ODT.co.nz | Otago Daily Times | Latest South Island News

DunedinSeptember 5

‘Flames shooting out of the engine’: Qantas flight from Queenstown diverts after mid-air explosion

A Qantas flight destined for Australia made an emergency diversion after flames were seen shooting out of the engine above Queenstown.

Laine Priestley

NationalSeptember 5

Blaze at café next to NZ's oldest building ‘suspicious’

A fire at a cafe next to New Zealand's oldest surviving building is being investigated as suspicious.

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South OtagoSeptember 4

Century-old South Otago funeral firm leaves creditors $400,000 out of pocket

A more than century-old former South Otago funeral firm has left creditors more than $400,000 out of pocket after being liquidated.

Tim Scott

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DunedinSeptember 4

‘Confrontational’ South D meeting prompts council investigation

An irate South Dunedin campaigner has no regrets after a heated meeting with council staff sparked a health and safety incident.

Ruby Shaw

NationalSeptember 4

Community 'shocked' after shooting leaves two dead in Nelson

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DunedinSeptember 4

The choice facing Otago is straightforward, inland port backer says

Steve Hepburn

DunedinSeptember 4

‘Extremely sad’: Staff gutted at plans to cut 15 staff from ANZ in Dunedin

Matthew Littlewood

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DunedinSeptember 4

Killer drink-driver ‘aggressive’ at parole hearing

Rob Kidd

Dunedin

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DunedinSeptember 4

Connecting with regional cycle trails should be priority for Dunedin: Cr Simms

Connecting Dunedin with popular regional cycle trails is one of the city’s greatest economic opportunities, a city councillor says.

Grant Miller

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DunedinSeptember 4

‘I’m trying to do something good by Dunedin’: University Book Shop saved by new owner

The University Book Shop has been saved from closure, and its new owner wants to “make it into something special for Dunedin”.

Tim Scott

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DunedinSeptember 4

Species newly discovered in southern waters

Researchers have recently been surprised to find 11 new species of bryozoans in the waters around southern New Zealand.

John Lewis

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DunedinSeptember 4

Wildfire warnings as El Nino takes hold in the South

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has warned the risk of wildfires will be elevated across parts of the southern regions this summer, as El Nino reaches its peak.

John Lewis

Latest News

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NationalSeptember 5

Blaze at café next to NZ's oldest building ‘suspicious’

2

WorldSeptember 5

Summer-level heat prompts fire fears in parts of Australia

3

NationalSeptember 5

Call for free meningitis vaccines for teens

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NationalSeptember 4

NZ First to campaign for conservation land to be open for economic development

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NationalSeptember 4

Community 'shocked' after shooting leaves two dead in Nelson

Otago

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QueenstownSeptember 4

$150m debt deal brings Queenstown cable car closer to reality

The $400 million Queenstown Cable Car has taken another step closer to reality, with $150m in debt funding lined up for the project.

Guy Williams

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QueenstownSeptember 4

‘A torrential, crazy river’: Fernhill evacuee says flood risk rising

A Queenstown resident evacuated from her family home in Fernhill last Thursday night says she’s “never seen anything like” the deluge that’s wreaked havoc on her neighbourhood.

Tracey Roxburgh

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WānakaSeptember 4

Under their own steam

Around 100 hardy locals will strap skis and snowboards to their bikes before summiting Treble Cone under their own power on Saturday.

Ruairi O'Shea

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Central OtagoSeptember 4

Swimming pool solar plan boosted by grant

Solar power for a Teviot Valley pool moved a step closer with a grant from Central Lakes Trust.

Julie Asher

Editor's Picks

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DunedinAugust 28

'No answers … no clues': 24 years waiting for the truth behind his mother's vanishing

It has been nearly 24 years since Tuitania Barclay disappeared without trace after leaving her Dunedin home. Her son has broken his silence, telling Rob Kidd about a life of seeking answers.

Rob Kidd

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DunedinAugust 28

Four arrested after brutal unprovoked attack on Dunedin students

Felicity Dear

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Central OtagoAugust 17

‘We are never, ever going into business again’: accusations fly over liquidated Otago boat builder

Tim Scott

Canterbury

CanterburySeptember 4

Canterbury truck driver killed in crash was not medically cleared to drive

Jason Chapman was the guy who “would give the shirt off his back for anybody”.

Brianna McIlraith, Open Justice reporter

CanterburySeptember 4

Southern Alps lodge set to welcome guests again

After a decade of being shuttered, a Swiss-style chalet is reopening in the heart of the Southern Alps, bringing a taste of central Europe to the village.

