Hibiscus Coast food lovers can now put a local favourite on Auckland’s Iconic Eats list for 2026.Nominations are open for Iconic Auckland Eats 2026, inviting people from across New Zealand to share the story behind the Auckland dish that means the most to them. Entries close on Sunday, February 22, 2026.Now in its sixth year, Iconic Auckland Eats is an annual celebration of 100 much-loved dishes that can only be experienced in Auckland. From neighbourhood favourites and family-run eateries to destination restaurants, markets, food trucks and late-night dining spots.For 2026, the initiative is putting a stronger spotlight on the stories behind the dishes. The five best storytellers will each win $500 to spend at their top five Iconic Auckland Eats.Karen Thompson-Smith, Head of Tourism at Auckland Unlimited, says a great dish becomes iconic because of the story behind it.“Iconic Auckland Eats is about capturing the story behind a dish, the people who make it, the community it represents, or the memories it creates,” she says.She says the 2026 programme comes at a significant moment for Auckland’s dining scene, with the MICHELIN Guide set to launch in Aotearoa New Zealand next year.Last year, the public submitted 3,109 nominations, up 67 percent from 1,857 in 2024. Two dishes have made the Top 100 list every year since 2020, fish sliders from Depot and lamingtons from Sugar at Chelsea Bay.Anyone in New Zealand can submit a story about a dish that has left a lasting impression in Auckland. Judges include Mark Gregory, co-owner of Restaurant Hub, and Connie Clarkson, Manager of Auckland Council’s The Kitchen Project, with a guest judge still to be announced.The final Top 100 Iconic Auckland Eats list will be announced in May 2026.Coasties who want to back a Hibiscus Coast dining venue can submit their story online.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Inflation has edged higher on the back of higher fuel, travel, and telecommunication costs backing the view the Reserve Bank will hold interest rates steady for the medium term at least.Stats NZ data showed the consumer price index rose 0.6 percent in the three months ended December, raising the the annual inflation rate 3.1 percent from 3.0 percent, the highest since June last year."While the annual inflation rate has slowed considerably since its most recent peak of 7.3 percent in the June 2022 quarter, it has increased each quarter since the December 2024 quarter, when it was 2.2 percent," senior manager of prices Nicola Growden said.She said price increases were widespread."More than 80 percent of the CPI basket increased in price over the past year - the highest proportion of increases recorded in 8 months."Domestic pressures easingDomestic prices - non-tradables - such as power, rents and rates remained the dominant factors for inflation, rising 0.6 percent for the quarter and by 3.5 percent for the year, but that was the slowest increase in more than four years.The 12.2 percent rise in electricity prices was the single biggest contributor to the annual increase, followed by an 8.8 percent rise in rates, and then rentals rising 1.9 percent for the year.Growden said annual electricity prices were at their highest since the late 1980s.The costs of purchasing a new house rose 1.2 percent for the year because of competitive pricing and cheaper fit out costs.The price of imported goods and services - tradables - rose 0.7 percent for the quarter and by 3 percent for the year, the highest since the end of 2023.The imported inflation rise reflected the high prices of fuel, the seasonal increase in international airfares, as well the high prices being gained for export food such as dairy and meat, and more expensive overseas accommodation.The inflation numbers were just above economists' expectations, and more than double the Reserve Bank's (RBNZ) dated 0.2 percent quarterly and 2.7 percent annual forecasts, which were made in November.Various measures of underlying inflation pointed to an annual rate remaining steady at around 2.5 percent.Expectations are the RBNZ has finished cutting the official cash rate, and the governor Anna Breman reaffirmed that was the most likely course, but emphasised the door would remain open for further cuts if the economy needed it.The consensus among analysts has been the RBNZ will hold the official cash rate (OCR) at 2.25 percent until early next year.However, there is a growing view that if inflation pressures are slow in falling, and a recovering economy threatens to add to them that the RBNZ may be forced to start raising the OCR as early as September this year.New Zealand's inflation rate was lower than Australia, the UK and the OECD's average of 3.9 percent, but above the sub-3 percent levels of the US and the European Union.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

