Nelson Mail

Bypass slowdown frustrates

Sollys Freight managing director Merv Solly doubts he will live to see the day when the Hope Bypass is built. Like many around the region, Solly is fed up with delays to the long-awaited project designed to unlock congestion through Richmond. Last...

Credits could help nature

Giant land snails were a common sight within living memory on the Tākaka Hill, a communityled conservation group says. Now the species Powelliphanta hochstetteri – found only in the top of the South Island – is at risk of extinction, says Charmaine...

Kayaking Antarctica

For many, it might be difficult to quantify why they would choose to visit Antarctica – the coldest, leasthospitable environment on Earth, when a Pacific island beach or vibrant foreign city is far more accessible (and affordable). Being neither...

The shops opening in Nelson CBD while others close

Stu Free opened the Canterbury Pet Food Co store in Nelson’s Montgomery Square a month ago. Business at the shop, which sold raw pet food, had exceeded his expectations so far, he said. Takings were higher than at the company’s store in Christchurch...

■ A time of remembrance and reset,

For Nelson kaumātua Jane du Feu, Matariki is a time of renewal, remembrance and reset. But she said it was also about reconnecting with the natural world, paying attention to the signs it gives, and beginning the new year re-energised with renewed...

Sacked rugby boss wins

The Tasman Rugby Union has been ordered to immediately put former chief executive Steve Mitchell back on its payroll pending a future hearing over whether he was unjustifiably dismissed. In an interim determination released today, the Employment...

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Smith fears loss of protection for Abel Tasman

Nick Smith has launched a petition calling on Parliament to amend the Nelson Tenths Bill over concerns it could weaken the long-term protection of the Abel Tasman National Park. Submissions are being sought on the bill, which would complete one of New...

Phone blackout still a threat

Nearly one year after flood-related damage cut off access to 111 calls in Golden Bay, a local resilience group says there is still no clear plan to prevent another blackout. Last year’s Tasman floods exposed not only weaknesses in the region’s river...

Room for Rivers plan urged

Aradical shift in flood management is needed by giving rivers the space to naturally meander and overflow, environmental advocates say. Forest & Bird’s Room for Rivers initiative advocates for nature-based solutions rather than relying on traditional,...

Expect storms ‘on steroids’

The Nelson Tasman region can expect more storms “on steroids” unless the world reins in its greenhouse gas emissions, one of the country’s top climate scientists has warned. A year on from last year’s twin floods, James Renwick, a professor of climate...

One year after the floods

Twelve months after two devastating floods tore through Tasman, residents are still living with the emotional and financial scars while millions of dollars are spent to rebuild river defences. The Nelson Mail examines the human cost, the recovery...

Pair resign after decision

The two independent members of Nelson City Council’s audit, risk and finance committee have resigned over the decision to allow councillor Lisa Austin to stay. Committee chairperson Catherine Taylor resigned on June 11, the day the council voted...

Water costs force rethink

The Tasman District Council has been forced to consider alternative sites for Motueka’s $20 million pool after discovering the land bought for the project needs millions of dollars to connect to water services. The council paid $5.1m for 99, 111b, and...

Ban near schools proposed

The option of banning new bottle stores within 100m of schools in Tasman will go out for community feedback. At a Tasman District Council committee meeting last Thursday, councillors agreed to send out the council’s draft alcohol policy for...

Flood-weary Tasman residents demand action

Nearly 100 flood-weary Tasman residents packed into Wakefield Village Hall, united by a growing belief that repeated flooding is no longer simply a natural disaster but a failure of river management. After two hours of airing frustrations on Wednesday...

Mayor explores rates relief

Nelson mayor Nick Smith says he will explore rates relief for businesses directly affected by major roadworks in the CBD – if landlords provide relief too. On Wednesday, Smith met a group of shop owners pleading for financial help during lengthy work...

A night for the museum

The name was glamour, James Bond-style glamour, at a black-tie fundraiser for the Nelson Provincial Museum’s new Archives, Research and Collections facility being built in Richmond. More than $30,000 was raised from the Gala Royale dinner and auction.

Footy fans interrupt scenic train trip to Rome

Behind bars in Italy

Developments to brighten CBD

Vacancies are mounting on Nelson’s Bridge St as infrastructure works and economic pressures take their toll. However, property experts say better days are ahead with new developments planned for the street and the surrounding central business...

