The New Zealand Order of MeritThe King has been pleased, on the celebration of the New Year, to make the following appointments to The New Zealand Order of Merit:DNZMTo be Dames Companion of the said Order:Professor Helen Victoria Danesh-Meyer, CNZM, of Auckland. For services to ophthalmology.Ms Coral May Shaw, of Te Awamutu. For services to public service, the judiciary and the community.Ms Dorothy Myrtle Spotswood, of Wellington. For services to philanthropy.KNZMTo be Knights Companion of the said Order:Mr Scott Ronald Glyndwr Dixon, CNZM, of Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America. For services to motorsport.Mr Rodney Kenneth Drury, of Queenstown. For services to business, the technology industry and philanthropy.Professor Graham Stephen Le Gros, CNZM, of Wellington. For services to medical science.Mr Christopher Wilton Parkin, CNZM, of Wellington. For services to philanthropy and the arts.CNZMTo be Companions of the said Order:Mr Gregor John Barclay, of Auckland. For services to sports governance.Mr Neil Frank Bateup, ONZM, of Ohinewai. For services to the rural sector.Mr Leith Pirika Comer, QSO, of Rotorua. For services to Māori, governance and education.Professor Charl Johannes de Villiers, of Auckland. For services to accountancy.Dr Bruce William Hayward, MNZM, of Auckland. For services to geology, particularly micropaleontology.Professor Beverley-Anne Lawton, ONZM, of Wellington. For services to women's health.Distinguished Professor Gaven John Martin, of Auckland. For services to mathematics and education.Distinguished Professor Paul James Moughan, of Auckland. For services to science.Mr Anthony Zan Quinn, of Cromwell. For services to motorsport and the community.Professor Thomas Charles Roa, JP, of Hamilton. For services to Māori language and education.Ms Rachel Emere Taulelei, MNZM, of Wellington. For services to business, Māori and governance.Mr Donald Stanley Mackintosh Trott, ONZM, JP, of Whanganui. For services to opera.ONZMTo be Officers of the said Order:Reverend Dr Patricia Ann Allan, of Christchurch. For services to survivors of abuse.Mr Graham Carr, of Geraldine. For services to the deer industry and the community.Mr Matthew David Corner, of Wellington. For services to people with intellectual and learning disabilities.Mrs Christina Cowan, of Hastings. For services to Māori, particularly blind and low vision people.Mr Brian Rex Davies, of Palmerston North. For services to motorsport.Mr Rodney Phillip Mathew Dixon, of Upper Moutere. For services to athletics.Mr Lloyd Walker Downing, of Morrinsville. For services to agriculture and governance.Mr Anthony Richard Egan, of Hamilton. For services to the agricultural industry and the community.Ms Deborah Ann Espiner, of Auckland. For services to people with disabilities and education.Mr Ian Donald Gardiner, of Christchurch. For services to the communications industry and mountain safety.Mr Stewart Lloyd Germann, of Auckland. For services to franchise law.Mr Neville Charles Greenwood, of Christchurch. For services to the sheep industry.Ms Judith Helen Hamilton, of Cambridge. For services to rowing.Mr Richard Michael Arthur Harman, of Wellington. For services to journalism and broadcasting.Ms Julie Anne Hart, of Hastings. For services to women and victims of family violence.Mrs Frances Margaret Hartnett, of Auckland. For services to people with disabilities.Mrs Sandra Glenis Hazlehurst, of Havelock North. For services to local government.Mr Te Warihi Kokowai Hetaraka, of Whangārei. For services to Māori and art.Mr Jack Edward Hodder, KC, of Wellington. For services to the law.Ms Shirley Gail Hooper, of Papamoa. For services to netball and artistic swimming.Mr Waihoroi Paraone Hoterene, of Kerikeri. For services to Māori and Māori language education.Mrs Lynley Elizabeth Lloyd, of Auckland. For services to renal nutrition.Mr Andrew Webster Macfarlane, of Ashburton. For services to the deer industry.Professor Roderick Duncan MacLeod, MNZM, of Auckland. For services to palliative care.Mr James Bruce Miller, of Auckland. For services to corporate governance.Ms Lorraine Mary Moller, MBE, of Boulder, Colorado, United States of America. For services to athletics.Professor Dr Jens Helmut Friedrich Mueller, MNZM, of Tauranga. For services to education.Ms Suzanne Jane Porter, of New Plymouth. For services to the arts and event management.Mr Iain George Potter, of Wellington. For services to sport and health.Mr Tenby George Bolland Powell, ED, of Tauranga. For services to business, governance and humanitarian aid.Ms Karen Ritchie, of Pōkeno. For services to people with HIV/AIDS and Rainbow communities.Mrs Cecilia Charlotte Louise Robinson, of Auckland. For services to business and women.Dr Mohammad Arif Saeid, of Auckland. For services to refugees and youth.Ms Valerie Christine Smith, of Nelson. For services to outdoor bowls.Mr Paul Bertram Wright, of Christchurch. For services to the real estate industry and philanthropy.MNZMTo be Members of the said Order:Mr Kevin John Burgess, of Cambridge. For services to governance, the community and sport.Ms Donna Elise Chisholm, of Auckland. For services to journalism.Mr Eroni Clarke, of Auckland. For services to the Pacific community and rugby.Mr Peter John Cullen, of Wellington. For services to law, governance and youth.Ms Rosemary Helen Dixon, of Wellington. For services to schools debating.Mr Roger Bruce Douglas Drummond, of Wellington. For services