Photo: Getty ImagesThe big interest rate question this year will probably be when interest rates start to rise materially again, but borrowers might want to fix their home loans soon, forecasters warn. BNZ chief economist Mike Jones said interest rates would likely be on hold for now. ‘‘I think we’re in a position we can probably draw a line under the downtrend in mortgage rates, but we can’t see mortgage rates jumping a whole lot any time soon either. ASB economists said the OCR and mortgage rates were now lower than they had expected in forecasts made early last year. ‘‘Longer-term NZ mortgage rates eased over 2024 to reflect the combination of the global and local outlook.

Tony Brown, Springboks assistant coach, according to a report declined an offer to join the All Blacks six months ago due to his contract commitments but remains open to future possibilities after his contract is up with South Africa. Picture: BackpagePix Image: BackpagepixSpringboks assistant coach Tony Brown turned down an approach to join the All Blacks six months ago, according to a report. Brown said that he was approached by then-All Blacks coach Scott Robertson to join his coaching staff, stuff.co.nz reports. While Brown said he would like to be involved with the All Blacks, he always planned to honour his contract with the Springboks and therefore had to turn the offer down. He also left the door open to join the All Blacks in the future.

The housing market returned mixed results in December with stronger sales numbers but slightly softer prices overall. According to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ), 6644 residential properties were sold throughout the country in December, up 8.1% compared to December 2024. However, sales activity was more muted in Auckland where 1886 residential properties were sold in December, up 2.2% compared to December 2024. However, while sales activity firmed, prices appeared softer overall. REINZ House Price Index - December 2025

Christopher Luxon is being urged to heed Mark Carney’s warnings and advice. A turbulent week in global politics has included Canadian Prime Minister Carney’s ‘‘absolutely superb’’ speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) gathering in Davos, Switzerland, Prof Robert Patman says. ‘‘Mr Carney made it quite clear the old order is over - we've had a rupture in the fabric of international politics,’’ Prof Patman said. Speaking at Davos, Mr Carney said middle and small powers must not cave in to bullying by great powers. ‘‘In other words, he's saying the current situation is dangerous, but it's also presenting great opportunities,’’ Prof Patman said.

Photo: RNZNew Zealand First has soared to nearly 12 percent in the latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll, its highest result since the survey launched in early 2021. The coalition parties have extended their lead over the left bloc, but Labour remains the highest-polling party. Labour, National, and New Zealand First are all up on the previous poll in December, while Act and the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori have all taken dips. The TPU-Curia poll's calculation assumes there would be no overhang seats for National and Te Pāti Māori, but that Te Pāti Māori would retain at least one electorate seat. Polls compare with the most recent poll by the same polling company, as different polls can use different methodologies.

Rugby commentator Justin Marshall says he experienced several All Black head coaching changes during his 81-test career. Marshall said he knows full well the position the players are in now, as he experienced several All Black head coaching changes during his 81-test career. However, Marshall doesn't see that as a negative, rather something that will make the All Blacks and Super Rugby Pacific stronger. Marshall said the task was pretty straightforward for whoever comes in as All Black head coach. But what we want to stop with All Black rugby are those fluctuations in performance which we've seen over the last six years."

Roads around the Coromandel Peninsula became submerged by immense flooding yesterday, leaving behind slips and damage. North of Tairua, SH25 through to Whitianga and Coromandel town has recently reopened. Residents of Tairua's Mt Paku said they've lost access to water and understand the reservoirs were emptied as a result of a slip. Photo / Tom EleyTairua Surf Life Saving supervisor Gabrielle said seawater around the Coromandel is brown, unsafe and gross. Despite the damage left behind, Grant said the Coromandel is a “very resilient place” that will be able to rebound.

