PHOTO: TONI MCDONALDThe endless cycle of rinse-and-repeat training exercises paid off big time for Invercargill Airport and the city’s emergency management team last week when things got real. The captain chose to land at Invercargill Airport on one engine, where well-drilled emergency response teams were on hand. But initially, when that plane touches down, it’s the fire service that was in charge of it, Mr Harris said. The Boeing sat on the Invercargill tarmac until emergency staff were satisfied there were no further associated risks. However, it still had the whole team turn out with Fenz, police and everybody," Mr Harris said.

Russia has banned 36 more Kiwis from entering its borders — including mayors, journalists, public figures and defence force leaders — who are accused of "shaping an anti-Russian agenda". ADVERTISEMENTThe NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was not the first set of "retaliatory" sanctions Russia had issued against Kiwis. "Russia’s latest sanctions list includes members of New Zealand’s Defence Force who have been training Ukrainian troops to assist Ukraine in its own legitimate self-defence. In July 2022, 32 more New Zealanders were added to the list, including then-Auckland mayor Phil Goff, then-Wellington mayor Andy Foster, then-Nelson mayor Rachel Reese, then-Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel and then-Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins, among other elected officials. In January 2023, a further 31 Kiwis were banned from entering Russia, including then-TVNZ chief executive Simon Power and Clarke Gayford, the husband of former Prime Minister Ardern.

ID fashion festival organisers (from left) Margo Barton, Victoria Muir and Sally McMillan are calling on all Dunedin designers to sign up for the Dunedin Railway fashion show in 2025. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHCalls for designers have gone out as Dunedin prepares for the return of the city’s premier fashion event. The iD Fashion Show will be back next year to grace the Dunedin Railway Station platform and organisers are urging Dunedin designers to take part. Criteria for entrants is that designers be either Dunedin-based, have a connection to the city or be producing "directional, commercial and sustainable adult fashion". Event manager Victoria Muir said the show was "high voltage" and audiences "absolutely love" the opportunity to be among the first to see the designers who will be driving the future of the sector.

Source: City of LeedsThe council and universities in Leeds are urging the city’s 50,000 students and their landlords to be good neighbours during the summer changeover period. As many student tenancies end this month in Leeds, the council is working closely with the University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Arts University, Leeds Trinity University and Unipol to support students, landlords, and their agents to help keep noise and discarded waste to a minimum. The University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett are supporting events throughout June for students to sell and swap their unwanted possessions. Collections by Revive will be stocked at a free community shop at Rainbow Junktion, supporting Leeds families who need it. “We always work hard alongside the universities to encourage students to feel part of the local community and to show consideration for other residents.

- Advertisement -Mid Canterbury grown goodies are set to be on show at this year’s Ashburton A&P Show as new president Ben Stock takes the reigns. The Hinds dairy farmer has chosen the theme The Food Basket of Mid Canterbury – From the Paddock to the Picnic. “It’s making people aware about what is actually going on in Mid Canterbury,” he said. Stock hoped stalls would include all the show usuals as well as feature newcomers on the value-add side of the products. Stock, and his wife Mary-Anne, have called the district home for 20 years.

AC/DC Drummer Arrested On Drugs ChargesPhil Rudd is arrested in New ZealandAC/DC drummer Phil Rudd has been convicted of cannabis possession in New Zealand. Stuff.co.nz reports that police discovered the drugs when they executed a search warrant on Rudd's launch at the Tauranga Bridge Marina on October 7. Tuck told Tauranga District Court that Rudd spent nine months travelling the globe with AC/DC in 2009, earning $400 million from concerts. Tuck told the magistrate that Rudd was remorseful and has taken full responsibility for his actions. They say that if Rudd wanted to enter a country like the United States, he would still have to declare that he has been arrested on drugs charges and appeared in court.

- Advertisement -Members of Mid Canterbury Vintage Machinery Club raised $30,000 for Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust. It was proceeds from their Wheat and Wheels Rally in April, and a sold-out Ferguson FE35 tractor raffle. Rally committee chairman Anthony Hampton, who hosted the two-day event at his Lauriston farm, presented the final tally to crew from the rescue helicopter service in Christchurch on Saturday. ACTION ON SHOW: Action from around the grounds at the Mid Canterbury Vintage Machinery Club’s wheat and wheels rally at the Lauriston property of Anthony Hampton over April 6 and 7, 2024. There were more than 700 types of vintage and modern machinery including pivot tractors, tractors, motorbikes, cars, trucks, traction engines, military displays and farm machinery of varying sizes.

