Firefighters are tackling a large fire in Wairau Valley.
Northland Expressway announcement. Video / NZ Herald
Christopher Luxon visits Kiwi troops in the UK, NZ's economic recovery expected to be gradual and uneven and fears of more exclusion to gender minorities.
Dr Erik Monasterio spoke at the coronial inquest into the death of Olympic cyclist Olivia Podmore in Christchurch District Court on April 22, 2025.
MetService National Weather Update: April 22 - April 26. Video / MetService
A special mass at St Patrick's cathedral was held to remember the passing of Pope Francis. Attendees gathered to pay their respects and celebrate his contributions to the church.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin will speak to media at the scene on St Johns Road.
The world has gathered in mourning after the passing of Pope Francis.
Proceedings in motion after Pope's death, a monthly snapshot not representative of police recruitment and concern of decline in teacher numbers.
Flockhill luxury lodge in Canterbury. Video / Supplied
A major new Foodstuffs supermarket is taking shape in Pt Chevalier, designed by Wingate Architects. Video \ Jason Dorday.
Reporter Penelope is at the Lost Dog Disco, a spectacular light and sound installation for people and their favourite four-legged friends to rock out.
A West Auckland family is reeling after a fire tore through their Henderson home on Sunday night, leaving them homeless - and uninsured. Video / Supplied
The Kiwi journalist was out for dinner with her fiancé and friends on Saturday when her car was sideswiped. Video / @wilshrimpton
Reporter Tom is at the Beach Hop with drifting legend Fanga Dan and Carter, a lucky local fan who gets to go for a fang.
Ex-tropical cyclone Tam continues to hit New Zealand. Frustration over alert systems in Auckland. Russia announces unexpected Easter truce with Ukraine. Video / NZ Herald
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Scoop
13 hours ago
- Scoop
Wellington's Water Tank Boom: Why More Kiwis Are Harvesting Rainwater
Something's changing in Wellington's suburbs, and it's got everything to do with the rain falling from the sky. Take a drive through Johnsonville, Karori, or any of the newer housing developments around the capital, and you'll start noticing them everywhere: water tanks. They're tucked alongside houses, sitting in backyards, and quietly collecting what used to just wash straight down the drain. As someone who's been in the plumbing game for over four decades, I've watched this trend grow from a few environmentally-minded early adopters to a proper movement. These days, we're installing more rainwater harvesting systems than ever before, and frankly, it makes perfect sense. Why the Sudden Interest? Wellington weather is famously unpredictable, but one thing we can count on is rain. Lots of it. The average Wellingtonian sees about 1,250mm of rainfall each year, which is brilliant news if you're thinking about water collection. That's essentially free water literally falling onto your roof, and until recently, most of it was just washing away down the stormwater drains. The economics are pretty compelling too. With water rates continuing to climb and more awareness about our environmental impact, Kiwi families are looking for ways to reduce both their carbon footprint and their utility bills. A well-designed rainwater system can cut your mains water usage by 30-50% for typical household needs like garden irrigation, toilet flushing, and even laundry. But it's not just about saving a few dollars. Wellington's been experiencing some pretty intense weather events lately – remember those summer droughts followed by absolutely bucketing rain? Having your own water storage gives you a bit of independence from the mains supply and helps manage stormwater runoff, which is becoming a real issue for our aging infrastructure. The Tech Has Come a Long Way Gone are the days when rainwater collection meant a rusty old barrel under the downpipe. Modern water tank systems are sophisticated setups that would make any Kiwi homeowner proud. These are sleek, UV-resistant tanks that blend seamlessly with your property's aesthetics, complete with first-flush diverters, leaf screens, and properly designed distribution systems. The beauty of today's systems is in the detail. First-flush diverters automatically discard the initial rainfall that washes all the bird droppings and debris off your roof – you definitely don't want that in your drinking water! Proper filtration systems can even make your harvested rainwater cleaner than what comes out of the tap. And the storage options? These days you can get everything from compact slimline tanks that fit snugly against your house to larger underground systems for properties with more space. The key is getting the sizing right – too small and you'll run out during dry spells, too large and you're wasting money on capacity you'll never use. The Demographic Shift What's really interesting is the demographic shift we're seeing. Sure, the environmentally conscious crowd was first to the party, but now we're installing systems for everyone from young families in new builds to retirees looking to future-proof their homes. Commercial developments are getting in on the action too. We've worked on several new housing projects where rainwater harvesting is built into the design from day one. It makes sense – developers can market the environmental credentials, and residents get the ongoing benefits of reduced water bills. The building industry is also starting to recognise that water-efficient developments are simply better developments. When you're designing new subdivisions, incorporating rainwater systems from the get-go is far more cost-effective than retrofitting later. Getting the Installation Right Here's where things get a bit technical, we see a lot of DIY attempts go wrong. Installing a rainwater harvesting system isn't just about plonking a tank in your backyard and connecting a few pipes. There's proper design work involved – calculating your roof catchment area, determining realistic storage needs based on your household usage, and ensuring the whole system integrates properly with your existing plumbing. You need to consider pump systems for adequate water