New Zealand Newspapers

Free lunches going uneaten

Fifteen per cent of school lunches are going to waste as more than half of the schools continue to over-order students’ daily taxpayer-funded meal. Data released under the Official Information Act to the Waikato Times by the Ministry of Education...

Debate getting hyperactive

Swirling debate over the desirability of Datagrid’s hyperscale AI data centre at Makarewa will in coming days have people take to the streets, organisations take to meeting rooms, and the Southland District Council take its time responding to...

Emergency declared as wildfire spreads

‘Free power’ periods hit by outages

DUNEDIN students have been left cold and grumpy after multiple power outages at their flats during ‘‘free power’’ periods. University of Otago fourthyear student Kane Curnow said there had been power outages at his flat in North Dunedin about five...

Historic flats beyond repair

A 102-year-old Timaru building once hailed as the first block of flats to be erected in Canterbury will come down tomorrow, with its owners working to salvage as much as they can before it is demolished. Potato farmers Raymond and Adrienne Bowan...

Daffy dippers brave cold for a good cause

Despite taking a chilly plunge in the depths of winter, you couldn’t wipe the smiles off a group of swimmers who donned the togs for charity on Saturday. About 16 people took part in the Daffy Dip, which is a new fundraising initiative of Cancer...

Could this be Christchurch’s tiniest house?

Tucked away on a back section in Papanui is a house – a very, very small house. Covering just 44 square metres, it might be the smallest standalone in Christchurch. Its double garage is almost bigger. Darian Fix bought it three years ago for...

Fiscal rules dismissed as more of the same

Economists have poured cold water on National’s proclaimed fiscal rules, dismissing them as more of the same from a parade of politicians unwilling to make hard choices. National’s three “fiscal guardrails” – a 2028/29 surplus, debt below 40% of GDP...

‘A wonderful moment’

The first kiwi has been sighted at Rangatauanui Lake south of Ohakune. The juvenile western brown kiwi of about 8 months old recently ran across the Ngā Roto-a-Rangataua Scenic Reserve track (formerly Ohakune Lakes Reserve). Ngā ti Rangi pou ā rahi...

Fashion hub backs CBD revival

Designer fashion, objects and jewellery store Collecte aims to stand out on Whangārei’s Walton St with its curated lightbox window front. Director Az James said she deliberately picked Walton St so people would see the store as they drove towards the...

Not unusual

To be still wowing crowds at 86

Death fees bite nationwide

As the “monopoly provider” of deathcare services and infrastructure across Aotearoa, councils needed to do more to keep costs down, according to the New Zealand Funeral Directors Association. Gillian Boyes, NZFDA chief executive, called on local...

The man with a bold plan

In a re-purposed New Plymouth condom factory biotechnology entrepreneur Iain Hosie is championing an ambitious vision for Taranaki as a thriving innovation hub that has reclaimed its “energy centre of New Zealand” crown. But instead of relying on oil...

President Trump wants to be king, but there’s a long history of hereditary power in the US.

President Trump wants to be king, but there’s a long history of hereditary power in the US.

GOLD RUSH!

The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow ended with a satisfying flurry of golds for New Zealand, with the Silver Ferns beating Jamaica to top the podium – 16 years after we’d last won the competition. Reflecting on the netball team’s turbulent road to...

MEDAL MANIA

Another Commonwealth Games has come to a close, so let’s celebrate the golden moments of our mighty Kiwi medallists. Of the 36 medals that New Zealand collected, a whopping 23 were won by our female athletes. Though Erika Fairweather didn’t clinch a...

100 YEARS OF ZB Courthouse project hit by consent misstep

Part of the new $206 million Tauranga courthouse was constructed without building consent. Construction is under way on a new building for the Tauranga High and District Court on the corner of McLean, Willow, and Monmouth Sts. However, work began on a...

Road project hits land snag at Waikare gorge

Land acquisition for a major roading upgrade in Hawke’s Bay has hit a hurdle, with the Crown unable to reach agreement with a landowner over the purchase of farmland for the project. The Crown has been trying to buy private land for the construction...

Homeless at risk in cold

Freezing Bay of Plenty temperatures have left unhoused people facing a night-long battle against hypothermia and illness. Support organisations say the bitter conditions are placing vulnerable people at greater risk, adding hardship. The region awoke...

