Otago Daily Times Online News

'Demons inside': Cosy Dell rapist gets rare open-ended jail sentence

A man with "psychopathic traits" who broke into a Dunedin flat and raped a student will be subject to a rare open-ended jail term.

Man charged over fatal Port Chalmers crash pleads not guilty

Man charged over fatal Port Chalmers crash pleads not guilty

A man who allegedly caused a fatal crash in Port Chalmers has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and can now be named.
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Ong found in breach of code

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Ong found in breach of code

Embattled councillor Benedict Ong tried to smear a witness in a conduct case he was pursuing — posing a serious risk to the Dunedin City Council’s integrity, an investigator has found.
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Camp operator says abuse may force him out

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Camp operator says abuse may force him out

An operator of a Catlins camping ground says he is being forced out by council red tape, racist taunts and a lack of support from the wider community.

dunedin

Keith Wicks-Cairns in court today. Photo: Rob Kidd

'Demons inside': Cosy Dell rapist gets rare open-ended jail sentence

A man with "psychopathic traits" who broke into a Dunedin flat and raped a student will be subject to a rare open-ended jail term.

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Councillors put Hawkins, Stedman top

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Councillors put Hawkins, Stedman top

A pair of Dunedin by-election candidates have emerged as favourites among their potential colleagues.
Teen allegedly spat in officer's face during arrest

Teen allegedly spat in officer's face during arrest

A Dunedin teenager allegedly spat in the face of a police officer after being caught red-handed breaking into a car.
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90-day trials plan sparks protest

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90-day trials plan sparks protest

A five-year employment stoush between a mental-health charity and the union has come to a head on a Dunedin street.

regions

Serious crash reported in Southland

A serious crash has been reported in the small Southland settlement of Isla Bank this morning.

Rāhui in place as search for missing kayaker continues

Rāhui in place as search for missing kayaker continues

The search for a person reportedly swept out to sea near Greymouth is set to continue today.
Literacy packs to help new entrant students

Literacy packs to help new entrant students

Every new entrant starting school this year across the Upper Clutha will be given a literacy pack, thanks to the town’s Rotary Club.
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SH1 motorist critically injured

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SH1 motorist critically injured

Police are investigating the cause of a crash in South Otago that led to one driver being critically injured yesterday.

The death of an elderly man at a dementia unit following an altercation with another patient was a "tragic outcome that was preceded by a sudden eruption of anger without a known cause or warning", a coroner says.

Months of benefit, housing data not published by MSD

Months of benefit, housing data not published by MSD

Months' worth of social housing and benefit data haven't been published because of a broken system, and there's no fix in sight.
NZ may offer Iranian footballers asylum - Seymour

NZ may offer Iranian footballers asylum - Seymour

The New Zealand government may offer asylum to Iranian female football players in Australia who are likely to face persecution if they return to their home country.
Schools bring in counsellors to deal with social media harm

Schools bring in counsellors to deal with social media harm

Principals of two Auckland schools say they've had to hire counsellors specifically for dealing with the harm caused to children by social media.

sport

St Clair junior competitors jump for joy. PHOTOS: JAMIE TROUGHTON/DSCRIBE MEDIA

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Otago crews in the mix at nationals

Otago athletes made a splash at the New Zealand surf lifesaving championships at the weekend.

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Bates, Devine returning for T20 series against South Africa

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Bates, Devine returning for T20 series against South Africa

The White Ferns will benefit from experienced pair Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine for their T20 series against South Africa.
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Career-best figures for O’Connor

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Career-best figures for O’Connor

Thomas O’Connor tucked away a pretty special milestone to help put Otago on the front foot.
Two Heartland teams to get crack at prized Ranfurly Shield

Two Heartland teams to get crack at prized Ranfurly Shield

Will the Old Golds spoil the party?

Food & Wine

Ripe for the eating
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Dishes to let summer linger
Street food a reflection
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Spritzes, rosés, reds — taste of summer that wasn’t

Business

Air NZ says travel remained very restricted. Photo: supplied

Air NZ suspends earning guidance, warns of price hikes

Air New Zealand has suspended its earning guidance and warned it may have to further hike prices and adjust where and how often it flies.

