King’s Birthday in Aotearoa: What’s Open, Who’s Honoured, and Should We Still Be Celebrating It?Here’s your no-nonsense guide to what the King’s Birthday holiday is all about in New Zealand.Happy Birthday, King Charles?Wait a minute – isn’t His Majesty’s birthday actually in November?Yep, it sure is. King Charles III was born on 14 November, but we celebrate it on the first Monday of June. Why? Because, believe it or not, it all comes down to the weather.This tradition goes back to 1748, when King George II decided it was too cold in November for a good old military parade. So…

Does Wellington’s Weather Make It the Worst Capital to Live In? A Local’s TakeAs the long weekend rolled through the South Coast of Wellington, I found myself standing on the windswept edge of Lyall Bay, watching the waves pound in. The question popped back into my mind — one I was asked just a few days earlier:“Does Wellington really deserve its bad weather reputation?”I have to say… maybe it does.At least, sometimes.When the southerly barrels up off the Cook Strait and slams into the city like it owns the place — yeah, it can be brutal. On days like that,…

Wellington’s most unexpected delivery combo—too much or right on time?Something a little unusual is happening on Wellington’s doorsteps—and no, it’s not late-night chips or another lost Uber driver.Local delivery favourite Delivereasy has teamed up with Adulttoymegastore (ATMS) to offer something… well, a bit spicier than your usual Saturday night curry. Now, along with your butter chicken or poke bowl, you can have a vibrator or massage oil delivered—same hour, same app.It’s bold. It’s surprising. And it’s got people talking.Wait, Is This What We Signed Up For?Delivereasy built its name by keeping things, well, simple: good food, local places, fast delivery.…

When people picture Wellington, they see the Beehive, cable cars, flat whites, and that iconic sideways rain.What they don’t often see…Are the quiet, worn-down faces in office lifts. The people drafting policies while dripping wet from a broken umbrella. The ones fixing the system while living through its worst parts.These are Wellington’s public servants.🌧️ The Daily StormsBeing a public servant here isn’t glamorous.It’s showing up early—even though your bus was 20 minutes late.It’s replying to urgent emails about infrastructure failures, while pipes are bursting outside your own building.It’s writing papers on housing reform, while your rent just went up—again.It’s handling…

Greenfern $10.5M Up in Smoke, Helius and Aqualis are still AliveNew Zealand’s medical cannabis industry is facing a major shakeup. Two key players—Greenfern Industries and Cannasouth—have collapsed into insolvency. This has shocked creditors, shareholders, and hopeful investors. Meanwhile, Helious Therapeutics and Aqualis are still operating—at least for now.Greenfern Industries: Burned Out at $10.5 MillionGreenfern Industries entered receivership in February 2024 after it failed to meet payment obligations. Debt funder Emdex Ltd forced the process. Greenfern owes $1.2 million to creditors, and more claims are expected. The company also lost $10.5 million of shareholder capital.In the year ending March 2024, Greenfern…

Cats vs the Natives: The Battle for Wellington’s WildlifeEvery day in New Zealand, cats kill more than 1.12 million native birds, insects, and reptiles — and Wellington’s precious wildlife is no exception.As Wellington proudly leads the world in a historic effort to become the first predator-free capital city, one major challenge still looms in our backyards, gardens, and green spaces: the domestic and feral cat.A Global First – Driven by WellingtoniansPredator Free Wellington is one of the most ambitious conservation projects in the world. The goal? To completely remove rats, stoats, possums, and weasels from Wellington city — starting with…

Vision for Wellington: A Bold Path Toward a Better CityA City Ready for ChangeWellington is a city full of charm, creativity, and community. But it’s no secret—it faces serious challenges. From infrastructure to economic growth, the capital needs a reset. That’s where Vision for Wellington steps in.This initiative brings together passionate people who care deeply about the city’s future. It’s a nonpartisan movement aiming to unite locals behind one powerful goal: making Wellington thrive.Creating a Collective VoiceRather than wait for change, Vision for Wellington is building it. The group hosts expert-led panels and events across the city. Topics include:InnovationArts and…

Wellington Becomes First NZ City to Charge Motorcycle Parking FeesNew Charges in Effect — But Controversy ContinuesWellington is now officially the first city in Aotearoa to charge motorcyclists to park. The new fees are now in effect citywide, following a 13–5 council vote in favour of the decision.Motorcyclists will now pay $1 per hour, with a daily cap of $6 in designated motorcycle bays.What’s Happening NowThe Wellington City Council (WCC) says enforcement won’t begin immediately. Fines are expected to start in 3–4 months, once signage is fully installed.For now, riders are encouraged to follow the new rules, even though many…

More than 100 Wellingtonians could lose their lives to bowel cancer this year — but most of those lives can be saved with early detection.Bowel cancer is the second deadliest cancer in New Zealand, yet it’s one of the most treatable when caught early. Unfortunately, many people still ignore the symptoms or delay getting checked — often until it’s too late.In the Wellington region, cancer rates reflect national averages. That means we can expect an estimated 300 new cases and over 100 potential deaths in our community each year if we don’t act.What Is Bowel Cancer?Bowel cancer (also known as…

The Story of Brewtown Upper Hutt: A Vision Brewed to LifeNestled in the heart of Upper Hutt, Brewtown has become a hub of craft beer, entertainment, and community—a vibrant transformation of what was once an industrial space. But the journey of Brewtown didn’t begin with clinking glasses and live music; it began with a bold vision and a unique collaboration between dreamers, entrepreneurs, and a supportive city council led by Mayor Wayne Guppy.The Spark of an IdeaIt all started when a local entrepreneur, Phil Grigg, saw potential in the former Dunlop Tyres factory—a large, underutilized industrial space that once echoed…