Surf lifeguards worked 21,585 hours in New Zealand from Monday, January 5 to Sunday, January 11 as beaches filled up in hot, peak-summer conditions.Across that week, lifeguards carried out 61 rescues, assisted 145 people, ran 17 searches, and completed 6,062 preventative actions. Peak headcounts topped 76,000 people nationally, with Saturday and Sunday the busiest days.Surf Life Saving says rescues and serious medical responses stayed steady across all regions. It is urging beachgoers to keep safety front of mind before getting in the water.Lifeguards are on patrol at 92 beaches every day over summer. The red and yellow flags mark the safest place to swim.People can also check SafeSwim for patrol times, hazards, safety warnings, conditions, and tides.If you choose an unpatrolled beach, Surf Life Saving says you need to know your own limits and follow its five Beach Safety Messages:Know how to floatFind the safest place to swimIf in doubt, stay outTake care of othersKnow how to get helpThe service also wants people to understand rips. It says rips pull water away from shore and can look smooth, darker, and deeper, but can be hard to spot.If you are caught in a rip, it says follow the 3 Rs: Relax, Ride, Raise. Relax and float to save energy, raise your hand to signal for help, and ride the rip until it stops or you can swim parallel to shore to escape. It says not to swim directly against the rip.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

You don’t always realise how much a place matters until it is about to close.Paraoa Brewing Co, the gastropub and events venue on Whangaparāoa Road in Whangaparāoa, says it will close on Monday, January 26 after nearly five years.Owner Zenice Gujarathi, known as Zen, said: “we had the ladder up the wrong tree, with increasing challenges and no growth despite efforts.”Five years ago, he transformed the former Eddie Law Appliances building into a 700-square metre venue designed to seat up to 450 people, with a goal of bringing food, wine, beer and live entertainment to the Hibiscus Coast at affordable prices.Zen says: “we've had an international brand offer to buy us out, and we've accepted the ‘offer we cannot refuse.’”Via their Facebook page, the Paraoa Brewing Co team thanked patrons, the community, suppliers, and the musicians who supported the venue.For the next two weeks, Zen said it will be “happy hour” all day long, and locals can drop by to take photos, pick up a t-shirt as a souvenir, and help them clear out stock.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Supplier costs to Foodstuffs supermarkets rose 2.4% in December 2025, shaping what ends up on shelves.That’s from the Infometrics-Foodstuffs New Zealand Grocery Supplier Cost Index (GSCI), commissioned by Foodstuffs New Zealand and reported by Infometrics.“December’s result was in line with the rise seen in November,” said Infometrics Chief Executive and Principal Economist Brad Olsen.Infometrics said the usual summer cost change moratorium limits the number of cost changes in December and January, with more seasonal and perishable items seeing movement.Higher seasonal supply saw some produce costs fall, while costs rose for some specific items including potatoes and kiwifruit. Limited protein supply globally has continued to keep meat and seafood costs higher. Rising global milk supply has helped lower costs for milk, butter, and other dairy items.Brad Olsen, Chief Executive and Principal Economist at Infometrics.For Hibiscus Coast households watching the grocery bill, the index tracks what it costs supermarkets to buy goods to put on the shelf. Previous analysis referenced with the index says supplier costs are a major component of supermarket prices, representing two-thirds of the on-shelf price.Supplier costs rose across all but one department in December, year on year, with a slight annual decline in service deli costs overall. Seafood and butchery costs rose the most, up 4.6%pa over 2025. A pull-back in dairy costs moderated the rise in chilled foods to 2.5%pa. Produce department costs were up 2.0%pa, driven by higher costs for items including potatoes, grapes, kiwifruit, and salads.Month on month, just over 1,800 products increased in cost from November to December 2025.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

