Check in with your mates, your family and your friends - that's the message from Matt Doocey for Mental Health Awareness Week.New Zealand's first minister for mental health said the awareness week - which runs from Monday to Sunday - was a great opportunity to connect with friends and family "to see how they're going".It was part of the theme for Mental Health Awareness Week, he said.The 2025 theme was Top Up Together and focused on the five ways of wellbeing - connect/me whakawhanaunga, give back/tukua, be active/me kori tonu, take notice/me aro tonu, and keep learning/me ako tonu."The five ways of wellbeing is an evidence-based initiative whereby implementing the five ways of wellbeing in your life daily can actually improve your mental wellbeing," Doocey said.Monday's connect theme was about making social connections and having a sense of feeling connected, loved or belonging, according to the Mental Health Foundation website.On Tuesday the theme was "give" which was about kindness, altruism or generosity including carrying out acts of kindness to bring happiness and satisfaction.Being active, Wednesday's theme, was not only important for physical wellbeing, but was also a powerful mood booster, the website said.Taking notice, on Thursday, referred to the practice of mindfulness, being receptive and aware.And on Friday, the keep learning theme was about "exercising our mind"."Learning something new together with friends or whānau can boost motivation, enhance understanding and offer a sense of shared growth and discovery," the website said.Doocey encouraged people to try implementing the five ways of wellbeing in their life every day this Mental Health Awareness Week.He said it was very "mportant to acknowledge" Mental Health Awareness Week and he was keen to "really showcase the great work that the community is doing"."I'd encourage everyone to head to the Mental Health Foundation website and look for Mental Health Awareness Week initiatives in their local community to either participate in, or people might like to think about setting up their own Mental Health Awareness Week programmes."The minister said his message was to reach out to others."Quite often people can suffer in silence with mental health and it's an opportunity to really break down the barriers and reach out and talk to someone who might have the need to want to share their concerns at the time."He said it was important that Kiwis continued to break down the barriers of stigma and discrimination around mental health."We've done very well as a country creating an environment where people are more open talking about their mental health needs, but quite often people can be still a bit shy about reaching out."And I think the ability for someone to check in with a friend or family member allows them the permission to actually maybe voice for the first time that they are under a bit of pressure, maybe a bit of stress and they need someone to talk to."And that might be the first time that they felt safe in doing that. So it's a good week to try something new of checking in with your mates, your family and your friends."

Cyber Smart Week is back, and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is urging New Zealanders to take their online safety as seriously as their home security.The NCSC says over 4.3 million Kiwi account details are already in the hands of scammers.A worrying figure that’s prompted the launch of a new tool, How Exposed Am IThe site, part of the Own Your Online initiative, lets users check whether their email or password has been caught up in any of the 73 billion data points from global data breaches.Director of Mission Enablement, Mike Jagusch, says the risks are real and rising. “This year, 53% of New Zealand’s small to medium businesses told us they experienced a cyber threat in the past six months, significantly higher than the 36% reported last year.”While 94% of small businesses agree that cyber security is important, many wrongly believe they’re already protected. “That perception is preventing them from taking simple but crucial steps like turning on two-factor authentication or regularly backing up data,” Jagusch says.The consequences are costly.From financial losses and downtime to damaged reputations.For Hibiscus Coast businesses, the message is clear: check your exposure, switch on 2FA, and back up your data. Whether you’re a tradie, café owner, or working from home, a few simple steps could make the difference between a normal workday and a crisis.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Welcome to The Week That Was.Your go-to recap of important news, stories, and updates for the Hibiscus Coast community.Penlink Project Powers Ahead With October WorksRead more →Coast Teen Arrested After Albany Theft
Read more →Coast Gastropub Denied Alcohol Licence RenewalRead more →Metro Park West Finally Gets Green LightRead more →Orewa’s Shoreward Hit by Burglary and FireRead more →Your Coast. Your news. Your app.Download the Hibiscus Coast App for instant local updates. Anytime, anywhere.

