Hibiscus Coast commuters are heading into the busiest stretch of the year across Auckland’s transport network.Auckland Transport says February to early April is its peak period, with buses, trains and ferries making 13,500 trips per day, including 500 school trips. It expects more than two million passenger journeys each week.Weekdays between 7am–9am and 3pm–6pm will be the busiest, with Wednesdays generally the busiest day. AT also expects a 6.7% increase in average road congestion and is urging people to plan journeys before setting out.Group Manager Public Transport Operations Rachel Cara says planning began in March last year. “Our main message to people is to plan ahead, regardless of how they travel, whether it’s on public transport or in their private vehicle.”She says 2025 network changes added capacity on key routes, with larger buses at peak times. AT has 42 fast frequent bus routes running at least every 15 minutes from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week, and about 750,000 people live within a ten minute walk of one of these stops.ATOC Manager Claire Howard says teams monitor arterial roads and state highways 24 hours a day. She says responses can include adjusting signals to clear traffic and displaying estimated journey times on digital boards.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

For primary care nurses here on the Hibiscus Coast and around New Zealand, advanced education opportunities are expanding.Health Minister Simeon Brown says 235 primary care registered nurses will start advanced education through new scholarships this year.Mr Brown says the Government committed last year to support up to 120 primary care registered nurses each year over four years, and demand has led to 235 scholarships being awarded this year. Placements begin from next week, and calls it “the highest number of primary care nurses ever supported into advanced education in a single year”. The expansion has been achieved within existing funding.Of the 235 registered nurses currently working in primary and community healthcare settings, 147 will work towards a Postgraduate Diploma in Prescribing and 88 will undertake a Master of Nursing. Mr Brown says nurses who complete these qualifications can become registered nurse prescribers, working as part of collaborative healthcare teams and prescribing from an approved list of medicines. Many will continue along the pathway to become nurse practitioners.Mr Brown says nurse prescribers can now prescribe 211 additional medicines, covering “a wide range of common and long-term conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory conditions, and menopause symptoms”. This additional training capacity comes following the expansion of prescribing rights announced in December.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Police are assisting Fire and Emergency New Zealand after a three-vehicle crash caused a diesel spill on State Highway 1 in Orewa.The northbound lanes were blocked following reports of the crash at about 12.18pm. One person has received injuries. Both northbound lanes are closed from the Grand Drive off-ramp and traffic is being diverted.Motorists are advised to expect delays and seek an alternative route or delay travel if possible.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union members will stop work today, Monday, February 23, from 12pm to 1pm.Fire and Emergency says it will continue to answer 111 calls and respond to fires in affected areas during that hour. In cities and larger towns, response times to some emergencies may be longer than usual.More than 11,000 volunteers remain available to respond from almost 600 stations across the country and in their own trucks.Fire and Emergency is asking households and workplaces to be prepared. Businesses are urged to be careful around any work practices that could result in fire. Building owners are asked to make sure tenants understand their evacuation schemes and procedures.People are advised to check if their area is affected by the industrial strike action.Safety reminders include:Do not leave cooking unattended.If there is a fire, get out, stay out and call 111.Have a three-step escape plan with working smoke alarms, two ways out and a safe meeting place.At work, know your building evacuation plan. If the alarm sounds, exit and assemble at your meeting place.Delay lighting fires or any outdoor activities that create heat or sparks.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

