Yet another WCC financial stuff up
The Post reports:The Wellington City Council’s latest budget blowout has been revealed ‒ a $56 million shortfall between what was budgeted and reality. But during a councillor briefing it was revealed that one vital number was missing: The 15% GST bill, which the council could not recover. If only any of the 1,800 staff at WCC had accountancy degrees, where you would be expected to know about GST. This is the third error in as many months revealed by WCC. Of course people make errors, but you are meant to have systems for checking so that errors are discovered before final decisions are made.
Source:Stuff
February 06, 2026 14:01 UTC
Swimming still unsafe at parts of Wellington’s south coast, tests show
The first official water-quality test results following the Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant breakdown show that parts of Wellington’s south coast remain unsafe for swimming due to high bacteria levels. Moa Point is continuing to discharge untreated wastewater,” Wellington Water said in a statement, as quoted by Stuff. Wellington Water said partial repairs have been completed on the long outfall pipe that failed during the incident. While this handles most daily wastewater flow, untreated sewage may still be discharged during peak periods using the short outfall pipe. “The team are working carefully throughout the weekend to increase the volume of flow through the long outfall pipe as much as possible, to reduce the use of the short outfall pipe,” Wellington Water said.
Source:Stuff
February 06, 2026 12:34 UTC
Upper Hutt shopkeeper sleeping in store after Stirling Sports targeted again
Sund told the Herald he’s sleeping in his store over fears it will be targeted again. The owner of a Stirling Sports store in Upper Hutt is sleeping in the shop over fears it could be targeted again after it was targeted for the third time since opening. Photo / Supplied“I started at 9am yesterday and then I spent a whole night and day working yesterday,” Sund said. “I’m very much struggling at the moment,” Sund told the Herald. “It’s a very hard time being a small business owner and I’m trying to survive, trying to put food for my family, you know?
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 06, 2026 12:04 UTC
Yellow‑legged hornet spread to Northland? Pest expert disputes MPI reassurances
The technique – attaching tiny radio transmitters to worker hornets and tracking them back to their nests – had quickly become a core part of MPI’s response. “Once we have a transmitter attached to a hornet, we are typically locating the nest within a few hours,” Inglis said. He said the transmitters were deployed as soon as worker hornets reached more than 300mg in weight. Photo / Biosecurity New ZealandMPI’s Technical Advisory Group, which includes international experts, advised that queen hornets do not travel far when food is abundant. Former Northland beekeeper and current biosecurity worker Brad Windust.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 06, 2026 12:03 UTC
Upper Hutt Main St store burglary foiled as police arrest five
A group of five tried to break into an Upper Hutt store around 12.40am. Upper Hutt Main St store burglary foiled as police arrest fiveA group of five tried to break into an Upper Hutt store around 12.40am. Photo / NZMEAn Upper-Hutt store was the target of an overnight burglary by a group of four youths and a 20-year-old man. Police were notified of an attempt to break into a Main St store around 12.40am, said Hutt Valley Area Commander, Inspector Wade Jennings. “The alleged offenders made multiple attempts to gain access to the store, however those attempts were unsuccessful.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 06, 2026 12:00 UTC
Parents are responsible for raising their children – Letters to the Editor
This Government is systematically cutting funding used to pay teacher aides to support neurodivergent students. Consequently, schools are supporting students who, despite severe learning and behaviour challenges, do not qualify for ORS. Funding, formerly available for students in Years 11-13 and used for teacher aide salaries, has been discontinued. Funding applications made to the ministry to support students who present behaviour or learning challenges have been reduced. Every time a kick at goal is done during the game, they kick the ball so very, very high that it always goes way over the top of the goals, resulting in a defender’s goal kick.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 06, 2026 11:55 UTC
Giorgia Meloni-style cherub in Rome basilica covered after investigation
Meloni herself responded via social media saying, “no, I definitely do not look like an angel”, with crying-laughing emojis. But Valentinetti admitted the truth in an interview with local newspaper La Repubblica on Wednesday local time, according to the BBC. “Yes, it is the Prime Minister’s face, but along the lines of the previous painting,” he confessed to the publication. Artist Valentinetti said the Vatican ordered he cover up the offending artwork. The 83-year-old said the Vatican ordered he cover up the offending section and work with “state institutions” to “restore the original”.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 06, 2026 11:55 UTC
Fire and Emergency NZ warns of public risk as 18 calls received during strike