The Financial Markets Authority wants consumers to complain more, and for companies to listen.The FMA has found that fewer than than one-third of people were confident that they knew how to complain about their financial service provider.Those who said they would have liked to have complained, said they did not, because they either doubted the outcome, did not know how to complain, or thought it was probably too difficult to complain anyway.FMA executive director, licensing and conduct supervision Clare Bolingford said the authority wanted financial service providers to ensure consumers knew how to complain and how their complaints would be dealt with, were easily accessible, and fit for purpose."Companies are burying complaints processes deep on their websites, requiring details a customer may not have to hand and treating customers in a defensive and dismissive way," Bolingford said.Among the FMA's other findings were: almost one in three complaints were unresolved, and of those who wanted to complain, a third thought there was no point in complaining because nothing would happen.It also found 57 percent of complainants were satisfied with the handling of their complaint, while 21 percent were dissatisfied.Complaining as learningFMA director of deposit taking and insurance and advice Richard Hewes said New Zealanders' own "she'll be right" attitudes often held them back from complaining.But he encouraged consumers to complain more and for financial services providers to use those complaints as a learning exercise, rather than an adversarial situation."Providers should learn from complaints, use it as a mechanism to review your products and services," Hewes said."If you are seeing and hearing about complaints from consumers, use it as a learning opportunity - clearly there is something not quite right with your product and service, and it is a great opportunity to change it."Hewes said where consumers and financial service providers reach a deadlock, the provider would escalate the complaint to a disputes resolution.He said disputes resolution providers did a "fantastic job" for consumers, are independent of financial services providers, and free of charge.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s blunt “F off” reply to the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance has fuelled criticism over his refusal to sign the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, raising questions about his stance on council accountability.Sam Warren, spokesperson for the Ratepayers’ Alliance, said the Mayor’s claims about the pledge were simply wrong.“Wayne Brown clearly hasn’t even read the pledge before mouthing off. He’s claiming it would stop independent members on the Council’s Audit and Risk Committee, but that’s just not true. He’s resorting to making things up and personal abuse. That kind of behaviour does not ‘fix Auckland’,” Warren said.The pledge, designed to protect ratepayers from unelected influence on spending and regulatory committees, makes clear that Audit and Risk, along with advisory committees, are excluded.“The Mayor is either confused or deliberately misleading Aucklanders,” Warren said.For Coast residents already grappling with rising rates and big-ticket infrastructure costs, the clash highlights ongoing worries about trust and transparency at Auckland Council. Locals paying into the city’s budget want clear answers on where their money goes, not political point-scoring.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

More than 6000 fines have been dished out to Auckland dog owners who have repeatedly ignored warnings from Auckland Council to register their pets.Auckland Council has been cracking down on dog owners to register their dogs or be hit with an infringement fine of $300, or face the court.As of 1 October, 6027 infringement notices were sent to dog owners who ignored earlier warnings - an increase of about 7.5 percent on last year's 5572.The fines were sent after earlier pre-infringement notices in August to 21,600 to dog owners, by email and post, and an extension of the usual deadline by two weeks to give people extra time to pay.Animal Management manager Elly Waitoa said the lack of progress was deeply disappointing."Frankly, we're frustrated," Waitoa said."We've done everything we can to make it easy for people - multiple reminders, extended grace periods, and clear communication - but too many dog owners are still refusing to meet their basic responsibilities."In February, council sent out 5572 infringement notices to dog owners.Council figures show more than 29,084 dogs remain unregistered by their owners as of August 1, when council rolled over to charging a late fee.Waitoa said registration wasn't optional."It isn't red tape. It's a legal requirement, and it's how we fund critical animal management services from dealing with roaming dogs to prosecuting owners whose animals attack people or other pets."She said council data showed a clear link between unregistered dogs and higher rates of roaming and attacks.Last registration year was the first time council issued bulk infringements, and a total of 3372 infringements totalling more than $910,000 remained outstanding.While over a third of the dogs who were infringed last year have since been registered, Waitoa said it's still nowhere near enough and the overall level of compliance remains too low."It's frustrating and disheartening to see the message still isn't sinking in, that dog owners think the rules don't apply to them."The time for leniency and excuses is over - it's about fairness to the majority of dog owners who already do the right thing."She said owners now have 28 days to pay their fines.If unpaid, a final reminder will be issued, giving a further 28 days to pay before the infringement is transferred to the Ministry of Justice for enforcement."Ignoring the rules won't make them go away. If you haven't registered your dog yet, do it now or face the consequences."LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

