Otago Daily Times Online News

Renton to return in must-win match for Highlanders

Highlanders co-captain Hugh Renton will be back on deck to play Moana Pasifika this weekend.
‘Freaked out’ to find sea snake

A live yellow-bellied sea snake washed up on a Hokitika beach is the second such encounter on New Zealand shorelines in as many days.
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Speed limit woes rile councillor

The long arm of the Wellington bureaucracy has reached the back blocks of Northern Southland, leading to a councillor questioning his future and the purpose of local government.

'Party poopers': DCC snuffs out fireworks return

'Party poopers': DCC snuffs out fireworks return

Any hopes fireworks would return to Dunedin's New Year's Eve celebrations this year have been shot down.
Cold blast for South Island, ferries cancelled

Cold blast for South Island, ferries cancelled

More wild weather is on the way - with heavy rain and snow expected for parts of the South Island and the cancellation of Cook Strait ferries.
Acquitted and angry after 25 years' jail

Acquitted and angry after 25 years' jail

A man who spent 25 years in prison for the murder of Auckland tyre-fitter Deane Fuller-Sandys has been acquitted.

dunedin

Spiked driver carried on with punctured tyres

A motorist trying to evade police had his tyres spiked several times north of Dunedin but continued to drive before he was arrested in Palmerston this afternoon.

Knife-carrying shoplifter busted in central Dunedin

Knife-carrying shoplifter busted in central Dunedin

A man who allegedly stole about $2000 worth of items ranging from cosmetics to camping gear from Dunedin businesses was found carrying a knife.
ICU beds: Minister ‘disingenuous’

ICU beds: Minister ‘disingenuous’

Health Minister Simeon Brown has been accused of being "disingenuous" and "doubling down" after claiming the new Dunedin hospital was not losing intensive care unit (ICU) beds.
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Council secret inquiry costs, follow-up, top $300,000

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Council secret inquiry costs, follow-up, top $300,000

Costs relating to a secret inquiry at the Dunedin City Council, and any necessary follow-up, have climbed above $300,000.

regions

Cr Colin Reidy walked out of a recent meeting. Supplied / BDC website

'Not putting up with that s***': Table-thumping councillor storms out

Buller’s mayor Jamie Cleine is calling for civility after a councillor saw red and stomped out of a council meeting.

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‘Lucky’ Aussie Ford hoons harmed no wildlife

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‘Lucky’ Aussie Ford hoons harmed no wildlife

Clutha's mayor says it was "lucky" no wildlife was harmed when Ford Australia salesmen tore up a pristine Catlins beach in their utes.
New viewing platform in works at falls

New viewing platform in works at falls

The Department of Conservation (Doc) is building a new viewing platform at Lake Marian Falls in Fiordland National Park to cater for more visitors, provide a great vantage point over the falls and...
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Concern over WDC decision to halt gambling review

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Concern over WDC decision to halt gambling review

Waitaki District Council has halted a review of its gambling policy, despite record poker machine losses in the town.

National

Health NZ confirms cuts to IT roles

Health New Zealand has confirmed it will slash hundreds of IT jobs - about a third of all roles.

Interislander's only rail-enabled ferry to be retired

Interislander's only rail-enabled ferry to be retired

Interislander's only rail-enabled ferry, the Aratere, will be retired this year to make way for the construction of new port infrastructure, seeing some jobs cut.
Oversight of new speed cameras defended

Oversight of new speed cameras defended

New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) is defending its controls around an expanding and more powerful highway speed camera system that privacy experts had said lacked national oversight.
Mum vents anger after son injured in hit-and-run

'Just appalling': Mum vents anger after son injured in hit-and-run

A Christchurch mother is frustrated by a lack of communication from police after her son was injured in a hit-and-run.

sport

Nuggets' losing streak continues

The Otago Nuggets have slipped to a sixth consecutive loss and can probably start making other plans for the playoffs.

