An Auckland Transport (AT) spokesperson said the roadworks were clearly communicated to residents. AT said letters regarding the street lighting work plans were delivered by the contractor to the immediate neighbourhood on March 2. It advised residents of the hours, excavation works, traffic management activities and the potential for construction noise. “The fourth night, I think I lost my rag.”An Auckland Transport spokesperson says the roadworks began on March 8 and had been “clearly communicated” to residents. An Auckland Transport spokesperson says there are times when roadworks need to be carried out at night.

PHOTO: ODT FILES‘‘Welcome to political widowhood’’ my husband and I heard when I was first elected as an MP way back in 2002. But there is also the public scrutiny of MPs’ spouses and their families that others do not have to endure. Strangers comment on their driving, on what is in their shopping trolley, complain about what the MP partner did, or said or — if the MP partner is a woman — wore on TV. Worse, someone will take that deeply personal and very real experience and turn it into a public political attack. When the strains on a family from political widowhood spill out into the public realm, for whatever reason and through whatever channel, these are deeply personal, tightly held matters.

PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONMark Twain declared the reports of his death were greatly exaggerated — and the owners of the Lauder Hotel can relate after rumours spread their business was closing. It turned out a radio host had incorrectly announced the closure of the hotel. While the hotel was still on the market after failing to sell at tender, it was still business as usual, Ms Valentine said. Since the closure of the nearby Commercial Hotel in Omakau, the Lauder Hotel had become even more of a focal point for the community, Ms Valentine said. The Matakanui Rugby Club enjoyed a free meal once a fortnight and farmers met up for a drink and a yarn.

Ukraine honorary consul Olena Grubb is looking forward to strengthening academic and social ties between Ukraine and New Zealand. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONThe Ukraine’s new honorary consul to the South Island says she has been impressed by New Zealanders’ knowledge and support of her country. Olena Grubb assumed the role at a special ceremony at the Dunedin Club on Thursday, which was attended by several Ukrainian dignitaries. As honorary consul in Dunedin, Mrs Grubb will focus on strengthening cultural, academic, and economic ties between Ukraine and New Zealand, supporting the Ukrainian community, and promoting awareness of Ukraine during the ongoing Russian war against the country. We share family values, we share hard work.’’Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and the war has dominated every part of Ukrainians’ lives since, she said.

An artist’s impression of the Mt Iron Junction development from the entrance of the park ing bay on State Highway 84. IMAGES: SUPPLIEDA major housing development seeking fast-track approval at the base of Mt Iron is an ‘‘exciting new project that’s meeting the changing demands’’ of Wanaka, a community housing chief executive says. Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust chief executive Julie Scott said the planned Mt Iron Junction development, which lodged its fast-track consent application last month, was a good example of development close to the heart of the town. Mr Schikker said the Mt Iron Junction development aimed to meet this area of demand, providing attainable housing by delivering ‘‘smaller, smarter, simpler dwellings ... to singles, couples and smaller families’’. Inclusionary housing contributions are helpful, but not a ‘‘silver bullet’’ for fixing the housing problems in the Queenstown Lakes District, with over 250 Wānaka-based households on the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust’s waiting list.

The Commercial Hotel in Omakau. The company which was operating the Commercial Hotel in Omakau when it closed its doors in late 2023 has been placed in liquidation. In his initial report, liquidator Brenton Hunt, of Insolvency Matters, said the company Accidental Publicans Ltd had been placed in liquidation by special resolution of the shareholder. Staff were paid wages and holiday pay was paid along with as many creditors that could be paid. Plant and equipment were surrendered to the landlord and initial investigations did not indicate an overdrawn shareholder current account.

Otago is leading the country in ketamine use as new data reveals the region is a particular hotbed for the increasingly popular party drug. The latest New Zealand Drugs Trends Survey (NZDTS) showed ketamine had become a popular ‘‘party drug’’ option, and had been carving a ‘‘niche’’ for itself in the affordable drug market. That meant people were spoiled for choice — 25% of people from Otago who took part in the survey reported using ketamine within the past six months. Many people who took part in the survey who said they took ketamine also reported they were students, and tended to be of a younger age. Ketamine is a class C controlled drug in New Zealand and has a legitimate medical use as an anaesthetic.

