WAI Wānaka celebrates World Water Day. PHOTO: EVIE SINCLAIRAs World Water Day approaches on March 22, WAI Wānaka is inviting residents and visitors to consider a question: ‘‘what would you pay to keep your favourite swimming spots clean and safe?’’. WAI Wānaka, in a press release, said behind the beauty of freshwater ecosystems was a reality: their protection required ongoing investment, monitoring and community action. ‘‘Nature doesn’t come with a clear price tag and as a result it is often undervalued,’’ WAI Wānaka chief executive Cat Dillon said. ‘‘Protecting them is an investment in our future, and for generations to come.’’WAI Wānaka encouraged people, this World Water Day, to reflect on the value they placed on clean and safe water and consider how they could play their part in protecting it.

Altrusa International of Oamaru member Sharon Walshe-Grieve with a collection of handbags to be donated to The Love Grace Handbag Appeal. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDAltrusa International of Oamaru is supporting The Love Grace Handbag Appeal in North Otago. The finished handbags will go to the Mid South Island Women’s Refuge and Family Safety Services in Timaru, she said. Donations would still be ‘‘gratefully received’’ beyond the March 8 date for Women’s Refuge, Ms Wood said. Just under 50,000 women and children were referred to Women’s Refuge each year and the refuge received 72 crisis calls a day nationwide.

Leigh MatthewsWaitaki might be a bit colder than Adelaide, but Leigh Matthews is hoping the football scene can be just as strong. The Australian began his role as Southern Football South Canterbury and Waitaki football and futsal development officer earlier this year after serving in a similar position in Southland in 2025. He also spent two decades working for Football South Australia across the Ditch. ‘‘In the long term [the goal is] to try and make the region somewhere for both men and women where players can be identified for New Zealand rep teams.’’He will be ‘‘working hand in hand’’ with Football Waitaki development officer Maree Cadogan. ‘‘Maree does a great job with what she does with the clubs, rep teams and futsal.’’Matthews identified three main areas for growth — futsal, women’s and girls’ participation as well as promoting the sport to the district’s migrant population.

Sean Aday, a public relations professor at George Washington University, said he has “never seen worse messaging in wartime from a US administration”. Richard Haass, a former US diplomat, pointed to how Trump has largely ignored formal national security processes, “having spent the better part of the last year hollowing out the national security apparatus”. Marco Rubio now combines the roles of Secretary of State and National Security Adviser – positions that were previously separate. Contradictory commentsTrump has been vague about the reason for entering a war with Iran and the objectives being pursued. A poll released Wednesday by NBC shows 52% of US voters oppose the military action in Iran.

"Made in America": The US has turned a captured Iranian drone back on Tehran as part of its airstrikes in the past week. Photo / US Navy via Getty ImagesThe commander of the United States Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, has described it as “indispensable” in the conflict with Iran. “This is an original Iranian drone design,” he said on Thursday. “These low-cost drones, modelled after Iran’s Shahed drones, are now delivering American-made retribution,” Central Command said on X. Also fired from the Himars launcher, the PrSM is being used in combat for the first time in the Middle East war.

The Paralympic cauldron is lit by Italy's Francesca Porcellato during the Opening Ceremony on Friday. Photo: OIS/IOC/Tyler McFarland/ via ReutersWith a sequence of rhythmic performances celebrating uniqueness and participation, the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympics in Italy featured artists with disabilities, as athletes sat in a front row designed for wheelchairs. Verona's Roman amphitheatre hosted the inaugural event of the 50th Paralympics on Friday, less than two weeks after bidding goodbye to the Winter Olympics, against a dramatically altered global backdrop. Aerialists from Il Posto Vertical Dance Company perform during the Milano Cortina Paralympics opening ceremony in Verona. Only 28 national Paralympic delegations attended the parade, the IPC said, adding that was mostly due to performance reasons, given the competition schedule.

From April, two Bunnings stores in Hamilton will set up the technology to test safeguards are working properly before it is rolled out nationwide. Photo: RNZBunnings Warehouse is introducing facial recognition technology in New Zealand stores in a bid to crack down on high-value theft and serious harm. Bunnings manager Melissa Haines said the scale of retail crime was growing - particularly when it came to threatening behaviour by repeat offenders. "FRT gives us a proactive warning when a serious repeat offender enters the store, so we can act before something happens. Last year the Privacy Commissioner said facial recognition technology in retail outlets had potential safety benefits, despite raising significant privacy concerns.