to rugby and Māori.Dr Robyn Ann Dynes, of Christchurch. For services to agricultural science.Dr Lorraine Shirley Eade, of Blenheim. For services to Māori, governance and the community.Mrs Judene Louise Edgar, JP, of Nelson. For services to governance, local government and the community.Mrs Jane Frances Eynon-Richards, JP, of Rotorua. For services to the community.Mr Jade Carlo Farrar, of Auckland. For services to people with disabilities and the Pacific community.Mrs Beverley Riverina Forrester, of Amberley. For services to the wool and fashion industries.Mrs Deborah Kaye Fraser, of Dunedin. For services to mental health and youth.Mr Donald George Geddes, of Ashburton. For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Land Search and Rescue and the community.Mr Malcolm John Gillies, of Upper Hutt. For services to business.Mr Martin James Guptill, of Auckland. For services to cricket.Mr Martin John Hadlee, of Christchurch. For services to the community.Ms Janine Michelle Harrington, of Christchurch. For services to education.Mr David John Harrison, of Wellington. For services to the insurance industry and the community.Mr John Gordon Hobbs, of Auckland. For services to horticulture.Mrs Susan Hobbs, of Auckland. For services to people with disabilities.Mr Gerald Anthony Hope, of Blenheim. For services to local government, business and the community.Ms Kāren Eirene Johansen, JP, of Gisborne. For services to education and human rights.Mr Richard William Kennett, JP, of Glenorchy. For services to conservation and Search and Rescue.Miss Jillian Anne Kerr, of Diamond Harbour. For services to choral music and music education.Dr Murray Alexander King, of Wellington. For services to transport, logistics and railway heritage.Mr Mark Henri Limacher, of Wellington. For services as a restaurateur and to the hospitality industry.Professor Tracie Ailong Mafile'o, of Palmerston North. For services to Pacific and tertiary education.Mr Terence Ronald Maskell, of Auckland. For services to choral music.Mrs Nichola Rosemary McArthur, of Kaikōura. For services to conservation and the community.Mr Malcolm Ian McKee, of Gore. For services to sport.Mrs Dawn Mary McMillan, of Thames. For services to children's literature.Miss Katharine Eleanor Milford, of Tauranga. For services to people with aphasia.Mrs Jennifer Louise Nahu, of Rotorua. For services to rugby league.Mrs Vivien Lewanna Napier, JP, of Greytown. For services to local government and the community.Dr Stephen John Neville, of Alexandra Headland, Australia. For services to gerontology research and seniors.Mr Kevin Nielsen, of New Plymouth. For services to the community and people with disabilities.Dr Caroline Ann Oliver, of Wanaka. For services to cancer research and the community.Mr Hori Te Moanaroa Parata, of Onerahi. For services to conservation and Māori.Mrs Alexandra Anne Pasley, of Auckland. For services to education.Mr David Stephen Pluck, of Nelson. For services to education.Mr Andrew Ruawhitu Pokaia, of Christchurch. For services to Māori and education.Ms Gaye Annette Poole, of Hamilton. For services to the performing arts and education.Mr Ian Douglas Poulter, of Kaiapoi. For services to education.Mr Ravinder Singh Powar, JP, of Hamilton. For services to ethnic communities.Mr John Dempster Robinson, of Auckland. For services to orienteering.Mrs Valerie Jean Robinson, of Auckland. For services to orienteering.Mr John Francis Roughan, of Auckland. For services to journalism and the community.Dr Fahima Saeid, of Auckland. For services to refugees.Mr Bruce Douglas Shalders, of Christchurch. For services to railway heritage.Mr Leighton Irwin Smith, of Auckland. For services to broadcasting.Mrs Mokafetu (Matafetu) Smith, of Auckland. For services to Pacific art.Ms Arihia Amiria Stirling, QSM, JP, of Auckland. For services to education and Māori.Professor Andrew Peter Stockley, of Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. For services to schools debating.Dr Audrey Melanie Tan, of Christchurch. For services to mathematics education.Mrs Gail Henrietta Maria Thompson, of Bluff. For services to Māori and conservation.Ms Helena Audrey Tuteao, of Hamilton. For services to people with disabilities and Māori.Senior Constable Grant William Watts, of Palmerston North. For services to the New Zealand Police and youth.Mr William Ian Welch, of Porirua. For services to rail heritage.Mrs Elizabeth Robyn Whiting, of Auckland. For services to costume design.Mr Gary Selwyn Whittle, of Auckland. For services to rugby league.Mrs Sarah Jane Wickens, of Wellington. For services to business.Mrs Shirley Jane Zintl, of Porirua. For services to youth.Dated at Wellington this 31st day of December 2025.RACHEL HAYWARD, Secretary and Registrar, The New Zealand Order of Merit.The King's Service Order (KSO)To be Companions of the said Order:Mr Mark Joseph Harawira, of Whakatāne. For services to Māori education, arts and conservation.Mrs Kerry Ann Nickels, of Auckland. For services to the Red Cross.The King's Service Medal (KSM)The King has been pleased, on the celebration of the New Year, to make the following awards of The King's Service Medal:Ms Carol Angland, of Wanaka. For services to the community and theatre.Ms Bonita Joanne Bigham, of Manaia. For services to local government and Māori.Mr Douglas James Brenssell, of Oamaru. For services to the community.Mrs Robyn Ann Bruce, of Maungaturoto. For services to youth and sport.Mr John