The Duck owner and founder Emma Strybosch has made the difficult decision to close her Macandrew Bay cafe after five years in business. Photo: Peter McIntoshTough economic times have forced a Dunedin business owner to make the "heartbreaking" decision to close her small community cafe after five years in business. Macandrew Bay cafe The Duck announced on social media yesterday it had closed "for the forseeable future" after trading for the final time on Tuesday. Owner and founder Emma Strybosch said the past four months, December in particular, had been really difficult for the business financially. The cafe was supposed to be for people who lived in the area "because they deserve to have somewhere to go".

Coca-Cola's Matthias Blume says the collaboration for a pre-mixed Jack Daniel’s whiskey and Coca-Cola drink makes commercial sense. The collaboration was made possible after Coca-Cola entered a global partnership with Brown-Forman, the owner of Jack Daniel’s, in late 2022. He recalled doing activations as a junior brand manager in the late 1990s with Jack Daniel’s, Coca-Cola and Bacardi in Germany. The company has already launched several aRTD products in Australia, including a Bacardi Rum drink. As for why companies do brand collaborations, Blume believed it was valuable to classify them under two categories.

🟧🟡Heavy Rain Watches and Warnings, ⚡Thunderstorms and Downpours⛈️⛈️The risk of downpours due to thunderstorms is there for all of the North Island and very top of the South Island, with the exception of Gisborne and northern Hawke's Bay. “There is also a risk of thunderstorms for quite a large portion of the North Island in the second half of the day.”Seth has a look at what's expected to be a busy day of weather on Thursday:⛈️ Areas of heavy rain and numerous thunderstorms will affect the North Island and upper South Island. pic.twitter.com/ocE0WynS5A — NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) January 14, 2026That could be extended through the northern parts of the North Island. Taranaki Maunga is also under a heavy rain warning until 11pm, with up to 100mm of rain expected to fall and peak rates of up to 40mm/h. A heavy rain warning is in place for Marlborough, north of Ward, until 5pm.

Sam Kenny, 44, died on January 3 after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2019. Photo / SuppliedBowel cancer is the second-highest cause of cancer death in New Zealand, second only to lung cancer. Bowel Cancer New Zealand said the incidence of bowel cancer in this country is one of the highest in the world, with more than 1200 people dying from it each year. She said she advised families going through something similar to reach out to charities such as Bowel Cancer New Zealand and the Cancer Society for support. Dai Henwood went public with his stage 4 cancer diagnosis in January 2023.

Taieri A&P Society president Dale Harris is ready for thousands of people to fill the Taieri Showgrounds for the 166th annual show next week. PHOTO: SHAWN MCAVINUEAnother bumper crowd is expected at the 166th Taieri A&P Show in Mosgiel next week. Taieri A&P Society president Dale Harris, who dairy farms in Henley, said he estimated nearly 10,000 people attended the event at the Taieri Showgrounds last year. An aim of the show committee was to provide entertainment for no extra cost to keep it an affordable event. • The 2026 Taieri A&P Show takes place on Saturday, January 24, 10am-4pm at the Taieri Showgrounds.

Last year, OAR FM hosted new shows about music and the arts, gardening, technology, faith, health, business, travel, social services and more. All OAR FM content is broadcast on 105.4FM and 1575AM, streamed from the stations website and podcasts from the accessmedia.nz platform. OAR FM staff can help with any questions about taking the first steps. Contact OAR FM on (03) 471-6161 from 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, or email community@oar.org.nz. A full schedule of OAR FM podcasts and programmes can be found at www.oar.org.nzBy Jeff HarfordCommunity liaison

Dunedin resident John Oskam next to a dumped, and split, bag of polystyrene which was thrown down a bank in Ross Creek. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHA slice of inner-city paradise has been tarnished after some "idiots" dumped their household rubbish down a steep Dunedin bank. The bush around Ross Creek now features a full bag of polystyrene, an old lifejacket, a pair of dirty boots, multiple chairs, hoses, ropes and clothes. The rubbish was scattered down a steep bank in Burma Rd in Ross Creek Reserve, less than 50m away from the entrance to the water treatment plant. In 2023, Mr Oskam reported a cache of rubbish to the Dunedin City Council that some people had thrown down the bank.