WorkSafe says Hibiscus Coast clean-up crews should treat post-storm work as high-risk and plan ahead.With clean up and rescue efforts underway in storm-damaged parts of the country, WorkSafe is urging workers to be aware of the risks that can follow extreme weather.Flooding, slips, downed power lines, debris and waterlogged ground can all change what’s safe, and what’s not.WorkSafe’s Acting Northern Regional Manager Jason Gibson says floodwater, silt and debris can be contaminated with farm run-off, sewage and chemicals.“For workers involved in the clean up, they need to take precautions like wearing appropriate PPE.”He says there’s also an increased risk of outbreaks of the water-borne disease leptospirosis, and workers should speak up if they feel unsafe.WorkSafe is also warning about households without power using portable generators and gas barbeques.“These should be used in a well-ventilated place so exhaust gases can escape safely, we don’t want people breathing them in,” Gibson says.As more recovery work rolls on, WorkSafe’s advice is to slow down, assume conditions have changed, and take basic precautions before the next job.Tips for staying safe during the clean up:If the work is not necessary, postpone it until conditions improve.Always assume that debris, flood water and silt is contaminated, stay away from it, or wear appropriate PPE.Minimise the risk of exposure to leptospirosis by washing your hands thoroughly and wearing PPE.Never use portable LPG stoves in a confined space and allow good ventilation for generators.Even if you know the land very well, waterlogged ground can be very unstable. Ensure you’re using the correct vehicle to move around, especially on farms.Make a plan to check in if out on a job, in case you run into trouble.If comms are down, have an alternative means of communication.Always assume downed power lines are live, stay away from them.If you notice things aren’t working when the power comes back on, get an electrician to check it out.Ensure fatigue is managed, businesses should monitor how long employees work, the sort of jobs they carry out and the conditions they’re working in.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

It’s hard to stop thinking about a family waiting for news. Waitematā North Police say the search for a missing man is resuming today at the Mahurangi River near Warkworth, after he was swept away by water on Wednesday. Senior Sergeant Carl Fowlie says extra resources are being deployed as water levels continued to subside overnight. Police Search and Rescue is carrying out ground-based searching around the banks of the river, supported by 17 Land Search and Rescue members and a water rescue crew from Fire and Emergency. A Police drone is also searching from the air, so locals may see teams on the banks and the drone overhead as the operation continues. Police say they are supporting the man’s family through this difficult time, and they have thanked the agencies assisting in recent days. For Hibiscus Coast readers following the updates, police say everyone involved remains focused on locating the man on behalf of his family.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Hibiscus Coast locals spend long summer days outdoors, and a new national survey shows sunburn is still common across New Zealand.The 2025 National Skin Cancer Survey found 64% of adults reported at least one sunburn last summer. About 26% reported a severe sunburn, defined as pain lasting two or more days or blistering. The survey sampled 2,198 adults aged 18 and over.Rates were highest among 18 to 24 year olds. In that group, 87% of females and 77% of males reported sunburn. More than one-third reported more than three sunburns over the summer.“Sunburn is an important risk factor for melanoma development, so these high rates are concerning,” said Dr Bronwen McNoe, lead author from the University of Otago.The survey points to gaps between what people know and what they do. Many people spend time outdoors during peak ultraviolet hours. Fewer consistently use effective sun protection.It also found misconceptions. Only 4% correctly identified the ultraviolet index level at which sun protection is recommended.Nearly one-quarter believed a suntan protects against melanoma and other skin cancers.Around one-third believed SPF50 sunscreen does not need to be reapplied as often as SPF30, or that a cap provides adequate protection.Attitudes toward tanning remain common.Half of respondents said they like to get a suntan. About 43% believed a tanned person looks healthier.Support for government action was strong. Between 82% and 90% supported investment in prevention, including SunSmart programmes, public education campaigns, more shade in public spaces and schools, and stronger sun protection policies in schools and workplaces.“The high level of public support provides a clear mandate for increased, sustained and coordinated investment in skin cancer prevention,” said Dr McNoe.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Making plans? Three Hibiscus Coast events to check out this week.Rodders Beach FestivalFri 23-25 JanClick here for more detailsMillwater parkrunSat 24 JanClick here for more detailsTradie FridaysFridaysClick 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’ll review submissions for next week’s Top Picks.

