Skippers Bridge in 2022. Photo: Stephen JaquierySkippers Bridge is to remain closed until further notice. The bridge provides access over the Shotover River to the Skippers Point area north of Queenstown. The future of Skippers Bridge will need to be considered by elected members through the council’s annual planning process and prioritised alongside other investment needs across the network. Skippers Bridge is inspected annually due to its age and risk profile.

Morning Headlines | Forest fires in Te Haroto and Wairarapa, and advisory group seeks to drive reform in aged care | Monday January 12, 2026Residents, tour operators and recreational users have been cut off from a popular tourist area north of Queenstown after the only bridge access route was closed indefinitely due to serious structural failures. Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) confirmed the continued closure of Skippers Bridge, Skippers Canyon, after an inspection late last year found failures of the wires in the cables used to support the bridge, meaning it is currently unsafe for any load. Roger Davidson, the council’s acting general manager property and infrastructure, said the closure would have a significant effect on the community, but that public safety had to come first. The future of Skippers Bridge will be considered by elected members. Photo / File“Investigations found failures of the wires in the cables used to suspend Skippers Bridge in place, which means we’ve been unable to safely assess what load the bridge can currently support and its integrity,” he said.

But Jasmine Cooke gained an interim freezing order from the High Court after a wrangle over the donations had seen her excluded from receiving a share. That was spelled out in the first update to the Givealittle page on September 8 - 14 days after the page went live. Tayler claims the crowdfunding site gave her three options: refund every donation, get a written agreement drawn up with Jasmine Cooke, or remove Jasmine Cooke as a beneficiary. “The Givealittle page itself used my pregnancy and the children’s place in Kane’s life to encourage donations,” she wrote. In an email obtained by the Herald, Jasmine Cooke was given a deadline of 5pm, Monday 15 September to sign it.

A firefighter was flown to hospital after a blaze in North Canterbury in searing temperatures. Crews from the Waiau, Culverden, Lyford, Hanmer VRFF, Hawarden, Wigram, Hurunui, Christchurch City, Canterbury High Country, and Pines Beach stations were called to the blaze. The sweltering temperatures and high winds kept emergency services on alert. Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue confirmed a firefighter was taken to Christchurch hospital from the scene of the fire. A Fire and Emergency (FENZ) spokesperson said 17 fire engines and several helicopters were sent to the scene.

Police guard the scene on Balfour Rd, Manurewa on Friday night following a fatal shooting. Manurewa shooting: Two people charged with murder after man killed in South AucklandPolice guard the scene on Balfour Rd, Manurewa on Friday night following a fatal shooting. Photo / Hayden WoodwardA man and woman have been charged with murder following a fatal shooting in the South Auckland suburb of Manurewa over the weekend. Emergency services were called to Balfour Rd, Manurewa about 11.10pm on Friday night, January 9, after receiving reports a man had been shot. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by the time officials located him.

More than 50 Air New Zealand flights were cancelled due to high winds in Wellington. Photo / Getty ImagesMore than 50 Air New Zealand flights were cancelled due to high winds in Wellington. Photo / Getty ImagesBy RNZPassengers on more than 50 Air New Zealand flights cancelled because of high winds in the capital on Sunday are now being rebooked. Gusts over 100km/h were recorded in Wellington on Sunday; however, winds have eased on Monday morning. He said because of the number of customers who need rebooking, seat availability into Wellington will be limited over the next couple of days.

Photo: Stephen JaquieryTwo adults and a teenager reported unconscious in a car at a South Dunedin fast-food carpark were allegedly found intoxicated and with drug paraphernalia, police say. Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said police were called to an Andersons Bay Rd car park, outside the Subway and Domino’s restaurants, about 5.40pm yesterday. Three people — a 25-year-old man, 28-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl — inside a vehicle were reported to be unconscious, Snr Sgt Bond said. Drug paraphernalia was also allegedly found inside the vehicle, he said. The car was also impounded, Snr Sgt Bond said.

