Otago lily judges (from left) Celia Joyce, Margaret Laughton and Liz Bremer get pointers on the art of judging lilies from New Zealand Lily Society president Rex Lyes, of Christchurch. On Saturday, the sweet scent of hundreds of lilies permeated the air in the St Kilda Bowling Club rooms as the Otago Lily Society held its annual show. North East Valley resident and beginner gardener Laura Hudson’s prize-winning lily, which took first place in the novice oriental lily category and second overall. While flicking though the drenched pages, she found out the Otago Lily Society was holding its annual show the next day. Otago Lily Society show organiser Karen Judge said she was really pleased for Ms Hudson getting such a great placing as a first-time entrant.

Police investigating an assault in Churton Park, Wellington, are seeking help to identify three men seen at a Mobil gas station. Three charged over unprovoked attacks at party in Churton Park, WellingtonPolice investigating an assault in Churton Park, Wellington, are seeking help to identify three men seen at a Mobil gas station. Photo / NZ PoliceThree people have been charged and police are hunting a fourth after a group of masked men allegedly stormed a party and assaulted young people in a violent, unprovoked attack. Seven people were injured in the serious assaults that happened in the Wellington suburb of Churton Park last month. Acting Detective Sergeant Laura Murdoch said about 90 young people were there at the supervised, invitation-only party.

Hours out from today’s keynote speech, Luxon said he wouldn’t be announcing any new policy or an election date, but the latter was coming “very shortly”. Luxon had till today stayed silent on recent global events, including Trump’s plan to take over Greenland and the arrest of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. Fixing basics, building futureThe National Party has been focused on “fixing the basics and building the future” since late last year. Luxon is not expected to reveal this year’s election date this morning; it’s likely to be unveiled on Wednesday at National’s annual caucus retreat in Christchurch. While events in New Zealand have been relatively quiet over the holiday period, Luxon is likely to address global events, which have been ramping up.

The Black Caps then bowled out India for 296 in 46 overs despite Kohli’s 54th ODI century and clinched the three-match series 2-1. New Zealand had lost all seven of their previous ODI series in India, a run dating back to 1988. New Zealand left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox returned figures of 2-42 from his 10 overs after Bracewell left the field with a calf injury and did not return. Mitchell reached his ninth ODI ton with a single off Ravindra Jadeja before Phillips also brought up his hundred. The teams next play five T20 matches in a final tune-up for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka between February 7 and March 8.

Evan Davies is group chief executive at Todd Corporation, a role he will juggle with being Crown manager of the Dunedin hospital new build. The framework does not anticipate the specific role of Crown manager but the highest daily fee it recommends is $1645. He said the previous Government failed to secure a construction contract, despite repeated promises, and since appointing Davies as Crown manager one has now been signed. Health Minister Simeon Brown has appointed a Crown manager of the New Dunedin Hospital build and a Crown observer on the Health NZ board to strengthen his grip on health services and infrastructure delivery. “Ironically they have now returned to the same site, plan and Crown manager as appointed by Labour in Government,” she said.

About 25 protesters gathered in the Octagon yesterday to stand in solidarity with civilians in Iran. PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIENAn Iranian expat living in Dunedin on a temporary visa says he would be killed if he returned to his country. Chanting included "down with Islamic Republic in Iran", "stop genocide in Iran" and "regime change for Iran". Mr Zaheri said, because they had shared photos and videos protesting on social media, he would be killed if he went back to Iran. "If Islamic regime is still there, and I go to Iran, they’re going to kill me.

New Zealander Khol Gillies – who hails from Hawke’s Bay - lost his left leg while fighting for the Ukraine International Legion, and has since been awarded a medal for valour after his battlefield heroics. “During a fierce attack in Ukraine, Khol lost his left leg while holding his position and protecting his team,” the page said. He remained at his post for five days until evacuation was possible.”An online fundraiser has been created to provide further support to Khol Gillies. The fundraiser for Khol Gillies talks of his courage on the battlefield, even after being seriously injured. Photo / Supplied“This campaign aims to support Khol through recovery, rehabilitation, and rebuilding his life.

