Otago Daily Times Online News

Batteries in golf cart believed cause of East Taieri fire

Lithium-ion batteries are believed to have caused a fire which badly damaged an East Taieri house and garage.
Kindness warms moored Aussie pair

For Jackie Morison and Dave Hart, the Covid-19 lockdown experience has felt like something out of a fairytale.
Civil Defence boss sees situation on frontlines

The scale of need in Queenstown is what sets it apart from the rest of the country, the director of Civil Defence says.

Covid-19: Surveillance testing under way in South

Covid-19: Surveillance testing under way in South

Covid-19 surveillance testing of health workers is under way as the South records its 17th consecutive day of no new cases of the virus.
Trans-Tasman travel zone 'as soon as it's safe'

Trans-Tasman travel zone 'as soon as it's safe'

New Zealand and Australia are committed to introducing a trans-Tasman travel zone "as soon as it is safe to do so".
City's retail restart in spotlight

City's retail restart in spotlight

Planning is under way for how physical distancing could work in Dunedin city streets as retail outlets reopen.

dunedin

Cleaning councillor caught with pants down

A Dunedin councillor caught bare-legged on camera has clarified that he was wearing pants, just of the short variety.

'Numerous calls' to Dunedin police after parties in city

'Numerous calls' to Dunedin police after parties in city

Police have been receiving multiple reports of parties and gatherings in Dunedin which are in breach of the rules of Alert Level 3.
Nothing taken but break-in ‘annoying’

Nothing taken but break-in ‘annoying’

A pointless break-in at the St Clair Surf Life Saving Club has frustrated the club’s chairman.
Polytech proffers ‘shovel-ready’ expansion

Polytech proffers ‘shovel-ready’ expansion

Otago Polytechnic plans to build a $31.7million trades training centre, as the institute prepares to meet expected growth in the number of students pursuing building and construction qualifications.

Weekly update with Mayor Aaron Hawkins

regions

Southern skifields get dusting of snow

Snow has been falling on the hills around the Queenstown Lakes District overnight and this morning.

Resolution over Invercargill council workers' pay

Resolution over Invercargill council workers' pay

A resolution has been made following a meeting between the PSA and the Invercargill City Council regarding a planned reduction of pay for ICC employees unable to work fulltime during Alert Level 3.
Officer out of action after being ‘coughed on’ by woman

Officer out of action after being ‘coughed on’ by woman

An Oamaru police officer has been stood down after a woman allegedly coughed on them.
'We didn't get it right': Doc on rock blasting decision

'We didn't get it right': Doc on rock blasting decision

The Department of Conservation has admitted it got it wrong when it allowed contractors to blast a rock overhang on the Truman Track at Punakaiki last year.

National

Jacinda Ardern speaking to reporters this morning. Photo: RNZ

No new cases for second straight day

There are zero new Covid-19 cases in the country for the second day in a row.

Trans-Tasman travel zone 'as soon as it's safe'

Trans-Tasman travel zone 'as soon as it's safe'

New Zealand and Australia are committed to introducing a trans-Tasman travel zone "as soon as it is safe to do so".
Dog dead, another on life support after alleged poisoning

Dog dead, another on life support after alleged poisoning

Outrage is growing in the small North Canterbury community of Cust after a resident claimed her two dogs were poisoned by another local.
'We do have a heart' - Bloomfield

'We do have a heart' - Bloomfield

Health boss Ashley Bloomfield has defended himself and officials from accusations they have "no heart", following their refusals to grant Kiwis access to dying family members during the Covid crisis.

Business

Beer gift delivery thoughtful way of being kind during lockdown

Despite having to close a new "brewpub" only opened in November, Wanaka brewer James Hay has come up with a way to get people to be kind to one another ... and drink his beer.

120 jobs at risk due to James Hardie shutdown

120 jobs at risk due to James Hardie shutdown

The future of 120 Auckland manufacturing workers is on the line after James Hardie decided to stop manufacturing fibre cement building products for New Zealand at its Penrose base.
Skyline cutting staff by half

Skyline cutting staff by half

More than half of Skyline Enterprises’ complement of 1200 staff, spread across New Zealand and at its international sites, will be made redundant.
Food wholesaler fears job cuts inevitable

Food wholesaler fears job cuts inevitable

A major Dunedin food distribution company has told staff half its workforce — up to 80 jobs — could be cut if delivery levels continue to be low in an Alert Level 2 setting.

queenstown

Southern skifields get dusting of snow

Snow has been falling on the hills around the Queenstown Lakes District overnight and this morning.

Third person charged with Blackmoore murder

Third person charged with Blackmoore murder

A man is to appear in the Queenstown District Court charged with the murder of Christchurch woman Angela Blackmoore.
Queenstown mayor pushing to be open for business

Queenstown mayor pushing to be open for business

Queenstown must be seen to be open for business if it wants to continue to attract tourists to the town, its mayor says.
Regional flight lobby to restart businesses

Regional flight lobby to restart businesses

Calls for the Government to allow inter-regional travel in Alert Level 2 are growing in Otago and Southland.

ODT Fresh columnist Charmian Smith was in Ethiopia when Covid-19 began to drive countries into lockdown. Despite cutting her trip short and a worry-filled trip home, she has fond memories of a country full of contrasts.

