Otago Daily Times Online News

'Smoke started filtering into the cabin': Bus fire closes SH1

Updated 7.10 pm

An engine fire on a bus filled with passengers closed State Highway 1 near Pigeon Flat Rd north of Dunedin this evening.
Dunedin records hottest April day on record

If you think it is particularly hot outside in Dunedin today, it’s because we are having our hottest April day on record.

Sandy Graham gets one year contract extension

Sandy Graham gets one year contract extension

Dunedin City Council boss Sandy Graham will get another year in the role as councillors opted not to advertise the job or award her a two-year extension.
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Dunedin sex criminal broke rules by loitering at Oval

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Dunedin sex criminal broke rules by loitering at Oval

A dangerous Dunedin sex offender breached a High Court order because he thought he would not get caught, a court has been told.
Cyclist critical after crash near university

Cyclist critical after crash near university

A cyclist is in a "critical condition" after a crash involving a car in Dunedin this afternoon.

dunedin

Pest Specialists exterminator Marc Farmer gets to work on a wasp nest in North Taieri yesterday....

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Wasp numbers ‘worse’ this year

Warm weather has led to a late explosion in the number of wasps in Dunedin, pest exterminators are warning.

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Campaigning Dunedin dad denies assaulting police

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Campaigning Dunedin dad denies assaulting police

A Dunedin father who campaigned for road safety after his daughter died in a car crash has denied assaulting arresting officers after crashing his car.
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Sheep central to search for cure

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Sheep central to search for cure

A sheep and some down-time between university semesters has led an American researcher to Otago, with the aim of finding a cure for a rare genetic disorder.
Napping stranger 'crashes car in his sleep'

Napping stranger 'crashes car in his sleep'

A Dunedin man having a nap at the wheel of a stranger's car managed to crash the vehicle into a fence in his sleep, police say.

regions

A meat works in Gore, operated by Blue Sky Meats and Black Origin Meat Processors, has been sold...

Meat works sold after liquidation

A meat works in Gore, previously home to a Japanese Wagyu beef operation which went into liquidation late last year, has been sold.

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Youth centre brings Muslims together to break fast

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Youth centre brings Muslims together to break fast

A local Queenstown group has made it a tradition to give back to the community during the spiritual month of Ramadan, which wrapped up at the beginning of the week.
Dozens of staff affected by Southland council shakeup

Dozens of staff affected by Southland council shakeup

Environment Southland has confirmed it will disestablish 51 roles as part of a major shake-up affecting almost a quarter of staff.
Council puts wastewater results on website

Council puts wastewater results on website

The Queenstown Lakes District Council says it is publishing wastewater testing data on its website so the community has "accurate information".

National

HIV testing will soon be able to be done at home in New Zealand. File photo: Getty Images

HIV self-tests to be available at NZ pharmacies

New Zealanders who want to know if they are HIV positive can now access home tests from the pharmacy for the first time.

Minister's sister advised against baby formula rules

Minister's sister advised against baby formula rules

Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard is facing criticism over potential conflicts of interest, after it emerged his sister advised his office against introducing tougher regulation of baby formula.
Driver dies after being hit by train

Driver dies after being hit by train

A person has died following a crash between a train and vehicle in Auckland's Penrose.
Crew on Manawanui under-trained, boat not up to task

Crew on Manawanui under-trained, boat not up to task

The crew - and the Commanding Officer - of the Navy ship Manawanui were under trained and the boat was not up to the task it was doing when it grounded on a Samoan reef.

sport

Liam Lawson was surprisingly relegated to the Red Bull feeder team after just two races. Photo:...

F1: Lawson 13th fastest in first Japan GP practice run

Kiwi Formula One driver Liam Lawson has finished the first practice session at the Japanese Grand Prix as the 13th fastest of the 20 drivers.

Horse trainer banned for life for 'worst category of abuse'

Horse trainer banned for life for 'worst category of abuse'

John Malcolm of Cheltenham Stables in Cambridge has been found guilty by the Racing Integrity Board of 11 charges, four of them relating to inflicting undue suffering.
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Crunch points for crunch game

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Crunch points for crunch game

The Highlanders really need to get their season back on track with victory over the Force in Perth tomorrow night. Hayden Meikle looks at four key match-ups where the game could be won or lost.
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Contenders galore in 2025 rally

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Contenders galore in 2025 rally

The Otago Rally opens the six-round New Zealand Rally Championship tomorrow in what is set to be the most wide-open title race in many years.

Food & Wine

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Roaming through Rhone
Sicilian inspiration
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Easter dishes inspired by Provence
Turn ferment liquor into a toast spread

Business

Sushi brand part of liquidation as pay, tax owed

A Christchurch takeaway and restaurant business with sushi outlets under the Hachi Hachi brand has folded owing staff holiday pay and a hefty tax bill.

NZ won't launch reciprocal tariffs against US: Luxon

NZ won't launch reciprocal tariffs against US: Luxon

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says New Zealand is "relatively well positioned" to weather Donald Trump's new sweeping global tariffs.
2degrees fined $325k over misleading claims

2degrees fined $325k over misleading claims

The Auckland District Court has fined telco 2degrees $325,000 over misleading claims about 'free' Australia business roaming.
Confusion as Trump says NZ has 20% tariff against US

Confusion as Trump says NZ has 20% tariff against US

US President Donald Trump's claim about NZ has raised eyebrows as experts weigh the consequences.

Rural Life

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Bigger things to worry about

A South Otago farmer says he has bigger things to worry about than Donald Trump’s fresh tariffs on New Zealand exports.

Environmental efforts recognised

Environmental efforts recognised

The winner of this year’s Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards will be revealed next week at a function in Mosgiel.
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Championship-level ploughing not horseplay

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Championship-level ploughing not horseplay

An Otago man hopes defending his national horse ploughing championship on home soil will give him an advantage.
Wool industry needs to wake up, advocate says

Wool industry needs to wake up, advocate says

Wool advocate Craig Smith says the global wool industry needs to wake up and ask if it is there for quality or simply to hit a price point.

Life & style

Displaying a rack of clothing in Dunedin’s Wall St Mall yesterday are designers (from left) Tegan...

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Pop-up shop hoped to aid body positivity

A Dunedin designer hopes her pop-up clothing store will create a space for people to try on garments that makes them "feel good about themselves".

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Natural feeding preferred

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Natural feeding preferred

Maureen Howard wonders if feeding backyard birds helps spread bird flu.
Your garden

Your garden

Expert advice on what to do for your garden this week.
Cork tree soon to showcase autumn colours

Cork tree soon to showcase autumn colours

An impressive yet frequently overlooked tree located near the upper garden carpark is the Phellodendron amurense.

LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT

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Meshing poetry and theatre
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Finding magic in the light

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Historic home updated
Embracing the seasons of life

World

People gather as they wait for the Constitutional Court ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol's...

South Korean president ousted over martial law move

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been ousted by the Constitutional Court, which upheld parliament's impeachment motion over his imposition of martial law.