Tim Brown of RNZ

CanterburySeptember 4

Four hurt after car hits Dunsandel pub

Four people have been injured after a car crashed into a pub in Dunsandel in Canterbury.

RNZ

CanterburySeptember 4

Mackenzie council investigating 655 properties

A probe into potential breaches of short-term visitor accommodation rules has the Mackenzie District Council investigating 655 properties.

Claire Taylor, Local Democracy Reporting

National

NationalSeptember 5

Call for free meningitis vaccines for teens

The Meningitis Foundation is calling for bipartisan support for a fully funded vaccination programme for adolescents.

NationalSeptember 4

NZ First to campaign for conservation land to be open for economic development

New Zealand First says it will be campaigning for conservation land to be opened up for economic development.

NationalSeptember 4

Election 2026 interview: Green MP Francisco Hernandez

This week's Election 2026 political interview guest is Green list MP and his party's Dunedin candidate, Francisco Hernandez.

Mike Houlahan

NationalSeptember 4

Mum left stranded with baby after airline refuses boarding for mistake it admits

It's a parent's nightmare - being stranded unexpectedly at an airport with a small child.

Southland

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SouthlandSeptember 4

Housing options being investigated

Floating accommodation, private housing and a fly-in workforce are some of the options being explored to meet the housing needs of thousands of workers for Southland’s major construction projects.

Toni McDonald

SouthlandSeptember 4

Datagrid resource consent conditions not to be reviewed, independent commissioner decides

Resource consent conditions for Datagrid’s AI data centre in Makarewa will not be reviewed by the Southland District Council, an independent hearing commissioner has decided.

Sport

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SportSeptember 4

New Zealand sport power rankings: who is No 1 in 2026?

This is always a fun exercise but it is never that easy.

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SportSeptember 4

Female para swimmers left without medals at championships

A parent says female para-swimmers were denied medals at a meet at Moana Pool, leaving some sad and upset.

Steve Hepburn

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RugbySeptember 4

English halfback loving life with North Otago

Alfie Coop has had a revolving door of numbers on his back.

Kayla Hodge

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RugbySeptember 4

Black Ferns ready for South Africa test

Black Ferns captain Ruahei Demant will come off the bench in one of two changes for Saturday’s clash against South Africa in Soweto.

Lifestyle

FeaturesSeptember 5

Special Rigs for Special Kids 2026 Highlights

Special Rigs for Special Kids 2026 Highlights

Luke Chapman

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The MixSeptember 4

The peace we can make

If we pay attention and employ a little empathy, we might yet build a peaceable kingdom, Prof Kevin Clements tells Tom McKinlay.

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The MixSeptember 4

Italian Film Festival brings the history

History provides the laughs and the lessons in this years’ Italian Film Festival, artistic director Paolo Rotondo tells Tom McKinlay.

The MixSeptember 4

Before you throw it away, can you eat it?

Those scraps you throw away could become tomorrow’s tasty ingredients, write the folks from Love Food Hate Waste.

Business

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BusinessSeptember 4

Creating streets for all: urban designer back living in Dunedin

Insane potential. That is what urban designer Skye Duncan sees when she looks at Dunedin, the city where she grew up. And she knows her cities.

Sally Rae

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BusinessSeptember 4

Third-generation distiller working alongside his father at Central Otago’s Scapegrace Distillery

As Father’s Day approaches tomorrow, Scapegrace Distillery’s master distiller Anthony Lawry has a few things to thank his own late father for.

Sally Rae

BusinessSeptember 4

ANZ may close Dunedin contact centre

ANZ is considering closing its Dunedin contact centre and moving jobs to offices in other parts of the country.

Adam Burns of RNZ

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BusinessSeptember 3

Wānaka’s Greenhawk on cloud nine after buy-out by AI tech firm Multiplier

Auckland and Wānaka firm Greenhawk Chartered Accountants is taking a big leap into AI after being bought by Singapore tech company Multiplier Holdings.

Tim Cronshaw

Rural Life

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Rural Life OtherSeptember 2

Lobbying to get cows to eat Southland seaweed

A seaweed grower is “lobbying hard” to get a legislation change so the native plant grown in Southland can get government approval for use as a methane inhibitor in ruminant animals.

Shawn McAvinue

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Rural EventsSeptember 1

New Zealand dog trial team come from behind to win transtasman test series

Under immense scoreboard pressure, Palmerston dog trialist Lloyd Smith produced a diamond performance to win a transtasman test.

Shawn McAvinue

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Rural Life OtherAugust 30

‘The wood industry really did save my life’ — from drugs and booze to businessman

"There’s a good chance I could have been in jail or six feet under but the wood industry really did save my life.” Southland sawmill owner Rodney Lonneker was an inspiring speaker at last week’s New Zealand Institute of Forestry conference in Dunedin.

