New Zealand Newspapers

El Niño impact a ‘hot topic’

Wairarapa farmers are being warned to prepare for the possibility of drier soils and lower rivers as El Niño, formally declared earlier this month, settles over the tropical Pacific. Forecasters say a dry season is far from certain, however. El Niño,...

Burned then burgled

Kaye Roberts escaped the blazing family home only to return days later and discover burglars had ransacked her smoke-damaged house, stealing treasured family heirlooms that had survived the blaze. The burglars searched almost every room of the...

Datagrid seals the deal for subsea cable

Datagrid has confirmed the last piece in its puzzle, announcing a new optical submarine cable to boost data connectivity in and out of Southland. The company has signed a contract with Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) and OMS Group (OMS) to supply and...

Dunedin Arts Festival ‘blindsided’ by national funder

THE Dunedin Arts Festival has been ‘‘blindsided’’ by a funding blow that could impact its number of overseas offerings in next year’s programme. Creative New Zealand announced this month 94 arts organisations and groups were offered 1 to 3year...

Timaru man continues fight to save dog

A Timaru man says he feels let down by the legal system after his High Court appeal to save his dog was dismissed, but he remains determined to keep fighting. Craig Edgar’s dog Beau has been in the Timaru District Council pound since he was seized in...

Children get one-on-one with Steven Adams

Ten-year-old Charlie Clayton dribbled a basketball past NBA star Steven Adams and into the hoop. “It felt amazing,” the Māpua School student said, as Adams went one-onone with more than 250 children doing drills on the courts at Nelson’s Saxton...

August's movie picks

While the roll-out of this year’s Whānau Mārama New Zealand International Film Festival dominates the cinematic month ahead, there are also plenty of other options for movie lovers to feast on. For those who fancy a trip to the cinema, local...

August's movie picks

Chef biopic and Adam Sandler's daughter

‘Champion for the district’ remembered

Former Taupō Mayor David Trewavas is being remembered as an enthusiastic advocate for the district. Trewavas died suddenly on Tuesday morning, aged 63. He was first elected to the council in 2001 and served six terms, two as a councillor, including a...

‘Phew . . . safe for now’

Areport on the horse racing industry has proposed the closure of Hāwera’s racecourse, while Whanganui’s is set to remain for now. Commissioned by the TAB, the Project Stamina review found that the industry’s spending was spread too thin across the...

Council merger plan advances

Three Northland councils are backing a roadmap to a single regional authority under the Government's local government reform programme. But the final blueprint for amalgamation warns the journey will involve difficult decisions on Māori representation,...

Behind enemy lines

when the press release came out at midday on Monday unveiling the 44-man All Blacks squad heading to South Africa, there was a passing — “by the way” — reference that Ardie Savea would not be travelling with the team this week but will instead join the...

Squash world tour to make a stop in town

Dozens of the world’s best squash players will compete on stage in Palmerston North next year. The city is hosting the New Zealand Squash Open from February 15 to 21, part of the professional PSA world tour and it will be played in a glass court on...

No comment on Hāwera course

The president of the Egmont Racing Club has shed no light on how it would tackle the prospect of the Hāwera racecourse being closed under the national body’s future venues plan. Dennis Hurcomb gave a quick “no comment” to any questions about the plan...

WINTER SERVICE DEAL

Book now and save 10% on servicing any hay tools.

4 PAGE LIFTOUT ENJOY OVER 20 ARTISTS

Featuring watercolours, acrylics, oils, pencils, pastels, ink, pottery and glass, mixed media & more

One of this country’s truly great characters

A Waitaki “legend”, television personality, writer and longserving district councillor Jim Hopkins is being remembered locally across New Zealand this week for his wit, intelligence and advocacy for the underdog. Cr Hopkins died on Monday,...

$6.5M DOPE BUST

Up to $6.5 million worth of cannabis has been seized in Rotorua after police swooped on what they say is a large-scale organised crime ring. Police say they have dealt a major blow to the drug market, busting an alleged commercialscale growing...

Public share views on denser housing plan

Gisborne District Council’s proposed zone changes to allow housing intensification have attracted divided opinions across 140 submissions. It will allow a range of housing types, such as townhouses or duplexes, to be built without resource consent in...

