New Zealand Newspapers

Hundreds of sheep put down after neglect

AHawke’s Bay farmer who caused the death of more than 200 sheep has been put on home detention and disqualified from owning animals for a year. David Fraser Beck, 46, pleaded guilty to three charges under the Animal Welfare Act, after prosecution by...

Inconvenienced

This might be Bay of Plenty’s most controversial public loo. The single unisex toilet in an Omokoroa ¯ reserve has generated hours of debate, reports, a public meeting, a petition and a complaint after a woman spent 20 distressing minutes trapped...

Turning tragedy into hope

Rotorua mother Elizabeth Pilaar faced the ‘unthinkable’ when her 19-year-old son, Michael Pilaar, died from melanoma. In a self-published memoir, Pilaar has written about the unexpected diagnosis and how the family brought ‘the best out of an awful...

‘No confidence’

Tairāwhiti’s tourism industry is taking a huge hit from sporadic closures across the region’s two state highways with one company down 80% in bookings for the summer. Katrina Duncan, who has been running Experience Gisborne and Cycle Gisborne for 17...

Years of caring for kids recognised

A Masterton woman who has cared for more than 50 children in need has been recognised with the highest possible accolade available to a caregiver. Michelle Beaver was among 10 caregivers and caregiving couples, selected by Caring Families Aotearoa and...

Human rights complaint laid over services

Claims of disadvantage and a lack of transparency have been levelled in the Far North, with a South Hokianga resident escalating concerns to the Human Rights Commission. After years of patching footpaths and funding basic maintenance, out of their own...

Margie’s moment in the celebrity spotlight

Margie Robb is getting stopped in the street these days. “You look awesome,” people tell her. The 60-year-old has become a local hit in home town Tokoroa after starring in an advertising campaign for health insurer Southern Cross. In the main advert...

‘It’s a desperate situation’

In a race against time, users of a key irrigation system in Masterton are warning of an environmental and commercial disaster if a 120-year-old water race closes. The Ōpaki water race is set to close at the end of June, unless Masterton District...

Homegrown’s future sealed

It’s official: Homegrown will return to Hamilton next year and it’s set to be bigger than ever. “People didn’t think that Hamilton could pull it off, but now they’re saying we did,” Jim Beam Homegrown chief executive Andrew Tuck said. He’s confirmed...

Supermarket to carry on legacy under new brand

After 30 years as a SuperValue, Invercargill’s Plaza supermarket is becoming a Fresh Choice. The Yarrow St store is currently one of just six remaining SuperValue stores in New Zealand as Woolworths Group Limited retired the brand. SuperValue Plaza...

We shall remember the fallen

Timaru Herald visual journalist Aiman Amerul Muner went along to Anzac Day services across the Timaru District on Saturday and captured a range of images. Today we have included some of those taken at the dawn services at the Timaru War Memorial...

All yours, shark: sighting clears water at St Clair

ABOUT 100 people reportedly exited the water at Dunedin’s St Clair Beach yesterday after the alarm was sounded over a possible shark sighting. Surf Lifesaving New Zealand is reminding people to be vigilant, but to not be dissuaded from heading into...

Price cuts signal market shift

New Zealand property sellers trimmed tens of thousands off their asking prices taking an average reduction of more than $33,000 per listing in the first three months of the year. New quarterly figures from realestate. co.nz showed vendors who dropped...

Health workers warn of burnout risk

Healthcare workers in Hokianga are burning out, working unpaid overtime and stressing about their future due to a restructure and lack of funding. The workers’ unions called on Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora to adequately fund Hauora Hokianga, which...

Rural patients can’t find a doctor

Darfield resident Tony Gan is among those facing problems accessing basic healthcare – with some staying enrolled with their Auckland GPS.

Open Day

Different villages for different lifestyles. Every Metlifecare retirement village feels a little different. Take a tour and see which one feels right. For more information contact your local village or visit

Pukepuke Lagoon in peril

Passion and mana for Pukepuke Lagoon continues to grow while water levels remain low and the cause of what has been described as an “ecological disaster” remains unknown. Pukepuke was found dry with eel carcasses strewn across the lake bed recently,...

Runway to the world:

The pioneering designers who put Australian Fashion Week on the global stage

NZ surgeons refuse surgery

Nichola Smith was told her symptoms were “all in her head”. Now, she’s heading to Australia to fix a condition New Zealand surgeons won’t touch. Smith has Nutcracker syndrome, which is so rare no-one in New Zealand will perform the operation that will...

URBAN SLOTHS

How these slow creatures cope with life in the fast lane ...

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...

Council examines $11m flight school loss

Areview of Whanganui’s flight school is expected to take six to eight weeks and will rely “on people’s cooperation”. The New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy (NZICPA), owned by Whanganui District Council, will close mid-year with a...

THE RIGHT STUFFAYRBURN CLASSIC 2026

All the ingredients were there this year, for a very different kind of motoring festival experience for New Zealanders. In March 2025, the inaugural Ayrburn Classic showed its potential, confirming what many suspected: it was a successful concept for a...