The Commerce Commission has ordered PD Mart to stop selling car seats after uncovering safety concerns and potentially misleading labelling that suggested compliance with recognised standards.Vanessa Horne, the Commission’s General Manager for Competition, Fair Trading, and Credit, says protecting children is non-negotiable. “The Commission has zero tolerance for risks to children’s safety. Product safety is one of our enduring priorities under the Fair Trading Act,” she says.The seats in question may not meet key safety requirements. Some lacked clear installation instructions, raising fears that parents could unknowingly fit them incorrectly. “When critical information regarding installation and use is not provided, the consequences can be serious,” Horne says.PD Mart, which rebranded from Panda Mart, has now recalled the affected models and is offering refunds. According to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, 176 units across seven models are involved in the recall.The watchdog is especially concerned that lower-cost products with possible safety issues may unfairly impact families with fewer financial options. PD Mart has previously marketed its products as up to 30% cheaper than competitors, making them attractive to parents trying to stretch household budgets.For Coast families, this news is a reminder to double-check car seats, especially when shopping for lower-priced models online or in Auckland stores. The Commission’s wider investigation into PD Mart continues, covering car seats and other children’s products previously linked to recalls.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

New Zealand Food Safety has recalled two batches of Piper’s brand Milkshake Biscuits after tests revealed undeclared pistachio in the ingredients, creating a risk for people with nut allergies.The recall covers Piper’s Milkshake Biscuits Original (120g, best before 15/04/2026) and Caramel (120g, best before 18/04/2026).The products were sold nationwide at Reduced to Clear stores, but not on the Hibiscus Coast itself. Coast shoppers who may have bought them elsewhere in Auckland are advised to check their cupboards and look closely at the date mark printed on the front of the box.New Zealand Food Safety says people with a pistachio allergy or intolerance should not eat the products. Anyone who has consumed them and is concerned about their health should seek medical advice.For those not allergic or intolerant to pistachio, the recall does not apply.Affected customers are asked to return the products to their retailer for a full refund. No other Piper’s products are affected by the recall.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

Looking for plans?Explore events happening soon on the Hibiscus Coast and start planning your next activity.Silverdale Village MarketSat Oct 4Click here for more detailsOrewa Repair CafeSun Oct 5 Click here for more detailsOrewa Beach Farmers MarketSun Oct 5Click here for more details Want to see more events?Explore Things To Do in our community in the Hibiscus Coast App anytime, anywhere.Got an event coming up? List it free today →

