New Zealand Newspapers

Taser case stuns judge

DAY IN THE DOCK When the cops pulled Cole McHardie over he had, unfortunately, “not given a moments thought” to the home-made taser he had on the passenger seat. This is because, according to his lawyer, “he’s not great at thinking things...

MERIVALE

2A Church Lane Price: On application Open home: February 1, 12.30pm-1pm Agent: Cameron Bailey 027 555 7079 Harcourts 1olu Licenseu Agent REAA 2008 Discover style, quality, and modern functionality in this brand-new, singlelevel home in the heart...

Pre-purchase inspections a valuable safety net

Buying a property is one of the most significant investments you’ll make, so it’s crucial to ensure you make an informed decision. A pre-purchase inspection by a qualified professional is an essential part of your due diligence. Here’s why it’s...

Weather

Police Ten 7 fan turns Rakiura cop

Watching Police Ten 7 inspired a South African to join the Kiwi cops. Now he’s taking on community policing on Rakiura. Constable Justin Schwarz is replacing Stewart Island’s long-time solo cop Senior Constable Stuart Newton, who’s heading back to the...

Govt to give $2.84m to upgrade SH1

A stretch of State Highway 1 through Timaru, described as a “disgrace” by the local MP, could be fixed as soon as winter, with the Government announcing it will contribute $2.84 million to get the job done. The funding, which will come from the...

Quiz

1 Held every two years, the Afcon tournament is more formally known by what name? 2 What did Fred Barnes present to New Zealanders for the first time on March 6, 1966? 3 In Iceland, what is known as a “foss”? 4 “My mum went so far as to call me...

New high school principal focused on student wellbeing

Being Māori, having a disability and being part of the LGBTQIA+ community meant school wasn’t always easy for Lex Davis. But, thanks to his teachers, he loved his school years, which set him on a path into the profession – and now a school’s top...

One couple’s decision to become self-employed and why they won’t go back to a 9-to-5 job

Going from the security of being employed to becoming their own boss was “double the risk” for Northland couple France-Inge Muller and Joel Young. But, despite the highs and lows, and sheer hard work, the Whangārei residents are adamant — they...

‘It’s a ticking time bomb’

Surfers and lifeguards have renewed warnings about the dangers of swimming at Morgan St beach at Whanganui’s North Mole, with one calling it a “ticking time bomb”. The spot is popular for surfing and fishing, but former president of the Whanganui...

Restoring trust

On a Hawke’s Bay Facebook page, parents trade school uniforms like others trade furniture – getting more urgent as term 1 looms like an impending moving date. It has nearly 9000 members and during back-to-school season there are continuous pleas for...

Dahlia farmer is finding her roots

A Manawatū mother is immersing herself in the joy of growing a flower once cultivated by the Aztecs for food after turning her paddock into a sought-after display of dahlias. Emma True, of Halcombe, is entering her third season of flower growing and...

Court Theatre responds

There will be no wholesale changes at the Court Theatre, following a wave of complaints about seating comfort and sightlines, but its chief executive says that is not the end of the conversation. After a week of criticism focused on the $61 million...

KARORI

Tender closing 5 February 2026 at 1pm This home immediately welcomes you with character and warmth. The main living room flows seamlessly to a deck and into the established garden beyond, a space made for relaxed entertaining, or simply listening to...

Mountain of grief

The Mount Maunganui landslide tragedy has taken lives, shattered families, and had a profound impact on locals and visitors. NZME journalist and Mount local Rosalie Liddle Crawford , who regularly brings out her piano on summer evenings in Pilot Bay to...

‘It’s been one hell of a year’

Twelve months have passed since Hawke’s Bay schoolgirl Emma-Jane Sylvia Kupa was killed while riding her bike. The 11-year-old’s family say it has been a ‘hell of a year’ marked by grief and anger. Rafaella Melo reports. On January 30, 2025, EmmaJane...

When Pātea was the big cheese

Pātea was once the largest cheeseexporting port on Earth. The South Taranaki Shipping Company handled around 200,000 crates of cheese a year in the 1920s with three ships working full-time to transport it all. This image shows horse-drawn carts...

New Zealand Media Council

The Bay of Plenty Times is subject to NZ Media Council procedures. A complaint must first be directed in writing, within one month of publication, to [email protected]. nz email address. If not satisfied with the response, the complaint...

Feilding Police arrest burglars, locate ammunition, firearms, and drugs

Feilding Police have arrested 18 people as part of Operation Thor, a targeted operation focused on burglary, theft, vehicle crime, firearms offending and drug activity in the Feilding area. Over the last two months, Police have carried out a series of...

