Ban on rock pool harvesting considered
A group of people at the Army Bay rock pools. Photo: MARK LENTON / SUPPLIEDThe government is making moves to stop people stripping rock pools of sealife in north Auckland. Local iwi Ngati Manuhiri is seeking a two-year ban on harvesting shellfish along the city's eastern coastline to allow marine life to recover. Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones told RNZ's Morning Report programme today he is considering bans and an education campaign. "People have different tastes in what they like to eat and enjoy, and harvesting from the shore of fresh seafood material is something that they enjoy.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 18, 2026 22:55 UTC
New rainmaker: Heavy rain and thunderstorm threat for Northland, Auckland as fresh deluge hits
Video / Niwa WeatherAuckland’s North Shore and Aotea Great Barrier Island have 15-hour heavy rain watches starting at midnight, while a 24-hour heavy rain watch has been placed on the Coromandel Peninsula from midnight tonight. Northland’s heavy rain watch will last 18 hours, starting at 6pm, and follows a weekend deluge that caused widespread flooding, trapping people in communities and seeing landslides ruin properties. Heavy rain watches are in place across the top of the North Island, including one for 24 hours in Coromandel. Severe Weather Update ⚠️Further heavy rain expected for the North Island 🌧️🟡 Yellow Heavy Rain Watch for Northland🟡 Yellow Heavy Rain Watches for Auckland (north of the Harbour Bridge) and Great Barrier Island🟡 Yellow Heavy Rain Watch for the Coromandel Peninsula… pic.twitter.com/C7bBMwbNWQ — MetService NZ (@MetService) January 18, 2026These conditions are forecast to stick around into the afternoon and evening, but the thunderstorm risk expands into Coromandel. Photos / Ayla HawkinsBurrows said the low will pass over the North Island, causing more damage, on Thursday, but conditions should improve for the region beyond then.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 18, 2026 22:53 UTC
These are the 10 best family beaches in NZ, but which will you vote as number one?
It’s time to review your 10 finalists for the best family beaches, from north to south. Northland is awash with beautiful beaches, like Matapouri, voted as a top 10 family beach by Herald readers. But will Waipu be named New Zealand's best family beach? There’s a reason – many reasons – why Waipu Cove’s secluded, safe stretch of sand was our family and supreme champion last year. Coromandel’s Best Beach finalists have always been on the Pacific side.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 18, 2026 22:33 UTC
General Debate 19 January 2026
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 18, 2026 22:31 UTC
Summer spurs insect invasions in Canterbury
Pest controller Darryl Knauf exterminates an ant nest under a dishwasher, a common damp environment where ants make a home. Photo: SuppliedIt is the busiest time of year for Canterbury pest controller Darryl Knauf, as ant and fly infestations increase over summer. As the owner of Essential Pest Control Ltd, a family business, his best advice for people to prevent ant infestations is to keep lawns watered. Many of Knauf’s customers discover ant infestations in their roof spaces while installing insulation but other nests are commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms. Although mosquitoes are a summer problem in the North Island, Knauf said there are few infestations in Canterbury.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 18, 2026 22:16 UTC
Woman became 'aggressive' at officers after crash
An allegedly drunk Dunedin woman assaulted officers after crashing at a roundabout while on a morning drive, police say. She recorded a breath alcohol level of 841mcg — more than three times the legal limit of 250mcg. The woman then started becoming "aggressive", Sgt Reay said. She assaulted officers and damaged the inside of the patrol car once she was loaded in, Sgt Reay said. The woman was arrested and charged with excess breath alcohol, resisting police and wilful damage.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 18, 2026 22:16 UTC
SH2 expected to be closed for several weeks after slips
A slip on State Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge. Photo: Supplied/NZTAState Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge is expected to remain closed for several weeks. A slip on State Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge. People are urged to delay travel where possible, or to allow time for the long detour via State Highway 35 or State Highway 5. The detour is five hours longer than driving from Mātāwai and Ōpōtiki on State Highway 2.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 18, 2026 22:08 UTC
PM to deliver State of Nation speech
Today's speech is Christopher Luxon's first public appearance following the summer break. Photo: RNZPrime Minister Christopher Luxon will outline his plan for the year ahead and New Zealand's future in a State of the Nation speech in Auckland today. NZ First immediately signalled its disapproval of the deal, and Luxon will likely speak today about maintaining a stable coalition with a focus on domestic affairs. There are no major policy announcements expected in the annual scene-setting speech, and the election date will not be revealed today. Later in the week, political parties will gather at Rātana, near Whanganui, to celebrate the birthday of Rātana Church founder Tahupotiki Wiremu Rātana and engage with Māori leaders.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 18, 2026 21:38 UTC