Randall Burgess, of Mosgiel. For services to the community.Mrs Marin Burgess, of Auckland. For services to heritage preservation and education.Mrs Emily Myra Caldwell, of Te Aroha. For services to the community and music .Mrs Marjorie Eleanor Carr, of Otorohanga. For services to netball and the community.Mr Lloyd Bertram Clausen, MStJ, of Leeston. For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community.Mr Edwin Frederick Ruthven Cooke, of Greytown. For services to music.Mrs Juliet Anne Cooke, of Greytown. For services to music.Mrs Helen Rose Cooper, of Bulls. For services to the community.Mr Richard John Craig, of Kaikōura. For services to the Coastguard.Mrs Anneke Jacoba Dinnington, of Taupō. For services to seniors and the community.Mr David Alyn Drake, of Rolleston. For services to the community.Mr John Matthew Eaden, of Marton. For services to the arts.Mr Graeme Leslie Elliot, of Dunedin. For services to the community and outdoor recreation.Ms Marion Kennedy Ellis, of Auckland. For services to hockey.Mrs Elizabeth Mary Fletcher, of Rotorua. For services to the community, particularly wastewater advocacy.Mr William Robert Fuller, JP, of Russell. For services to the community.Mr Leonidas Angelos Gambitsis, of Lower Hutt. For services to the Greek community.Mr Trevor James Goudie, of Alexandra. For services to theatre and the community.Mrs Jocelyn Mary Grantham, of Auckland. For services to education and the community.Miss Sheridan Isobel Patrice Gundry, of Gisborne. For services to historical research and heritage preservation.Mr Paul David Harris, JP, of Amberley. For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community.Mrs Elizabeth Janet Henry, of Invercargill. For services to the community and sport.Mr David John Jurlina, of Kaitaia. For services to rugby and the community.Mrs Nada Linda Jurlina, of Kaitaia. For services to rugby and the community.Mrs Gurpreet Kaur, of Auckland. For services to the Indian community.Mrs Barbara Joy Knowles, JP, of Tuakau. For services to the community and to Members of Parliament.Mr Peter Alan Maunder, of Paeroa. For services to athletics.Mrs Sylvia Mary Joyce Maunder, of Paeroa. For services to athletics.Mr Laurie Owen Mills, of Auckland. For services to theatre.Mr Mohan Durlabh Mistry, of Wellington. For services to the Indian community.Mr Gordon Leonard Myer, JP, of Auckland. For services to the community.Ms Aere Anne Nicholas, JP, of Auckland. For services to the community.Mr Patrick Gerard O'Rourke, of Napier. For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community.Dr Tania Anne Pinfold, of Wellington. For services to youth health.Mrs Enatuleni Ikitoa Polima, of Auckland. For services to the Niuean community.Mrs Jacqueline Robertson, of Paihia. For services to science education.Mr Stanley Donald Scott, of Wairoa. For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and civil defence.Mr Christopher Sharp, of Gisborne. For services to Search and Rescue and outdoor recreation.Mrs Ruth Philliss Shaw, of Manapouri. For services to conservation.Dr Leonie Kaye Sinclair, of Rotorua. For services to health.Mr Harjinder Singh, JP, of Auckland. For services to the Punjabi community.Mr Brian Douglas Smith, of Timaru. For services to rowing.Sailauama Cheryl Talamaivao, JP, of Auckland. For services to the Pacific community and education.The Reverend Wayne Saunoa Moegagogo Toleafoa, JP, of Havelock North. For services to Pacific communities.Mr Paul Gregory Toms, of Te Aroha. For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and football.Mr Russel Walter Trow, of Bluff. For services to wildlife conservation.Ms Teresa Anne Trow, of Bluff. For services to wildlife conservation.Mr Jonathan Usher, of Cromwell. For services to the community and entertainment.Mrs Norma-Jean Van De Rheede, JP, of Melbourne, Australia. For services to the community.Mr Ian Arthur Watts, of Nelson. For services to Land Search and Rescue.Mr Henry Joseph Wheeler, of Rongotea. For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community.Mr Delano Shane De Graffe Whyte, of Napier. For services to sport and the community.Mrs Isabella Wilson, of Queenstown. For services to the community and theatre.The New Zealand Distinguished Service DecorationThe King has been pleased, on the celebration of the New Year, to make the following award of The New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration:DSDCommodore Andrew Gilchrist Brown, of Wellington. For services to the New Zealand Defence Force.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Here's a great way to kick off the first day of 2026. Auckland’s A-League football team, Auckland FC, currently top of the competition ladder. Coastie football fans looking for some action can head into Auckland for the New Year’s Day home game against Newcastle Jets.The match is Round 11 of the 25/26 Isuzu UTE A-League Men season, with kick-off at 5:00pm NZT on Thursday, January 1 at Go Media Stadium. The day starts early with Auckland FC Tailgate from 12:00pm. The box office opens at 3:00pm, with gates open from 3:30pm.From 3:30pm, the Family Fan Zone will be running at the North End of the stadium below the big screen. There’s a 25m inflatable slide, football darts, and more, with the club recommending fans arrive early to make the most of it.At 3:45pm, kids aged 6 to 12 can jump into what the club is calling the “largest water fight in the Southern Hemisphere”, held in the car park beside Lilyworld. The club says to bring a towel, wear something you do not mind getting wet, and bring plenty of energy.Warm up begins at 4:15pm, before the 5:00pm kick-off.Purchase tickets online here.