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Community News

Island Roundup: Hunting Notice, Events, and Sea Snake Warning

Another Sea Snake Spotted at Medlands Beach Another venomous sea snake was spotted on Medlands Beach, midway between Twin Pines and The Lane. The Department of Conservation has advised the public to keep a safe distance and allow the tide…

Greenpeace petition reignites call for bottom trawling ban in Hauraki Gulf

Greenpeace has launched a fresh petition calling on Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones to ban bottom trawling, scallop dredging, and Danish seining across the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. The campaign argues that a century of seabed damage from mobile…

Community News

Barrier Buzz launches with Aotea honey and local jobs

A new soft drink brand using honey from Great Barrier Island is making its debut at the Auckland Food Show this week, with plans to roll out nationwide. Barrier Buzz is the first product from the locally owned Aotea Company,…

Red Helicopter against a blue sky. Isaac benhesed / Unsplashed

Community News

Council Votes to Freeze New Helipads on Gulf Islands Despite Officer Advice and Community Feedback

Auckland Council has voted to pursue a blanket ban on new private helipads across the Hauraki Gulf Islands—scrapping a more nuanced planning process and throwing out all public submissions made through Plan Modification 16 (PM16), including those from Great Barrier…

Community News

Wreckage from Puriri Bay Crash Seen for First Time

Leon Foster – barrier icon, founder of the Aotea Army, and a man known for mobilising locals to help neighbours in need – has come face to face with the wreckage of the Freelander that nearly killed him. “This is…

Community News

Great Barrier Garden Tours return this November

One of the island’s most popular annual events is back—and if you blinked, you might’ve already missed out. Great Barrier Island’s Spectacular By Nature Garden Tours return on Saturday 29 November, and one of the four tours sold out in…

Fullers360 ferry departs Waiheke Wharf, carrying commuters and tourists across the Waitematā Harbour. Photo / Fullers

Community News

Fullers ferry operator up for sale

Scottish-owned ferry company Fullers360, one of Auckland Transport’s contracted operators, is being put on the market. Parent company Souter Holdings has engaged investment firm Cameron Partners to explore a sale, according to a report in The Australian. The company, which…

Community News

Sunair Grounded Over Safety Breach – Barrier Flights Still Operating via Charter

Flights to and from Great Barrier Island are continuing—just not with Sunair. The regional airline, which serves the island from Ardmore, Whitianga, Whangārei and Tauranga, has been grounded by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) after a maintenance audit uncovered failings…

Community News

Cellphones and Landlines Down Across Island

Cellphone and landline services are down across much of southern Aotea, with Spark customers particularly affected after what is believed to be a fault at the Rosalie Bay Road cell tower. The tower, which also handles the critical relay link…

Community News

Person Trapped Overnight After Car Plunges Down Bank on Puriri Bay Road

An individual was seriously injured and trapped overnight after his vehicle left the road and plunged 10 to 15 metres down a steep bank on Puriri Bay Road, near Tryphena. Emergency services were alerted around 7.50am this morning after the…