National's conservation spokesperson Tama Potaka says the party will campaign on further restricting commercial fishing in the Hauraki Gulf.Legislation brought by the coalition government last year, established 12 high protection areas (HPAs) where a range of activities, including most commercial and recreational fishing, are prohibited, and five sea floor protection areas.At the time, the opposition criticised the government for a late-stage amendment allowing commercial ring-net fishing operators exclusive access to two of the HPAs.In a statement on Saturday, Potaka acknowledged that had "caused widespread concern from the hundreds of thousands of users of Auckland's key recreational waterway".Maungakiekie-based Labour MP Priyanca Radhakrishnan said at the law's introduction that Labour would reverse the carve-out, if elected."Despite the environment select committee unanimously recommending to this house that the bill be passed with no substantive change, at the 11th hour, because of some active lobbying of the minister of oceans and fisheries, we saw this government cave to that pressure and they have chosen to water down the protections in the original bill."Labour, in government, will reverse the change that allows ring-net fishing in those HPAs."Now, Potaka said National would also look to reinstate a total ban on fishing in the HPAs if re-elected."A further decision, to allow bottom trawling in some designated trawl corridors in the Gulf has also been controversial, so we will review that also."He wanted a consistent approach to the protection of the gulf, that struck a balance between serving the needs of recreational users as well as commercial."At the heart must be the health of the Hauraki Gulf. It is Auckland's playground and the centrepiece of some of New Zealand's most iconic aquatic events."Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Parliament has passed the Juries (Age of Excusal) Amendment Bill, raising the age for automatic jury excusal to 72.The change updates sections of the Juries Act 1981 so that people aged 72 and over may choose to be excused from jury service. The reform is intended to broaden the pool of potential jurors and reflect that many New Zealanders remain active in work and community life beyond 65.The Bill was introduced as a Member’s Bill by Whanganui MP Carl Bates. It comes into force on Saturday, February 21. It is expected to support the operation of the justice system by ensuring a wider and more representative group of people is available for jury service.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Police will soon have new move-on powers in Auckland’s CBD, the Government has announced.Auckland Minister Simeon Brown says the powers are part of the Government’s city centre action plan announced last year. He says move-on orders will give Police “an important tool to address antisocial behaviour that makes people feel unsafe” when people are intimidating others, blocking doorways, or engaging in threatening behaviour.“These powers build on the work already underway through our city centre action plan announced last year and will help restore confidence that Auckland's CBD is a safe, welcoming, and vibrant place for families, workers and visitors,” Brown says.He says 146 people had been placed into housing through Housing First by the end of January, up from 33 when the plan was announced in November. Crime victimisations fell from 1,010 in January 2024 to 638 in December 2025. A new Police station opened in the CBD last year and Police are increasingly on the beat.Brown says Auckland Council has redesigned Pocket Park to reduce anti-social behaviour and ensured street lighting and cameras across the CBD are operational to support Police.“Our Government is backing Auckland to succeed,” he says.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Happy Sunday, Coasties! Grab a hot drink and settle in.This is your essential 5-minute download of the week's most read Hibiscus Coast news and updates.Wayne Brown Slams Kaipara Rodney BreakawayRead more →Millwater Stop Uncovers Drugs And CashRead more →Watercare Starts Warkworth Wastewater UpgradesRead more →Dairy Flat Surf Park Hosts Community MorningRead more →Auckland House Prices Back Over 1 MillionRead more →Never miss a beat again. Get instant alerts and local updates delivered straight to your pocket.Download the Hibiscus Coast App now for news, jobs, events, and essential community info, anytime, anywhere.

Police are reminding residents at retirement villages across Auckland to be cautious.A 60-year-old woman faces burglary charges after alleged offending at a west Auckland retirement village.The arrest comes as Police investigate other burglaries at villages across the Auckland region. Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting, Waitematā West Area Investigations Manager, says five charges have been laid so far.“We have been investigating a spree of offending on one day in late January, where five residents were allegedly targeted in their residences,” he says.“Three residents have been the victims of burglaries with expensive jewellery and cash allegedly stolen.”Police estimate the offending to be valued at nearly $8,000.The woman has been charged with three counts of burglary and two counts of being unlawfully in a building. She will appear in the Waitākere District Court.Detective Senior Sergeant Bunting says following Thursday’s arrest, enquiries are ongoing into recent burglaries reported at other Auckland retirement villages. Further charges cannot be ruled out, he says.“It’s unfortunate when vulnerable members of the community are targeted in this matter, and we will oppose the woman’s bail at her court appearance.”“It’s important that residents be mindful of people who might be out of place in these villages, and keep an eye out for your neighbours,” Detective Senior Sergeant Bunting says.“Never let someone inside your unit unless you know who they are or have confirmed their identity with management.“I’m encouraging families to check in on their loved ones and reiterate this advice.”Always keep your valuables hidden and secure wherever possible.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

