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

West CoastSeptember 22

Object found ‘no indication’ of missing Dunedin plane

Teams searching a South Westland lake for a Dunedin plane that went missing in 1978 say an object sighted does not appear to be an aircraft.

QueenstownSeptember 22

‘Devastating loss’: Kiwi pilot killed fighting California wildfire

A New Zealand helicopter pilot who died in a crash while fighting a wildfire in California has been remembered as a skilled and knowledgeable operator.

Ruby Shaw

DunedinSeptember 21

Dunedin schools, pool shut due to burst water main

Three Dunedin schools had to close early due to a “significant” burst water main which also shut Moana Pool.

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DunedinSeptember 22

Emails lift lid on shock, horror and praise for South D flood options

Residents were blindsided by the proposed purchase and demolition of more than 1000 properties in and around South Dunedin, documents reveal.

Ruby Shaw

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Class ActSeptember 21

Class Act 2026: All the recipients

Paul McIntyre

SouthlandSeptember 22

Southland child found badly hurt now at Starship hospital

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DunedinSeptember 21

Full circle moment: Dunedin band rocks to third place at national Rockquest finals

Laine Priestley

ODT QuizSeptember 21

ODT quiz: September 22

Dunedin

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DunedinSeptember 22

Planned closure of ward 10A closer; union critical over loss of services

A plan to close Wakari Hospital's controversial ward 10A has been confirmed, but a union says it will leave no secure unit for patients with intellectual disabilities or mental illness in the south.

Steve Hepburn

DunedinSeptember 22

Dunedin a unique environment and student drinking issues complex, officer says

Student drinking issues in Dunedin are "complex" and can’t be solved by arrests and prosecutions, a local police officer says.

RNZ Checkpoint

DunedinSeptember 22

Roads reopen following reports of another gas leak at Dunedin hotel

Two Dunedin streets have reopened after reports of a second gas leak in less than 24 hours at a central Dunedin hotel.

Laine Priestley

DunedinSeptember 21

Dunedin man loses $500,000 in 18-year romance scam

A Dunedin man thought he was having a romantic online relationship with an Australian police recruit and sent her more than $500,000 over 18 years, in the hope they could one day be together.

Latest News

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CanterburySeptember 22

Dad teams up with daughter to update the book he wrote when she was 7

2

NationalSeptember 22

Van Velden uses final speech to defend c-bomb

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NationalSeptember 22

Coroner questions decision to send girl home with ‘safety plan’ before death

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DunedinSeptember 22

Dunedin a unique environment and student drinking issues complex, officer says

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West CoastSeptember 22

Object found ‘no indication’ of missing Dunedin plane

Otago

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North OtagoSeptember 21

Waitaki renters worse off than Aucklanders: report

Renters in the Waitaki spend a bigger share of their income on housing than Aucklanders, a new report says.

Charley-Kai John

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WānakaSeptember 21

Guardians lament lack of deep lakes funding

The Guardians of Lake Wānaka have expressed “disappointment and concern” the regional council did not commit to a $21 million programme to monitor the degradation of Otago’s deep lakes in its upcoming long-term plan.

WānakaSeptember 21

Interactive, ‘state-of-the-art’ heritage centre tipped for Wānaka

A Wānaka historical society has announced plans for a new “state-of-the-art” heritage centre in the lakeside resort town.

WānakaSeptember 21

Sitting on top of the world

Fin Melville Ives, of Wānaka, competes in the free ski semifinals at The Snow League’s inaugural World Challenge at Cardrona Alpine Resort at the weekend.

Editor's Picks

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DunedinSeptember 15

Calls for council action over Dunedin cats

The Dunedin City Council is not doing enough to control cats in New Zealand’s wildlife capital, advocates say.

Grant Miller

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DunedinSeptember 14

‘Humiliation and stress’: Failed builder and Dunedin City Council taken to court over faulty $900k home

Tim Scott

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DunedinSeptember 11

Dunedin hospo boss escapes conviction for street brawl with teen

Rob Kidd

Canterbury

CanterburySeptember 22

Dad teams up with daughter to update the book he wrote when she was 7

A father and daughter duo have joined forces to update a Marlborough freshwater flora and fauna field guide book first written 20 years ago.

Paula Hulburt

ChristchurchSeptember 22

Woman sentenced after dog attacks put dad and son in hospital

An 11-year-old boy and his father were hospitalised in February after being set upon by dogs at a friend’s home. The woman who owned them has been sentenced a Christchurch court.

Al Williams, Open Justice reporter

ChristchurchSeptember 22

Whooping cough case confirmed at Christchurch college

A new whooping cough case has been detected at a Christchurch school.

CanterburySeptember 22

Power to the people as residents strike back at solar farm plans

A group of South Island residents are set to fight back against plans for a possible solar farm on their doorstep.