The Hewitson Profile

How to describe Dr Peter Sergel, the man who turned a rubbish tip into the wonderland that is the Hamilton Gardens? I wrote a list: landscaper, builder of dreams, philosopher, academic, artist, magician, visionary, gardener. What did he think of that...

Star news

Jusstt for kicks!

‘MY DREAM TV RETURN’

From the editor

When I was 11, a couple of years after my grandfather had died, my grandmother moved from Dargaville to Napier, where we lived. There was a lot of excitement getting her new house ready for her: choosing wallpaper, scouring secondhand shops for bargain...

Why Hollywood is welcoming the return of the blockbuster

Earlier in the week Villeneuve headlined the Warner Bros presentation with Dune: Part Three (NZ release, December 17), starring Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya and Florence Pugh. He unveiled the first seven minutes of the film, showing an actionpacked...

L L A E D O R S & S E N S

A.“Inheritances are the way most Kiwis pay off their mortgage,” Auckland mortgage adviser Mike Whittaker tells me. When inheritances, or other lump sum windfalls arrive in people’s lives, they tend to apply them first to whatever remains owing on the...

FALLEN, NOT FORGOTTEN

National MP Chris Bishop says he is embarrassed after not showing up to an Anzac Day dawn service in his local electorate yesterday morning where he was expected to lay a wreath. Bishop, the MP for Hutt South, said his name was read out to lay a...

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.

KARORI

Ten2er Closing 30 April 2026 at 1pm Open Home Sun2ay, April 26, Brilliantly located on sought-after Marsden Avenue, this well-presented character home offers an incredible opportunity. There’s loads of room here for you and your family! Four spacious...

‘A significant day’

The major rebuild of the former Nesbitt’s Dip on State Highway 2 between Gisborne and Te Karaka will be officially opened tomorrow. The flood-resilience project has seen the renamed Hakanui Straight raised by 3m along an 850m-long flood-prone section...

Smart gym setups for small spaces

MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU Creating an exercise space in a compact home is all about intentional choices. Claim a corner of the living room or master bedroom, clear a section of the garage, or rethink the spare bedroom; it is entirely possible to create an...

MERIVALE

Auction: Thursday April 30, 2026 from 10am (unless sold prior) Open home: April 26, 1.30pm-2pm From the moment you arrive, you’ll feel it, this is a home that has been deeply loved and thoughtfully enjoyed. Designed with family living in mind, it...

PLUS

Somehow, we’re already at the end of April. Summer feels like a distant blur, and where we might usually be planning a midwinter escape, global uncertainty has many of us staying closer to home. So, if a getaway is on the cards, consider making it one...

Betty bought a bit of butter

But the butter Betty bought was bitter. So Betty bought a better butter, and it was better than the butter Betty bought before.

PET CORNER

Debbie Green from Karori sent in this image of her cat, Boo. “She loves sliding down the stairs on her back, slowly and carefully, and when she’s not doing that, she naps in the strangest positions. Easily startled, she’s full of charm once she feels...

Burn Smart: Tips for clean, cosy fires

CHOOSE GOOD FIREWOOD The type and size of firewood you use significantly impacts your fire’s efficiency and environmental footprint. Consider: Best types Softwoods: Plantation pine: Ideal for kindling, burns cleanly, dries in 1-2 years, light and...

Quiz

1 Commercially, it’s now Hnry Stadium, but most fans probably know this NZ venue by what name? 2 Mt Yasur is an active volcano — and tourist attraction — on which of Vanuatu’s islands? 3 What is the nickname of the US Army Special Forces? 4 The...

The road to treatment just got shorter for top of the South patients

Ademandingcancer diagnosis often marks the beginning of a long and journey. For people living in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough, that journey has historically included significant travel, with many patients required to go to Christchurch for specialist...

Second chances popular fashion show choice

Second chance fashion is growing in popularity and Kate Wild from Turnaround in Feilding is putting on her fifth fashion extravaganza to shine a light on the fabulous and affordable fashion she deals with and to raise money for the Feilding Fire...

Steel plant jobs boost

The growth of the Waikato region is being credited as the main driver behind a new $100 million steel manufacturing plant at Hampton Downs. The plant, on a 53ha site at 61 Hampton Downs Rd, Te Kauwhata, will process about 20,000 tonnes of recycled...

ROSLYN

Buyer Enquiry Over $699,000 This is smart buying. Set in a quiet culde-sac, this low-maintenance home is the ideal proposition for couples and families, or those seeking a sensible lock-up-andleave option. It offers excellent accommodation, with a...

EDITOR’S LETTER

With TV Guide Production Editor James Croot Australia can keep Russell Crowe and Keith Urban, but they should never, ever be allowed to lay claim to our Rebecca Gibney. Sure the actor’s most famous roles (Packed to the Rafters, Halifax F.P.) have come...

Harvesting power from above

As many Marlburians do, Rick Osborne looked skyward and saw the light. That inspiration sparked a bright horizon for local consumers of electricity. “Through the clouds came what was a pretty obvious realisation,” he recalled. “We’ve got all the sun...

Gallaher: from the field to the front

At Katikati’s 150th anniversary, Jude Dobson ONZM spoke of the All Blacks at War – a moving tale that gave insight into the horrors of war and the sacrifices made. Whilst she was in town, she had another purpose. That was to start shooting for her next...

