CoveragePost
February 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Police staff escorting a seal pup that had made its way into New Plymouth CBD back to the foreshore. NZ Police An adventurous seal pup got a full police escort back to the New Plymouth foreshore last night after wandering into the CBD. Police posted a photograph of the errant seal ... <a title="Adventurous seal pup given police escort out of New Plymouth CDB" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/05/adventurous-seal-pup-given-police-escort-out-of-new-plymouth-cdb/" aria-label="Read more about Adventurous seal pup given police escort out of New Plymouth CDB">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand By Trevor Hunnicutt and Xiuhao Chen US President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping shake hands as they arrive for talks at the Gimhae Air Base on 30 October 2025. AFP / Andrew Caballero-Reynolds Soybean futures rally on potential deal announced by Trump Trump and Xi look to stabilize relations ... <a title="Donald Trump, Xi Jinping discuss Taiwan and soybeans in call aimed at easing China, US relations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/05/donald-trump-xi-jinping-discuss-taiwan-and-soybeans-in-call-aimed-at-easing-china-us-relations/" aria-label="Read more about Donald Trump, Xi Jinping discuss Taiwan and soybeans in call aimed at easing China, US relations">Read more</a>
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February 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter’s privileged teen nemesis in J.K. Rowling’s wildly successful book series, is popping up in festive displays in the country ahead of the Lunar New Year. The good fortune is in the name: “Malfoy” is transliterated as “Ma Er Fu” in Mandarin. The first word “Ma” means “horse” ... <a title="A Harry Potter villain is now an unlikely new-year mascot in China" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/05/a-harry-potter-villain-is-now-an-unlikely-new-year-mascot-in-china/" aria-label="Read more about A Harry Potter villain is now an unlikely new-year mascot in China">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Untreated waste water is leaking onto the capital’s south coast beaches due to the Moa Point Treatment Plant flooding. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Surfers and surf lifesavers are devastated Wellington’s south coast is off-limits while sewage spews into the sea, worrying it’s a return to a time when there were “turds ... <a title="Wellington surfers fear return of ‘turds in the waves’ era after Moa Point failure" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/05/wellington-surfers-fear-return-of-turds-in-the-waves-era-after-moa-point-failure/" aria-label="Read more about Wellington surfers fear return of ‘turds in the waves’ era after Moa Point failure">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Kai Iwi Lakes. RNZ / Peter de Graaf A family of four have been saved from drowning by a fast-thinking local man being described by police as a “hero”. The rescue happened earlier this month at Kai Iwi Lakes, north of Dargaville. Haruru man Aaron Stott was walking along the beach ... <a title="‘Hero’ saves family of four from drowning" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/05/hero-saves-family-of-four-from-drowning/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Hero’ saves family of four from drowning">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand The Education Ministry says schools now have to add extra days to the end of the school year to make up for so-called staggered starts. Unsplash/ Taylor Flowe Schools and the Education Ministry are at odds over whether welcoming new students a day or two before other students return to class ... <a title="Schools, Education Ministry at odds over what counts as an official school day" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/05/schools-education-ministry-at-odds-over-what-counts-as-an-official-school-day/" aria-label="Read more about Schools, Education Ministry at odds over what counts as an official school day">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ Tax accountants say interactions with Inland Revenue (IR) are improving but inconsistencies, inflexibility and inexperienced staff continue to be a frustration. Chartered Accountants (CAANZ) and Tax Management’s (TMNZ) 2025 IR satisfaction survey indicates 82 percent of its tax agents who responded to the survey had clients with unpaid tax debt, ... <a title="Inland Revenue standing improves but frustrations persist" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/05/inland-revenue-standing-improves-but-frustrations-persist/" aria-label="Read more about Inland Revenue standing improves but frustrations persist">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand From a granola bar to eye fillet steak, the menu at the Treaty Grounds is extensive in the lead-up to Waitangi Day. Head of visitor experience Shania Howard says it’s taken months of preparation to get kai ready for the commemorations, and very early mornings. “We’re talking a shipping container full ... <a title="Months of preparation and a shipping container: The kai at Waitangi" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/05/months-of-preparation-and-a-shipping-container-the-kai-at-waitangi/" aria-label="Read more about Months of preparation and a shipping container: The kai at Waitangi">Read more</a>
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February 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Competitors focus during the jigsaw puzzle racing. RNZ / Tess Brunton Seven seconds – that was the difference between first and second place as competitors tackled a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle against the clock. Jigsaw puzzle racing was a new addition at the last Master Games in Dunedin and it sold out ... <a title="Jigsaw puzzle racing winners crowned at Masters Games" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/05/jigsaw-puzzle-racing-winners-crowned-at-masters-games/" aria-label="Read more about Jigsaw puzzle racing winners crowned at Masters Games">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow of the Maroons celebrates after scoring a try during the State of Origin game two match between the Queensland Maroons and the NSW Blues. AAP / Photosport A State of Origin game will be played at Eden Park next year, according to reports in Australia. The Australian and Code Sports ... <a title="State of Origin Game II to be played at Eden Park in 2027 – reports" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/05/state-of-origin-game-ii-to-be-played-at-eden-park-in-2027-reports/" aria-label="Read more about State of Origin Game II to be played at Eden Park in 2027 – reports">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand New Zealand snowboarder Dane Menzies finishes third in the Aspen Snowmass Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle Finals, 2026. MICHAEL REAVES / AFP New Zealand snowboarder Dane Menzies admits the hype at the Winter Olympics is something special. Menzies will be one of the first Kiwi athletes in action on Friday morning in qualifying ... <a title="Winter Olympics like world champs ‘on crack’ – snowboarder Dane Menzies" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/05/winter-olympics-like-world-champs-on-crack-snowboarder-dane-menzies/" aria-label="Read more about Winter Olympics like world champs ‘on crack’ – snowboarder Dane Menzies">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 5, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Wellington’s Moa Point wastewater treatment plant has been shut down and staff evacuated from the site, after an equipment failure flooded multiple floors. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone An average of around 70 million litres of untreated wastewater has been pouring into the capital’s South Coast since Wednesday morning. Wellington’s mayor Andrew ... <a title="‘Catastrophic failure’: Wellington mayor describes plant’s leak as environmental disaster" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/05/catastrophic-failure-wellington-mayor-describes-plants-leak-as-environmental-disaster/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Catastrophic failure’: Wellington mayor describes plant’s leak as environmental disaster">Read more</a>
