Local addicts, Yellowstone expands and Louis Theroux mans up: March’s best TV

Source: Radio New Zealand

Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere

In his disarmingly polite way, the acclaimed documentarian enters the toxic hellhole of the manosphere to expose the people pushing this misogynistic movement to men and teenage boys around the world.

Talking to GQ, Theroux likened making this doco to facing “the final boss,” which, given the subjects found in his filmography, shows just how problematic the men he encounters here are.

Discovering that “racism, antisemitism, misogyny, homophobia, porn, human trafficking — they’re all folded in”, this promises to be an unsettling, horrifically eye-opening watch.

Louis Theroux in Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere.

Pip/Netflix

Watch: Netflix

When: From 11 March

Crackhead

This local dark dramedy is based on the experiences that creator, writer, and star Holly Shervey encountered when she checked into a psychiatric care clinic in 2010. The series follows Frankie, a 20-something who is sentenced to rehab after accidentally burning down her sister’s house while high and drunk.

With its kinetic direction and raw, lived-in script, Crackhead expertly balances harrowing emotion with pitch-black humour. It’s a potent dose of television that leaves you constantly wanting more.

Watch: Three & ThreeNow

When: Mid-March.

Holly Shervey in Crackhead.

Matt Klitscher

Marshals / The Madison

The ‘Sheridanverse’ expands this month with two new entries from Yellowstone’s uber-TV producer, Taylor Sheridan. The first is Marshals, a direct Yellowstone spin-off following the fan favourite character Kayce Dutton as he joins an elite unit of US Marshals and struggles with work-life balance and the high psychological costs of his job.

The second sounds more interesting. It sees screen greats Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell packing up their family and leaving New York for the sweeping vistas of Montana after a life-shattering tragedy. Described as “powerful, emotional” viewing, its leads could lasso new viewers into Yellowstone’s sphere.

Watch: Neon

When: Marshals, Monday 2 March, The Madison, Sunday 15 March.

Michelle Pfeiffer in The Madison.

Neon

Ghost Elephants

We all know you can’t eat ghost chips, but can you find ghost elephants? That’s the question the acclaimed filmmaker and poetic miserablist Werner Herzog hopes to answer as he tags along with a conservation biologist into the highlands of Angola.

The pair is searching for legend, a new species of African elephants that’s been spoken of for generations but never actually sighted by humans.

Watch: Disney+

When: Sunday 8 March

Werner Herzog documentary Ghost Elephants.

Supplied

Scarpetta

Nicole Kidman stars as forensic pathologist D. Kay Scarpetta in this big-budget adaptation of Patricia Cornwell’s bestselling crime novels.

The show sees Scarpetta using modern forensic tools and her psychological training to investigate a serial killer terrorising her old hometown.

Things take a personal twist when she begins to suspect the killer may feature prominently in her past, allowing the show to divide into dual timelines as it keeps viewers on the edge of their seats and guessing whodunnit.

Watch: Prime Video

When: Wednesday, 11 March

Nicole Kidman as Kay Scarpetta.

Amazon MGM Studios

Hyundai Country Calendar

A big happy birthday to this iconic celebration of rural life that now cements itself as one of the longest-running shows on the telly.

The show debuted in 1966, seven years before colour TV’s arrived in Aotearoa, and has been running strong since. Its tales of kiwi life and documentation of the heartland have never lost relevance in its six decades of storytelling.

The 60th celebration features all-new episodes and will also highlight some classics from the archives.

Now, when’s A Dog’s Show coming back?

Watch: TVNZ 1

When: Friday, 6 March

John Clarke as Fred Dagg on Country Calendar in 1974

NZ On Screen / Screenshot

Extra viewing

Rooster

Steve Carell’s crime novelist visits his daughter at an elite college and finds himself embroiled in a plot straight out of one of his books.

Watch: Neon

When: Monday, 9 March

Steve Carell in Rooster.

Supplied

Track Stars

Aoteroa’s top athletes, celebrities and household names come together in this special event to compete in a series of track and field events.

The sportsfolk will be competing for New Zealand titles, while everyone else competes for bragging rights and our entertainment.

