Why Auckland’s busiest cemetery, Manukau Memorial Gardens, looks like a Disney movie
Manukau Memorial Gardens cemetery in Papatoetoe, South Auckland, is no ordinary cemetery. At night, Manukau Memorial Garden cemetery lights up in full colour. Come sunset, the entire cemetery lights up in colourful ambience that always reminds me of the children’s Disney-Pixar movie Coco and its ode to Mexico’s Day of the Dead. The cemetery lights up in a range of colours once the sun goes down. Photo / Corey FlemingAuckland Council’s cemeteries operations manager Sheree Stout says Manukau Memorial Gardens is the busiest cemetery in Auckland, with more than 1500 burials each year.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 02, 2026 17:48 UTC
North Island thunderstorms: MetService warns of heavy rain and hail risk
The risk of thunderstorms continues in the same areas moving into the afternoon, with a moderate risk of thunderstorms ranging from North Taranaki to northern Hawke’s Bay and up into Auckland and Northland. Photo / Michael CraigHowever, there is a low risk of severe thunderstorms in Auckland and Northland, with downpours of up to 40mm/h possible, and the same conditions could be expected across central parts of the North Island. The risk of thunderstorms is moderate to low across much of the top of the North Island this morning. A low risk of severe thunderstorms is expected across the North Island this afternoon. There is a minimal risk of thunderstorms from inland Tasman to the Southern Alps.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 02, 2026 17:33 UTC
Over 500 more homes in pipeline for Havelock North – prime location or ‘oversupply’ of subdivisions?
One developer says there appears to be a “gross oversupply” of subdivisions planned around and near Havelock North, which are outstripping demand and could negatively impact ratepayers. Photo / HDCHowever, another developer says Havelock North is a prime location, and sales are tracking well considering the “tight market”. New roads and dozens of sections have been completed so far, off Brookvale Rd (near Romanes Drive), and some homes built to date. However, he said, in his opinion, there was a “gross oversupply” of subdivision projects planned around and near Havelock North. CDL Land is also behind the Iona subdivision (for over 300 residential lots) in the southern part of Havelock North.
Source:Stuff
January 02, 2026 17:06 UTC
ODT quiz: January 3
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Source:Otago Daily Times
January 02, 2026 16:36 UTC
Five horses worth backing today
Traditionally the tight-turning Roxburgh track has been one that suits some horses a lot better than others. Always DreamingEverything about this pacer’s Gore Cup win suggests he will take all sorts of stopping in the Roxburgh Cup. Firstly he has to contend with the tight-turning Roxburgh track after racing a little greenly in his big last start second at Ascot Park. This promising youngster comes to Roxburgh after a powerful feature race win at Ashburton. Mor Moonlight has to handle the Roxburgh track and bring her best manners, plus she will have a new driver on board in Daniel Anderson.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 02, 2026 16:10 UTC
Family runs away with hill titles
PHOTOS: GERARD O’BRIENWinning runs in the family for one fleet-footed Dunedin trio named three-way champions of this year’s Aramoana cliff run. Frost said the family had been coming to the sports day for many years and she had participated in the cliff run a handful of times prior. Winning a race each made this year’s sports day really special for the family, she said. "Because it's such a small, tight, fun community it makes it quite special just to be part of it, as a family." The family were all quite competitive people in their own right, although not necessarily with each other, Frost said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 02, 2026 15:43 UTC
Repairs expected: council
Henderson House on Invercargill’s Kelvin St will be the new home of the Southland District Council. PHOTOS: MATTHEW ROSENBERGWork on a new Southland council building has included clearing mould and fixing leaks, but the person in charge says it was expected. In October 2024, the Southland District Council purchased Henderson House on Invercargill’s Kelvin St with the goal of having its employees under one roof. Project director Jendi Paterson told Local Democracy Reporting the council had a target of late 2026 for moving into Henderson House — a three-storey office building which was built in the 1980s. The council "approved the acquisition" of the Kelvin St building in October 2024 and delegated the chief executive authority to purchase.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 02, 2026 15:42 UTC
Fresh air fun
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Source:Otago Daily Times
January 02, 2026 15:42 UTC
Wet weather no concern for rodeo-goers
Kim Richards, of Alexandra, leads her horse Spur before competing in the open women’s barrel race at the Wānaka Rodeo yesterday. Photo: Evie SinclairGumboots and rain jackets were the uniform for the day among spectators at the Wānaka Rodeo yesterday. Competitors and spectators alike said the wet weather could never stop them from showing up. Kim Richards, of Alexandra, said the wet conditions should not have much of an impact on the events. The Wānaka rodeo is part of the South Island Christmas circuit which consists of five rodeos, in which competitors can earn points towards national titles.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 02, 2026 15:38 UTC
Hundreds of Auckland homes linked to Cannabis syndicates
Vietnamese organised crime groups are believed to have converted hundreds of residential properties across Auckland into commercial-scale cannabis grow houses, often without neighbours realising what is happening next door. According to a report by Stuff, Police sources say more than 300 homes in the city are currently, or have recently been, used by Vietnamese crime syndicates to cultivate cannabis. It’s like that now with the Vietnamese being the main growers…,” Stuff has quoted. The scale of the operations has reportedly attracted attention from other criminal groups, with incidents of established gangs seizing crops from Vietnamese growers. Police investigations, including Operation Bush, launched in December 2021, have targeted organised groups involved in cannabis cultivation and money laundering.