New Zealand Food Safety is supporting MeatUp Limited, trading as Zaroa NZ, in recalling all batches of three salami products due to a lack of required food safety controls.The concern is the salami was produced without the required controls and oversight, Deputy Director-General Vincent Arbuckle said. All batches and dates of the following 80g products are affected:Delicate Salami Pohutukawa Smoked Black Angus BeefBatch Code: 50823-3, Use By: 6/04/2026Hawkes Bay Black Angus Beef Chorizo SalamiBatch Code: 50823-4, Use By: 11/04/2026Pure Black Salami Black Angus BeefBatch Code: 50823-2, Use By: 11/04/2026“These products should not be eaten. You can return them to the place of purchase for a refund. If that’s not possible, throw them out,” Mr Arbuckle said.Traditionally dried and cured products must be carefully controlled as the process does not involve a high-temperature cooking step that kills bacteria such as Salmonella and E.coli.There have been no reports of illness linked to the products. They have been removed from store shelves and were not exported.If you have consumed any of the affected products and are concerned, contact your health professional or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free advice.New Zealand Food Safety said it will work with Zaroa NZ to ensure appropriate food safety controls are put in place.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

SEEK says job ads rose 1.3% in January and are now 11.7% higher than a year ago.Rob Clark, SEEK NZ Country Manager, says: “New Zealand’s employment market has entered 2026 on a stronger footing than a year ago.” He says the pattern is “gradual but consistent expansion rather than rapid swings.”SEEK says applications per job ad did not change month-on-month in December and have stabilised near their peak for the past six months.For Hibiscus Coast locals watching where hiring is strongest, SEEK says most industries recorded monthly, quarterly and annual rises in January. It says Construction and Industrial have driven much of the annual growth, rising 20.1% and 16.5% year-on-year. It also says annual growth was stronger in Construction (36.4%), Farming, Animals & Conservation (32.2%) and Consulting & Strategy (27.6%) than other industries.SEEK says job ad growth month-on-month was led by Manufacturing, Transport & Logistics, Trades & Services, and Healthcare & Medical. It says fewer industries fell month-on-month, with Real Estate & Property recording the largest decline at -2.3%.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Hibiscus Coast residents who travel north can expect key planning milestones on the Northland Corridor this year.The Northland Corridor team says it has completed meetings with landowners in the priority section, the Alternative to the Brynderwyn Hills. NZTA says it is in the final stages of refining the preferred route for the Alternative to the Brynderwyn Hills section and expects to confirm impacts for landowners by mid-March 2026. For landowners between Waipū and Whangārei, letters are being sent inviting them to book individual meetings, expected to arrive within the next two weeks.Geotechnical investigations remain focused on the Brynderwyn alternative and will move north towards Ruakākā and Whangārei. For the Ara Tūhono, Warkworth to Te Hana section, NZTA says procurement is progressing. It expects to move into negotiations after proposal evaluations are completed at the end of March 2026, with a contract award expected by the end of July 2026. The successful PPP consortium is expected to begin detailed design and early construction works by the end of this year.NZTA also says it is consulting on proposed lower speed limits on some sections of Northland state highways.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Business confidence has surged to its strongest level since 2022, according to Auckland Business Chamber.The February 2026 Business Confidence Survey, conducted between Sunday, February 9 and Tuesday, February 17, shows negative sentiment falling from 44% in November to 25%.Positive sentiment doubled from 16% to 32%.Simon Bridges, CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber, said the results mark a decisive shift.“This is a material turnaround. After a long stretch of businesses feeling battered, this is a real lift in mood.”Over half of businesses expect the economy to improve over the next 12 months.The share reporting performance below expectations fell from 47% to 36%.Revenue down year-on-year dropped from 50% to 41%, while revenue up lifted from 30% to 38%.“We’re starting to see conditions firm. Confidence is leading performance, which is often how recovery phases begin,” Bridges said.Hiring intentions softened, with 41% planning to hire, down from 47%.Two-thirds have raised or plan to raise prices, up from 61% to 66%.Cost pressure remains, with 78% expecting costs to rise, down four points since November.Inflationary pressure and interest rates rose as a concern from 29% to 44%.Consumer confidence and demand remains the top issue, cited by 55% of businesses.“Confidence is improving, but cost pressure hasn’t gone away,” Bridges said.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

