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Kiwis have always had a soft spot for our animal friends. With so many unique and quirky birds and marine species calling Aotearoa home, it’s only natural that we feel a deep drive to protect them 🐧🦭
These days, we’re getting pretty creative about how we do it too. The latest idea? You… View moreKiwis have always had a soft spot for our animal friends. With so many unique and quirky birds and marine species calling Aotearoa home, it’s only natural that we feel a deep drive to protect them 🐧🦭
These days, we’re getting pretty creative about how we do it too. The latest idea? You can actually buy a symbolic piece of one of New Zealand’s most remote islands as part of the Auckland Island Restoration Project.
If you had a bit of spare cash, would you 'buy' into the project?
And maybe the bigger question — should we be looking at doing the same kind of thing for wildlife refuges on our main islands too?
Inland Revenue has sharply increased its enforcement activity, collecting $4.3 billion in overdue tax in the year to June – the highest total since 2018 – as total tax debt reached $9.3b. The department’s audit numbers rose 42% to 7641, with one in three targeting property transactions. An … View moreInland Revenue has sharply increased its enforcement activity, collecting $4.3 billion in overdue tax in the year to June – the highest total since 2018 – as total tax debt reached $9.3b. The department’s audit numbers rose 42% to 7641, with one in three targeting property transactions. An extra $35 million in Budget 2025 boosted the IRD's compliance funding, reinforcing the Government’s shift from pandemic-era leniency to debt recovery.
Problem areas: Baker Tilly Staples Rodway tax director Andrew Dickeson said Inland Revenue is scrutinising property sales, underpaid salaries and trust income splitting, alongside cash work and overseas companies operating in New Zealand. Its 2025 annual report shows 650 liquidation cases referred to court, up 49% year on year, signalling tougher consequences for unpaid tax. Dickeson said the IRD was typically good to deal with if people front-footed the tax issue they had and worked on making a payment plan.
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A number of banks are reporting scam calls where actors are impersonating bank staff and are soliciting information from business customers.
Be cautious of any unexpected contact and only use verified banking channels.
Important security reminder:
⚠️ Your bank will never ask for your … View moreA number of banks are reporting scam calls where actors are impersonating bank staff and are soliciting information from business customers.
Be cautious of any unexpected contact and only use verified banking channels.
Important security reminder:
⚠️ Your bank will never ask for your login details – including your username and passwords – by email or phone.
⚠️ Your bank will never send direct links to log in to online banking platforms via email or SMS.
⚠️ Your bank does not need to know your full credit card number and CVV number (they already know these details!)
⚠️ Your bank will never ask you to download software or remotely access your device.
Sweetpea Garden Display – Plants for Sale - Cut Flowers - Vintage Garden Tools – Food – Coffee – Activities – Historic Pressed Plant Exhibition and Demonstration
The orchard garden will be in full bloom with a specially planted display of sweet peas, and a wide range of stallholders … View moreSweetpea Garden Display – Plants for Sale - Cut Flowers - Vintage Garden Tools – Food – Coffee – Activities – Historic Pressed Plant Exhibition and Demonstration
The orchard garden will be in full bloom with a specially planted display of sweet peas, and a wide range of stallholders will be on site selling perennials, sweet peas, shrubs, climbers, grasses, heritage roses, natives, cut flowers, as well as vintage garden tools, flowerpots, and much more. Members of the botany team from Auckland Museum will be demonstrating how you can press your own plants.
Highwic house and the retail shop will also be open to visit, including a very special opportunity to view a display of pressed ferns and plants from the 1800s, brought out from the collection especially for the event. Also on display will be a personal collection of vintage watering cans.
Get creative and bring along a wonky vegetable creature, or make one on the day, for the 'Wonky Vegetable Creature Competition'.
See event page for more info.
Property developer Kiwi Property said today it had agreed to sell a 6.4-hectare plot of land to the US-based mega store chain at its new development in Drury, south of Auckland.
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No opening date was announced.
"We are very excited to be … View moreProperty developer Kiwi Property said today it had agreed to sell a 6.4-hectare plot of land to the US-based mega store chain at its new development in Drury, south of Auckland.
