ODT.co.nz | Otago Daily Times | Latest South Island News

DunedinAugust 20

Former parliamentary candidate told to stop harassing neighbours

A former local government and parliamentary candidate who now lives in Dunedin has been warned she could end up in prison if she does not stop harassing her neighbours.

Ric Stevens of Open Justice

WānakaAugust 19

Cycling the length of New Zealand in Olivia Podmore’s memory

Southland’s Anton O’Connell hopes to ride through Wānaka this weekend as he cycles the length of the country in memory of Olivia Podmore.

Ruairi O'Shea

SUBSCRIBER

WānakaAugust 19

Wānaka sculptor looking for somewhere to sit his latest artwork

Think beautiful thoughts — it may win your community this striking, one-of-a-kind, handcrafted piece of outdoor furniture.

John Lewis

SUBSCRIBER

Central OtagoAugust 19

‘Just a s...show’: Police search for stolen vessel linked to liquidated Otago boatbuilder

A boat linked to a liquidated Central Otago business has been reported as stolen in a development described as a “s...show”.

Tim Scott

SouthlandAugust 20

‘Do not approach’ warning over wanted Invercargill man

SUBSCRIBER

DunedinAugust 19

Historic theatre to become reception area for luxury Dunedin hotel

Matthew Littlewood

RugbyAugust 20

Northland stun Canterbury to claim Ranfurly Shield

RNZ

ODT QuizAugust 19

ODT quiz: August 20

Dunedin

SUBSCRIBER

DunedinAugust 19

Coppers investigating copper thefts from local churches

Police are responding to a spike in copper thefts after a Dunedin church was targeted within days of $10,000 of the material being taken from another.

SUBSCRIBER

DunedinAugust 19

Wakari Hospital internal inquiry resembles Lake Alice cover-up: advocate

An investigation into a troubled ward at Wakari Hospital risks becoming a “cover-up”, a journalist and mental health advocate says.

Matthew Littlewood

DunedinAugust 19

Police officer with terminal cancer ‘absolutely blown away’ by community support

A former Dunedin police officer and mother with terminal cancer has been heartened by support from the community.

John Lewis

SUBSCRIBER

DunedinAugust 19

New research challenging views on eating disorders

New international research involving the University of Otago, has identified distinct genetic signatures for binge eating and anorexia nervosa.

John Lewis

Latest News

1

RugbyAugust 20

Northland stun Canterbury to claim Ranfurly Shield

2

NationalAugust 20

Man convicted for sexual offending against teen in public toilets

3

NationalAugust 20

National MP breaks ranks, criticises Budget tax change

4

DunedinAugust 20

Former parliamentary candidate told to stop harassing neighbours

5

ChristchurchAugust 20

Fraudulent QR codes used in Christchurch parking meter scam

Otago

SUBSCRIBER

QueenstownAugust 19

Go-ahead for alcohol on bespoke scenic flights

Queenstown flightseeing company The Helicopter Line (THL) has been granted an off-licence to sell alcohol as part of its bespoke flight packages.

Guy Williams

SUBSCRIBER

QueenstownAugust 19

Queenstown Airport to pay $15.3m to QLDC this year

Queenstown’s council will receive a $15.3 million payout from the airport this year.

SUBSCRIBER

North OtagoAugust 19

Oamaru by-election set for November after Jim Hopkins’ death

A council by-election will take place at the end of November to fill the Oamaru ward seat left vacant by the late councillor Jim Hopkins.

Charley-Kai John

QueenstownAugust 19

Community sounds Powerhouse alarm: An open letter

Over the past few months, we, the Fernhill and Sunshine Bay Community Association, have been collecting feedback from the Fernhill and wider community.

Sponsored ContentAugust 18

The end of the road, the heart of Wānaka

For plenty of rural families across Otago and Southland, Wānaka has always been part of the plan. The place you head after the season wraps up. The town where the kids learned to ski. The spot you've quietly told yourself you'll buy into one day, when the timing's right.

Canterbury

North CanterburyAugust 20

Mayor unconvinced by Ngāi Tahu's council boundary plan

A Canterbury mayor is looking forward to partnering with Ngāi Tahu on local government reform, but is not so keen on the iwi’s proposed structure.

David Hill

ChristchurchAugust 20

Community dives in to raise $18k and save their school pool

A Banks Peninsula community has stepped up to raise the money needed to make crucial repairs to its currently unusable school pool.

Kees Chalmers

SelwynAugust 20

First-home buyer left to pick up the pieces after cellphone catches fire

This is the aftermath of a Canterbury house fire caused by a damaged phone that was being wirelessly charged.

Daniel Alvey

Mid CanterburyAugust 20

Methven’s housing affordability problem: Is it an Airbnb crisis or economic boom?