University of Otago brain researcher Prof Louise Parr-Brownlie will co-lead a new international brain research project. So a new international partnership has been established with the aim of improving brain health research and treatment, which is to be co-led by University of Otago brain researcher Prof Louise Parr-Brownlie. In conjunction with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the European Commission, the University of Otago has been named as the New Zealand host of the Horizon Europe Brain Health Partnership. Prof Parr-Brownlie said teamwork was key to finding real-world solutions, such as new ways to deliver health services, detect brain changes or develop new treatments to improve brain health. ‘‘New Zealand health researchers are world leaders at delivering equitable, person-centric research that improves people’s lives.

New Zealand Army medic Corporal Amanda Voice during Exercise Nui Dat at Waiouru recently, where soldiers from 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment recently honed their skills across both mounted and unmounted weapons systems. PHOTO: NZDFDigging trenches and setting up ambushes is just as much a part of the job as providing trauma aid to casualties for former Maniototo resident, now New Zealand Army medic and ‘‘marksman’’ shooter, Corporal Amanda Voice. Her first post was with the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1 RNZIR), Whiskey Company. War-fighting skills were part of the job of being a medic. ‘‘I operate alongside infantry soldiers — digging trenches, setting up ambushes and in the middle of the noise and smoke — treating casualties,’’ she said.

Photo: suppliedPictures of United States President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and US flags have been plastered on Luxon's electorate office in Auckland. A sign which reads 'Trump War Minerals HQ' with a cutout of a bald eagle preying on a kiwi was also put up outside the office in the suburb of Botany this morning. She said a minerals deal would lead to more mining projects, causing "environmental destruction", and also make New Zealand complicit in the war in the Middle East. "We know a minerals deal would be bad for the land and sea of Aotearoa. "We're calling on Luxon to say no to a minerals deal with Trump.

Photo: CCCThe gates at the new $683 million Christchurch stadium will be opened up to 15,000 members of the public for a free community open day on May 2. The stadium will be open to the public from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, May 2. Some food vendors will be operating at the stadium open day. Harvie-Teare is confident it will be ready when the gates open for the first time. The stadium open day will also feature on the Open Christchurch schedule.

Dunedin boy Noah Dobier has begun a new round of treatment after previously diagnosed and treated acute lymphoblastic leukaemia returned. The Balaclava School "trooper" was rushed to Christchurch Hospital last month, where doctors discovered a combined leukaemia relapse — cancer in his bone marrow and spinal fluid. "We just felt really overwhelmed and devastated ... this time it’s a lot more aggressive," Mrs Dobier said. "They call it a combined [leukaemia] relapse because it’s in his bone marrow and his spinal fluid," Mrs Dobier said. "All the boys are starting to sign up for rugby ... because he’s older, he knows he can’t do that stuff now," Mrs Dobier said.

New Zealand Property Investors Federation advocacy manager Matt Ball says the group is fighting a narrative that property investment is "useless, unproductive and speculative activity". Federation advocacy manager Matt Ball told Herald NOW’s Business with Garth Bray they wanted to counter the narrative all property investors did was “buy and sell houses like [a game of] Monopoly, and then sit on a pile of cash”. They’d have contributed almost identically the same GDP.”Council of Trade Unions economist Craig Renney questioned the report on property investors impact on New Zealand's GDP. No one was saying property investment was wrong, but the country was grappling with how much money should be going into property investment at the expense of other investment, Eaqub said. Property investors spent $4.1 billion on maintenance and improvements alone in the year covered by the report.

Currently, around 51% of the fuel New Zealand imports comes from South Korea and 31% from Singapore. However, New Zealand importers may want the Government to signal, for social licence purposes, that it is comfortable with them selling fuel with Russian origins. Looser fuel specifications could, for example, create more pollution. Finally, Willis said the Government was open to reducing the minimum stock fuel importers are required to hold. Jenée Tibshraeny is the Herald’s Wellington business editor, based in the parliamentary press gallery.

As part of the Kaikohe Youth Court process, the 18-year-old, his whānau and the victim’s whānau took part in a family group conference. At the sentencing, Candice Walkley told a packed courtroom that Staci was truly unique for her happiness and lack of anger. Staci Walkley, 11, was was described as humble, caring and full of love. “No more looking backwards from this day forward.”The proceedings through Kaikohe Youth Court included a family group conference. Photo / NZMECandice Walkley told the teenager she loved him and accepted him as part of her family.