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No opening date was announced.
"We are very excited to be entering into this agreement with Kiwi Property in a location as great as Drury," Chris Tingman, Costco country manager, said.
"Whilst still subject to planning and corporate approvals, our aim is to introduce our unique high-quality, low-cost merchandise to Drury, serving our significant membership base in the south of Auckland, as well as Hamilton and the Waikato region."
The site is at the southern end of the development, adjacent to State Highway 1.
The new store will be the city's second, with the Costco at the Westgate shopping centre proving hugely popular.
“Costco has been a hit with Kiwi consumers since it opened its first store in Auckland and we’re pleased to be working with them on this exciting opportunity to bring Costco further south,” Kiwi Property chief executive officer Clive Mackenzie said.
Costco's first Auckland store has been a big success for the company. Its revenue in its second full year of operation, the 52 weeks ending September 2024, was $361.5 million.
Kiwi's 53-hectare development is being built for future residential use and a mixed-use centre and will include 10,000 m² of commercial space, 56,000 m² of retail, and 2000 m² for community activities.
Last week, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop announced it had won fast-track approval.
“The development is projected to inject over $1.45 billion into Auckland’s economy over the next 11 years and is expected to deliver around 3,420 full-time direct employment roles in construction and related services,” Bishop said.
"This is great news for jobs and growth in this fast-growing part of Auckland."
Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis hailed the announcement.
Legislation to create an "express lane" for new supermarket contracts was introduced to Parliament recently.
“The Government is working with Costco to ensure that we are doing everything possible to make consenting as quick and efficient as possible,” Willis said.
“It is also fantastic news for shoppers. More competition means more choice and lower prices."
She said the development, as a whole, was expected to inject $1.45 billion into the Auckland economy over the next 11 years, and create around 3420 full-time jobs in construction and related services.
“Costco’s planned expansion will add to that boost by creating more construction jobs,” Willis said.
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Hi. I'm looking for a midi controller keyboard if anyone has one as a surplus to give away & not needing it as I'm wanting to learn to make music with it using a DAW, would be greatly appreciated and must be in working condition, please. Thx. 0221613494 Text me please if you have … View moreHi. I'm looking for a midi controller keyboard if anyone has one as a surplus to give away & not needing it as I'm wanting to learn to make music with it using a DAW, would be greatly appreciated and must be in working condition, please. Thx. 0221613494 Text me please if you have one.
Short-hop domestic flights are costing New Zealanders as much as $3 a kilometre if they are booked shortly before travel - and that has prompted calls for change.
RNZ and economist Benje Patterson looked at the price of a range of domestic flights, both booked a week out and booked at the end of … View moreShort-hop domestic flights are costing New Zealanders as much as $3 a kilometre if they are booked shortly before travel - and that has prompted calls for change.
RNZ and economist Benje Patterson looked at the price of a range of domestic flights, both booked a week out and booked at the end of February.
We found that someone who was planning to travel in the last week of February next year could pay anything from 12c per kilometre for a flight from Auckland to Christchurch on Air New Zealand - or 8c on Jetstar - through to $1.07 a kilometre flying from Wellington to Blenheim.
Flights to Queenstown were 14c and 9c on Air New Zealand and Jetstar respectively and a flight between Hamilton and Christchurch was about the same.
Wellington to Nelson was 66c and Whangārei to Auckland 55c.
For last-minute flights, booked last week for travel this week, Auckland to Christchurch was still relatively affordable - 18c per kilometre on the cheapest flight on the most expensive day on Air New Zealand and 28c on Jetstar.
But Whangārei to Auckland was $1.43 a kilometre, Wellington to Nelson $1.44, Hokitika to Christchurch $2.02 and Wellington to Blenheim $3.04.
Patterson said it showed that booking in advance offered the cheapest flights on main trunk routes.
"With head-to-head competition between Air NZ and Jetstar…Jetstar's lead-in pricing appears to be $0.10 or lower per kilometre on its main trunk routes, while Air NZ has lead-in pricing of 12c to 18c per km.