“But also they know they shouldn’t have been doing it.”Hills explained that the company for which the individual worked is contracted on a fixed fee to ensure the tree stays alive. “Sometimes, under the contract expectations, if rainfall is not heavy, so even in ‘light’ summer rain, trees will still be watered to ensure water reaches the root system, giving the new trees a better chance of survival. “There are sometimes even pipes to the roots to ensure this is done.”The Auckland Council contractor was filmed watering a tree during heavy rainfall. The footage showed a mistake had been made, and all crews had now been reminded of procedures during heavy rainfall. Multiple areas went into states of emergency, while floodwaters cut off towns, shut off power for thousands and closed highways.

Police were called after two armed people threatened staff at a Christchurch commercial premises early on Thursday morning. A police spokesperson said officers were called to the commercial property on Moorhouse Ave about 1.30am after reports of an aggravated robbery. The pair threatened the staff members with weapons. Inquiries into the incident were ongoing, the spokesperson said. They took a number of items, then fled the scene in a stolen vehicle.

Photo: ODT FilesA Dunedin man barricaded himself in a bedroom and swung a metal pole at police attempting to arrest him over an alleged crime spree. The 49-year-old man had allegedly committed a string of dishonesty crimes in Dunedin in the past weeks, Sergeant Simon Reay said. At 1pm yesterday, officers arrived at the Forbury Rd address where the man was staying. After a search turned up drugs the man ran off and barricaded himself in a bedroom at the back of the property. He was held in police custody and was charged with six charges of dishonesty, resisting arrest, assaulting police and breaching bail conditions.

The Americans — who, ironically, have been in camp in Dunedin longer than the Black Sticks — started the stronger team. Black Sticks midfielder Emma Rainey pinches the ball from American Ashley Hoffman during their match in Dunedin last night. Ramsey used her power to beat O’Hanlon from a penalty stroke for the equaliser, and a Black Sticks penalty corner fizzled out. A late penalty corner gave the Black Sticks hope but it, like their evening, ended in frustration. The tournament continues today with Japan v USA in the early game followed by the Black Sticks playing their second-stringers.

Children are thought to be among several people missing after a landslide came down on several structures at campground at the base of Mauao, Mount Maunganui. There are sniffer dogs at the scene as emergency services try to find anyone trapped in the slip at the Beachside Holiday Park. She spoke to a couple missing a child and tried to help in the early stages but said emergency services arrived quite quickly afterwards. "Right now, our priority is supporting our staff on the ground, emergency services and those affected as best we can. Welcome Bay Road in Tauranga, near where a slip left two people unaccounted for for a time on Thursday.

Yesterday, after 48 years of marriage, he and wife Margaret relived the southern leg of the journey on the inaugural service of the Mainlander from Dunedin to Invercargill. The couple had met in Green Island on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia in 1978. Three weeks after they met, Mr Maclean made the trip from Auckland to his future wife’s home in Gore aboard the Southerner to propose. "We'd only seen each other and met a couple of times in Australia ... and he didn’t forget me. Geraldine couple Margaret, 71, and John Maclean, 80, catch The Mainlander to Invercargill from Dunedin Railway Station yesterday.

The USAF F-22 Raptor Demo Team is taking part in this year’s Warbirds over Wanaka show over Easter weekend. Two Lockheed Martin aircraft will take part in the Easter show, flown by a United States Air Force demonstration team. Forty-two deaths were reported, including 14 staff, in what the US Air Force later conceded to be a mistake. He said a Royal Australian Air Force F-111 and F/A-18, and a United States Air Force F-16 had featured at previous events. "The ministry has not received a diplomatic clearance request from the United States for a visit by a United States Air Force F-22 Raptor."

Photo: ODT filesOne of the largest developments in recent history in Dunedin is set to be launched in the coming months. The 650-lot Longfield Mosgiel subdivision, which developer Lane Hocking’s Universal Developments is overseeing, was due to have its main launch in March. It incorporates two reserves and playgrounds and a large active reserve running 1.2km through the heart of the subdivision which contains a cycleway and footpath. Cr Andrew Simms, a former chairman of the Mosgiel-Taieri community board, said the company had kept the Mosgiel community informed, despite the community expressing some ongoing concerns. However, the size of the subdivision was in other ways, "very encouraging for the Mosgiel and Taieri communities".