The Commerce Commission has warned Woolworths New Zealand for what it believes is a likely breach of the Grocery Industry Competition Act, following a review of the major supermarkets' product delisting processes.The warning comes after the Commission analysed the range review processes of all major supermarkets to assess whether they were meeting their obligations under the Grocery Supply Code.As part of range reviews, supermarkets assess which products they will continue to stock. In some cases, products may be "delisted", meaning they are removed from shelves.The updated Grocery Supply Code is due to come into force on 1 May. The revised code gives suppliers clearer rights to challenge delisting decisions and greater transparency in their dealings with major supermarkets.Any breaches of the code are breaches of the Grocery Industry Competition Act.Commerce Commission head of groceries Dr Alice Hume said Woolworths, Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island together controlled about 82 percent of New Zealand's grocery market. She warned losing access to supermarket shelves could effectively be the end of the road for smaller suppliers."The possibility of products being removed from shelves is a significant weight on suppliers that can reinforce the power imbalance between major supermarkets and smaller suppliers," Hume said."The risk of losing market access can lead to suppliers accepting conditions that aren't beneficial to them, and a lack of trust about how supermarkets make these decisions."During the Commission's review, it identified and investigated instances where it considered Woolworths was at risk of failing to meet its obligations under the code.The Commission said it issued Woolworths with a warning for what it believe was a likely breach of the act, noting that only a court can determine whether a breach had occurred.Woolworths has since updated its processes to meet its obligations, the Commission said.In reply, Woolworths supplied the following statement."We take our obligations under the Grocery Supply Code seriously and we are proud of the strong relationships we have with our suppliers."We work hard to make sure we comply with all of our obligations under the code. If we become aware of potential issues, we fix them as quickly as we can."We reviewed and updated all of our templates when the code first came into force, but the Commission expressed concerns about whether one of our template letters included specific language that was required under the code."We fully cooperated with the Commission's enquiries, and have updated our template letter in light of the Commission's views."Levelling the playing fieldHume said the updated code played a crucial role in helping level the playing field between major supermarkets and smaller suppliers, and that the Commission took compliance seriously.She said range reviews remained an ongoing area of focus for the regulator.Hume also urged suppliers to come forward if they had concerns about delisting or other potentially unfair treatment."You can contact the Commission directly, or through the anonymous reporting tool on our website."Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Auckland Council’s January 2026 update shows confidence rising, a key signal for Hibiscus Coast households.Confidence was the standout.Consumer confidence (Westpac McDermott Miller) was 107.0 in the December 2025 quarter.Business confidence (NZIER QSBO) was net +60% expecting the business situation to improve, the highest-equal since 1994, and rising since June 2024.The update notes “improve” can also mean “be bad, but less bad than currently”.Housing stayed subdued in real terms.The November 2025 median sale price was $1,050,000, 32% below the 2021 peak, and the same as November 2015.Annual house sales were 23,720, 29% above the May 2023 trough, but 35% below the 2021 peak.Rents were steady. Auckland’s October 2025 average weekly rent was $668, 13% below February 2021 and the same as ten years ago.Consents picked up. New dwellings consented totalled 15,252 in the year to November 2025, up 10% on a year ago.The real value of new non-residential consents was $2,643m, up 8% on October.Work remained tight. Auckland employment was down 1.7% in the September 2025 quarter versus a year earlier, and unemployment was 6.1%.Real GDP was down 0.8% year-on-year to September 2025 and real retail sales were down 0.9%.Imports through Auckland seaports totalled $31.8bn for the year to November 2025, up 4.8% on the last year.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Coasties, its Auckland Anniversary weekend and here’s what the next four days have for us.Friday, 23/1Cloudy with afternoon showers, some heavier late, with brisk westerlies.High: 24Low: 14Saturday, 24/1Windy with frequent showers, with westerlies pushing gale at times.High: 20Low: 15Sunday, 25/1Windy with a few showers, clearing to fine later, strong westerlies easing evening.High: 22Low: 15Monday, 26/1Partly cloudy and breezy, with westerlies turning sou’wester.High: 22Low: 15See the full Weather section in the app for:🌊 Tides🌬️ Wind☔ Rain radar🌞 UV levels🏖️ Safe swimming spots...and more.The Hibiscus Coast App has everything you need, accessible at any time and from any location.