"The only exception for main trunk routes is Wellington to Dunedin, which appears relatively expensive for both airlines. When it comes to last minute flights, neither airline is particular cheap on main trunk routes. The prices are often 30c to 80c per km. Interestingly, Air New Zealand appears slightly cheaper last minute."
He said regional flights where there was no competition were significantly more expensive.
"Even booking a long time out, flights in February for Air NZ tend to fall into two pricing groups - those that are 20c to 30c per km, and those that are 50c-plus per km. The regional flights that are more expensive per kilometre tend to be short hops - like Whangārei to Auckland, and Hokitika to Christchurch - those ones stand out as interesting as you can drive them relatively quickly.
"Other relatively expensive regional flights like Nelson to Wellington and Blenheim to Wellington are still a compelling option to many as driving takes significantly longer once ferry connections are taken into consideration so the flight is more reasonable in that context."
Air New Zealand general manager for domestic Kate O'Brien said the airline was aware of how important air travel was and tried to keep fares as low as it could.
"Running an airline comes with a lot of cost, unfortunately. Across our network, we spend more than $3 million every day on fuel, and that's before we consider the cost of the aircraft themselves, airport and air navigation charges, engineering and maintenance, and of course paying our pilots, crew and wider team.
"The costs per seat of operating smaller aircraft are considerably higher than those of larger aircraft due to scale diseconomies. To put it simply, there are fewer seats to spread the costs over. Baseline costs such as engineering and maintenance, aviation charges including landing fees, and fuel are also spread over fewer kilometres. Many of these costs over the past few years have increased significantly.
"Our smaller aircraft also operate with more crew per passenger than larger aircraft, and the aircraft operate more cycles - take-off and landings - so have higher maintenance requirements."
She said the airline's domestic costs has gone up 40 percent since 2019 while fares had risen 35 percent.
"Landing charges and passenger levies are up 43 percent since 2019, and by the end of our 2026 financial year we expect them to be 76 percent higher than in 2019. As an example, on a one-way ticket from Auckland to Wellington, we pay $60.62 in fees before the aircraft even leaves the ground. In 2019, this was $33 one way in fees."
She said the airline used a supply and demand-based system with a range of price points.
"This helps make sure that we have seats available when people need them, including last minute.
"Our flights go on sale about 12 months in advance - booking early almost always offers the best chance of securing a lower fare. While there might be a good deal close to the departure date or time, it will generally be where demand for the destination or the time of day isn't high. For popular places, dates and times, booking early is how we recommend passengers get the best fare.
"We know that it isn't always possible, but if people have flexible travel plans, flying on less popular days, during off-peak times, or changing travel by a day can help with a lower fare."
Consumer NZ investigative writer Vanessa Pratley said meaningful competition on more routes would help to drive down prices.
"We welcome the government's aviation action plan which looks to investigate how funding could be applied to enable expansion and increased resilience for smaller regional airlines.
"Everyone in Aotearoa deserves to be connected. Having access to fair and affordable transport is crucial to that. Maintaining these regional routes is important, and we recognise it can be expensive to fly them. That's why we're pleased to see the government's aviation action plan directly addresses this issue using the Regional Infrastructure Fund."
Patterson said it had been intriguing to see people saying publicly they would rather that lead-in airfares were slightly more expensive, rather than being set so low, if that meant the last minute flight prices were not as pricey.
"It is crazy to me that people on the same flight can pay five or six times what others who booked early paid, and both airlines are guilty of this. Could you build your social license by charging slightly more on lead-in flights so as to not gauge so much on last minute? Last minute is what catches people's emotion, and is arguably where people are a little more vulnerable if the flying is through to some unexpected circumstance or crisis they are dealing with."
Pratley said there were a range of ways pricing could be made fairer or passengers.
"We'd like to see more transparent pricing generally, particularly around how dynamic pricing algorithms are used."
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Selling 1.5 kg pack of Miele dishwasher salt. Bought online recently for $21 (including shipping), but couldn’t use it with my Vogue dishwasher because it lacks a salt compartment.