Parker patient in pursuit of historic title fight

Joseph Parker patient in pursuit of historic title fight

After 13 years in the pro boxing game, Joseph Parker has learnt the hard way that nothing is written.
ODT Landers Chat: Skipper fronts up after tough run

ODT Landers Chat: Skipper fronts up after tough run

It’s been a tough few weeks for the Highlanders so we decide to talk to captain Timoci Tavatavanawai (Jim) the captain about just how challenging it has been.
Renton to return in must-win match for Highlanders

Renton to return in must-win match for Highlanders

Highlanders co-captain Hugh Renton will be back on deck to play Moana Pasifika this weekend.

Food & Wine

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A life and love of sharing food
Aussie bakers share inspiration, wisdom
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Buttercup with leeks and beans
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Sauvignons to lead the way

Business

ANZ downgrades house price forecast

NZ's biggest bank says house prices should lift more meaningfully over the second half of this year, but values are likely to only rise 4.5 percent in 2025.

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Upgrade hoped to boost output

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Upgrade hoped to boost output

A Dunedin printing company hopes it will be able to double its output once its planned new factory is completed.
NZ lacking ‘digital ambition’

NZ lacking ‘digital ambition’

New Zealand lacks the digital ambition required to keep pace with advances in technology taking place around the world, according to an industry report.
Exclusion big blow for Pacific Edge

Exclusion big blow for Pacific Edge

Dunedin-based cancer diagnostic firm Pacific Edge has been dealt a severe financial blow after its key testing procedure was excluded from coverage by the United States Medicare federal health...

Rural Life

Repost co-founder Greg Coppell repurposes old vineyard posts to turn them into good-as-new...

‘Pat on the back’ for repurposed posts

Marlborough’s Repost is shaving costly time turning old treated vineyard posts into good-as-new farming posts with their own machinery.

Farmer’s invention not just child’s play

Farmer’s invention not just child’s play

A West Coast farmer can thank his children for a lightbulb moment to take the back-breaking work out of shifting stockwater hoses.
Award pays tribute to pony club stalwart

Award pays tribute to pony club stalwart

The Strath Taieri Pony Club has paid heartfelt tribute to a beloved coach, mother and horsewoman with the introduction of the Erin Howard Memorial Trophy.
Former B+L boss on the move to arable sector

Former B+L boss on the move to arable sector

Former Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Dr Scott Champion will take over the leadership of the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR).

Life & style

Crete’s Chania harbour on a sunny summer day. PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

A taste of Greece in Crete

This excerpt from Lonely Planet’s 100 Weekends in Europe demonstrates Crete’s combination of cultural and natural spectacles make it a perfect destination for a quick getaway.

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A life and love of sharing food

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A life and love of sharing food

For nearly four decades Joan Bishop has shared her recipes with Otago Daily Times’ readers.
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A surgeon at the front

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A surgeon at the front

Waimate doctor Herbert Clifford Barclay thought he was heading to England to study. Instead he found himself, scalpel in hand, on World War 1’s Eastern Front, Kim Dungey writes.
Finding our first settlers

Finding our first settlers

On one of my cruises as a guest speaker, my wife and I found ourselves on a bus heading for the Kemp House at the Kerikeri Mission station in the Bay of Islands.

LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT

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Innovation needed to fashion pods
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‘Dos and don’ts’ of attracting birds

World

Mushroom murder-accused 'faked cancer diagnosis to lure victims'

A woman accused of murdering three of her estranged husband's family by poisoning their food faked a cancer diagnosis to lure the victims to a meal, prosecutors say.

Three killed in shooting in Sweden

Three killed in shooting in Sweden

Three people have been killed in a shooting in the Swedish city of Uppsala and a murder investigation has been launched, police say.
Canada's Liberals ride Trump backlash to comeback election win

Canada's Liberals ride Trump backlash to comeback election win

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals staged a major political comeback to retain power in parliamentary elections, fuelled by a backlash against US President Donald Trump's tariffs and...
Spain, Portugal switch back on after biggest blackout

Spain, Portugal switch back on after biggest blackout

Spain and Portugal have switched their power back on after the worst blackout in their history, though authorities offered little explanation for what had caused it.