Julianne is new to Methven, a ski town near Christchurch with a decidedly provincial vibe. She has not lived there long but has noticed a topic on almost everyone's lips - Airbnbs and housing affordability.

National

NationalAugust 20

Man convicted for sexual offending against teen in public toilets

A man who stumbled upon a couple having sex in a public toilet performed sexual acts on the young female after the man she was with left.

NationalAugust 20

National MP breaks ranks, criticises Budget tax change

A first-term National MP has criticised a tax change the government has introduced, saying a plan to cap the donation tax credit has “zero” logic.

NationalAugust 20

Nursing graduates frustrated at job hunt difficulty despite shortage

Nursing graduates who have applied for hundreds of jobs and have not found work say it is devastating to hear there's a shortage of nurses.

NationalAugust 20

Greens promise to bring back original school lunch programme

The Green Party wants to bring back the school lunch programme to what it was, and then expand it to more schools.

Southland

SouthlandAugust 19

Two die from injuries after separate Southland crashes

Two people have died in hospital from injuries sustained in separate crashes in Southland in the last month.

Tim Scott

SouthlandAugust 19

Witnesses sought to Te Anau assault

Police are seeking witnesses to an assault that happened in Te Anau in the early hours of the morning.

Sport

NetballAugust 19

Steel shooter Georgia Heffernan heading to Australia

Southern Steel shooter Georgia Heffernan has signed with the Sunshine Coast Lightning for 2027.

Kayla Hodge

LeagueAugust 20

Drought-breaking title triumph just the beginning for up-and-coming coach

Jarrod Race has coached a premier rugby league side for just one season, but he has already ended a historic title drought and claimed the Pat Smith Trophy – Canterbury rugby league’s premier prize.

Sam Coughlan

RugbyAugust 20

St Andrew’s College v Southland BHS: National champs qualification on the line

Christchurch’s St Andrew’s College will be chasing history when they host Southland Boys’ High in the South Island final on Saturday.

Sam Coughlan

RugbyAugust 20

Rangiora qualifies for first XV championship final

A North Canterbury school has enjoyed first XV rugby success following its decision to withdraw from a competition dominated by boys’ schools.

David Hill

Lifestyle

SUBSCRIBER

EntertainmentAugust 19

Figure painting a ‘terrific’ challenge for Sir Grahame

Wanting his paintings seen by a wider audience, Sir Grahame Sydney has agreed to his first public exhibition in 15 years.

SUBSCRIBER

EntertainmentAugust 19

Playing to a live audience what keeps Dutch piano brothers inspired

In the beginning you want everything, Lucas Jussen says. Travelling the world, playing the big concert houses, performing with the greats. "You want to go there.”

SUBSCRIBER

EntertainmentAugust 19

Art Seen

Joanna Margaret Paul's "Microcosmos" is a collection of softer pencil, ink and watercolour works by the late artist.

WorldAugust 18

ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard dead at 77

Frank Beard, the longtime drummer for the rock group ZZ Top, has died at the age of 77, the band says.

Business

BusinessAugust 19

Data centre builds could create 5000 jobs: report

A new report on the potential growth of data centres in New Zealand says a large-scale construction programme could create about 5000 jobs.

SUBSCRIBER

BusinessAugust 19

Central Otago start-up has a shot at Silicon Valley

It’s a long way from Hāwea to Silicon Valley. But a Central Otago start-up has a shot to pitch for a share of a $US1 million investment prize in front of global investors and tech leaders in the global technology and innovation hub.

Sally Rae

SUBSCRIBER

BusinessAugust 19

Liquidation of Central Otago grape-growing business a ‘very difficult decision’: director

Uncertainty around sales and a significant downturn in the market culminated in the “very difficult decision” to place a Central Otago grape-growing business into liquidation, its director says.

Tim Scott

BusinessAugust 19

Housing affordability returns to average following pandemic price spike

Housing affordability has fallen back to its long-term average, following the big spike in prices seen during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rural Life

SUBSCRIBER

Rural EventsAugust 19

Hunting wild goats is a great way to fill a freezer with flavourful meat, Dunedin mum says

Wild goat meat is a great way to feed a family, Dunedin mum Chantalle Harrison says.

Shawn McAvinue

SUBSCRIBER

Rural PeopleAugust 19

Creating a strong team culture an ongoing process, southern station managers say

Attracting, developing and retaining good people and building a strong team is satisfying, a high-country station boss in Northern Southland says.

Shawn McAvinue

SUBSCRIBER

Rural EventsAugust 19

Family ties and heading dogs: Southern in-laws unite for transtasman clash

For the first time, North Otago Centre dog trialists Lloyd Smith and his son-in-law Scott Hunter will be in the same team when they compete for transtasman test honours next week.