New Zealand universities are now accepting English tests taken through learning company Duolingo.Otago, Massey, Canterbury and Victoria are among the institutions accepting the online proficiency results from international students.Duolingo said it used computer vision, AI and 'online proctors' to catch cheats, and to verify test-takers' identities.It was part of a global trend - by last year, all eight Ivy League universities in the United States were using Duolingo scores.Several New Zealand schools were also using Duolingo tests to assess students' English abilities.The company said it was the fastest-growing English test for study abroad, allowing students to get results in two days with no appointments needed.People from 219 countries and 148 first languages took the Duolingo English Test last year. Asia accounted for 55 percent of all test sessions.Immigration authorities still used international certifications such as IELTS to decide on language abilities for visa applications.Most dedicated learnersDuolingo is the world's most downloaded education app and has more than 50 million daily active users.Its statistics showed New Zealanders were more likely to learn Spanish than any other language, one of only 26 countries worldwide where English was not the top choice. Second on Aotearoa's list was French.Across the Tasman, Australia had possibly unexpected bragging rights - it was second only to Japan for the number of Duolingo users learning at least three languages. It overtook polyglots in Finland, Germany and the UK to take the linguistic podium in 2025.An expansion to the app's capabilities last year had also prompted more people to take up Japanese and Korean - which were now in fourth and sixth place respectively in the worldwide most learned languages, nudging German and Italian down the list.The languages which attracted the most serious learners - based on average time spent learning - were more eclectic than the common classroom choices, with Welsh and Norwegian coming in fourth and fifth places. A te reo Māori course was being developed in 2020, but the initiative had not yet eventuated.Chinese, Korean, and Portuguese were among the fastest-growing languages, with Chinese making the greatest strides in Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia and South Korea.Portuguese ranked number one among fastest-growing languages in China and India, perhaps for economic reasons, as Brazil's economic and cultural influence continued to expand.Beyond languages, Duolingo had now added chess to the maths and music courses available for free on the app, which combined gamification, league tables and spaced repetition - as well as streaks and a fearsome owl - to keep users on track and boost progress.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Ed Sheeran opens his Loop Tour in Auckland on Friday, January 16, with two shows at GO Media Stadium.The global superstar is launching his new tour run in New Zealand this week, with a second Auckland date on Saturday, January 17.Sheeran is known for playing stadiums solo, using loop pedals to build songs live. His shows are billed as big in scale, but still personal in feel.Fans can expect a career-spanning set. The setlist is set to include new music from his 2025 album Play, including recent singles ‘Azizam’, ‘Sapphire’ and ‘Camera’.It will also pull from his back catalogue, including ‘Shape Of You’, ‘Thinking Out Loud’, ‘Castle On The Hill’, ‘Perfect’, ‘Bad Habits’ and ‘Shivers’, plus more.Support across the Australia and New Zealand leg includes Vance Joy and Melbourne artist Mia Wray. An all-female Irish collective, BIIRD, is also on the bill for the New Zealand shows.For Hibiscus Coast locals weighing up a mid-January night out, seats are still available for both Auckland shows.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

If Parakai is your go-to for a soak, the name you know is changing.Parakai Springs near Helensville has been renamed Kaipātiki Hot Springs, with the change coming as new management moves into place.It is about a 34-minute drive from the Hibiscus Coast, and the pools are open as usual.The rebrand will roll out over time, with updated signage and colours.Kaipātiki Hot Springs says it provides access to the geothermal springs in the Parakai settlement, and that the waters are naturally heated and rich in minerals for a relaxing, spa-like experience for guests and families.The business says the rename is intended to strengthen the unique character of the Kaipātiki region, with the name evolving to celebrate Kaipātiki.What is staying the same is the day you arrive, with the same friendly team, the same relaxing spaces, and the same warm hospitality.If you pop in over the next few weeks, you may simply notice the new name appearing first, then the fresh look following along in stages.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Open Electricity is set to change how Hibiscus Coast households and small businesses compare power plans, by using their own usage data.Energy Minister Simon Watts and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson say the retail electricity sector has been designated under the Customer and Product Data Act.They link it to the rollout of Open Banking, with regulations in force from Monday, December 1, 2025.