Locals on the Hibiscus Coast may soon benefit from increased competition and potentially lower prices for property valuations. The Commerce Commission has welcomed changes made by Valocity, a property data and digital services provider, to its online property valuation ordering system (VOS).Valocity provides essential services to the residential property industry in New Zealand, including major banks, property valuers, and borrowers. The company offers various types of property valuations, including Full Market Valuations (FMVs), which require a physical property inspection.Following a Commission investigation, Valocity has agreed to modify its VOS platform to allow borrowers to reject the fee set by Valocity and request quotes from valuers. These changes are expected to take effect from March 2025.Commission Chair John Small acknowledged the change, stating, "This is an important market for tens of thousands of Kiwis each year, so we're pleased that Valocity has agreed to make these changes to its online valuation ordering service."The Commission has also engaged with other industry participants, reminding them of their responsibilities under the Commerce Act. Agreements that substantially lessen competition are illegal under section 27 of the Commerce Act.

As summer warms up the Hibiscus Coast, locals are encouraged to take advantage of Auckland Council’s Safeswim programme before heading to the beach. Offering real-time updates on water quality, swimming conditions, and potential safety risks, Safeswim helps Aucklanders make informed decisions about when and where to swim.Safeswim’s expansion for the 2024/25 summer season now includes 147 beaches and freshwater sites, with 14 new locations added. Among these are Arkles Bay and Tindalls Beach in Whangaparāoa, providing even greater coverage for Hibiscus Coast residents.Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the Policy and Planning Committee, emphasised the programme’s importance for Aucklanders:“Auckland’s hundreds of beaches are one of the best things about summer, and Safeswim makes them even better, so you can choose the optimal one to swim at for the conditions.”The updated system also allows users to check conditions every 15 minutes, including information about surf lifeguards on duty. This real-time functionality is especially helpful following heavy rainfall, which can affect water quality. Safeswim Manager Holly Foreman highlighted the platform’s continued growth, noting that over one million visits were recorded last summer.The Safeswim website and mobile app have also been redesigned, making it easier for users to access critical safety information while on the go. A collaboration involving Auckland Council, Surf Life Saving New Zealand, and other organisations, the platform aims to promote safe, enjoyable experiences at the region’s beaches.Whether planning a family outing or a quick swim, Aucklanders are encouraged to visit safeswim for up-to-date information.

The Hibiscus Coast community and all of Auckland have reached a significant milestone in Auckland Council’s financial strategy with the confirmed sale of its remaining shares in Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL). The Auckland Future Fund, a council-controlled organisation, oversaw the sale, securing at least $1.31 billion from the 9.71 per cent shareholding.The shares were sold at a minimum price of $8.08 each, surpassing the Long-term Plan 2024-2034 projection of $7.89 after transaction costs. Auckland Future Fund Chair Chris Swasbrook highlighted the achievement as a pivotal moment for the council’s financial planning.“The airport share sale enables the Auckland Future Fund to get underway with investing on behalf of Aucklanders and contributing funds to support council services,” said Mr Swasbrook.He noted that the sale process attracted global interest and was conducted by UBS, delivering a favourable outcome. The sale supports Auckland Council’s move to diversify its investments, which the fund projects will yield $40 million in annual cash returns starting in 2025/2026.Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown emphasised that the sale aligns with the council’s commitment to ratepayers.“The sale is a positive for Auckland. We are getting on with delivering a future fund that will support Auckland in the long term,” he said.Liaison Councillor Christine Fletcher described the sale as a launchpad for the fund, which operates under an independent trustee board. “It’s pleasing to see the future fund progressing as planned on behalf of Aucklanders,” she said.The Auckland Future Fund was introduced in September 2024 as part of the council’s Long-term Plan 2024-2034. It aims to safeguard the region’s financial resilience while reducing dependence on rate increases to fund infrastructure and services.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