HOUSE OF BOUJEE SWEETS’ PISTACHIO BROWNIE

The House of Boujee Sweets’ tale begins like many modern success stories: with a viral video on TikTok. “One TikTok video of our Boujee Bars reached more than 170,000 views, and almost overnight we had people travelling from all over New Zealand and...

‘Unintentional hero’:

Mark Law was the youngest person to ever pass the NZ SAS entry test. He risked his life to save others during the White Island eruption. He was awarded the country’s second-highest bravery medal. And then he was accused of being a criminal. reports on...

— which MPs’ seats are at risk?

The announcement of a party list can crack the carefully crafted perception of caucus unity and risk damaging MP morale. As a party’s overall support tumbles, electorate MPs begin worrying about their hold on their seat and start considering the...

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.

Beat the wet-washing blues

A clothes dryer earns its place in most homes, especially through wet winters when the washing line stays empty. If yours has given up the ghost, or you’re looking to buy your first one, remember, they vary widely in price, running cost, and...

Trust details ‘a more active ownership mode’

Trust Tairāwhiti recorded strong operating performance in the 2026 financial year with higher revenue and assets, but increased borrowing and lower community distributions. The recently released Trust Tairāwhiti Annual Report includes a financial...

SAINT ALBANS

Auction: Thursday August 20, 2026 from 10am (unless sold prior) Open home: August 9, 4pm-4.30pm At approximately 952sqm, there’s room to create something truly special. Mature trees, established hedging, raised garden beds, and a charming orchard...

Quiz of the day

[email protected] 1. What is the oldest trophy competed for by professional sports teams in North America? 2. What is the southernmost American state capital? 3. Who was married to Michael Jackson from 1994 to 1996? 4. The Inkatha Freedom...

Green up without the grass grind

Sick of mowing? You’re not alone; most weekends, thousands of Kiwis wheel out the mower, fire itup-andwishtherewasa better way. There is. Ground covers give you a green, living lawn with less fuss: no mowing, no remembering to get fuel, or disposing of...

PLUS

When Dame Lynda Topp walked on stage at the Aotearoa Music Awards just five days after the death of her twin sister, Dame Jools, she wasn’t sure what she was going to say. Then came a heartfelt, rallying cry for the arts – to rapturous applause. Few...

Curry

Whether it’s butter chicken, Thai green or chickpea, curry is one of those meals that somehow tastes even better the next day.

HISTORY COR NER

[email protected]

PEACEFUL LIVING. FLEXIBLE SPACES. EXCEPTIONAL LIFESTYLE.

Welcome to your own private sanctuary — an immaculate, beautifully presented 281sqm family home, set on an expansive 2,238sqm section where the stresses of everyday life simply melt away. At the heart of the home is the beautifully appointed kitchen,...

COOK'S TROUBLED LEGACY

Quiz

1 In the TV show Friends, what was the name of Ross’ pet monkey? 2 What began on December 31, 2003 at Waiohika Estate? 3 The 565km Erie Canal is in which US state? 4 Kiri is yellow, but what colour is her best friend Lou? 5 What was classics...

NORTHLAND

Tender closing 1pm, August 20, 2026 Designed to adapt as life changes, the flexible split-level layout offers lightfilled open-plan living upstairs with a beautifully crafted kitchen, while downstairs provides two more bedrooms, a second bathroom, and...

Private hospital lends a hand for knee replacement

A Marlborough woman says it’s “so wonderful” to have a new knee after she was plucked from the public wait list for private surgery after seven months of waiting. Kraisri Handy was one of 375 people on the public wait list who were booked into...

‘They should have just knocked it down’

The country’s worst leaky building disaster has ruined lives, destroyed relationships and left destitute parents with no legacy for their children. Lane Nichols speaks to affected owners about the grim financial reality and enduring nightmare that is...

Community generosity shines at Lions luncheon

More than 100 guests gathered at the Te Kawau Memorial Hall Recreation Centre recently for the annual Charity Luncheon hosted by the Lions Club of Rongotea & Districts, raising more than $1000 for two organisations that provide invaluable support to...

Iconic business sold

Gisborne’s oldest funeral service has been bought from local owners by a publicly listed Australian company. Evans Funeral Services and Gisborne Tairā whiti Cremation Services will join Australian funeral directors Propel Funeral Partners. The...

Thunder coach fizzed up for ice hockey playoffs

YOU can feel the buzz around the Dunedin Thunder. They seem to be a united squad who genuinely love playing for each other and have fans swarming to the Dunedin Ice Stadium for record sellout crowds every game. The Thunder have topped that off by...

