New Zealand Newspapers

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...

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...

Beat the heat:

Summer is around the corner, and as both the mercury and power bills climb, keeping your home comfortable can feel like a costly challenge. If installing air conditioning on top of an already-stretched budget is out of the question, it is possible to...

Fish for compliments

If it’s hot outside, the family is often dispersed until early evening, and meals that can come together quickly are a must. Luckily, fresh produce is abundant in the garden and stores at this time of year, so it’s easy to put together a simple salad,...

Pedal power pushes expansion of Mackenzie District tourism business

Fuelled by pedal power encapsulated in a 91% surge in cyclists using the Alps 2 Ocean Trail over the past four years, a Twizel tourism operator with humble beginnings has moved into a bigger space to meet demand. Cycle Journeys’ new depot, thought to...

Family co-housing community grows with new tiny home-dwelling residents

Three-year-old Olivia How loves to pack baking into a basket and walk it down to her substitute grandparents who live just a few houses along. “They’re like her own grandparents,” Olivia’s mother Tomomi says, “She loves hanging out with them.” The...

A real honour: Adrian Rurawhe reflects on life in politics

Former Speaker of the House Adrian Rurawhe says it has been a real honour to have been involved in New Zealand politics. The Labour list MP will retire on Waitangi Day. Rurawhe, first elected in 2014, represented the Te Tai Hauā uru electorate for...

Marty Supreme

FILM REVIEW Marty Supreme (R13, 150 mins) Directed by Josh Safdie Reviewed by Graeme Tuckett ***** We are in New York’s Lower East Side, mostly. The year is 1952, and young Marty Mauser has just returned home from a table tennis tournament in London....

Optimism despite grim diagnosis

A Manawatū man has maintained an optimistic outlook despite a grim cancer diagnosis. Ashhurst’s Jeremy Smith, 39, is a lieutenant colonel in the army and since he was diagnosed with cancer in December 2024, has been through a harrowing year of...

Should warnings have been seen?

The worst had passed. The skies had dumped a record deluge overnight, but by the time Tauranga’s red rainfall warning expired at 9am on Thursday, the sun had taken charge again. But half an hour later, just before checkout time at the Mt Maunganui...

KARORI

Tender closing 1pm, February 12 This charming 1930s two-bedroom bungalow at the city end of Karori blends timeless architectural character and modern convenience. Beautifully maintained, it’s a retreat for anyone seeking a tranquil lifestyle in a...

Mount landslide disaster

A scientific probe into the stability of Mount Maunganui — including the area that collapsed on Thursday morning — had already revealed it was prone to “mass movement” slips after heavy rain. As emergency workers, rescue teams and recovery dogs search...

‘For me it’s not even a second thought’

A Kiwi nurse working in war- torn Sudan says death i s a reality every minute at a hospital in Khartoum, as the threat of drone attacks and bombing looms over the city. The chaos, desperation and stifling heat of Bashair Teaching Hospital has not...

Post-section rounds men’s open fours bowls games

TOURNAMENT The wretched run of weather this week forced players competing in this year’s Devon Hotel Taranaki men’s open fours into abridged, 18 end games on the first day of post section play yesterday. After 94 sides secured the revised three wins...

SOLEMN SEARCH Rescuers work to find six missing people after Mauao landslide

Rescuers have been working round the clock to find people missing in the Mauao landslide, the youngest of whom is a 15-year-old. But a Pauanui man whose whose family member is among the missing says his family was told yesterday the disaster response...

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...

A giant remembered

The Wairarapa and Bay of Plenty communities are this week mourning the loss of Nelson Rangi, known as a man whose wisdom spanned generations and cultures. Rangi, whose full name was Nelson Francis Rangitakaiwaho, died in his Masterton home on...

7 candidates enter board race

Seven candidates will contest the Rotorua Lakes Community Board byelection, with voting to open next week. The byelection is being held to fill two empty seats on the fourperson board after too few candidates were nominated during last year’s local...

Shabby buildings in the spotlight

BUSINESS

A journey to one of the world’s top surf spots

We didn’t build them

Whitebaiters are worried they could be held liable for stands they use but did not build on a waterway near Blenheim after the Marlborough District Council ordered their removal. Retiree John Ward became aware of the takedown notice in October, when...

New emergency management site for Manawatū-Whanganui

Manawatū-Whanganui Emergency Management Group is excited to launch its new website, giving people in the region another trusted source of information before, during and after emergencies. Horizons Regional Council manager emergency management Chay...

Family trapped on roof as water tears through home

A mother has described her traumatic experience of being trapped on the roof of her “creaking” home with children desperate to be rescued from rising floodwaters. Huia Ngatai climbed on to the roof of her Te Araroa home as floodwaters overwhelmed...

Deluge cuts off towns

The severe weather has heavily impacted parts of the North Island this week, including the Waikato region. Coromandel, Hauraki and parts of Matamata-piako District were particularly hit hard, with the weather forcing evacuations and triggering...

Bring us an offer

Tucked away in a sought-after location, this home offers sun-splashed living, four bedrooms, study area, and two bathrooms. Its smart three-level layout is all about easy living. Drive directly into your garage, move upstairs to the first floor to the...

Rain causes road closures

Parts of the Far North remained under close watch yesterday after MetService upgraded Northland’s heavy rain warning to red, triggering road closures, restricted access and the opening of an emergency operations centre in Kaikohe. MetService issued...

With TV Guide Journalist Sarah Nealon

Have you had a chance to read about about the local TV programmes coming your way? If not, turn to page 4. There is an exciting line-up of shows for 2026. I’m delighted some of my favourites are returning and I’m looking forward to new offerings like...

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

Onlinenow Read Dame

tips

Destination park changes hands

Over the course of 34 years, a former quarry has been transformed into a place of recreation and inspiration and become a Waikato visitor attraction. John and Dorothy Wakeling created the Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum in the 17.5ha...

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.

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...

Avofest brings summer vibe

The Katikati Avo Fest returned on Saturday 11th January, bringing big tunes, fresh flavours, and the essence of summer to the Uretara Domain. A standout on the local summer calendar, the festival celebrated New Zealand’s Avocado Capital with live...

Safe shelters to help homeless

A combination of fabrication know-how, a tragic loss of a rehabilitation centre, and seeing local homelessness at first hand has prompted a local man to action a micro-camper business idea. Joel Beven has launched the first prototype of Shelter3, a...

RISING BUYER ACTIVITY SIGNALS MARKET OPPORTUNITY

Recent months have seen improving buyer turnout and more realistic vendor expectations, particularly from first-home buyers and owner-occupiers. Well-presented properties tend to attract strong enquiry, while homes needing significant work or priced...

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...

ON THE COVER

Colourful design enlivens this home on Waikanae Beach – see page 24. Photograph by Paul Mccredie

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.