“Right now, there are more than 15,000 power plans for residential users alone, making it nearly impossible to compare and find the best plan to suit people’s needs,” Mr Watts says.The ministers say Open Electricity will allow quick comparisons against every plan on the market, using individual consumption data rather than averages.They cite recent energy savings campaigns showing people who switched power plans saved an average of $358 a year.They also point to wider benefits from more efficient electricity use, including opportunities to reduce demand at peak times and lower network costs.“Open Electricity will mean customers can access data around their electricity consumption and product options quickly, clearly, and securely,” Mr Watts says.The Government expects changes to start from September this year, with implementation completed by mid-2027.It estimates the shift will benefit about two million households and 165,000 small business customers through greater choice, improved transparency, and easier access to their data.Mr Simpson says current access to electricity usage information is “slow, costly, and inconsistent”, and that relying on average-usage estimates limits the ability to find the best deal.For Hibiscus Coast households and small businesses, the practical change is faster access to your own usage data, so you can compare plans properly and move if it stacks up.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Gel packs sold at Kmart for seven years have been recalled due to the risk that they may include a toxic substance.Anko Small Gel Pak and Anko Large Gel Pak have been sold at Kmart in New Zealand from June 2018 until December 2025.The product is being recalled because the gel pack may include ethylene glycol, a toxic substance, rather than the non-toxic ingredient glycerol.Product Safety New Zealand said if the packaging becomes damaged, ethylene glycol can leak out.It said if swallowed, the substance can cause irreversible injuries or death.Anko Small Gel Pak and Anko Large Gel Pak have been sold at Kmart in New Zealand since June 2018. Photo: Product SafetyConsumers who have purchased the Gel Paks are urged to stop using them immediately and keep out of reach of children.Kmart said customers should contact them to arrange a full refund.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

That “we’re sorted because we used SPF 50” thinking can leave you under-protected.Consumer NZ’s sunscreen expert, Belinda Castles, says sunscreen myths and some marketing are putting New Zealanders’ health at risk, and she wants people to rethink what they think they know.She says children do not automatically need a special “kids” sunscreen, those products often just have a milder base for sensitive skin, so if your child is fine with the family sunscreen, you do not need to pay extra.A higher SPF does not mean you can reapply less, all sunscreens should be reapplied every 2 hours while you’re outside.She points out SPF15 blocks 93% of UVB rays, SPF30 blocks 97%, and SPF50 blocks 98%, and no sunscreen blocks 100%.Castles also pushes back hard on tanning myths, saying a tan means skin damage has already started, and she is worried by a TikTok trend about chasing quick, sharp tan lines during peak UV.“There is no such thing as a safe tan.”Castles says she looks first at how recently a sunscreen’s SPF was tested, and she also weighs price because sunscreen needs frequent reapplication.She notes past Consumer testing has found both cheap and expensive sunscreens can meet their claims.CHOICE testing in Australia where Ultra Violette’s Lean Screen SPF 50+ returned low SPF results of 4 and 5 despite retailing for $50+.Consumer NZ’s sunscreen database is a free tool hosted on its website.You can filter by the year of most recent testing, price, SPF, water resistance, and brand, which is useful for Hibiscus Coast families trying to choose with confidence.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Many of those impacted by the Manage My Health breach are based in Northland, according to Health New Zealand.Hackers, known as 'Kazu', took hundreds of thousands of files from the country's largest patient health information portal at the end of last year.So far, Manage My Health has notified about half of the 125,000 whose data has been stolen.Health New Zealand said it would ensure support was available for those in Northland.Northland operations group director Alex Pimm said Health NZ was looking for funding to allow general practitioners to provide consultation.He said those impacted should discuss their clinical information, as well as for mental wellbeing support.Those impacted by the data breach would also be provided with an 0800 number to call.The cyber incident was limited to 6-7 percent of 1.8 million registered users, within the 'My Health Documents' module only, according to Manage My Health.The data relates to a range of medical practices, including approximately 45 Northland-based GP practices out of approximately 355 GP practices across New Zealand.