Fire crews dealt with two vegetation fires during today's strike. Photo / RNZ / Samuel RillstoneAlready a subscriber? Fire and Emergency NZ warns of public risk as 18 calls received during strikeFire crews dealt with two vegetation fires during today's strike. Photo / RNZ / Samuel RillstoneBy RNZFire and Emergency New Zealand is warning that ongoing strikes are putting the public at risk. It received 18 calls during today’s strike, and 10 cases were in areas impacted by the industrial action.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 06, 2026 11:51 UTC
Promises of unity not easy to see from Waitangi 2026
What would Kīngi Tūheitia have thought if he’d been watching the developments from Waitangi this week? Photo / RNZTe Pāti Māori has, by some distance, shown itself to be as far from unified as it has ever been. Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi was seen to deliver an olive branch to resolve his party's inner turmoil. It’s a challenge Waititi seems to accept: “This kotahitanga, unity, it is difficult. There is much about Waitangi that does lend itself to unity and collaboration.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 06, 2026 11:50 UTC
School report reset finally gives parents clearer answers – Cecilia Robinson
When clarity slipped awayWhen our first child started primary school, student-led conferences were already the norm. Most parents already have a reasonable sense of what their child is doing day to day. These provided a more informal setting where children could share their work and parents could see progress building over time. By the time children arrive at school, teachers are often already playing catch-up. In the new reports, each descriptor sits alongside narrative commentary, clear next learning steps and practical guidance for parents.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 06, 2026 11:48 UTC
NRLW star Maddie Studdon sentenced for stalking ex-partner
“Didn’t need to use me just so you could see if something else would work,” read a third. “No one should ever have to put up with being treated like this,” Magistrate Megan Greenwood told the court, describing Studdon’s conduct as “out of control, fixated and obsessive behaviour” that left the victim “terrified”. “You do this again, that’s where you’re going – you’re going to jail,” Greenwood said. Studdon was sentenced to two years of community service and fined $2561.06. Studdon played for the Dragons last season but is without a club for the 2026 NRLW season.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 06, 2026 11:43 UTC
Auckland’s Herald Island boil water notice lifted after clear E. coli test
He called the new result “reassuring” and said the earlier sample did not reflect a problem within the water network. “We believe yesterday’s positive E. coli result was most likely caused by environmental factors during sample collection,” he said. “All other water quality results were normal, and today’s test confirms the network has remained safe throughout.”Bourne acknowledged the boil water notice may have caused “inconvenience” for residents, but was issued as a measure of caution to protect public health. While issuing a boil water notice can cause inconvenience, it was the right step while we carried out additional testing.”Watercare thanked Herald Island residents for their patience and understanding throughout the ordeal. Our teams worked overnight to notify residents, provide bottled water, and ensure people had the information they needed.”Watercare will continue daily E. coli testing for the next two days before resuming its normal testing schedule.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 06, 2026 11:35 UTC
Far North councillor faces formal action over false Moko Tepania MP post
She later said she acted in good faith, that the post’s timing had nothing to do with Waitangi week, and that she believed the information to be true when she shared it. “I believed that to be public information,” Smolders said. Far North Mayor Moko Tepania. He said the issue would be handled through formal FNDC processes after Waitangi week concluded. Labour had confirmed candidates in around 30 electorates so far, with roughly 40 more to be considered in the coming months.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 06, 2026 11:34 UTC
Porirua boatie arrested after fleeing police in ‘old’ red boat
A Porirua boatie has been caught by police after leading them on a chase in an “old” boat. Police went to the Mana Twin Bridges public boat ramp this morning to tell the man he was under arrest for breaching bail conditions – but say he took off in his boat toward the horizon. The Maritime Unit was called and began searching for a “red and old” boat, found off the Plimmerton coastline about 20 minutes later. Unit Supervisor Sergeant Richard Kennedy said despite the appearance of the police catamaran and its flashing lights, the man ignored all instructions to stop. “When he saw us, he did a 180 in his boat and headed off at a rate of knots,” Kennedy said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 06, 2026 11:33 UTC
Son of Norway’s crown princess denies drugging anyone
The incident is said to have taken place during the night of December 19–20, 2018. The four alleged rapes all took place after consensual sex, often following evenings of heavy drinking when the women were not in a state to defend themselves, the prosecution said this week. The defence has argued that Hoiby “perceived all of the acts as perfectly normal and consensual sexual relations”. On Wednesday, Hoiby testified that he was “not in the habit of having sex with women who are not awake”. She also suffers from an incurable lung disease and will likely need a lung transplant in the future.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 06, 2026 11:27 UTC