The salt has been transferred from the original pack into a clean container, but it’s otherwise unused. Selling… View moreSelling 1.5 kg pack of Miele dishwasher salt. Bought online recently for $21 (including shipping), but couldn’t use it with my Vogue dishwasher because it lacks a salt compartment.
The salt has been transferred from the original pack into a clean container, but it’s otherwise unused. Selling to recover some of the cost.
Ref: Order receipt attached
Paint it Orange - Arthritis - 1st - 29th November 2025
Paint it orange with Resene for Arthritis NZ!
Buy any orange Resene testpot 60 ml at your local Resene owned ColorShop in November and Resene will donate $1 to Arthritis NZ!
The more orange testpots you buy, the more will be donated.
We’re delighted to have been awarded silver in the 2026 Reader’s Digest Quality Service Awards.
This is the eighth time we’ve been honoured in these awards since they began in 2015.
Each year, Reader’s Digest conducts the Quality Service Awards survey to discover New Zealanders’ … View moreWe’re delighted to have been awarded silver in the 2026 Reader’s Digest Quality Service Awards.
This is the eighth time we’ve been honoured in these awards since they began in 2015.
Each year, Reader’s Digest conducts the Quality Service Awards survey to discover New Zealanders’ attitudes towards services from business across various industries.
Companies are assessed based on five pillars: personalisation, understanding, simplicity, satisfaction and consistency.
This recognition reflects the hard work, dedication and excellence that our teams strive for every day in our villages to deliver exceptional service standards.
Thank you to our amazing teams and to all those who took the time to complete the surveys!
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Strawberry Fair this weekend and to the many volunteers who made the day such a success. 🍓 It was a wonderful day filled with friendship, fun, fabulous food and great bargains. See you again next year – same time, same place (the second Saturday of … View moreThank you to everyone who joined us at the Strawberry Fair this weekend and to the many volunteers who made the day such a success. 🍓 It was a wonderful day filled with friendship, fun, fabulous food and great bargains. See you again next year – same time, same place (the second Saturday of November). 😊
With Christmas fast approaching and trees beginning to twinkle in homes across New Zealand, we’re on the hunt for NZ’s Most Loved Christmas Tree!
Whether it’s bursting with colour, elegantly minimal, or filled with sentimental touches from years past, we want to see how Kiwis are spreading… View moreWith Christmas fast approaching and trees beginning to twinkle in homes across New Zealand, we’re on the hunt for NZ’s Most Loved Christmas Tree!
Whether it’s bursting with colour, elegantly minimal, or filled with sentimental touches from years past, we want to see how Kiwis are spreading Christmas magic this season.
And now for the showstopper... 🌟
One tree will rise above them all, capturing the most public votes and the title of NZ’s Most Loved Christmas Tree 2025, along with the iPhone 17 Pro in Cosmic Orange, this year’s ultimate Christmas prize. 🎁🎄
To spread the cheer even further, four lucky trees will be chosen as Santa’s Lucky Trees, each receiving a $200 Space General Gift Voucher, the perfect way to add extra sparkle this season. 🎅🎁
Need a tree first? Explore our beautiful range here and start your Christmas magic!
📅 Public voting opens: 10 November 2025
⏳ Entries close: 17 December 2025
🎄 Winners unwrapped before Christmas — so strike a pose and share your festive masterpiece!
Parents and caregivers! Take advantage of FREE "Babysitting" for Kids 5+ while you enjoy a Kid-Free Date Night at one of our fabulous eating places here in Mt Eden Village!
The FREE supervised children’s activities will be held at the Mt Eden Village Centre and managed by Bricks4Kidz… View moreParents and caregivers! Take advantage of FREE "Babysitting" for Kids 5+ while you enjoy a Kid-Free Date Night at one of our fabulous eating places here in Mt Eden Village!
The FREE supervised children’s activities will be held at the Mt Eden Village Centre and managed by Bricks4Kidz Mount Eden which will organize different LEGO-building stations catering to various age groups and interests. This will not only keep the children engaged but also add an educational element to the evening. Pizza provided!
