Queenstown Bike Fest co-organiser Emmerson Wilken, left, with Leroy Leslie and Jadon Wilson, both of Australia, looks forward to the start of this year’s festival tomorrow. PHOTO: JAMES ALLAN PHOTOGRAPHYThe Queenstown Bike Festival returns tomorrow after the brakes went on the event last year. Co-organiser Emmerson Wilken said they decided in 2024 to hold the 10-day fest every two years, so last year they held only the three-day McGazza Fest, still a full-on event. "Only because McGazza Fest is so popular, and it’s a memorial thing for every year, it still works," Mr Wilken said. "That’s a full top-to-bottom of Coronet, down to the valley floor, like, 1200 metres of vert," Mr Wilken said.

Police say they interviewed a civil servant accused of “unacceptable behaviour” at a Ministry of Social Development Christmas party but decided no criminal charges were warranted. Anne Shaw, MSD’s deputy chief executive for Disability Support Services, described the incident as “unacceptable behaviour”. However, the commission said it had not received a disclosure and referred the matter back to MSD, as reported by Stuff. Shaw rejected claims of a workplace culture of excessive drinking, saying strict rules governed alcohol at MSD functions. “The consumption of alcohol on MSD premises at any time required the prior approval of a manager,” she said.

Mahe Braaksma aims to be the youngest person to cycle the length of New Zealand from Cape Reinga to Bluff. Photo: Evie Sinclair/ODT graphicMahe Braaksma hopes to be the youngest solo rider to bike the length of New Zealand once he reaches Bluff today. He now wants to be the youngest person to complete the ride solo. "It’s pretty cool, without the support, he would’ve been saving money this year to complete the ride next summer," she said. Other young New Zealanders have completed the 3000km bike ride, but they were not alone.

A group of men accused of harassing a sea lion on a Dunedin beach insist they were doing nothing wrong. On Monday, Jarred Wilson shared photos of what he said were a group of five young men "getting up in the sea lion’s space". However, one of the young men photographed, who declined to be named, said they were not doing anything untoward. "As we came off the path down to the beach there were sea lions on either side of the entrance — we walked past hesitantly." He said if Mr Wilson was unhappy with their behaviour, he could have just talked to them.

Photo: staff photographerA Dunedin man hit a driver with a bottle in a road-rage incident, leaving a wound that required eight stitches, a court has heard. Davies switched lanes, sped up so he was next to the other driver and threw an object, which hit the roof of the car. When the driver pulled over to check his vehicle, Davies stormed up to him, yelling at the victim while holding a glass bottle. He initially maintained he was not the driver as his car was missing, but later admitted that was a lie. Judge David Robinson said the road-rage incident had potential to cause more harm than it did.

“The passenger left the scene before the police arrived and was last seen by witnesses walking on Mt Eden Rd. “The bus driver was assessed by ambulance staff and while she is suffering from some discomfort, there are no significant ongoing effects,” Darvill said. Police and Auckland Transport (AT) are supporting the driver in her recovery. “The issue of community safety and antisocial behaviour extends well beyond public transport,” an AT spokesperson said. Police guard the scene on Nehu St, Ōrākei, related to a fatal stabbing of a bus passenger in Glen Innes last month.

All EB Games stores will close on January 31. Photo: SuppliedEB Games is shutting down its New Zealand business and closing all its stores at the end of the month. In a letter sent to employees last week, EB Games Australia & New Zealand managing director Shane Stockwell said the company was proposing to close all remaining EB Games New Zealand stores and the New Zealand Distribution Centre. Another letter sent on Wednesday confirmed that EB Games will close its New Zealand operation on 31 January. EB Games is an Australian-based video game and pop culture merchandise retailer, owned by GameStop since 2005.

Police are asking the public to help identify three men who they believe are able to assist with an investigation into a number of serious assaults in Churton Park. Photo: NZ PoliceWellington police are hunting three men in connection with a violent, unprovoked assault on seven young people in a Wellington park. They then went on to conduct a "planned, violent, unprovoked assault on seven young people in attendance of the gathering before fleeing the area." Police are asking for help to identify this man in relation to an assault in Churton Park. Photo: NZ PolicePolice are now asking the public to help identify three people who they believe could assist in enquiries into the assault.

Two candidates — Gina Adcock and Neil Sinclair — have put their hands up to run in the Mataura Community Board by-election, hoping to fill the remaining seat. The by-election was triggered after only four candidates stood for the five seats at the table. Nominations opened late last year. Voting officially opens on January 30 and closes on March 3.gerrit.doppenberg@alliedmedia.co.nz

PHOTO: ALLIED MEDIA FILESLingering debris from October’s dramatic storm is fuelling a busier than usual fire season in Southland. Group manager Jodi McHugh said crews had been called out to more vegetation fires than it would normally expect. Ms McHugh cautioned people still disposing of downed vegetation to ensure it was well away from hedgerows as some burn piles had ignited hedges. "Keep checking the burn piles — don’t be complacent. Southland’s summer had provided some regular rain which had limited vegetation fires, but she expected the fire caution would soon change.

The deep south has had a dry start for 2026, Metservice says. Meteorologist Lewis Ferris said last week’s rain could be "very important". Some parts of Southland already had dry soil moisture. There had been a weak La Nina event in the past two months but the forecast expected it would return to normal in February. "Current models have February looking pretty typical La Nina — low pressure systems in the north and Tasman Sea, high pressure draped across the South Island.

Silvester said the person who made the report had been advised of the outcome and police had offered them support. In response to claims of “excessive” alcohol consumption at the event, Shaw said the department’s alcohol policy was clear. “The consumption of alcohol on MSD premises at any time requires the prior approval of a manager,” she said. “For social gatherings at our national office site, guidance is that alcohol cannot be consumed before 4pm and people need to leave by 7.30pm. “The minister expects all matters of this nature to be taken seriously,” the spokeswoman said.

PHOTO: SUPPLIEDThe Wānaka man who died after being crushed by his car in his own driveway had just finished jump-starting a visitor’s car for her. Retired Waikoikoi sheep and beef farmer, David Simmers, 85, died last Monday at his Wānaka home in Roche St.Mr Simmers had parked his car to help jump-start the person’s car. Speaking from the family farm in Waikoikoi, now fifth generation, son Jeff Simmers said the accident came as a great shock to the family. The family took heart from the fact their father would have been proud of himself to have helped someone, he said. The Waikoikoi farm having been in the family name for five generations was a strong point of pride for him.

The alleged offenders were masked and one was armed with a weapon.”“They then conducted a planned, violent, unprovoked assault on seven young people before fleeing the area,” Murdoch said. One of the men police want to speak to was wearing a black hoodie with "Lakers" printed on the front, dark-coloured shorts, white sneakers and had a diamante stud. The second man wore a black hoodie with “Lakers” printed on the front, dark-coloured shorts, white sneakers and had a diamante stud earring in their left ear. A third person cannot be seen in the images, however, they have been described as wearing a grey hoodie, beige/grey shorts and black sneakers. Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

The Exxon Valdez, named after the town of Valdez, caused an ecological disaster which devastated Alaska. Katie Harris in Valdez Alaska. Haines, Alaska. ChecklistAlaskaGETTING THEREFly from Auckland to Alaska with one stopover in San Francisco with United and Alaska Airlines. DETAILSThe writer took the Seward to Vancouver route, stopping in Valdez, Haines, Sitka, Juneau and Ketchikan, staying in a deluxe stateroom.