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Happy Sunday, Coasties! Grab a coffee and settle in. This is your essential 5-minute download of the week's most read Hibiscus Coast news and updates. Don't miss a thing!Five Holiday Home Checks Before You GoRead more → Check Hibiscus Coast Term 1 Start DatesRead more → SH1 Southbound Ramps Close At SilverdaleRead more → 800+ Homes Listed Across Hibiscus CoastRead more → Silverdale Mall EB Games Faces NZ ExitRead 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.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Kiwi parents kept it classic in 2025, and plenty of Hibiscus Coast families will recognise the trend.Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden has released New Zealand’s most popular baby names for 2025, based on birth registrations.Noah held on as the top boys’ name for a third year, with 244 registrations. Isla led the girls’ list with 179 registrations, and has stayed in the top three since 2016.Luca was right behind Noah on 236 registrations. Charlotte was the second most popular girls’ name, given to 178 newborns.Van Velden said there were more than 58,000 births registered this year, with 19,457 unique first names. She said that shows parents still like to choose something individual, even while familiar favourites stay on top.Some names have staying power across decades too. Olivia first entered the top 10 in 1994 and has stayed there ever since. Jack joined the top 10 in 1998 and has featured every year.Van Velden also noted political leaders’ names showing up in baby naming. Christopher appeared 20 times in 2025, Winston no fewer than six times, David 46 times, and Brooke 15 times for baby girls.She reminded parents the key step is getting the name officially registered, recommending it is done within the first two months. SmartStart is free to use at https://smartstart.services.govt.nz/news/baby-names.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

If you are thinking about switching this year, it helps to start with the numbers, not the noise. EVDBNZ, which tracks the electric vehicle market in New Zealand, says there are currently around 87,500 fully electric light vehicles, plus around 42,500 plug-in hybrids, and you can see the stats online at evdb.nz/ev-stats. EVDBNZ reports that in 2025, Q1 and Q2 battery-electric sales were stronger than 2024.While Q3 2025 was slightly weaker, with a significant increase in plug-in hybrid purchases and steady growth in hybrid vehicle purchases. Image supplied by EVDB.nzIt also says electrified vehicles have maintained about a 45% market share since late 2024, plug-in hybrid purchases picked up from 2025, and diesel’s share remains unchanged. Image supplied by EVDB.nzJames at EVDB puts it bluntly: “The NZ market has an astonishing number of EV models (and it’s only increasing).”He argues the real contest is brand by brand, not the whole category, saying, “The question is not: Will EVs succeed or fail? The question is: Will EVs from [specific car company] succeed or fail?” He adds: “The technology is tried and tested and offers a very compelling alternative to fossil fueled vehicles.” For Hibiscus Coast drivers, it is a useful starting point before you get deep into models, prices, and charging routines, and you can pop in, scan the trends, and get a feel for where the market is sitting.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Water Safety NZ says it's not worth risking your life for views after footage of two people diving off the Auckland Harbour Bridge emerged online.The footage uploaded to social media and believed to be taken at the weekend shows two men leaping into Waitematā Harbour from the maintenance walkway that runs under the bridge.Water Safety general manager of partnerships Gavin Walker told RNZ no amount of social media views was worth people risking their lives."Jumping off places like bridges, there is a fairly high risk of something going wrong," he said.Walker wanted people to realise the danger."The more challenging thing that we'd love people to think about is even the strongest swimmers can encounter issues with currents and tides in locations like under the harbour bridge," he said."It's one thing to do the jump, it's another thing to get back safe..."Hitting the water the wrong way could quite easily knock someone out, Walker said.There was also the risk of boats."There's always the risk of boats coming through that are obscured from your view, so you don't actually know that they're