ON THE COVER

Romance reigns at this charming cottage in North Canterbury – see page 84. Photograph by Sarah Rowlands

MUSTANG MISHAP

While we always check and double-check material before we burst into print, things don’t always go to plan and the odd mistake and/ or omission is virtually inevitable. In the report on the 2026 Ellerslie Intermarque Concours d’Elegance in our last...

NICOLA CHAN CELEBRATES A DECADE OF DINING AT PARIS BUTTER, AUCKLAND

Ten years in, Paris Butter remains one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed dining destinations. With three hats in the Cuisine Good Food Guide, the Herne Bay restaurant is known for refined dining, polished hospitality and a standard of excellence that has...

THE ULTIMATE FAMILY BASE - UNBEATABLE FOR SPACE

This spacious, sun-drenched, private sanctuary at 63A Clifford Street offers the rare combination of massive internal space and a generous, flat section right in the heart of Johnsonville. Spanning a substantial 200m2;, this 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom...

LOOK HERE

home profile MEET & GREET Isabela Capeto (fashion stylist and graphic designer). THE PROPERTY Light-filled 270sqm apartment in a 1940s building with a view of the Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro.

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...

A POSITIVE START TO THE YEAR

It has been a busy start to the year. Our recent member meet-ups around the country were a great success, providing a valuable opportunity to share the Board’s revised strategy and hear directly from members about the opportunities and challenges...

2014 Mercedez-benz amg sls gt3

6.2 Litre V8, 6-speed sequential racing gearbox, 7,063km, a full-blooded factory race machine, built with exactly one purpose: to go very fast for a very long time. Legendary 6.2-litre naturally aspirated AMG V8, wide stance, towering rear wing,...

Avoiding Diabetes

Gary hasn’t been in to see me for a few years. He is now in his sixties, recently retired and his wife Pam booked him in for a health check. His blood pressure is too high, and his waist measurement is 126cm, well above the ideal for a male of 94cm or...

Conversation starter: sunken lounges return

Do the thing! rot

When leaves rot they slowly turn into compost, with the help of all the worms, bugs and tiny creatures that live in the soil. Compost is food and medicine for the soil, keeping our gardens healthy. Leaves that have fallen from trees make brilliant...

BLOSSOMS GALORE

For those who live in or near Wellington, there’s no need to go to the Land of the Rising Sun to enjoy the froth of cherry blossom. Just a few kilometres north of the city, the Aston Norwood Gardens provide the visitor with an immersive experience in...

84 CAPSULE WARDROBE IDEAS

PLUS SIX TRAILBLAZERS ON THEIR ROAD TO SUCCESS

INSIDE:

D-DAY'S SECRET PIPELINES HAINES HUNTER SE725 UPGRADE ANTIQUE & CLASSIC BOAT SHOW SCHIONNING CAT SKYBORNE FAREWELLED CRUISING ADVENTURE IN NORTHEAST PNG AND BOUGANVILLE AUCKLAND BOAT SHOW 25 YEARS THE CATCH: BERLEY BASICS REFLECTIONS: THE GREG FENWICK...

NOSTALGIA

TO SERVE: MAKES 10 CRÊPES COOK'S NOTE: BATTER ²⁄¶ cup (100 grams) plain flour 1 teaspoon caster sugar pinch table salt 1 large egg 1 large egg yolk 300ml milk 1 tablespoon butter, melted and cooled butter or neutral oil, e.g. canola, for cooking TO...

Fill me in

The cover story for this issue has been brewing for a while. It started as so many articles do: several separate conversations follow the same arc and it’s apparent an idea’s time has come. In no particular order, I was hearing: so much marketing...

Building dreams: Pick the right design pro

Planning to build or renovate? Selecting the right design professional early in the piece is crucial; a well-chosen designer can make all the difference in turning your dream into reality. The three main options are architects, architectural designers,...

You have a voice

After about an hour underground, we started heading back through the cave system. It was properly dark now. The kind of dark where your head torch becomes your entire world. The walls of the cave glowed in the narrow beam of light, wet rock reflecting...

MAKE A DUST EXTRACTOR

Grow apples, pears, medlars and quinces.

When it comes to pip fruit, it pays to do some research to figure out which variety is best suited to your garden. Even a modest-sized section can make room for a small specimen or an espaliered pip fruit tree, and double-grafted trees can give you...

AUTUMN COLOUR

Trees, shrubs and flowers for seasonal drama

Mosgiel

At Elm Grove, the next generation of Kirklands are blending heritage and innovation on the 173-year-old, Taieri, low-cost dairy farm with an A2 colostrum-based skincare range designed for sensitive skin

Wildly Intentional

IN THE EARLY morning light, before the nor’wester has a chance to pick up and the heat settles into the valleys of Central Otago, Sarah Rutherford and Jen Clark are already in their gardens. Yet these are not gardens like you and I have in our...

IMPROVING PASTURE PRODUCTIVITY

A deep dive into utilising pasture well

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...

Fonterra brands gone

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

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...