The Government has initiated a comprehensive review of competition rules, aiming to address monopolies and enhance economic productivity. The announcement was made by Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly, who emphasised the importance of strong competition for improving living standards across the country.“Improving competition is one of the most important ways to boost productivity and lift living standards,” Mr Bayly said. “When competition is working well, businesses are incentivised to invest, grow, and innovate. This has wide-ranging advantages for Kiwi consumers who benefit from more choice and lower prices.”The review comes as OECD research highlights New Zealand's lag in competition compared to international peers. Key sectors such as groceries, banking, and building supplies have been identified as areas where limited choice and high prices persist.Mr Bayly pointed to the 2022 plasterboard crisis, which underscored the consequences of competition failure. He outlined a two-pronged approach for the review:Commerce Act Review: Updating competition settings with a focus on merger regulations.Commerce Commission Review: Assessing the governance and effectiveness of the regulator, including its decision-making and resource prioritisation capabilities.The merger regime, which has not been updated in over 20 years, will be a key focus. “Mergers can improve market efficiencies but can also entrench market power and create monopolies,” Mr Bayly noted.The Commerce Commission review will examine its organisational structure, including whether sector-specific commissioners improve accountability and strategy. The Government aims to ensure the Commission has the necessary tools to oversee and enforce competition laws effectively.Respected economist Dame Paula Rebstock will lead the review, supported by Professor Allan Fels and David Hunt. The findings are expected by May 2025.Mr Bayly noted that similar reviews are underway in Australia, providing an opportunity for alignment with New Zealand’s close economic partner. He added, “Improving competition to drive down the cost of living and increase productivity is one of the Government’s top priorities.”The initiative is part of a broader effort to establish a robust competition framework designed to support the economy and benefit all New Zealanders.

Your Weekly News Fix.Catch up on the top local stories that made headlines this week!Top Stories You Need to Know…Local Businesses Spread Festive Cheer Across the Hibiscus CoastRead moreThe dirtiest (and cleanest) beaches in AucklandRead morePolice Name Waitoki Crash VictimsRead moreOrewa College Rolls Out the Welcome MatRead morePenlink Project Progressing WellRead moreStay ahead of the curve.Get the latest local news and information through the Hibiscus Coast App. Download the app now!Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

As the festive season draws near, Hibiscus Coast residents are being urged to remain cautious amid a rise in phishing scams targeting online shoppers and sellers.Police have issued a warning about offenders posing as genuine buyers on popular platforms such as Trade Me and Facebook Marketplace.Detective Inspector Stuart Mills, Manager Intercept and Technology Operations for the National Criminal Investigation Group, outlined how these scams typically unfold.“The offenders urgently request to buy your product and arrange a courier pickup,” he said.“The victim receives a fake courier website link to complete a verification process, asking for personal details like bank account numbers, passwords, and phone numbers.”After obtaining these details, scammers gain access to victims’ bank accounts, sometimes by deceiving them into providing multi-factor authentication codes sent by their banks.This grants the offenders the ability to withdraw funds from victims’ accounts.To protect against these scams, Police are advising the public to take extra precautions:Never share personal or banking information online, especially with individuals claiming urgency.Be wary of courier website links sent by buyers. These are often scams designed to collect sensitive information.Use reporting tools on social media or trading platforms to flag suspicious accounts.“Legitimate organisations will never ask you to verify your online banking details,” Mills added.He encouraged anyone unsure about a request to contact their bank directly using the official phone number or by visiting a branch.If you suspect you’ve been targeted, Police recommend acting quickly.Contact your bank to suspend your account and report the scam to Netsafe at report.netsafe.org.nzIncidents can also be reported to Police through 105.police.govt.nz or by calling 105.By staying alert and following these guidelines, Coasties can avoid falling victim to these holiday scams.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Lotto NZ has delivered a record-breaking $434 million to community organisations across New Zealand in the past financial year, marking a 15% increase compared to the previous year.Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden announced the milestone, highlighting the impact of the funds on local projects. "It’s fantastic to see an increase in funding going to important community projects, providing opportunities for New Zealanders to participate in social, recreational, and cultural activities,” said Ms van Velden.The grants, distributed by the Lottery Grants Board, supported 3,171 community organisations nationwide. Beneficiaries included the Big Buddy Mentoring Trust, Youthline, and numerous local sports clubs.“It is important that these grants go towards initiatives that deliver significant benefits for New Zealand communities, and that organisations can demonstrate clear positive results from the grants received,” added Ms van Velden.She also noted a focus on improving efficiencies and maximising value from the lottery grants system.In addition to the grants, Lotto NZ contributed $200 million in taxes, duties, and levies to the government during the same period.Despite the increase in Lotto sales, a Ministry of Health report confirms that the number of players experiencing gambling harm from Lotto products has not risen.The record funding is expected to have a lasting impact on communities, enabling social, cultural, and recreational development across the country.

