From alien love affairs to paranormal passions — there will be a love story for everybody at a new Dunedin bookstore entirely dedicated to romance. Colette Palmer said her independent bookstore, The Ink Pot, opening next month in St Andrew St, would stock novels from "all across the romance spectrum". Ms Palmer, a paranormal romance author of six years under the pen name Colette Rhodes, said romance-exclusive bookstores were not a new idea. She loved the atmosphere of romance and wanted to bring it to Dunedin. "People love the community that comes with a romance bookstore as well.

Fairfield resident Nevin Davie holds his winning photo and the real-life subject, his son Leon Davie, 2, after taking first place in the annual Magic Moments photo competition. First place went to Fairfield resident Nevin Davie, who took the winning picture of his son, Leon Davie, playing with his gift on December 29. Dunedin resident Andrew Taylor took second place for his picture of two sea lions "having a moment" together at Sandfly Bay on December 22. Third place went to Gordon McGregor for his snap of a packed Clyde School slide on January 6. PHOTO: GORDON MCGREGORThird place went to Gordon McGregor who took a picture of 12 relatives sitting atop a slide at Clyde School on January 6.laine.priestley@odt.co.nz

A Dunedin woman scammed out of $2000 when attempting to sell a phone is warning others about the dangers of online marketplaces. She provided the potential buyer the contact details, only to later discover it was actually the original person. "I think that where you’re meeting up is really important because this guy walked into my home and I felt really invaded." This experience convinced her in future to always bring someone along with her when making large transactions with private individuals. These included insisting on meeting to conduct transactions and examining the item before completing the transaction.

Finley Melville Ives shows his style at Aspen yesterday. The Wanaka teenager soared to victory in the freeski halfpipe at the Aspen round of the world cup yesterday. He had some company, too, as Canadian-born Kiwi Dane Menzies claimed bronze in the snowboard slopestyle, marking his first world cup podium. A delighted Melville Ives said he felt good in training and was determined to show what he could do in Aspen. "I am just trying to have as much fun as possible when I’m skiing, and skiing is my happy place," Melville Ives said.

Otago athletes have made a sound start to the new year on the track and field. They returned home with several podium placings at the Lovelock Classic in Timaru at the weekend. She broke her own record to become the oldest winner of a national senior women’s title at 62. Scarlett Robb was 48th in the women’s under-20 race, followed by Brynne Gordon (51st), Denika Clooney (55th), Eleanor Pugh (60th) and Poppy Healy (62nd). In the men’s race, Caleb Wagener finished 39th, followed by George Wyllie (49th), Corban Holmes (56th), Redd Scampion (61st) and Bede Colbourne (65th).

But in the South Island, temperatures will drop further among today’s hot spots with Kaikōura forecast for 20C, Christchurch and Timaru 19C, Ashburton 18C, and Ōamaru 21C. Magwala said a front currently across the top of the South Island would move towards the bottom of the North Island overnight. Magwala said the top half of the North Island would remain mainly fine, apart from one or two showers in Northland for the afternoon. Two houses on a rural Hawkes Bay road were also evacuated this afternoon after a vegetation fire broke out nearby. In the South Island, New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said contractors were called in to clear fallen trees on State Highway 94 near Milford Sound, SH74 in Canterbury and SH6 on the West Coast.

So far, ManageMyHealth has notified around half of the roughly 120,000 patients whose data has been stolen. Photo / Michael CraigSo far, ManageMyHealth has notified around half of the roughly 120,000 patients whose data has been stolen. Photo / Michael CraigBy RNZMore than 70% of those impacted by the ManageMyHealth breach are based in Northland, according to Health NZ. So far, ManageMyHealth has notified around half of the about 120,000 patients whose data has been stolen. The breach was limited to 6-7% of 1.8 million registered users, within the “My Health Documents” module only, according to ManageMyHealth.

