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DunedinOctober 28

Benedict Ong found guilty of ‘public and deliberate’ code of conduct breach

Controversial councillor Benedict Ong has breached the council’s code of conduct for the third time and been suspended from all council committees and subcommittees for nine months.

Ruby Shaw

RugbyOctober 29

Otago and Highlanders forced under same roof in cost-cutting move

Otago and the Highlanders will be “consolidated” as part of New Zealand Rugby’s cost-cutting measures.

Hayden Meikle

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Central OtagoOctober 28

‘Be a good neighbour’: Lauder letter appeals for QLDC to halt dumping human waste

Central Otago’s elected representatives have appealed to Queenstown Lakes District Council to look beyond the “cheapest lawful option” and pause the dumping of human waste in Lauder.

Ruairi O'Shea

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DunedinOctober 28

Fall of a beauty queen: Pageant runner-up involved in ugly Octagon assault, luxury hotel rip-off

A former pageant queen racked up a $2700 bill at a five-star Queenstown hotel then scarpered without paying, a court has heard.

Rob Kidd

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ChristchurchOctober 29

‘There was blood just pouring from his head’: Sala to the rescue for a third time

Raphael Franks

ChristchurchOctober 28

Christchurch double murder: Victim’s sister feared he would kill again — and he did

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SouthlandOctober 28

Mum held son’s hand at scene of fatal Southland crash, ‘wanting him to squeeze it’

Gemma Sinclair

ODT QuizOctober 28

ODT quiz: October 29

Dunedin

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DunedinOctober 28

A ‘rollercoaster’ first year as Dunedin’s mayor

Rollercoaster is the first word that comes to mind for Sophie Barker when she considers her first year as Dunedin mayor.

Grant Miller

DunedinOctober 28

Nightly closures and speed restrictions coming to busy Dunedin route next month

A busy stretch of State Highway 1 in central Dunedin will face major disruptions next month due to overnight closures and altered supermarket access.

Laine Priestley

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DunedinOctober 28

Rumours abound of exceptional catches as whitebait season draws to close

As the whitebait season draws to a close rumours abound about exceptional catches but separating fact from fiction is like trying to catch the precious delicacy with a teaspoon.

Stephen Jaquiery

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DunedinOctober 28

Three shillings and a strict schedule: Columba College old girls reunite 60 years on

From Sunday church marches, eight-to-a-room bunk beds, and three-shilling weekly allowances — shared memories brought 21 former Dunedin students back to their old stamping ground.

Laine Priestley

Latest News

1

WorldOctober 29

Beaten Bolsonaro lands in US, declares himself Brazil's rightful leader

2

ChristchurchOctober 29

Person critically injured in SH1 crash

3

NationalOctober 29

Hollywood actor Cliff Curtis pleads guilty to drink-driving charges

4

West CoastOctober 29

Rising riverbed risks Franz Josef disaster

5

North CanterburyOctober 29

Highway blocked after crash involving caravan

Otago

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North OtagoOctober 28

Firefighter takes on endurance race a year on from near-death experience

A Waitaki firefighter who cheated death last year after a freak accident was the first New Zealander to compete in an extreme firefighting competition held in Italy last month.

Jules Chin

OtagoOctober 28

Snow showers for South Island highways

A cold front is set to bring snow showers to high roads in Southland, Queenstown and Canterbury.

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Central OtagoOctober 28

Community vents frustration at slow progress on flood protection

Nearly 10 years after flooding devastated Roxburgh, locals have lost in faith in council efforts to prevent a repeat of the natural disaster, the community board chairman says.

Julie Asher

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South OtagoOctober 28

Council takes a punt on enticing visitors to stay longer

An historic South Otago punt is getting its very own passport this summer, encouraging tourists to experience some of the region’s further flung corners.

Richard Davison

Editor's Picks

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WānakaOctober 27

‘Dressed like they’re working in a strip club’: Wānaka gym owner hits back at ‘sexist’ review

A Wānaka gym owner is so appalled at a review complaining female clientele dressed “like they’re working in a strip club” she is donating sign-up fees to a women’s refuge service.

Ruairi O'Shea

DunedinOctober 28

‘Seriously dangerous’: Warning copycat Tunnel Beach jumps will end in tragedy

Steve Hepburn

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BusinessOctober 19

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

Sally Rae

Canterbury

ChristchurchOctober 29

Person critically injured in SH1 crash

Motorists heading home for the day are being warned to expect delays after a crash left two people injured — one critically — and closed a section of State Highway 1 south of Christchurch.

North CanterburyOctober 29

Highway blocked after crash involving caravan

A crash between “several vehicles and a caravan” has closed part of State Highway 7 in North Canterbury.

North CanterburyOctober 28

USA Day: ‘Where the unmistakable rumble of V8 engines fills the air’

After a one-year hiatus, one of Canterbury's favourite motoring events will return to Gladstone Park on Sunday.