Sally Rae

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Rural Life OtherAugust 26

Flood protection controls river flow and reduces water on farms in South Otago

A pipe dream is now a reality in South Otago.

Shawn McAvinue

Food & Wine

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Food & WineSeptember 1

‘Exciting’ emerging culinary talent swapping mountains for the sea

Food & WineSeptember 1

Whole animal eating can only lead to more ‘sustainable and beneficial’ approach to cooking

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Food & WineSeptember 1

Unique Wānaka offering wins top regional restaurant

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Food & WineSeptember 1

Hope snow hangs around to bring in visitors to wine cellars

Wine Times — Mark Henderson

World

WorldSeptember 5

Summer-level heat prompts fire fears in parts of Australia

Summer-level heat is due to arrive early across much of eastern Australia, with expected high temperatures and a total fire ban for one major city.

AAP

WorldSeptember 4

Judge declares mistrial in Lindsay Clancy case

A judge has declared a mistrial in the US murder trial of Lindsay Clancy for killing her three young children.

Reuters

WorldSeptember 4

Nine days after disaster, two pulled alive from Nepal tunnel

Two people have been pulled out alive from a tunnel linked to a hydropower station on the Trishuli River in Nepal nine days after a landslide swept through its valley, killing more than 1200 people.

Reuters

WorldSeptember 4

Pacific summit backs concerns over China missile test

Pacific Island leaders expressed concern about China's Pacific missile test at their annual summit, though Nauru formally dissented, in a meeting largely overshadowed by Beijing's objections to Taiwan's presence.

Reuters

West Coast

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West CoastSeptember 4

Councillors call for more targeted, regular testing of lake contamination

Not enough is known about the effect aged and often unused septic tanks are having at Lake Kaniere, the source of Hokitika’s drinking water, district councillors say.

Janna Sherman

West CoastSeptember 3

Gloriavale school’s registration cancelled amid ministry push for closure

The Ministry of Education says it has cancelled Gloriavale's registration as a private school and is pressing ahead with plans to close it.

Video

NationalSeptember 4

Election 2026 interview: Green MP Francisco Hernandez

This week's Election 2026 political interview guest is Green list MP and his party's Dunedin candidate, Francisco Hernandez.

Mike Houlahan

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DunedinSeptember 3

One injured in Dunedin crash

One person has been injured following a two-vehicle crash in Dunedin.

John Lewis

DunedinSeptember 3

University considers Ong ban after students complain of ‘unwanted physical proximity’

Students feel unsafe and uncomfortable around controversial Dunedin councillor Benedict Ong, he has been told as he faces a potential ban from the University of Otago campus.

Grant Miller

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DunedinSeptember 3

Possum to be spotted on the peninsula

This possum will not be in the headlights.

Steve Hepburn

Opinion

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OpinionSeptember 4

Don’t panic about people who are panicking

Beware public and official hysteria. It has struck many times before and will do so again.

Civis

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OpinionSeptember 4

Cartoonist’s view

Today's cartoon from Shaun Yeo.

YeoCartoonist

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OpinionSeptember 4

Your tax dollars (but no new tax dollars) hard at work

It was not quite the age old philosophical question ``if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it did it make a sound?’’ but Todd Stephenson’s contribution to Wednesday’s General Debate came awfully close.

Mike Houlahan

OpinionSeptember 4

Bringing history into people’s homes

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OpinionSeptember 4

The secret diary of the third All Blacks v Springboks test

The Opportunities Party is going into this weekend's third test between the All Blacks and the Springboks with a very clear and precise plan based on encouraging the ABs to play straight down the middle of the field.

Steve Braunais

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EditorialSeptember 4

Why are we waiting?

During the last election campaign National promised a return to health targets, proclaiming them to be a crucial tool to improving the system.

Editorial

100 Years Ago

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NewsSeptember 4

Grandstand erupts in flames

A disastrous fire, which accompolished the complete destruction of the stewards’ stand at the Wingatui racecourse, occurred on Saturday.

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NewsSeptember 3

Cenotaph guaranteed to be ready

A special meeting of the War Memorial Executive Committee held in the City Council Chambers yesterday afternoon was presided over by Mr J. Loudon.

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NewsSeptember 2

Homely, much-neglected resource

Fertility of the soil is the capital stock of the farmer, and its conservation is fundamental to his success.

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NewsSeptember 1

In perfect formation

Given fine weather the Royal Air Force pageant at Hendon is one of the most dazzling spectacles to be seen in this country. Last Saturday 150,000 people made their way to Hendon.