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

DunedinOctober 26

Grieving families discover coronial investigations caught up in Dunedin health data breach

Grieving Southern families are facing delays in coronial investigations after a health data breach at a Dunedin company.

Rob Kidd

DunedinOctober 27

Election 2026 interview: Qiulae Wong

This week's guest on Election 2026 is Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong.

Mike Houlahan

NationalOctober 27

Labour pledge to help Kāinga Ora tenants buy homes

Working tenants in Kāinga Ora homes and participating community housing properties would be able to build up a deposit while paying rent.

RNZ

ChristchurchOctober 26

Jetstar to fly Christchurch-Perth for the first time

Jetstar is set to launch a new service from Christchurch to Perth and has restarted direct flights from the city to Sydney.

SUBSCRIBER

RugbyOctober 26

More depth and strength as Highlanders set to unveil squad

SUBSCRIBER

DunedinOctober 26

DCC annual report shows $420k in severance pay

Grant Miller

NationalOctober 26

Repeat blackmailer hounded teenage girl with threats to expose her online

ODT QuizOctober 26

ODT quiz: October 27

Dunedin

DunedinOctober 26

Two injured after van hits power pole in Glen Rd

Two people are injured after a van hit a power pole in Dunedin’s Glen Rd this morning.

SUBSCRIBER

DunedinOctober 26

Targeted funding needed for GPs to manage rising levels of diabetes — research

While it may appear extreme that a quarter of the patients at a Wellington general practice have been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes, it is becoming the norm in New Zealand, which has prompted researchers to call for targeted funding for GPs to manage the rising levels.

John Lewis

SUBSCRIBER

DunedinOctober 26

Visiting stage musical will have you racing for tickets like a ‘Bat Out Of Hell’

If you would do anything for love — maybe run right into hell and back — then you will definitely not want to miss this — the 'Bat Out Of Hell' musical.

John Lewis

SUBSCRIBER

DunedinOctober 26

‘Mind-numbingly fun’: Combatants trade blows at Dunedin ‘skirmish’

Riding unicorns into battle and wielding their weapons the wrong way was how combatants took a break from the competitive side of sword fighting at a “skirmish” in Dunedin.

Tim Scott

Latest News

1

DunedinOctober 27

Election 2026 interview: Qiulae Wong

2

NationalOctober 27

Base jumper who got stuck on Auckland building appears in court

3

WorldOctober 27

Buses out, shoppers in: Oxford Street goes traffic-free

4

WorldOctober 27

Pope well enough for South America trip, says Vatican

5

FootballOctober 27

England’s Harry Kane crowned Ballon d'Or winner, Putellas wins women's award

Otago

Central OtagoOctober 27

More cows, fewer people, less politics in Central Otago

Farmers are a big part of the reason why Central Otago is true-blue National country.

Central OtagoOctober 26

Rockfall work to cause Kawarau Gorge delays

Abseilers and support crews will be back on Nevis Bluff this spring as work continues to keep travellers safe on State Highway 6.

Carys Trotter

SUBSCRIBER

North OtagoOctober 26

‘Double the work and double the cost for our ratepayers’ — Waitaki mayor seeks urgent meeting over govt decision-making delays

There were urgent calls from Waitaki’s mayor for a meeting with the government after it pushed back amalgamation plans at the last minute — and a warning that the district’s ratepayers will bear the brunt of delayed decision-making.

Charley-Kai John

North OtagoOctober 26

Waitaki candidates hear rural concerns ahead of election

Farming, red-tape, and an absent Labour candidate were front and centre at a meet the candidates event in the Waitaki electorate.

Editor's Picks

SUBSCRIBER

DunedinOctober 24

‘Disturbing’: Rise in Otago sextortion cases, with victims as young as 9-years-old

Children as young as 9-years-old were among 50 victims of sextortion across Otago last year, and are also amid a national rise in cases impacting one in five New Zealanders.

John Lewis, Jules Chin

SUBSCRIBER

DunedinOctober 20

Award-winning ex-University of Otago employee charged with 37 counts of fraud

Rob Kidd

SUBSCRIBER

BusinessOctober 19

Southland agricultural business goes bust owing $10m after death of co-owner

Sally Rae

Canterbury

ChristchurchOctober 26

Jetty row may have prompted meeting

The operators of the Akaroa wharf facilities on Banks Peninsula are being called to a meeting which aims to improve communication and co-ordination among users.

Kees Chalmers

SelwynOctober 26

‘It was okay to be Māori’: Mana whenua representative’s journey of identity, belonging and leadership

From kapa haka to governance and advocacy, Puamiria Parata-Goodall has spent her life championing te ao Māori. Now, as Te Taumutu Rūnanga’s mana whenua representative at the Selwyn District Council table, she is helping shape the district’s future.

Daniel Alvey

SelwynOctober 26

Battle continues over rezone request

Carter Group has continued to oppose land being rezoned for housing next to one of its subdivisions south of Christchurch.