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Surf lifeguards have already carried out 240 rescues this patrol season, more than double last year’s early-season total, as summer begins.Surf Life Saving New Zealand says the jump comes from a mix of dangerous conditions and heavy beach crowds, not worse behaviour. The figures cover the period from Labour Weekend to the weekend before Christmas, with 127 more rescues than the same timeframe in 2024. Lifeguards also logged 74 more assists, seven more major first aids, and eight more searches.SLSNZ GM Lifesaving Andy Kent says warmer-than-usual weather has drawn more people into the water, while rips and currents have been risky, especially around sandbanks and channels.“Every rescue represents someone who needed help, and in many cases, someone who may not have made it back to shore without intervention,” Kent says.For Hibiscus Coast beachgoers heading into the New Year stretch, SLSNZ is urging simple steps, swim between the red and yellow flags, choose patrolled beaches, check conditions before getting in, and never swim alone.Beachgoers can use Safe Swim to check conditions and confirm whether a beach is being patrolled by surf lifeguards.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

New Year's Eve celebrations in the city centre will include a collection of 'special moments' that will shine on the Sky Tower from 9pm, leading up to the midnight fireworks display from the tower. Auckland Harbour Bridge will also come to life from 9pm with Vector Lights, with promises of a "brand-new dynamic light and sound show", starting in the minutes before midnight.Many roads in the central city and Wynyard Quarter will be reserved for pedestrians from 10pm on 31 December to 1am on 1 January. Auckland Council says nearby maunga - Maungawhau / Mt Eden, Maungauika / North Head and Takarunga / Mt Victoria - will remain open until after midnight with security in place. Buses and ferries will be running on a Saturday timetable, with extra buses operating after midnight.TVNZ will broadcast the countdown and NYE midnight moment live on TVNZ 1 and 2.See other NZ city options here.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

When you feel unwell, it is tempting to ask a chatbot before you call a doctor.A warning from the Australian Clinical Psychology Association urges GPs to be alert to potential negative impacts of AI-powered chatbots on patient wellbeing, as use of these tools grows.Researchers from CSIRO and The University of Queensland tested a scenario where a non-professional health consumer asks ChatGPT whether treatment “X” helps condition “Y”, across 100 questions ranging from common remedies to unusual home “fixes”.In a question-only format, ChatGPT delivered accurate answers 80 percent of the time, but accuracy dropped to 63 percent when the question was biased with supporting or contrary evidence.It fell again to 28 percent when an “unsure” option was allowed.Dr Bevan Koopman, CSIRO Principal Research Scientist and Associate Professor at The University of Queensland.Dr Bevan Koopman from CSIRO and UQ said people keep searching for health answers online, increasingly via tools such as ChatGPT, and that more research is needed to understand where these models help and where they do not.For Hibiscus Coast locals who cannot get a local doctor’s appointment soon, one option mentioned is Online GP Care.It's a paid service with appointments usually available the same day, paid by debit or credit card, with a Community Services Card if you have one, and video consults requiring internet access and sometimes ID.Another option is Healthline, a free over-the-phone health service available 24/7, call 0800 611 116 or request a call back at info.health.nz/healthline.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

FENZ says it is responding to "multiple weather events" around Auckland, with strong wind warnings upgraded to cover most of the North Island today, as well as the upper West Coast of the South Island.Lanes on Auckland's Harbour Bridge have been closed as a result of strong winds."Due to severe wind gusts all lanes on the Harbour Bridge, in both directions, are temporarily closed," the NZ Transport Agency said."Delay your journey or detour via SH18/SH16 (Western Ring Route). Harbour bridge lanes will reopen as soon as gusts become less severe."Strong wind warnings have been upgraded to cover most of the North Island today, as well as the upper West Coast of the South Island.Parts of Northland are also without power after cuts earlier this afternoon.422 Northpower customers lost power shortly after midday at Kaiwaka.181 Northpower customers are without electricity at Maungaturoto, while a tree damaging power lines has cut 224 customers off around Kaiwaka and 235 customers are without electricity at Mangawhai.Repairs are still ongoing further north at Kauri, where a tree damaging lines this morning cut power to 285 customers.Yachtie in the waterA yachtie has ended up in the water north of Auckland, after trying to get clear of the windy conditions.The Coastguard said the man asked for help because he was worried his mooring line might snap at Leigh.Kawau volunteers responded but it was not safe for them to reach him, the Coastguard said.It said the man then tried to get to shore in his tender but he ended up in the water.Police said emergency services were called at about 2.10pm but the man was safely on land 10 minutes later and was checked by ambulance crews.'It's an interesting direction'Earlier, Metservice meteorologist Katie Lyons said campers in the Coromandel would have woken to soggy conditions."Unfortunately, things in the Coromandel have deteriorated overnight with that rain setting in. Places in the hills of Coromandel are seeing about 30mm of rain already."Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Fishery Officer patrols will be stepped up over summer to curb illegal gathering and black-market trade of abalone, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says, warning the problem spikes at this time of year.“People in and around the ocean can expect to see more Fishery Officers this summer with patrols being stepped up, including in some of our more remote areas,” Jones says.Jones says people can help disrupt illegal trade by reporting rule-breaking to Fisheries New Zealand via the 0800 4 POACHER line.He also warns buyers to be cautious about suspiciously cheap deals. Legally caught abalone usually sells for about $100 per kilogram, he says, and Fishery Officers have seen an increase in sales on social media in recent years, especially in December and January.For Hibiscus Coast locals heading into summer on the water, the message is simple. Follow the rules, and report what does not look right.Fisheries New Zealand is also encouraging people to download the NZ Fishing Rules App to check local rules around the country.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

When the rain rolls in, those holiday hours feel twice as long.Here are 30 practical, repeatable ideas for Hibiscus Coast families, starting with free options you can do on a whim, then paid wet-weather favourites, including a few proper energy burners, for when you need a reset.No-Cost FavouritesRock painting: A simple at-home activity that can fill a wet afternoon.Indoor scavenger hunt: “Find something soft, something round, something that starts with S.”Kitchen helper challenge: Kids “own” a meal. Washing veg, setting the table, making a simple sandwich platter.Backyard nature bingo: Make a list. Ant, spider web, feather, different leaf shapes.Bubble fun: If you already have dish soap. Simple bubble mix and a homemade wand.Mini Olympics: Long jump (towel line), balance beam (tape line), throwing (socks into a box).“Museum at home” shelf: Kids choose five objects, write labels, then give a tour.DIY sandcastle competition: Use sand and driftwood only, set a timer, let the kids judge the winner.Geocaching around Silverdale and Whangaparāoa: A phone-led treasure hunt through parks and local spots.Kite flying: Windy days suit this, with Orewa Beach often a solid pick.Auckland Libraries holiday programmes (Orewa and Whangaparāoa): Look for Raumati Reads, plus regular Storytime, and free in-branch options like LEGO clubs, board games and reading zones, so you can pop in and let the kids choose what’s next.Shakespear Regional Park (Whangaparāoa): Beaches, open space and tracks, good for a long roam and a picnic.Orewa Beach: Free classics like beach cricket, a long walk, or a quick splash when it clears.Auckland Council pools (Stanmore Bay): A reliable back-up when the beach is a no-go. Free for children aged 16 and under.Leigh Scenic Reserve (Bayview): features the oldest kauri tree on Auckland’s North Shore, which is estimated to be over 800 years old.Paid, Weather-Proof ActivitiesSnowplanet (Silverdale): Indoor snow time when you want guaranteed action regardless of the weather outside.Auckland Adventure Park (Silverdale): A high-energy option with rides and activities that suit kids who need to burn it off.Inflatable World (Albany): Indoor inflatable playground with bouncy castles and obstacle courses.My Wonderland (Albany): Indoor play space with a large ball pit and age-based areas.Sheepworld (Warkworth): A short drive north for hands-on animal encounters, with sheep shearing shows, seasonal bottle-feeding, and a native bush eco-trail.Ti Point Reptile Park (near Matakana): A chance to see native and exotic reptiles up close.Butterfly Creek (Airport): Mentioned for dinosaur and animal attractions.Auckland Zoo: Mentioned for annual pass deals, handy if you want repeat visits.Kiwi Valley Farm Park (Henderson): A strong option for both pre-schoolers and school-age kids.Crystal Mountain (Swanson): A full-on, indoor-friendly outing with crystals and fossils that suits kids who like to wander, look closely, and ask a hundred questions.MOTAT (Western Springs): the "Summer Holiday Experience" event explores the science and technology of flight in the Aviation Hall. It is a paid activity, though free for SuperGold cardholders.Stardome Observatory (One Tree Hill): Offers immersive indoor planetarium shows such as "We Are Stars,". It is a great option for turning kids into "mini astronomers" away from the weather.Auckland War Memorial Museum (Parnell): The "Sharks" exhibition is currently on, featuring life-sized models and interactive experiences. While entry to the general museum is free for locals, special exhibitions often carry a fee.Auckland Art Gallery (CBD): Creative Learning Centre: Open daily, this space allows children to channel inspiration from the gallery into their own art through hands-on activitiesSEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium (Orakei): An all-weather underwater adventure featuring the famous "Shark Tunnel," a penguin colony, and the historic Scott’s Hut, making it a perfect way to sneak in educational activities while escaping the elementsIf you are anything like us, you will not do all of this, you just need two or three reliable fall-backs you can rotate without much planning.Start with one no-cost idea, keep one “wet day” place in your back pocket, and save a bigger paid outing for the day everyone is climbing the walls, so families around the Hibiscus Coast can keep the holidays feeling manageable, even when the weather doesn't.