CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Artist’s visualisation of a second Mt Victoria Tunnel in Wellington. NZTA / Waka Kotahi The Transport Minister says holding off on a second Mount Victoria tunnel is something under consideration, if congestion charging shows it is not needed. But the Finance Minister insists the project is “all go,” with work already ... <a title="Is Mount Victoria tunnel ‘all go’, or still under consideration?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/is-mount-victoria-tunnel-all-go-or-still-under-consideration/" aria-label="Read more about Is Mount Victoria tunnel ‘all go’, or still under consideration?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Moa Point Wastewater Plant. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The head of Wellington’s new water entity says it’s still unclear how its takeover of the barely-functional Moa Point wastewater treatment plant will work. Tiaki Wai replaces Wellington Water from 1 July, inheriting council-owned water assets including the Moa Point plant. For two ... <a title="Unclear how takeover of Moa Point wastewater plant by new water entity will work" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/unclear-how-takeover-of-moa-point-wastewater-plant-by-new-water-entity-will-work/" aria-label="Read more about Unclear how takeover of Moa Point wastewater plant by new water entity will work">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. RNZ / Mark Papalii The government has scrapped plans for a referendum on a four-year Parliamentary term. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says the coalition agreements secured getting legislation to select committee and no further. “We won’t be progressing with a referendum on a four-year term at this ... <a title="Government scraps plans for referendum on four-year term" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/government-scraps-plans-for-referendum-on-four-year-term/" aria-label="Read more about Government scraps plans for referendum on four-year term">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Nepal’s government is looking at rules to ensure that only experienced climbers can climb Mount Everest. credit: Nirmal Purja A Wanaka-based adventure consultant says she agrees that anyone wanting to climb Mount Everest should have previously summited a 7000 metre high mountain at least once. Nepal’s government is considering the new ... <a title="Nepal’s government looks to tighten the rules around who can climb Mt Everest" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/nepals-government-looks-to-tighten-the-rules-around-who-can-climb-mt-everest/" aria-label="Read more about Nepal’s government looks to tighten the rules around who can climb Mt Everest">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Spark saw a net after tax profit of $64 million for the six months ended December. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson Telecommunications company Spark’s mobile and broadband businesses delivered slight revenue growth over the first half, contributing to an 83 percent increase in net profit. “The first half of FY26 has ... <a title="Spark sees 83% increase in net profit to $64 million in six months to December" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/spark-sees-83-increase-in-net-profit-to-64-million-in-six-months-to-december/" aria-label="Read more about Spark sees 83% increase in net profit to $64 million in six months to December">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand A Wellington family has been forced out of their home after a large branch flattened their roof in this week’s vicious storm. William Ray, an RNZ employee and Johnsonville resident, said his family were lucky to leave when they did, with the branch now precariously leaning against his house. Ray said ... <a title="A ‘huge crash’: Wellington family evacuates property after huge branch hits roof during storm" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/a-huge-crash-wellington-family-evacuates-property-after-huge-branch-hits-roof-during-storm/" aria-label="Read more about A ‘huge crash’: Wellington family evacuates property after huge branch hits roof during storm">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand State Highway 75 connecting Christchurch to Akaroa reopened on Wednesday. The New Zealand Transport Agency said road users would need to take care and prepare for temporary restrictions, but the flooding and slips had been cleared. Banks Peninsula was pelted by ten times the monthly average rainfall in the last 48 ... <a title="As it happened: Evacuations as landslip narrowly misses homes in Dunedin" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/as-it-happened-evacuations-as-landslip-narrowly-misses-homes-in-dunedin/" aria-label="Read more about As it happened: Evacuations as landslip narrowly misses homes in Dunedin">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi scores a pre-season try for the Warriors against Manly. Kerry Marshall/Photosport NRL pre-season: Warriors v Dolphins Kickoff: 8pm Friday, 20 February Leichhardt Oval, Sydney Live blog updates on RNZ Still smarting from a subpar performance in their first pre-season hitout, NZ Warriors will seek a drastic improvement, when they ... <a title="NZ Warrior seek improvement in second NRL pre-season trial against Dolphins" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/nz-warrior-seek-improvement-in-second-nrl-pre-season-trial-against-dolphins/" aria-label="Read more about NZ Warrior seek improvement in second NRL pre-season trial against Dolphins">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Police at the scene of the fatal attack. RNZ Animal control officers visited the property where Mihiata Te Rore was mauled to death four times, including the day before the attack. Te Rore, 62, was visiting a person she knew at a property in the small Northland town of Kaihu when ... <a title="Fatal dog mauling: Animal control staff visited property day before attack" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/fatal-dog-mauling-animal-control-staff-visited-property-day-before-attack/" aria-label="Read more about Fatal dog mauling: Animal control staff visited property day before attack">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Invercargill man Kevin Belling, 62, was last seen at his Motu Rimu farm on Friday 9 January. Supplied / NZ Police Effluent ponds and other waterways on the farm of a missing Southland man are now being searched by the police. Kevin Belling, 62, was last seen at his Motu Rimu ... <a title="Police search farm effluent ponds and waterways of missing Southland man Kevin Belling" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/police-search-farm-effluent-ponds-and-waterways-of-missing-southland-man-kevin-belling/" aria-label="Read more about Police search farm effluent ponds and waterways of missing Southland man Kevin Belling">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand NZ First leader singled out a Green MP for his Rarotongan heritage, which Labour leader Chris Hipkins says was “pure racism”. RNZ Winston Peters has been accused of “pure racism” in Parliament by Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who has called out National ministers for failing to combat or challenge it. The ... <a title="Chris Hipkins accuses Winston Peters of ‘pure racism’ in Parliament" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/chris-hipkins-accuses-winston-peters-of-pure-racism-in-parliament/" aria-label="Read more about Chris Hipkins accuses Winston Peters of ‘pure racism’ in Parliament">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Increasing demand for truck licenses is putting pressure on testers, according to the review. File photo siwakorn / 123RF A review of driver licensing for trucks and other heavy vehicles has found persisting weaknesses in regulatory practice. The internal review – conducted in 2024 – was released to media today through ... <a title="Shortfalls in driver licensing for trucks highlighted in review" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/shortfalls-in-driver-licensing-for-trucks-highlighted-in-review/" aria-label="Read more about Shortfalls in driver licensing for trucks highlighted in review">Read more</a>