Young designers ready to hit the runway

Two emerging fashion designers from Waikato are ready to hit the runway at New Zealand Fashion Week this month. Hamilton Girls’ High School students Minka Parker, 17, and Brenna Easthope-gay, 16, are among the 78 teen finalists from around the country...

End of an era

AFTER 15 years running The Fork and Tap, Arrowtown’s most iconic, and popular, pub, Jeannie Crawford’s decided it’s time for a change

History on the line for Bays

Ferrymead Bays is on the verge of achieving something the club has never done before – make the National League. But to get there they will have to win against Nomads United at Ferrymead Park on Saturday, and then hope Coastal Spirit loses to Cashmere...

Gruelling toll at the top

When Kim Cadzow signed her first contract as a professional cyclist, the sky was the limit. For all the investment in aerodynamics and fancy carbonfibre bicycles, racing a bike boils down to the relationship between the power a rider can generate and...

Erosion may put stop to burials at Hampden

New burials could stop at Hampden Cemetery as the Waitaki District Council looks to respond to the threat of coastal erosion at highrisk sites. The move would form part of a longterm strategy of managed retreat and relocation at the site. Beyond...

Showcasing

businesses that support Wairarapa’s rural sector. Primary industries are crucial to our region’s identity and economy.

NZ’S TOP-SELLING MAGAZINE

EDITOR’S LETTER With Editor Lifestyle Magazines Frances Morton As Netflix unveils its vibrant new adaptation of Miles Franklin’s My Brilliant Career, alongside the recently released reimagining of Little House on the Prairie (which immediately climbed...

KELVIN GROVE

Young professionals or families looking for their next move, this is an appealing, solid buy with its low-maintenance exterior. Open-plan kitchen, dining, and living creates flow for living and entertaining. A separate lounge is ideal for quiet time,...

Anthony caps stellar season with Prague win

Seventeen-year-old Geraldine High School student Anthony Baker’s first overseas trip has taken him all the way to Prague, where his team, the Junior Black Sox U19, won the Mike Stapleton U19 Memorial Tournament last week. Anthony, along with Temuka’s...

Industrial park supporting growth

The demand for industrial premises in the Rangiora area continues to grow. Only four lots remain unsold in the 35 lot Rangiora Business Hub, with titles already been issued for the 31 freehold industrial lots already sold. The Hub was developed by...

Boxer’s bid

Young Marlborough boxer Rogene Daquioug is training hard to compete next fortnight in Australia as part of a campaign to be selected for the World Championships in Europe later this year. Rogene Daquioug is currently the number one boxer in his weight...

The ranger who has put down roots

After 38 years of protecting, nurturing and caring for Christchurch’s parks and reserves, Paul Tamagushiku is the city council’s longestserving park ranger. The 68-year-old enjoys his role as a kaitiaki o te whenua, or guardian of the land. “I was a...

Crash victim’s mum finds ‘wonderful’ first responder

The grieving mother of a British tourist killed in a crash has found the woman who stayed by his side in his final moments. Joseph Snode, 26, died in January 2024 after the car he had hitchhiked in crashed into a wall outside the Jacksons Historic...

The ranger who has put down roots

After 38 years of protecting, nurturing and caring for ChrTihsetcShtaurr,Jcahn’suapryar2k3,s2a0n25d reserves, Paul Tamagushiku is the city council’s longestserving park ranger. The 68-year-old enjoys his role as a kaitiaki o te whenua, or guardian of...

The ranger who has put down roots

After 38 years of protecting, nurturing and caring for Christchurch’s parks and reserves, Paul Tamagushiku is the city council’s longestserving park ranger. The 68-year-old enjoys his role as a kaitiaki o te whenua, or guardian of the land. “I was a...

The ranger who has put down roots

After 38 years of protecting, nurturing and caring for Christchurch’s parks and reserves, Paul Tamagushiku is the city council’s longestserving park ranger. The 68-year-old enjoys his role as a kaitiaki o te whenua, or guardian of the land. “I was a...

A fresh face for Lorne St

South Dunedin’s Lorne St is getting a green makeover. Dream South D is looking forward to welcoming the community to a spruced up space where people can stop, meet and connect. A $300,000 grant from the Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal...

