Otago Daily Times Online News

SUBSCRIBER

Former Te Kāika manager guilty of serious charges

Health organisation Te Kāika was also fighting to hide the identity of one of its senior health workers who was before the courts on serious charges.
SUBSCRIBER

Trouble in the village

A year-long ODT investigation into a multimillion-dollar Dunedin health organisation has uncovered a slew of disgruntled former staff members, allegations of misconduct and personal-grievance payouts.
SUBSCRIBER

Owner tickled pink with community’s response

Wanaka's newest towing company aims to add a level of comfort to those that need it.

SUBSCRIBER

Questions outnumber answers

SUBSCRIBER

Questions outnumber answers

A feted Dunedin charity is now under Department of Internal Affairs scrutiny. Mary Williams took a closer look at Te Kāika’s performance, governance and oversight.
Gibbston cottage expected to fetch $3 million

Gibbston cottage expected to fetch $3 million

A lifestyle property for sale in Queenstown’s Gibbston valley combines historic charm with contemporary comfort.
Plea to ‘play it forward’ for toy library

Plea to ‘play it forward’ for toy library

Queenstowners are being asked to ‘play it forward’ this Christmas, and help the Wakatipu Toy Library rejuvenate its service.

dunedin

SUBSCRIBER

200kg door fell on to forklift

Worksafe was notified after a 200kg door failed and collapsed on to a forklift at a Dunedin wastewater plant.

SUBSCRIBER

Doctor defends supplying cannabis

SUBSCRIBER

Doctor defends supplying cannabis

Days before Te Kāika’s long-awaited Wellbeing Hub was opened, a doctor allegedly supplied cannabis to a patient in a carpark.
Cool fun

Cool fun

South Otago High School pupils (from left) Jack Baxter, Lachlan McKenzie and Aiden Lyall, all 14, make the most of the hot weather at St Clair Beach, in Dunedin
SUBSCRIBER

DCC’s lead paint policy gets tick

SUBSCRIBER

DCC’s lead paint policy gets tick

The Dunedin City Council’s interpretation of rules about lead contamination of soils — which developers have criticised as overly cautious — appears to have the all-clear

regions

SUBSCRIBER

Track closure plan ‘laughable’

The closure of Queenstown’s Frankton Track for virtually all of next year, to lay a new wastewater pipeline, is being greeted with disbelief by many people.

One taken to hospital after Queenstown house fire

One taken to hospital after Queenstown house fire

A person was taken to hospital as crews tackled a house fire in central Queenstown this morning.
Case of measles confirmed in Queenstown

Case of measles confirmed in Queenstown

A measles case in Queenstown has been confirmed, in addition to one identified earlier in Dunedin.
Tackling large Otapiri Gorge blaze to continue today

Tackling large Otapiri Gorge blaze to continue today

Firefighters are set to continue tackling a large vegetation fire in a remote part of Southland today.

National

Woman left shaken by approach on beach

Police are appealing for help after a suspicious approach by a man left a woman shaken on a Canterbury beach.

Another round of wild weather bearing down

Another round of wild weather bearing down

Much of the South Island looks set to cop another battering by wild weather as an active front hits the country tomorrow.
Person critically hurt in Auckland shooting

Person critically hurt in Auckland shooting

A person is in a critical condition after being shot in the Auckland suburb of Papakura overnight.
Man's $739k arson revenge after being evicted

Man's $739k arson revenge after being evicted from vineyard cottage

A man asked to leave the vineyard home where he was staying got so angry that he burned it down.

sport

West Indies player Justin Greaves celebrates scoring 200 runs. Photo: Getty Images

West Indies deprive NZ of victory in Christchurch test

A defiant double-century from Justin Greaves has led the West Indies to a historic draw in the first cricket test against the Black Caps in Christchurch.

SUBSCRIBER

14-year-old the hero for Otago

SUBSCRIBER

14-year-old the hero for Otago

Wonderkid.
Mackay-Wright sole southerner in National League team of year

Mackay-Wright sole southerner in National League team of year

Southern United footballer Hannah Mackay-Wright has capped off the year with a nice honour.
SUBSCRIBER

Hoiho club of year

SUBSCRIBER

Hoiho club of year

The Southern Hoiho are the best in the country.

Gather round
SUBSCRIBER

From Christmas table to Boxing Day brunch
Cooking an escape from busy life
SUBSCRIBER

Strawberry oat crumble

Business

Pacific Edge names Simon Flood chairman

Simon Flood will replace Chris Gallaher as chairman of Pacific Edge following the company’s board meeting on December 18.

Providing luxury portable loos proves a welcome service

Providing luxury portable loos proves a welcome service

Enterprising Oamaru couple Shane Carter and Hayley Newlands-Carter are continuing to expand their involvement in the human waste industry.
SUBSCRIBER

Store closing; voyage of rediscovery awaits

SUBSCRIBER

Store closing; voyage of rediscovery awaits

After almost three decades of supplying Dunedin with exotic fashion from across the globe, a longtime George St shop-owner is excited for a new adventure — retirement.
Air NZ updates power bank rules

Air NZ updates power bank rules

Air NZ has updated its rules on the use of portable power banks on flights, following bans by multiple international airlines.

Rural Life

Maitland Sheep Dog Trial Club member Kay McClymont, of Tapanui, and her heading dog Peggy Sue...

Novice winner ‘shocked’ at placing

West Otago dog triallist Kay McClymont and her heading dog, Peggy Sue, will spend the festive season training for the New Zealand Yarding Challenge final.

Dairy prices slump to two-year low

Dairy prices slump to two-year low

Dairy prices are at near two-year low after the eighth consecutive fall in the global auction overnight.
Chainsaw sales soar in wake of storm

Chainsaw sales soar in wake of storm

Chainsaw retailers' cash registers have been ringing since a storm toppled trees across the South.
Plenty of workers for summer fruit season

Plenty of workers for summer fruit season

Central Otago orchardists are having no problem finding seasonal workers.

Life & style

Charmed, I’m sure

Eva Wiseman is beguiled, again.

Boots on the ground

Boots on the ground

When "redcoat" soldiers were brought to Otago to bring order to a gold rush in full flow, the temptation to desert proved too much for some, writes Charlotte Macdonald in this extract from her new book Garrison World.
Tempering the power of the machine

Tempering the power of the machine

After reshaping how we think, learn and socialise, the next wave of AI is poised to reach far deeper — into our desires, our relationships and our sense of self
Exploring the digital tomb of Tutankhamun

Exploring the digital tomb of Tutankhamun

Inevitably almost, I have to write about Tutankhamun.

LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT

SUBSCRIBER

Ancient meets modern
SUBSCRIBER

Art for the artists’ sake

World

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. File photo: Reuters

US advisers scrap hep B vax guidance for most children

US vaccine advisers have scrapped a long-standing recommendation that all American newborns receive the hepatitis B shot.

Famed US architect Frank Gehry dies

Famed US architect Frank Gehry dies

Frank Gehry, whose daring and whimsical creations made him a superstar in the world of architecture, has died at the age of 96.
Persistent heatwave conditions fuel bushfire threat across Australia

Persistent heatwave conditions fuel bushfire threat across Australia

Dangerous fire conditions are set to continue across parts of eastern Australia as forecast dry lightning risks new blazes.
Countries quit Eurovision over Israel's inclusion

Countries quit Eurovision over Israel's inclusion

Israel has been cleared to enter the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, prompting Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia to follow through on their threats to withdraw from the competition over...