Otago Daily Times Online News

Solar storm could bring spectacular aurora

Dunedin astronomer Dr Ian Griffin said a fast-moving Coronal Mass Ejection from the Sun was expected to create spectacular aurora australis across southern skies tonight, and he encouraged everyone to get out and take a look.
Brownie dashes All Blacks coaching role hopes

Tony Brown has revealed he has no get-out clause to join the All Blacks and will be staying with the Springboks until after the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Young dog’s life completely turned around by SPCA

When Staffordshire terrier-cross Layla first came into the Dunedin SPCA, she was sick, scared and severely malnourished. Two months on she has made a complete transformation.

'Ghost houses': Concern for Queenstown's future

'Ghost houses': Concern for Queenstown's future

At any given time, more than a quarter of Queenstown Lakes district's properties aren't occupied, data shows.
One seriously hurt in farm track crash near Omakau

One seriously hurt in farm track crash near Omakau

One person has been airlifted to Dunedin Hospital with serious injuries after a ute rolled down a farm track near Omakau.
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‘Money motivated family’ gang not a threat yet: police

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‘Money motivated family’ gang not a threat yet: police

An emerging gang could be attempting to gain a reputation an expert warns, after one of its members was recently accused of serious crimes in Dunedin.

ODT quiz: January 20
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War plane retires to life in Waikouaiti
Engineering company liquidated, $1.8m owed
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Professor urges care on funding Wegovy

dunedin

Leaders of the future gather on the confidence course at Berwick Lodge yesterday as part of the...

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Taken out of their comfort zones and into the wild

At first, Ava Maree thought life in the wilderness would be unsurvivable without social media or online games — even if it was only for five days.

Pride of place

Pride of place

A mural of a lion now graces the side of a Dunedin building.
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Price of meth drops over 50% since 2017

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Price of meth drops over 50% since 2017

A 50% drop in the price of methamphetamine has fuelled a "sharp rise" in its use across Otago and Southland over the past year, prompting fears of a related increase in serious crime and social harms.
Shed fire quickly extinguished

Shed fire quickly extinguished

Firefighters remove corrugated sheets after a shed fire in the Brighton Domain yesterday.

regions

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Shane Jones, Sir Sam Neill clash over mine

Resources Minister Shane Jones has been labelled a "mini Trump wannabe" by actor Sir Sam Neill as the pair trade blows over a controversial Central Otago mine.

Delays after crash on Lindis Pass

Delays after crash on Lindis Pass

A multi-vehicle crash caused delays for motorists on a key southern highway today.
Sculpture sets scene for festival

Sculpture sets scene for festival

Okarito wood artist Cliff Goodwin stands beside his "signature sculpture" for Hokitika’s Driftwood and Sand Festival.
Work to reopen Queens Park ongoing; user care still urged

Work to reopen Queens Park ongoing; user care still urged

Arborists continue to clean up storm damage at Invercargill’s award-winning Queens Park.

National

New government rules aim to make it easier for homeowners to build small granny flats on their...

Granny flats: What new rules mean for costs, consents and your rates

You no longer need a building or resource consent to build a backyard granny flat - but there are still costs, rules and regulations around what you can and can't do.

'Severe' failings: Carers missed man's ruptured bowel before death

'Severe' failings: Carers missed man's ruptured bowel before death

Caregivers at a secure residence for people with intellectual disabilities failed to notice that a 20-year-old man was dying under their watch after suffering a perforated bowel the week before.
Christchurch Hospital fire extinguished

Christchurch Hospital fire extinguished

Updated 3.00 pm

Firefighters have extinguished a fire at Christchurch Hospital.
45 hours of rain on way as northern NZ gets a drenching

45 hours of rain on way as northern NZ gets a drenching

Canterbury and the West Coast have been added to the growing list of heavy rain warnings and watches around the country as the upper North Island prepares for another deluge.

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Nightmare trial included some controversies
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Star service takes unhealthy turn

sport

Tom Sexton celebrates winning stage two of the Tour of Southland, from Invercargill to Gore,...

Southlanders trade lead after Gore stage

The tour leader’s jersey swapped from one local to another after stage two of the rescheduled Tour of Southland yesterday.

