CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand 123rf Manufacturing activity leaps 4.4 points to 56.1 – above 50 is expansion. Highest level of activity since December 2021. All five sub-indexes are in expansion – including employment. BNZ sees upside risks to Q4 GDP. Manufacturing activity leapt higher in December to its best reading in four-years, reinforcing expectations of ... <a title="Manufacturing activity hits four-year high" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/manufacturing-activity-hits-four-year-high/" aria-label="Read more about Manufacturing activity hits four-year high">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Public domain Food prices rose 4 percent over 2025, Stats NZ, says, and the price of a loaf of bread lifted almost 60 percent. It has released the latest food price data, which shows that the annual rate of inflation slowed slightly in December, down from 4.4 percent in the 12 ... <a title="White bread price up 60 percent – here’s how much more expensive food got last year" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/white-bread-price-up-60-percent-heres-how-much-more-expensive-food-got-last-year/" aria-label="Read more about White bread price up 60 percent – here’s how much more expensive food got last year">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Blue Springs, near Tirau RNZ/Carol Stiles The tourism minister says she has a meeting planned with the mayor to discuss concerns about the Putāruru Blue Spring being trashed by tourists. Earlier this week, Waikato Regional Council chairperson Warren Maher shared his concerns about the site, which he said was being trashed ... <a title="Leaders to meet over tourists trashing Blue Spring" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/leaders-to-meet-over-tourists-trashing-blue-spring/" aria-label="Read more about Leaders to meet over tourists trashing Blue Spring">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Facebook / Lake Taupo Holiday Resort Lake Taupo Holiday Resort is being overwhelmed by its own popularity, according to one camping enthusiast. A post on the NZ Fun Adventures Facebook page about the resort led to hundreds of comments, many complaining of not being able to get in touch with the ... <a title="Taupō holiday park’s popularity leads to complaints from visitors" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/taupo-holiday-parks-popularity-leads-to-complaints-from-visitors/" aria-label="Read more about Taupō holiday park’s popularity leads to complaints from visitors">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ/Calvin Samuel We are only half-way through the first month of the year and already the business closures are mounting. EB Games will close its shops at the end of the month. Miniso and Yoyoso shops are in liquidation. Wellington’s Leuven Belgian Beer Café will close after 25 years in business. ... <a title="61 shops announce closures in 10 days: Will liquidation numbers get worse before they improve?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/61-shops-announce-closures-in-10-days-will-liquidation-numbers-get-worse-before-they-improve/" aria-label="Read more about 61 shops announce closures in 10 days: Will liquidation numbers get worse before they improve?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 15, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand A Bluebridge ferry docked in Wellington. RNZ / Mary Argue Bluebridge says sailings are fully booked for vehicle space into February. It comes after a fault with the ramp on one of its Cook Strait ferries cancelled days of sailings during the busy holiday period. Around 200 passengers aboard a night ... <a title="Faulty ferry doesn’t damper Bluebridge bookings" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/15/faulty-ferry-doesnt-damper-bluebridge-bookings/" aria-label="Read more about Faulty ferry doesn’t damper Bluebridge bookings">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 15, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF Elon Musk says you might not need to worry about saving for retirement soon – but New Zealanders are being told to be very wary. The US billionaire told a recent podcast that he thought people did not need to be “squirrelling money away for retirement in 10 or 20 ... <a title="Should you take Elon Musk’s advice not to save for retirement?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/15/should-you-take-elon-musks-advice-not-to-save-for-retirement/" aria-label="Read more about Should you take Elon Musk’s advice not to save for retirement?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 15, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand AFP Two New Zealand tech firms are looking to capitalise on the launch of regulated open banking, rolling out a new service that promises to cut fees for sole traders. What is open banking, how does it work and what are the risks? Sole trader accounting platform Hnry and payment firm ... <a title="Tech firms’ initiative offers chance for lower fees for sole traders" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/15/tech-firms-initiative-offers-chance-for-lower-fees-for-sole-traders/" aria-label="Read more about Tech firms’ initiative offers chance for lower fees for sole traders">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 15, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston. RNZ / Angus Dreaver The government has announced five new tourism campaigns to lure more visitors from the United States, Canada and Australia. It’s part of a sustained push to promote a wider range of holiday destinations through the $10 million Regional Tourism Boost. Today’s ... <a title="Coalition pushes go on fresh tourism campaigns to promote regions" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/15/coalition-pushes-go-on-fresh-tourism-campaigns-to-promote-regions/" aria-label="Read more about Coalition pushes go on fresh tourism campaigns to promote regions">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 15, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand MATTEO DELLA TORRE As vehicle dashboards rely more heavily on touchscreens, concerns are growing about driver distraction. The body that oversees safety of vehicles in Australia and New Zealand said it will now reward higher safety ratings to cars that reintroduce physical buttons for basic functions. ANCAP hoped it would encourage ... <a title="ANCAP push for buttons over touchscreens in cars over safety concerns" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/15/ancap-push-for-buttons-over-touchscreens-in-cars-over-safety-concerns/" aria-label="Read more about ANCAP push for buttons over touchscreens in cars over safety concerns">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 15, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand Dental grants of up to $1000 are available to people on low incomes and with limited assets each year. 123RF Tens of millions of dollars are being paid out in dental grants each quarter – and advocates say the total cost of excluding dental care from the public health system is ... <a title="Why are teeth left out of public healthcare?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/15/why-are-teeth-left-out-of-public-healthcare/" aria-label="Read more about Why are teeth left out of public healthcare?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 14, 2026
Source: Radio New Zealand All EB Games stores will close for the last time on 31 January. Supplied EB Games is shutting down its New Zealand business and closing all its stores at the end of the month. In a letter sent to employees last week, EB Games Australia & New Zealand managing director Shane ... <a title="All EB Games stores in NZ to close at end of month" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/14/all-eb-games-stores-in-nz-to-close-at-end-of-month/" aria-label="Read more about All EB Games stores in NZ to close at end of month">Read more</a>
