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No consent, no problem? 60sqm cabins could be built without red tape, easing the Barrier's housing crunch. Photo / Eric Petschek

Property

Granny flats get the green light — consent rules scrapped

Property owners can now build granny flats of up to 70 square metres without applying for a building consent, after new legislation championed by New Zealand First minister Shane Jones passed through Parliament. The law change, which amends the Building…

A school of parore fish swim alongside mussels growing at a farm in New Zealand Photo / Lucy Underwood / University of Auckland

Ecology - Aotea Green

Blues star Kurt Eklund goes viral over new Hauraki Gulf fishing rules

Blues hooker Kurt Eklund has set off a storm online after questioning the fairness of the government’s new Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act, which shuts off large parts of the Gulf to recreational fishers while still allowing…

Decisions from a Distance: Auckland Council Headquarters, 90 Kilometers Away from Aotea. Photo / NZME

Community News

Council jobs shrink as environmental roles and wages rise

Auckland Council has cut the number of positions tied to Great Barrier Island by more than a third since 2021, while wages have risen and the type of work carried out has shifted away from traditional council services towards advisory…

Weathered timber and rusting iron cling to what’s left of the old pioneer cottage on Blind Bay Road — soon to perhaps make way for a new build.

Property

Pioneer cottage at Blind Bay faces uncertain future

A weather-beaten pioneer cottage tucked away on Blind Bay Road looks set to be flattened, with agent Mike Jensen saying the characterful but dilapidated building’s best days are long gone. The Barfoot & Thompson agent who is handling the sale…

Mike Lee is advocating for pragmatic progress with a commitment to preserve the region's environment and community rights. Photo / NZME

Community News

‘Small communities still care’: Lee says Aotea shows what local democracy looks like

Mike Lee says Great Barrier Island’s record voter turnout shows how much the island still values genuine local democracy. “This was, as it always is in Waitematā & Gulf, a highly contested, hard-fought campaign,” he told the Barrier Times. “My…

New no-fishing zones arrive in the Hauraki Gulf this Weekend

New marine protection areas come into force across the Hauraki Gulf this weekend, as part of the Government’s new Marine Protection Bill — marking one of the most significant shifts in local fishing rules in decades. From Saturday 25 October,…

The Beta Alia CX300 — Air New Zealand’s first fully electric aircraft — inside a hangar ahead of its four-month test programme.

Tech - Aotea Green

Air NZ’s first electric plane takes flight

A battery-powered aircraft has made its first flight in New Zealand, offering a glimpse of what the future of island and regional air travel could look like as ticket prices continue to climb. The Beta Alia CX300, built in Vermont…

The newly elected Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board — five locals chosen to represent the island for the next term.

Community News

Fordham tops record turnout as final results confirm Barrier’s new board

With the 2025 local elections now closed, Great Barrier Island has officially recorded the highest voter turnout in Auckland, with 56.2 percent of eligible voters returning their papers – far ahead of the regional average of 29.3 percent. The official…

Crowds turned out for the opening of Mumma Wenz Ice Cream, with locals calling it a sweet new addition to summer on the Barrier.

Community News

Around Aotea: Clean Outs, Concerts, and Community Calls

NOTICES Aotea Inorganic Collection Bookings OpenBook your on-property inorganic collection now to help reduce landfill waste.South: book by Tue 21 Oct, collection 29–31 Oct.Central: book by Tue 28 Oct, collection 5–6 Nov.North: book by Thu 30 Oct, collection 7 Nov.Visit…

Tail fins of an Air New Zealand and Air Chathams aircraft, symbolising the new interline partnership set to link regional travellers through shared booking and baggage systems. Photo / Air NZ

Chatham Islands

Air NZ and Air Chathams join forces under new deal

Air New Zealand and Air Chathams have announced a new agreement that will allow passengers to book a single ticket for flights involving both airlines, beginning with services between Whakatāne and Auckland from December 2025. The deal means checked bags…