Otago athletes have made a sound start to the new year on the track and field. They returned home with several podium placings at the Lovelock Classic in Timaru at the weekend. She broke her own record to become the oldest winner of a national senior women’s title at 62. Scarlett Robb was 48th in the women’s under-20 race, followed by Brynne Gordon (51st), Denika Clooney (55th), Eleanor Pugh (60th) and Poppy Healy (62nd). In the men’s race, Caleb Wagener finished 39th, followed by George Wyllie (49th), Corban Holmes (56th), Redd Scampion (61st) and Bede Colbourne (65th).

January 11, 2026 15:31 UTC

But in the South Island, temperatures will drop further among today’s hot spots with Kaikōura forecast for 20C, Christchurch and Timaru 19C, Ashburton 18C, and Ōamaru 21C. Magwala said a front currently across the top of the South Island would move towards the bottom of the North Island overnight. Magwala said the top half of the North Island would remain mainly fine, apart from one or two showers in Northland for the afternoon. Two houses on a rural Hawkes Bay road were also evacuated this afternoon after a vegetation fire broke out nearby. In the South Island, New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said contractors were called in to clear fallen trees on State Highway 94 near Milford Sound, SH74 in Canterbury and SH6 on the West Coast.

January 11, 2026 09:13 UTC

So far, ManageMyHealth has notified around half of the roughly 120,000 patients whose data has been stolen. Photo / Michael CraigSo far, ManageMyHealth has notified around half of the roughly 120,000 patients whose data has been stolen. Photo / Michael CraigBy RNZMore than 70% of those impacted by the ManageMyHealth breach are based in Northland, according to Health NZ. So far, ManageMyHealth has notified around half of the about 120,000 patients whose data has been stolen. The breach was limited to 6-7% of 1.8 million registered users, within the “My Health Documents” module only, according to ManageMyHealth.

January 11, 2026 09:04 UTC

Those inside when the fire alarm went off all made it out safely, the owner said. Those inside when the fire alarm went off all made it out safely, the owner said. Photo / NZMEBy RNZAbout 60 people have been evacuated after a fire broke out at a large badminton centre in Auckland. The owner of the NZ Badminton Centre on East Tamaki Road, Dev Senthiya, said about 20 firefighters put out the blaze, which came from the roof of the building. Those inside when the fire alarm went off all made it out safely, Senthiya said.

January 11, 2026 09:00 UTC

As of 2pm Sunday, there are 32 active bushfires across the state and 15 emergency warnings advising people to leave their communities. Thousands of residents are currently impacted by 15 emergency warnings related to three fires raging in different parts of the state. “Strong southwesterly winds may cause the situation to change at any time,” a Vic Emergency warning reads. Devastation revealedNew aerial footage has revealed the extent of the damage caused by flames as they rage through town after town. Meanwhile, separate federally funded disaster recovery payments will be available for those affected in Barkers Creek, Harcourt, Harcourt North, Longwood, Longwood East, Natimuk, Ravenswood South, Ruffy and Sutton Grange.

January 11, 2026 08:39 UTC





Bluebridge cancels all Connemara sailings through to TuesdayMV Connemara, the Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry. Photo / Mark MitchellBluebridge has cancelled all of the Connemara sailings through to Tuesday. A problem with the winch that controls the stern door led to 200 passengers being stuck for 15 hours on Thursday. It said it has been working hard to establish a timeframe to fix the problem, but that is not yet clear. Further cancellations were possible for next week, and Bluebridge would be contacting affected customers directly.

January 11, 2026 08:17 UTC

In an earlier post, Al-Ahmed shared an injury update with Rudd, saying doctors believed he was still months away from a full recovery. My blood for my country, Australia and for human beings around the whole world, anywhere and any place,” Al-Ahmed said. Bill Ackman, a hedge fund founder worth almost US$10 billion who donated $99,999 to a GoFundMe campaign for the Bondi hero, was also in attendance. “The menorah represents endurance, represents courage, represents persistence and, most of all, represents life and light in the darkness. Al-Ahmed described the trip as a “long journey, but a necessary one” as he seeks specialist care for his injuries.

January 11, 2026 08:14 UTC

“Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti Gisborne are still looking to be some of the hotter places in the country,” she said. Hawke’s Bay is looking to be one of the hottest places in the country this weekend. Forecast temperatures have been rising all week, with the MetService saying some areas – including Northland, Coromandel and Hawke’s Bay – could break January records today. MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr said it’ll be dry with these northwesterlies, particularly in northern Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay, and Gisborne. “Anything that’s lit, sparks can fly and get driven quite a long way and start fires,” Kerr said.