Daniel Alvey

SelwynOctober 26

$41m spent upgrading safety at dangerous crossroads

New data shows more than $41 million has been spent on making high-risk intersections safer in a Canterbury district over the past five years.

Daniel Alvey

Election 2026

NationalOctober 26

Luxon expects higher rate of enrolments this year

National's leader Christopher Luxon expects enrolment rates will be higher this year than in previous elections, despite changes to enrolment rules.

Russell Palmer of RNZ

NationalOctober 26

Private sector gets 80% of govt’s increase in public health funding - union report

Eighty percent of the increase in public health funding from the government over the past three years has gone to the private sector, according to a new report.

NationalOctober 26

Greens lodge complaint over ‘backing the gangs’ billboard

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is "formally challenging" Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick to meet with it - and victims of gang violence - before the November 7 election.

Lauren Crimp of RNZ

ISSUE ANALYSIS

NationalOctober 26

Health a bitterly disputed policy battlefield

While some might wish for a bi-partisan approach to health, that seems far from likely, political editor Mike Houlahan writes.

Mike Houlahan

Southland

SUBSCRIBER

SouthlandOctober 26

$4m boost for Mataura Marae ‘deeply meaningful’

A new look is on the way for the Mataura Marae, as the government announced millions to revamp and build up the community centre.

Gerrit Doppenberg

SouthlandOctober 26

Fire spreads after power lines fall near Gore

Gemma Sinclair

SouthlandOctober 26

Workload pressure likely to mount for Invercargill councillors

Matthew Rosenberg

National

NationalOctober 27

Base jumper who got stuck on Auckland building appears in court

A base jumper who became stuck on the side of an Auckland hotel by his parachute has appeared in court.

NationalOctober 27

Child ‘stable’ in Starship after alleged assault in park

A child allegedly assaulted at an Auckland park is in a stable condition in hospital, police say.

NationalOctober 26

Fears ferris wheel will spoil waterfront view

The proposal has caused sleepless nights for Maryanne and Alan Mummery, who have lived in their apartment for more than 30 years.

Pretoria Gordon of RNZ

NationalOctober 26

Foreign students log thousands of claims over mental health

Foreign students are making thousands of insurance claims for mental health problems, and industry insiders say they need more support.

John Gerritsen of RNZ

Sport

FootballOctober 27

England’s Harry Kane crowned Ballon d'Or winner, Putellas wins women's award

Harry Kane completed his long quest for football's highest individual honour on Monday, with the Bayern Munich and England striker winning the Ballon d'Or after a record-breaking season that cemented his status as one of the game's greatest goalscorers.

GolfOctober 26

Ko says she didn’t give Korea PM’s wife lessons

Golfing great Dame Lydia Ko has been forced to publicly make a statement after being caught up a political stoush in South Korea.

RNZ Sport reporters

SUBSCRIBER

GolfOctober 26

Croudis keeps cool to claim first Otago matchplay title

Duncan Croudis wanted to set the standard ahead of a hugely significant period for Otago golf.

Hayden Meikle

RugbyOctober 26

Otago’s Lio-Willie and Ma’u included in All Blacks’ northern tour squad

The increasingly versatile Leicester Fainga'anuku has been named in an All Blacks squad for the first time this year after returning from injury - and has officially been listed as a loose forward.

Lifestyle

SUBSCRIBER

TravelOctober 26

The OK and not OK of the UK

Dunedin writer Lisa Scott takes a look around the British Isles communing with the dead and trying local delicacies.

Lisa Scott

SUBSCRIBER

DrivesouthOctober 23

Forgotten champion eyes fifth title

Ask anyone with an everyday knowledge of current motor sport to name New Zealand’s most successful international racing drivers of the past five years, and the list will be fairly predictable.

David Thomson

SUBSCRIBER

The MixOctober 23

Loneliness influencers’ solitude is going viral

Isolation is decried as the scourge of this extremely online age. But in truth, the textures of our aloneness are infinite, Eva Wiseman writes.

The MixOctober 23

Book review: Tales from the life of an airline pilot

With swags of well-remembered conversations and loads of technical details, Another Day Like Yesterday provides an insider’s take on the sometimes glamorous but often frustrating life of an airline pilot.

Jim Sullivan

Business

SUBSCRIBER

BusinessOctober 27

Shooting for the stars in Southland

Dan Faulknor reckons he was about five when he knew he wanted a career in IT. But the founder of Invercargill-based tech company Prodigi always swore he would never go into business himself.

Sally Rae

BusinessOctober 27

What will Prada closure mean for Auckland’s Queen St?

Luxury retail brand Prada is closing its Queen St store this week, but one retail consultant isn't expecting it to have a big impact.

BusinessOctober 27

Where are home loan rates heading now?

The Reserve Bank will review the official cash rate this week and most economists expect a 25 basis-point increase - but what lies ahead for home loan rates?

BusinessOctober 27

Asbestos testing for sand-related toys

Any toys containing sand will soon require testing to prove they are asbestos-free before they can be sold in NZ.