Hibiscus Coast Blues supporters can help pick the club’s greatest-ever Legends XV ahead of the 2026 season.The Blues are marking 30 years of Super Rugby with a fan vote to decide the best players in club history, across every position, as part of the wider Super Rugby Legends XV campaign.The campaign runs in two phases and is designed to build momentum before the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.The Blues’ first home match is against the Chiefs on Saturday, February 14.Phase one is the Blues club vote.The Blues have shortlisted standout players from three decades of Super Rugby for each position.Fans vote to form the Blues Club Legends XV.When club voting is complete, the top player in each position moves into phase two.Phase two is a competition-wide vote starting Monday, February 9.Players chosen in each position from all 11 Super Rugby Pacific clubs will go head-to-head, with fans deciding the greatest player in each position across the full 30-year history of Super Rugby.To recognise the competition’s full history, one wildcard player per position will also be included from teams no longer part of Super Rugby Pacific.The Blues voting categories include front rowers, back rowers, playmakers, and midfielders and wingers.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Hibiscus Coast employers are about to get a quiet KiwiSaver admin job, right in the middle of the year’s usual payroll grind.From Sunday, February 1, KiwiSaver members can apply for a temporary contribution rate reduction.It is designed to take the edge off the default rate increase coming in April.The default KiwiSaver contribution rate is set to rise from 3% to 3.5% on Wednesday, April 1.If an employee is granted a temporary rate reduction, it will not apply until their first pay on or after that date.You will not need to guess.You will be told what to do, either by your employee or Inland Revenue.That notice will come as one of the following:A certificate from your employee showing the period the rate reduction applies forA letter from Inland Revenue advising which employee has been granted a temporary rate reduction and the approved periodEmployers can choose to match an employee’s temporary rate reduction.When the employee moves back to a higher contribution rate, employer contributions will need to move to the new default 3.5% rate, or to a higher rate the employer chooses.Employees can apply to lower their rate to 3% for between three months and a year.If they have more than one employer, they can choose which employer to notify.A temporary rate reduction is not available for anyone who has a savings suspension.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Police say search efforts will likely resume later today for a man missing after being swept away in water at the Mahurangi River, near Warkworth, a situation that remains distressing for his family and community.Senior Sergeant Carl Fowlie, of Waitematā North Police, says a Police-led operation ran through most of Wednesday after an emergency call was made when the man went missing from Falls Road at around 7.41 am.He says night shift frontline staff carried out some checks in the area overnight, but the man remains outstanding.Police Search and Rescue will redeploy once water levels have subsided and it is safe to continue searching.The Police Eagle helicopter is expected to do a flyover of the river this morning.Police have thanked supporting agencies, including Fire and Emergency NZ, Auckland Emergency Management, and the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter.The missing man is in his 40s and from the wider Mahurangi community, and Police remain in contact with his family.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Calls for Asians to be deported and threats of physical violence are among some of the latest social media comments aimed at people accused of stripping rockpools and breaching fishing rules.On Saturday, at least a hundred people demonstrated at Army Bay in Auckland's Whangaparāoa for the protection of local rock pools, and residents earlier told RNZ that rockpools were being stripped bare of sea life - including shellfish, or any animal life that lives in the pools.The term "bucket people" has been widely used on social media to refer to those accused of over-harvesting, and many have anecdotally pointed to tourism buses and visitors, blaming them for the depletion of the rockpools.The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said Whangaparāoa has a recreational fishing compliance rate of 93 percent between November 1, 2025, and January 5, with 14 non-compliance incidents across 189 inspections conducted in the period - four involved excessive taking of shellfish (cockles), seven were for undersized snapper, two involved illegal