105

TO STREAM RADIO AND VIDEO

EDITOR’S LETTER

With TV Guide Production Editor James Croot TVNZ deserve plenty of plaudits for their coverage of the recent Fifa World Cup. Despite initial issues with the app upgrade and, admittedly, ongoing confusion about what games would actually be broadcast...

WEST END

Price By Negotiation Everything is brand new: kitchen, bathroom, flooring, heating, appliances, window treatments, insulation, and more. Superbly located, beautifully renovated; a standout buy for first-home buyers or savvy investors. Positioned to...

Time capsules celebrate a century of community

Geraldine.nz has marked its centenary with the handover of five school time capsules to the Geraldine Historical Museum, combining a century of community pride with a gesture towards the town’s future. The organisation began life in 1926 as the...

New cycleway links to improve school commute

Students at Te Aratai College will soon have a safer cycling route to school, with work about to begin linking two of the city’s major cycleways. Construction is set to start this week along Aldwins Rd and Ensors Rd, between Linwood Ave and Sullivan...

Marlborough libraries to scrap overdue fines

Overdue fines have been scrapped at Marlborough libraries, one of the last in the country to go fines free. Marlborough councillors voted to remove overdue fines from library book returns last Thursday following lobbying from the Fines Free Aotearoa...

Brave Benji’s cancer battle ends after five years defying the odds

Benji Read was diagnosed with cancer the day before his first birthday and was expected to live for only another three months. Instead, the young boy defied the odds, enjoying another five years before succumbing this month. “It’s surreal, really. It...

Call for ideas to shape action on climate change

Young people are being encouraged to make a bid to lead a climate change project. The city council is calling for expressions of interest from 15 to 24-year-olds keen on leading a project through the youth climate action fund. The fund is part of...

Call for ideas to shape action on climate change

Young people are being encouraged to make a bid to lead a climate change project. The city council is calling for expressions of interest from 15 to 24-year-olds keen on leading a prTohejeScttart,hJraonuagrhy 2t3h,e20y2o5uth climate action fund. The...

Call for ideas to shape action on climate change

Young people are being encouraged to make a bid to lead a climate change project. The city council is calling for expressions of interest from 15 to 24-year-olds keen on leading a project through the youth climate action fund. The fund is part of...

Trio break the ice

Three Dunedin ice swimmers have conquered freezing conditions to break records and maintain international selection. Emilia Finer, Sophie Winter and Francois Lambrechts recently competed at the IISA Aotearoa New Zealand and Oceania Pool Championships...

Residents question police home invasion inquiries

Residents of a quiet cul-desac say they have been left frustrated and uneasy after learning about a home invasion in their quiet street — 11 days after it happened. And it appears they only became aware through Selwyn Times after the newspaper door...

The healthy teeth battle

While some soldiers have been practising how to sneak up on the enemy, others have been helping children win a battle of another kind. Nearly 500 New Zealand Army and Australian Army Reserve personnel camped near Gore last week for 10 days of field...

Steamers retain trophy

The Clutha Steamers secured backtoback Southern Region rugby titles in style on Saturday. They capped off their 150th jubilee season in fitting fashion with a 2718 victory over West Taieri at the Balclutha Showgrounds. West Taieri dominated the...

Awards for Gore designers

Local designers stitched together two big wins at last weekend’s MLT Hokonui Fashion Design Awards. The Heather Paterson QSM Memorial Trophy, for the best Southland designer went to Dorothy McIntosh for her tailored Anzacthemed coat and the Wools of...

‘A free lunch only helps if it is edible’

More than a year after the Government shifted to a $3-per-meal school lunch model, some Northland schools say the programme is failing the very students it was designed to help. The Ministry of Education says only five of Northland’s 117 participating...

Welcome to the 2026 Gallagher and South Canterbury Business & Community Excellence Awards

Proudly presented by South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce and our Premier Sponsor, Gallagher Insurance. This tabloid showcases award finalists; the people, businesses, and community organisations whose commitment, innovation, and resilience continue...

Katikati wing foiler sets two world records in epic Norway challenge

Katikati’s Jeremiah McDonald has etched his name into the record books after setting two world records during an extraordinary wing foiling endurance challenge in Norway. The 24-year-old completed 501.1 kilometres in 12 hours before going on to cover...

Cheers for our champs

Waikato Hockey is celebrating a historic milestone after its women’s under-18 team claimed the region’s first National Under-18 Championship, defeating defending champions Canterbury 1-0 in the final in Palmerston North. The victory is the first...

