CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Auckland Harbour Bridge. 123rf Imposing tolls on the existing Harbour Bridge won’t raise enough revenue to cover long-term costs of a new crossing, the editor of an advocacy website says. The Infrastructure Commission has suggested a toll as high as $9 to help pay for a second crossing. Greater Auckland editor ... <a title="Charging $9 toll wouldn’t cover cost of new Auckland harbour crossing, advocate says" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/charging-9-toll-wouldnt-cover-cost-of-new-auckland-harbour-crossing-advocate-says/" aria-label="Read more about Charging $9 toll wouldn’t cover cost of new Auckland harbour crossing, advocate says">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Explainer – If the weather lately is stressing you out, you’re not alone. As of Tuesday, there have been nine local states of emergency declared so far in 2026, according to Civil Defence. That’s already more than were declared in all of 2025 and 2024. There have also been two red ... <a title="What can you do if the weather forecast terrifies you?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/what-can-you-do-if-the-weather-forecast-terrifies-you/" aria-label="Read more about What can you do if the weather forecast terrifies you?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Auckland Harbour Bridge. 123rf Imposing tolls on the existing Harbour Bridge won’t raise enough revenue to cover long-term costs of a new crossing, the editor of an advocacy website says. The Infrastructure Commission has suggested a toll as high as $9 to help pay for a second crossing. Greater Auckland editor ... <a title="Charging $9 toll wouldn’t cover cost of new harbour crossing, advocate says" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/charging-9-toll-wouldnt-cover-cost-of-new-harbour-crossing-advocate-says/" aria-label="Read more about Charging $9 toll wouldn’t cover cost of new harbour crossing, advocate says">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Phillip Maybury and Natasha Robinson have been helping catch supplies. RNZ / Mary Argue A “lifeline” road gouged out by raging floodwaters in southern Wairarapa is a “nightmare” scenario, that has split families and forced residents to scramble for supplies. Several rural and coastal settlements on the road to Cape Palliser ... <a title="‘Lifeline’ Lake Ferry Road bridge gouged out by raging floodwaters in South Wairarapa" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/lifeline-lake-ferry-road-bridge-gouged-out-by-raging-floodwaters-in-south-wairarapa/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Lifeline’ Lake Ferry Road bridge gouged out by raging floodwaters in South Wairarapa">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Follow our live blog at the top of this page for updates. Banks Peninsula remains cut off by road after widespread damage from flooding and slips. Canterbury’s civil defence controller Duncan Sandeman says the focus on Wednesday will be opening roads and restoring communications. The peninsula was pelted by ten times ... <a title="Weather live: Banks Peninsula cut off by slips, flooding" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/weather-live-banks-peninsula-cut-off-by-slips-flooding/" aria-label="Read more about Weather live: Banks Peninsula cut off by slips, flooding">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand It’s estimated that roughly a fifth of the potential crop may be left on vines this year due to a combination of factors. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Perfect growing conditions for grapes at a time when demand for wine is dropping is likely to result in more fruit left on the ... <a title="The wine industry headache" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/the-wine-industry-headache/" aria-label="Read more about The wine industry headache">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand First-home buyers were still a strong force in the market, but dropped to 26.2 percent of transactions compared to 28.3 percent at the end of 2025. Unsplash/ Jakub Żerdzicki Homeowners becoming willing to brave the housing market and shift to a new property could be a positive thing for the economy, ... <a title="Homeowners shifting properties could be good news for the economy" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/homeowners-shifting-properties-could-be-good-news-for-the-economy/" aria-label="Read more about Homeowners shifting properties could be good news for the economy">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Oppo managing director Morgan Halim said more people applied for the entry level roles, than the ones with more specialist requirements. RNZ Oppo managing director Morgan Halim would usually consider 500 a high number of applicants for a job ad. So when a current advertisement ticked over 2500 applications – and ... <a title="Company boss shocked as 2500 apply for one job" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/company-boss-shocked-as-2500-apply-for-one-job/" aria-label="Read more about Company boss shocked as 2500 apply for one job">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Fr Brian Cummings was rector at St Bede’s College between 1990-2001. Supplied A second priest who worked at St Bede’s College was accused of sexual abuse by three complainants over three decades, it can be revealed. The priest, who “strenuously denied” the allegations, was rector at the school for more than ... <a title="Second priest at St Bede’s College was accused of sexual abuse by three complainants" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/second-priest-at-st-bedes-college-was-accused-of-sexual-abuse-by-three-complainants/" aria-label="Read more about Second priest at St Bede’s College was accused of sexual abuse by three complainants">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Co-chief scientist Molly Patterson with a core sample all packaged up for transportation back from the Crary Ice Rise campsite. Supplied / Ana Tovey (SWAIS2C) An Antarctic sediment sample dating back millions of years shows evidence that a major ice sheet partially or totally collapsed during a previous warm period. The ... <a title="Antarctic expedition collects evidence that ice sheet melted during previous warm period" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/antarctic-expedition-collects-evidence-that-ice-sheet-melted-during-previous-warm-period/" aria-label="Read more about Antarctic expedition collects evidence that ice sheet melted during previous warm period">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand The scene of a fatal dog attack in Kaihu, Northland. RNZ The small Northland settlement where a woman was mauled to death by a pack of dogs is devastated, a councillor and kaumātua for the region says. Emergency crews rushed to Kaihu north of Dargaville on Monday and Police remained at ... <a title="Kaihu community in mourning after woman mauled to death by a pack of dogs" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/kaihu-community-in-mourning-after-woman-mauled-to-death-by-a-pack-of-dogs/" aria-label="Read more about Kaihu community in mourning after woman mauled to death by a pack of dogs">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds. RNZ / Angus Dreaver The 10 newly-independent polytechnics have been kick-started with more than $325-million from their former owner, super-institute Te Pūkenga. Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds said the organisations were recapitalised with sufficient funds to cover three months’ spending plus any ring-fenced funds they took ... <a title="Newly-independent polytechnics given $325m from former owner" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/newly-independent-polytechnics-given-325m-from-former-owner/" aria-label="Read more about Newly-independent polytechnics given $325m from former owner">Read more</a>