netsetting, and none involved tour buses.Over the past week, more posts on the controversy have appeared on Facebook pages, targeting the Asian community - including one person who wrote they were prepared to give a few "knuckle burgers and black eye rings" to those breaking the rules; there have also been several posts calling for the gatherers to be deported.Meanwhile, there have also been posts by rockpools protection advocates calling out the racist comments and urging people to focus on the environmental cause.On Monday, fisheries minister Shane Jones pointed to what he called "unfettered immigration" when interviewed on the topic, and said he's seeking urgent advice from fisheries on the issues.Asian New Zealanders nervous about racial tensions arising from rockpools issuesA Chinese New Zealander living near Whangaparāoa said he doesn't personally collect shellfish, but is worried about the rising tensions over the issue.The man, who did not want to be named, said he's now nervous about taking his kids to the beach."Eventually we'll get targeted, like if we go to the beach, even if we don't bring the bucket, and we just relax on the beach, and people may come up and say something hurtful to me,"My kids are going to grow up here in New Zealand, they're going to contribute to society, what are they going to feel like? They're going to be like 'I'm surrounded by people who hate us only because of our looks,'" he said.The man said he's seen videos posted to social media by people filming the contents of people's buckets, and urging people to throw things back into the ocean.He said he feels it violates people's private space and that the residents doing the patrolling shouldn't be behaving like law enforcement.He said Asian communities are left with the blame when the government has failed to revise the limits on gathering shellfish.A Wellington woman, who posted a photo of her Chinese husband holding a bucket of mussels on Facebook earlier this month, was shocked to see dozens of racist comments under the post.The woman said the photo came from a family outing to the beach with her in-laws and kids, and the mussels collected came under the limit for seven people.She said the post explained their awareness of gathering limits, but that didn't stop the abuse."It's just like, 'These Chinese people bring their family and hoard everything from New Zealand, they don't know the rules, they should be deported', those kinds of things," she said, noting that about one of five of the over 260 comments were hurtful.The woman said her family hasn't been to the beach since the online abuse.Rockpools protection advocate: no place for racismRockpools protection advocate Mark Lenton, who leads the "Protect Whangaparāoa Rockpools" group, said racism is not helpful to the cause and will not be tolerated on their Facebook page."There's no place for this uneducated bigotry, which only amplifies a lack of intelligence, and it's not a good look for the author."So look, we do not encourage it in any way, and any comments raised and deleted, and the author is banned," he said.Lenton said such comments are the quickest thing that will undermine their credibility as a group.He said he's been talking to gatherers at Army Bay and makes the point that even when people gather within the limits, the sheer volume of gatherers is causing problems for the marine ecology."We're really focused on an attitude change here, we're really trying to amplify conservation," he added.Lenton said he estimates that on any given day at low tide during the weekends, there may be 100 to 300 gatherers on the beach.Researcher of Asians in Aotearoa: "bucket people" trope dehumanisingAuckland-based writer and researcher of Asian diasporas, Tze Ming Mok, said she's concerned that certain ministers in government may be more interested in whipping up division against a small minority than they are in constructively addressing the issue.Mok said the term "bucket people" is creepy and is yet another racial slur being created, which dehumanises communities."The stereotype of the rapacious Asian stripping the coastlines is a trope and a stereotype that has been wielded against us since at least the early 90s, and the thing is that we have approached this issue in good faith, constructive ways before, by building relationships between new migrants, government, iwi and local communities so we can all learn and educate each other, and protect our ecosystems together," she said.Meanwhile, Lenton said he didn't think the term "bucket people" was discriminatory."The term bucket people does not discriminate by age, by gender, nor by race."It is simply a collective term that accurately describes people who rape and pillage rock pools and coastal sea life to fill their buckets," he said.Auckland-based university