So go ahead and BOOK a Date Night with your partner or friend (or group of friends), BOOK your favourite eating place and BOOK your free "babysitting" service! We look forward to seeing you in Mt Eden Village!
Bookings essential. For children 5-13 years old.
For details and to register, please go to:
www.mounteden.co.nz...
Date Night Enquiries to: datenight@mounteden.co.nz
Bricks 4 Kidz Childrens Activities Enquiries to: centralwestakl@bricks4kidz.nz
Eateries: Circus Circus Cafe, De Nada, De Post Belgian Beer Cafe, Frasers, The Garden Shed, Gina's Italian Kitchen, Impression Restaurant Auckland, Indian Lounge, Katsu-Bay, Pasta & Cuore, Slimms Bar & Eatery, Sora Japanese Restaurant - Mt Eden, Taste of India Mount Eden, Vani's Kitchen New Zealand, Wu & You, XOONG
Brought to you by the Mt Eden Village Business Association in Conjunction with Bricks4Kidz Mount Eden
www.mounteden.co.nz...
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www.bricks4kidz.co.nz...
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This is Mt Eden Village's last Date Night in 2025. We will advise dates for 2026 soon.
#MtEdenVillage #MountEdenVillage #Maungawhau #DineLocal #ShopLocal #DateNightInMtEdenVillage #KidFreeDateNight #Bricks4Kidz
Mayor Wayne Brown says he welcomes any Government law change to empower police to forcibly move homeless out of Auckland’s city centre - insisting it’s the Prime Minister’s job, not his, to eliminate the city’s “scruffy” characters.
Brown told the Herald Auckland Council has done all … View moreMayor Wayne Brown says he welcomes any Government law change to empower police to forcibly move homeless out of Auckland’s city centre - insisting it’s the Prime Minister’s job, not his, to eliminate the city’s “scruffy” characters.
Brown told the Herald Auckland Council has done all it can to solve the problem of rough sleepers’ intimidating, drunken behaviour in the city centre, but the bylaws available to him are weak.
“I had to put up with the Prime Minister telling me that the town is scruffy. The town looks good, but the people in it are scruffy,” Brown said.
“The thing is that we’re [Auckland Council] responsible for places. But the Government makes the rules about people’s behaviour. It’s a people problem. Bylaws are a very weak thing.
“I’ve spent half a million of my mayoral budget on supporting Māori wardens and council approval staff. The people out there [in the CBD] that they’re dealing with know that they can’t arrest them. It’s pretty frightening.”
The comments from Brown come after Government ministers confirmed this week they are considering possible legislation to give police new powers to move homeless people out of Auckland’s city centre.
On Thursday, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed a proposal for a move-on order was among the recommendations delivered to ministers by the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime.
Speculation around whether the Government was considering a law change to ban homeless people from the Auckland CBD – of which there are an estimated 800 – began on Tuesday, when Luxon was questioned about it by Labour in the House.
After a week of questioning by the media, Luxon indicated yesterday on Newstalk ZB that the Minister for Auckland, Simeon Brown, has “started to convene” with all the various agencies responsible for the Auckland CBD: Auckland Council, government agencies and NGOs.
“Yes, people have then leaked those conversations out to the media,” Luxon said.
“We should look at bylaws, we should look at move-on powers, we should look at all sorts of things. If you’re going to put a move-on power, you need to look at how you’re going to support that individual so you’re not just moving that individual into another part of the city.
“We have to sort this CBD out … it’s not good.”
Brown said he had no problem with such possible Government intervention and it was “exactly what they [the Government] should be focusing on”.
“No [problem], not at all. I mean, if they clean up Queen St, that’s bloody fine,” Brown said.
“I’m telling you [Prime Minister Christoper Luxon], that’s your job, mate. It’s not mine. I’ve made it nice. We’ve put planting in there. We’ve done all our other [stuff]. You go down there on a nice day and there’s no one bad around, it’s actually quite a nice place.”
Goldsmith said while the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime had been given suggestions, they had “made no decisions yet and all options are on the table”.