‘We’re very struck by the huge challenges in the area’

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon touched down in Gisborne yesterday morning for his second visit in a week since the region was devastated by severe weather last Thursday. He was accompanied by East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick, with Minister for Housing...

Bridge to ambitious vision

A vision long in the making to expand Wairarapa’s cycle trail network has made significant progress with plans for a new suspension bridge over the Waiohine River. The Wairarapa Five Towns Trail Network community project aims to connect Martinborough,...

Ministry opts not to insulate existing blocks in college revamp

The Ministry of Education has decided against insulating the existing blocks at Marlborough Boys’ College as it carries out school-wide upgrades instead of building a new school. The ministry says the existing buildings, including the 1930s John...

Top school knew about ‘dirt file’

A top Auckland school is defending hiring a new principal from an Australian college where leaked teachers’ notes described students as “odd”, “rude” and having “messy hair”. Dr Sandra Hastie will take over as executive principal at Epsom’s Diocesan...

Community grapples with devastating landslides and floods

The Bay of Plenty has been left reeling after a day of extreme weather brought landslides, flooding, and chaos to the region, leaving communities shaken and emergency services stretched to their limits following 300mm of rain in just 24 hours. Rivers...

With TV Guide Production Editor James Croot

The Winter Olympics, the men’s T20 World Cup, the Superbowl, Super Rugby. February offers a feast of drama and thrills for armchair sports fans. But while there’s perhaps never been more choices on tap, especially for those Kiwis willing to pay for the...

HOKOWHITU

Move in and experience sun, space, simplicity. This well-presented townhouse blends smart design, low-maintenance living, and relaxed modern style. Built in 1990, it’s a place to truly unwind. Generous open-plan living flows to a lovely private, sunny...

Tack the sails, tap the barrels

Like every mariner worth his salt, Tom van der Burgh can tell a story so rich in detail that you can all but feel the splash of the waves. Tom captains Northern Rebel, the vessel he and his wife own and sail in tandem. The yacht is docked at Waikawa...

Off-duty firefighter saves teen caught in rip

Ateen caught in a rip at a Far North bay was saved by a volunteer firefighter holidaying in Northland. Ross Bennett, deputy fire chief at akura Volunteer Fire Brigade in Taranaki, was in the Cable Bay carpark last Thursday when he noticed a crowd...

EXPERIENCE A DIFFERENT KIND OF RETIREMENT AT ARVIDA LANSDOWNE ESTATE.

Whatever you think you know about retirement, think again. Because here at Arvida Lansdowne Estate, we don’t follow the normal rules. We follow yours. Our resident-led approach means you can design the life you want. Whether that’s walking the nearby...

Kho kho: New sport for Waikato with serious global ambitions

A relatively unknown game is hoping to break into the local sporting scene and attract players with the aim of taking part in a Commonwealth championship next month. Kho kho is a highly competitive tag game for enhancing fitness and agility that is...

ON THE COVER

A couple make an old shed on the family farm their new home – see page 26. Photograph by Jane Ussher

AYRBURN CLASSIC – BREAKTHROUGH EVENT OF THE YEAR

The prestigious Breakthrough Event of the Year part of the International Historic Motoring Awards was presented in London on 14 November to the Royal Automobile Club Concours. The Ayrburn Classic 2025 was nominated for the award alongside Concours of...

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...

Food tastes better shared

The world has become disconnected with technology and since the pandemic we have retreated into ourselves, become more individualistic in nature and independent in status. Our life expectancy is declining with stress; our connection to how our food is...

Walking Festival: Walking the landscapes: ECHO Walking Festival

The landscape from the Coromandel to Te Puke offers a remarkable diversity of walking experiences, where sweeping coastlines meet lush native bush. From the rugged tracks of the Kaimai Range and the dramatic beauty of Karangahake Gorge to coastal...

FUN, FAST and FABULOUS!

Summer is the season to grow melons, pumpkins, cucumbers, zucchini and their flying saucer shaped cousins. Together, they are the cucurbit family and they're fun, fast and easy to grow from seed.

Many hands

Thousands of decisions go into making a magazine. Not just obvious ones like which topics we include, the people we speak to or the pictures we’ll use, but tiny ones too: that headline should go two clicks to the left and up one... yep, perfect. We...

