New Zealand Newspapers

Eels die in stream

Hundreds of tuna (eels), including breeding stock thought to be 40 to 50 years old, have been found dead in the Waiatai Stream near Wairoa. Darren Hill, whose family has farmed the land in the Waiatai Valley for generations, noticed something wasn’t...

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...

Taranaki surfer wins titles

Taranaki surfer Izaro Williamson Sasia left the National Surfing Championships almost lost for words after pulling off an historic double victory. At just 14, the Sacred Heart Girls’ College student won both the under-18 and open women’s longboard...

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...

Kid’s author sweeps most-borrowed list

Afavourite children’s author, whose books have spanned generations, has topped the charts for most loaned-out books at Gisborne’s HB Williams Memorial Library. Gisborne’s top five library loans in 2025 were all stories written by American author and...

Shears to serve as film set

Golden Shears will receive some serious star power this year when it doubles as a set in a major feature film. Shearing the Love is billed as a sports comedy, set against Masterton’s iconic Golden Shears competition, in what will be the directorial...

Tiny jellyfish bring unwelcome sting for swimmers

Dozens of Bream Bay swimmers are being stung by microscopic jellyfish as the sea temperature climbs to more than 22C. The tiny stingers, called hydromedusae, are only a few millimetres in diameter, but have up to 100 tentacles that can inflict a nasty...

Night market up for grabs

Rotorua Lakes Council has opened the door to transferring management of the city’s night market — the latest potential shift for the longrunning Thursday event. There is no guarantee the market will remain at the traditional Tūtānekai St site, where...

The threads of tradition:

A keen band of Wairarapa crafters is working around the clock to stitch together New Zealand’s shearing history – in wool, of course. Masterton’s Te Āwhina Community Hub is co-ordinating two expansive knitted art installations, each crafted from...

Carrying Mia through hardest days

Ten-year-old Mia Irwin was a fit, active kid who loved netball and biking, until a series of unexplained symptoms led to a cancer diagnosis in July last year. Her mum, Renee Irwin, said life turned upside down overnight. She has to work remotely so...

Overgrown paths push walkers onto road

Overgrown footpaths are pushing pedestrians onto a busy Far North highway, after the council confirmed vegetation control in parts of pononi and ma¯pere is not covered by its maintenance contract. Residents in pononi and ma¯pere said they have raised...

You may have noticed a few changes to your Sunday Star-Times over these summer holiday weeks.

Sunday magazine and the Travel lift-out are enjoying a well-deserved summer break and will return next week for our January 18 edition. In the meantime, we have boosted our pages of quizzes and puzzles, and will run our Pitch Perfect series on the...

Probe launched into school exorcism claims

An investigation is under way into claims “deliverance and exorcism” rituals to rid students of “demonic serpents” were performed by staff at an embattled Auckland school. Two staff members at Wesley College have been suspended amid concerns the...

Region tipped to hit 33C

Gisborne residents might be looking for ways to cool down this weekend as temperatures soar. MetService has issued a heat alert for the region tomorrow, which is expected to reach 32C, and a “muggy” 19C overnight low. Heat alerts are issued the day...

Police officers’ links to gangs spark concerns

An Auckland police officer was living with a gang member who was suspected of drug dealing and money laundering, the Weekend Herald can reveal. Police raided the property where the King Cobras member was living with his partner and her daughter from a...

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 &...

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.

Summer hacks for happy pot plants

Plants add life and charm to a home, making spaces more appealing, but they can suffer in the heat. To keep your pot plants lush over summer to impress prospective buyers, or enjoy a stress-free break, these simple strategies will help ensure they...

CHRISTCHURCH CENTRAL

Price: $ 899,000 Open home: Sunday 21, 1.45pm-2.15pm Just steps from Victoria Street’s cafés, Hagley Park, and the city’s dynamic dining, retail, and cultural scene, this property represents the best of modern urban living. Expansive open-plan living...

Easy living, elevated outlook in Fitzroy

Fitzroy’s lifestyle options of beach and surf, walkway, cafe, and golf are enviable, and an address in this New Plymouth seafront suburb has long been sought-after by property buyers. Add an easy-care, elevated setting to those lifestyle attractions,...

Quiz

1 Formula One driver Oscar Piastri comes from which country? 2 Where does a traditionally dressed Scot wear their sgian dubh? 3 What does a cetologist study? 4 The Bride pursues the Deadly Vipers in which movie? 5 Adipose tissue is another name for...

Beautifully renovated bungalow

Architecturally designed in the 1960s, this home balances classic character with modern family convenience. Flooded with sunlight and framed by iconic 60s feature windows, it exudes warmth and timeless style. Multiple living areas include two upstairs...

Parade was a real cracker...

Feilding’s Christmas spirit was on full display over the weekend as one of the most well attended Christmas carnivals and parades took over the streets. Feilding & District Promotion (FDP) work with the Manchester Lions to deliver the programme of...

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

HOMES Rhythm and soul

A hand-built home near Raglan embodies the spirit of manaakitanga.

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

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR CHRISTMAS

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...

Robur Hire

Attachment specialists

Melanie Bracewell

Beyond the punchline.