An Air New Zealand Airbus A320-232 at Dunedin Airport yesterday, after an unknown incident, speculated to be a bird strike, forced the cancellation of its return flight to Auckland. Email: ruby.shaw@odt.co.nzAir New Zealand is refusing to comment after one of its planes was grounded at Dunedin Airport, forcing the cancellation of an Auckland-bound flight. However, the return flight was cancelled. Air NZ declined to answer questions about yesterday morning’s events and any impact on aircraft, operations or passenger travel. Dunedin Airport also did not respond to questions.

PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHDunedin rolled out the red carpet yesterday to welcome the latest cohort of international students, as the city celebrates year-on-year growth in the international education industry. About 250 Dunedin secondary school students from 22 countries, and representatives from mana whenua, the Dunedin City Council, University of Otago, Otago Polytechnic, Otago International Students’ Association and Education New Zealand attended a pōwhiri, facilitated by Enterprise Dunedin, at Puketeraki Marae yesterday. ‘‘Every international student brings a host of cultural perspectives to our city, from more than 20 different countries.’’Recovery in Dunedin’s international education sector has been strong since the Covid-19 pandemic. At present, Dunedin hosts about 4000 international students, contributing an estimated $268m to the local economy. Nationwide, the government is targeting growth from 83,400 to 119,000 international students by 2034, nearly doubling the sector’s value to $7.2billion.

The North End Post Shop will stay open but with fewer services. PHOTO: ODT FILESOamaru's ‘‘essential’’ North End Post Shop has been saved from closure, following a U-turn by NZ Post - but some community services could still be lost under revised plans. But she added: ‘‘I think there is some work to go to achieve those outcomes.’’The mayor said she would be supporting the post shop through the process. NZ Post originally said it planned to close more than 140 post offices nationwide. ‘‘In some of these locations, all existing NZ Post services will stay.

Art Deco fan Nic Brandsen took the chance to dress up in period costume for the Anderson House 100th birthday celebrations last weekend. PHOTO: TONI MCDONALDTea, cake and a little ragtime jazz entertained a steady stream of visitors to Anderson House on Saturday as the Invercargill landmark celebrated its 100th anniversary. Anderson Park was originally named Victoria Park by the first Pākehā owner of the land, Kenneth McIvor, who arrived from Australia in 1859. The land later passed to the McDougal family, who divided it into 120ha blocks about 1910, one of which was bought by Sir Robert Anderson. The Anderson House Trust, formed in 2019, works with the council to develop the property as a vibrant event and community venue.

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Russell MawhinneyThe Otago Cricket Association backs the proposed private-ownership model for the domestic T20 competition. New Zealand Cricket voted to pursue NZ20 as its preferred option. If it proceeds, it will usher in a significant change to the New Zealand cricket landscape. Former Black Caps all-rounder Dion Nash resigned from the board of NZC just hours after it announced it would pursue NZ20. ‘‘Our board met on Wednesday night and talked about a lot of things that we think need to be considered.

Invercargill deputy mayor Grant Dermody faces potential disciplinary action after being found to have called a council staff member a ‘‘f...... d... . But Cr Dermody disagreed with that version of events, explaining he said ‘‘that’s ridiculous’’ in an aggressive tone to someone at a nearby table. Asked if it was ‘‘you f...... d...’’, Cr Bond confirmed it was, the staffer said. Following the presentation, Cr Bond said she joined a conversation between Cr Ludlow and the affected party where he said: ‘‘Apparently I have a new name. Cr Ludlow was confident he had heard an ‘‘f-bomb’’, but was not certain if it was ‘‘f...wit’’ or ‘‘f...... d...’’, evidence showed.

Photo: Supplied / Invercargill City CouncilInvercargill deputy mayor Grant Dermody faces potential disciplinary action after being found to have called a council staff member a "f...ing d..k". On 3 February, Dermody attended a Rugby Park stakeholders event where an independent lawyer determined he said "you f…ing d..k" or "you're a d…head" to a council staffer. "I did not attend the Rugby Park meeting personally, but was made aware of Cr Dermody's 'Dickhead' comment during a conversation with Cr Ria Bond the following morning," Pottinger wrote. Asked if it was "you f…ing d..k", Bond confirmed it was, the staffer said. Ludlow was confident he had heard an "f-bomb" but was not certain if it was "f…wit" or "f…ing d..k", evidence showed.

Only Fools and Horses pits four legs against two in the Maniototo hills. The Central Otago race Only Fools and Horses is back for round two on April 11. But in a race between Only Fool and Horses, why did she choose the Fools' side? Long distance runner Julia Chamberlain would love to see a runner pip the horses to the finish line. Only Fools and Horses co-organiser Steve Tripp says there is a jackpot prize if a runner finishes first.

“Welcome to the first day at the new school,” a cheery Christopher Luxon told Tova O’Brien this morning. It was just one hour into O’Brien’s first shift on TVNZ’s early morning news and current affairs show, and the prime minister was her first big interview at the Breakfast desk. Chris Chang and Tova O’Brien (Photo: TVNZ)Despite O’Brien’s wealth of news and political experience, this morning’s Breakfast remained a typically random mix of topics. O’Brien’s interview with Luxon showed the potential Breakfast has to go beyond cruise ship promos and deliver morning news with depth and rigour. O’Brien cheerily pushed back: “Your job is the prime minister.”CEO, prime minister, Ken, it’s all the same.

Image: RNZThe number of Fijians who are HIV positive has risen to at least 9000 - almost one percent of the population - with infections surging, according to the man who heads the country's HIV outbreak response. The country declared a HIV outbreak in January last year, the government calling it "a national crisis", and regional health experts raising concerns that it could spread across the region. In New Zealand, there are around 3500 people estimated to be HIV positive - less than 0.1 percent of the population. With Fiji having around 9000 cases, it suggests the prevalence of people living with HIV is much higher relative to the population. "In 2025 alone, we recorded 2016 new cases ... a 723 percent increase in three years," he was quoted as saying by The Fiji Times.

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File photoA new Emergency Management plan for Southland has unearthed an unnerving detail about warning systems in the event of a tsunami. The plan said a tsunami was unlikely, but carried high risk, and gave special mention to the Puysegur Trench southwest of Fiordland. A large tsunami from that trench posed a hazard to coastal areas on the south and west of the South Island, Tasmania and southeast Australia, it warned. The plan identified five high-risk hazards - earthquakes, tsunami, flooding, human pandemic, and animal pest or disease. "Both areas are vulnerable to Alpine Fault earthquakes, tsunami, and severe weather, with steep terrain and fragile lifelines increasing the likelihood of prolonged isolation."

However, the price of tobacco products being sold on the black market is typically less than half the excise duty that must be paid. The east Auckland store is one of a number of outlets in the country's largest city that RNZ believes is offering illicit tobacco products for sale. Daljeet Singh Sidhu, a retailer based in Papakura, claimed the black market for tobacco products in Auckland was an open secret. Barnes highlighted the price differential between legitimate and illicit tobacco products. Customs warned retailers to refrain from selling illicit tobacco products.

Simon Downes was diagnosed with the disease in 2024 after running a dairy farm in NSW's Hunter Valley for more than 30 years. "Our hypothesis is that it's to do with the co-location of the population and agriculture," Prof Rowe said. He is calling for MND to be a notifiable disease, meaning cases must be reported to public health authorities by law. Prof Rowe said. If the causes of the disease could be identified, methods could be developed to help slow or stop its progression, or prevent it entirely, Prof Rowe said.