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Auckland consented 1,478 new dwellings in October 2025, a lift on the same month last year, Auckland Council says.For Coasties watching the housing squeeze, the key point is this. The city can zone for far more homes than it actually builds. Auckland Council’s Plan Change 120 and earlier Plan Change 78 provide zoning capacity for up to two million new dwellings over the next 30 years. That is enabling capacity, not a construction target.The real pace is set by the market and delivery. Auckland has been building at a record pace of around 14,000 to 18,000 homes a year recently. The year ending October 2025 saw 15,017 dwellings consented, right in that band.What is being approved is also changing. In October, nearly two-thirds of new dwellings were attached homes like townhouses and units. Houses were less than a third. Apartments were a small share.Most building is still happening inside the Rural Urban Boundary. About one in four consents were within a 1,500m walk of rapid transit. A smaller slice, 6 per cent in October, overlapped hazard zones. Over the past year, that share was 11 per cent.Central government is also leaning in on social housing. The 2025 Budget allocates funding to deliver at least 550 more social homes in Auckland in 2025/2026, on top of 1,500 funded earlier, with a new Flexible Fund replacing earlier programmes.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Google’s Year in Search 2025 is out, showing what New Zealanders looked up most.Google says this year’s release includes the usual list format, plus a video.The list ranges from Labubu to Liam Lawson, K-Pop to Charlie Kirk.Google Trends is a free tool that shows the popularity of search terms over time, across regions and languages.It analyses a large, random, aggregated sample of anonymised Google and YouTube searches, then normalises the data so the peak point equals 100 rather than showing exact search counts.Users can compare topics, spot rising trends, research keywords for SEO and marketing, and see what’s currently popular.Inquisitive Kiwis searched for: Charlie Kirk, COPD Treatment, Osteoporosis Treatment, Tom Phillips, All Blacks vs France, Ozzy Osbourne, Cyclone Alfred, Iran, Ed Gein, Club World Cup.Kiwi specific searches included: Joseph Parker, Benjamin Doyle, Lorde, Liam Lawson, Daniel Hillier, Kai Kara France, David Nyika, Brooke Van Velden, Chris Wood, Stuart Nash.Weather and local moment searches included: Wind Warning, Rainfall Warning, Tsunami Warning, Thunderstorm Warning, Cyclone Tam, Treaty Principles Bill Submission, Metallica Auckland, Tongariro Fire, Measles, Sail GP Auckland.Watch the video here.Search on, Coasties.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Happy last Sunday of 2025, Coasties! Grab a coffee and settle in.This is your essential 5-minute download of the week's biggest Hibiscus Coast news and updates. Don't miss a thing!Bentley Theft Probe Finds Shotgun Under Child’s BedRead more →Avoid A Fine: Hibiscus Coast Fishers Check AppRead more →Millwater Walkers Slam Bagged Poo Left BehindRead more →Watercare Pays Another $1m To Mahurangi Oyster FarmersRead more →Waiwera Boosts Predator Trapping After Record YearRead more →Never miss a beat again. Get instant alerts and local updates delivered straight to your pocket.Download the Hibiscus Coast App now for news, events, and essential community info, anytime, anywhere.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Still waiting on an IKEA order and feeling a bit stuck? IKEA New Zealand says it has made significant progress on outstanding customer orders since opening to fanfare on Thursday, December 4, and it is asking people to be patient while the early rush works its way through. The store is 34,000m² with 7,500 products available in store, alongside online shopping and Click & Collect, and the 426-seat Swedish Restaurant has picked up a few online comments about queues and wait times, with more than one person comparing it to the motorway. IKEA says its teams have worked intensively over the past week to move through the early volume of orders, with all truck deliveries successfully rebooked by Saturday and parcel orders on track to be sent by early next week. It also says extra delivery slots for both parcel and truck orders will be released each week throughout the new year on a staggered basis, to help manage volume and give customers more flexibility and certainty. Click & Collect slots are now reopened for kitchen orders, with other product ranges to be released progressively in the new year. For Hibiscus Coast families thinking about making the trip, I’ll save our family trip for January, once the first rush has eased and we can actually browse.