Building a successful business – brick by brick

Masterton teen and lifelong Lego enthusiast Alex Matuszek is no longer content just building with Ultimate Collector Series sets – he has laid the first bricks for a strong foundation in business. Last year, the Rathkeale College student started his...

Farmers in $70b export race

New Zealand agriculture is riding a wave of strong growth and high returns, three years after a period of record low confidence, but a forecaster has warned of the importance of diversification in a world where geopolitical volatility is the new...

YOU CAN’T TRULY KNOW IT WITHOUT EXPERIENCING IT.

Some experiences stay with you. They linger in the mind, long after the moment. They move you in ways words can’t, and quietly change you in ways you don’t expect. The taste of the ocean. The electric hum and stillness of the city at night. The...

ON THE COVER

A mother and daughter join forces to work their magic on an Auckland villa

In cash and prizes

1 / Forward Motion that show progress into uncertainty. Movement with intent, timing under pressure and moments that cannot be repeated. 2 / Next Line photographers whose work signals direction and potential. Fresh perspective backed by substance and...

The Hewitson profile

NZ-born novelist Meg Mason struck gold with Sorrow and Bliss by skilfully marrying madness and humour. Her latest examines obsessions with famous authors.

La Dolce diva

It’s not quite her birthday suit, but Jennifer Lopez celebrated her 57th by modelling racy Dolce & Gabbana lingerie in Sicily.

FOOTY FEVER

FIFA pulled out all the stops to create an unforgettable spectacle for the first-ever World Cup halftime show for last week week’s final, where Spain triumphed over Argentina. Th The 11-minute performance was curat curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin,...

PREP FOR SPRING

Sow seeds under cover Assess & enrich your soil Divide rhubarb Plant strawberries Lift & divide dahlias for summer Invest in a penstemon portfolio

GOING DOWN

GETTING SUNBURNT IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER Should’ve known better. SUPPRESSING A COUGH DURING A MEETING It only makes it worse. FANS GOING TOO FAR Getting a tattoo of your team as champion before they’ve actually won is … presumptuous.

Why do politicians keep falling for the same old traps?

‘Rock n roll’ for shaky North Isle

A5.9 magnitude earthquake rattled much of the North Island, causing minor damage to buildings, slips and road closures, in the early hours of yesterday morning. The quake hit 5km south of Taumarunui at 4.51am, at a depth of 9km. GeoNet recorded...

HOW WE TRAVEL

Because it is important for our journalists to have first-hand experience, it can be necessary to accept assistance from travel operators. However, we never promise positive coverage in return.

Tips to pick the perfect fridge

SHOWROOM SMARTS Before you fall for a shiny showroom model, think about how you live. How often do you cook? Do you shop weekly or daily? Can you get it through the door? Is your cavity big enough for the doors to swing and for an airflow gap at the...

Faster, stronger, higher, longer . . .

As training bases go, Nice – the major city of the French Riviera – is hard to beat. New Zealand and former Gisborne heptathlete Maddie Wilson counts her blessings as she describes a typical week there. “I’m training pretty much every day apart from...

Urban oasis in Merivale

Haci Polsoc Jack Marshall & Jan Morley

Design the perfect home office space

A dedicated home office space is essential for many people, whether they work from home full-time, or part-time. A welldesigned space can boost productivity, wellbeing, and a healthy work-life balance. Whether you have a whole room to yourself, or just...

Chicken

A hug in bowl form. Especially when you’re feeling under the weather.

Broccoli

Don’t judge a soup by its colour. This one deserves a chance. Matthew Rennie and Ben Adams get their feet a little wet while running the Mackenzie Half Marathon.

WE’RE LOVING

// dance // slow down Like our cover star twenty-seven names, Kowtow is celebrating its 20th birthday, marking a milestone for a brand focused on a “slower, more intentional path through fashion”. It’s celebrating with the release of The Unmaking Of...

Nici Wickes’ Chocolate

Like clockwork, the colder weather arrives and my intake of chocolate increases. My favourite way to eat it is with a cup of strong black coffee. I’ll sometimes dip pieces into the hot liquid until the outer millimetre is just melted. I love the...