Austin to stay a councillor

Lisa Austin will stay on as a Nelson City councillor. Yesterday, the Nelson City Council went behind closed doors for about three hours to decide whether Austin could remain on council, amid concerns about work her family trucking company does on...

Donors ‘worth weight in gold’

On the day Jericho Ward was born, his mother Ellie had an inkling something wasn’t right. Feeling no movement, the Nelson mum called the midwife and was told to head into hospital immediately. “Within 15 minutes, there were 15 doctors in the room,...

Proposed plot sale leaves business at risk of closure

A proposal to sell land used to access a Golden Bay beach has left the owners of a kayak business worried they’ll have to close. The Tasman District Council is consulting the public on three options for 29 Cornwall Place, Tata Beach – selling the...

Response ‘extraordinary’

A 4000% increase in community donations since last week has staved off the threat of closure for local food redistribution service Kai Rescue. But the provider, the Nelson Environment Centre, said community food security networks in the region were...

Flood victims want answers

Tasman couple Brenton Laing and Jordan Irvine were woken at 1.30am by a neighbour pounding on their door. Floodwaters were rising fast and they should move their cars, they were told. Within half an hour of the warning, a culvert near the couple’s...

Motueka man awarded KSM

A Motueka man awarded the King’s Service Medal in this year’s honours’ list says he’s “a bit embarrassed” by the the recognition. Edward “Ted” Ford, recognised for his 35 years of service with the Appleby volunteer fire brigade and his contributions...

Flood risk dilemma: stay or go?

Nelson man John-Paul Pochin and his wife don’t want to move house, but they’ve talked about whether they should. The Maitai River surged onto some of their neighbours’ properties in the central city suburb of The Wood during heavy rain in 2022. The...

■ Budget receipt calculator: See where your taxes are going

Government expecting early surplus: Health, education and defence the big winners Luke Malpass analysis: A modest Budget for straitened times Dangling a fiscal carrot to councils ■ Budget receipt calculator: See where your taxes are going ■ Vulnerable...

Nelson-Tasman tourism lifts

Tourism in Nelson-Tasman is on the up, with expenditure and guest nights on the rise, but uncertainty looms over the summer if higher fuel costs hit demand for longhaul flights and airline schedules. The March 2026 Quarterly Economic Monitor from...

Businesses under cyber threat

Criminals intercepting emails to people paying house deposits were among cyber attacks on Nelson businesses, relayed at an inaugural tech conference in the city. Small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) were the main target of cyber criminals, who...

‘Good food, good beers’: Tavern’s new owners to continue warm vibe

Their children described it as a midlife crisis, and they could well be right, Ali and Linsey Kennard joked. The pull of pub banter has seen the couple acquire the Sprig & Fern on Hardy St in central Nelson, more than 20 years after they last worked...

Iwi celebrate mining decision

Local iwi in Golden Bay say they are celebrating a rare and “emotional” victory after learning the controversial Sams Creek goldmine will not go ahead. Australian-based Siren Gold, operating locally as Sams Creek Gold Limited, had planned to extract...

Guilty verdict brings relief

The conviction of Nelson policewoman Lyn Fleming’s killer has been met with relief by the city’s police. In the early hours of New Year’s Day last year, Hayden Tasker rammed his car into Senior Sergeant Fleming and Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay in...

Council is ‘losing touch’

Frustration over rising rates, mounting debt and council leadership boiled over at a public hearing over Tasman’s future. At the Annual Plan hearing held at Tasman District Council (TDC) on Thursday, residents accused the organisation of financial...

Community takes aim at council ‘inaction’ during fuel crisis

People struggling to pick up food parcels due to the high price of fuel are among those expected to benefit from an eBus card giveaway in Nelson. The group Climate Liberation Aotearoa (CLA) Whakatū has donated 20 Bee Cards to Victory Community Centre...

Cycle trail sparks debate

A proposed new route for Tasman’s Great Taste Trail has sparked a clash between cycling advocates and rural landowners. The debate centres on whether a flooddamaged section should be rebuilt through an unformed paper road crossing farmland near...

Remote options called for

A Nelson lawyer is calling out what he says is a lack of organisation around remote court participation, arguing rural defendants in Tasman are being forced into costly and unnecessary travel for brief court appearances. Defence lawyer Steven Zindel...

Public’s views sought on land for Anaweka waka

Plans to build a home for the “hugely significant” Anaweka waka are set to move a step closer, after the Tasman District Council agreed to consult on the location of a building to house it. At a council meeting on Thursday, councillors were presented...