Paula Hulburt

National

NationalSeptember 22

Van Velden uses final speech to defend c-bomb

The ACT MP also called for the Public Service Commission to be abolished, saying it did not work for the public or governments.

NationalSeptember 22

Coroner questions decision to send girl home with ‘safety plan’ before death

A coroner has questioned whether it was appropriate to send a 12-year-old New Plymouth girl home with a "safety plan" shortly before her suspected suicide in 2017.

NationalSeptember 22

Greens seek to cap political donations, register lobbyists

The Green Party want to cap political donations at $30,000, stop companies from donating and set up a public register for lobbyists to get "big money" out of politics.

NationalSeptember 22

Concern over curriculum rewrite following leaked video of education official

The secondary teachers union fears a video that shows an education official seemingly trying to "subvert" the Official Information Act is part of a wider problem with secrecy around the govt's curriculum rewrite.

Southland

SouthlandSeptember 22

Toxoplasmosis confirmed as cause of pregnant dolphin’s death

Toxoplasmosis was the cause of death of a pregnant Hector’s dolphin found at Invercargill’s Oreti Beach last month.

SouthlandSeptember 20

‘Likely not to recover’: Teens in custody after child severely injured

A 19-year-old man and woman have been arrested after a young child suffered a severe injury on Sunday night.

Sport

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SportSeptember 21

Butcher ends year with silver medal at world cup final

Finn Butcher has got his mojo back.

Hayden Meikle

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MotorsportSeptember 21

Duncan finishes WMX season in style in Australia

Courtney Duncan grabbed her second podium of the season as the Women’s Motocross Championship wrapped up in Australia at the weekend.

Hayden Meikle

MotorsportSeptember 21

Paddon breaks record at Ashley Forest Rallysprint

Hayden Paddon did what he set out to do at the annual Ashley Forest Rallysprint at the weekend.

RugbySeptember 21

All Blacks captain Savea facing long rehab from shoulder surgery

The All Blacks have given updates on 10 players injured during the four-test series against the Springboks.

Lifestyle

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TravelSeptember 21

Secret wonders in Asia — rats, coffins and caves

These secret wonders often escape mass attention as some are out of reach — too remote or dangerous even for the more adventurous traveller — others are overshadowed by more famous sites or just too bizarre.

The MixSeptember 18

Review: Heart-wrenching meditation on memory, trauma

Poet and academic Siobhan Harvey’s memoir may be a slim volume but that does not lessen its impact.

Elspeth McLean

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The MixSeptember 18

Sweet as spring

Spring brings welcome new possibilities, Penelope Maguire writes.

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The MixSeptember 18

Davis and Coltrane: 100 years of ice and fire

One was cool and ironic, the other fervent and spiritual. Born in the same year, Miles Davis and John Coltrane’s intense relationship flourished amid drugs, creative friction and a relentless search for new souOn the eve of Coltrane’s centenary, their twin legacies still reign supreme, Neil Spencer writes.

Business

BusinessSeptember 22

Growers warn shake-up could backfire on vege prices

The NZ Vegetable Council wants more transparency across the supply chain so consumers know what they are paying for.

BusinessSeptember 22

Reserve Bank kept interest rates low too long, Covid-19 review finds

The Reserve Bank's response to the Covid-19 started well, but went on much too long.

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BusinessSeptember 21

Christchurch’s Onside buys Assura to expand its operational software platform for agriculture

Christchurch agri-tech company Onside has bought local workflow software business Assura to head into its next phase of growth.

Tim Cronshaw

BusinessSeptember 21

TSB bank warned over cheque fees

TSB has been warned for charging fees on business cheque transactions that were not subject to fees according to its own terms and conditions.

RNZ

Fresh

Food & WineSeptember 8

Turning to lighter fare as we go into spring

While winter still has its grips on us, occasional warm days are reminding us that spring is coming.

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Food & WineSeptember 8

Enjoying the day’s catch with family

Alison Lambert

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Food & WineSeptember 8

Lighter, brighter note for spring

Jo Elwin

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Food & WineSeptember 8

Hearty tart for weekend adventures

Sam Sinclair

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Food & WineSeptember 8

Making healthy eating easy

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Food & WineSeptember 8

Gifts of love: Homemade treats perfect for sharing

A passion project that has taken three years to come to fruition is how Allyson Gofton describes “Give”.

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Food & WineSeptember 8

Life is too short to wait for a special occasion

Mark Henderson

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Food & WineSeptember 8

Grilled asparagus and halloumi salad

Rural Life

Rural LifeSeptember 17

Many farmers pessimistic despite decade-high profits

Many farmers are looking at next year's books with pessimism, even dairy, despite profits this year reaching their highest level in a decade, a new survey shows.

