CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand TD09F is currently located 90 kilometres southwest of the Vanuatu capital Port Vila. Zoom Earth Met services in Fiji and Vanuatu are closely monitoring a tropical depression forecast to become a cyclone on Friday afternoon. According to the Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre in Fiji, the centre of the system, designated TD09F, ... <a title="Vanuatu and Fiji on alert as tropical depression gains strength" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/vanuatu-and-fiji-on-alert-as-tropical-depression-gains-strength/" aria-label="Read more about Vanuatu and Fiji on alert as tropical depression gains strength">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand DOC staff working on the rerouted section of the Motatapu Track Supplied/DOC A popular walking track linking Wānaka and Arrowtown has been moved to avoid a large slow-moving slip. The Department of Conservation said a routine assessment of a 400 metre slip near the Motatapu Track found it was at risk ... <a title="Section of Motatapu Track rerouted after risks of slip growing identified" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/section-of-motatapu-track-rerouted-after-risks-of-slip-growing-identified/" aria-label="Read more about Section of Motatapu Track rerouted after risks of slip growing identified">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Wairau Bar. RNZ / Samantha Gee A Marlborough iwi now has responsibility for managing a historic coastal site including the area of the first Polynesian settlement in Aotearoa. Te Pokohiwi o Kupe – or the Boulder Bank Site Historic Reserve – includes the Wairau Bar, where Wairau River meets the sea ... <a title="Marlborough iwi Rangitāne o Wairau now responsible for Te Pokohiwi o Kupe" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/marlborough-iwi-rangitane-o-wairau-now-responsible-for-te-pokohiwi-o-kupe/" aria-label="Read more about Marlborough iwi Rangitāne o Wairau now responsible for Te Pokohiwi o Kupe">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand St Joseph’s School in Ashburton. Google Maps Hazmat testing has revealed an unknown chemical at an Ashburton primary school after reports of children becoming unwell on Friday morning. Two people have been taken to hospital with minor injuries. Fire and Emergency sent three crews to St Joseph’s School just before 10am ... <a title="Several children fall ill before “low readings” of chemical at Ashburton school" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/several-children-fall-ill-before-low-readings-of-chemical-at-ashburton-school/" aria-label="Read more about Several children fall ill before “low readings” of chemical at Ashburton school">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand West Aucklander Boyd Steel has launched a blue “S” plate sticker, designed to signal there’s an older driver behind the wheel. He knows not for everyone would want it – after all, it’s voluntary. But for Steel, the reason is heartfelt. Driving around town, he’d often think about his nana — ... <a title="Would you slap an ‘S’ sticker on Nan’s car?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/would-you-slap-an-s-sticker-on-nans-car/" aria-label="Read more about Would you slap an ‘S’ sticker on Nan’s car?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Samuel Rillstone A pedestrian has been taken to hospital in a serious condition after being hit by a bus in central Wellington. Emergency services were alerted to the crash on Willis Street at around 10am on Friday morning. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Wellington Free Ambulance confirmed the person was ... <a title="Wellington pedestrian seriously hurt after being hit by bus" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/wellington-pedestrian-seriously-hurt-after-being-hit-by-bus/" aria-label="Read more about Wellington pedestrian seriously hurt after being hit by bus">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand The government introduced a traffic light system alongside financial and non-financial sanctions for beneficiaries who did not meet their obligations. RNZ / Quin Tauetau Benefit sanctions have not worked – probably largely because there are not enough jobs for beneficiaries to move into, one economist says. Rob Heyes, principal consultant at ... <a title="Have benefit sanctions actually worked?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/have-benefit-sanctions-actually-worked/" aria-label="Read more about Have benefit sanctions actually worked?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF Consumer confidence has dropped back from last month’s four-year high. February’s ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence index is well down from last month’s 107 points, but still remains in positive territory at 100 points. Anything under 100 is considered negative. Consumer Confidence falls to 100.1 points from 107.2 points in January ... <a title="Consumer confidence drops again after four-year high" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/consumer-confidence-drops-again-after-four-year-high/" aria-label="Read more about Consumer confidence drops again after four-year high">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Quin Tauetau The government’s Bioeconomy Science Institute will cut 134 jobs less than a year after it was formed. That comes on top of 152 jobs cut when the institute was set up as a merger of AgResearch, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research and Scion ... <a title="Newly formed Bioeconomy Science Institute to cut 134 jobs" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/newly-formed-bioeconomy-science-institute-to-cut-134-jobs/" aria-label="Read more about Newly formed Bioeconomy Science Institute to cut 134 jobs">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Lead researcher Cain Richardson said the difference in life expectancy was stark. 123rf New research has found blind or visually impaired New Zealanders die 9 years earlier on average, and make significantly less money. The report by Blind and Low Vision NZ used anonymised data from StatsNZ to compare the experience ... <a title="Visually impaired Kiwis have lower life expectancy and make less money, research finds" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/visually-impaired-kiwis-have-lower-life-expectancy-and-make-less-money-research-finds/" aria-label="Read more about Visually impaired Kiwis have lower life expectancy and make less money, research finds">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King Fare prices on Wellington’s trains, ferries and buses will be increased by more than 3 percent in May. The decision comes as Metlink revealed contactless payments for adults on their services would go live on 12 April. The public transport provider would also start to phase out ... <a title="Wellington public transport fares set to increase from May" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/wellington-public-transport-fares-set-to-increase-from-may/" aria-label="Read more about Wellington public transport fares set to increase from May">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Summerset chief executive Scott Scoullar said the company’s strategy continued to deliver results. Google Maps Retirement village operator Summerset has posted a record underlying profit, although weaker property values weighed on its bottom line. Key numbers for the year ended 31 December compared with a year ago: Net profit $259.7m v ... <a title="Summerset reports record underlying profit, lower net profit on valuations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/27/summerset-reports-record-underlying-profit-lower-net-profit-on-valuations/" aria-label="Read more about Summerset reports record underlying profit, lower net profit on valuations">Read more</a>
