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Community News

Heavy rain and severe gales expected for Sunday storm

Great Barrier Island is firmly in the crosshairs of Tropical Cyclone Vaianu, with local emergency officials and national leaders warning residents to act now before the system arrives this weekend. The Aotea Emergency Response Team (ERT) has officially activated following…

Tech - Aotea Green

The Marsden Point Post-Mortem: Malice, Media, or Merely Morons?

OPINION: In the last few days, every mainstream media outlet in New Zealand has performed a synchronized routine. They have all tackled the same question: Would our fuel security be better if the Labour government had not allowed our only…

Culture - Aotea Green

Lace Up Aotea: New Run Club Launches Ahead of Wharf 2 Wharf

The annual Wharf 2 Wharf returns this October, and locals looking to dust off their sneakers have a new reason to hit the ground running. The launch of the Aotea Run Club is a community-focused initiative designed to get the…

Venus and Starlink Satellites. Photo / Mike Lewinski / Creative Commons

Tech - Aotea Green

Spark joins One NZ with satellite partnership that dumps dead spots across Aotea

Spark has launched a satellite-to-mobile service in partnership with Starlink, matching a similar offering from One NZ to eliminate coverage dead spots across the country. The technology allows 4G and 5G smartphones to connect directly to satellites in areas where…

Environment - Aotea Green

Total Fire Ban Lifted for Barrier, Waiheke

The total fire ban across Great Barrier Island and Waiheke is officially lifted as of today. Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) has moved both islands into a restricted fire season until further notice. The move to a restricted season…

Tech - Aotea Green

EV sales hit record highs as petrol prices skyrocket

Registrations for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles reached 1540 for the week ending March 29, a massive jump from the 225 recorded in the same week last year. This rapid acceleration has occurred in the few short weeks since the…

Community News

The Return of New Zealand’s Friendliest Marathon

After a six-year pause, the island is gearing up for the powerful revival of a beloved local tradition, the Wharf to Wharf marathon. Scheduled for Saturday the 3rd of October 2026, the event’s return marks its 20th anniversary, making this…

SeaLink ferry to Great Barrier Island: A costly voyage for islanders due to lack of subsidies and exemption from public transport regulations. Photo / Supplied

Community News

SeaLink dumps sailings as fuel and airfares surge amid Iran crisis

Ferry access to Aotea has been reduced, with SeaLink dropping sailings as fuel prices spike off the back of the Iran crisis. “Due to a significant rise in fuel costs, we’re making some short-term adjustments to our timetable,” the company…

Many of the petrels banded as adults have returned to Great Barrier, but the vast majority of fledglings have never been found again. Photo / Dan Burgin / WMIL

Ecology - Aotea Green

Seabirds abandoned their nests in the Hauraki Gulf this summer. What drove them away?

Analysis: Some seabirds breeding in New Zealand’s largest marine park struggled to raise chicks this summer, most likely because climate change is forcing them to travel too far in search of food. The Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana is a global hotspot…

Community News

Glenfern Sanctuary upgrade nears completion, boosting volunteer capacity

Glenfern Sanctuary is moving ahead with a major upgrade to its volunteer accommodation, with five new cabins and a fully equipped communal hub set to support conservation work across the northern end of Aotea. Sanctuary manager Steve Clemow said the…