’s housing lift in November is flowing into Hibiscus Coast suburbs as top-end buyers return to the market.“There was a marked increase in prices during November with buyers returning in strength to the top end of the market,” said Barfoot & Thompson managing director Peter Thompson. The median Auckland price reached $995,000, up 4.7 percent on October, while the average climbed 9.5 percent to $1,181,829.Thompson says these are the largest monthly increases this year and they end a four-month patch where prices showed little movement. He says this year’s November rise “was based on a change in sentiment as to future market direction” and that improved prices “led to a subtle shift from it being a total buyers’ market, with buyers sensing that now might be the time to act.”Sales hit 969 for the month, 4.2 percent higher than October and 2 percent above the previous three-month average. A key feature was the return of buyers spending $2 to $3 million, with 71 sales in that band, more than double the previous month, plus 21 sales over $3 million.On the Hibiscus Coast, three-bedroom averages now sit close to Auckland’s median. Orewa comes in at $999,158, Red Beach at $1,040,727 and Silverdale at $976,250, with Millwater at $1,205,933 and Manly at $1,194,375. Weekly rents for three-bedroom homes run from the mid-$600s to mid-$700s, including $694 in Orewa and $760 in Milldale. Gross yields mostly sit between 3 and 4 percent, from 3.05 percent in Manly up to 4.35 percent in Gulf Harbour and 4.18 percent in Wellsford.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

A stolen car spotted near Puhoi led Police through Ōrewa and Silverdale in the early hours this morning. The overnight incident ended with a firearm seized and two men facing charges.Around 1.30am, officers saw a vehicle allegedly travelling at speed on the Northern Motorway near Puhoi. No pursuit was initiated, but the vehicle was confirmed as stolen and continued south before exiting at Ōrewa and carrying on through Silverdale to Albany, where the Police Eagle helicopter took over tracking.The vehicle was spiked on Oteha Valley Road and abandoned on Kallista Place in Browns Bay, where two men ran to a nearby property. One surrendered immediately. Police say the second man was seen carrying what appeared to be a firearm and hiding it on the roof of a shed before jumping fences into neighbouring properties.Cordons were put in place and a dog handler tracked the man to a house, where he was found trying to hide underneath a child’s bed. He resisted arrest and received a small dog bite, which was treated at the scene.Police later located and seized the firearm. Inspector Nina Pedersen says this is “a great result for the team” and means another firearm is out of the community and prevented from potential future offending.A 29-year-old man faces charges including unlawfully getting into a vehicle, possession of an offensive weapon, resisting Police and unlawfully in a building. A 37-year-old man is charged with dangerous driving, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, possession of methamphetamine and contravening a protection order. Both were due to appear in North Shore District Court today.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Two females will appear in court after security guards and a shopper were assaulted at Glenfield Mall on Friday.Police were called to the mall at about 1.30pm after reports that security guards had been assaulted while trying to stop two alleged shoplifters leaving a store.Acting Senior Sergeant Alex Waworis, Relieving Waitematā East Communities Manager, says officers arrived within minutes and quickly established that two females had violently assaulted three people who were trying to stop them from leaving the mall.Two security guards and a member of the public were assaulted, with two of the victims taken to hospital for medical treatment.Attending officers tracked the alleged offenders and found them not far from the mall, where they were taken into custody.“We are pleased to have apprehended these alleged offenders and hold them to account for their actions,” Acting Senior Sergeant Waworis says.“This type of offending is unacceptable, and Police will not tolerate it in our community."The items allegedly shoplifted were returned to the store, and the two alleged offenders will appear in court later this week charged with a range of offences.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Auckland’s Mayor wants next year’s council budget to stay on track while big transport changes move a step closer.His draft Mayoral Proposal for the 2026/2027 Annual Plan keeps year three of the Long-term Plan 2024–2034, with a 7.9% average residential rates rise mainly linked to City Rail Link costs, $3.9b of capital investment, more than $5.3b for services, debt held at a 225% debt-to-revenue ratio and a $106m savings target. Core asset sales of $34m are also built in.“We are going to stick to the plan that’s working, this is our contract with the community,” Wayne Brown says, arguing the council has found savings while keeping services going. Deputy Mayor and Value for Money Committee chair Desley Simpson points to more than $1b in financial benefits over six years and says the drive for “financial efficiencies” will continue.Local boards are expected to keep trimming costs, adjusting fees and looking at targeted rates, while council staff work on ways to cover a combined $6m funding gap for seven boards without “drastic service cuts”. Place-based investment and possible property disposals are flagged as key tools.A major part of the proposal is transport reform. A new public transport CCO would focus on bus, rail and ferry services, while Auckland Council takes over wider transport planning and road control once new legislation is in place. The Mayor also wants a sharper approach to urban development, property management and the city centre, with councillors set to debate the plan from Wednesday, 3 December ahead of public consultation in early 2026.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

One NZ has been fined $1.1 million for breaching rules that protect vulnerable landline users when they dial 111.Following action by the Commerce Commission, the High Court has ordered the company to pay a $1.1 million penalty and contribute $100,000 towards the Commission’s costs after it admitted ten breaches of the 111 Contact Code between 2021 and 2023.“Telecommunications services provide a vital lifeline in the event of emergencies like natural disasters and power failures,” Telecommunications Commissioner Tristan Gilbertson said. “As consumers move off traditional copper lines it’s crucial that vulnerable New Zealanders retain the ability to contact emergency services during a power failure.”The Code requires providers to give vulnerable consumers a no-cost way of calling 111 in a power cut, clearly explain their options, and accurately report how they are supporting those customers. One NZ’s breaches related to information disclosure, record keeping, and regular customer outreach over a two-year period.The Code is aimed at people who, for health, safety or disability reasons, rely on a landline connection for emergency calling that will not work in a power cut without its own power supply. If they have no other way to reach 111, such as a mobile phone, their provider must supply a device that lets them make emergency calls for at least eight continuous hours at no cost. Most providers meet this duty with a mobile handset or, outside mobile coverage, a battery back-up for the landline service.“It’s critical that telecommunications providers comply with the Code which ensures that vulnerable consumers can still call for help during a power cut,” Mr Gilbertson said, adding that the Commission will keep monitoring compliance and act when needed to protect consumers.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]