Watch: TVNZ 1

When: Saturday, 7 March

Young Sherlock

The big mystery of this coming-of-age thriller series focusing on a 19-year-old Sherlock Holmes is whether director Guy Ritchie has given the popular consulting detective a geezer makeover.

Watch: Prime Video

When: Wednesday, 4 March

Dónal Finn as James Moriarty and Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Sherlock Holmes in Young Sherlock.

Prime

Karl Puschmann is an arts and entertainment journalist, and also runs Screen Crack, a popular Substack dedicated to deep-diving into film and television. screencrack.substack.com.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Tenant wins $5000 payout after Kāinga Ora fails to act over machete threats

Source: Radio New Zealand

The police had been called for three separate incidents at the property. 123RF

A woman’s 14-year-old grandson was nearly mowed down by her neighbour’s car, while her son was threatened with a machete.

Now an elderly Tongan woman has gone to the Tenancy Tribunal, after Kāinga Ora refused to terminate her tenancy, despite the woman living in “constant fear” of the family next door.

The woman, who has name suppression, had lived at the Kāinga Ora property since 2019.

A female tenant lives at another Kāinga Ora property next door with her male partner and their children.

According to a recently released decision, the woman claimed that, during the tenancy, abuse was constantly shouted out at her over the fence, her daughter and son had been challenged to fights, rubbish had been thrown over the fence, and loud music had been played for long periods into the night on a boombox being carried up and down the road.

She’d also been sworn at in her driveway, had rocks thrown at her and her family, and was harassed when she called the police.

The police had been called for three separate incidents – one on 4 February, 2024, when the male neighbour was reported as being hostile and shouting threats, while standing at the tenant’s front gate.

A second incident occurred on 2 March, 2024, when the male neighbour was reported as standing outside the tenant’s front gate, making threats, while holding a machete.

The most volatile experience came when they had threatened to kill her son with a machete on 10 June last year.

The son said the male neighbour was working in the garden with a shovel and a machete, and started to abuse him and his son, and threatened to kill them.

The man was charged with threatening to kill, but was convicted of a lesser charge in relation to the weapon.

The woman’s daughter also provided a written statement to the authority and gave evidence at the hearing about an incident in which her 14-year-old son was walking home from school, when the male tenant was returning home in a car.

She said the male tenant chased her son in the car, driving onto the grass verge, and that her son was only able to escape by hiding behind a boat situated on a grass verge. The police were called, but attended the next day.

‘Lives in constant fear’

The woman said she “lives in constant fear” of the neighbouring tenants and will often stay inside her home, because she is too afraid to venture outside. On occasion, she had stayed with her daughter, because she couldn’t cope with being at home.

She had health issues that impacted her mobility and sight, and recently had a stroke.

She and her son had reported the behaviour to Kāinga Ora numerous times during the tenancy, but their response had always been to tell her and her family to keep to themselves, and not engage with the neighbours.

She said she initially wanted the neighbour to move, so she could live in peace, but now that she had health issues, she wanted to leave the tenancy.

Kāinga Ora did not dispute that the tenant had reported ongoing issues with this tenancy, and was well aware of the tenant’s complaints of shouting, abuse and loud music.

It confirmed that the organisation had been notified of the three police incidents, but said the issue was complex, because on some occasions, there was aggression on both sides, including a physical altercation between the male neighbour and the tenant’s son, which resulted in an antisocial notice being issued to both.

Kāinga Ora said it had considered whether it could terminate the neighbour’s tenancy under section 55A of the Residential Tenancies Act (termination for assault), following the machete incident, but ultimately determined it could not do so, because the neighbouring tenant herself was not home and the male at the address was not a listed tenant, and had threatened this tenant’s son and not the tenant herself.

The organisation was also unable to apply to terminate the tenancy for antisocial behaviour, as there had not been three incidents within a 90-day period.

Tribunal adjudicator Melissa Allan said the tenant had been “left in a very difficult situation”.

“She has not felt free to move about her property, often remains inside, and has been subjected to unreasonable levels of noise, rubbish being thrown, screaming and yelling, and threats being made to her family members.

“The landlord should have filed an application to terminate the neighbouring tenancy. It is not necessary for criminal charges to be proven or even laid.