January 11, 2026 08:10 UTC

Photo: NZMEA greyhound that tested positive for methamphetamine after winning its race has left its owner and racing investigators scratching their heads about how the dog could have been contaminated. He has had no prohibited substance breaches since he began racing dogs in 2017. Despite the racing investigators being unable to trace the source of the drug, a charge was laid against Anderson before the Racing Integrity Board. For comparison, the international standard for positive drug test cut-off concentration applied in human drug testing is 300ng/mL. Because a source could not be found, the board opted not to penalise Anderson for the positive drug test.

January 11, 2026 06:51 UTC

Parties, loud music, graffiti and a woman scaling the side of a building to escape an alleged domestic violence situation have seen a tenant chucked out of her apartment. Photo: Getty ImagesParties, loud music, graffiti and a woman scaling the side of a building to escape an alleged domestic violence situation have seen a tenant chucked out of her apartment. That day, several neighbours had complained about loud music, offensive language, intoxicated people and one person parking a motorcycle inside the apartment block. According to the decision, two weeks after the party, two of Palmer's guests were arguing on her patio. Palmer's tenancy was terminated and she was ordered to pay $3263 in costs to the body corporate.

January 11, 2026 05:33 UTC

A resident returns to find his property ablaze near Longwood, Australia. Bushfires have burned tens of thousands of hectares in central Victoria, destroying multiple homes and other structures. Police confirmed the death on Sunday after finding the body in the Longwood bushfire area, about 130km north of Melbourne. Property destroyed by bushfire near Longwood, Victoria. From Wednesday, residents in Barkers Creek, Harcourt, Harcourt North, Longwood, Longwood East, Natimuk, Ravenswood South, Ruffy and Sutton Grange will be eligible.

January 11, 2026 04:51 UTC

Thanks to relentless touring, constant musical evolution and a passionate fan base, the Grateful Dead - who existed from 1965 to 1995 - did not have to rely on producing hit records. In 1964 at age 16, he met Bay Area folk musician Garcia, with whom he formed the Warlocks, who soon morphed into the Grateful Dead. The group's first album, "The Grateful Dead," was released in March 1967. By the time of the band's two famous 1970 albums, "Workingman's Dead" and "American Beauty," Weir was a key contributor. As the band's rhythm guitarist, Weir often played little fills, riffs and figures instead of straight chords.

January 11, 2026 03:58 UTC

US musician Bob Weir performs onstage during the Farm Aid Music Festival at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana on September 24, 2023. Photo / Suzanne Cordeiro, AFPUS musician Bob Weir performs onstage during the Farm Aid Music Festival at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana on September 24, 2023. Photo / Suzanne Cordeiro, AFPAmerican guitarist and songwriter Bob Weir, a founding member of the revolutionary, psychedelic jam band Grateful Dead, has died aged 78, his family announced on Sunday. Weir was diagnosed with cancer in July and had beaten the disease, but “succumbed to underlying lung issues”, his family said in a statement on his personal website, without specifying where or when he died. “For over 60 years, Bobby took to the road,” the statement said.

January 11, 2026 03:38 UTC

He has had no prohibited substance breaches since he began racing dogs in 2017. Despite the racing investigators being unable to trace the source of the drug, a charge was laid against Anderson before the Racing Integrity Board. Investigators said the level found in Hilton Hustler’s system was very low at just 0.7ng/mL of Methamphetamine and 3ng/mL of Amphetamine. For comparison, the international standard for positive drug test cut-off concentration applied in human drug testing is 300ng/mL. Because a source could not be found, the board opted not to penalise Anderson for the positive drug test.

January 11, 2026 03:31 UTC

The nationwide protests started in Tehran's Grand Bazaar against economic policies in late December, which spread to universities and other cities. Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Iran’s deposed shah, had urged Iranians to stage more targeted protests on Saturday and Sunday after hailing mass protests on Friday. ‘Not safe’Amnesty International said it was analysing “distressing reports that security forces have intensified their unlawful use of lethal force against protesters” since Thursday. On Thursday and Friday, an AFP journalist in Tehran saw streets deserted and plunged into darkness before any protests. An AFP reporter saw shop windows broken, as well as security forces deploying.

January 10, 2026 22:48 UTC