CoveragePost
January 12, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand File photo. RNZ / Nate McKinnon Residents evacuated by a fire in a pine plantation in Blairlogie near Masterton last night are being allowed to return home. Murray Dunbar from Fire and Emergency told RNZ they were called out just before 3am on Monday. The fire measured about 200 square metres. ... <a title="Evacuated residents return home after pine plantation fire near Masterton" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/evacuated-residents-return-home-after-pine-plantation-fire-near-masterton/" aria-label="Read more about Evacuated residents return home after pine plantation fire near Masterton">Read more</a>
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January 12, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand [embedded content] Charismatic, gregarious, exuberant, a joker, a showman, a larrikin: such are the epithets for long-serving mayor Tim Shadbolt, who died age 78 last week. His public funeral service was due to be held in Invercargill on Friday January 16, 2pm at the Civic Theatre. He would be remembered there ... <a title="Remembering Sir Tim Shadbolt: Pineapple, cheese and jellybeans" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/remembering-sir-tim-shadbolt-pineapple-cheese-and-jellybeans/" aria-label="Read more about Remembering Sir Tim Shadbolt: Pineapple, cheese and jellybeans">Read more</a>
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January 12, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Father and son duo Shane and Ethan Vickery opened Kai Co to give shoppers an alternative to the Woolworths and Foodstuffs supermarket duopoly. Facebook/Kai Co The co-owner of a new supermarket in Christchurch says shoppers have turned out in droves in support of the new store since it opened last week. ... <a title="Christchurch shoppers out in droves for new alternative supermarket" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/christchurch-shoppers-out-in-droves-for-new-alternative-supermarket/" aria-label="Read more about Christchurch shoppers out in droves for new alternative supermarket">Read more</a>
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January 12, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Cecily Bruce (left) and Joanne Craig battle it out at the 2026 Scrabble NZ Women’s Championship. LetsPlayScrabble/screenshot There would have been a fair Scrabble sets dusted off over the holidays, perhaps kicking off a few family feuds even, but few more serious than the first New Zealand Women’s Championship in the ... <a title="First NZ Women’s Championship in Scrabble goes down to the W-I-R-E" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/first-nz-womens-championship-in-scrabble-goes-down-to-the-w-i-r-e/" aria-label="Read more about First NZ Women’s Championship in Scrabble goes down to the W-I-R-E">Read more</a>
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January 12, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Rakon specialises in precision timing systems used in mobile networks, satellites, aerospace and defence systems, as well as AI and cloud computing. 123RF Local chip-maker Rakon has received a takeover notice from US electronic manufacturer Bourns Inc. Bourns intends to make an offer of $1.55 cents a share to buy 100 ... <a title="US company Bourns tries to take over New Zealand chip maker Rakon" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/us-company-bourns-tries-to-take-over-new-zealand-chip-maker-rakon/" aria-label="Read more about US company Bourns tries to take over New Zealand chip maker Rakon">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 12, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Dozens of flights were cancelled due to high winds in the capital. AFP Passengers on more than 50 Air New Zealand flights cancelled by high winds in the capital on Sunday are now being rebooked. Gusts over 100km/h were recorded in Wellington on Sunday; however, winds have eased on Monday morning. ... <a title="More than 50 flights cancelled as high winds batter Wellington" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/more-than-50-flights-cancelled-as-high-winds-batter-wellington/" aria-label="Read more about More than 50 flights cancelled as high winds batter Wellington">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 12, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand A broken ramp on the Bluebridge Connemara left hundreds of passengers stuck on the ferry overnight. Supplied Ferry operator Bluebridge says Monday evening’s sailing of the beleaguered Connemara ferry from Wellington to Picton is scheduled to go ahead. The Connemara’s sailing’s have been cancelled since Thursday as teams worked to repair ... <a title="Bluebridge’s ferry Connemara to resume sailing Monday night following door woes" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/bluebridges-ferry-connemara-to-resume-sailing-monday-night-following-door-woes/" aria-label="Read more about Bluebridge’s ferry Connemara to resume sailing Monday night following door woes">Read more</a>
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January 12, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Temperatures are forecast to return to regular January temperatures this week. RNZ / Richard Tindiller Temperatures are set to return to normal this week after peaking around the country. MetService meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon told Morning Report a number of places reached the mid-thirties over the weekend, driven by a heat wave ... <a title="Reprieve from scorching temperatures, calmer weather on the way" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/reprieve-from-scorching-temperatures-calmer-weather-on-the-way/" aria-label="Read more about Reprieve from scorching temperatures, calmer weather on the way">Read more</a>
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January 12, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand The three-day event was expected to generate more than 60,000 visitor nights at hotels. The Hotel Council Aoetaroa says events are a big part of turning Auckland’s central business district into a central entertainment district. A Jehovah’s Witness Convention in the city over the weekend has been forecast to boost the ... <a title="Jehovah’s Witness Convention to bring $20m boost to Auckland economy" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/jehovahs-witness-convention-to-bring-20m-boost-to-auckland-economy/" aria-label="Read more about Jehovah’s Witness Convention to bring $20m boost to Auckland economy">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 12, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand A fire in Hawke’s Bay, January 2026. Hawke’s Bay – Fire and Emergency Campers and hikers have been asked to evacuate the Boundary Stream Camp and Bell Rock Scenic Reserve in Hawke’s Bay because of a large fire. The fire is in a forestry block near Waitara Road in Te Haroto, ... <a title="Hawke’s Bay blaze sparks evacuations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/hawkes-bay-blaze-sparks-evacuations/" aria-label="Read more about Hawke’s Bay blaze sparks evacuations">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 12, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Warning: this story contains details that may disturb some readers. Moeaia Tuai will be sentenced next month for enslaving a young woman who he forced to work and sexually abused. Two victims broke free from the Auckland man’s control in harrowing echoes of New Zealand’s most infamous slavery trial, but such ... <a title="Slavemaster Moeaia Tuai set to be sentenced" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/slavemaster-moeaia-tuai-set-to-be-sentenced/" aria-label="Read more about Slavemaster Moeaia Tuai set to be sentenced">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 12, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Waving down a bus is not required, but it sure helps. RNZ / Mark Papalii Whether you’re heading to work before an important morning meeting, or coming home with kids and shopping in tow, there are few things more maddening than your bus just seeming to sail on by. Last year, ... <a title="Passengers urged to wave down buses – but not required" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/passengers-urged-to-wave-down-buses-but-not-required/" aria-label="Read more about Passengers urged to wave down buses – but not required">Read more</a>
