Police Search and Rescue training exercise
Police Search and Rescue squad are conducting a training exercise, involving the Royal New Zealand Air Force, in the Upper Hutt and Kaitoke areas on Tuesday 7 October.
The exercise will involve the use of an NH90 helicopter and will be taking place near the Trentham Military Camp and along the Ridge Track in Kaitoke Regional Park.
Police are advising the public to please stay well clear and follow the instructions of Search and Rescue personnel who will be on scene, if you happen to see the activities occurring. The helicopter is expected to be flying at a low level for planned winching, which can generate strong down drafts and possibly cause you to be unsteady on your feet or dislodge foliage above you.
Members of the public should not be alarmed; while loud noises can be expected from the area, this is part of a controlled, routine exercise and is not an emergency event.
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!
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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46.9% I avoid spending money on coffee
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43% I still indulge at my local cafe
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10.1% Irrelevant - coffee is not for me
Share your favourite main crop potato recipe and win a copy of our mag!
Love potatoes? We will give away free copies of the May 2026 issue to readers whose potato recipes are used in our magazine. To be in the running, make sure you email your family's favourite way to enjoy potatoes: mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, by March 1, 2026.
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