Veterans Wawrinka and Cilic make rousing starts

Veterans Wawrinka and Cilic make rousing starts

Former Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka turned the clock back to come from a set down to win his first round match, while Marin Cilic also flew the flag for the veterans with a more ruthless performance.
Boundary-hitting debut cut short by rain

Boundary-hitting debut cut short by rain

Otago youngster Hugo Bogue had limited time to impress with the bat in his debut at the Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe yesterday.
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Rare chance to catch quality sides

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Rare chance to catch quality sides

It has been a long wait for the Dunedin hockey faithful to catch a glance of international hockey on their home turf.

Food & Wine

In want of something sour
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Fresh flavours, minimal effort
Behind the scenes of butling
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Range of sauvignon blancs to enjoy over summer

Business

The fall of interest rates has done little to ease the financial stress many New Zealanders are...

Many Kiwis starting year with financial stress

Many New Zealanders are starting the year feeling stressed about money despite interest rates having fallen, one bank says.

Fletcher Building to sell construction arm

Fletcher Building to sell construction arm

Fletcher Building has reached a binding agreement to sell its construction division to major international firm Vinci Construction.
Otago just short of ‘aspirational’ rise

Otago just short of ‘aspirational’ rise

Property investors across Otago will be "a wee bit gutted" prices did not quite double over the past decade, a Dunedin landlord says.
Engineering company liquidated, $1.8m owed

Engineering company liquidated, $1.8m owed

A Canterbury civil engineering and construction company is in liquidation owing creditors more than $1.8 million.

Rural Life

Ryenna Wapiti owners Jesse and Tracey Saunders are holding their inaugural open day on-farm near...

Now or never for Ryenna owners

Wapiti farmers Jesse and Tracey Saunders have "put everything in" to launch their stud and will hold their inaugural on-farm sale in Central Southland today.

‘Exciting’ insights from good data

‘Exciting’ insights from good data

Data is knowledge, a Northern Southland farmer says.
Making most from trying new ideas

Making most from trying new ideas

Nick and Alexis Wadworth like to try something new on their 2000ha sheep and beef property.
The days of on-farm sales over for Tikana

The days of on-farm sales over for Tikana

Tikana Wapiti stud co-owner Dave Lawrence has sold his hinds and put an end to his annual on-farm bull and cow sale in Central Southland.

Life & style

Valentino Garavani at the opening of his exhibition at the Ara Pacis Museum in Rome featuring his...

'Emperor' Valentino, who painted fashion red, dies

Valentino, one of Italy's leading fashion designers, has died in Rome at the age of 93.

Taking in city’s history

Taking in city’s history

Eleanor Hughes discovers the joys of Melbourne, from outlaws to laneways and shopping.
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Best laid plans

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Best laid plans

Dunedin’s past is littered with grand schemes that never actually happened.
Up close and mesmerised

Up close and mesmerised

The Shanghai Archaeological Forum is held biannually and I have been fortunate to have attended all six.

LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT

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What's on for 2026
Scenes from a dream

World

Fourth shark attack as more NSW beaches close

A man has been bitten by a shark near a popular campground in New South Wales, taking the number of attacks the Australian state in recent days to four.

Trump links Greenland threat to peace prize snub

Trump links Greenland threat to peace prize snub

US President Donald Trump has linked his drive to take control of Greenland to his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize, saying he no longer thinks "purely of Peace".
Harry's lawyer says tabloid complicit in unlawful acts

Harry's lawyer says tabloid complicit in unlawful acts

Prince Harry and Sir Elton John are among six public figures suing the publisher of the Daily Mail.
Spain train crash focus on faulty rail joint

Spain train crash focus on faulty rail joint

A faulty rail joint might be key to determining the cause of a crash involving two high-speed trains in Spain, experts say. The death toll has risen to 40, with 43 people also reported as missing.

Opinion

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks to media following Luxon's State of the Nation address in...

Everything is awesome. Or not.

A sure sign of the political year beginning is party leaders arising from their holiday slumbers to deliver that hardy annual, the "state of the nation" address.

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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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Times are tough, so let’s have more entertaining politicians

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Times are tough, so let’s have more entertaining politicians

What a dull lot our present MPs are.
Chris — about this Bendigo mine

Chris — about this Bendigo mine

An open letter from Sir Ian Taylor to RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop regarding the Bendigo mine proposal.

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Updated 3.00 pm

Updated 3.00 pm