pressure, overflow management for when your tank's full during heavy rain, and proper connections that meet building code requirements. Get it wrong, and you might end up with contaminated water, insufficient pressure, or even damage to your existing plumbing. The filtration side is crucial too. Different households have different water quality needs. Some families are happy using harvested water for toilets and gardens, while others want a system that can provide potable water for drinking and cooking. Each approach requires different levels of treatment and different design considerations. The Regulatory Side Like most things in the building world, there are rules to follow. Council consent requirements vary depending on your system size and intended use, but the good news is that most residential rainwater systems fall under permitted activities – meaning you can crack on without major consent processes. That said, if you're planning to use harvested rainwater for drinking, there are additional health and safety considerations. The water needs to meet certain standards, and you'll want systems in place to ensure ongoing water quality. Looking Forward The trend toward rainwater harvesting fits perfectly with New Zealand's broader push toward sustainability. With climate change bringing more extreme weather patterns – longer dry spells followed by intense downpours – having your own water storage makes increasingly good sense. From a tradesperson's perspective, it's exciting to be part of this shift. Plumbing companies like Plumbspec are helping Kiwi families become more self-sufficient while reducing their environmental impact. Every system we install is one less household putting pressure on our municipal water infrastructure and one more family with a bit of resilience built into their property. The technology will keep improving, costs will likely continue falling, and I think we'll see rainwater harvesting become as standard as solar panels in new builds. For Wellington families looking to reduce their bills, increase their independence, and do their bit for the environment, there's never been a better time to seriously consider harvesting that free water falling on your roof.
Scoop
13 hours ago
- Scoop
Turn Up The Music, Roll Up Your Sleeve - New Zealand Blood Service Drop The Beats For Donation
Every superhero needs a theme tune, but New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) believes the best ones deserve a whole playlist. In celebration of National Blood Donor Week, NZBS has created a series of 'Blood Bangers' and 'Plasma Playlists' on Spotify with the help of some Kiwi legends. 'There are quite a few similarities between the world's most iconic superheroes and blood and plasma donors,' says New Zealand Blood Service's Marketing Communications Advisor, Ximena Smith. 'They're usually anonymous, they're known for being selfless, and most importantly, they save lives. Only 4% of the eligible population in New Zealand are regular donors, but every year they save or improve the lives of more than 30,000 people nationwide.' Timed to roughly last the length of time spent in the chair for either a whole blood or plasma donation, the playlists have been crafted by familiar names such as Tiki Taane, Fat Freddy's Drop, Shapeshifter, Erin Simpson and SYSCA's Lucy Blakiston, amongst others. Blood donors spend at least five minutes in a comfy reclining donor chair, while plasma donors get around 30-45 minutes of pure uninterrupted chill time. This means a donation is the perfect time to sit back, relax, discover some new music or hit play on your all-time favourite tunes. Whilst the big names have gotten the ball rolling, NZBS needs Aotearoa's help to create the perfect musical mix for superhero donors. It wants the guaranteed mood boosters; the slow, the soulful, the sing-alongs, and the downright party anthems. Drop the title of the song you would choose to power you through a lifesaving donation on the latest NZBS Instagram or Facebook post and together let's create the ultimate soundtrack! If you'd like to join NZBS' marvellous donor universe, start saving lives, and have the perfect reason to listen along to some Blood Bangers, check your eligibility or book an appointment by downloading the NZ Blood App, visiting or calling 0800 448 325. Blood Bangers Erin Simpson Lucy Blakiston SACHI Shapeshifter Stacey Leilua Theo Shakes Tiki Taane Plasma Playlists Fat Freddy's Drop Nico Porteous Sly Chaos The Black Seeds Troy Kingi About New Zealand Blood Service New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) in a not-for-profit Crown entity responsible for the collection, processing, testing and storage and distribution of all blood and blood products in New Zealand. We rely on voluntary and non-remunerated blood donations from individuals around the country in order to provide a constant supply of precious blood and blood products used by our health services to save thousands of lives. NZBS also provides cell and tissue products and related services to meet public health needs and maintains national oversight of organ donation and distribution.
RNZ News
13 hours ago
- RNZ News
Weekend weather: Fine in the South Island, not so much in the North
While it will be chilly in the South Island, it is set to be an attractive opening weekend for the southern ski fields. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton It has been a wet and cold week for most so far, but MetService says for a large part of the country, the weather is looking pretty good this weekend. While it will be chilly in the South Island, it is set to be an attractive opening weekend for the southern ski fields. On Sunday it will be mostly fine, with one or two showers about Southland coasts. It is a slightly different story for the North Island. There have been 37,000 lightning strikes since Monday, and MetService says more could be on the way. While the risk of thunderstorms is lowering, there is a chance parts of the north will still see them on Friday and Saturday. Thunderstorms are possible for Coromandel, Auckland, Waikato and Great Barrier Island. For the upper North Island, peppered showers continue to bubble away throughout the weekend. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
