Otago Daily Times Online News

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Birds of a feather hand-reared together

A stint at Dunedin Wildlife Hospital will give two precious kākāpō chicks the best chance at a long life in the wild.
Hearing, access upgrades at Regent

For people with hearing difficulties, keeping up with all the action in a stage show can be frustrating.
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Buoys on beaches for DIY rescue

As Dunedin lifeguards pause on their patrols for winter, public rescue equipment has been brought in for beach-goers to use to save a life.
Reader slideshow: A Dunners Sunner

Otago Daily Times readers have shared their photos of an incredible sunrise in the city this morning.

Willis regrets social housing lotto remark

Willis regrets social housing lotto remark

Updated 9.09 pm

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she regrets her choice of words following the government's announcement of a major shake-up to social housing.
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‘Blood everywhere’: dog attack victim scared to go out

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‘Blood everywhere’: dog attack victim scared to go out

A dog attack has left a Dunedin man too scared to leave his home.
Mystery as critically hurt cyclist found under car in Caversham

Mystery as critically hurt cyclist found under car in Caversham

A crashed cyclist found wedged beneath a parked car in Dunedin was transported to hospital with critical injuries.

dunedin

A broken drawer and cash lie in George St after Sal’s Authentic New York Pizza was broken into on...

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Students thanked after finding stolen dough

A slice or two of pizza is on the menu for a group of tertiary students after they found a Dunedin pizza parlour’s open cash drawer lying in the street.

Otago Girls’ pupil challenges equal pay reversal in winning speech

Otago Girls’ pupil challenges equal pay reversal in winning speech

‘‘Women have achieved some progress in the last 130 years. However ...’’
Gotta steal 'em all: Pokemon card thief appears in Dunedin court

Gotta steal 'em all: Pokemon card thief appears in Dunedin court

A man has appeared in Dunedin court and admitted stealing valuable Pokemon cards from a South Island store he worked at leaving the owner feeling "absolutely betrayed".
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DCC to mull request to adjust debt restrictions

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DCC to mull request to adjust debt restrictions

The Dunedin City Council is to consider calling for removal of a constraint in the way it accesses lending.

regions

Gore District Court. Photo: Gemma Sinclair

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Gore groomer has 'no genuine remorse': judge

A Gore man who groomed and threatened to kill a 15-year-old and her family had ‘‘no genuine remorse’’ for sharing indecent material and threatening messages in 2023, a judge said yesterday.

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‘Critical’ merger talks in progress

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‘Critical’ merger talks in progress

Waitaki’s mayor has confirmed she has discussed amalgamation with Otago’s mayors and some Canterbury counterparts, with plans to visit as far north as Ashburton next week.
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Lifting her way from rock bottom

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Lifting her way from rock bottom

Shanna Crosbie, the former assistant to Gore's mayor who was convicted for forging prescriptions, has found strength in the gym and turned her life around.
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First penguins arrive at new habitat

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First penguins arrive at new habitat

The first arrivals have moved into a new penguin habitat created out of part of a carpark at Oamaru’s waterfront.

National

A person’s belongings lie next to a bench in George St, central Dunedin. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH

Move-on orders bill sparks heated debate

Updated 8.37 pm

The move-on orders legislation has passed its first reading, following a heated debate at Parliament.

Wider inquiry into state of fire trucks needed, MPs told

Wider inquiry into state of fire trucks needed, MPs told

An inquiry into the state of Fire and Emergency's fire trucks has heard its troubles go deeper than thought and require a wider investigation.
Breast Cancer Foundation calls for treatment to bypass GP

Breast Cancer Foundation calls for treatment to bypass GP

The Breast Cancer Foundation is calling for women with symptoms to be referred directly for diagnostic imaging, bypassing the GP.
Free flu jabs for 250,000+ children under changes

Free flu jabs for 250,000+ children under changes

More than a quarter of a million children in New Zealand could qualify for free flu vaccines from next year.

sport

ODT Rugby Chat: 100 games and a first win of the season

We talk to Eels winger Marc Rooney who plays his 100th game this weekend and Ratu Latus the Zingari lock who scored two tries at the weekend as his team won their first game of the season.

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Longtime coach Dermody departing for Ireland

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Longtime coach Dermody departing for Ireland

One of the great Highlanders stalwarts is heading to Ireland.
De Groot named MVP

De Groot named MVP

Ethan de Groot is a man of his word.
Jennah Wootten new boss of Netball NZ

Jennah Wootten new boss of Netball NZ

Experienced sports and major events leader Jennah Wootten has been put in charge of Netball New Zealand.

Food & Wine

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Heart and belly fillers
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Knife sharpener lives up to promises
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Leek and feta pie
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Emerging grape variety looking promising

Business

The McCain vegetable processing plant in Hastings. Photo: Google Maps

Mayors ask McCain to pause factory closure

Hawke's Bay mayors have written to McCain asking the international company to pause its closure of a processing plant in the region.

New flights out of Christchurch find favour

'Can't wait': New flights out of Christchurch find favour with travellers

Christchurch residents say they "can't wait" for Air New Zealand's new non-stop direct flights to Singapore, Japan and Perth to take off later this year.
Large losses in many townhouse sales

Large losses in many townhouse sales

Two townhouses in an upmarket part of Auckland have resold for losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars - and data shows they are not unusual.
Permit denied for Golden Bay mine

Permit denied for Golden Bay mine

A planned gold mine on conservation land in Golden Bay at the top of the South Island will not go ahead after the government turned down its permit.

Rural Life

Family farewell flock and look to future

Farmers Mark and Vicki O'Neill have sold their farm Mount Highlay in Hyde and will leave the property at the end of this month.

Farming family chasing efficiency

Farming family chasing efficiency

The 2026 Ballance Farm Environment Awards winner will be announced at a ceremony in Christchurch on July 2.
Entries open for beef competition

Entries open for beef competition

Entries are open for the Otago and Southland Hoof and Hook Beef Competition.
South cleans up at championships

South cleans up at championships

Southern competitors took home most of the top prizes at the South Island Sheep Dog Trial Championships.

Life & style

Alex Hannagan was blown away to see Carrie Bradshaw's Vivienne Westwood wedding dress in real life.

Food, fashion and floating

Alex Hannagan relishes quiet luxury in Melbourne and on the high seas with a touch of “wow” fashion on the side.

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Budget-friendly savoury oats are worth trying

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Budget-friendly savoury oats are worth trying

Oats can be super versatile, high fibre, budget friendly and healthy when made without the adding of dairy or sugar.
Leading nature-based learning

Leading nature-based learning

The pace of learning at Orokonui only hots up as the cooler months arrive, Madison Kelly writes.
The uncomfortable truth behind deepfakes

The uncomfortable truth behind deepfakes

AI-facilitated fakery can do real damage, but it also exposes the existing structures and attitudes that degrade women, writes Eva Wiseman.

LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT

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Fair Verona goes country
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Portraits bring joy and meaning

Sorting which came first
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Collection of a rock star

World

Diphtheria outbreak spreads in Australia

A multimillion-dollar funding package will be rolled out to fight Australia's worst diphtheria outbreak in decades, as hospitals in the Top End feel the strain and case numbers keep rising.