A blast of cold southern air has delivered unseasonable frosts across New Zealand, sending temperatures below freezing in parts of the North Island just hours after the spring equinox, according to MetService. The equinox marked the point in the calendar when day and night are roughly equal in length, but the seasonal shift brought severe … Read more
An Ōpōtiki resident who sustained three leg bites during a September 9 attack by two menacing dogs is calling for tightened control measures, telling the local council that the community’s sense of safety has changed. Attack Details and Council Response on Princess Street According to Awhina Kurei, the incident occurred on Princess St in the … Read more
New Zealand’s Winter Ranked Third-Warmest on Record, Data Shows Earth Sciences New Zealand reported that the country’s winter of 2026 ranked as the third-warmest on record, with a nationwide average temperature of 9.7°C—1.1°C above the 1991-2020 winter average, according to the agency’s climate summary. Regional Temperature Variations Highlight Climate Contrasts While the South Island saw … Read more
Tauranga City Council has spent more than $5 million responding to the fatal January 22, 2026 landslide at Mount Maunganui, according to financial data released by the council. Six people died when a large chunk of the maunga gave way after a night of heavy rain, collapsing onto the neighbouring Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park. … Read more
Whakatāne District Council has voted unanimously to proceed with chip sealing Ōhope’s Waterways subdivision this summer, overriding resident objections to retain smooth asphalt streets, according to a report presented by transportation manager Ann-Elise Reynolds. The decision follows a push from 17 local homeowners who signed an open letter in February asking the council to investigate … Read more
Sixteen people have been arrested following a joint police and immigration operation that shut down 14 active cannabis grow houses across Rotorua, according to authorities. Bay of Plenty Field Crime Manager Detective Inspector Lindsay Pilbrow stated that the multi-agency sting removed up to $6.5 million worth of cannabis from the black market. Operation Harvey Execution … Read more
A Narrow Escape on Domain Rd A Bay of Plenty father was forced to dive out of the way of a reversing vehicle after a road rage confrontation on Domain Rd in Pāpāmoa Beach yesterday afternoon. Police arrived at the scene shortly after 2pm on Tuesday to investigate reports of a dispute between road users … Read more
Tauranga City Council has completed repairs on the Mauao summit Motukauri 4WD track following severe weather in January, though a reopening timeline remains unconfirmed. Recovery manager Charlie Rahiri stated that restoration work has now shifted to the base track, Te Ara Tūtanga, as the council manages the complex, high-hazard environment created by 42 separate landslides … Read more
Whakatōhea Mussels has been fined $135,000 for unlawfully discharging inadequately treated wastewater into an Ōpōtiki drain, causing a months-long odour crisis. The company pleaded guilty to three charges brought by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council after 79 complaints were lodged between January and March 2025. CEO Peter Vitasovich confirmed the firm has since upgraded … Read more
A Coromandel Peninsula couple secured a $4.5 million Lotto windfall this June after purchasing a ticket at Paper Power in Thames. The prize, consisting of $4 million from Powerball first division and $500,000 from Lotto first division, has prompted the winner to announce his immediate retirement. According to the winners, who have chosen to remain … Read more