coming through, and they can't tell that somebody's about to jump," he said.If people wanted to jump into water, they should do it where it's safe, Walker said."Bridges are notorious for having kind of hidden hazards underneath them, so things like logs and other things trapped around them and the current swirling around tend to move logs and sand banks around quite easily."Walker said the Auckland harbour itself was a challenging place to swim."Depending on the tidal conditions and currents on the day and time, it can be quite difficult, more difficult than people think, to get back to shore."Walker said he didn't want people to underestimate the challenge."Look it's beautiful weather, and these things always look like great fun, but there are other places where you can go and have fun and do that more safely."Walker said he wanted swimmers to make good choices when getting into the water."These are the days where we love getting into the water, but we need to look after each other so that we don't have tragedy."Another video posted earlier in 2025 on a separate account also showed two people hanging from underneath the bridge before dropping into the water.NZTA told RNZ the bridge jump in the video was illegal and dangerous."Pedestrian access to the bridge is strictly prohibited as it is part of the motorway network and is a hazardous area, and the potential for serious injury from such illegal access is high."A spokesperson said NZTA was investigating the incident and would pass any relevant information to police.They said access was currently controlled by security fencing and electronic gates, and that NZTA would review security as part of the investigation.Police said they were not immediately aware of any reports.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

That first Monday alarm hits hard, so here’s a simple back-to-school reset before term starts. For New Zealand state and state-integrated schools in 2026, Term 1 starts sometime between Monday, January 26 and Monday, February 9, and finishes nationwide on Thursday, April 2. Schools can choose their own start day within that window, so local calendars can differ by up to about a week. On the Hibiscus Coast, the senior schools are as follows.KingsWay School has Years 1–10 starting Thursday, January 29, then Years 11–13 on Monday, February 2. Orewa College has new students starting Thursday, January 29, with all students attending from Friday, January 30. Wentworth College has an Orientation Day for all new and transferring students on Tuesday, January 27, then Term 1 starts on Wednesday, January 28 for College students, and on Monday, February 2 for Primary students. Whangaparaoa College has Meet the Teacher days from Thursday, January 29, with all Years 7–13 attending from Thursday, February 5. If your household is trying to avoid the Monday morning scramble, treat this like a short checklist: confirm your child’s exact start day, then get uniforms sorted, stationery ready, sports sign-ups done, and bus routes checked while you still have a little breathing room. For any specific school, check the school’s own term calendar via the Education page in the app.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

NZTA is planning overnight maintenance that will affect State Highway 1 southbound access from Millwater and Silverdale on Sunday, January 11.The first closure is local. The SH1 southbound on-ramp at Millwater, Silverdale will be closed between 9pm and 5am for road surface maintenance. NZTA recommends using alternative on-ramps at Grand Drive or Dairy Flat.A second set of closures follows later in the night further south. The motorway will be fully closed southbound between Oteha Valley Road and Constellation Drive from 10pm to 5am for general maintenance. These ramps will be closed: Oteha Valley Road southbound on-ramp, Greville Road southbound off-ramp, Greville Road southbound on-ramp, Constellation Drive southbound off-ramp, and the SH1 southbound to SH18 westbound link. NZTA’s recommended detour is via Oteha Valley Road, Albany Expressway, Bush Road, Paul Matthews Road and Upper Harbour Highway.The SH1 closure is happening alongside a SH18 westbound closure between Paul Matthews Road and Albany Highway, also from 10pm to 5am. The Paul Matthews Road westbound on-ramp and Albany Highway westbound off-ramp will be closed. The recommended detour is via Caribbean Drive, Goldfinch Rise and Albany Highway.NZTA says the work is weather dependent.