“I think everybody’s conscious of the fact that in terms of the CBD in Auckland, there’s a lot of antisocial behaviour and widespread concern amongst people who live there and work there,” Goldsmith said.
The policy hasn’t been included in any Cabinet paper, which would most likely need to be agreed to by the four ministers with responsibility for the issue: Goldsmith, Police Minister Mark Mitchell, Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka.
But Brown said it would be entirely feasible to have police move intimidating individuals to another, less high-profile location where the social and economic impact of their presence is reduced.
“Well, I think they go out into the countryside,” Brown said of a possible location for downtown Auckland’s homeless.
“The other part about it is the economic damage they do. [It] depends on where they’re doing it. I mean, if there’s a scruffy-looking person sitting outside a pub in Ngāruawāhia right now, it’s probably not enchanting, but it’s probably not closing off wealthy foreign tourists from spending a lot of money here. So the economic damage depends on where you are.”
In October, the business association for Auckland’s city centre “reluctantly” released a scathing survey that found store owners and offices believe homelessness, too few police, “neglect and disorder” and “frightening” antisocial behaviour are crippling their trade.
Among the most dire findings was 91% of operators saying rough sleepers and begging were affecting their business, and 81% believing the city centre was not in a good state to attract significantly more people and investment.
Brown said he greatly sympathised with the traders on Queen St.
“It’s a high-value area. They pay a lot of rates and they like to sell a lot of expensive s***.
“They should be able to, and they’ve been prevented by a whole lot of people who are not contributing to the economy, but who are being funded from the economy. The Government has to work out how they can connect giving them money and having some impact on them.
“You know, [for example] ‘we won’t give you any money if we find you sleeping in the street’ ... There’s plenty of freedom camping places they can go to.”
The city mayor was also not bothered by an apparent lack of communication between himself and the relevant Government ministers regarding discussions on any potential law change to remove the central city’s homeless population.
“I don’t need to hear from the Prime Minister or the Police Minister on that, they just do their job. They don’t have to consult the mayor. I mean, I’m sure he doesn’t expect me to ask him about where to put a bloody public seat for people to sit on.
“Simeon [Brown] to his credit, has shown up to represent the Government, but there’s about 15 different ministers who’ve got a say in this.”
Brown said he did speak with the Minister for Auckland, Simeon Brown, about the Government discussions last week.
Brown also said he himself had been subjected to intimidating behaviour recently while walking through the “lovely” Fort St pocket park, which Auckland Council installed.
“If you happen to be there when there’s nobody in it or there’s nobody nasty in it, it’s quite an appealing place to sit there in the sunshine and have a coffee and your lunch.
“But if there happens to be two big, ugly, angry drug dealers sitting on the bench, not surprisingly [it isn’t appealing]. Particularly when I went there last time, a very large fellow told me that I should f*** off, so I took his advice.”
National MP Ryan Hamilton’s member’s bill is also in the ballot, which would give police the ability to move people on from an area if their presence was causing distress, disorder or a nuisance.
As with most member’s bills, it already has the support of the National caucus, which would include the four ministers charged with drawing up a Cabinet paper.
If Goldsmith and his colleagues were to draft a proposal, it would need to go out to consultation with coalition partners Act and NZ First.
Sources in these parties seemed unaware of a move-on order proposal, only hearing about it on Tuesday when Labour leader Chris Hipkins started probing Prime Minister Christopher Luxon about it in the House.
If the two coalition partners agreed on the proposal, it could then be drafted into legislation and passed. However, it is not clear that they do.
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New show alert! Big Wave: No Room for Error
Submerge yourself in Tahiti’s most iconic and challenging wave — Teahupo’o. Experience the thrill of Earth’s most treacherous surf breaks as award-winning photographer and filmmaker Bo Bridges captures the fine line between triumph and … View moreNew show alert! Big Wave: No Room for Error
Submerge yourself in Tahiti’s most iconic and challenging wave — Teahupo’o. Experience the thrill of Earth’s most treacherous surf breaks as award-winning photographer and filmmaker Bo Bridges captures the fine line between triumph and destruction in this 60-minute documentary.
Book now at www.stardome.org.nz...
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