If you were driving along Orewa this week, you might’ve noticed damage at Shoreward, the popular local gastrobar near the beach.In the early hours of Tuesday, a vehicle was driven into the gastrobar and a fire was set during what police say was a burglary.Thankfully, quick-thinking members of the public acted fast to put out the flames before emergency crews arrived.Their efforts likely saved the building from more serious damage and meant the establishment could be secured before dawn.Police are investigating the break-in and are asking for the community’s help.If you saw anything unusual or have video footage from the area, you can contact police on 105 or online at police.govt.nz/use-105, quoting job number P063967549.For Coasties, this is a reminder of how close-knit the Hibiscus Coast is.The fact that locals were on the scene and acted so quickly shows the strength of community spirit here.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Aucklanders have until midday Saturday 11 October to return their local election votes, but many still face the challenge of choosing who to support.Council leaders say the key is to look for candidates who bring capability, representation, and clear policies to the table. That means checking whether a candidate has the decision-making skills to handle budgets, planning changes, and public assets.“Elected members are expected to absorb many reports, attend lots of meetings, talk to communities about issues that affect them and work with staff and colleagues productively,” says Auckland Council’s General Manager Governance and Engagement, Lou-Ann Ballantyne.Representation also matters. Candidates should be able to stand up for the full range of people in their area, making sure diverse voices are heard when decisions are made.Policy positions are another important guide. From public transport and urban growth to climate change and budget management, voters are encouraged to support candidates whose ideas match their own priorities.Past performance can also help voters decide. Council meeting webcasts, media coverage, and social media activity show how current members engage with their communities.Candidates may stand on a political ticket or run independently. Either way, the advice is the same: choose those who reflect your values and can bring balance.For Coasties, where local decisions directly affect transport, housing, and community facilities, making an informed choice ensures stronger representation at the council table.For more information about candidates, check out our local elections 2025 section hereKnow something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

The mayor is urging as many Aucklanders as possible to vote ahead of next weekend's local election to "send Wellington a message".The incumbent, Wayne Brown, made the late plea to the city's residents on Thursday, determined to exceed the 2022 election turnout.In the 2022 elections, 405,149 people - just 35.5 percent of those enrolled - voted.Brown said a vote for his campaign "gives a mandate to negotiate with Wellington for funding and a city deal"."This is our chance to send Wellington the message loud and clear: Auckland is not your ATM," Brown said."They need to know we're serious about fixing our city, stopping the waste and getting things done. A high turnout gives us the power to make that stand."Don't just complain about the state of the city - get your ballot in the box and vote to fix it."That message was backed by Ōrākei Councillor Desley Simpson."Voting is a lot simpler than relying on the post office. Convenient boxes are located in city libraries, Woolworths supermarkets and other community hubs across the city."A strong Auckland needs a representative council, and that only happens when people vote. We need a positive focus, and that starts with every Aucklander making their voice heard."Brown's main rival in the mayoral election race, Kerrin Leoni, though disagreed with the incumbent mayor's campaign focus on central government."In terms of increasing the voter turnout, that should definitely be about getting the voice of Aucklanders as opposed to your mandate to central government."I think that there should be a better agreement between Auckland and Wellington and I've obviously talked about GST. There should be some form of resources that is given specifically to Wellington knowing that we are the biggest city."But I wouldn't agree that we are an ATM. I don't know where he's got that phrase from. When you look at Wellington and what they're providing for other cities, there's a shortage right across the country."So I think that that's a comment that can be seen, possibly because we don't have a state law like other countries like Australia who have got states in between where, regardless of who's in central government, that money is locked in for that region, for infrastructure and regardless of whether it's left or right that's in government, that money is there."I think we've only gone up to 11 percent or 12 percent now of voter turnout right across the whole city of 1.2 million potential voters. And for me, that is a true reflection of the fact people are just not confident with what they've been offered in terms of the way that the messaging has gone out."If we only reach 20 percent for this election, I believe that that is a huge reflection of Aucklanders not even knowing that there's an election on. And that's the danger here… that people will be elected without Aucklanders understanding who else is standing and who else they can choose from."Kerrin Leoni at her fiscal plan announcement.Kerrin Leoni. Photo: RNZ / Jessica HopkinsAs of Thursday 2 October, voter turnout was at 14.7 percent according to the Auckland Council website.Leoni said a big part of that was because Brown had not engaged in mayoral debates with her in the media."Now that's just unheard of, and that's actually blocking democracy for Aucklanders because they should be listening to us debating together. We should both be posed questions and given the ability to respond to them so that Aucklanders can see the difference on how we respond and what the difference on our policies are."I think the low voter turnout is due to the fact that we have not had the huge amount of media that you would normally get as a result of these debates."The focus should be giving Aucklanders, you know, more of an idea of who is standing, how they're standing, what they're standing on in this last week. Of course, it is about getting the vote turnout. It shouldn't be about our mandate to Wellington at all."Voting in the 2025 local elections is open until 12 noon, Saturday 11 October.

The Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) says the government’s reply to the long-awaited Frontier Economics electricity market report has fallen flat, with just two of ten recommendations taken up.EMA Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald said many of the proposals, such as selling off government stakes in power companies or forcing distribution firms to merge, were never realistic.But he argued rejecting regulatory reform and market consolidation leaves local businesses stuck with volatile power bills.“Under the current settings, we’ve gone from attracting international business with low electricity costs to the closure of our own businesses as a result of higher domestic pricing,” McDonald said.He pointed to some firms being hit with contract renewals up 30–50 percent.The report followed last winter’s sharp electricity price spikes.While the government has ruled out large-scale changes, industry is pressing ahead with its own measures: Huntly’s coal-fired units could run for another decade, new gas fields are being tapped, and fast-track consents are expected to bring more solar and wind generation online.McDonald said options like deep-bore geothermal look promising, but the ban on gas exploration without a transition plan remains a problem.“If you don’t look, you certainly won’t find any new gas,” he added.For the Hibiscus Coast, where many small manufacturers and trades rely on stable supply, ongoing price shocks mean higher operating costs and tougher conditions for growth.Locals waiting on promised savings from new renewables may have to brace for higher bills before relief arrives.Seen something local we should cover?Let us know at [email protected]

Coasties, here’s what the next four days have in store:Friday, 3/10Rain turning heavy, chance of thunder, strong northerlies.High: 21Low: 13Saturday, 4/10Showers, heavier in afternoon, easing nor’wester.High: 19Low: 11Sunday, 5/10Showers increasing later, fresh westerlies.High: 17Low: 11Monday, 6/10Partly cloudy with a shower, strong westerlies.High: 18Low: 13Want more weather info?Tap into the full Weather & Travel section in the Hibiscus Coast App for:🌊 Tide times🌬️ Wind conditions🌊 Wave updates🌞 UV levels🏖️ Safe swimming spots...and plenty more.Everything you need, right here in the Hibiscus Coast App – anytime, anywhere!

Incumbent Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has backtracked after saying he might not finish a full term if reelected.In an interview with Stuff, Brown would not rule out handing over the mayoralty to Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson before his three-year term was up.Launching his reelection campaign in February, Brown said he would only seek one more term as mayor.He told RNZ on Wednesday that he intended to complete an entire second term.Brown said his earlier comments were in response to a hypothetical question and had been blown out of proportion.But his Auckland mayoral rival Kerrin Leoni accused him of not being fully committed.Auckland mayoral candidate Kerrin Leoni accused mayor Brown of "not being fully committed". Photo: RNZ / Jessica Hopkins"Why would you put your name up to be mayor if you're talking about possibly finishing the job halfway through the term and handing it over to someone else? That's really poor leadership."She speculated his comments were a campaign strategy."Voter turnout is low. I'm sure he and his campaign team are concerned whether they had to pull a comment out like that because the feedback I'm hearing - even from people who would normally be voters from the right - is that they're not confident about his leadership."Saying something like Desley taking over, I think, is just a tactic to try and get more votes."Less than two weeks out from a new mayor being elected, almost 12 percent of eligible Aucklanders had cast their votes.Brown previously confirmed Simpson would remain as deputy mayor if he was reelected on 11 October.Auckland mayor Wayne Brown. Photo: MARIKA KHABAZI / RNZShe is standing for reelection as the Ōrākei Ward councillor unopposed on Brown's Fix Auckland ticket.Leoni said Simpson was also her first choice to be her deputy if she was elected."I would be more than happy to have her as my deputy mayor and to work with her to run the city."A spokesperson for Brown's campaign said Leoni's suggestion was laughable."Wayne and Desley have been on a united ticket for this election. People have been impressed by having a strong team approach, united in wanting to fix Auckland."Simpson said she was not expecting to replace Brown if he was reelected."As I have said many times, I am very happy to support Wayne as we deliver for Auckland through the next term. My understanding is that he was talking about a purely hypothetical scenario as it's not something we've discussed."

