Flowers were laid next to a newly replaced power pole after a fatal car crash in Wickcliffe Tce in Port Chalmers on Friday night. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYCharges are yet to be laid after a crash in Port Chalmers left a person dead and one seriously injured in a horror 48 hours on Otago roads that has prompted a "firm message" to drivers from Southern police. It was one of at least four serious crashes in the 48 hours between 8am Friday and 8am Sunday. Police described it a "tragic weekend" for crashes on southern roads. The coming days are expected to be particularly busy on southern roads, as Waitangi weekend travel combines with the annual Burt Munro Challenge motorcycle festival being held in Invercargill from Wednesday to Sunday.

Her children were travelling to be with her in Te Anau and the family were "pretty devastated", Mrs Peacock said. Mrs Peacock was in contact with the owners and had been shown the damage to the lodge over a video call. She said Ms Onions had indicated the owners would look to rebuild the lodge. "We’re relieved that everyone — and that includes staff and guests — is safe and well," Ms Onions said in a statement. Radio New Zealand reported Ms Onions as saying all guests had been moved to local Te Anau hotels.

Now, Coroner Bruce Hesketh has found the young man took his own life in a Christchurch park on October 2, 2017. In findings released today the coroner has made recommendations that have been implemented following a review of mental health services. Geoffrey Booth gave evidence at the 2022 inquest into the death of his son, Liam Booth. “I am satisfied the three recommendations have been adequately addressed by Health New Zealand Canterbury,” the coroner said. Coroner Hesketh acknowledged there had been improvements in specialist mental health services processes and procedures following the review.

Surely, he’s emphasising this to counter the by-now obvious fact that there’s practically zero social licence locally for this mining project to go ahead. What a chops this man has to deride wealthier opponents of the project for being well-housed, well-fed, and already wealthy. Mr Cook must have some extraordinary expertise but his people skills clearly aren’t worth much: "get over it" Otago. Steve MunroDunedinBy the numbers Cyanide form Land use/soil category criterion (mg/kg = ppm) Cyanide (complexed) Residential & topsoil 20mg/kg (ppm) Cyanide (free) Residential & topsoil 50mg/kg (ppm) Cyanide (complexed) Open space 1000mg/kg Cyanide (free) Open space 500mg/kg Cyanide (complexed) Commercial 2500mg/kg Cyanide (free) Commercial 1250mg/kg Given the Bendigo mine with a life of say, 20 years. Jan ParkerRavensbourneAddress Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin.

The golden Central Otago landscape, like that depicted in artist Sir Grahame Sydney’s work 'Summer, Falls Dam village', needs protecting so all may enjoy it. In particular, the ramifications of inevitable pollution will contribute indirectly and cumulatively to our future appreciation of the uniqueness of the present Central Otago landscape. In the introduction to Grahame Sydney’s Central Otago, 2011, he writes that the natural landscape of Central Otago "is so recognisably different ... Many of his images are not only of natural landscapes but of lonely relics of pioneering days, situated in iconic, remote natural landscapes. How then can both conservative and progressive appreciations of this region dialogue about the future of Central Otago’s natural landscape?

Unfortunately, the United States is a broken entity and not likely to be put back together again quickly or easily. Hence middle powers "must work together because if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu." One commentator, however, while acknowledging its veracity, puts New Zealand in a different place: "New Zealand is not a middle power. We should, therefore, given the collapse of the old rules, carry on quietly, negotiating widely, doing it "the NZ way". It would be a good idea to be able to contribute to the new regime, whatever it might be.

Valley beat Oamaru by 20 runs in the Dick Hunt Trophy final on Friday night. Wickets continued to fall with four dismissed in the final two overs, as Valley were all out for 146 in 19.5 overs. Oamaru finished on 126 for seven in their 20 overs, falling 20 runs short. On Saturday, the Borton Cup resumed with Albion beating St Kevin’s, Oamaru beating Waitaki Boys’, and Glenavy edging Valley. In the Second XI holiday competition final, Union edged Oamaru by two runs.