Those inside when the fire alarm went off all made it out safely, the owner said. Those inside when the fire alarm went off all made it out safely, the owner said. Photo / NZMEBy RNZAbout 60 people have been evacuated after a fire broke out at a large badminton centre in Auckland. The owner of the NZ Badminton Centre on East Tamaki Road, Dev Senthiya, said about 20 firefighters put out the blaze, which came from the roof of the building. Those inside when the fire alarm went off all made it out safely, Senthiya said.

As of 2pm Sunday, there are 32 active bushfires across the state and 15 emergency warnings advising people to leave their communities. Thousands of residents are currently impacted by 15 emergency warnings related to three fires raging in different parts of the state. “Strong southwesterly winds may cause the situation to change at any time,” a Vic Emergency warning reads. Devastation revealedNew aerial footage has revealed the extent of the damage caused by flames as they rage through town after town. Meanwhile, separate federally funded disaster recovery payments will be available for those affected in Barkers Creek, Harcourt, Harcourt North, Longwood, Longwood East, Natimuk, Ravenswood South, Ruffy and Sutton Grange.

Bluebridge cancels all Connemara sailings through to TuesdayMV Connemara, the Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry. Photo / Mark MitchellBluebridge has cancelled all of the Connemara sailings through to Tuesday. A problem with the winch that controls the stern door led to 200 passengers being stuck for 15 hours on Thursday. It said it has been working hard to establish a timeframe to fix the problem, but that is not yet clear. Further cancellations were possible for next week, and Bluebridge would be contacting affected customers directly.

In an earlier post, Al-Ahmed shared an injury update with Rudd, saying doctors believed he was still months away from a full recovery. My blood for my country, Australia and for human beings around the whole world, anywhere and any place,” Al-Ahmed said. Bill Ackman, a hedge fund founder worth almost US$10 billion who donated $99,999 to a GoFundMe campaign for the Bondi hero, was also in attendance. “The menorah represents endurance, represents courage, represents persistence and, most of all, represents life and light in the darkness. Al-Ahmed described the trip as a “long journey, but a necessary one” as he seeks specialist care for his injuries.

“Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti Gisborne are still looking to be some of the hotter places in the country,” she said. Hawke’s Bay is looking to be one of the hottest places in the country this weekend. Forecast temperatures have been rising all week, with the MetService saying some areas – including Northland, Coromandel and Hawke’s Bay – could break January records today. MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr said it’ll be dry with these northwesterlies, particularly in northern Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay, and Gisborne. “Anything that’s lit, sparks can fly and get driven quite a long way and start fires,” Kerr said.

Photo: NZMEA greyhound that tested positive for methamphetamine after winning its race has left its owner and racing investigators scratching their heads about how the dog could have been contaminated. He has had no prohibited substance breaches since he began racing dogs in 2017. Despite the racing investigators being unable to trace the source of the drug, a charge was laid against Anderson before the Racing Integrity Board. For comparison, the international standard for positive drug test cut-off concentration applied in human drug testing is 300ng/mL. Because a source could not be found, the board opted not to penalise Anderson for the positive drug test.

Parties, loud music, graffiti and a woman scaling the side of a building to escape an alleged domestic violence situation have seen a tenant chucked out of her apartment. Photo: Getty ImagesParties, loud music, graffiti and a woman scaling the side of a building to escape an alleged domestic violence situation have seen a tenant chucked out of her apartment. That day, several neighbours had complained about loud music, offensive language, intoxicated people and one person parking a motorcycle inside the apartment block. According to the decision, two weeks after the party, two of Palmer's guests were arguing on her patio. Palmer's tenancy was terminated and she was ordered to pay $3263 in costs to the body corporate.

A resident returns to find his property ablaze near Longwood, Australia. Bushfires have burned tens of thousands of hectares in central Victoria, destroying multiple homes and other structures. Police confirmed the death on Sunday after finding the body in the Longwood bushfire area, about 130km north of Melbourne. Property destroyed by bushfire near Longwood, Victoria. From Wednesday, residents in Barkers Creek, Harcourt, Harcourt North, Longwood, Longwood East, Natimuk, Ravenswood South, Ruffy and Sutton Grange will be eligible.