Storm & Safety: Wellington authorities evacuated hundreds from waterfront homes after coastal surges nearly hit 11m, with roads closed and flights and ferries disrupted. Auckland Housing: Councillors voted to consult on scaling back Auckland’s Plan Change 120, with options ranging from “essentials only” to keeping bus-and-station zoning and taller building areas. Water Rates: Tiaki Wai’s takeover of water infrastructure has wiped out some Porirua rate rises, but bills are still set to climb once new charges and regional costs land. Energy & LNG: The government says gentailers, not consumers, should pay for LNG dry-year cover as it moves toward a facility contract ahead of the election. Biosecurity: Auckland Airport’s detector dog Sophie found undeclared food and plant items, leading to $400 infringement fines for crew and a passenger. Māori Communities: Kāinga Ora has extended a lease so RaWiri Community House in Wiri can stay open, keeping key services running for Manurewa. Sport (NZ angle): England’s World Cup warm-up talk is dominated by their next friendly vs Costa Rica after beating New Zealand 1-0, while New Zealand’s Harmanpreet Kaur is set to chase 200 WT20I caps at the Women’s T20 World Cup. World Cup Politics: Iran says its ticket allocation was revoked days before the tournament, blaming US action.