CoveragePost
January 29, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Lola, a real deal celebrity in central Wellington. Supplied/Josephine Brien For years Lola the Cat was the undisputed Queen of Aro Park in Wellington – a mural was even painted with the proclamation. News this week of her death sparked an outpouring of emotion from fans on social media. Her adventures ... <a title="The story of Lola the cat – Wellington’s Aro Park celebrity feline" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/29/the-story-of-lola-the-cat-wellingtons-aro-park-celebrity-feline/" aria-label="Read more about The story of Lola the cat – Wellington’s Aro Park celebrity feline">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 29, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Earlier this afternoon, a gazebo was erected on the Mt Maunganui slip site and a crew in white suits continued work on the ground nearby, while diggers stopped for about half an hour. Nick Monro/RNZ Rescue efforts at Mount Maunganui following a deadly slip have been paused for a second time. ... <a title="Recovery at Mount Maunganui halted again over slip safety concerns" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/29/recovery-at-mount-maunganui-halted-again-over-slip-safety-concerns/" aria-label="Read more about Recovery at Mount Maunganui halted again over slip safety concerns">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 29, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Auckland’s skyline, from Devonport. 123rf Settled and warm weather is forecast this weekend, with temperatures expected to reach the high-20’s for some places. It comes as a welcome relief for those who enjoy warmer and drier weather after last week’s heavy rain. “It’s pretty much settled weather, maybe the lower South ... <a title="Weekend weather: Summer returns" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/29/weekend-weather-summer-returns/" aria-label="Read more about Weekend weather: Summer returns">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 29, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Messages written on an Auckland fire engine protesting firefighters’ working conditions. RNZ / Rayssa Almeida Fire and Emergency says some of its firefighters are afflicted by angst over union signs on fire trucks, feeling their image is being tarnished. The signs – such as ones saying ‘dire emergency’ – have been ... <a title="Firefighters say union signs on trucks ‘disrepectful’ and unprofessional – FENZ" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/29/firefighters-say-union-signs-on-trucks-disrepectful-and-unprofessional-fenz/" aria-label="Read more about Firefighters say union signs on trucks ‘disrepectful’ and unprofessional – FENZ">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 29, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Steven Adams posts from hospital. Steven Adams / Instagram New Zealand basketballer Steven Adams will sit out the rest of the NBA season after the Houston Rockets centre had ankle surgery. Adams injured his left ankle late in the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on 19 January while attempting to ... <a title="Basketball: NBA season over for injured Steven Adams" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/29/basketball-nba-season-over-for-injured-steven-adams/" aria-label="Read more about Basketball: NBA season over for injured Steven Adams">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 29, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Jordi Viljoen of the Hurricanes scores a try during the Super Rugby Pacific Round 1 match between the Western Force and the Hurricanes at HBF Park in Perth, Friday, February 23, 2024. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright / www.photosport.nz) RICHARD WAINWRIGHT While he is set to share halfback duties with one of the ... <a title="‘I want to be the best in the world as well’ – Jordi Viljoen not content playing backup" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/29/i-want-to-be-the-best-in-the-world-as-well-jordi-viljoen-not-content-playing-backup/" aria-label="Read more about ‘I want to be the best in the world as well’ – Jordi Viljoen not content playing backup">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 29, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand The gang funeral of Mossey Hines dad, William “Bird” Hines, in 2023. (File photo) RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham A gang funeral procession is expected to make the six-hour journey from Auckland to Foxton this week, after the death of the son of a former Head Hunters gang leader. Mossy Hines, the ... <a title="Police prepare for 500km funeral procession for former Head Hunter leader’s son" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/29/police-prepare-for-500km-funeral-procession-for-former-head-hunter-leaders-son/" aria-label="Read more about Police prepare for 500km funeral procession for former Head Hunter leader’s son">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 29, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Video has been shared online of a mass brawl on Auckland’s Karangahape Rd last year. Emergency services were called to the scene of the fight at 3.40am in late December, which police believed involved over 50 people. Three men, aged 27, 33, and 46 were hospitalised with serious injuries. Police charged ... <a title="Watch: Video emerges online of mass brawl on Auckland’s Karangahape Rd" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/29/watch-video-emerges-online-of-mass-brawl-on-aucklands-karangahape-rd/" aria-label="Read more about Watch: Video emerges online of mass brawl on Auckland’s Karangahape Rd">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 29, 2026
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Five federal polls have been released in the last week, with three of them having some fieldwork after the Coalition split on January 22. One Nation is ... <a title="One Nation surges into second place in two polls, but Labor remains well ahead after preferences" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/29/one-nation-surges-into-second-place-in-two-polls-but-labor-remains-well-ahead-after-preferences-274104/" aria-label="Read more about One Nation surges into second place in two polls, but Labor remains well ahead after preferences">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 29, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand National and Labour are joining forces to get modern slavery legislation into Parliament, using a new process to skip the biscuit tin for the first time. National’s Greg Fleming and Labour’s Camilla Belich have agreed to co-sponsor the bill. The bill strengthens reporting to Parliament, brings in public naming and potential ... <a title="Watch: National and Labour MPs team up to get slavery bill heard" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/29/watch-national-and-labour-mps-team-up-to-get-slavery-bill-heard/" aria-label="Read more about Watch: National and Labour MPs team up to get slavery bill heard">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 29, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Philippa Wright says they’re “extremely lucky” the water didn’t go inside their home. Supplied / Philippa Wright A grandmother who fled rising floodwaters with her moko is overwhelmed by the scale of destruction in her East Coast community. “I’ve probably walked around in circles a thousand times,” Philippa Wright told RNZ ... <a title="Te Araroa grandmother describes harrowing escape from wall of floodwaters" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/29/te-araroa-grandmother-describes-harrowing-escape-from-wall-of-floodwaters/" aria-label="Read more about Te Araroa grandmother describes harrowing escape from wall of floodwaters">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 29, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ A former Education Ministry employee says development of the new school curriculum was heavily politicised, causing extensive rewrites and sidelining subject experts. Claire Coleman made the allegations during a submission to Parliament’s Education and Workforce Select Committee on the government’s Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill. She told the ... <a title="Ex-Education Ministry staffer says new school curriculum heavily politicised" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/29/ex-education-ministry-staffer-says-new-school-curriculum-heavily-politicised/" aria-label="Read more about Ex-Education Ministry staffer says new school curriculum heavily politicised">Read more</a>