Hibiscus Coast locals are reminded to stay vigilant following the arrest of a woman accused of targeting open homes across Auckland.Police have charged a 29-year-old woman with multiple counts of burglary and credit card misuse after a series of thefts from properties on Auckland’s North Shore and in West Auckland.Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie of Waitematā CIB confirmed the charges, which follow an extensive investigation into 12 reported incidents since August.According to police, the accused allegedly focused on personal belongings, particularly jewellery, during open home viewings.“Yesterday morning, we arrested a woman at an address in Massey and located and recovered items of jewellery there that were reported as stolen,” Detective Senior Sergeant Goldie stated.The woman faces 12 counts of burglary and two charges of taking and using a credit card for pecuniary advantage.She is scheduled to appear in the Waitākere District Court today.Authorities have urged the community to exercise caution when hosting open home events.“We ask that the community continues to remain vigilant when putting their homes up for open home viewings,” Detective Senior Sergeant Goldie added.“Ensure high value items that can easily be stolen are removed from the property or secured into a safe.”Police are continuing efforts to recover additional stolen jewellery and return it to its rightful owners.

Coasties can expect the next four days to bring the following:Friday - 6/12Partly cloudy. Breezy to brisk Sou'West winds.High: 21Low: 14Saturday - 7/12Partly cloudy. Breezy Sou'West winds.High: 22Low: 14Sunday - 8/12Cloudy. Breezy North to Nor'West winds.High: 24Low: 17Monday - 9/12Showers. Fairly breezy West to Nor'West windsHigh: 22Low: 16Get real-time weather updates, tide information, wind conditions, wave forecasts, recommended swimming areas, and lots more.Anytime, anywhere – everything you need is inside the Hibiscus Coast App.

Auckland may have won the first battle, but the war between the country's newest and most successful football franchises is far from over.The newest sporting rivalry in Aotearoa writes its second chapter this weekend, when the Wellington Phoenix come north in an attempt to conquer the current A-League kings.Auckland FC have surpassed even the boldest predictions across their first five appearances, sitting unbeaten at the top of the table without a goal conceded.Chief executive Nick Becker is anticipating plenty of off-field chat between the respective fan bases."We welcome them with open arms. Expect the Auckland fans get stuck in as they do, but I think it's going to be a brilliant atmosphere, a great friendly rivalry, and it's going to be a fantastic match."One of the most exciting sporting feuds in the country after just a single fixture, the match-up already has a moniker - 'Kiwi Clasico'."I think New Zealand's been waiting for a good sporting rivalry, some of the other ones have sort of fallen away and so this is something new, something fresh. Wellington have been around for so long that us coming in, they've stood up to it and of taken on the challenge. The fans have been brilliant. Everybody's got some pretty fun banter going on," Becker said.Mount Smart is sold out for the clash, with capacity added on the embankment and an expected crowd of 26,000."You get really pumped about the derby and given that this is the second one, our first one at home, and we got the result from the first one, it's a big occasion for Auckland City fans and definitely for the club as well."Becker admitted the franchise's success had surpassed even his wildest expectations."If you'd asked me what success would look like before the season started, I wouldn't have been as bold as to go as far as it has. I don't want to jinx anything, but we certainly want to continue the way that we're going. When you keep some clean sheets, the confidence really grows within the team."Recently returning to the city after leaving in 2003, Becker said the shift in the game has been seismic in Tāmaki Makaurau.'When I left, football was about a fourth or fifth sport down the down the list, and now the growth of the consistent growth of the game is really impressive."He said Auckland was crying out for a franchise."It's the fifth biggest city in Oceania and we didn't have a professional football club. It made complete sense to start one."However, it was never simply about participation."We weren't here to make up the numbers. Right from day one, we've talked both publicly and within the club of making sure that we were super competitive."He believed their on-field style has also enamoured the side to fans."We play high-press, attacking, exciting football. I think that's helped us both win over the fans and also, start the season the way that we intended to, as well."The question is now, just how long will the fairy tale last?"We certainly want to be in the mix (for the title). We want to be there or there abouts when it gets down to the business part of the season. I don't want to come in and say we're going to win in the first year, but we really want that silverware, and we're going to be doing everything we can to get our hands on it."

