Local Matters NZ

Premium The original Northern Arena complex included a 25-metre learn to swim pool, two 12-metre pools for pre-schoolers and babies, a gym, fitness studio, café and shop. Hopes of a public swimming pool in Warkworth remain on hold, with Auckland Council confirming the town is not identified for a new aquatic centre in any of the long-term investment options currently under consideration.

Premium Prominent Warkworth developer Jamie Peters has unveiled plans for a major redevelopment of his recently acquired commercial property in Neville Street, which he hopes will set Warkworth on the road to becoming “the Arrowtown of the North”. Turnstone Capital, headed by Peters, is redeveloping 15 Neville Street, currently occupied by Rococo hair salon, Kowhai Laundry and Webster Malcolm Law.

Screenshot Two people were safely rescued after their boat began sinking off the Mangawhai coast on Thursday night, with Coastguard Mangawhai crew responding within minutes of the emergency call. Coastguard Mangawhai launched Kokako Rescue just 15 minutes after receiving the urgent call-out on Thursday, July 16. The rescue vessel reached the stricken boat within a further 10 minutes, where the two occupants were found standing in ankle-deep water as their vessel took on water.

Kaipara District Council has unanimously rejected a proposal to progress a major overhaul of Northland local government, saying there is insufficient evidence the preferred reform model would benefit the district. The preferred option would see Northland transition through two unitary authorities before eventually moving to a single council covering the entire region.

Wainui Golf and Function Centre will host the return of the New Zealand Women’s Open in March 2027, as one of the world’s premier women’s professional golf tournaments returns to New Zealand after a decade-long hiatus. Co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour and WPGA Tour of Australasia, the championship will feature a 132-player field competing for a $800,000 purse.

It was a wet and muddy game for the final but the teams gave their all for the last match of the season. Photo, Whangaparāoa College. A historic and highly successful rugby league season for the Hibiscus Coast came to a dramatic close in the final held at the end of June at Auckland’s Cornwall Park.

Screenshot A new seawall and shared pathway at the northern end of Ōrewa Beach has officially opened, providing long-term coastal protection while improving public access to one of Auckland’s most popular beaches. The project, which began construction in October 2024, also includes new beach access ramps, stairs, planting and lighting to enhance the visitor experience.

The summer of 2024-25 saw tanks running dry across the Hibiscus Coast. Hibiscus Coast residents are being urged to prepare for a hotter, drier summer, with forecasters warning a developing “super El Niño” could bring weeks of little rain, dry conditions and increased fire risk across the region.

The banded rail is making its home on the Okoromai wetlands. Photo, Neil Davies. Following last year’s restoration of the Okoromai wetlands and the daylighting of the stream, this wetland area has already responded positively. It has become a prime location in the Auckland region for spotting the usually reclusive moho pererū / banded rail, and pūweto / spotless crake, among others. These two species are closely related to each other, belonging to the family of rails (as do the much larger pūkeko).

Protein is having a moment. It seems to be everywhere in the world of nutrition right now, and there’s an interesting story behind it. International demand for New Zealand whey protein has surged, and one of the biggest drivers is the large number of people around the world now using weight loss medication. Why would weight loss medication increase demand for protein? Because when you lose weight quickly, you don’t just lose fat – you can lose muscle too.