Otago Daily Times Online News

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Doing the hard yards to meet camp costs

Having his pupils miss an ‘‘epic school camp trip’’ due to the cost of living was not an option for one Dunedin primary school principal, so he decided to raise the money himself.
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World Cup trumps parents’ birthdays

The Fifa World Cup in the United States, or his parents’ 80th birthday celebrations in England?
Filming in NZ ‘took my breath away’

Otago’s stunning and remote landscapes are about to hit the silver screen again — this time as a stand-in for the Alaskan wilderness with Brad Pitt centre-stage.

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Wānaka health advocates say going public needed

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Wānaka health advocates say going public needed

Labour MP Damien O'Connor has also sent a letter to the Health Minister asking for the govt to reconsider the situation and speak to health professionals in the town.
Govt 'won't send billions offshore' for carbon credits: PM

Govt 'won't send billions offshore' for carbon credits: PM

The Prime Minister has doubled down on his insistence that the government will not spend billions of dollars offshore to meet New Zealand's climate commitments.
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'It's a s***load': Builder estimated to owe $6 million

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'It's a s***load': Builder estimated to owe $6 million

The estimated debt owed by a failed Dunedin builder has skyrocketed sevenfold to more than $6 million.

dunedin

A cyclist heads down a squeezed cycle lane in Castle St yesterday as nearby workers and...

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Dunedin firm's access blocked by hospital works

A Dunedin company which discovered entry to its business was changed massively overnight continues to juggle things but says hospital contractor CPB has owned its errors.

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Dunedin rape accused described as 'sex maniac'

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Dunedin rape accused described as 'sex maniac'

A woman who claims she was pushed against the wall by a Dunedin businessman did not report it at the time, despite speaking to police soon after.
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'It's unreal': Dunedin mechanic achieves NZ first

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'It's unreal': Dunedin mechanic achieves NZ first

Lily Davies always had an uncanny knack of knowing the right spanners to hand to her dad when he was fixing the family car or his tractor.
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Patent pending for biotech tool

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Patent pending for biotech tool

As the effects of global warming increase, Otago researchers have come up with a biotech ‘‘tool’’ that will help certain plants survive harsh environmental conditions.

regions

The Warbirds Over Wānaka 2026 airshow contributed nearly $60 million to the regional economy, a...

Warbirds’ economic impact up 40%: report

The Warbirds Over Wānaka airshow contributed more than $57 million to the regional economy this year — up 40% on 2024 — new data shows.

Crews douse Southland barn blaze

Crews douse Southland barn blaze

Fire crews with water tankers scrambled from surrounding areas to help douse a barn blaze in rural Southland.
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Huge Queenstown housing plan stokes gridlock concerns

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Huge Queenstown housing plan stokes gridlock concerns

A massive Queenstown development risks triggering gridlock on the state highway, making it unpassable for emergency services vehicles, NZTA has warned.
Fast-track bid sparks fears for Lake Pukaki

'Huge implications': Fast-track bid sparks fears for Lake Pukaki

Meridian Energy’s fast-track proposal to draw more water from Lake Pukaki has sparked concerns it could hurt Mackenzie's tourism industry and threaten its pristine image.

National

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Research links music tempo to driving safety

Heavy metal or classical music - which is safer to listen to while you are driving?

Pilot wins damages claim after holes in CAA probe

Pilot wins damages claim after holes in CAA probe

A pilot has been awarded damages and the right to details he sought about an informant who accused him of drinking before boarding an aircraft.
'Out and about': Labour defends no Fieldays stall

'Out and about': Labour defends no Fieldays stall

Labour says its MPs are out and about talking directly to people at Fieldays rather than sitting at a stall in the back.
Social media ban: Hear kids first, says Commissioner

Social media ban: Hear kids first, says Commissioner

The Children's Commissioner is calling for young people's voices to be heard in discussions around banning social media for those aged under 16.

sport

Chiefs first five-eighth Damian McKenzie will play his 150th Super Rugby match on Friday. Photo:...

Chiefs out to dethrone Crusaders, red-hot Canes host Blues

The Chiefs may reach a fourth straight Super Rugby Pacific final - but they'll have to dethrone reigning champs the Crusaders to stay on track for a first title since 2013.