ChristchurchOctober 28

Braydon Hepworth manslaughter case moved to High Court

The 60-year-old Christchurch man charged with the manslaughter of Braydon Hepworth appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Thursday.

Election 2026

ISSUE ANALYSIS

NationalOctober 29

Can we build it? Yes we can — maybe

In an election campaign full of rancour and disagreement, infrastructure is an oasis of collegiality and consensus.Well, almost.

NewsOctober 28

Taieri: Could Labour lose battle in ‘red fortress’?

Six candidates are vying for the Otago seat of Taieri that stretches from Dunedin's southern suburbs to Balclutha and inland towards the Rock and Pillar Range.

NationalOctober 28

Luxon warns of ‘dire consequences’ in wake of unfavourable poll

National’s leader Christopher Luxon has taken to social media to warn voters against making the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll a "reality," while his deputy and campaign chair earlier dismissed it.

North OtagoOctober 28

Election 2026 debate: Waitaki

Today the Otago Daily Times brings you the fifth and final debate in our series of debates for the candidates in the southern general seats.

Mike Houlahan

Southland

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SouthlandOctober 28

Rare plane heading back to where it first took off

Life is coming full-circle for the rarest of planes, which will shortly be lost to New Zealand.

Steve Hepburn

SouthlandOctober 28

‘Significant’ rural hurdles in addressing ovarian cancer

Gemma Sinclair

SouthlandOctober 28

‘Unsung heroes’ of the sea surface in Gore

National

NationalOctober 29

Hollywood actor Cliff Curtis pleads guilty to drink-driving charges

Kiwi Hollywood actor Cliff Curtis has pleaded guilty to drink-driving charges.

NationalOctober 28

Pastor’s husband says church had ‘multiple’ chances to assess deadly door

The husband of an Auckland youth pastor killed by a roller door at her church, believes there were multiple chances over the years to recognise the risk the door posed.

NationalOctober 28

Peptides spike prompts needle exchange kits

Health NZ is providing pharmacies with injecting kits as part of its needle exchange programme for people using peptides without a prescription.

NationalOctober 28

Mayor’s election plea: support Auckland or 'sod off'

"Keep out of it" and "sod off" are Wayne Brown's messages to central government politicians at this election.

Sport

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CricketOctober 28

Lees still going into bat for Otago

The Otago Cricket Association is 150 years old. Warren Lees has clocked in for 63 of those years.

Adrian Seconi

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CricketOctober 29

Otago stats you need to know

Cricket writer Adrian Seconi highlights Otago’s most essential statistics.

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RugbyOctober 28

Joseph excited at what 2027 might bring for Highlanders

Jamie Joseph hopes an investment in youth and intense internal competition for starting jerseys will drive the Highlanders to success in 2027.

Hayden Meikle

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RugbyOctober 28

The big interview: New Highlanders first five excited for move south

Josh Jacomb is ready for anything that comes his way when he starts life with the Highlanders next year.

Lifestyle

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EntertainmentOctober 28

Play a deep dive into the realities of political life and the compromises it calls for

Dunedin actor and director Lara Macgregor will take to the stage as former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard this month. Rebecca Fox talks to the woman behind the play  Julia, Joanna Murray-Smith.

Rebecca Fox

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EntertainmentOctober 28

Writer inspired by lovely people with ‘little episodes of darkness’ in South Island

Sri Lankan writer and Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka will speak at the upcoming Queenstown Writers Festival. He tells Rebecca Fox about finishing his latest book.

Rebecca Fox

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EntertainmentOctober 28

Art Seen

James Dignan reviews three of Dunedin's newest art exhibitions.

James Dignan

HERITAGE IN FOCUS

The MixOctober 28

A quick tour of the 1881 Dunedin Industrial Exhibition — Garrison Hall

When in 1881 Dunedin decided to put the best of industry on show, enthusiasm for the exhibition threatened to overwhelm the venue, Jonathan Howard writes.

Jonathan Howard

Business

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BusinessOctober 28

First time ‘on this side of the hill’: Auto Court leaves South Dunedin after 60 years

A family-owned car dealership that has moved over the hill after more than 60 years in South Dunedin is here to stay — even if it means a bit more running around.

Tim Scott

BusinessOctober 29

Cost of claims for weather events more than doubles for many insurers

The cost of claims for storms and other weather events doubled and even tripled for many insurers in the last financial year.

BusinessOctober 28

Creative solutions sought to pay for climate-driven managed retreat

As climate change puts NZ under ever-increasing risks of extreme weather, adding to existing quake risks, questions are growing about the availability and affordability of insurance.