“The landlord only needed to prove, to the civil standard, that the tenant has been interfering with the reasonable pace, comfort and privacy of the tenant, and that the breach is of such a nature and of such an extent that it would be inequitable to refuse to make an order terminating the tenancy.”

By failing to take steps, the landlord had breached its obligations, she said.

Kāinga Ora was ordered to pay the tenant $5000 in compensation for breach of landlord’s obligations and was looking to transfer the tenant to a tenancy that is more suited to her current health needs.

* This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Police continue to investigate after Papakura shooting leaves man in moderate condition

Source: Radio New Zealand

A police car seen behind a cordon as officers attend an incident. RNZ

Police are following “strong lines of enquiry”, after an Auckland shooting on Saturday left a man with moderate injuries.

Officers were conducting patrols in the Clevedon Road area in the suburb of Papakura on Saturday morning, when they heard what was believed to be gunshots at about 11.20am.

A short time later, a man was transported to hospital in a moderate condition with a gunshot injury.

A police spokesperson said they were following “strong lines of inquiry” into what had occurred.

“Initial indications are that the victim and the offenders are known to each other, and there is no risk to the wider community.”

Officers, including the Armed Offenders Squad, had been conducting enquiries at a Grove Road address on Saturday afternoon, but no arrests were made.

Cordons that had been in place in Grove Road were stood down.

The spokesperson said Clevedon Road and Grove Road residents could expect to see a continued police presence on Saturday evening, as officers continued enquiries.

They asked that anyone with information that might assist their investigation contact them via 105.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Kiwi golfer Daniel Hillier storms into NZ Open lead at Millbrook

Source: Radio New Zealand

Daniel Hillier plays a shot during the third round of the 105th New Zealand Open. Photosport

A stunning late surge has vaulted Kiwi Daniel Hillier to the top of the NZ Open leaderboard at Millbrook Resort, near Queenstown.

The Wellingtonian was four strokes off leader and fellow Kiwi Kerry Mountcastle, when he lined up to play the 14th hole.

He birdied that, followed up with another birdie, parred the 16th, eagled the 17th and birdied the last to finish with a seven-under-par 64 to be 18-under with a round to play.

Hillier has been a force on the European tour this year and is the highest-ranked player in the field this week. He was runner-up at the NZ Open in 2024.

Masterton golfer Mountcastle also hit a 64 and is tied for second with Australian Curtis Luck, who hit 63. They are a stroke behind Hillier.

Another Aussie, Lucas Herbert, went around in 62 and sits fourth, a further stroke back.

Hillier had played steady golf before his late surge.

“That was a crazy last few holes,” he said. “I didn’t have my best early on.

“It was one of those days and I had to stay patient. I knew there were a couple of par-fives I could take advantage of later in the piece.

“Thankfully, I could do that and it was pretty cool to get one at the last as well, in front of that massive crowd.”

Hillier, who has had two top-five finishes on the DP World Tour already this year, is obviously keen to continue his good vein of form in the final round.

“Looking ahead to tomorrow, I would love a replay of that and some more,” he said. “Obviously, I have a job to do.

“I will rest up tonight and have a good sleep, and come out firing.”

Mountcastle could have had the outright lead had he birdied the final hole, but he dropped a stroke, after his tee shot landed in the water.

New Zealander Kerry Mountcastle is tied for second after three rounds. Photosport

The 30-year-old rated his round, which included nine birdies, as “nine out of 10”.

“Everything was kind of firing,” he said. “I’m sort of not really thinking about what’s happening in the tournament.

“It’s just I’m out here trying to hit shot after shot and it’s kind of the first time when I’ve been up the top, where I’ve been this comfortable.

“Normally I’m always thinking about, “Oh, I need to do this or what’s going on about that?”

The overnight leader after the second round, New Zealand amateur teenager Yuki Miya hit a 70 for a share of fifth place at 13-under.

One of the world’s top players on the PGA Championship tour, Kiwi Steven Alker has a share of ninth place at 12-under. He and compatriot Sam Jones both scored 66 in the third round.

“Today was moving day and I wanted to be a little more aggressive, but tomorrow, I am going to need to be really aggressive to catch the guys in front,” Alker said.

“I am having a blast with ‘Goldie’ [former All Black Jeff Wilson] on the bag, and it’s been a lot of fun and great to be back in New Zealand playing again. That is the coolest part.”