Source: Australian Electoral CommissionAECMediaUpdated: 28 June 2024With disinformation, deepfakes and the rise of AI making news, international experts in democracy met last week at the Australian National University’s National Security College for a timely discussion on the future of electoral integrity and trust. Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said the two-day forum included electoral commissioners from around Australia, as well as Sweden, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, and a number of countries from across the Pacific. “The AEC has always gained incredible value from engaging with international audiences, including other electoral administrators and democratic institutions,” Mr Rogers said. “In Australia, and I know for some of our overseas colleagues, electoral administrators are leading the agenda in these matters.”The Canberra Series on Electoral IntegrityThe conference was hosted by the Australian National University’s National Security College, in partnership with the Australian Electoral Commission and International IDEA, an intergovernmental organisation with a focus on supporting democracy worldwide. It was the fourth event held as part of a broader Canberra Series on Electoral Integrity, run by the Australian Electoral Commission in partnership with International IDEA – and the first event to be held in person.

Advocates for a Central Otago regional hospital will not know if their idea has government support until the end of this year. But Prime Minister Chris Luxon has promised "more to say shortly" about his government’s commitment to the Dunedin Hospital rebuild. Dr Shane Reti and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speak with expecting mothers Kayla Best (left) of Wanaka and Emma Bennett (third from left), of Lake Hawea. PHOTO: REGAN HARRISThe Otago Daily Times yesterday asked Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Mr Luxon during a media conference in Wanaka if they were committed to a proposed regional hospital in Central Otago and the Dunedin Hospital rebuild.

Murderer Lauren Dickason tells supporters ‘fair and just’ sentence a ‘win for mental health’Triple murderer Lauren Dickason believes the sentence handed down to her this week was “fair and just”, according to a message her supporters say they received after her court appearance. Lauren Dickason as the jury delivered a majority verdict finding her guilty of murdering her three children. Photo / George HeardJustice Mander handed down a finite sentence of 18 years for each murder, to be served concurrently. “Yesterday was a win for maternal mental health,” said the latest. “We have forgiven her but are obviously still struggling to understand the maternal mental health issues which caused this tragedy.

In a memo for Auckland Council’s Domain Committee, Screen Auckland described the movie as an “exciting, international black comedy”. Around 160 cast and crew were in the Auckland Domain this week for the shooting of Heart Eyes. A carousel featured prominently in a scene for Heart Eyes, filmed in the Auckland Domain this week. A Seattle police car – one of many film props in the Auckland Domain this week. Like most other major media firms including NZME, TVNZ and MediaWorks, Stuff has been looking closely at costs.

In a sentencing hearing this week, defence lawyer Annabel Cresswell cited "loss-reactive shoplifting" - when an otherwise law-abiding citizen shoplifts amid a mental health crisis - as the reason behind Ghahraman's actions. What is 'loss-reactive shoplifting'? The term 'loss-reactive' has been around for a very long time, Eisenbarth says. In Ghahraman's case, Cresswell argued this unusual behaviour was shoplifting. "I think what is really important to know is that shoplifting is a behaviour, it's not a characteristic," Eisenbarth explains.

Wellington multi-instrumentalist folk muso Graeme James has come a long way since his early performing days, busking in freezing cold Queenstown winters. He’s heading back to his old hunting ground tomorrow, to help celebrate the opening of The Cargo Collective, a new function and events space, including a brew hall, behind Gantley’s Tavern, established by Cargo’s Meron and Malcolm Blakey. At 7 he began playing violin, “then I kept adding instruments’’. For the brew hall show, he’ll be accompanied by Taranaki-based drummer Ben Dixon. ‘‘I’m doing the melodic things, and Ben the drummer is hitting the drums as hard as he can.’’Cargo Brew Hall grand opening, behind Gantley’s Tavern, Saturday, from 4pm; Graeme James ‘Luminous Times Tour’, 8pm.

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Ayrburn’s taking the concept of a midwinter Christmas to a completely different level. From Monday till July 31, the hospitality precinct, which opened in December, is transforming into a Christmas wonderland, completewith an outdoor ice skating rink, light displays and oversized ornaments, including towering Nutcrackers. Developer Chris Meehan says the idea was sparked over lunch with a friend in Sydney. ‘‘I have incredible memories of white Christmas in Europe and wanted to bring that festive spirit back home during the New Zealand winter. ‘‘The Ayrburn Christmas Wonderland is going to be unlike anything NZ has seen before, and we’re proud to bring that experience to locals and visitors.