Relaxed entertaining

Tindalls in their HAPPY PLACE

Australia has become home away from home for Zara and Mike Tindall, who make the trip to the Gold Coast every January for the Magic Millions horseracing carnival. The pair looked suitably glam when they turned up to the various events, with Zara, 44,...

RECIPES, CRAFTS, & GIFTS TO MAKE

EDUCATING ERICA

Erica Stanford defends her rapid reforms in our schools – but critics say they’re too experimental

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.

Panini, sliders and spirulina: The rise and fall of foodie fads

Who could resist that grilled goodness? Those squished bready ovals scored with perfect char marks, squelching cheesy fat. If it was stuffed with chicken, apricot and camembert, so much the better. Like most food fads, it’s not clear exactly how or...

Donors rally to help whā nau

Afundraiser for the East Coast whānau who spent hours trapped on their roof amid flooding, debris and heavy rain this week raised over $23,000 in 24 hours. Huia Ngatai shared the story of how her family of seven climbed on to the roof of their...

Pre-purchase inspections a valuable safety net

Buying a property is one of the most significant investments you’ll make, so it’s crucial to ensure you make an informed decision. A pre-purchase inspection by a qualified professional is an essential part of your due diligence. Here’s why it’s...

Solid gold

Warm tones in a limestone spine lend this estuary-side property priceless presence.

FESTIVAL OF MOTORING

ALLAN DICK: THE ALLCOMERS SERIES | AUSTIN-HEALEY ‘FROGEYE’ SPRITE MIRANDA’S MOTORS: TOYOTA MR2 | JAGUAR-POWERED SPORTS CARS FORMULA JUNIOR WORLD TOUR | SKOPE CLASSIC: SILVESTER COUPE BILL RICHARDSON TRANSPORT WORLD | WAIMAK CLASSIC CARS

New Year Joy

Anew year carries its own kind of unspoken promise that life can feel fresh again. This new energy isn’t something that appears automatically at midnight but rather cultivated, perhaps it’s a shift in thinking and the willingness to release what weighs...

FROM FLUFFY TO FIERCE!

How cute snowy owl chicks grow up to become powerful predators

HOMEGROWN CUT FLOWERS

Fabulous flowers (especially dahlias!), fantastic upcycling & a flying fox off-the-grid in Eketāhuna • A quirky & creative Oamaru garden full of art & colour • Meet the volunteers replanting native trees along Ōtaki River • Brewing peach-flavoured...

Blueberry banquet Savoury ways with summerʼs sweetie

SUMMER STYLE ESSENTIALS

CHORIZO EMPANADAS, CHIMICHURRI VERDE, CHICKEN FLAUTAS, KINGFISH PASTRAMI, PRAWN QUESADILLAS, SNAPPER CEVICHE, TUNA TOSTADA, STRAWBERRY & TOMATO SALSA, PORK KEBABS, SMACKED CUCUMBERS, STEAK LIKE TARTARE, ROASTED PRAWNS, PLUM & MANGO MOCHI, STRAWBERRY &...

FROM THE EDITOR

If you need your footy hit over summer, then watch some sevens, either live or on the box. As I write these words, we are rejoicing that both our national sevens team have, for the first time since early 2024, both won the same tournament. The All...

Wow Factor On Waitoetoe Road

Welcome to 78a Waitoetoe Road. This beautifully presented property offers a diverse mix of flat-to-rolling coastal land, providing both excellent usability and impressive visual appeal. A central race system forms the backbone of the farm layout, with...

Wellington Market Update

Chris describes this year as “a gradual burn” - a market that has reacted quickly to both positive and negative news, but is now beginning to pull through. The recent OCR cut has also provided a welcome lift for buyers. “Every little bit helps,” he...

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...

What does the market want?

Fonterra, NZ Merino, Atkins Ranch and more weigh in on the changing customer demands and farmers’ efforts to match them

50+ HOMEGROWN RECIPES

• Vibrant salads • Outdoor cooking • Sharing plates • Dips & nibbles • Sweet treats • Cordials, mocktails & cocktails

Fonterra brands gone

Farmer shareholders have said yes to selling off iconic brands to French dairy giant.

DYNAMIC DUO

Universal Cranes recently took delivery of New Zealand’s first two 10x4 S-Ways – one rigid and one tractor unit. A factory-built configuration with competitive tare weight, fitted with Fassi cranes, they are a strong addition to the company’s...

WHAT'S INSIDE?

Rethinking the urban dream What liability law changes mean for landscapers Environmental impacts of compacted soil

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...

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...

Melanie Bracewell

Beyond the punchline.