Timoci Tavatavanawai of the Highlanders charges forward during today's Super Rugby match against the Western Force at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Photo: Getty ImagesThe Highlanders provided a nice pick-me-up for their coach with an entertaining 39-31 win over the Western Force at Forsyth Barr Stadium today. The first half lacked long periods of quality but it did feature a couple of entertaining Highlanders tries. The second Highlanders try was all about one man. Amends were made 12 minutes into the second half.

Anything which promotes Town Belt is welcomeI write in support of the Dunedin City Council Town Belt Active Travel Trial. I attempt to walk the town belt from Mornington to Prospect Park once a month and so I class myself as a frequent user of the Town Belt. I am supportive of any initiative that encourages people to appreciate the Town Belt and encourages people to slow down and literally smell the flowers. The trial should be supported for no other reason than an opportunity to learn about different ways to enjoy the Town Belt. G ShattkyAlexandraAddress Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin.

MetService issued heavy rain watches for parts of the South Island. Image: MetServiceHeavy rain is on the way for parts of the lower South Island. MetService said today the slow-moving front was expected to bring heavy rain to Fiordland and inland Southland. The watches are for Fiordland, about and north of Doubtful Sound, from 4am until 9pm tomorrow; and for Southland from 7am to 7pm tomorrow. An earlier watch for Westland, about and south of Haast, has been lifted as the threat of rainfall amounts reaching warning criteria has passed.

But Sir Ian said since then he had sent emails to Mr Jones’ office and got no reply about a possible date and no date had been set. Sir Ian said he was looking forward to getting into the boxing ring with Mr Jones but in reality he would much rather dance with Mr Jones and get in the same step as him. But I think there are other ways to do that than mining.’’There had been the suggestion media personality Paddy Gower could be the mediator, Sir Ian said. ‘‘But the way Sir Ian has been talking he is looking at some sort of woke organic mung bean tea party fireside chat,’’ Mr Jones said. Sir Sam Neill has been criticised by Mr Jones for his opinions on the mine but Mr Jones said yesterday he had been contacted by many people telling him to lay off Sir Sam.

Benedict OngA Dunedin city councillor says he is not a safety risk and an increased presence of security guards ‘‘stationed specifically’’ for him is a waste of resources. Cr Benedict Ong’s comments come as the council appears to have increased security since the start of the year, with two security guards regularly at meetings compared with one previously. In a social media post on Wednesday, Cr Ong said the security guards were stationed at meetings for the express purpose of removing or barring him. Ms Barker said security had been at council meetings for a ‘‘number of years and is quite normal’’. Cr Ong disagreed these were required and later posted on social media a video of himself with duct tape over his mouth walking through the Civic Centre.

The Sending You Happiness Project fundraising gala this month at the Loan and Merc in Oamaru forms part of Endometriosis New Zealand’s (ENZ) national awareness month, its founders say. The gala aims to raise vital funds for education programmes while amplifying the voices and experiences of those living with endometriosis. Mrs Guyan said they were ‘‘excited’’ about the event on Saturday, March 28 at the Loan and Merc. ‘‘To be able to focus on things that are a little bit fun and the positive side of it is important,’’ Mrs Guyan said. The desire to help others was another catalyst for the fundraising event, Miss Dennison said.

Wānaka A&P Show general manager Jane Stalker. Next weekend, organisers are expecting 40,000 people at the Wanaka A&P Show. Show general manager Jane Stalker, who had been involved in the event since 1998, said she was excited and nervous for the show every year. There would be 49 food trucks and coffee vendors and 590 trade exhibitors at the Wanaka Showgrounds and Pembroke Park. She recommended people buy their tickets beforehand at a cheaper price and to make their lives as low-stress as possible.

Michelle Frankham and her husband, Mark Frankham, were some of the first at Auckland Airport on Saturday. “We’re just relieved that they’re coming home.”Grandma Claire Eadie (left) welcomed relatives on the flight arriving in Auckland from Dubai with hugs. Eadie’s son remained in Dubai but had told Eadie her grandchildren were upset by the alerts that warned of incoming missiles. David Ramsay was waiting for his wife, Leonie Ramsay, who had been in Dubai since February 20. Richard Parnicky, who is an expatriate living in Dubai, was planning to meet up with friends in Auckland.