KARORI

Auction August 7, 2026, at 11am This funky townhouse is filled with features, from the schist front facade to the groovy internal spiral staircase leading to a large balcony with sweeping views over Karori Park and beyond, and the master with French...

Closing the book on overdue fines

Overdue fines have been scrapped at Marlborough libraries, the region one of the last in the country to go fines free. Marlborough councillors have voted to remove overdue fines from library book returns following lobbying from the Fines Free Aotearoa...

‘Stuart is many things, but he is not sexist’

Stuart Nash has called Napier MP Katie Nimon to apologise for the latenight text he sent about her, that ended his bid for a political comeback. In what he and wife Sarah expect will be their final interview about politics, they say they’re frustrated...

Community invited to help shape Feilding Town Centre refresh

Feilding residents are being encouraged to have their say on two major proposals that could help shape the future of the town centre, with Manawatū District Council launching community engagement as part of its ongoing Town Centre Refresh...

Three voices ... one message

“When most people think of Picton, they think of a beautiful seaside town … but behind that postcard image is another Picton.” at Picton, described by social services provider Marianne Govaerts in an address to Council, sees daily battles with...

Island Bay - 25 Erica Pabst Way

COMFORT AND CALM AWAIT YOU Welcome to this well presented fee simple townhouse positioned on a quiet elevated street in a sheltered position. Here you will enjoy fresh cosy living in a warm well spec'd home. Park your car in the internal access...

Awards nomination a no-brainer

Arecently qualified apprentice at Brandt Te Puke has been named as a finalist in the John Deere Technician of the Year awards. Parts advisor Logan Dobbs, 21, is one of six Brandt New Zealand finalists named in the 2026 John Deere Technician Awards, an...

CREATURE FEATURE! Read some gnawsome

Discover all about capybaras – plus a fun photo gallery!

DEMOCRACY RULES

Inote that Jude Woodside, the founder of The Shed magazine and YouTube sensation, writes in his Back ’o column this issue that he has joined a political party to help out with the upcoming general election. Good on him, I say. I applaud him and...

JAYNE KIELYˇS

LAUNDRY RENO TIPS

Her brilliant career:

Actress Kate Mulvany’s battle with childhood cancer has made her fierce and resilient

Slow Cooker Braised Red Wine and Mustard Beef with Potato and Cabbage Gratin,

Long, slow cooking turns tough, hard-working pieces of beef into melt-in-your-mouth, juicy tenderness. 1.5 kilograms braising beef, e.g. beef cheeks, chuck and beef osso bucco sea salt and ground pepper olive oil for cooking 3 large carrots, peeled...

Caring for your baby lemon tree

Water regularly, but let the top 2cm of potting mix dry out between each watering. Feed your tree with a fertiliser made for citrus trees, such as Yates Thrive. When your tree outgrows its pot, move it to a bigger pot or plant it in a sunny spot in the...

TIME MAKES A WINE

Is patience a skill that humans are evolving out of as we accelerate towards oblivion? It certainly feels like it. Conversely, I’ve tried to imagine a world where impatience didn’t exist - as fundamental as it appears to be to our agitated...

Campbell Burnes

We all love a good contest when there’s silverware on the line. but there are times when one team is simply too good. In the 2009 super rugby decider at Loftus, the bulls blew away the Chiefs 61-17. but even that demo job was not as devastating as what...

Overseas BikeTrail: Big upgrade to Hadrian’s Cycle Trail.

Anew $1.3 million cycle path as part of Hadrian’s Cycleway in England has been built in a coastal village to improve accessibility and safety The off-road path in Lowca, near Whitehaven in Cumbria, is part of Hadrian’s Cycleway connecting Cumbria and...

Live the life others only holiday in!

There’s retirement… and then there’s a lifestyle worth waking up for. At Qestral’s Lifestyle Villages every day feels like a five-star escape. Enjoy beautifully crafted homes, award-winning facilities and a vibrant community where every detail is...

Journeys to Savour

As the mid-winter chill firmly takes hold there is an instinctive human desire to retreat indoors and seek solace in the familiar. Yet ironically, it is often in the depths of winter that my wanderlust burns brightest. I find myself looking at...