NZTA will close SH1 southbound between Silverdale interchange and Oteha Valley Road overnight Monday, February 23.The closure is scheduled from 9pm to 5am for general maintenance.The Silverdale southbound on-ramp and the Oteha Valley Road southbound off-ramp will also be closed.Signposted detours will be in place.NZTA recommends using the detour via Twin Coast Discovery Highway, Dairy Flat Highway and Oteha Valley Road.The work is weather dependent and dates may change.Ramp closures and lane restrictions may start before the mainline closure.It also says nearby properties may experience increased noise during the work.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Making plans? Three Hibiscus Coast events to check out this week.Orewa Boulevard Arts FiestaSat 21 FebClick here for more detailsHibiscus Coast AFC Charity Dinner FundraiserSat 21 FebClick here for more details Auckland Surf Park Community EventSat 28 FebClick here for more details Find more things to do anytime in the Hibiscus Coast App. Browse the full What’s On 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.

SPCA is calling for an urgent review of the Dog Control Act 1996 following a fatal dog attack in Northland.The organisation says the tragedy marks the fourth fatal dog attack in four years in New Zealand and the third in Northland.“Our thoughts are with the woman’s whānau and the wider community during this incredibly heartbreaking time," says SPCA Chief Scientific Officer Dr Arnja Dale.She says New Zealand’s current approach to dog control is not fit for purpose and is urging a substantive review of the 30-year-old law.SPCA is calling for reinstatement of Central Government grants to councils to subsidise desexing of menacing and roaming dogs, and for standardised national guidelines on actions after a dog bite incident, incorporating tools such as the Dunbar Bite Scale.“There is no single silver bullet,” Dr Dale says.“Effective prevention relies on strong legislation, consistent enforcement, responsible breeding oversight, desexing, early behavioural intervention and public education. What is needed now is leadership from Central Government and a comprehensive, substantive review of this outdated law.”The organisation says it has been engaging with successive ministers since 2015 and wrote again to the minister on Wednesday morning requesting a meeting.It says while it welcomes the Department of Internal Affairs’ work to update operational guidance for councils, guidance alone cannot resolve weaknesses in the primary legislation.Public concern is reflected in two parliamentary petitions before a Select Committee calling for modernisation of the law.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Auckland councillors are split on what to make of the government's sudden change of heart on intensification.Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced on Thursday the number of homes Auckland Council must plan for would be reduced from 2 million to 1.6m, but only if it submitted a plan that was approved by the central government.The need for approval from Wellington outraged Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown."We're not doing this in order to go to the government and to the Cabinet and ask for their approval," he said after the announcement."I mean, the Cabinet mostly don't even live in Auckland, so that's not going to happen."Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown. Photo: RNZ/Marika KhabaziNorth Shore ward councillor and chairperson of the Policy, Planning and Development Committee, Richard Hills, agreed with Brown that the need to seek approval from the government was "very strange"."That was a bit of a surprise, we knew the number was being dropped but we were surprised this week that there would be some sort of intermediate phase where we would have to take the potential changes to Cabinet to sign off before they give us the legislation," he told RNZ."The mayor's been very clear that Auckland should not be going back to Cabinet, we are responsible to the people of Auckland, not Cabinet, so I'm not sure exactly how we'll negotiate that out."It is a strange precedent, it's normally left up to the different parts of the country to work out their own plans ... I'm not exactly sure what the expectation is, I mean, what happens if the Cabinet don't exactly agree with the direction of change? Will we have to go back and forward?"North Shore ward councillor Richard Hills. Photo: Alexia RussellThe council also had little time to come up with the new plan, as Hills explained it had not been given an extension to its mid-2027 deadline."The end date for the plan being complete is still the same, so there's going to be no extension on the other end, so whatever we do has to be quick, and it has to be quite focused on reducing some of the density in the outer areas of Auckland," he said.Another councillor, Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa's Christine Fletcher, felt the government's request was fair."I'm comfortable with the guardrails that the government are putting in place," she said."We should have to justify where we're looking to downzone, we should have to justify where we're wanting the intensification, and so I'm quite comfortable with the process going forward."Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa councillor Christine Fletcher. Photo: RNZ / Finn BlackwellAnne Moore, an east Auckland resident neighbouring a controversial three-storey development in Farm Cove, was pleased to hear the target for intensification had been lowered.She said recent intensification in the suburbs had damaged National's reputation, and wondered if Thursday's U-turn was a reaction to that sentiment."I talk to people every day out here, residents are saying they're worried ACT and Winston [Peters] are going to get their votes. It's really been a big issue out here in east Auckland particularly, and they've been voicing how they feel," she said."They don't want [intensification], or they want it done in a measured way and they want it done so we're aware of what's going on in our suburbs. [Ministers] don't live where these things are happening and yet they won't listen to the people that live there."Moore hoped the lower target would push the council to take a more considered approach."That was always the hope, that if they reduced the number that would mean the focus would be on central city and transport hub development, rather than turning every suburb into a three-storied townhouse situation," she said.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