Children from Little Citizens Early Learning Centre try out the new and improved play area at Navy Park. Dream South D project lead Rosie Hill said the renovation was an opportunity to add extra amenity to South Dunedin. Getting into the swing of things at Navy Park is Little Citizens Early Learning Centre preschooler Marie McKay, 3. Dream South D contributed funds for a covered electric barbecue area and a wheelchair-accessible drinking fountain, which includes a dog bowl and water bottle filler. Dream South D also shared the expense of a new tower for the flying fox.

Photo: suppliedEndurance athletes from around the world will be descending on Gore next month for a challenge spanning hundreds of kilometres — with an adventurous twist. The MAGNIficent Adventure Race was first held last year in Lumsden, as a part of the Adventure Racing World Series. We’re proud to welcome competitors and visitors to experience not only the race, but everything our region has to offer." Winners will receive free entry to the 2026 Free Adventure Racing World Championships in Corsica, France. The headquarters will be at the Gore Town & Country Club, which will serve as a central hub for competitors.

Queenstown Bike Fest co-organiser Emmerson Wilken, left, with Leroy Leslie and Jadon Wilson, both of Australia, looks forward to the start of this year’s festival tomorrow. PHOTO: JAMES ALLAN PHOTOGRAPHYThe Queenstown Bike Festival returns tomorrow after the brakes went on the event last year. Co-organiser Emmerson Wilken said they decided in 2024 to hold the 10-day fest every two years, so last year they held only the three-day McGazza Fest, still a full-on event. "Only because McGazza Fest is so popular, and it’s a memorial thing for every year, it still works," Mr Wilken said. "That’s a full top-to-bottom of Coronet, down to the valley floor, like, 1200 metres of vert," Mr Wilken said.

Police say they interviewed a civil servant accused of “unacceptable behaviour” at a Ministry of Social Development Christmas party but decided no criminal charges were warranted. Anne Shaw, MSD’s deputy chief executive for Disability Support Services, described the incident as “unacceptable behaviour”. However, the commission said it had not received a disclosure and referred the matter back to MSD, as reported by Stuff. Shaw rejected claims of a workplace culture of excessive drinking, saying strict rules governed alcohol at MSD functions. “The consumption of alcohol on MSD premises at any time required the prior approval of a manager,” she said.

Mahe Braaksma aims to be the youngest person to cycle the length of New Zealand from Cape Reinga to Bluff. Photo: Evie Sinclair/ODT graphicMahe Braaksma hopes to be the youngest solo rider to bike the length of New Zealand once he reaches Bluff today. He now wants to be the youngest person to complete the ride solo. "It’s pretty cool, without the support, he would’ve been saving money this year to complete the ride next summer," she said. Other young New Zealanders have completed the 3000km bike ride, but they were not alone.

A group of men accused of harassing a sea lion on a Dunedin beach insist they were doing nothing wrong. On Monday, Jarred Wilson shared photos of what he said were a group of five young men "getting up in the sea lion’s space". However, one of the young men photographed, who declined to be named, said they were not doing anything untoward. "As we came off the path down to the beach there were sea lions on either side of the entrance — we walked past hesitantly." He said if Mr Wilson was unhappy with their behaviour, he could have just talked to them.

Photo: staff photographerA Dunedin man hit a driver with a bottle in a road-rage incident, leaving a wound that required eight stitches, a court has heard. Davies switched lanes, sped up so he was next to the other driver and threw an object, which hit the roof of the car. When the driver pulled over to check his vehicle, Davies stormed up to him, yelling at the victim while holding a glass bottle. He initially maintained he was not the driver as his car was missing, but later admitted that was a lie. Judge David Robinson said the road-rage incident had potential to cause more harm than it did.

“The passenger left the scene before the police arrived and was last seen by witnesses walking on Mt Eden Rd. “The bus driver was assessed by ambulance staff and while she is suffering from some discomfort, there are no significant ongoing effects,” Darvill said. Police and Auckland Transport (AT) are supporting the driver in her recovery. “The issue of community safety and antisocial behaviour extends well beyond public transport,” an AT spokesperson said. Police guard the scene on Nehu St, Ōrākei, related to a fatal stabbing of a bus passenger in Glen Innes last month.