Game gives ‘sense of belonging’

A football programme in South Canterbury is proving that sport is a universal language. Football For All is a New Zealandwide community inclusion programme that helps tamariki and rangatahi take part in football by removing barriers that prevent...

Cruising to the South

More than 6000 passengers will spend Christmas Day in Fiordland this year as Southland bucks the national trend of declining cruise numbers. It will be the harbour’s busiest day of the 202627 cruise season, with 6435 passengers aboard the cruise...

Supporting firefighters

A generous donation by benefactors Wyvern Jones and his late wife Beth, has kitted the Ashburton Volunteer Fire Brigade out with a new operational support vehicle. Fully equipped with generators, traffic cones and much more, the new ute is likened to...

Sidelined for good and in need of a new home

Sideline Sam was the winner of the very last race at Addington – but the threeyear-old needs a new home now the greyhound racing industry has shut down. Sideline Sam is one of about 1400 racing greyhounds around the country who now need to be...

A Lifetime of Making a Difference!

Long-time Cromwell resident Shirley Calvert has never sought recognition for her volunteer work. Last week, however, Rotary honoured her outstanding contribution to the community by presenting her with a prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship, one of...

No last-minute deal for Clutha

Clutha’s future council arrangements are back up in the air, following a week of political manoeuvring throughout the South. Following a Clutha District Council meeting last Thursday, mayor Jock Martin and councillors were in buoyant mood as an...

A decade of light

More than 7000 people packed into Anderson Park rose garden on Saturday night, turning out in record numbers to mark ten years of Light Up Cromwell. The magic of lanterns worked again, with a night organisers called their ‘‘biggest and best...

Stopped in their tracks

Gore’s horse racing community has been left devastated by the news the Gore and Wyndham racecourses are facing possible closure. Last week the racing industry announced it was looking to close seven courses around New Zealand as a means to address a...

Sparks fly at council amalgamation meeting

Sparks flew at a Far North District Council meeting in Kaikohe on Tuesday, as the council backed Northland’s local government amalgamation proposal. Kerikeri-based Far North councillor Davina Smolders was one of two councillors who rejected the...

Tommy’s Market Update

After a relatively steady winter, available housing stock has tightened slightly, reducing the level of choice buyers enjoyed earlier in the year. However, that is expected to change as spring approaches and more homeowners prepare to bring their...

NZ Walking Festival: Bay of Islands Walking Weekend - for good old fashioned Russell hospitality

There are few better ways to discover the Bay of Islands than on foot—especially when someone else has planned the route, arranged the transport, found the hidden tracks and organised something delicious for the finish. The Bay of Islands Walking...

Outstanding in her field

Taieri dairy farmer Ryan Sutherland entered his herd in a regional Holstein Friesian competition for the first time and his cow Raymac Beamer Estyle won the top prize. He talks to Shawn McAvinue about the prize-winning cow and why she will never be his...

Recipes with stories to tell

A group of year 11 students at Rototuna Senior High School are “cooking up” a way to bring generations together, launching a community recipe book designed to preserve food traditions and the stories behind them. Operating under the group name We...

Transform WINTER SKIN

Why skin is so dry in winter That feeling of tightness after a shower? Blame it on the season. This is what experts mean when they talk about a ‘compromised skin barrier’, and it’s something many of us are experiencing right now. Dryness is caused by...

Vintage fire truck project for Christmas parade

Dale Lindsay’s wedding vehicle was a 1936 vintage fire engine. Years later, that Morrinsville memory helped inspire a restoration project that Te Puke Volunteer Fire Brigade hopes will one day create the same joy for a new generation. The brigade is...

Mad TV

THE new eight-part Disney+ thriller Furious doesn’t so much arrive on the screen as lift up its skirt and shriek. Right from the start, it pulsates with a quintessentially female wrath as well as chilly clinical purpose, with each of the lead female...

Resene paint and wallpaper for maximalist interiors.

Alayered, personality-filled home is having a moment. Intentional clutter, or maximalism, is less about mess and more about meaning. The antithesis of classic minimalism with its pared back palettes, intentional clutter is the art of surrounding...

TOP & FLOP CROPS

- What did well and what didn’t in Lynda Hallinan’s Hunua garden this month.

Kendra Cocksedge column

The three-time wrwc winner has her view on the big story of Aupiki V, the rise of the Hurricanes poua, who narrowly failed to make the final but won many admirers.

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TO STREAM RADIO AND VIDEO

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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...