Source:Stuff
January 02, 2026 12:43 UTC
Rod Emmerson’s cartoons: Week of December 29 - January 4
Each week our cartoonists at the New Zealand Herald tackle the big stories of the day. Covering everything from politics to sport, business to entertainment as well as news from around the country and around the world, Rod Emmerson takes pen to paper to give us his take on the day’s events. Scroll down for the latest from our award-winning artist on the events of the week. Illustration / Rod EmmersonJanuary 2. Illustration / Rod EmmersonSign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 02, 2026 10:15 UTC
Waipu ambulance crash leaves one person in critical condition
“The other ambulance officer and the patient were not injured as a result of the crash, and the patient was transported to hospital by another ambulance crew. “Ambulance staff treated one other patient and transported them to Whangārei Hospital in a critical condition.”Lockie said the damaged ambulance had been taken off the road for repairs. Emergency services are responding to a crash in Waipu that has left one person with serious injuries. The Serious Crash Unit has been notified of the incident. “Support will be provided to our ambulance staff involved; our thoughts are with everyone affected by the incident.”
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 02, 2026 10:05 UTC
A biotech start-up says the ovaries may hold clues to ageing — a finding that could reshape IVF
Instead, doctors retrieve immature eggs using only one or two injections, then use living cells that mimic ovarian cells to mature them in a lab. It has the potential to ease a plethora of conditions associated with ageing in women, including cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Ovarian ageing is part of the reason women outlive men but spend more years in poor health than men do, she said. Even as the mice in the study were dying, she read, their ovarian cells remained young and plentiful. “No one was working on ovarian ageing,” she said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 02, 2026 10:02 UTC
Trio warned before Rolling Meadows ferris wheel fall
The men fell from a ferris wheel after being warned to stop swinging the bucket. File photo: Facebook / Event Hire ChristchurchThe operator of a ferris wheel in Christchurch says three men were warned to stop swinging their bucket, just before they fell. Two of the men were seriously injured when they fell from the ride at the Rolling Meadow Festival at Bottle Lake about 2am on New Year's Day. Event Hire owner Phil Anderson said the safety of riders and the public was their "absolute priority". A WorkSafe spokesperson said they had issued a prohibition notice, which prevents use of the ferris wheel until the department is satisfied an engineering expert has fully investigated and reported back to Event Hire.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 02, 2026 09:37 UTC
Two found dead in separate houses on same property
Photo: RNZAn investigation is under way after two people were found dead in separate houses on a property in the Bay of Plenty. Early today, police were called back to the Old Coach Rd property, where a man was found dead in a separate house. He was taken into custody and was due to appear in Tauranga District Court today, charged with assault on a person in a family relationship. "Police would like to speak with anyone who has information about what has happened, or who may have visited the Old Coach Road address between 7pm Wednesday 31 December 2025 and 3am Friday 2 January 2026. "If you can help, please make a report through 105, either online or over the phone, and reference file number: 260101/9901."
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 02, 2026 09:37 UTC