The average price of a “point” of meth - or 0.1g, which is the usual quantity consumed - was $74 in 2025. Wilkins described the ongoing drop in the price of meth as “dramatic and persistent”, which had reached a new low with unwelcome ramifications for the wider public. Research shows how cocaine becoming easier to accessThe drug survey also revealed that cocaine supply and use continue to grow. Chaired by Steve Symon, a veteran prosecutor in Auckland, the advisory group produced monthly reports with detailed recommendations on topics such as money laundering, corruption, and information-sharing. Now it’s about working out how to make it happen.”Jared Savage covers crime and justice issues, with a particular interest in organised crime.

Keeping a low-profile has been this Government’s modus operandi when it comes to Donald Trump’s administration. The Prime Minister hasn’t commented on that or on the potential global implications if the US central bank’s independence is damaged. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will seek to remind New Zealanders of areas where the Government believes it's making solid progress. Concern over crime has dropped significantly in that survey since it was a high point prior to the 2023 election. But as the Herald reported last week, crime data can be cherry-picked to fit certain narratives.

Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to seize Greenland since returning to the White House for a second term. They would rise to 25% from June 1 “until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland”, Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel, meanwhile, called Trump’s threat an “inexplicable” form of “blackmail”. “In this escalation of tariffs, [Trump] has a lot to lose as well, as do his own farmers and industrialists,” she told broadcasters Europe 1 and CNews. Norway, targeted by Trump’s tariffs threat but, like Britain, not an EU member, said it was not currently looking at retaliation against US goods.

2025Colby Kelly-NashWellington carpenter Colby Kelly-Nash had his licence cancelled after the board identified “a pattern of taking funds and not completing the building work“. Adair carried out and supervised building work on new homes in Beckenham, but council inspections showed the work didn’t follow the approved building consent and had serious problems. Utiku Turoa TysonUtiku Turoa Tyson had his building licence cancelled after substandard work on a kitset dwelling in Whanganui that was described as “verging on incompetence”. “There was a distinct lack of care and attention paid to how the building work was carried out in a pattern of non-compliance, which was disconcerting. Inspections of the work by the Building Consent Authority and other practitioners found “extensive non-compliant building work”, especially in how the wall and roof cladding had been carried out.

They are banned on board commercial aircraft and police say they confiscated the device found at Wellington Airport. The NZDF spokeswoman said the practice bomb was filled with lead, “which matched the weight of a live bomb”. A photo supplied to the Herald appears to show the dummy training bomb detected in a passenger's bag during screening at Wellington Airport. “There was no risk to staff and passengers.”Wellington Airport said “it was determined there was not an immediate risk justifying a full evacuation”. In response to the worker’s allegations, Wellington Airport’s spokesman said “safety is the top priority for Wellington Airport and other agencies”.

Campbell Melville Ives. PHOTO: TRACEY ROXBURGHWanaka snowboarder Campbell Melville Ives executed arguably the best run of his career yesterday. As rider after rider fell, Melville Ives kept his composure in the Laax final. Melville Ives advanced to the finals after a strong qualifying performance, scoring 84 to finish fourth in his heat. Melville Ives will make his Olympic debut with his twin, freeskier Finley.

Modern gold mining is nothing like the gold mining of the past. Central Otago doesn’t need mining. The beautiful environment of Central Otago deserves better than this. Ross DavidsonWakariCalling out hypocrisyAll options are on the table "to stop the slaughter'’: US and Trump threatens to deploy soldiers. Ashley BoorerAndersons BayAddress Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin.

With our public health system facing problems in every direction, it is hard to tell how bold our politicians may be on the campaign trail when it comes to oral health. The huge hole in the provision of dental care in the existing publicly funded system means adults largely miss out. Some tens of millions of dollars are paid out annually by the government in dental grants for adult dental care for those on low incomes and with limited assets. They can also highlight, without looking too hard, the shortcomings in the existing publicly funded services for those under 18. That would support free annual dental check-ups and basic dental care for all adults, funded from extra taxes such as a wealth tax.