South Korea’s Chan Choi matched the championship course record with a 10-under-par 61. After making the cut on the number, he is now in a share of eighth at 12-under.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Live: Super Rugby Pacific – Brumbies v Blues at GIO Stadium

Source: Radio New Zealand

Photosport

The Blues play the high-flying Brumbies at GIO Staidum, after a high-scoring win over Western Froce last week.

Captain Daltan Papali’i will play his 100th Super Rugby game, as his side try to topple the top-of-the-table Brumbies in Canberra.

Kickoff is at 9.35pm.

Blues: 1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi. 2. Kurt Eklund. 3. Marcel Renata. 4. Laghlan McWhannell. 5. Sam Darry. 6. Anton Segner. 7. Dalton Papali’i (c) 8. Hoskins Sotutu. 9. Finlay Christie. 10. Stephen Perofeta. 11. Caleb Clarke. 12. Pita Ahki. 13. AJ Lam. 14. Cole Forbes. 15. Zarn Sullivan

Impact: 16. Bradley Slater. 17. Mason Tupaea. 18. Sam Matenga. 19. Josh Beehre. 20. Torian Barnes. 21. Taufa Funaki. 22. Xavi Taele. 23. Codemeru Vai.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Football: Auckland FC stun with A-League win over champions Melbourne City

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland FC’s Guillermo May scores against Melbourne City. Photosport

Auckland FC have kept the pressure on A-League men’s leaders Newcastle Jets with a stunning 3-0 home win over Melbourne City.

Logan Rogerson broke his goalscoring drought with a decisive blow to give the Aucklanders a 1-0 lead after 42 minutes, and Jesse Randall (59th minute) and Guillermo May (66th minute) followed up in the second half for a comprehensive victory.

The result narrowed the Jets’ competition lead to just one point, although the Newcastle side were playing Central Coast Mariners on Saturday night.

After a poor January, the Aucklanders have had a brilliant February, looking much more like the team won the Premiers Plate last season.

They delighted their fans with this performance, although it did come at a cost, with captain Hiroki Sakai leaving the field late in the first half with an injury to his right leg, after as series of heavy collisions.

He was replaced by Sam Cosgrove.

Rogerson had gone 16 matches without a goal this season, but he latched on to a cross from May, heading it into the back of the net.

He admitted after the match to some sleepless nights, because of the drought.

“I’m delighted to break my duck and get my first goal of the season,” he told the Sky Sports broadcast.

Randall hasn’t had such goalscoring blues and pounced to score his ninth for the season, after an error by City defender Harrison Delbridge. Randall now leads the competition in scoring.

May scored his goal, after heading in a cross from Randall.

Auckland FC host Perth Glory next Sunday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

IndyCar: Kiwi Scott Dixon unharmed after crash at St Petersburg Grand Prix practice

Source: Radio New Zealand

Scott Dixon’s car after a nasty crash during practice in Florida. Twitter/Indycar

Kiwi motorsport ace Scott Dixon has emerged uninjured from a nasty crash during practice for the IndyCar St Petersburg Grand Prix in Florida.

During the first practice session – in which compatriot Scott McLaughlin had the fastest time – Dixon’s Ganassi Racing Honda slid across turn nine and collided head-first into a concrete barrier.

The car sustained heavy damage to the front, but Dixon emerged unhurt, but not before David Malukas just avoided contact with the stricken car, sneaking through a gap between the left barrier and Dixon’s left sidepod.

“Kind of a frustrating one,” Dixon said. “I got loose on entry and tried to save it, and then kind of got into an overcorrection.

“Luckily, it slid off a lot of the speed, before it hit the wall. Sometimes, you can tub a car and destroy them.

“Hopefully this isn’t too bad.”

The crash resulted in a red flag, one of three during the practice session.

Despite the damage, Dixon didn’t think he would need a back-up car for the opening Indycar race for the season, which starts at 7am Monday (NZT).

Scott Dixon has had at least one victory in 21 consecutive IndyCar seasons. PHOTOSPORT

“It actually looked fine,” said Dixon, who has had 21 consecutive IndyCar seasons with a victory.