Locals on the Hibiscus Coast can look forward to improved travel times and enhanced safety with the Penlink project making steady progress.The new 7km highway, State Highway 19 (SH19), connecting Whangaparāoa Road and State Highway 1, is expected to be completed by late 2026.The project's scope is extensive, featuring 7 kilometres of two-lane road, six bridges, and over 135,000 cubic metres of pavement.Additionally, 1.3 million cubic metres of earth will be moved, and 10,500 metres of drainage will be installed.Recent drop-in sessions held at the Stillwater Boat Club and Hibiscus Coast RSA provided an opportunity for the community to engage with the project team and provide feedback.NZTA received a variety of comments and addressed common questions, including future planning for the highway and State Highway 1.According to NZTA, SH19 will initially have two lanes, with the potential to accommodate two general traffic lanes and two bus shoulder lanes, plus a separate walking and cycling path, when demand increases.The new highway will have an 80km speed limit and no passing lanes.While the project is progressing well, a delay of at least 12 months is forecast for the Wēiti River Bridge component.However, the rest of the project remains on track for completion by late 2026.The Penlink project includes six connections to local roads or areas, including State Highway 1, East Coast Road, and Ara Wēiti Road.The Whangaparāoa Road intersection has been designed to improve safety and traffic flow, with features such as an additional westbound lane and a signalised intersection.Artist concept of the new SH19 and Whangaparāoa Road intersection.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Locals on the Hibiscus Coast may soon see changes in how their energy and broadband bundles are priced, thanks to the Commerce Commission's latest move.The Commission is challenging Contact and Nova, two leading providers of bundled services, to stop displaying GST-exclusive pricing by default.According to Telecommunications Commissioner Tristan Gilbertson, this practice creates "the illusion of savings that don't exist."The Commission's challenge follows a review of guidelines issued in November last year, which aimed to address concerns about the marketing of bundled services.While the Commission is pleased that providers have cleaned up their marketing and stopped luring consumers with sharp upfront broadband discounts, they are concerned that Contact and Nova persist with GST-exclusive pricing.Mr Gilbertson notes that this practice is "inherently confusing" and may mislead consumers, particularly with escalating electricity costs and wider cost-of-living concerns.The Commission encourages consumers to take care when comparing bundles from Contact and Nova, given the 15% difference in pricing.Consumers can also use the industry's independent dispute resolution scheme, TDR, if they encounter any issues.In the background, the Energy/Broadband Bundling Guidelines were issued in November 2023 to increase transparency and reduce consumer confusion.The guidelines require providers to disclose key information, such as prices inclusive of GST, prominently upfront to consumers.The Commission will continue to monitor the market for compliance and encourages consumers to report any concerns.

