CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand The government agreeing to lower the maximum number of houses in Auckland shows they have been listening to Aucklanders, a heritage group says. Cabinet agreed to lower the maximum number of houses in Auckland from 2 million to at least 1.6 million, it was announced on Thursday. Auckland Council had been ... <a title="Government ‘listened to Aucklanders’ by weakening housing intensification rules, Character Coalition says" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/government-listened-to-aucklanders-by-weakening-housing-intensification-rules-character-coalition-says/" aria-label="Read more about Government ‘listened to Aucklanders’ by weakening housing intensification rules, Character Coalition says">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Firefighters are at the scene. (File photo) RNZ / Nate McKinnon Firefighters are at the scene of a reported chemical leak at an industrial site in Levin. Firefighters from Otaki and Levin and a specialist crew from Palmerston North were at the scene on Thursday evening. An ambulance was also at ... <a title="Firefighters at scene of reported chemical leak at Levin industrial site" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/firefighters-at-scene-of-reported-chemical-leak-at-levin-industrial-site/" aria-label="Read more about Firefighters at scene of reported chemical leak at Levin industrial site">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Untreated water was leaking onto the capital’s south coast beaches. (File photo) RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Experts are being flown in from Australia to help assess damage at the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant. Wellington Water said over the past 24 hours, the short 5-metre pipe close to the shoreline had ... <a title="Overseas experts flown in to assess damage at Moa Point wastewater treatment plant" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/overseas-experts-flown-in-to-assess-damage-at-moa-point-wastewater-treatment-plant/" aria-label="Read more about Overseas experts flown in to assess damage at Moa Point wastewater treatment plant">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand In September last year a stash of more than 200 papers were found in a locked cupboard within a mayoral desk that was bought from Wellington’s Tip Shop. 123RF Confidential documents discovered in a former Wellington mayoral desk sold to a member of the public should have been destroyed, a review ... <a title="Confidential Wellington council documents found in sold desk should have been destroyed, review finds" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/confidential-wellington-council-documents-found-in-sold-desk-should-have-been-destroyed-review-finds/" aria-label="Read more about Confidential Wellington council documents found in sold desk should have been destroyed, review finds">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand A pack of roaming dogs in bush near Paihia in the Bay of Islands. RNZ / Peter de Graaf Further calls have been made for more to be done about dangerous dogs, in the wake of Tuesday’s fatal dog attack in Northland. Mihiata Te Rore, 62, was killed by a pack ... <a title="Calls for tougher penalties to stop roaming, aggressive dogs" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/calls-for-tougher-penalties-to-stop-roaming-aggressive-dogs/" aria-label="Read more about Calls for tougher penalties to stop roaming, aggressive dogs">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand In this living zebrafish larva, the lymphatic vessels are fluorescently labelled red, while blood vessels are green, allowing scientists to visualise vessel growth. SUPPLIED The larva of a stripey fish could be the key to preventing a chronic and painful swelling condition that’s a common side effect of some breast cancer ... <a title="How a tiny fish could lead to treatment for a painful, chronic condition" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/how-a-tiny-fish-could-lead-to-treatment-for-a-painful-chronic-condition/" aria-label="Read more about How a tiny fish could lead to treatment for a painful, chronic condition">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Boxing gloves supplied Former Gisborne deputy mayor Josh Wharehinga has been appointed as the new president of Boxing New Zealand as the sport grapples with complaints about its head coach. The Sport Integrity Commission has been investigating Boxing NZ and its head coach Billy Meehan. Cathy Meehan, who is the wife ... <a title="Boxing NZ appoints new leadership as investigation into head coach drags on" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/boxing-nz-appoints-new-leadership-as-investigation-into-head-coach-drags-on/" aria-label="Read more about Boxing NZ appoints new leadership as investigation into head coach drags on">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Former Gloriavale overseeing shepherd Howard Temple. The Press/Kai Schwoerer The lawyer for convicted sex offender and former Gloriavale leader Howard Temple claims jailing the 85-year-old was excessive. Temple was sentenced to 26 months’ jail in December for indecencies on multiple girls and young women. He immediately appealed and has been on ... <a title="Gloriavale leader Howard Temple appeals ‘excessive’ jail sentence" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/gloriavale-leader-howard-temple-appeals-excessive-jail-sentence/" aria-label="Read more about Gloriavale leader Howard Temple appeals ‘excessive’ jail sentence">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Thames Coromandel District Council is urgently asking people not to swim, fish or collect shellfish in the area around where the stream discharges until further notice. Supplied / Thames Coromandel District Council Thames Coromandel District Council says a sinkhole has formed near the Onemana Wastewater Treatment Plant. In a post online ... <a title="Wastewater may be flowing to a Coromandel beach after sinkhole forms" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/wastewater-may-be-flowing-to-a-coromandel-beach-after-sinkhole-forms/" aria-label="Read more about Wastewater may be flowing to a Coromandel beach after sinkhole forms">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Labour MP Kieran McAnulty. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Labour MP Kieran McAnulty was ordered to leave the House during a tense session that included many challenges on the Speaker’s rulings. Question Time began with Gerry Brownlee indirectly rebuking New Zealand First leader Winston Peters for his remarks towards Green MP Teanau ... <a title="Labour MP Kieran McAnulty ordered to leave the House after challenging Speaker" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/labour-mp-kieran-mcanulty-ordered-to-leave-the-house-after-challenging-speaker/" aria-label="Read more about Labour MP Kieran McAnulty ordered to leave the House after challenging Speaker">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Te Huia was launched in April 2021 for a five-year trial which was due to end in June 2026, but has now been extended by a year. RNZ / Gill Bonnett The Hamilton-to-Auckland train, Te Huia, has been given an extra year to prove itself. The train provides an interregional passenger ... <a title="Hamilton-to-Auckland train Te Huia trial extended to June 2027" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/hamilton-to-auckland-train-te-huia-trial-extended-to-june-2027/" aria-label="Read more about Hamilton-to-Auckland train Te Huia trial extended to June 2027">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ / Diego Opatowski Courts will have to grapple more and more with AI fakes and it might take law changes to keep them out of trials, the government’s chief legal advisers say. Crown Law’s long-term insights briefing to a parliamentary select committee on Thursday morning turned quickly to questions around ... <a title="AI and deep fakes becoming problematic for courts" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/ai-and-deep-fakes-becoming-problematic-for-courts/" aria-label="Read more about AI and deep fakes becoming problematic for courts">Read more</a>
