Homegrown - Keep Safe Messages from Police
Enjoy yourselves but stay safe. That’s the message from Wellington Police as the city prepares to welcome thousands of music lovers for the Homegrown festival this weekend.
“Homegrown is a big event for the capital. We want to keep the city safe and vibrant for all those attending the event as well as those who are simply enjoying the city,” says Wellington’s acting Prevention Manager Inspector Clint Walker.
“If you’re going to be drinking, know your limits. Take care of yourself and look out for your mates. This includes planning for a long day, staying hydrated and eating during the day/night.
“Gross intoxication can and does ruin a lot of good nights – the event is a great thing for music and Wellington, don’t ruin your experience by drinking excessively and missing the Kiwi artists on the line-up.”
Festival-goers are also reminded of Wellington’s 24/7 public liquor ban in the city centre.
It is an offence to drink and possess alcohol in the defined public place liquor-free zone. This includes drinking alcohol in vehicles that may be parked in the liquor-free zone.
“The rules of the ban still apply this weekend and we will be actively enforcing them,” says Inspector Walker.
“Don’t be surprised to be issued an alcohol infringement notice for breaching the liquor ban if you decide to consume alcohol outside of the designated sites or bars in the city.”
Wellington’s liquor-free zone includes Wellington Central area, Oriental Bay, Mount Victoria lookout, Aro Valley, Central Park, Mount Cook and Newtown.
More details can be found on Wellington City Council’s website.(one way to key in the ‘check yourself’ campaign
Poll: Are you still heading to your local for your caffeine fix, or has the $$ changed your habits? ☕
Wellington’s identity is built on its cafe culture, but with costs climbing, that culture is under pressure. We’ve seen the headlines about recent closures, and it’s a tough pill to swallow along with a $6+ coffee.
We all want our favourite spots to stay open, but we also have to balance our own budgets ⚖️
We want to know: How are you handling the "coffee math" in 2026? Are you still heading to your local for a chat and a caffeine fix, or has the cost of living changed your habits?
Keen to read more about "coffee math"? The Post has you covered.
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40.8% I avoid spending money on coffee
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49% I still indulge at my local cafe
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10.2% Irrelevant - coffee is not for me
Scam Alert: Bank cold calls
ASB is warning customers about reports of cold calls from scammers claiming to be from ASB. These scammers are trying to obtain personal information, including usernames, dates of birth, and verification codes sent to your mobile phone.
🛡️ The "Caller Check" Test
If you get a call from someone claiming to be from ASB and you’re unsure, just ask them for a Caller Check. You will then be able to verify the call through the app.
Remember, banks will:
❌ Never ask for your banking passwords, PINs, or verification codes
❌ Never need to know your full credit card number – especially the CVC
❌ Never ask you to download software or remotely access your device
❌ Never ask you to purchase gift cards or transfer funds.
If you have received a phone call and think your account has been compromised, call ASB on 0800 ASB FRAUD (0800 272 372), or visit your local branch.
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
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