student of Chinese descent One Wang, who has an interest in researching the relationship between tauiwi and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, said the labelling and online bullying around the rockpools issues have diverted attention away from the environmental issue itself."At this point our focus should be on the whenua, on papatūānuku, and on moana, what people could help with is make information and education accessible to all people who interact with marine life, so they can do that responsibly," said Wang.Wang said it's been devastating to see the environmental impacts on moana, but equally devastating to see how quickly blame has been directed at an entire ethnic group.Ngati Manuhiri, whose rohe extends from Mangawhai to the Okura river mouth south of Whangaparāoa, has applied for a two-year ban on harvesting shellfish from the city's Eastern Coastline.The minister is expected to make a decision next month.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Hibiscus Coast locals heading into Sylvia Park have been part of a huge first month for IKEA in New Zealand.IKEA Sylvia Park welcomed 569,417 visitors between 4 December and 3 January.The busiest day was Sunday, 7 December, when 28,780 people came through the doors.The store also ranked as the top-performing store globally for food sales across Ingka Group during its first month of trading.Online interest matched the in-store rush.The website attracted 1.9 million users and generated more than 12 million page views over the first month.The IKEA app was downloaded 141,000 times in New Zealand in the same period.Deliveries leaned heavily regional, with 71% of all orders coming from outside Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury.Waikato led regional demand, followed by Bay of Plenty and Otago.IKEA Family has grown to 186,000 New Zealand members.Bedroom and storage solutions have been in strong demand, led by MALM, PAX, and ALEX, alongside the BILLY bookcase.Everyday essentials have also sold strongly, including almost 50,000 FRAKTA blue bags.The OFTAST plate sold more than 40,000 units, with the OFTAST bowl at 29,480.Food has been a major pull.In the first month, customers bought over 54,000 hot dogs, more than 21,000 cinnamon buns, and 28,000 meatball and mash dishes.Ice cream was also popular, with more than 26,000 servings sold.Seasonal patterns are already showing up.Sofas surged in the pre-Christmas period, while storage lines like chest of drawers and system wardrobes picked up in the new year as people turned to home organisation.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Police are searching for a man reported missing after a vehicle was swept away at a river crossing near Warkworth.Senior Sergeant Carl Fowlie, Waitematā North Police, says information came in at 7.41am that a man had been washed away at a river crossing on Falls Road, near the intersection with Woodcocks Road.Police went to the scene and established more details after a passenger was able to get out of the vehicle and raise the alarm.A Police Search and Rescue team has been deployed to the area, with Police assisting Fire and Emergency crews as the search continues.At this stage, the man remains outstanding.A section of Falls Road has been closed.Police are strongly advising the public to avoid the area. People are also being asked to pay close attention to weather warnings in place and take extra care around waterways, with further rain forecast.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Is your business easy to find?Searching for a local service is easier when the details are in one place.The Hibiscus Coast App has added new Featured Listings to its Local Businesses directory this month, expanding the options for locals and visitors across the Hibiscus Coast.The latest additions are:Kids Shuttle NZ provides scheduled school pick ups and drop offs for children across areas including Orewa, Silverdale, Red Beach, Millwater, Stanmore Bay and Whangaparāoa.Charlie Cochrane Real Estate offers straight advice, firm negotiation, and a process you control, backed by 36 years of sales experience from appraisal to settlement, including off-plan homes and developments.Hibiscus Coast Community RSA is a welcoming local club with modern facilities, a bar and restaurant, regular live entertainment, and catering for up to 200 guests (or up to 150 for seated meals).Pit Stop Silverdale can handle WOFs, servicing, tyres, brakes, exhausts, batteries, suspension, diagnostics, and general repairs.You’ll find them in the app’s Businesses section alongside dozens of others.A Featured Listing is $87 + GST per quarter, with priority placement and a full profile (links, map pin, photos) via the “Featured Listing setup” link.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