Business consultants spend a lot of time helping clients deal with staff issues. More often than not, the problem isn’t that someone is doing a bad job — it’s that they’re not doing things the way the boss “would have done back in my day.” This generational clash is common in modern workplaces. Younger employees often have different expectations, values, and approaches to work. That doesn’t make them wrong — but it does mean leaders need to adapt. Sometimes just a little. Sometimes a lot.For many business owners, this shift can feel uncomfortable. It’s tempting to expect the team to change rather than question your own leadership style. But real leadership often means evolving yourself too — meeting people halfway, showing flexibility, and learning new ways of motivating and supporting your team.This doesn’t mean giving in to every demand or throwing financial caution to the wind. It means modelling the kind of behaviour you want to see. Pay rises, for example, shouldn’t be automatic — but fairness, respect, clear communication, and empathy should be non-negotiable. A great boss isn’t the one who always says yes; they’re the one people want to follow.I came across a short piece some years ago that illustrates this point beautifully. It’s often attributed to Charles Schulz, creator of Peanuts, and while it applies to life in general, it’s especially relevant to how we work and lead.It starts with a simple quiz:Name the three wealthiest people in the world.Name the last three Masters’ golf champions.Name the last three Miss World winners.Tough, isn’t it? Yet these people were all exceptional — the best in their fields.But their achievements fade from memory. Awards tarnish. Records are broken. Recognition doesn’t last forever.Now try this quiz instead:Name your first primary school teacher.Name someone who helped you through a tough time.Name three people you love spending time with.That one’s easier. The point is simple: the people who truly make a difference in our lives aren’t necessarily the richest, most famous, or most accomplished. They’re the ones who care. They show up. They invest in others.It’s the same in business. The most impactful leaders aren’t those who rigidly enforce the old ways or those who give in to every request. They’re the ones who listen, empathise, and genuinely care about the people they lead. They adapt not because they have to, but because they understand that leadership is about more than authority — it’s about influence, trust, and human connection.So here’s a challenge: at work and in life, ask yourself whether you are someone who counts. Are you the kind of leader people remember — not for your title or achievements, but for the difference you made in their lives?Because in the end, that’s what leadership — and legacy — is really about.If you’d like to talk more about this, please contact me on 027 433 1430. I’d be happy to expand on this subject with you.

From today, Kiwi families can claim more back on early childhood education (ECE) fees under the Government’s expanded FamilyBoost scheme.Households earning up to just under $230,000 a year are now eligible, up from the previous cap of $180,000. Families can also claim 40 per cent of their ECE costs, up to $300 a week, compared with 25 per cent previously. That means the maximum weekly refund rises from $75 to $120.Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the changes will help ease the squeeze on family budgets. “More than 68,000 households have already benefited from FamilyBoost, making life with a little one that much easier,” she said.Families can apply now for costs from July to September through Inland Revenue. “It’s very easy to register and apply for FamilyBoost. Just head to the Inland Revenue website – ird.govt.nz/familyboost,” Willis added.For parents on the Hibiscus Coast, where childcare fees are a significant part of household spending, the boost could free up extra money each week. That might cover groceries, fuel for the daily commute, or simply take some pressure off in the run-up to Christmas.The changes were signed into law at the end of September with support from all parliamentary parties except the Greens. About 21,000 more households across New Zealand are now expected to qualify for help with ECE costs.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