Back to school: How parents are cutting uniform costs
More than 70% of New Zealand schools surveyed in 2017 required a uniform. But it doesn’t necessarily get any easier for parents whose children don’t have to wear one, as this creates more wear and tear on their normal clothes. Although two of Sarah Ostergaard’s children wear mufti to attend Stanley Bay School, she said spending $400 to $500 on her oldest daughter’s uniform for Takapuna Grammar School just seemed fairer. “They’ve got an incredibly simple explanation about what the uniform is, what the minimum viable product is”, Reidy said. Laing said this is why Royal Oak Intermediate encouraged Year 8 leavers to donate their uniforms on their last day of school.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 18, 2026 21:31 UTC
Tourists flocking to remote West Coast settlement
Photo: Andris ApseThe remote community of Ōkārito on the South Island's West Coast, 30km north of Franz Josef, is home to just 30 people. But this beautiful settlement situated in one of New Zealand's most significant ecosystems has a thriving campground, a restored community centre and attracts visitors from around the world. The kayaking business, there's a boat tour business here, there's a Kiwi tour business. All of them are really simple, small businesses that are focused on nature in what's essentially a very simple town that hasn't changed much over generations. Ōkārito lagoon.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 18, 2026 21:21 UTC
Ministry error nearly cut school year short
By John Gerritsen of RNZA Ministry of Education error nearly cut the 2027 school year short by a single day. An Education Ministry document supplied to RNZ under the Official Information Act said schools were supposed to be open for at least 380 "half-days" each year. "An error has been identified in the 2027 Term 2 half-day counts, caused by the 2027 Matariki holiday being excluded from the calculations. It said the ministry would alert schools through its School Bulletin and publish a new notice setting the 2027 and 2028 school term dates in the official government journal, the New Zealand Gazette. The New Zealand Gazette published the revised term dates on October 16, 2025 and the ministry updated the term dates listed on its website.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 18, 2026 21:15 UTC
Abuse in Care: Police prosecuted fewer than 1 in 10 referred cases
However, 93 were closed without prosecution with 47 (42.7%) not meeting the test for prosecution under Solicitor-General’s prosecution guidelines. Cooper Legal principal partner Sonja Cooper, whose firm had acted for hundreds of abuse survivors and victims, said she was not surprised by the statistic. Cooper said she could see historic claims failing both tests in the eyes of prosecutors. The prosecution guidelines should be reviewed, Clearwater said. The guidelines provide a detailed process for reviewing decisions in cases involving sexual violation,” Crown Law told RNZ.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 18, 2026 20:58 UTC
Campaign to attract tourists 'well received'
A summer tourism campaign costing ratepayers $24,485 has had pleasing results, the Ashburton District Council says. Further campaigns are planned, to build awareness of Mid Canterbury as a district worth visiting. Council group manager of compliance and development Ian Hyde said Nowhere, Worth Going, ran from December 14 to January 18. Additionally, the Experience Mid Canterbury website attracted 50,000 views over the last four weeks, representing an 259 per cent increase compared to the previous four weeks. “It’s really a play on the common misconception that Mid Canterbury is in the middle of nowhere,’’ Hydes said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 18, 2026 20:19 UTC
Man dies after being in geothermal water
A geothermal area in Rotorua. Photo: RNZA man has died after being pulled out of the water in a geothermal area in Rotorua. Emergency services were called to the geothermal valley on Tukiterangi St just before 9.45pm yesterday. The man had been pulled out of the water unconscious and could not be revived. Police said the death would be referred to the coroner.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 18, 2026 19:28 UTC
Pentagon readies 1500 soldiers to possibly deploy to Minnesota, officials say
Walz, Frey and other Democrats have said the move is an act of authoritarianism intended to silence critics of the administration’s actions. On Saturday, Walz also mobilised the Minnesota National Guard to support local authorities, but he has not deployed those troops. Minnesota officials have sued the Trump administration over the operation, alleging the surge in law enforcement there is a politically motivated violation of the Constitution. At issue in those jurisdictions was whether the deployments violated the Posse Comitatus Act, a federal law that prohibits US troops from carrying out civilian law enforcement actions. While that deployment remains legally contested, the President has more authority to deploy National Guard members there because it is a federal jurisdiction.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 18, 2026 19:26 UTC