Vegas Queen heads to the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic for four-year-olds at the Karaka Millions meeting, with Rae buzzing about having a genuine contender in a seven-figure race. Also heading to the Karaka Millions after impressive come-from-behind race wins yesterday will be the Andrew Forsman-trained pair of Stromlinien and Chilling Out. “She has a real touch of class and I think she could be competitive off a good tempo in the Karaka Millions Three-Year-Old,” says Forsman, who has moved up to fourth on the premiership with a win every six starters. Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald’s Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world’s biggest horse racing carnivals.

Bus driver Ted Park told the Herald the Isuzu Bighorn “aggressively overtook multiple vehicles from behind”, including Park’s 7.5m bus, which had a trailer attached. The road was straight, but the driver was impatient and had not left a safe distance, Park told the Herald. “The Isuzu entered the oncoming lane and forced an approaching car to brake suddenly and move aside to avoid a head-on collision. A police spokesperson said the dangerous overtaking seen in this video was a serious concern. And four more people died in the following three days, in crashes in Dairy Flat, the Tararua district, and Hawke’s Bay.

On Friday, FENZ suspended all fire permits for Canterbury, warning of extreme fire danger Sunday. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnonA dozen fire crews and several helicopters have responded to a fire in Rotherham, a small Canterbury settlement south of Hanmer Springs. A shed and about 100 square metres of vegetation were ablaze, but sweltering temperatures and high winds had emergency services on alert. Fire and Emergency (FENZ) said crews on the scene were working to contain the fire, with more on their way, including three helicopters. On Friday, FENZ suspended all fire permits for Canterbury, warning of extreme fire danger Sunday.

Former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick, a decorated ex-United midfielder, have both been linked with the temporary role. United, currently a disappointing seventh in the Premier League, are without a win in four games and have managed only one victory in their last seven matches. That wretched form is unlikely to improve any time soon with United hosting Manchester City next weekend before travelling to Premier League leaders Arsenal on January 25. Avenging their 2023 FA Cup semifinal loss to United, Brighton have now won on four of their past five visits to Old Trafford. United’s problems are far wider than just Mainoo and Brighton punished their shambolic defending to double the lead in the 64th minute.

No one really knows why Mika the sea lion ended up inside a Dunedin fish and chip shop on the way home to her pup. As far as she knew, no sea lion had ever come into the shop before, Ms Ng said. Doc ranger Moss Thompson tries to entice sea lion Mika out of the Takeaways on Marlow store on Saturday. Outside a small crowd watched the sea lion, many of whom were waiting for her to depart so they could get themselves some takeaway. He had not heard of a sea lion going into such a business before and there was no clear reason for it, he said.

Highlanders halfback Dylan Pledger will miss the year with a ruptured ACL. Photo: HighlandersThe Highlanders have revealed a second significant injury following news rising halfback Dylan Pledger has been ruled out of the season. Rookie sensation Pledger has been ruled out of his debut Highlanders season with a serious knee injury. Highlanders utility back Finn Hurley has been ruled for the start of the Super Rugby season. Photo: Getty ImagesThat goal, and before that his goal of experiencing Super Rugby for the first time, will now have to wait.

Dozens of flights were cancelled due to high winds in the capital. Photo: Getty ImagesPassengers on more than 50 Air New Zealand flights cancelled by high winds in the capital on Sunday are now being rebooked. Gusts over 100kmh were recorded in Wellington on Sunday; however, winds have eased on Monday morning. He said due to the number of customers who need rebooking, seat availability into Wellington will be limited over the next couple of days. "We've got a couple of days of calmer weather.

Yet we pretend that most New Zealand politicians are of some ability. This is not to argue that we have no world-class writers, politicians or business leaders (or economists for that matter), but we have far fewer than we pretend. The small size can mean we end up with monopolistic gatekeepers who control a key topic and allow no competition. We have to think small when we are designing New Zealand systems rather than imitating the big. It may be small, but thinking for ourselves is ambitious – and it is hard.