Remarkable times bring opportunity

Remarkable times bring opportunity

How was the April challenge to build mental strength and resilience, asks life coach Jan Aitken.
Recovery for all

Long read: Recovery for all

Everyone has taken a big hit. Some were already reeling. How can we ensure the post-pandemic recovery is a "recovery for all?" Bruce Munro takes a look.
Aviary still a popular daily destination

Aviary still a popular daily destination

"Sid" the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo has noticed a reduction in his adoring fan base over the past few weeks.

sport

Richie's revelation: How he denied Dan a world record

Richie McCaw has revealed the one time he denied his former All Blacks and Crusaders teammate Dan Carter the chance to break a world record.

Egypt's Hossam gets life ban for tennis match-fixing

Egypt's Hossam gets life ban for tennis match-fixing

Egyptian Youssef Hossam has been banned from tennis for life after being found guilty of multiple match-fixing and other corruption offences, the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) said on Monday.
Excellence centre planned

Excellence centre planned

Otago wants to build a $1.1 million centre of cricket excellence at Logan Park and is pushing on with plans despite the world experiencing the Covid-19 pandemic.
Planning starts for next year’s Otago Rally

Planning starts for next year’s Otago Rally

Hopes to stage the Otago Rally later this year have been dashed and planning has begun for next year’s event.

Rural Life

Daryl Carran has been involved in meatworks for 45 years — more than 40 of those as a union man....

Decades of advocacy will inform top job

After more than 40 years as a union man, Southlander Daryl Carran takes the reins at the NZ Meatworkers and Related Trades Union. Jacob McSweeny talks to the union boss about his roots, adversity and the pay rises he hopes to bring to the underpaid in the workforce.

'Murder hornets' big worry for ag officials in US

'Murder hornets' big worry for ag officials in US

Hundreds of Asian giant hornets, an invasive, predatory insect dubbed the "murder hornet," have turned up in Washington state near the Canadian border, where they pose a threat to humans and the beekeeping industry.
Quiet streets, but orchard work continues

Quiet streets, but orchard work continues

The streets around the Teviot Valley have never been so quiet, the region’s Central Otago District Council representative Stephen Jeffery says.
Workers ‘more than happy’ to be tested for virus

Workers ‘more than happy’ to be tested for virus

Southland Alliance workers were "more than happy" to assist health officials by being tested for Covid-19 yesterday, a director of nursing says.

Resilient

Orokonui Ecosanctuary conservation manager Elton Smith and border terrier Pip head off to check a...

Locking down a sanctuary

Orokonui Ecosanctuary is facing its biggest challenge yet, writes Elton Smith.

Right size for a full life

Right size for a full life

Dunedin is home to a small but growing number of apartments. Kim Dungey talks to a couple who own one of them and who enjoy living with less.
Fired up about wood

Fired up about wood

We still burn a lot of coal to ward off the cold and to fuel industry, despite the price in carbon emissions. But as Maureen Howard reveals, there’s a cleaner, plentiful alternative ready and...
Life holds promise

Life holds promise

Leaving fossil fuels unburned remains the first urgent priority of climate action, but protecting and restoring natural ecosystems will also be critical, according to a recent review of the scientific literature.

Southland

Keeping a check on things

Awarua Whanau Services chief executive Mata Cherrington was one of about 120 people swabbed at the Covid-19 testing site at Te Rau Aroha marae in Bluff yesterday.

Resolution over Invercargill council workers' pay

Resolution over Invercargill council workers' pay

A resolution has been made following a meeting between the PSA and the Invercargill City Council regarding a planned reduction of pay for ICC employees unable to work fulltime during Alert Level 3.
$107 million sought for southern projects

$107 million sought for southern projects

Five "shovel-ready" Invercargill City Council projects were endorsed by councillors yesterday that asked for $107.25 million from the Crown Infrastructure Partners.
Regional flight lobby to restart businesses

Regional flight lobby to restart businesses

Calls for the Government to allow inter-regional travel in Alert Level 2 are growing in Otago and Southland.

Six dead as plane carrying virus aid crashes in Somalia

Six dead as plane carrying virus aid crashes in Somalia

A plane carrying aid supplies for use in the fight against the coronavirus crashed in Somalia on Monday, killing all six people on board, the Somali transport minister said.
Covid-19: Global death toll now over 250,000

Covid-19: Global death toll now over 250,000

Global coronavirus deaths have passed 250,000 after infections topped 3.5 million, a Reuters tally of official government data shows, even as several countries began easing lockdowns designed to contain the pandemic.
'Murder hornets' big worry for ag officials in US

'Murder hornets' big worry for ag officials in US

Hundreds of Asian giant hornets, an invasive, predatory insect dubbed the "murder hornet," have turned up in Washington state near the Canadian border, where they pose a threat to humans and the beekeeping industry.

Opinion

Traffic in Castle St at 3.30pm on Wednesday. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery

Time to examine ideas underpinning roads

Gerrard Liddell explores the real cost of road transport.

The ultimate anti-social crime

The ultimate anti-social crime

We've knocked it off — or so you would think.
Mr James Begg

Mr James Begg

At the Kurawao School last Friday evening a farewell social was given to Mr James Begg, who, after residing in the district for about 35 years, has disposed of his interests. The school was well...
Hasty move disservice to workers, community

Hasty move disservice to workers, community

Dunedin Railways staff deserve better, Dave Kearns writes.

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Weekly update with Mayor Aaron Hawkins