NZ economy on 'precipice' as global markets wobble

NZ economy on 'precipice' as global markets wobble

New Zealand's economy is on a "precipice", one economist says, as the country faces increasing pressure as a result of war in Iran.
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Vape store goes bust in ‘war’

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Vape store goes bust in ‘war’

An Invercargill vape store has gone bust owing $50,000 amid what another retailer is labelling an e-cigarette ‘‘price war’’ in the city.
Southern businessman leaves KiwiRail board two years early

Southern businessman leaves KiwiRail board two years early

KiwiRail director Scott O'Donnell will step down from the KiwiRail board of directors on March 24, cutting short an appointment more than two years ahead of schedule.

Rural Life

Farmer fined $35k for failing to register cattle

A Kaikōura dairy farmer has been fined $35,000 for failing to register hundreds of cattle or track their movements on and off his farms.

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From pasture to veldt?

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From pasture to veldt?

Tim Cronshaw asks what’s next for the Meat Industry Association’s exiting chief executive.
Townies named red meat scholarship recipients

Townies named red meat scholarship recipients

Townies studying in Dunedin are some of the latest recipients of the 2026 Meat Industry Association scholarship programme.
Cows into 2nd round of national contest

Cows into 2nd round of national contest

Two southern cows are through to a second round of judging for a national Holstein Friesian competition.

Life & style

Isola Bella, known as the pearl of the Ionian Sea, is a small island near Taormina, on the east...

Sun and culture intersect

Lifestyle editor Rebecca Fox discovers Sicily lives up to the hype and more.

Toitū te whenua - A precious cargo

Toitū te whenua - A precious cargo

A record of the heroic deeds of early voyagers lives on in the Otago landscape, David Higgins tells Luke Chapman and Tom McKinlay.
Days of the pioneers

Days of the pioneers

Long before the likes of Lord of the Rings and The Power of the Dog discovered the stunning backdrops of Otago’s outback, there was a locally made TV drama that set the benchmark of what was to follow.
Working together to learn more

Working together to learn more

On calm nights in Middlemarch, when the wind drops and the paddocks fall quiet, my usual practice is to step outside before bed and gaze upwards.

LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT

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‘Heavy subject’ needed to be touched upon
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Reshaping loss into art

World

Iranian players saluting for the national anthem after being reprimanded for not singing in an...

Australia offers Iranian footballers asylum after daring escape

Five members of the Iranian women's soccer team are being protected by police after staging a dramatic escape from their handlers at a Brisbane hotel.

Trump says war with Iran 'very complete, pretty much'

Trump says war with Iran 'very complete, pretty much'

US President Donald Trump thinks the war against Iran "is very complete" and that Washington was "very far ahead" of his initial four to five week estimated time frame,...
Almost 700,000 people forced from their homes in Lebanon

Almost 700,000 people forced from their homes in Lebanon

Escalating hostilities have forced nearly 700,000 people to flee their homes in Lebanon over the past week.
Four teens charged with murder of Good Samaritan in Melbourne

Four teens charged with murder of Good Samaritan in Melbourne

A fourth teen has been charged with murder over the death of a good Samaritan in Melbourne, as police boost patrols in the area.

Opinion

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says his language has been consistent. Photo: RNZ

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A snowball’s chance

If Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is indeed a dead man walking — as many pundits and prognosticators have been claiming since late last week — he was striding out with quite a spring in his step...

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Cartoonist’s view — Yeo

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Cartoonist’s view — Yeo

Today's cartoon from Shaun Yeo.
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Two attempts to harm train

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Two attempts to harm train

Palmerston North, March 9: What appears to have been a dastardly attempt to wreck the north-bound Limited Express was made last night, when an obstruction consisting of beams from cattle stops was...
Mine site ‘at the beating heart of our landscape’

Mine site ‘at the beating heart of our landscape’

The proposed Santana mine will mar a slice of paradise, Mike Horder writes.

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