RNZ

Rural Life

SUBSCRIBER

Rural Life OtherOctober 25

‘Time’ magazine recognition for groundbreaking protein product

It’s time for lucerne to shine — and not in the way that one would usually expect.

Sally Rae

SUBSCRIBER

Rural Life OtherOctober 25

Photographer focusing on attributes of wool in new business venture

When Dutch-born photographer Francine Boer first came to New Zealand, she knew nothing about wool.

Sally Rae

SUBSCRIBER

Rural Life OtherOctober 23

Irrigation brings a future to North Otago after years of dust and drought

"If you’ve got water, you’ve got options.” Reliable water from the Waitaki River, via the North Otago Irrigation Company scheme, has transformed Matt and Julie Ross’s Duntroon dairy farm.

Sally Rae

SUBSCRIBER

Rural Life OtherOctober 23

‘Incredible journey’ over past two decades for irrigation company

'An incredible journey', is how Aqus chief executive Andrew Rodwell describes the evolution of the North Otago Irrigation Company scheme.

Sally Rae

Food & Wine

Food & WineOctober 20

Fond memories inspire chook book featuring NZ’s favourite protein

SUBSCRIBER

Food & WineOctober 20

Picnic Salad

In Season — Alison Lambert

Food & WineOctober 20

Leek and ricotta tart with asparagus

SUBSCRIBER

Food & WineOctober 20

New Zealand Chardonnays fit for seat at the table

Mark Henderson

World

WorldOctober 27

Buses out, shoppers in: Oxford Street goes traffic-free

Oxford Street attracts about 500,000 visitors every day, according to the London mayor's office, but many flagship stores have shut in recent years.

Reuters

WorldOctober 27

Pope well enough for South America trip, says Vatican

The 71-year-old pontiff is recovering from surgery in which doctors removed part of his right lung and diagnosed him with lung cancer.

Reuters

WorldOctober 27

Trump says Brazil election looked 'rigged' as defeated party recognises result

US President Donald Trump said that leftist incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's surprise win in Brazil's presidential vote "looked like another rigged election".

WorldOctober 26

Netanyahu touts Trump endorsement on eve of vote

The vote is Israel's first since the deadly Hamas attacks in October 2023.

Reuters

West Coast

West CoastOctober 20

Teen has nightmares after three injured in 12m fall from Ferris wheel

A teenager has had nightmares since watching her friend fall 12m from a Ferris wheel at a West Coast agricultural show after a seat broke.

West CoastOctober 18

Backroads to the Beehive: Coal, politics and division on West Coast

The West Coast's wild ancient forests and vast mineral wealth gave rise to the country's labour movement.

Tim Brown and Nathan McKinnon of RNZ

Video

DunedinOctober 27

Election 2026 interview: Qiulae Wong

This week's guest on Election 2026 is Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong.

Mike Houlahan

Central OtagoOctober 27

More cows, fewer people, less politics in Central Otago

Farmers are a big part of the reason why Central Otago is true-blue National country.

SUBSCRIBER

Central OtagoOctober 25

‘Are we worth less than the people of Wānaka?’ — Lauder residents vent their anger at ORC consent decision

Lauder residents turned out in force on Sunday to voice their fears and frustration at an Otago Regional Council decision to allow sewage sludge from Wānaka to be dumped near their homes.

Julie Asher

DunedinOctober 25

One flown from Dunedin beach with serious injuries

One person with serious injuries has been flown to hospital by helicopter after an incident at a Dunedin beach this afternoon.

Tim Scott, Ruby Shaw

Opinion

OpinionOctober 26

Botched execution highlights a theological crisis

The recent failed execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee, where she survived two lethal doses of pentobarbital only to wake up in a hospital, has once again turned capital punishment into a topic of conversation.

SUBSCRIBER

OpinionOctober 26

Cartoonist’s view: October 27

Today's cartoon from Shaun Yeo.

YeoCartoonist

OpinionOctober 26

Anti‑government violence is growing. The response needs to be more than just increased policing

The attack on Australian Independent federal MP Helen Haines incident has occurred against a troubling backdrop.

SUBSCRIBER

OpinionOctober 26

Polling in Patearoa will show paradise preferences

In Patearoa we just don’t know how lucky we are.

Jim Sullivan

SUBSCRIBER

EditorialOctober 25

Ganging up on each other

This Labour Day weekend operatives in several election campaign will have been engaged in very strange work indeed — trawling through the social media feeds of their political opponents looking for photographs of them with gang members.

Editorial

SUBSCRIBER

OpinionOctober 25

Cartoonist’s view: October 26

Today's cartoon from Shaun Yeo.

YeoCartoonist

100 Years Ago

SUBSCRIBER

NewsOctober 26

Otago four wins Australian national

100 years ago

SUBSCRIBER

NewsOctober 25

A multitude of picnickers

100 years ago

SUBSCRIBER

NewsOctober 23

School scholars celebrate

100 years ago

SUBSCRIBER

NewsOctober 22

Blooming marvellous

100 years ago