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Coast Chronicles is our regular deep dive into the stories and decisions that shaped the Hibiscus Coast you live in today.Drive into Orewa or Whangaparāoa and the hibiscus is there waiting for you, on signs, badges, and local kit.It feels like it has always belonged.But the name did not come from the land or the plants.It came from a small group of businessmen in the early 1960s, trying to sell a single “holiday” idea that could cover both Whangaparāoa and Orewa.They needed something inclusive and easy to picture.“Hibiscus” sounded warm, seaside, and simple, so they used it, even though the flower was introduced.Once the label was chosen, they moved from words to proof.In 1964, the newly formed Hibiscus Coast Association planted more than 1,000 hibiscus shrubs across the district to make the brand feel real.Then came the problem every good brand eventually faces, someone else wanted it too.In the mid-1960s, Whangārei also leaned into the hibiscus emblem, and the Association treated it like a threat, not a compliment.They lobbied hard and they did not back off.The message was clear, this flower was already taken, and Whangārei was pushed to drop the symbol.In 1971, the marketing name was locked in officially.Local government renamed the Whangaparāoa Riding to the Hibiscus Coast Riding, and a boardroom label became the legal one.Today, more than 69,000 residents identify with “Hibiscus Coast” as their place name, and the flower is stitched into daily life, from school uniforms to club logos to street signs.There is also a native thread, but it sits behind the modern badge most of us recognise.The Māori name Te Kūiti o te Puarangi refers to the puarangi, a rare native hibiscus species, even while the welcome signs show the introduced variety.That is the twist.The Hibiscus Coast did not inherit its identity, it chose it, planted it, defended it, then wrote it into law.Coast Chronicles is written by the Hibiscus Coast App editorial team, under the shared byline “the Coast Chronicler.”Got a local memory or a news tip?We’d love to hear it. Send it to [email protected]

A hot day around the Hibiscus Coast can turn risky for pets faster than people expect, especially when beach plans, errands, and parked cars get mixed together.If you’re heading to the sand, remember the summer dog restrictions on local beaches are before 10am and after 5pm, and if you’re stopping anywhere on the way, never rely on shade or cracked windows to keep an animal safe in a car.The SPCA says leaving animals in cars is still an ongoing problem, even when people think they have made it safer by cracking windows or parking in the shade.“It’s an ongoing problem, with many dog owners thinking that cracking the windows makes it safe,” says SPCA Inspectorate Regional Manager Jason Blair.“This just isn’t the case. Having the windows down and even parking in the shade doesn’t make enough of a difference on a warm day.”In a recent call-out, SPCA Inspectors were alerted to two puppies left in a small carrier on a box on the front seat in full sunlight, with the windows cracked about 10cm, and the temperature reading inside the car was over 45°C.Inspectors broke into the car to rescue them, and the puppies recovered after water and time in a cool environment at the nearest vet clinic.The owner contacted SPCA 50 minutes after they’d been removed, said he wanted them to “see out the window,” and received an infringement.The SPCA warns that on a warm day, a car can heat up to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes, and dogs left in hot cars are at risk of heatstroke, which can lead to brain damage, organ failure, and even death.Parking in the shade or cracking a window offers little relief.The safest rule is to always take your dog with you when you leave the car, or leave them safely at home.If you see a dog left in a hot car in a Hibiscus Coast carpark or roadside spot, call 0800 SPCA NZ or the Police right away.More guidance is available from SPCA here.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Hibiscus Coast locals heading out fishing this summer are being urged to download the free NZ Fishing Rules app.Fisheries New Zealand says the app puts key rules in one place, so people can check what applies before they drop a line or gather shellfish.“You wouldn’t go fishing without your rod, hooks or other gear, so make sure you have the app on your phone too,” says Steve Ham, Fisheries New Zealand director of fisheries compliance.The app includes daily bag limits, minimum legal sizes, closures, gear restrictions, and biotoxin alerts.Ham says rules vary by species and area and can change, so people should stay up to date.He also says the app will work once downloaded, even in places with no cellphone coverage.Recreational fishers are also encouraged to speak with a local fishery officer or visit a local office.Fishery officers and honorary fishery officers will be patrolling coasts, boat ramps, and at sea over summer.Ham says they are there to help, and to avoid people “hook[ing] a fine”.MPI is also asking people to report suspected illegal activity to 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224).Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Watercare has fulfilled a promise to give another $1 million to beleaguered oyster farmers north of Auckland after a catastrophic sewage failure.It's after an initial $1m was given last month after the spill obliterated crops in late October.Watercare agreed to give that money to 10 affected farmers.It said the second tranche is so it can give support them while an independent assessment on losses is still being done.Watercare has previously said it expects that assessment to be finalised in the new year.Confirmation of the second payment comes days after oyster farmers expressed their frustration, desperation and said they were losing faith.Lynette Dunn from the Mahurangi Oyster Farmers Association told RNZ the second million-dollar payment came after a battle."We've been putting pressure on Watercare, they were supposed to have the final assessment all sorted out by the end of the year," she said."And they emailed us to say basically that they won't be doing anything until the new year until the final assessments come through."Dunn believed there might not have been a second payment without efforts from Aquaculture New Zealand."We're still paying off debts and it's coming into our quiet season as well, so we've missed the bull mark with the peak of our season," she said."So hopefully this will help us just get through our quiet period when all the oysters are spawning out and they're not sellable."Dunn said many farmers were wondering how they would fare in the coming years."The last spill they decided to get some sucker trucks so it didn't overflow into the harbour, so why haven't they been able to do that all along?" she asked.Farmer Tom Walters said he had only been able to farm for about six weeks of this year and bills and debts had mounted with little time to harvest.He had already twice considered closing the doors of his business."This year's been diabolical, I wouldn't even be in business if it hadn't been for lovely people who had donated and kept me going," he told Checkpoint on 18 December.The overflow was a power surge combined with monitoring and alert systems failing.More than 1000 cubic metres of sewage overflowed, contaminating thousands of oysters in the Mahurangi River and stopping harvesting for nearly a month.It came at the peak of the season."This incident should not have happened," Watercare chief operations officer Mark Bourne said on Wednesday.Oyster farmers have faced ongoing contamination problems for several years, but Watercare said the October spill was unique.The payments go toward losses directly caused by that overflow and not other historical losses caused by the likes of weather or consented overflows"These matters are governed separately under environmental consents and regulatory frameworks," it said.Watercare said it will be contacting farmers individually and confidentially to discuss the outcomes of the loss assessment once it is finished.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Got plans this afternoon that rely on dry skies. MetService has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for six hours from 2pm to 8pm today, as a complex trough in a moist, unstable air mass moves east across the upper North Island, with a moderate risk of thunderstorms for Northland, Auckland.That puts the Hibiscus Coast in the firing line for intense bursts of rain and possible thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, with localised downpours bringing hourly rainfall of about 25 to 40mm. Driving conditions may deteriorate quickly, with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain. Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Making plans?Three Hibiscus Coast events to check out this week.Sonic Boom - A live band Concert for the kidsSun Dec 28Click here for more detailsNew Years Eve PartyWed 31 DecClick here for more details80s New Year’s Experience!Wed 31 DecClick here for more detailsFind more things to do anytime in the Hibiscus Coast App.Browse the full Events Calendar for what’s on this week.Got an event coming up?List it free now.We may feature selected events in next week’s Top Picks.

Auckland Harbourmaster Andrew Hayton is urging water users to slow down and wear lifejackets as summer crowds pack the harbour.So far this year, 70 people have died in water incidents in New Zealand.Most were swimmers who drowned.Several incidents involved recreational craft such as boats and jetskis, with 16 deaths.Ten of those deaths were preventable because people weren’t wearing lifejackets.“Every death or injury off our beaches is an avoidable tragedy,” Hayton says.He says most happen because people don’t follow the rules in place to prevent these incidents.The Harbourmaster’s Operations Manager, Marc Davis, says boaties “especially are mostly compliant”, with 24 infringements issued so far this summer.He warns it only takes “one person’s reckless actions” to put many lives at risk.Auckland Transport’s rules for recreational craft include lifejackets for everyone on vessels under 6 metres unless permitted otherwise, and a 5-knot limit within 200m of shore, structures, diver flags, or within 50m of other boats or swimmers.It is illegal to be in charge of a vessel if impaired by alcohol or drugs.Jetski riders are reminded that speeding in these zones can bring a $200 fine, as can piloting an unregistered jetski.Riders must be 15 or over for faster craft, and should always wear a lifejacket.There’s also a reminder to follow beach driving and parking rules during launching or retrieval.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]