For Hibiscus Coast households keeping a close eye on the grocery bill, new data shows many Kiwis see food waste as wasted money.2026 Cooking & Eating Global Report shows 64% of cost-conscious Kiwis think throwing away food wastes money.For the first time since opening in New Zealand, IKEA has included 1,001 interviews across Aotearoa in its global study, alongside 30 other countries.Based on more than 30,000 people surveyed in 31 countries, the report found 69% of New Zealanders consciously try to reduce food waste, compared with 63% globally. It also found 47% use food storage to keep food fresh for longer, versus 26% globally, and 36% cook with home-grown food, compared with 21% worldwide.New Zealanders also reported stronger sustainable food behaviours than the global average. The report found 48% use energy-efficient appliances, 47% buy seasonal produce, 30% buy fewer packaged products, 40% cook or prepare food for several meals at a time, and 62% cook from scratch. In addition, 63% prioritise reusable shopping bags, 44% plan meals in advance, and almost one in two do one big weekly shop rather than multiple grocery visits.“These insights show just how deeply sustainability is woven into everyday life in Aotearoa. The food sourcing, preparing, cooking and eating behaviours of New Zealanders reflect a strong national identity shaped by connection to the land, a desire to minimise waste, save money, and a practical, thoughtful approach to everyday living, values that align closely with our vision at IKEA.” said Edward Hincks, Home Furnishing and Retail Design Manager, IKEA New Zealand.The report states that IKEA’s food storage solutions are designed to support behaviours such as reducing food waste, planning meals, and keeping food fresher for longer.Get the Hibiscus Coast headlines first.Corrections, tips, or photos, [email protected]

Coasties, here’s what the next four days have for us.Friday, 20/2A few early showers then fine spells, isolated evening showers, wind swings NW to SWHigh: 24Low: 15Saturday, 21/2Fine to mostly sunny, fairly breezy from the south westHigh: 23Low: 15Sunday, 22/2Partly cloudy with sun and cloud, fairly breezy west to sou’westerHigh: 24Low: 16Monday, 23/2Fine with some sun and cloud, southerly easing in the morningHigh: 25Low: 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 for the region, accessible at any time and from any location.