Fatigue spikes during the wintry months of August to September, and is at its lowest in January to February, while Tuesdays tend to be the day most microsleep incidents occur. More than 900,000 risky driving events were recorded by the driver safety advocacy group between July 2024 and June 2025, 19,336 of which were related to fatigue. Dylan Thomsen, a spokesperson for AA, said tired driving needed to be treated as seriously as drunk driving or distracted driving. Photo / AutoSenseThe authorities can lead this response by emphasising the dangers and warning signs of tiredness, Thomsen suggests. “If we can reduce fatigue and distraction during the most routine moments - like the morning school run - then we’re doing something that genuinely matters: helping drivers, and everyone around them, get home safely.”

Catherine Lee, the model for Wendy in Cecil Thomas’ 'The Darling Children Learning to Fly', takes in the sculpture in person for the first time at the weekend. Ms Lee, who lives in London, wrapped up her first visit to New Zealand, with a special stop to see the sculpture. Sir Cecil, as it turned out, lived around the corner from Ms Lee when she was a child in London. A former festival promoter and civil servant, Ms Lee said Peter Pan had somehow followed her throughout her life. There was a lot of interest in the sculpture back home in London, Ms Lee said.

PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONThe Green Party is launching an ambitious and potentially divisive campaign to capture the Dunedin seat from Labour. "For the Dunedin campaign, we’re doing something that we’ve not done before, which is asking for the candidate vote as well as the party vote," Mr Hernandez said. "We do see Dunedin as a two-horse race between Labour and the Greens." Mr Hernandez came third in the electorate race but the Greens ran a strong second on party votes — 11,449, to Labour’s 13,160. Mr Willis polled 3898 personal votes in Taieri in 2023, when running a purely party vote candidate.

Zack Scoular leads the New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands yesterday. PHOTO: BRUCE JENKINSZack Scoular produced the finest drive of his career — in his last single-seater race — to win the 70th New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands Motorsport Park yesterday. After a challenging 2025 on and off the track, NZ Grand Prix glory was the best way for 18-year-old Scoular to start the year and a new chapter in his motor racing career. "To win the New Zealand Grand Prix... what can I say? Scoular set the fastest lap of the race on lap 21, increased his lead to over 1sec and never looked back.

Black Caps batter Finn Allen scores a half-century against India in the fifth and final T20 cricket international in Thiruvanantha-puram. Kishan clobbered 10 sixes in an incendiary 103 off 43 balls to anchor India’s imposing 271 for five at the Greenfield International Stadium. Ish Sodhi bore the brunt in the 12th over, when Kishan lashed four fours and two sixes in a seven-ball over that cost 29 runs. Black Caps captain Mitchell Santner had a hint of asmile when asked what the tourists could have done to stopped the relentless Indian batters. While the series was lost, the Black Caps gained valuable preparation for the T20 World Cup, he said.

Mr Campbell is now calling on Southlanders to take part in a survey on air travel, as part of a push for improved air services. The most common issues raised by people commenting were related to the cost of domestic air travel and the need to restore the direct flight to Wellington. "No surprises there, but the more detailed data from the survey will be really important to develop a strategy," he said. Chief executive Chami Abeysinghe said the survey would provide evidence-based understanding of Southlanders’ air travel needs. Early feedback from the survey showed the loss of direct Wellington services and limited flight timings was increasing travel time, cost and complexity.

Northern Irish family (from left) Lynsey, Elizabeth and John Glover competed in the pentathlon at the Masters Games in Dunedin at the weekend. "But if I’m honest, my main reason was to come and do this [the Masters Games]. The Masters Games had exceeded all expectations, she said. It was a busy opening weekend for the Masters Games with the opening ceremony getting under way at the Edgar Centre on Saturday night. Brazilian jujitsu makes its debut at the Masters Games today, while curling, pickleball, darts, bowls and petanque get under way.

A public workshop will be held from noon on Wednesday — before a Cromwell Community Board meeting. All Central Otago residents were urged to help come up with a name for the nearly completed building, which is due to open in July, at the Central Otago District Council meeting in December. The Cromwell Community Board had recommended the $45 million venue have dual names — one English and a gifted te reo Māori one, Central Otago district councillor Sarah Browne said at the December meeting. Deputy mayor Tracy Paterson said, at the time, the decision was for the whole district, "not just a decision for Cromwell". However, all Central Otago ratepayers would pay for operating expenses because of the council’s "districtisation" policy of spreading its outlay across the whole district.