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Northern Rescue Helicopter crews flew 130 missions across Northland and Auckland over 16 holiday days.The Northland and Auckland-based crews carried out 111 missions from Monday, December 22, 2025 to Monday, January 5, 2026, then a further 19 flights on Tuesday, January 6 and Wednesday, January 7.Chief Operating Officer Karl Taylor said the period was hectic, driven by serious road crashes, water and land-based accidents, medical complaints, and inter-hospital transfers.Taylor also credited engineers, pilots and paramedics, and praised the way emergency services worked together during the rush.“We are proud to stand alongside our fellow first responders and work for the good of the community day and night,” Taylor said.He pointed to serious vehicle crashes in the Brynderwyns and the Far North, where patients were flown to hospitals in Northland and Auckland, with some in critical and serious condition.Taylor said the Northland and Auckland rescue helicopter operations merged some years back and now operate as one combined service, with crews trained to the same level.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Authorities are warning car owners to be mindful of where the water run-off ends up when washing vehicles at home if they wish to avoid a hefty fine.The warning comes after one social media user expressed surprise upon learning that a friend received a fine for washing their car on an Auckland driveway late last year.The RedNote post attracted hundreds of comments.Amendments to the 1991 Resource Management Act introduced stiffer penalties for individuals and companies polluting waterways, poisoning aquatic life or damaging habitats in September.Individuals discharging contaminants such as cleaning products into stormwater systems face fines of $1500, while companies can be fined $3000.The fine individuals faced if they contaminated stormwater systems before the September amendment was $750.Jesse Hindt, acting compliance manager at Auckland Council, said car owners should be aware of wider environmental impacts when washing vehicles on sealed surfaces."On concrete surfaces like driveways or the road, wash water will generally flow into our stormwater system, which drains directly into streams, rivers and the sea," Hindt said.The water could carry detergents, oil, fuel residues, metals and dirt that contaminate waterways, poisoning aquatic life and damaging habitats, he said."Even biodegradable detergents pollute waterways," Hindt said."To prevent this from happening, the council advises people to wash their vehicles on unsealed ground such as gravel or grass or divert run-off to unsealed ground using sandbags."Environment Trust CEO Carla Gee Photo: SuppliedCarla Gee, chief executive at EcoMatters Environment Trust, said people who were unable to wash their cars on unsealed ground could bring vehicles to a commercial car wash that would discharge the run-off into a wastewater system that was treated."Stormwater drains are only for rain," she said. "They flow through streams to the sea, so don't put anything in there that you wouldn't want in your kaimoana (seafood)."Pour dirty water into toilets or sinks instead so it would be discharged into the sewage system and treated, Gee said."We love our rivers and beaches, and we want our kids and grandkids to be able to enjoy them," she said."When our streams get polluted, fish and shellfish can die or become sick with toxins, and our waterways can become too dangerous to swim in."Auckland Council also warned organisers of community car washes that used a large quantity of wash water, including fundraising events, to ensure the run-off did not enter the stormwater system.Organisers were advised to cover and block any stormwater catchpits, divert wash water to unsealed ground or ask Watercare for permission to discharge to the sewer system, and block the catchpit outflow and remove excess water with a wet vacuum."If you cannot find a suitable location, check with local self-serve car wash businesses and ask to use one of their stalls to conduct the car wash fundraiser," the council said.A spokesperson from the Ministry for the Environment said households should check local government regulations if they were unsure about potentially committing an offence by discharging water or potential contaminants from their property into stormwater systems."Individuals and businesses have responsibilities to prevent contaminant discharge to help improve the water quality and the health of our waterways," the spokesperson said.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 for us.Friday, 9/1Mostly fine and sunny, with breezy to brisk sou’wester windsHigh: 26Low: 17Saturday, 10/1Fine with some cloud, fairly breezy westerliesHigh: 27Low: 17Sunday, 11/1Fine and partly cloudy, fairly breezy westerlies developing in the morningHigh: 28Low: 18Monday, 12/1Partly cloudy, with a chance of a shower until evening, westerlies turning southerly in the afternoonHigh: 27Low: 15See the full Weather 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.