Police were called to Motueka Airport at around 11:15am after a hard landing by a small aircraft. A vintage plane that sparked a large emergency response after a hard landing skidded on grass before it was stopped by a tyre barrier at the southern end of Motueka Airport, the co-pilot says. Neither of the two male occupants - the Nelson area-based pilot and owner, and his North Island-based co-pilot - was injured. The co-pilot, who was sitting in the canary yellow plane’s front seat, told the Herald the pair were doing landing training when the aircraft failed to stop on landing. “The aircraft skidded ... it came to a stop when we hit the tyre barrier.”

But a flooded road, caused by a blocked culvert and a lack of council action, has him cheesed off. Mr Grant contacted the Otago Regional Council, but it said it was working with the city council, which was working with the landowner to progress a consent. In October, the city council said a consent had been lodged with the regional council and physical works could start in mid November. Mr Grant received a message from the city council on Wednesday which said the resource consent was still being worked through. The city council did not reply to questions from the Otago Daily Times.

A notice requests information on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. Photo: Pima County Sheriff’s Office via ReutersInvestigators presume the kidnapped elderly mother of popular US TV news host Savannah Guthrie is "still out there" and alive four days after she was abducted from her Arizona home, though no suspect has been identified, authorities say. US journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie (centre) accompanied by her siblings Annie and Camron, appeals for the return of their mother Nancy. RANSOM NOTE SET TWO DEADLINESThe FBI on Thursday offered a $US50,000 ($NZ84,000) reward for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance. Please, reach out to us," Savannah Guthrie, 54, said in her video message.

Photo: ODT filesA government-mandated district plan variation aimed at enabling denser, more affordable housing in the Queenstown Lakes district’s urban areas has been approved. They were considering a report and recommendations on the variation by an independent panel, which held public hearings over three weeks in Arrowtown, Queenstown and Wanaka last July and August. The council had to approve the panel’s recommendations in full, without amendments, or start the variation process from scratch. He supported the panel’s recommendations, which gave the council some control over how the district’s urban areas developed — ‘‘growing up and not so much growing out’’. She expected the Friends of Arrowtown Village group would appeal that part of the variation in the Environment Court.

Former Otago Nugget Hayden Allen — flanked by ex Tall Blacks Ethan Rusbatch (left) and Tom Abercrombie — stand behind Fairfield School pupils Masey Stafford and Kobe Arthur on their new basketball court. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONAn Otago Nugget has returned to his primary school to inspire the next generation of basketballers to take up the game by helping install a brand-new multi-use court. Former Tall Blacks guard Hayden Allen and team-mates Tom Abercrombie and Ethan Rusbatch helped to open Fairfield School’s new multisport facility yesterday. Playing at the school as a young boy had inspired him to continue playing basketball and he was hoping to do the same for the next generation. Mr Hurley said the school had 150 pupils in 21 teams playing basketball this year.

Photo: Kate TaptiklisWellington Water says screened wastewater is now being discharged straight into the Cook Strait again after days of it being near the shoreline on the city's south coast. On Wednesday, the Moa Point wastewater plant's lower floors completely flooded when sewage backed up in the 1.8km outfall pipe, which normally sends treated wastewater into Cook Strait between the North and South islands. In a notice this morning, Wellington Water said screened wastewater was now discharging to the long outfall pipe again. Wellington Water board chair Nick Leggett said at present, they were only able to pump 900 litres per second of wastewater through the long outfall pipe. Wellington Water said discharging screened wastewater out to sea via the 1.8km long outfall pipe allowed for greater dilution of the wastewater in the Cook Strait, reducing the amount of untreated wastewater flowing around the coastline.

