Announce protest actions, general chit chat or give your opinion on issues we haven’t covered for the day. All in all, TDB gives punters a very, very, very wide space to comment in but we won’t bother with out right lies or gleeful malice. We leave that to the Herald comment section. EDITORS NOTE: – By the way, here’s a list of shit that will get your comment dumped. Sexist abuse, homophobic abuse, racist abuse, anti-muslim abuse, transphobic abuse, Chemtrails, 9/11 truthers, Qanon lunacy, climate deniers, anti-fluoride fanatics, anti-vaxxer lunatics, 5G conspiracy theories, the virus is a bioweapon, some weird bullshit about the UN taking over the world and ANYONE that links to fucking infowar.

Here’s how Wikipedia characterizes the term:Karakia are Māori incantations and prayer used to invoke spiritual guidance and protection. The Māori prayer woman kept insisting on reciting the prayer and the mayor kept saying “no”. “Excuse me, just before we start, through the chair may I say the karakia?” Paniora said. “Councillor Paniora, you are not allowed to speak in this manner and we will continue with our meeting.” Jepson said. It’s clear that the article is written to show the hornéd secular mayor as the demon, even though New Zealand is a secular country.

Kamila Valieva, the teenage Russian figure skater at the centre of one of the biggest Olympic Games doping scandals, has been banned from competing for four years. Valieva has also been stripped of the women’s team title, with her team-mates almost certain to follow. Valieva, 15 at the time, had initially been found by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency to have borne no “fault or negligence” after testing positive for trimetazidine, but the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed against that decision. The gold medal from the women’s team event is now set to go to the United States, runners-up to a team already competing under the title “Russian Olympic Committee”. Doctors, coaches or other support personnel who are found to have provided performance-enhancing substances to minors should face the full force of the World Anti-Doping Code.

Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnonA group of nine former Gloriavale members found to have been employees have lodged an Employment Relations Authority claim against the Christian community for lost wages and compensation believed to total $5.2 million. It is the first time a dollar-figure has emerged quantifying the amount Gloriavale could owe the plaintiffs in two landmark Employment Court cases, as they seek payment for lost wages, breach of minimum entitlements, compensation and penalties. The court's chief judge Christina Inglis found the men and women were employees, rather than community volunteers, working in factories and on farms or Gloriavale's domestic teams. However, the appeal court invited submissions on whether leave should be granted on two narrow questions of law that could have wider significance for religious or volunteer organisations. Last year Gloriavale members told the Employment Court the community could not afford to pay everyone wages and employment relationships would destroy their Christian way of life.

An internationally recognised member of New Zealand's mountaineering and skiing community who was critically injured in a helicopter crash in Canada last week has died. Lewis Ainsworth, 35, was on board a helicopter as a heli-ski guide when the aircraft crashed in British Columbia on January 22. He is the fourth person to die following the crash near the city of Terrace. He also worked for Southern Lakes Heliski who paid tribute to him on its Facebook page. "He was a very motivated person to come and learn the skill in his early 20s after living in Auckland."

Green Party co-leader James Shaw has this morning announced he will step down from the position in March. “It has been the privilege of my lifetime to serve as New Zealand’s Climate Change Minister for the last six years and as Green Party Co-leader for nearly nine," Shaw said in a statement. “I’m very proud of what the Green Party has achieved over the last eight years. Green Party co-leader James Shaw checks Dunedin’s Toiora High Street Co-housing development with future residents and project co-ordinators in September 2020. “Our historic election result in 2023 ushered in a new era for the Green Party.

The question must be asked “when does reporting become harassment”? Both Golriz and Kiri have the right to choose trial by jury if the matters get that far, but clearly that can’t happen? How could any jury in New Zealand be neutral with all the publicity and coverage freely available on social media or google? TDB Recommends NewzEngine.comTo Kiri and Golriz, I say to you both, go well and thank you for all you both have done for Aotearoa. Jackie Foster, CEO, Social Justice Aotearoa

Sadly for China, this won't be a quick crash from which everyone can pick themselves up and carry on. The UST 10yr yield starts today at 4.10% and down -4 bps from this time yesterday. The Kiwi dollar starts today at just on 61.1 USc and up +20 bps from yesterday. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at 70.1 and up +20 bps from yesterday. The bitcoin price starts today firmer yet again.

Following the success of their collaboration with Cookie time, nut butter maker Fix & Fogg have teamed up with some of Wellington’s top chefs to think beyond toast. Dough Bakery, Tomboy and Concord were asked to push the limits of what nut butter can do. Created with agency EightyOne, the digital campaign running this month featuring noodles, waffles and donuts will encourage F&F fans to push their spread beyond bread and make the most of any meal. They’ve shown us that what you do with your Fix & Fogg is only limited by your imagination. Client: Fix & Fogg

Bounding along on a cold January morning, five-year-old Lena Tindall demonstrated her sporting prowess while competing in a charity fun run with her father Mike Tindall on Sunday. The Rugby for Heroes family run at Sir Thomas Rich’s School and Old Richians RFC in Gloucester was held to support veterans adjusting to civilian life. Mr Tindall and his wife Zara’s second daughter completed a 5km run, suggesting she has inherited her parents’ sporting genes. She refrained from choosing the easier option of an alternative 3km run. During the morning’s race, the young royal could be seen jogging in a red T-shirt, occasionally taking the hand of her former rugby union player father.

A two-year-old British boy is thought to be the youngest person ever to reach Everest Base Camp. Ross Dallas took son Carter to the mountain’s southern campsite, which is located 17,598ft above sea level. Each year, around 40,000 trekkers reach South Base Camp in Nepal, with just 800 people attempting to scale the entire 29,031 foot mountain annually. It is thought Carter is the youngest person to have reached South Base Camp. The family-of-three reached the base camp on October 25.

Two people have had their licences suspended for 28 days and are due to appear in court after alleged drink-driving incidents yesterday. He said the driver was found to be intoxicated, and recorded a breath alcohol level of 1153mcg. ‘‘It’s a high reading, especially for that time of the morning.’’His licence was suspended for 28 days and he was charged with excess breath alcohol. Snr Sgt Bond said a 33-year-old woman was stopped in Filleul St about 2am on Sunday, and she recorded a breath alcohol level of 745mcg. ‘‘She had been at a bar in the Octagon, celebrating someone’s birthday.’’Her licence was also suspended for 28 days and she was charged with excess breath alcohol.

Famous British writer J.R.R. NZH 10dec01 - UNSUITABLE: J.R.R Tolkien sold the film rights to The Lord of the Rings in 1969 but his son now says the classic will not translate well into a movie. BOP 17dec02 - WGC 27Oct10 - RDP 27Oct10 - BOP 27Oct10 - RDN 20Jan11 - SUN 22Apr12 -Famous British writer J.R.R. NZH 10dec01 - UNSUITABLE: J.R.R Tolkien sold the film rights to The Lord of the Rings in 1969 but his son now says the classic will not translate well into a movie. BOP 17dec02 - WGC 27Oct10 - RDP 27Oct10 - BOP 27Oct10 - RDN 20Jan11 - SUN 22Apr12 -Are you smarter than a robot?

This reminds me of the Desiderata: "With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams it is still a beautiful world." Fr Wayne HealeyOamaruClarity soughtAct New Zealand had a policy on having a debate on the Treaty of Waitangi. We, with no Māori heritage, have taken the English version of the Treaty of Waitangi as it was first written. We would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that Hato Hone St John continues to be there for all New Zealanders in an emergency. David MilneSt John's area operations manager Rural OtagoAddress Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin.

Emergency services reponded to a garage fire in Middleton Rd on Sunday afternoon. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONA fire investigator has been contacted after a garage fire in Middleton Rd this afternoon. A Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) spokesman said they received reports of a garage fire in the suburb of Kew at approximately 3.45pm. A second alarm was raised and two additional trucks were sent from the Dunedin City and Roslyn stations. Crews were speaking with a fire investigator but it was unclear if one had attended the scene, the spokesman said.