“The rear was not bad. I think they’ll just have to change suspension, the front nose and front wing obviously, but then even the front suspension didn’t look that bad.

“It was kind of weird, so yeah, weird as in good weird.”

McLaughlin, who has had two previous pole starts at St Petersburg, had the quickest lap in 1m 1.1020s in his Team Penske Chevrolet on the 14-turn, temporary street circuit.

He led both the earlier portion of the 85-minute practice that contained all 25 cars and improved upon that time in the smaller session, after the field was divided into two groups.

“Decent first day,” McLaughlin said. “Obviously, being P1 is a great start.

“The DEX Imaging Chevy was straight away fast and felt good and comfortable. It’s good for us.

“It’s the start of a long season and it was nice to have a smooth session to start. We’ll keep pressing on and see how we go.”

Felix Rosenqvist was second overall and Florida native Kyle Kirkwood third.

Another New Zealander, Marcus Armstrong, was seventh.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Live: Super Rugby Pacific – Chiefs v Crusaders at FMG Stadium Waikato

Source: Radio New Zealand

Photosport

The Chiefs host the winless Crusaders in a rematch of last year’s Super Rugby Pacific final at FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday.

The hosts are coming off back-to-back wins over New Zealand opposition, while the their opponents have yet to taste victory.

Kickoff is at 7.05pm.

Chiefs: 1. Jared Proffit 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho 3. George Dyer 4. Josh Lord 5. Tupou Vaa’i (vc) 6. Simon Parker 7. Kaylum Boshier 8. Luke Jacobson (c) 9. Xavier Roe 10. Josh Jacomb 11. Leroy Carter 12. Quinn Tupaea (vc) 13. Daniel Rona 14. Emoni Narawa 15. Etene Nanai-Seturo

Impact: 16. Tyrone Thompson 17. Benet Kumeroa 18. Reuben O’Neill 19. Samipeni Finau 20. Wallace Sititi 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi 22. Tepaea Cook-Savage 23. Lalakai Foketi

Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams. 2. George Bell. 3. Fletcher Newell. 4. Antonio Shalfoon. 5. Jamie Hannah. 6. Dom Gardiner. 7. Ethan Blackadder. 8. Christian Lio-Willie. 9. Noah Hotham. 10. Taha Kemara. 11. Sevu Reece. 12. David Havili (c) 13. Leicester Fainga’anuku. 14. Chay Fihaki. 15. Will Jordan

Impact: 16. Manumaua Letiu. 17. George Bower. 18. Seb Calder. 19. Tahlor Cahill. 20. Corey Kellow. 21. Louie Chapman. 22. James White. 23. Dallas McLeod.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Basketball: NZ Breakers part ways with head coach Petteri Koponen

Source: Radio New Zealand

Breakers coach Petteri Koponen is leaving the club. Blake Armstrong/Photosport

NZ Breakers and head coach Petteri Koponen have parted ways, and the club will advertise globally for a replacement.

The Finn coached the Breakers for two seasons, with the side finishing ninth of the 10 teams last year, followed by seventh in the regular season just completed.

Koponen, 37, finished on a bright note, with a victory in the Ignite Cup over the Adelaide 36ers last Sunday.

After discussions with club management, he is leaving, with the club saying he didn’t seek a contract extension and was looking for new professional opportunities closer to Finland.

Koponen said he was after a new challenge.

“My time in New Zealand has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career,” he said. “I fell in love with this country and the incredible community that supports the Breakers.

“However, after two seasons of intense growth in the NBL and the immense satisfaction of bringing the Ignite Cup to Auckland, I am ready for a new challenge.

“I want to thank the club, the players and the fans for embracing me. I am proud of the culture we’ve built and I leave with the highest respect for this club.”

The Breakers said Koponen had instilled a modern, high-intensity European style of play that culminated in the inaugural Ignite Cup victory.

“Petteri is a young coach on the rise and we support his desire to pursue opportunities closer to home,” said Breakers basketball operations president Dillon Boucher.

“Professional coaching at this level demands immense sacrifice, especially half a world away from home. We’ve reached a mutual agreement that the time is right for Petteri to pursue his next professional challenge.

“He departs with his mana higher than ever and will always hold a permanent place within our Breakers whānau.”