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Rural EventsSeptember 16

Tourism side-hustle helps pay for biodiversity improvements on East Otago sheep and beef farm

Income from an on-farm glamping business is being used to restore biodiversity on an East Otago farming operation.

Shawn McAvinue

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Rural EventsSeptember 16

Celebrating a conservation project to protect and restore biodiversity for future generations

Farmers are uniting as part of a biodiversity conservation project in East Otago.

Shawn McAvinue

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Rural EventsSeptember 16

Bringing biodiversity back is everyone’s responsibility, ecologist says

Communities need to drive bringing biodiversity back, an ecologist and botanist says.

Shawn McAvinue

Food & Wine

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Food & WineSeptember 15

‘Orchard to scoop’ approach recognised nationally

Rebecca Fox

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Food & WineSeptember 15

Masters of fusion — Northern Italy cuisine more diverse than expected

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Food & WineSeptember 15

Wake up your palate from winter hibernation with fresh, zingy ingredients

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Food & WineSeptember 15

Can you eat too much tinned tuna?

World

WorldSeptember 22

Writing Diana memoir was my duty, says brother

Charles Spencer, brother of the late Princess Diana, is no stranger to writing books about British kings.

Reuters

WorldSeptember 22

Burnham wants to show ‘connection’ with Trump

Prime Minister Andy Burnham will argue for Britain to play a leadership role on AI, in a speech capping his first foray into global diplomacy when he hopes to showcase the connection he has with US President Donald Trump.

Reuters

WorldSeptember 22

Houthis push for control of Yemen highlands

Houthi fighters have pushed to seize strategic heights in Yemen to cut off the Red Sea coast from remaining areas held by Saudi-backed forces, after a report that US President Donald Trump had called off American strikes on the group at the last minute.

Reuters

WorldSeptember 21

German chancellor rules ‘disaster’ in another regional election

The AfD party leads in national opinion polls but has been kept from power by the other main parties' refusal to work with it.

West Coast

West CoastSeptember 22

Divers investigate object found in hunt for missing Dunedin plane

Search crews looking for a plane that went missing in 1978 in South Westland are sending divers to take a closer look at an object in Lake Moeraki north of Haast.

West CoastSeptember 22

Gloriavale's Christian Church Community Trust loses charity status

Gloriavale's Christian Church Community Trust has been stripped of its charitable status by the Charities Registration Board for serious wrongdoing.

Video

West CoastSeptember 22

Divers investigate object found in hunt for missing Dunedin plane

Search crews looking for a plane that went missing in 1978 in South Westland are sending divers to take a closer look at an object in Lake Moeraki north of Haast.

DunedinSeptember 21

Dunedin students serve up community hāngi for cultural trip fundraiser

Students from Bayfield High School raising money for a cultural trip put on a community hāngi for parents, peers, and anyone else who wanted a special Monday lunch.

Laine Priestley

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DunedinSeptember 21

Full circle moment: Dunedin band rocks to third place at national Rockquest finals

They might be finishing secondary school, but Smokefree Rockquest national finalists Talking Furniture say they are ready to pour “blood, sweat, and tears into their future.

Laine Priestley

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DunedinSeptember 21

Man injured at Castle St party not a student at the university

The person who was seriously injured on Castle St on Sunday was not an Otago university student and was one of many who were there who was from out of town, the university says

Steve Hepburn

Opinion

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OpinionSeptember 21

Is a Patearoa writer actually writing or is he using a machine?

Some experts are warning that AI has the power to kill us all, while that self-proclaimed genius Donald Trump says that’s a hoax.

Jim Sullivan

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OpinionSeptember 21

Cartoonist’s view: September 22

Today's cartoon from Shaun Yeo.

YeoCartoonist

OpinionSeptember 21

Opinion: Mining detractors should get the basic facts right

The New Zealand Minerals Council chief executive argues "incorrect opinions" have been stated as facts.

Josie Vidal

OpinionSeptember 21

I don't need my son to tell me everything

One in five callers to What's Up, Barnardos’ free counselling helpline for children, is under the age of 10.

Elodie Berthe

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EditorialSeptember 21

A screen test for pre-schoolers

There are many big issues which any government must confront: defence, foreign affairs, trade and investment, emergency management.

Editorial

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EditorialSeptember 20

Making a stand, or not

A small piece of the imbroglio surrounding singer Ed Sheeran’s United States tour found its way to Dunedin last week.

Editorial

100 Years Ago

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NewsSeptember 21

Opening a fine edifice

100 years ago

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NewsSeptember 20

Missionary gets send-off

100 years ago

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NewsSeptember 18

Florida flooded

100 years ago

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NewsSeptember 17

Ship chosen for Yorks’ tour

100 years ago