CoveragePost
January 3, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Hotel director Sourav Sharma outside the iconic hotel. RNZ / Anna Sargent The new director of a historic Canterbury hotel that was shut for more than a year says he’s determined to bring the iconic site back to life. The 150-year-old Hurunui Hotel, which sits on State Highway 7 in North ... <a title="‘Bring it back to new life’: Historical Canterbury hotel reopens" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/03/bring-it-back-to-new-life-historical-canterbury-hotel-reopens/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Bring it back to new life’: Historical Canterbury hotel reopens">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 3, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand A lightning strike was the cause of a house fire in the Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn. Unsplash/ Rahul Viswanath A lightning strike set fire to a house in the Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn on Friday night, as thunderstorms hit the centre of the region. Fire and Emergency said the ... <a title="Lightning strike sets fire to Auckland house" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/03/lightning-strike-sets-fire-to-auckland-house/" aria-label="Read more about Lightning strike sets fire to Auckland house">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 3, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Immigration lawyers Pooja Sundar and Stewart Dalley. Supplied Lawyers say an in-house immigration complaints process is a toothless tiger for visa applicants. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) received more than 6500 complaints in the last year, down from 9500 in 2019. Immigration lawyers Pooja Sundar and Stewart Dalley say people who are ... <a title="Call for accountability on ‘flawed’ immigration visa decisions" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/03/call-for-accountability-on-flawed-immigration-visa-decisions/" aria-label="Read more about Call for accountability on ‘flawed’ immigration visa decisions">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 2, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Crews from Electra respond to weather-related power outage damages in Tokomaru on Monday. Supplied / Facebook The Mayoral Relief Fund has been activated for Horowhenua residents, who have suffered hardship from the recent severe weather and prolonged power outages. Mayor Bernie Wanden said the weather has been incredibly challenging for many ... <a title="Mayoral Relief Fund activated for Horowhenua residents after severe weather" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/02/mayoral-relief-fund-activated-for-horowhenua-residents-after-severe-weather/" aria-label="Read more about Mayoral Relief Fund activated for Horowhenua residents after severe weather">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 2, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand An Ikea customer is Marika Khabazi / RNZ An Ikea shopper who tried to buy a set of dining chairs was left fuming after the order was cancelled – except for the stickers on the bottom of the chairs, which still carried a $69 delivery fee. “I placed an online order ... <a title="$69 delivery fee for Ikea dining chair stickers" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/02/69-delivery-fee-for-ikea-dining-chair-stickers/" aria-label="Read more about $69 delivery fee for Ikea dining chair stickers">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 2, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Nate McKinnon Members of the NZ Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) walked off the job for an hour at midday on Friday. The union said pay talks with Fire and Emergency (FENZ) had broken down. FENZ said it received 15 calls for help during the strike, with one callout for ... <a title="Fire and Emergency receives 15 calls for help during strike" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/02/fire-and-emergency-receives-15-calls-for-help-during-strike/" aria-label="Read more about Fire and Emergency receives 15 calls for help during strike">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 2, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Nearly three years on from the devastating floods of Cyclone Gabrielle and Auckland Anniversary Weekend in 2023, many of the region’s walking and hiking tracks are still closed due to damage. Auckland Council said it did not have a record of how many damaged tracks were unable to be used across ... <a title="Frustration as Auckland’s storm-damaged tracks still shut off" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/02/frustration-as-aucklands-storm-damaged-tracks-still-shut-off/" aria-label="Read more about Frustration as Auckland’s storm-damaged tracks still shut off">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 2, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand A teenager was rescued from a rip at Paritutu Beach. Jordan Tan / 123rf A teenager rescued from a rip at Paritutu Beach thanks to the quick actions of a police officer and a member of Surf Lifesaving. Police received a call about 7pm on Thursday night, reporting a teenager was ... <a title="Teenager saved from rip thanks to police officer and lifeguard" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/02/teenager-saved-from-rip-thanks-to-police-officer-and-lifeguard/" aria-label="Read more about Teenager saved from rip thanks to police officer and lifeguard">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 2, 2026
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on January 2, 2026.
CoveragePost
January 2, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Professor Thomas Charles Roa has become a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori language and education RNZ / Pokere Paewai The Minister for Māori Development is praising those named on the New Year Honours list. Māori who have been recognised for 2026 include Companions, Officers, ... <a title="Māori recognised for 2026 in New Year Honours list" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/02/maori-recognised-for-2026-in-new-year-honours-list/" aria-label="Read more about Māori recognised for 2026 in New Year Honours list">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 2, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / REECE BAKER 2025 was not a great year for many house price forecasters, who had to revise their forecasts down many times as the year went on. At the start of the year, Westpac thought prices might lift 7 percent. At one point ASB thought they could lift 10 ... <a title="What will happen to house prices in 2026?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/02/what-will-happen-to-house-prices-in-2026/" aria-label="Read more about What will happen to house prices in 2026?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 2, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Angus Dreaver An investigation is underway after a person died at an address in Auckland’s Devonport. Police said officers were called to the property on Kerr Street about 11pm on Thursday night. “The death is currently being treated as unexplained,” a spokesperson said. “A scene guard is in place ... <a title="Investigation underway into unexplained death in Auckland’s Devonport" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/02/investigation-underway-into-unexplained-death-in-aucklands-devonport/" aria-label="Read more about Investigation underway into unexplained death in Auckland’s Devonport">Read more</a>