If you have wandered past Metro Park West in Millwater, you will know it is mostly just a big stretch of grass.Apart from the odd paraglider practising, golfers working on their swing or the occasional dog class, it is usually the mowing tractors that make the most use of the park.That is about to change.Auckland Council’s Parks and Community Facilities team has confirmed the long-delayed project is back in the current work programme.The design is complete, resource consent granted, and the plan includes tree planting, a playground, walking paths and a car park near Butler Stoney Crescent and Botanical Drive.An independent design review will happen this financial year.Construction is expected to begin late 2026 and be finished in 2027.For Millwater families, it means swings and slides instead of empty turf, shaded areas for picnics, and proper paths for walkers.For everyone who passes it daily, the park will finally feel like a space to gather rather than just a lawn waiting its turn.After years of waiting, Metro Park West is set to come alive.Know something local worth sharing?Send it to [email protected] — we’ll help spread the word.

The gastropub has lost its right to sell alcohol after renewal applications for both its on and off licences were rejected by a district licensing committee.The District Licensing Committee (DLC) released its decision on 19 September, declining off and on licence renewals for Parāoa Brewing Company at Whangaparāoa Road, Stanmore Bay.Residents Richard and Vivan Field opposed the renewals, complaining of the noise at night, particularly from live bands and events.But the decision said that the Fields, despite their frustration with the applicant, did not want him to have his licence renewal declined. They simply wanted him to be compliant.At a hearing in August, the couple said they had complained to the owners for years and had spent $8000 to soundproof their home.“We shouldn’t have to spend this much to get peace and quiet in our own home,” Vivan Field told the DLC.The couple said the noise was often loud enough to be clearly heard from inside their home, and the bass vibrations shook the house.The noise would start on a Thursday night with the DJ’s and games nights and continued on to Friday and Saturday nights, and Sunday, with music including live bands.The Fields said the noise had contributed to stress, sleep disruption and anxiety about weekends or event nights.Company director Zenice Ishwarlal Gujarathi said they had sought ways to mitigate the noise complaints.Curfews for live music were established at 11pm on weekends and 9pm on weekdays, with exceptions for long weekends, public holidays or nationally recognised acts booked in advance, he said.They had added soundproofing, and invested in technical solutions and implemented a formal Noise Management Plan (NMP), which he claimed was monitored by a sound technician.Gujarathi said the premises was a valued community hub on the Hibiscus Coast, and hosted cultural and community events, seminars for businesses, school holiday programmes and performances.He said they consistently sought to engage constructively with the objectors, noting the objectors had grievances dating back several years and despite ongoing efforts to resolve these, complaints continued to be lodged.Alcohol inspector Andrew Thomas said the premises was subject to several noise callouts in 2024 and 2025, resulting in excessive noise directions (ENDs) and abatement notices and two environmental infringement notices being issued.The infringements were recently upheld following a hearing in the Environment Court, he said.Thomas said the applicant had retained a noise consultant and told him that noise limiters would be installed on the sound equipment, and the premises would be soundproofed.However, on further inquiry, Thomas learnt that guest performers had control over the noise limiters and because of costs, only part of the venue had been soundproofed.During a visit to the premises he used a phone app which showed that noise levels regularly exceeded Unitary Plan limits on noise.In its decision, the DLC said they were not impressed with the evidence provided by the applicant where Gujarathi gave no commitment to comply with the noise limitations.“We would have expected at the very least, given the numerous END notices, abatement notice and the Environment Courts findings, that a comprehensive NMP which included external control of the amplification of music would have, or should have been provided and already have been implemented.“There was no such assurance before us, indeed the continued breaches of the noise levels even after the Abatement Notice had been served left us with the undeniable conclusion that we could not rely upon the Applicant going forward that, there would not be any further breaches of the Unitary Plan and that the objectors would continue to experience disruption to their lives.”The DLC said the applicant should not be surprised that the committee would find it unsuitable to hold a licence.Parāoa Brewing Company’s current licences will expire at 1am on 20 December.Gujarathi said they were disappointed with DLC’s decision and would file an appeal with the Alcohol Regulatory Licensing Authority.“We believe the decision is one-sided, they have taken a very hard stance.”