BusinessOctober 28

Ferry replacement project reached $1.7b ceiling mid-year

The project to replace the Interislander ferries hit the government's $1.7 billion cap in June, forcing the removal of value-for-money, sustainability and safety enhancements.

Rural Life

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DairyOctober 28

Eastern Southland dairy farmers collect supreme award as they seek to progress

Eastern Southland contract milker Jippy Singh is using his recent award success as fuel to take the next step in his dairy industry career.

Shawn McAvinue

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HorticultureOctober 28

Orchard workers arrive to good-looking fruit crops set up by favourable spring conditions in Central Otago

The season has been favourable so far but it may face a blight of rising freight costs, tighter retail margins and a staff accommodation shortage, Central Otago fruit growers say.

Shawn McAvinue

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Red MeatOctober 28

Sodden paddocks spike sheep nut sales in the South

A soggy start to spring sparked a record-breaking sheep nut sale spike in the South, a Gore stock feed manufacturer says.

Shawn McAvinue

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Rural PeopleOctober 28

New project to capture oral history of Maniototo shearing in the 1980s

An oral history project highlighting the heyday of shearing in the Maniototo in the 1980s aims to keep the voices and experiences from the era alive.

Shawn McAvinue

Food & Wine

Food & WineOctober 27

Healthier and more equitable food system needed from political parties

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Food & WineOctober 27

Cheddar, potato and caramelised onion focaccia

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Food & WineOctober 27

Grilled asparagus, melted curds and frozen lemon

In Season — Alison Lambert

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Food & WineOctober 27

Harvesting hops at night to enhance the flavour

Beer — Ric Oram

World

WorldOctober 29

Beaten Bolsonaro lands in US, declares himself Brazil's rightful leader

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro declared himself Brazil's rightful leader after arriving in the US, alleging he was the victim of an electoral coup by the country's Supreme Court and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

WorldOctober 28

Dozens dead in another horror train crash in Spain

Renfe says after being authorised to continue its journey, its train had crashed into another train that had remained stationary "for reasons we don't know".

Reuters

WorldOctober 29

Aussie teen charged with terrorism offences

An Australian teenager is facing terrorism charges after police searched his home and allegedly found violent extremist material and instructions for making 3D-printed guns.

AAP

WorldOctober 28

US costs of Iran war pass $47 billion

The US military has spent more than $US47 billion so far to prosecute the war in Iran, more than 25% higher than the Defense Department's estimate in July.

West Coast

West CoastOctober 29

Rising riverbed risks Franz Josef disaster

A leading NZ hydrologist says Franz Josef is only one flood away from disaster as the Waiho (Waiau) Riverbed continues to rise at an alarming rate.

Vihan Dalal, Local Democracy reporter

West CoastOctober 28

Truck breakdown closes Haast Pass

A truck has broken down across both lanes of the Haast Pass, causing the road to be closed.

Video

North OtagoOctober 28

Election 2026 debate: Waitaki

Today the Otago Daily Times brings you the fifth and final debate in our series of debates for the candidates in the southern general seats.

Mike Houlahan

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DunedinOctober 28

Rumours abound of exceptional catches as whitebait season draws to close

As the whitebait season draws to a close rumours abound about exceptional catches but separating fact from fiction is like trying to catch the precious delicacy with a teaspoon.

Stephen Jaquiery

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DunedinOctober 28

Caversham Tunnel works for shared path could be brought forward

Development of the long-awaited Dunedin Tunnels Trail could be sped up if $1 million of work is brought forward.

Grant Miller

DunedinOctober 28

‘Seriously dangerous’: Warning copycat Tunnel Beach jumps will end in tragedy

If people keep jumping off a cliff at Tunnel Beach then sooner or later it will end in tragedy, says a local surf lifesaver.

Steve Hepburn

Opinion

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OpinionOctober 29

Cartoonist’s view

Today's cartoon from Shaun Yeo.

YeoCartoonist

OpinionOctober 28

The importance of community heroes

Queenstown is known around the world for its breathtaking scenery, adventure and lifestyle.

Hamish Walker

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EditorialOctober 28

Privacy breach confusion

Confusion about what has been caught up in the August Zenith Technology (ZenTech) cyber security breach has intensified this week

Editorial

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OpinionOctober 28

Cartoonist’s view: October 29

Today's cartoon from Shaun Yeo.

YeoCartoonist

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OpinionOctober 28

The lust for speed, free movement, and danger

Diego Poncelet was born in Mexico, speaks Spanish, French and English fluently, and holds the world speed record for skateboarding.

Joe Bennett

OpinionOctober 28

How best to spend hospital bucks

I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want.

100 Years Ago

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NewsOctober 28

More land for Port Chalmers

100 years ago

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NewsOctober 27

Games at the Brook

100 years ago

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NewsOctober 26

Otago four wins Australian national

100 years ago

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NewsOctober 25

A multitude of picnickers

100 years ago