Photo: Getty ImagesA major Australian hospitality group has just snapped up one of Queenstown’s biggest portfolios. Republic Hospitality Group sold all of its interests to Redcape Hospitality, owned by ASX-listed MA Financial, which operates 40 large-format pubs and taverns across Australia’s eastern seaboard. Day-to-day operations will remain unchanged, and the long-term senior membership team — Justin and Eilis Fenton, Lauren Ludlow Viera and Maddie Dennis — will also remain in place. Mr Unger said the Burgesses and the team led by Mr Impey had built an ‘‘incredible portfolio of venues in one of the world’s most amazing locations’’. ‘‘As the hospitality-loving people that we are, we can’t wait to work with Blair and the team as we continue the Republic journey together.’’tracey.roxburgh@odt.co.nz

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Cameron Millar kicks for goal during the Highlanders’ preseason game against the Crusaders in Timaru last Friday. ‘‘I think playing No10 is a lot easier when you’re getting those consistent minutes, which I found was a lot easier at Otago. ‘‘I’d just like to nail that No10 jersey. ‘‘Similar to every other year, there’s always going to be competition for the jersey. ‘‘He’s still very young and I’m sure he’s got a big future ahead of him in Highlanders and Otago jerseys.

Flowers have been laid at the scene of a fatal crash in Wickliffe Tce, Port Chalmers. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYA Dunedin man who allegedly caused a fatal crash in Port Chalmers may yet face more serious charges, a court has heard. The lawyer said he had been told further charges would be laid which could ‘‘necessitate jurisdictional changes’’. The case would be elevated to the High Court if a charge of manslaughter was laid by police. On January 30, at 9pm, the defendant was allegedly driving in Wickliffe Tce, Port Chalmers, when he hit a power pole.

Harris then pulled out a hammer, telling the victim, “Shut the f***, I’ll smash your f****** head in with this hammer”. At this point, Harris walked away, only to return when the man yelled at him to return his wallet and drop the hammer. A month later, while on remand for those matters, Harris punched a prison officer in Rimutaka Prison. Judge Hastings noted the aggravating features of the offending. Judge Hastings said he was prepared to give a discount as a result of Harris’ indication he wanted rehabilitation, his addiction and his adverse upbringing.

The pedestrian was struck in a northbound lane on the Southern Motorway between the Te Irirangi Drive on-ramp in Manukau and the East Tamaki Rd off-ramp in Papatoetoe. Pedestrian dead after being struck by vehicle on Auckland’s Southern MotorwayThe pedestrian was struck in a northbound lane on the Southern Motorway between the Te Irirangi Drive on-ramp in Manukau and the East Tamaki Rd off-ramp in Papatoetoe. Image / Google MapsA pedestrian is dead after being struck by a vehicle on the Southern Motorway in Auckland. Emergency services were called to the crash, in a northbound lane between the Te Irirangi Drive on-ramp and the East Tamaki Rd off-ramp, near Ōtara, about 12.30am, police said. “Despite the best efforts of first responders, the person died at the scene.”The northbound lanes were closed on the affected section of the motorway before being reopened about 6am.

Dry garden plants can be colourful, as this display at the Otago Polytechnic Bannockburn campus shows. A dry garden is one way to reduce water use and cut household costs long-term. Otago Polytechnic’s Bannockburn campus is having an open day next week to show off an 18-month-old dry gravel garden. It was packed with dry-thriving, low-water plants that prove constant irrigation is not necessary to have a stunning garden, Mr Thurlow said. On Wednesday the day will offer a free dry garden tour.

Photo: RNZA Green MP wants tohorā/whales to be recognised as legal persons. In New Zealand, laws have been passed to grant legal personhood to natural features, allowing them to be represented in court and have rights similar to those of individuals. Green MP Teanau Tuiono Photo: RNZAs whales were under threat from commercial fishing, pollution and the climate crisis, a different approach to marine protection was needed, he believed. Actually, we share the planet with other species and with other sentient species as well. Members' bills are put forward by an MP who is not a minister and are drawn via a ballot system.

Dive Wellington runs sessions in the Taputeranga Marine Reserve almost everyday. A couple of kilometres from the outfall is the eastern boundary of the Taputeranga Marine Reserve. Since 1998 Dive Wellington has overlooked the reserve and owner Dave Drane told RNZ he was lucky to have it on his doorstep. Drane said 30 students were lined up to dive in the Taputeranga Marine Reserve next week, which now would not happen. The whole thing had left him feeling "pretty rubbish," and he believed water quality in the marine reserve was an ongoing concern.