Photo: Stephen JaquieryArmed police have been seen all over the city in a manhunt involving numerous officers and vehicles. A police spokesman said they were making enquiries to locate two men who were wanted in relation to several vehicle thefts over recent days. "About 2.15pm, a vehicle of interest was observed in South Dunedin and was last seen on Ravenswood Road." Enquiries were ongoing to locate the vehicle and its occupants, the spokesman said. While travelling to investigate the stolen van, officers observed a nearby Subaru suddenly take ‘‘evasive action to get away from police’’.

Photo: Stephen JaquieryPolice at the scene of a crash where a car towing a trailer full of concrete blocks appears to have lost control on the north bound lane of the Southern Motorway near Fairfield this morning. Blocks spewed over the motorway and the car was wedged on the median barrier.

Photo: ODT FilesPolice dogs tracked an allegedly drunk driver to the depths of a popular Dunedin bush walk after he was caught speeding. Police attempted to stop the vehicle being driven by a 52-year-old man as he was heading into Dunedin on the Northern Motorway, about 8.30pm yesterday. The man was speeding and refused to stop, Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said. The man may have also had a dog with him, Snr Sgt Bond said. A charge of drink driving would depend on the result of the blood sample, which was pending, Snr Sgt Bond said.

Photo: ODT filesRoadworks affecting traffic on Southland's Milford highway start next week. The work to improve the region's state highways in the new year included excavation, fill, resurfacing and line marking. Other highways affected are:• SH90/Waikaka Valley Highway, between Waikaka Rd and Cunningham Rd - work scheduled from Monday, January 5 to Tuesday, March 31. • SH96/Winton-Wreys Bush Highway, at Heddon Bush Rd (Monday, January 5 to Saturday, January 31). Road users could expect to encounter temporary traffic lights, a 30km/h temporary speed reduction and delays of 5 to 10 minutes.

Renting in the Central Otago Lakes District region is now more expensive than Auckland. File photoCentral Otago/Lakes District remains the most expensive place to rent in New Zealand, with the average weekly price hitting $891 - more than $200 above Auckland - according to realestate.co.nzRents climbed 11.8 percent over the year to December, reflecting strong demand and a tight pool of available properties. The central North Island recorded the second‑largest annual increase, with rents rising 6.2 percent to $597 per week. "Central Otago/Lakes District continues to sit in a league of its own, driven by strong demand and a limited pool of rentals which is pushing prices to record highs." "With stock building and competition among landlords rising, renters will continue to find themselves in a stronger position to negotiate on price or lease terms in 2026."

More than 50 pilot whales have stranded across two sites on Farewell Spit. Photo / Supplied / Project JonahMass whale stranding on Farewell Spit, call for volunteers to help creaturesMore than 50 pilot whales have stranded across two sites on Farewell Spit. Photo / Supplied / Project JonahMore than 50 pilot whales have stranded on Farewell Spit as volunteers work to rescue them. Project Jonah New Zealand said on its Facebook page that early Thursday afternoon it was notified of a pod of whales swimming in the shallows and heading towards Farewell Spit. “We welcome help at Farewell Spit this evening keeping the whales cool until sunset.

The researchers reviewed 37 studies looking at ceasing different weight-loss drugs, finding that participants regained around 0.4kg a month. While taking these two drugs, the trial participants lost an average of nearly 15kg. People who were instead put on programmes that included diet and exercise – but not drugs – lost significantly less weight. This meant that people taking the drugs regained their weight four times faster. ‘Starting point, not a cure’“Greater weight loss tends to result in faster weight regain,” lead study author Sam West of Oxford University explained.

Photo: Supplied / Auckland CouncilOpen fires, dogs on tracks they're banned from and loud music played on bluetooth speakers are some of the biggest concerns for the people who look after Auckland's regional parks. Significant vegetation and planting areas have been lost in Duder and Waitawa regional parks from fires in 2021 and 2020. Lehmann, who has been a part of the southern regional parks team for more than seven years, said Auckland's 28 regional parks are the busiest during the summer months. In the first three months in 2024, regional parks across Tāmaki Makaurau were visited an estimated 2,579,033 times. Since 1 August, new rules on where people can walk their dogs on-leash and off-leash at regional parks, local parks and beaches took effect.

East Wind was comprised of seven related companies in liquidation, six of which saw their last rites – final liquidators’ reports – posted to the Companies Office in December. There is marginally better news for the one East Wind company for which liquidators are still working through. The collapse of East Wind caused a minor diplomatic stir, as both the Japanese embassy in Wellington, and New Zealand’s in Tokyo, fielded complaints from angry investors. It was revealed the SFO had received a formal complaint about East Wind five years prior, but had elected to refer it to Immigration New Zealand (INZ). East Wind employee Yuko Hanyu was charged by the SFO with false accounting and theft by a person in a special relationship in 2022.

Sir Tim Shadbolt. Photo: ODT FilesFormer Invercargill mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt has died at the age of 78. His partner Asha Dutt described Sir Tim as "a kind-hearted man who cared deeply about the people around him". “Sir Tim served an incredible eight terms as mayor of Invercargill, and he leaves an enormous legacy within our community. Sir Tim Shadbolt stands beside his portrait by Deidre Copeland.

“Her mum remains by her side, while the rest of the family is distraught and urgently needs tautoko [support]. “Layla-Mae is a beloved daughter, sister, mokopuna, and niece, deeply cherished by her whānau and wider whānau. “Their precious Laylah-Mae was involved in a serious drowning incident and is now fighting for her life in hospital. A police spokeswoman confirmed officers were called to the Wairarapa address about 2.30pm on Wednesday to reports of a drowning. “One person was injured and taken to hospital, but is now stable,” she said.

Photo: Supplied / Earth Sciences NZ2025 was the country's fourth-hottest year on record, according to Earth Sciences New Zealand's (ESNZ) annual climate report. The highest air temperature of the year was 35.6 degrees recorded at Kawerau on 7 December. The organisation has recorded the annual temperature at seven weather stations across the country since 1909. The crown for the region with the highest annual sunshine went to Taranaki with 2743 hours recorded at New Plymouth. Photo: Supplied / Earth Sciences NZSea temperatures were also on the rise.

The suite seats were first rolled out in 2023 on Dreamliners and Airbus A321XLR twinjets. The airline says 51 Flagship Suite seats will have more personal storage space. The aircraft’s economy seats had new headrest wings for added privacy and new calf and foot rests. It had 32 premium economy seats with new trim and finish, wireless charging, water bottle storage and USB-C and AC power. Premium economy seats in the cabin.

The superyacht Pangaea Ocean Explorer off Roseneath yesterday. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYAn Australian billionaire’s $69 million superyacht, which doubles as a marine research vessel, has cruised into Dunedin. The Pangaea Ocean Explorer arrived in Port Otago yesterday from Port Lyttelton, sailing under the Jamaican flag. It is not the first superyacht to appear in Dunedin this season. In December, the 49.1m superyacht Teleost, owned by former Microsoft chief technology officer Nathan Myhrvold, docked in the harbour.

The Sunday scorcher in Hawke’s Bay would follow 30C+ temperatures tomorrow and Saturday for both cities, and on varying days across a swathe of locations from Northland to Canterbury. They were issued just before noon for hot weather expected tomorrow in Whakatāne, Napier, Hastings, Blenheim and Kaikōura. 🌡️ Hot temperatures will be arriving later this week, especially in parts of the North Island. 🥵 Particularly hot temperatures at least in the mid-30s are signalled for Hawke's Bay this weekend. The hot weather is expected to make for a busy weekend at beaches, including the popular Piha on Auckland's West Coast.