Reference to Duke of York to be removed from plaque

A reference to the former Prince Andrew will be removed from a plaque commemorating the unveiling of a sculpture in downtown Nelson. At a meeting Thursday, Nelson City councillors agreed to replace the plaque on the Reef Knot sculpture in Trafalgar...

Council re-prioritises climate

Nelson City Council has reinstated the environment and climate as one of its draft strategic priorities, after a recommendation to drop it sparked community outrage. Councillors voted unanimously yesterday to include measures to address climate change...

Hospital power cut ‘unacceptable’

A second Nelson Hospital power cut in seven months, leading to the postponement of some procedures, has prompted calls for an urgent investigation. Health New Zealand interim group director operations hospital specialist services, Nelson Marlborough...

Exploring Palermo

Buenos Aires is often called a city brimming with life and this is even apparent on approach from the air. The western side of the Andes is arid and rocky, but upon reaching the east coast, vibrant green forest appears, grudgingly making way for the...

Firm collapses owing $1m-plus

A Nelson-founded company that set out to reshape New Zealand’s housing market through factory-built modular homes has collapsed into liquidation, with more than $1 million in debt. For founder and director Tony Frost the end of Eco-1 Limited, which...

Hub serving up Popeyes

A multimillion-dollar development on a busy corner of State Highway 6 in Richmond is to house Popeyes, Bargain Chemist, and Burger Fuel, and is expected to be open for business by the end of the year. JLL joint leasing agent Harry Fergusson said the...

New school build scrapped

The Education Ministry has scrapped a plan to build a school amongst a residential development in Richmond known as Berryfields. While the ministry pointed to a change in land ownership, some schools said the ministry’s projections for student...

Cannon booms at service

At Marsden Valley Cemetery, a full-size Royal Artillery six-pounder cannon boomed across the valley to close the 10am Anzac service, startling the crowd before drawing laughter. The single blast thudded through the chest, as much felt as heard, while...

Twist on tradition

Choc Anzac cookies and caramel apple cake

WWII medals returned

After an absence of 33 years a Nelson soldier’s war medals, including one for gallantry, have been returned to his family. Alfred Charles, (known as Peter), Hansen, then a lieutenant in 26th Battalion, 6th Brigade, 2NZEF, was awarded the Military...

Oil crisis fuels solar boom

Surging fuel costs and hikes in power prices are driving a spike in demand for solar energy, with installers in Nelson and Tasman reporting record inquiries. Toby Nicholls, managing director of Think Solar Nelson, said March was a “record month”, and...

New approach to cathedral

A new city-facing entrance to Nelson Cathedral is planned as part of a move to enhance public use of the landmark building. The proposal was part of a successful resource consent bid to the Nelson City Council that includes the seismic strengthening...

Mountainbiking trail pushed to boost tourism

Regional leaders are pushing for a mountainbiking trail in the Abel Tasman National Park. Last week, Nelson mayor Nick Smith and Nelson Regional Development Agency chief executive Fiona Wilson presented the prime minister with a briefing for...

Liquor store hours eyed

Every extra hour a bottle shop is open can increase alcohol harm, say police who are seeking earlier closing times in Tasman. The Tasman District Council is reviewing its local alcohol policy, which can set opening hours, put restrictions on...

Region tops health rankings

Local effort is helping drive Nelson-Marlborough to become a national leader when it comes to health screening programmes. The latest Health NZ Te Whatu Ora quarterly performance data shows that Nelson-Marlborough has the highest rates of uptake for...

Calls for dedicated film office

Nelson is missing out on its share of a $1.1 billion industry, a local film producer has warned the Nelson City Council. At a council meeting last week, filmmaker Ahmed Osman asked councillors why Nelson-Tasman did not have its own film office to help...

Nelson woman taking on cancer one step at a time

Just over a year ago, young Nelsonian Izzy Thurlow was a competitive swimmer, gym instructor and runner when she developed a persistent ache in her leg. “I honestly thought I’d just pushed myself too hard,” she said. “I was still teaching...

PM’s promise with a catch

Plans to build the Hope Bypass are under way, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has assured a roomful of Nelson-Tasman business leaders. But, as Luxon faced questions at a Nelson-Tasman Chamber of Commerce lunch yesterday, he was quick to temper...

Fuel prices starting to bite

Social agencies in Nelson are bracing for a surge in people seeking help as the pressure from rising fuel prices starts to bite. Agencies spoken to were already seeing an uptick and, with the uncertainty over how long the Iran war would last, they...