The club said it would look for a new coach capable of taking the Breakers to the top of the NBL rankings.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

The Detail: Home for granny, headache for homeowner

Source: Radio New Zealand

Experts say that the real rule change is simply that when things go wrong, the burden of responsibility will be on the homeowner, not the council. 123rf

Rule changes for putting a granny flat on your section cut very little red tape, but move questions of liability from councils to homeowners

No garage conversions, no house extensions, no old materials or relocated cottages, no DIY practitioners, no mezzanine floors and no accessible showers.

And no building consent needed.

The government’s new rules for building a granny flat, or ‘minor standalone dwelling’, on your own property cut through one layer of paperwork and will likely save plans from being clogged up at council level, but they’re still complex, full of restrictions and just as expensive as they always were.

The real change these rules bring, say experts, is that when things go wrong, they shift the burden of responsibility from the council to homeowners.

Karel Boakes is the president of the Building Officials Institute of New Zealand, an organisation with around 1200 members who deal with building surveying, controls and regulations in both the private sector and in councils.

From what she’s seen in the month or so since the law came in, there’s been no rush to build these standalone dwellings – she says licensed building practitioners appear to be wary of shouldering the burden of responsibility for any failures.

“They’re concerned,” she says.

“They’re concerned for the homeowners and potentially the risks that they might be taking on if they choose to follow this route.”

“Obviously they’re not against efficiencies where they can be made. That’s common sense and we’re all on board with that. But we’re also trying to weigh up the level of risk that people could be exposed to if buildings are built in a way that’s not compliant or in a way that [poses problems] financially with insurance or what have you.”

Boakes says officials want to make sure people go into these processes with their eyes wide open, understanding the risks.

“There’s definitely a shift of liability.”

Before the regulation changed there was a level of surety in council checks, but we saw from the leaky building crisis that meant that councils were often the “last man standing” – the only organisation still around answering questions of liability when builders and developers went bust. Now the responsibility for any issues down the line falls on the homeowner, and those licensed building practitioners who supervised the job.

The only council responsibility comes right at the start of an application for a standalone dwelling when it issues a PIM – a Project Information Memorandum – which details information about the land or the project that they need to take account of, such as unstable land or flood plains.

“The council won’t be taking any liability any more in terms of assessing, or checking, or inspecting,” says Boakes.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has put out comprehensive information about the processes involved.

It says the granny flats building consent exemption allows small standalone dwellings of up to 70 square metres to be built without a building consent, if it has a simple design and meets the building code; homeowners notify the council before they start building and when they’re finished; the work is carried out or supervised by licensed building professionals; and all the exemption conditions are met.

You can download the seven forms required from the site, read the three checklists, five step-by-step guides and five fact sheets, and there are links to 12 professional groups that might be involved.

So there’s no excuse for winging it.

Bill McKay, a senior lecturer at the School of Architecture and Planning, University of Auckland, tells The Detail that when the rules came out, he was taken aback by the level of requirements – “all the things that you do and have to worry about”.

“One of the questions I’m mostly commonly asked is, ‘can I build it myself?’

“Short answer – absolutely not,” he says.

He says not having to get a building consent will save time, with the council unable to put off its issuing of a PIM. But a building consent is one thing – “you’ll still need building advice from someone who can draw up plans for you and that sort of thing. We might still need a resource consent, and this is a pitfall for lots of people.

“You can’t build just anywhere you want in your back yard. We have certain rules about minimum permeable and impermeable area so that rainfall will soak away, which is all good. And we have distances that we have to keep from neighbours … all that sort of thing as well.

“I think a lot of people will just sort of leap into it without doing their homework first and doing it properly, and that could get them in trouble from various angles.”

Then there’s the sting at the end – while it varies throughout the country, most councils will charge a development fee, and in some places that could be around $25,000. Your rates will go up too, having added another bathroom and more square metres to your estate.

Meanwhile McKay has picked out an aspect of the regulations he calls ‘ironic’ – even if your little house is for granny, you can’t have a recessed shower, where you could wheel in or get in without tripping over if you were unstable on your feet.

“The reason for that is, they haven’t developed a class of LBP who can do that.”

That means the supervisory aspect of the project couldn’t be met – so accessible showers are on the no-go list.

Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here.

You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand