Concerns weather could push raw sewage towards Wellington’s shoreline
Pat Dougherty says it could take months before it is safe to swim on Wellington's South Coast. Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. By RNZWellington Water is concerned wild weather could increase the likelihood of raw sewage being pushed towards the shoreline. Progress is being made at the Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant to clean it, mitigate the odour, and inspect the damage. Mega-litres of raw sewage have spilled into Cook Strait since, but not through the short outfall pipe since the following day.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 22:04 UTC
New Zealand’s economy is set to outpace Australia’s ... now what? – Liam Dann
The trouble is that Australia’s economy suffers from one of the same structural problems as ours. We haven’t come close to troubling our potential growth rate, regardless of how low it is now. Australia still has a much lower unemployment rate – it currently sits at just 4.10%. If the central bank forecasts hold through until 2028, we may actually have a marginally lower unemployment rate than Australia. The RBNZ has unemployment falling to 4.5% by March, while the RBA has Australia’s rate rising to 4.6% by June 2028.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 22:03 UTC
Wellington Water chairman Nick Leggett quits after Moa Point sewage plant failure
It comes as untreated sewage continues to flow into the sea off Wellington’s south coast, after a serious failure on February 5 saw the Moa Point plant flood and become inoperable. The capital’s south coast beaches are currently off limits, and are expected to remain so for months as the plant is fixed. Untreated sewage continues to flow into Cook Strait, after a serious failure at the Moa Point treatment plant. Wellington City Council owns the Moa Point Wastewater Treatment Plant site, Wellington Water is contracted to run the region’s water network, waste management company Veolia is contracted to run the plant and Greater Wellington Regional Council has regulatory oversight. Zyngfogel said the map is not part of the council or Wellington Water’s work.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 21:54 UTC
Rural girl still loves the changed world
The Gibbston Valley as seen from the air in this Otago Daily Times file photo. Mary May has been a rural girl since she was young and talks to the Wānaka Sun about the development of Central Otago. ‘‘He was a musterer up at Hunter Valley Station in Hawea. In 1969, she and Alan bought Wentworth Station in the Gibbston Valley where they farmed 20,000 acres. ‘‘Now they have tidied it up in the Gibbston Valley and I just love it the way it is.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 21:03 UTC
Taupō police officer Barry Shepherd marks 50 years amid Mauao landslide duty
Shepherd is the Taupō community constable, Bay of Plenty police area lead for search and rescue and a member of the national Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team. Senior Constable Barry Shepherd (left) and St John Ambulance paramedic Tony More (right) assist a schoolboy who slipped and was injured at Red Crater on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in 2017. Senior Constable Barry Shepherd addresses media at a January 24 press conference at Mount Maunganui during recovery efforts following the campground landslide. Senior Constable Barry Shepherd marks 50 years of service in policing. Assistant Commissioner Tim Anderson said Barry Shepherd’s contribution to policing was “impossible to quantify”.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 20:01 UTC
Weather: Man found dead inside car submerged in floodwaters on State Highway 39, Ōtorohanga
“One fire truck attended, supported by volunteers from the Hamilton brigade and a crew of eight from the swift water rescue department. “Crew left the scene around 2am, with volunteers remaining to help assist police.”State Highway 39 remains closed. Police have urged people to avoid the area. Right now, our focus is on supporting those affected by the widespread flooding, as well as emergency workers and support agencies who are also helping. That motorist escaped injury, a resident told the Herald.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 19:30 UTC
Father of Waitārere Beach shooting victim Stacey Johnston expresses anger as new details emerge about night of Ben Timmins’ death
Johnston expressed exasperation that his son-in-law could return to the Waitārere Beach Rd property a second time after the protection order was in place. Timmins’ sister has also told the Herald he was not allowed at the Waitārere Beach Rd property as part of his bail conditions. Police prepare to remove a body from a property on Waitārere Beach Rd after a shooting that left a man dead and three others in hospital. The sister of Benjamin Timmins, Rachel O'Grady, and other family members hold a karakia at a Waitārere Beach Rd property after a family shooting last month. Timmins was killed in a shooting at Waitārere Beach in which three others were critically injured on January 14, 2026.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 19:03 UTC
Police make arrest in alleged kidnapping of $3m ‘money mule’ in kiwifruit tax scam
However, Inland Revenue did not report the alleged kidnapping. “This is a textbook example,” Steve Symon, the chair of the ministerial advisory group on organised crime, previously told the Herald. Those leaders would then be held accountable for meeting those targets by a proposed government minister with a dedicated focus on organised crime. In December, the Government released a new five-year Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime [TSOC] strategy. Jared Savage covers crime and justice issues, with a particular interest in organised crime.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 19:03 UTC
Farmall FC tractor find: Putāruru collector’s unusual loader‑grader combo
“I guess that’s where the interest began.”Van Heuven’s first collector’s tractor was a Farmall FC. His most recent purchase –another Farmall FC – joined the shed in June 2025, an acquisition he freely admits was an impulse buy. The 1953 Farmall FC viewed from the back – the seat is not original. Chris van Heuven’s Farmall FC has a Hamilton-built front loader. The Farmall FC is unusual in being fitted with a grader.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 18:52 UTC
Weather live updates: New deluge expected in already sodden regions
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Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 18:18 UTC
Jesy Nelson SMA petition triggers UK Government response on baby tests
She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “I’m really proud to be working alongside the Mirror and SMA UK on this campaign and launching this petition. She wrote: “As you all know, I’ve been working hard to campaign for SMA to be added to the newborn screening heel-prick test here in the UK. Any support, shares or signatures would mean the world to me and to so many other families”Earlier this week, Nelson told how she no longer has “time” to make music. “They are my whole heart and soul and my main focus, and I want to continue advocating for them and getting this heel-prick test changed and getting them strong, that’s my main focus. That’s my main focus right now.”
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 16:52 UTC
Remarkables Park townhouses a fast sell
A section of the recently-completed Kawarau Villas. The project team behind the Kawarau Villas terrace housing complex, just below Frankton’s Remarkables Park, suspect it’s currently Queenstown’s fastest-selling development. Construction is moving apace with stage one, comprising about 40 homes, having sold out along with 62% in the second stage. Comprising, ultimately, 132 two-level two- and three-bedders, the balance of the second stage are all three-bedders priced from $955,000. Bayleys residential projects GM Gavin Lloyd says Auckland-based Redwood Group’s Tony Gapes — the original developer of Frankton’s Five Mile shopping complex — hasn’t jacked up the prices.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:51 UTC
The Milburn trifecta
Noa Milburn dominates last Sunday’s men’s final against Jack Hansen Ratter from Christchurch. Oldest brother Kai Milburn, now 19, won in 2024, then, last year, middle brother Dan, now 17, beat youngest brother Noa, now 16, in an epic final. And now Noa has won this year’s final, beating Christchurch’s Jack Hansen Ratter 7-5, 6-0 last Sunday after the latter beat Dan in the semis. Dan and Noa also teamed up for the second year running to take out the men’s doubles, beating Hansen Ratter and Wellington-based former local Justin-Li Moroney in the final. The singles winners took home $1000 each and the doubles winners $300 each, while the runners-up also won prize money.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:51 UTC