Small-scale solar keeps the lights on

The 2025 Cleveland National Art Awards in Dunedin feature 220 selected works by artists from New Zealand, with a prize pool of $18,000 awarded across four categories. Dean Raybould's gHosttrunk won the supreme award, and other winners include Mark Graver, Innocenza Toritto, Samantha Sutherland, and Joel Potter. The exhibition runs until April 26, with free entry and works available for purchase, along with a People's Choice Award with a $1000 prize. Full Article

Heavy rain in the Marlborough region prompted precautionary evacuations in Spring Creek last year, with the Marlborough District Council now expecting more rain but not at a level requiring evacuations. MetService issued orange heavy rain warnings for several districts as a low pressure system moves in, with a precautionary evacuation trigger level of 4000 cumecs for Spring Creek due to compromised stopbanks along the Wairau River. Despite the forecasted rain, current models suggest no major...

Auckland Central Police conducted Operation Rocket, resulting in the recovery of 13 electric scooters and numerous stolen items from two apartments, leading to four arrests. Inspector Grant Tetzlaff stated that the investigation into recent burglaries in the city led to the discovery of a significant amount of stolen property. Charges include burglary, receiving stolen property, and aggravated robbery, with further investigations ongoing to potentially uncover additional charges. Full Article

As night owls, individuals like Gabi Lardies, Bec Murphy, and Tina Tiller find joy in staying up late to engage in activities such as late-night admin, midnight baking, or indulging in personal hobbies. By taking advantage of off-peak hours for chores and activities, they can save money, be more sustainable, and enjoy a sense of freedom from societal rules and expectations. Despite the benefits of late-night productivity, the drawback of feeling irritable the next day...

Roger Gray, CEO of the Port of Auckland, is promoting gender and ethnic diversity in his company to improve decision-making and customer service. He believes in fair outcomes for all employees and has launched a campaign to recruit women as stevedores. Gray emphasizes the importance of inclusivity in the workplace, linking it to increased profitability. The Government's proposed changes to public service recruitment, focusing on merit-based appointments over diversity and equity, have sparked debate in...

The Electoral Commission is reminding Kiwis to ensure they are enrolled to vote in this year's local elections, with enrolment packs being sent out to 3.6 million people to update their details by July 10. Māori voters can choose between the Māori roll and general roll, with voting papers being sent out in September and voting closing on October 11. It is crucial for people to be enrolled and ready to have their say on...