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.
Dunedin surfer Alexis Owen in action off the coast of Gisborne at the 2026 New Zealand Surfing Championships on Saturday. Owen was the fairytale story of the event last year when he became the first Dunedin surfer to win the New Zealand open men’s title. "I had a couple of scrappy heats ... and I just couldn’t find my rhythm," Stairmand told Surfing New Zealand. Owen was the only rival to stay within reach of the leader, posting an 8.33-point ride to open the final. It was a second title for the 17-year-old after a women’s final in which just 0.67 points separated first from fourth, the lead changing several times over the 25-minute heat.
Beaumont Boot Bash organiser Olivia Montgomery (back right) and friends (back, from left) Oli Young and Danial Henderson, cheer on Amber Saychek and Olli Wotton as they polish up their dance moves for the traditional rural singles event at the Beaumont Hotel later this month. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYLove is in the air — with a side order of gumboots — as a classic singles ball returns to the country calendar later this month. Beaumont Hotel owner Alison Mills began the Beaumont Boot Bash in 2010 in an effort to bring the area’s widely scattered singles together for a night of socialising, dancing and "fun and games". "I’d heard about the infamous Boot Bash and when Alison approached me I thought ‘why not?’. "We’ve revised a few things, so everyone can stay safe, while keeping all of the character and fun of the classic event.
The proud Southlander and member of the New Zealand’s men’s track endurance squad was stoked to take an early lead in his home event after some furious racing on the opening day of the rescheduled tour yesterday. The under-23 rider then finished second in the 42km stage one street race on the same course to take the overall lead in the general classification. Earlier in the stage, he had also won the sprint points to take an early lead in the sprint ace classification. Creation Signs-MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project lead the teams classification with Ben Dyball the leading over-35 rider. Stage 1: Zakk Patterson 1, Erwood 2, Kiaan Watts 3, Nicholas Kergozou 4, Thomas Sexton 5.
Green Island 286/2dec beat Albion 139 by 147 runsMayank Malhotra and Brad Kneebone should take a holiday more often. The Green Island opening pair marked the return of the Dunedin premier club competition from the Christmas break with a spectacular partnership at Sunnyvale on Saturday. Malhotra made an unbeaten even 100 and Kneebone contributed 118 as Green Island posted 286 for two from 51 overs before declaring the innings closed. Daniel Lawrence had a nice day out for Green Island, claiming five for 33 from 11 overs, while Blair Soper had three for 34. There was an inevitability to the result, however, as O’Connor finished with four for 15 from 14 overs (six maidens) and Aansh Amin contributed three for 16.
The event began with the Friday Night Car Cruise, held to help raise money for Camp Quality, which provides camps for children and young people living with cancer. Alpine Street Machines president Steve Swift said more than 250 cars participated in the cruise, with many from Christchurch, Dunedin and Southland. The cruise was a casual way for people to talk about their cars and to raise money for charity. Camp Quality registrar Judi Weedon said the charity had been involved with Alpine Street Machines for a few years, and the vehicle owners had provided free rides to campers. The event finished yesterday with the Alpine Street Machines Swap Meet, at the Litany St clubrooms.
Wreckage from a turboprop ATR 42-500 aircraft, similar to the one pictured here, has been found in South Sulawesi province in Indonesia after losing contact with air traffic control on Saturday. File photo: Getty ImagesIndonesian authorities said on Sunday they had located the wreckage of a fisheries surveillance plane that went missing in South Sulawesi province near a fog-covered mountain, but were still searching for the 11 people on board. The aircraft had been heading to Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi, after departing from Yogyakarta province before contact was lost. Rescuers have been deployed to the locations where the wreckage was discovered, Sultan said, adding the search was hampered by thick fog and mountainous terrain. The ATR 42‑500, manufactured by Franco-Italian planemaker ATR, is a regional turboprop aircraft capable of carrying between 42 and 50 passengers.
Photo: Getty ImagesBlack Caps captain Michael Bracewell says he didn't expect to play one game for New Zealand, let alone bring up his 100th wearing the silver fern. Bracewell leads a depleted touring side hoping to seal its first-ever one-day series in India in the third and final match at Indore on Sunday NZT. Bracewell, now 34, admitted his international career had unfolded unexpectedly, especially the extent to which he has become a regular bowling option for New Zealand. New Zealand has visited India on 16 different tours for ODI cricket, including four World Cups, but a series triumph has so far eluded them. Bracewell said the team was aware of the opportunity ahead of them to create more cricketing history.
PHOTO: ODT FILESA business owed money by a North Otago organic farm has lost hope of ever being paid as the liquidated company’s debt balloons to more than $1.8 million. Organic Solutions Ltd, which traded as Oamaru Organics, was placed into liquidation in May last year. The Alexandra-based transport company, listed as an unsecured creditor, had carted produce for Oamaru Organics from Oamaru into Queenstown and Cromwell. Oamaru Organics’ Totara property has also been sold to a neighbouring farming family. Liquidator Brenton Hunt said all secured creditors had been paid, one receiving $114,725, and a preferential creditor was paid $29,522 in staff holiday pay.
Heritage stonemason Keith Hinds mixes up another batch of lime mortar on Saturday to help stabilise the stonework of the old St Bathans School. PHOTOS: STEPHEN JAQUIERYWhile most people were dressed to the nines, celebrating the local architecture and ye olde activities at the St Bathans Village Fete, Keith Hinds was busy getting his hands dirty. The 74-year-old put on a display on Saturday, showing visitors to the two-yearly fete how he was restoring the ruins of the old stone St Bathans School. Oamaru friends (from left) Peter Page, Yvonne Johnston-Page, Lea Campbell and Jono Milne dressed up for their visit to the 2026 St Bathans Village Fete on Saturday. It was also an important fundraiser for the St Bathans Community Association, which helps maintain the historic buildings and public spaces in the settlement.
The sign at Wanaka’s Allenby Pl carpark where a temporary prohibition of freedom camping has been approved from January 23 to April 30. PHOTO: EVIE SINCLAIRAt least one Wanaka resident is "over the moon" a temporary ban has been placed on freedom camping in her neighbourhood. The freedom camping bylaw was designed to direct visitors to 15 pre-determined sites and keep campervans off most residential streets. But Allenby Pl had experienced access and health and safety issues due to increased traffic "that are unique to the layout of this area", he said. The temporary ban at Allenby Pl would give the council time to determine the long-term suitability of the site.
FENZ GRAPHICDry conditions have prompted Fire and Emergency New Zealand to implement a restricted fire season in the coastal Waitaki zone. Fenz Waitaki district commander Craig Gold said outdoor fires would need a permit from today until further notice. Inland Otago, including Queenstown Lakes, Central Otago and northern parts of the Waitaki district, was already in a restricted fire season. Mr Gold said the latest change in fire season reflected the increasing levels of fire risk around Otago. He urged residents to visit www.checkitsalright.nz to find out the fire season status for any location in the country and get advice on how to use fire safely.
Miss Elliott’s father, Gil Elliott, told the Otago Daily Times he sent a written submission to the parole board about six weeks ago, having gone back over everything that happened at the time. While he did not think the parole board would let Weatherston out on the first occasion, "theoretically, they could". He hoped members of the parole board were "well and truly aware" of what narcissists were and what they were capable of. "If they let him out, then it’s a risk that the parole board takes that he will not react to some perceived insult. The parole board needed to understand there was no cure for NPD — "once a narcissist, always a narcissist".