ONE STEP, FIVE BENEFITS: Why this new SPF is a busy person’ s best friend

If you’ve ever looked at a 10-step skincare routine and thought, love the idea, simply don’t have the time, you’re not alone. Between work, school drop-offs, getting to the gym or just getting out the door, the ‘perfect’ morning routine can feel like...

First Nelsonian Civic Award presented

When it comes to volunteering, a stalwart of Nelson Returned and Services’ Association has a simple philosophy. “There’s an old saying – we work because we have to, we volunteer because we want to,” Brian Ramsay told the Nelson City Council on...

Troubled waters for region’s tourism firms

Soaring fuel prices are hitting Nelson Tasman tourism businesses as costs rise and travel plans are disrupted. Abel Tasman Sea Shuttles general manager Keith Knapp said he was “very concerned” about the fuel crisis. “We keep a lot of staff on over...

Fuel costs push savings drive

The head of Nelson City Council is asking staff to find cuts to help manage the impact of rising fuel costs, councillors have been told. On Thursday, the council’s chief executive, Nigel Philpott, told the council’s delivery oversight committee that...

Big bill for developing central city car parks

Spending more than $3 million developing two car parks in the Nelson CBD has been criticised as heading in the wrong direction, but the mayor believes the city still needs more parking spaces. Developing a car park at Millers Acre to replace spaces...

New cancer clinic cuts travel time for top of the South patients

For many people living in the top of the South Island, receiving a cancer diagnosis brings an immediate logistical hurdle alongside the medical one. Accessing specialist treatment often means booking flights or enduring long drives to Christchurch....

Like ‘toilet paper in Covid’

Sales of electric vehicles in Nelson following fuel price hikes have been “next level”, a car dealership director says, while a charity that restores and re-homes bikes can’t keep up with demand. Car Company Limited / BYD Nelson general manager Ben...

Oil crisis ‘huge issue’ for Nelson

The flow-on impacts of fuel price hikes and potential shortages are a “huge issue” for Nelson, the city’s mayor says. However, Nick Smith said the council was a “small player” and the primary response sat with central government, and he had confidence...

Drivers wary of ‘queue jumping’ are delaying traffic

It’s a familiar design at traffic lights – vehicles splitting into two lanes at an intersection, then merging back into one on the other side. What’s also familiar is all the traffic sticking to just one of the available lanes. In a recent debate on...

The ‘most intense’ intersection

Safety improvements are needed at a “shocking” highway intersection near Nelson, a business leader says. “It’s always a bit scary when there is a crash there,” said Ben Conning, director of popular food market Connings, next to the Appleby Highway...

Unrest brings uncertainty

Increasing global unrest and rising fuel prices will have “huge ramifications” for Nelson’s port and airport, local politicians have been warned. Yesterday, Infrastructure Holdings Ltd, the company that oversees Nelson Airport and Port Nelson, gave a...

Works bring ‘world of pain’

Two weeks after a popular Nelson art gallery and cafe became an “island of roadworks”, business is down an average of 30%. “It’s pretty brutal,” said Red Art Gallery & Cafe co-owner Antony Stevens. “Some days it’s not worth opening.” The Nelson City...

Plan pitched for sports pavilion

A Nelson man has a bold plan to build a beach sports hub and pavilion at Tāhunanui Beach. Dave Miller, the director of events, management and construction company BeachedAz Ventures, presented the estimated $10 million plan to the Nelson City Council...

New dump charges proposed

The days of estimating how many cubic metres of waste you have to dump could be gone, with plans to replace existing fees with a “simpler and clearer price structure”. At a meeting last week, Nelson City councillors agreed to send a new pricing...

Nelson’s traffic up by 6%

If you think Nelson’s congestion is getting worse, you’re not imagining things: data shows the city’s traffic flows were up 5.8% over 2025. From December 2024 to December last year, traffic in the Nelson Tasman region had a 4.9% increase, while...

Edge of Blue

‘Quiet enjoyment’ wins

Speed bumps on the Tāhunanui Hills will be removed despite successfully reducing crashes and rat-running. The 20 speed cushions were installed on Moana and Bisley avenues by Nelson City Council in early 2024 as a trial after locals sought action on...

In the footsteps of murderers

Nelson’s Bridge St is a construction zone these days. But 160 years ago it was a thriving thoroughfare at the centre of one of the grisliest episodes in the fledgling settlement. Now its dark history and its changing present are coming together in a...