ROSE TRAINING REINVENTED

This British gardener’s radical rethinking of winter pruning turns roses into sculptural art

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

BEEF, CHEESE & CHIVE PIE, LAMB & CUMIN RAGÙ, PASTA AL LIMONE, HAM HOCK RAMEN, SMOKED SALMON CHOWDER, CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP, LEEK & POTATO BHAJIS, STICKY TOFFEE & DATE PUDDING, FRENCH ONION RIGATONI, RETRO RICE PUDDING

LOTS OF THRILLS, USUALLY SERIOUS

Few cars have managed to become as deeply woven into automotive culture and popular imagination as the Lotus Esprit. At its launch, it was futuristic without trying too hard, exotic without the ego of Italy’s supercar aristocracy, and was unmistakably...

1973 DATSUN 240Z

This is about much more than the restoration of an iconic classic sports car, the 240Z. It’s about the culmination of a dream over many years and the friendships made. It’s about the people who helped and the professionals whose approach ensured that...

A GARDEN-LOVER’S GUIDE TO WINTER, FROM RECIPES TO WELLBEING

1 PRUNE & PLANT ROSES & FRUIT TREES Pruning roses maintains the plant’s shape, stops it from looking straggly and prevents heavy branches from breaking, and will get rid of dead, damaged and diseased growth. It also opens the plant up to airflow,...

Win! GREAT PRIZES AND GIVEAWAYS THIS ISSUE

EDITOR DESIGNER ADVERTISING PRINTER PUBLISHER STOCK PHOTOS: COVER PHOTO: Sue Linn Lee Kretschmar Debbie Pascoe, phone 0274858562 Inkwise New Zealand Plant Producers Inc email [email protected] Adobe Stock Adobe Stock

WHAT'S INSIDE?

NZ’s first B-Corp certified landscaper Hard and soft sustainable solutions Carbon-smart tree planting

Put it on a T-shirt

We’re so chuffed to bring you stories from agency founders up and down the motu in this issue. In March, we put a call out, asking to hear why people had started up their own agencies. Straight away, the responses started coming in. We asked them all...

THE COST OF KIWI CULTURE

Walk into any snow shop and the walls are full. Jackets, skis, boots, helmets, goggles, packs, base layers, socks, gadgets, apps, passes and promises. There is no shortage of product. There has probably never been more. The problem is not the gear....

TRULY INTERGRATED

A farm system built on adaptation and integration

INSIDE:

SHIPS’ FIGUREHEADS – A SAFE PAIR OF EYES WHICH CATAMARAN IS BEST FOR YOU? CONTRACTING A BOAT YARD RUAMAHANGA DIVERSION THE CATCH: BLOW THE WIND FUTURE OF CARIBBEAN BOATS STAYING PUT FOR CYCLONE SEASON FUEL CRISIS EFFECTS THE AUCKLAND WOODEN BOAT...

A Toast to Tenacity

The revival of Earnscleugh Castle, where Ryan Sanders and Marco Creemers demonstrate their ambition and resilience in Central Otago

A RECIPE FOR HEIFER MATING SUCCESS

Glenaray Station successfully mate yearling heifers, increasing their reproductive potential

Are you future proof?

An interesting trend we have seen over the last five or so years is that a fairly large number of automotive repair businesses just cease to exist at some point. We see this when we get magazines returned or cancelled. Whilst there are many reasons for...

84 CAPSULE WARDROBE IDEAS

PLUS SIX TRAILBLAZERS ON THEIR ROAD TO SUCCESS

A historic lifestyle opportunity

This is not only a stunning piece of history, but what a place to live! In the heart of Maraekakaho perched just above the historic woolshed is the Gardeners Cottage from Maraekakaho Station. A lovely two bedroom cottage plus two bedrooms detached from...

4WD and SUV buyer’s guide

The new vehicle market in New Zealand is a 4WD buyer’s paradise. Utes and SUVs are as popular here as anywhere in the world, and our new car sales have been dominated by SUVs and 4WD utes for ages. It’s widely known that Ford’s Ranger is top dog in...

The smart home seller’s guide:

Selling your home now means navigating A Buyers’ market. With more properties listed than there Are Active Buyers, the power shifts. Buyers can Be more selective, And homes may take longer to sell. In this climate, your choice of real estate company...

Winter a strategic time to buy, sell

When the temperature drops and the days shorten, many buyers and sellers assume the property market hibernates, so they wait for spring to look or list. But for the savvy, winter offers unique opportunities for both buyers and sellers in the real...