Shawn McAvinue

Rural EventsAugust 19

Every pupil from a Strath Taieri school share a wool education experience in a shipping container at the same time

A hands-on wool education experience was given to the dozen pupils at a Strath Taieri primary school.

Food & Wine

North CanterburyAugust 20

Wine, food and music festival moving to a Saturday

Robyn Bristow

North CanterburyAugust 20

Marlborough Wine & Food Festival shelved in shock move

Paula Hulburt

SUBSCRIBER

Food & WineAugust 18

Michelin star ‘amazing surprise’ for Wānaka chef

Rebecca Fox

SUBSCRIBER

Food & WineAugust 18

Pumpkin spiced loaf

In Season: Alison Lambert

World

WorldAugust 20

Body found in search for missing teenage hiker

A body has been found in the search for a teenager hiker who went missing in a national park more than a week ago.

AAP

WorldAugust 20

Australia’s unemployment rate rises to 4.5%

Australia's unemployment rate has risen to 4.5%, adding weight to the argument that the Reserve Bank will halt raising interest rates.

AAP

WorldAugust 19

Former Fauci adviser pleads guilty to conspiring to conceal Covid records

A former adviser to infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci has pleaded guilty to conspiring to evade public records laws and conceal government documents related to grant research funding and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reuters

WorldAugust 19

Prince Harry and Meghan to move back to Britain

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan plan to move back to Britain this month, six years after they stepped down from their royal duties and relocated to the United States.

West Coast

SUBSCRIBER

West CoastAugust 18

Fire puts Gloriavale plant out of action

A large fire which swept through a boiler house at the Gloriavale Christian Community at Lake Haupiri on Friday night has rendered the community’s commercial meal plant out of action for months at least.

Brendon McMahon

West CoastAugust 17

‘Are you on the pill?’: Abuser’s question to 14-year-old babysitter before sex assault

A Hokitika man has been sentenced to home detention for historical sexual offending against a babysitter who was just 14 years old at the time.

Video

SouthlandAugust 19

Tears and ‘closure’ as unmarked baby graves honoured at Southland cemetery

A father who lost twin sons who were then buried in an unmarked grave broke down in tears at a memorial in a Southland cemetery.

Tayler Mutton

SUBSCRIBER

DunedinAugust 18

Ong email about former Fortune Theatre ‘utterly out of order’: Simms

A controversial Dunedin identity’s pitch to turn a city heritage landmark into “The Benedict Centre” came just days after a curious email from him as a councillor.

Grant Miller

DunedinAugust 18

Quest for dirt bike has storybook ending

When Archie Adam came home as asked for a new dirt bike, his mother said “we can’t make money come out of thin air”.

Laine Priestley

SouthlandAugust 17

Watch: Rare kiwi fight filmed on Ulva Island

It looked like a decent fight and for all we know may still be going.

Steve Hepburn

Opinion

SUBSCRIBER

OpinionAugust 19

Cartoonist’s view: August 20

Today's cartoon from Shaun Yeo.

YeoCartoonist

SUBSCRIBER

OpinionAugust 19

If something is going to happen to me, I want to be there

I went to see the film of the book.

Joe Bennett

SUBSCRIBER

EditorialAugust 19

Much needs addressing at Otago’s prison

While many aspects of the Otago Corrections Facility’s operation are praised in the report from the Office of the Inspectorate released this week, there is much which needs addressing.

Editorial

SUBSCRIBER

OpinionAugust 19

The climate grand jete

The first hurricane to hit Hawaii in 34 years. The Mediterranean on fire from Spain to Greece.

Gwynne Dyer

OpinionAugust 19

What elections mean for property prices

With election day now less than 90 days away, one question is being asked of me more than almost any other: “Should I wait until after the election to buy or sell?”

Hamish Walker

SUBSCRIBER

OpinionAugust 18

Cartoonist’s view: August 19

Today's cartoon from Shaun Yeo.

YeoCartoonist

100 Years Ago

SUBSCRIBER

NewsAugust 19

Australia’s run chase turns to ashes

Nothing more sensational has happened in the history of the Test matches than the collapse of Australia.

SUBSCRIBER

NewsAugust 18

Make hay while the clock chimes

The Daylight Saving Bill was under discussion for the first time in the Legislative Council to-day.

SUBSCRIBER

NewsAugust 17

School replete with hygienic appurtenances

Set in the centre of one of the finest school sites in Otago stands Ranfurly s new school, which has been built at a cost of £1800, to replace the old structure which for the past quarter of a century has stood on a much less desirable site over a mile from the township.

SUBSCRIBER

NewsAugust 16

Ashes not yet ‘in the cart’

The fifth Test match was resumed in dull and cloudy weather. The wicket was good but somewhat cut up, and the bowlers’ foothold was difficult.