Locals across Auckland have contributed to a significant milestone in road safety, with over one million breath tests conducted so far this year. The Auckland Police District has achieved a 41% increase in breath testing compared to the same period in 2023, according to provisional figures.From January 1 to November 30, 2024, Police completed 1,028,009 breath tests, surpassing the 726,723 tests carried out during the same timeframe last year. This effort represents a substantial boost in the visibility of road policing.“These staggering numbers are a credit to our dedicated road policing teams within Auckland who are out patrolling roads every day and are all focused on prevention and enforcement,” said Inspector Juliet Burgess, Auckland Road Policing Manager.Inspector Burgess highlighted a key outcome of these efforts: a reduction in deaths and serious injuries (DSI) on Auckland’s roads. She attributed this success to close collaboration with Auckland Transport and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), which helped create a stronger deterrence effect among drivers.Teresa Burnett, Auckland Transport’s General Manager of Transport Safety, commended Police for their achievements. “Coming into the festive season, it is doubly important that Aucklanders know they could be breath tested anytime and anywhere so that everyone can get home safely,” she said.With summer approaching, Auckland Police have reminded drivers to stay alert and responsible. “Drivers can expect to see our staff at any time to deter drivers of any dangerous behaviours, including driving impaired,” said Inspector Burgess.She reinforced the message that drink driving remains a serious concern.“We are all too familiar with the devastating results drink driving can cause, and any death on the road is one too many.”The record breath test numbers aim to ensure safer roads for all Aucklanders as the holiday season begins.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Locals, welcome the newest addition to Orewa College's leadership team.James Went has been appointed Deputy Principal, effective 2025.James joins Orewa College from Avondale College, bringing a wealth of experience in leadership and education.James' expertise spans student wellbeing, leadership, and pastoral care.His passion for education and commitment to student success make him an excellent fit for the college.Today, James was warmly welcomed to the college whānau during a heartfelt pōwhiri ceremony.Students, staff, and family gathered to celebrate this new chapter for Orewa College."James' dedication to student success and his vision for education align perfectly with the values of Orewa College," said Principal Wiri Warriner."We're excited to have him join our team and inspire our ākonga."Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Wayne Brown says his promise to shake up the city's transport is great news for residents - but some are worried it is risky.Auckland Transport will be stripped of its decision-making powers to focus on running public transport, while a new Regional Transport Committee will tackle policy and planning.Just hours after the announcement, Aucklanders told RNZ the transport issues they wanted to see fixed as soon as possible."The roads," said one man. "They're terrible, potholes, the surfacing is horrendous."And the speed needs to go back up to pre-Labour speed-limits," he added."Cycle lanes, completely," one woman said."I used to cycle to work quite a lot, nowadays I just don't risk it, because I used to be able to go early, got children now, have to go later, don't want to face the traffic."The transition meant Auckland Transport would focus on delivering bus, train and ferry services.Auckland mayor Wayne Brown did not pull any punches."Delivery is one of the most important things for them," he said."I think that it will only be better... there's not much room to get worse to be honest."Transport Minister Simeon Brown said the move put Aucklanders in the driver's seat."What we're taking away is the issues around policy, and planning, and strategy," he said."That's where many of those decisions have been frustrating Aucklanders, where they see an agency not reflecting their views."Matt Lowrie, director of the Greater Auckland transport advocacy website, was sceptical."Often the best decision is not always the most politically popular one, and Auckland Transport hasn't always used their independence properly to make sure those decisions are made well," he said."But, this means that a populist decision might be chosen over an evidence-based decision simply because the politicians don't want to upset people."Under the new model, local boards would have authority over certain transport decisions like setting speed limits and approving things like cycleways and pedestrian crossings.Lowrie said this may be risky."The thing that quite concerns me is the local boards having much more say in outcomes on local roads," he said."There are some local boards that are very good and do look at evidence-based issues, and there are others that are quite the opposite, and so we could have quite a mixed bag of outcomes as a result."Minister Brown told Morning Report the long-term plan developed by the transport committee will be approved by Cabinet, functioning like a regional deal.He said this will make Auckland Transport delivery-focused, and make decisions accountable to the public."This was actually what was started under the last National government, which was the auckland transport alignment project and that was to have the council and the government working together..."Asked about whether there would be a risk decisions made would be populist rather than evidence-based, Minister Brown said it was about democracy."Ultimately it's about democracy and you know voters actually have a say on these things and that's the reality in terms of what happens on a local street in a local community, the voters of that community should be able to have a say."Devonport-Takapuna local board chair Toni van Tonder said the transition made good sense."I think we're going to be quite excited to be able to collaborate better and help to co-design and shape some of these projects, so that they reflect the community aspirations a bit more fulsomely."But there was still a way to go, as the changes to Auckland Transport required new legislation to make its way through parliament over the next 12 months.Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins told Morning Report without studying the details he was broadly supportive of the move."But I do think Auckland Transport needs a real shakeup and I do think it needs to be a partnership between central and local governmnet."Asked why Labour did not do this, Hipkins said the party was keen to progress conversations the mayor had started with them."The new government have done it, credit to them, let's get on with it."

Coasties, police have released the names of the two women who tragically lost their lives in a fatal crash in Waitoki on Saturday, 23 November.Tegan Mandy Melinda Hill, 25, from Hamilton, and Joanne Elizabeth Wilson, 59, from Parakai, were the victims of the crash.An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is ongoing.The community's thoughts are with the families and friends of Tegan and Joanne during this difficult time.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Coasties will be interested to know that the Government has announced increased support for job seekers receiving benefits. Up to 70,000 individuals will now have access to comprehensive needs assessments and personalised job plans to help them overcome challenges and find employment.According to Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston, "Individual Job Plans are a significant step forward in the Government's efforts to provide welfare that works for all New Zealanders." The initiative aims to reduce the number of people on Jobseeker Support by 50,000 by 2030.To achieve this goal, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) will offer phone-based case management to an additional 10,000 people, increasing the total number of individuals with employment case managers to 70,000. Each job seeker will receive a comprehensive work-readiness needs assessment, examining factors such as education, transport, addiction, health, and childcare issues. Case managers will then work with individuals to create personalised plans addressing these challenges.Minister Upston noted, "Many of those who are at risk of long-term welfare dependency have complex backgrounds and may require more help to address all the issues affecting their employability." The new initiative aims to provide targeted support, including work-readiness, literacy and numeracy training, driver training, mental health services, counselling, and addiction support.While the increased support will come with responsibility, job seekers who fail to meet agreed-upon work-testable actions may face sanctions through the new Traffic Light System.

With each day growing warmer, you might be inching that step closer towards your first cold plunge of the summer.But there are a few things to consider before you dive in.For one thing, our beaches aren't really ever 'safe' or 'unsafe' to swim in.Safeswim's independent Head of Science Martin Neale explains.It's not 'safe' or 'not safe' to swimSafeswim is a water quality programme offering information on swimming conditions and safety hazards around beaches in New Zealand.It's an important tool to consider before you head out for a swim, but it's equally important to remember the programme is 'risk-based', Neale says.Safeswim's Holly Foreman and Martin Neale. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Robinson"It's not 'safe' or 'not safe', the only place you'll see the word 'safe' is in the name Safeswim ... we're just telling people it's low-risk today or it's high-risk today. We have no mandate to stop people swimming, we're giving people the best information we can and letting people make that choice."There's always a little bit of poop in the waterSafeswim collects samples of about 100ml of water from local beaches once a fortnight.Those samples are then tested for something called faecal indicator bacteria - the bacteria that comes from the faeces of warm-blooded animals like birds, dogs, cows, and yes, humans.The results of those samples can indicate whether water is low or high risk.Unfortunately, there's no such thing as 'no risk'."The bacteria is always there, generally in small concentrations," Neale says.How does poop get into the water anyway?Safeswim and other water quality programmes test for faecal indicator bacteria, largely because it's easier to test for than most other bugs and viruses."They're bacteria that we find in the stomachs and intestines of warm-blooded animals and there can be up to 15 million of these things per gram of faeces from an animal. They indicate the presence of fecal contamination in water, and they're chosen as indicators because they don't live very long in the environment."Animals do their business in various places, and when it rains, the faeces will often get washed off the land and straight into beaches, rivers and streams.Neale says the sources of contamination at beaches are different - that's why you'll see some beaches with more frequently poorer water quality than others."We know there are lots of places where birds gather for example."Big, natural flocks of birds do their business and it has an impact on water quality ... we have places where there's rural activities, in those types of places where streams are not fenced, the cows and sheep do their business and it flows downstream into a beach."In and around a lot of urban areas, we get runoff from concrete but we also do have known issues with the wastewater network in places. Obviously the human side of things is a little more complicated, we have wastewater networks, and perhaps not by design, but some are leaky to some degree."How are some beaches low risk one day, and high risk the next?The state of a beach will change over time due to two main reasons - discharge and dilution."If you get a discharge to a beach, over a couple of tidal cycles, there's a huge amount of clean ocean water coming in that dilutes the contamination to lower levels. We can see in open coast beaches where you get big tidal flashing, contamination can dilute and drop below guidelines for swimming quite quickly."Whereas some of the inner harbour areas where there's not so much flashing, sometimes the contamination can get stuck there for longer, and it requires more tidal cycles. That's one of the big ways that water quality changes over time - we might get a discharge to a beach that increases the concentration of bacteria in the water above a certain level, and then we get dilution through the tidal cycles that reduces that."How is it that neighbouring bays, sharing the same body of water, can have totally different water qualities?Even if two bays are right next to each other, only the beach with the discharge directed at it will be affected, Neale says."So if a beach has a big stormwater pipe discharging to it as many of them do, or a stream coming across the beach, we see that beach would be more susceptible to water quality impacts than, let's say, a beach with no discharges on it."Tāwharanui Regional Park - View of Anchor Bay from Flat Rock looking west. One of the cleanest beaches to swim in Auckland. Photo: Auckland Council websiteIs water self-cleaning?Luckily faecal indicator bacteria can only survive the warmth.That means the second they get into salt water, they die off pretty quickly."The bacteria live in anaerobic conditions so once they get out, they don't live for very long, maybe a few days. And in addition to the salt water action, another thing that is known to be impactful on bacteria is UV radiation."There's a fair bit of science around the world that says on sunny days, the water quality will tend to improve quicker if you've had a contamination. If it's sunny, you might see greater die off of bacteria because they're quite vulnerable to UV radiation."Can that little sample of water really help determine the risks?Sampling alone isn't enough to indicate water quality - it's just one element of a larger modelling and forecasting approach at Safeswim, Neale explains."Samples are not done every day, the reasons for that are two-fold. One, if we take a sample from a beach to test it, we don't get that result back for two days ... that means whenever we use monitoring results in that way, we're always telling people information that could potentially be out of date."The other thing is ... if you take one sample a week or fortnight, which is the norm for most monitoring programmes, you've got a one in seven chance of actually catching contamination if it occurs ... we do a lot of sampling and monitoring at all of the beaches, and what we use the sampling data for is to test and refine the predictive models."We'll take a small sample and compare what the model says at that point in time and see if it's correct, see how accurate our models are. Every sample we take gets tested for the fecal indicator bacteria, and if that result then comes back high or above the swimming guideline, we get a message from the lab quite quickly to say, 'This sample is high'."We can then look at it [and] investigate if it's an unusually high sample and the source, whether it's a human source or from dogs or birds or cows. The reason we want to know that is the management of the water quality problem will be different."Safeswim collects data around the cleanest and dirtiest beaches around the Auckland region.These were the ones to avoid, and the ones to dive into, according to the 2022/2023 rankings.The five dirtiest Auckland beaches1. Fosters Bay, Waitākere Ranges2. Green Bay, Whau3. Lynfield Cove, Whau4. Meola Reef, Albert-Eden5. Wood Bay, Waitākere RangesThe five cleanest Auckland beaches1. Tāwharanui, Rodney2. Anchor Bay, Rodney3. Devonport. Devonport-Takapuna4. Goat Island, Rodney5. Karekare Beach, Waitākere Ranges

