2026-08-22 - Strong winds hampering firefighters at large Wānaka blaze and 9 more stories
This episode includes 10 news blocks. About 22 homes were evacuated in Wānaka's Albert Town on Saturday night, as the huge flames burned close to residential streets on steep terrain. MetService said snow would also fall in Otago and high-altitude roads across the South Island. Insiders say rapidly changing import charges on high-emission vehicles are causing headaches for the industry. The call comes after MBIE backed a ruling that owners needed permission before using residential properties a…