ODT Rugby Chat: Ranfurly Shield fever

ODT Rugby Chat: Otago coach Mark Brown

On ODT Rugby Chat this week we’re talking Ranfurly Shield rugby with Otago coach Mark Brown.
The beautiful game explained

The beautiful game explained

The Fifa World Cup kicks off this week - here is RNZ's resident football expert Robin Martin with a bluffers' guide for the round ball uninitiated.
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Canadian relishing life with Thunder

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Canadian relishing life with Thunder

Where would you pick for your first big overseas expedition?

Food & Wine

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Budget-friendly feast
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Slow-cooked fare for momentous occasions
Embracing that sugar high
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The evening in done right

Business

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'It's a s***load': Builder estimated to owe $6 million

The estimated debt owed by a failed Dunedin builder has skyrocketed sevenfold to more than $6 million.

Copper cable theft headache for EV drivers

Copper cable theft headache for EV drivers

A further spate of electric vehicle charger cable thefts in the Wellington region is leaving drivers stranded.
Fast-track bid sparks fears for Lake Pukaki

'Huge implications': Fast-track bid sparks fears for Lake Pukaki

Meridian Energy’s fast-track proposal to draw more water from Lake Pukaki has sparked concerns it could hurt Mackenzie's tourism industry and threaten its pristine image.
Night ’n Day set to take over stores at NPD sites

Night ’n Day set to take over stores at NPD sites

Night ’n Day is about to take over the first retail convenience store after an NPD transition to unmanned fuel service at seven South Island sites.

Rural Life

Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis at Fieldays today. Photo: RNZ

$51m for new methane-busting technology

The government will invest up to $51 million into helping to roll out new methane-busting farming technology.

Dog triallists on hunt to beat Aust

Dog triallists on hunt to beat Aust

North Otago Centre triallists Lloyd Smith and Scott Hunter, and their respective heading dogs, are part of a team to attempt to regain the Wayleggo Cup from Australia.
Farmer signs on to organic future

Farmer signs on to organic future

A South Otago dairy farmer believes converting to organic will simplify his farm system, reduce costs and increase profit.
Brooke Reichel's peppermint slice

Brooke Reichel's peppermint slice

In the Edi-bull series, Shawn McAvinue asks the people making the food served at bull sales in the South to share their recipes.

Life & style

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Simple pleasures

Some of the best winter meals come from the simplest beginnings.

In a trailblazer’s wake

In a trailblazer’s wake

A new name for the South’s marine reserves carries a legacy of charting new horizons, Tom McKinlay and Luke Chapman report.
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Don’t push me cos I’m close to the edge

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Don’t push me cos I’m close to the edge

ARGH!!!!! How’s the ol’ nervous system?
Undiscovered gems of Japan

Undiscovered gems of Japan

Travel writer Craig McLachlan goes off the beaten track in Nara prefecture in Japan to discover primeval forests, big Buddahs and ancient temples.

LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT

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Comedy, satire take centre stage
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Hodgkins inspires ‘human in the loop’

World

Flames and smoke from the Pacific Palisades fire on January 7 can be seen on the hills behind...

Trial of Palisades arson suspect begins

The prosecution says a lonely and angry man deliberately started the devastating LA blaze, but the defence blames fireworks and acts of arson by others.

Knife victim's family calls for calm amid Belfast unrest

Knife victim's family calls for calm amid Belfast unrest

The family of a man who lost an eye in a knife attack have appealed for calm after the incident triggered a wave of anti-immigrant violence in Belfast.
US, Iran exchange attacks; Trump threatens further escalation

US, Iran exchange attacks; Trump threatens further escalation

The United States began a fresh round of strikes against multiple targets overnight in Iran, hours after President Donald Trump vowed new attacks if no peace deal was secured.
Canada moves to ban under-16s from social media

Canada moves to ban under-16s from social media

Canada has introduced a new digital safety bill that would ban social media for under-16s, with exemptions for platforms that meet certain safety standards.

Opinion

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AI needs scrutiny

If the government wants to convince us using artificial intelligence is the best thing since that other great innovation, sliced bread, it has much work to do.

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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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Getting there with riders of the purple sage

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Getting there with riders of the purple sage

It is not every day you meet a sage, a wise one, a light of the world and the beacon to the people.
Queenstown back on Aussie buyers’ radar

Queenstown back on Aussie buyers’ radar

Australians have always had an eye on Queenstown, but over the past month there has been a 30% increase in inquiries from across the Tasman from people looking to buy property here.

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