Hibiscus Coast locals and Aucklanders alike can expect a significant shift in how transport decisions are made, following the Government’s announcement to restore democratic accountability to transport governance in Auckland. This reform aims to give elected representatives, and ultimately voters, greater control over policies that directly impact daily travel.Transport Minister Simeon Brown stated the changes come in response to growing frustration among Aucklanders over a perceived lack of responsiveness from Auckland Transport (AT). According to AT’s latest Annual Report, only 29% of Aucklanders feel their voices are heard and addressed.The reforms include several key measures to realign transport governance with public accountability:Regional Transport Policy and Planning: These functions will be returned to Auckland Council, mirroring the approach of other regional councils across New Zealand.Auckland Regional Transport Committee (ARTC): A new statutory body will develop a 30-year Integrated Transport Plan, ensuring long-term collaboration between local and central government.Road Controlling Authority Designation: Auckland Council will take over as the Road Controlling Authority, sharing decision-making power with Local Boards.Revised Transport Organisation Focus: Auckland Council will oversee a transport council-controlled organisation (CCO) dedicated solely to project delivery, with its structure finalised within six months of legislative approval.Minister Brown emphasised the importance of empowering elected representatives to approve vital plans such as the Regional Land Transport Plan and the Regional Public Transport Plan. “By returning decision-making power to elected representatives, we are enabling Aucklanders to directly influence transport policies,” he said.Local Boards will also see enhanced roles, managing community-specific matters like speed limits, parking, and pedestrian crossings.Mayor Wayne Brown welcomed the reforms, stating, “Aucklanders elected me to take back control of Auckland Transport, and I am fulfilling that promise. These changes restore local democracy to Auckland’s transport system.”The ARTC will play a pivotal role in developing a unified vision for the city’s future, addressing diverse needs across roads, rail, public transport, and freight for the next 30 years.“Long-term alignment between local and central government is critical to Auckland and New Zealand’s success,” said Minister Brown. The legislation formalising these changes marks a "fundamental reset" in Auckland's transport governance.