The Prime Minister says he isn't worried about being offside with National MPs who have supported more housing intensification in Auckland, as he responds to questions about a potential u-turn on the issue.Speaking to reporters after his State of the Nation speech, Christopher Luxon says the conversation in Auckland was about "how much densification" and "where it happens."He said he'd told Aucklanders "we know it's a sensitive issue" and he plans to "listen" and "digest" the feedback."I don't think there's a problem when you actually say, I've listened to feedback and I'm going to do something different about it on the basis of that."RMA Minister Chris Bishop had directed Auckland Council to allocate up to two million homes in the coming decades, but last week he confirmed the coalition was considering weakening housing intensification laws in Auckland.Luxon dismissed the idea he and Bishop weren't on the same page, saying they'd had a "very dynamic conversation" well before Christmas."It won't surprise you, but in our government, we actually talk to each other a lot, and quite dynamically and consistently."It's regular. It's not formalized. We're just very open and transparent."Luxon said the Council should go through its feedback process, and the government would look and "be prepared to listen" to that feedback."There is genuine change that's going to be needed, and we're up for doing that."He said it was for Auckland Council to make decisions about specific suburbs, but he wanted to get the balance right between densification in the CBD, greenfields growth, and what was needed in various suburbs.He wouldn't budge on whether the two million figure would be decreased or not, saying the government would have more to say soon.He said Bishop had been "working hard" on it for a couple of months, "he will come forward with his views and explain that shortly."Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]

Health experts are warning New Zealanders to be cautious of online and AI-driven weight-loss advice as New Year fitness goals kick off.Dr Kieran Dang, clinical lead for telehealth provider Moshy NZ, says patients are increasingly being misled by social media promotions and AI tools that offer unsafe or ineffective treatments.“I’m deeply concerned by the rise of unregulated weight-loss products being promoted on social media. Patients tell me they’ve tried capsules or supplements sold online with no idea what’s actually in them. These are not prescription medications and can be dangerous,” he says.Medsafe has identified unapproved diet-pill products in New Zealand that were found to contain prescription medicines or controlled substances, including sibutramine and phenethylamine, which are linked to heart rate, blood pressure and valve risks.A 2024 New Zealand study of dietary supplements found high-risk weight-loss products may include undeclared prescription drugs or excessive caffeine, meaning consumers are ingesting unknown and potentially dangerous substances.Dr Dang says the mix of social media, AI tools and unregulated supplements is creating “a perfect storm” for people seeking rapid results after the holiday season.“January is when motivation is at its highest but also when people are most vulnerable to misinformation,” he says.Moshy Clinical lead, Dr Kieran Dang.Dr Dang says not all social media health content is a problem, and that some verified and evidence-based accounts provide valuable education and support.“My message to anyone looking to lose weight this year is simple. Check that any medication is Medsafe-registered, avoid buying supplements or capsules through social media, and always seek guidance from a licensed healthcare professional,” he says.“Safe and effective weight loss needs medical supervision. If something promises instant results or sounds too good to be true, it usually is,” he says.For readers on the Hibiscus Coast, the same caution applies when weight-loss claims show up online.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

A Heavy Rain Watch remains for Auckland, including the Hibiscus Coast, until 3am Thursday.A period of heavy rain is forecast, easing toward evening. Localised downpours are possible north of the Harbour Bridge until early afternoon.Easterlies are forecast, strong in exposed places, with gusts up to 80 km/h.MetService says there is a high chance the Watch will be upgraded to a Warning for Auckland.A Warning remains in place for Northland, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty.Impacts flagged include streams and rivers rising rapidly, surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions.Advice given is to clear drains and gutters if it is safe to do so, avoid low-lying areas, and drive cautiously.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected]