PHOTO: RICHARD DAVISONPolice are investigating the cause of a crash in South Otago that led to one driver being critically injured yesterday. Emergency services were summoned, including a rescue helicopter, which transported the SUV driver to Dunedin Hospital, departing the scene about 10am. Acting Senior Sergeant Robin Hutton, of Balclutha, said police were still establishing the cause of the accident, which led to the SUV driver sustaining critical injuries. ‘‘The male driver of the SUV was flown to Dunedin Hospital in a fairly serious condition. One patient, in a critical condition, was transported to Dunedin Hospital, the spokesperson said.

Trump said the war would continue until Iran is "totally and decisively defeated," but predicted it would be over soon. Trump did not, however, define exactly what victory in the war would look like. Israel says its war aim is to overthrow Iran's system of clerical rule. Israel had said it would kill whoever succeeded the elder Khamenei unless Iran ended its hostile policies. After speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said the United States will waive certain oil-related sanctions to ease the shortage.

In its Q1 Global Dairy Quarterly report, the specialist agribusiness bank says overall global dairy prices have shown tentative signs of recovery in recent months, with consecutive increases seen in Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auctions lifting sentiment in the sector. However, the report, by the bank’s RaboResearch division, notes that global dairy markets continue to be well supplied, with strong milk production growth across all the world’s major dairy-exporting regions, except Australia. This global supply growth has been supported by relatively low livestock feed prices, which have encouraged production and kept milk supply levels elevated worldwide, RaboResearch says. Abundant global supplyAbundant global milk supply had led to a pronounced impact on global dairy prices in the final quarter of 2025, the report said, with the prices of a number of dairy products – including fats, whole milk powder, skimmed milk power, cheese and whey – declining. OutlookLooking ahead, RaboResearch expects global dairy markets to gradually tighten as farm margins come under pressure and supply growth cools across the major exporting regions.

Southland A&P Society president Paula Bell is looking forward to another bumper show next year and refuses to let the office’s weekend ransacking be a cloud over what she has lauded as ‘‘the most successful show yet’’. Photo: TONI MCDONALDAn overnight break-in at the Southland A&P Showgrounds at Donovan Park on Saturday left a bitter aftertaste to an otherwise near-record show weekend. Southland A&P Society executive officer Georgie Day said the extremely successful weekend ended with a stomach-dropping discovery at the site office for organisers on Sunday morning. Society president Paula Bell said the break-in came hard on the heels of a hugely successful show, but she refused to let it rob credit from the small committee, which had worked extremely hard to organise the event. ‘‘We’ll definitely be looking at security, but honestly, the office was locked and everything was properly secured,’’ she said.

Since 2021, there has been a stalemate in negotiations between the organisation and the Public Service Association (PSA) over the proposal to introduce 90-day trials for some new employees. About 20 protesters stood outside Able Minds’ Prince Albert Rd premises yesterday to voice their opposition to the plan. PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons — serenaded by the car horns of passing motorists — said the charity did “absolutely critical work” but called 90-day trials “oppressive and harsh and cruel”. A protest was held yesterday outside Able Minds’ South Dunedin office yesterday over a plan to use 90-day trials. Ms Fitzsimons said the PSA would not sign up to any agreement involving 90-day trials.

File photo: RNZA Kaikōura dairy farmer has been fined $35,000 for failing to register hundreds of cattle or track their movements on and off his farms. Trevor Ronald Bolton, 59, was sentenced at the Kaikōura District Court on March 6, after pleading guilty to three charges under the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) Act. Under the act, the movement of all cattle or deer must be declared to Operational Solutions for Primary Industries within 48 hours. MPI district manager of animal welfare and NAIT compliance upper south Paul Soper said the system was critical in tracing animals to manage disease or biosecurity incursions. Soper said MPI took non-compliance with the animal tracing rules seriously.

A serious crash has been reported in the small Southland settlement of Isla Bank this morning. In a statement, police said they were called to the two-vehicle crash at about 8.40am. Fairfax-Isla Banks Rd is closed at the intersection with Isla Bank-Flints Bush Rd. The Serious Crash Unit has been notified and motorists are advised to avoid the area.

Sticky Forest will remain an outstanding natural landscape zone, despite the Environment Court’s decision to rezone part of the land. PHOTO: ODT FILESA further 7ha of scenic forest in Wanaka can now be developed into luxury homes, prompting the district’s deputy mayor to express concern about what is left. The Environment Court has ruled that a further 7ha of Sticky Forest will be rezoned from rural to large lot residential. Sticky Forest has a complicated ownership history dating back to the 1870s, when Kāi Tahu leader and politician H.K. Sticky Forest houses an extensive trail network used primarily by mountain bikers.

Michael BakerA public health expert says New Zealand is in its ninth wave of Covid-19. Prof Baker said the waves were not seasonal, being equally distributed between winter and summer. Prof Baker said there was no data to show if people were still testing, but many had become more complacent. As well as topping up antibodies, Prof Baker said getting regular boosters reduced the risk of Long Covid. The ‘‘disabling illness’’ was not being monitored at all in New Zealand, which Prof Baker said was a ‘‘gap’’ in tracking the virus.

In addition, farmers are required to report the movement of animals to the NAIT database within 48 hours. These measures form the backbone of the country’s livestock traceability framework, designed to safeguard the dairy and livestock industries from disease outbreaks. In total, the failures involved nearly 1,000 animals, leading the court to impose three separate fines of NZ$11,666 each. MPI officials emphasized that robust livestock traceability is essential for managing disease risks in dairy and beef production systems. Lessons from the country’s battle with the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak demonstrate how a single untracked animal can create significant industry-wide consequences.

Photo: SuppliedAir New Zealand has suspended its earning guidance and warned it may have to further hike prices and adjust where and how often it flies. It said the guidance it issued last month was no longer appropriate due to what it said was 'unprecedented' volatility in fuel prices. But it said it may need to take further action on its network and schedule if high jet fuel prices continued. The national carrier said the difference in the crack spread price - the margin charged by refineries - had jumped from US$22 barrel to as high as US$115. Airlines are charged for the Brent crude price of a barrel of oil - hovering around $US100 - and the crack spread price.

The report said the 84-year-old was living in the Stokeswood Care Home dementia unit in Lower Hutt. In August 2023 Beets was assessed as needing Dementia Level 3 secure residential care and placed in the dementia unit operated by BUPA Care Service. Coroner Thomas said Beets' family had questioned the circumstances surrounding his fall to understand whether anything could have been done to prevent it. "Our thoughts remain with Mr Beets' family, and we recognise the distress this event caused them. "Aged residential care is supporting residents with increasingly complex behavioural and clinical needs, particularly within dementia care settings.

Photo: ReutersUS President Donald Trump thinks the war against Iran "is very complete" and that Washington was "very far ahead" of his initial four to five week estimated time frame, according to a CBS News interview with him. They have no navy, no communications, they’ve got no Air Force," Trump told CBS News. Trump has thus far offered shifting objectives and timelines for the war that has killed scores in Iran, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah ​Ali Khamenei. Trump told CBS News the US is "very far" ahead of his initial 4-5 week estimated time frame for the war. On Iran's new Supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who is the son of the slain supreme leader, Trump told CBS News: "I have no message for him."

Lange’s younger brother Peter said he was shocked and upset about not being informed, and that the former Labour leader would “probably be laughing from wherever he’s looking down” about the situation. So that’s where we put him.”Lange’s ashes and headstone were removed from the Waikaraka cemetery due to fears of flooding. She said his headstone, described by Lange’s younger brother Peter as “a lovely, handsome stone”, was removed by a nearby stonemason. Artist Peter Lange is happy that his ex-Prime Minister brother David's ashes were scattered on the Hokianga Harbour - as he wanted. At the service, he was asked why Lange’s ashes weren’t in Hokianga as he wished.

Photo: ReutersEscalating hostilities have forced nearly 700,000 people to flee their homes in Lebanon over the past week, a UN agency said on Monday, as the war between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah entered a second week. On Monday, Israeli strikes sent columns of smoke billowing from Beirut's Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs, and over the hilltops of southern Lebanon. "Mass displacement across Lebanon has forced nearly 700,000 people – including around 200,000 children – from their homes, adding to the tens of thousands already uprooted from previous escalations," Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF regional director, said in a statement. Photo: ReutersThe Israeli military announced on Sunday that two of its soldiers had been killed in southern Lebanon, its first fatalities of the conflict. More than 1 million people were forced to flee their homes in Lebanon during a war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2024.