Highlanders undone in disappointing second half
Many will be reluctant to throw too many barbs at the Highlanders, given the Crusaders — even in average form — were warm favourites at home. The story of the first half for the Highlanders could be broken down into three parts. The Highlanders’ second try was a treat. Cameron Millar restored the lead with a penalty and the Highlanders finished the half strongly with two late opportunities for Tangitau. Tavatavanawai started the second half by bouncing off half a dozen tacklers and Millar added another penalty, but the Crusaders took the lead when Johnny Lee marked his debut with a try off a lineout move.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 17:41 UTC
Pasifika taōka made interactive
Tūhura Otago Museum Pasifika engagement manager Leota Meredith shows examples of items people will be able to see up close at the Moana Nui Festival. Photos: Sam HendersonA collection of Pasifika handling taōka will be brought to life beyond museum display cases this month. Tūhura Otago Museum Pasifika engagement manager Leota Meredith said examples of the pieces included musical instruments, coconut scrapers and tapa cloth. "It is a significant piece for many pan-Pacific, different Pacific nations," she said. Ms Meredith said during the recent upgrade of the Pacific Cultures Gallery at the museum, Polynesian artefacts and taōka for the refurbished space were being carefully selected and reviewed by Pasifika communities in Dunedin.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 16:24 UTC
Opening up on cash key
Presbyterian Support Otago financial mentor Michael Allan says communication is key to managing your cash. Presbyterian Support Otago provides a free financial mentor service for people facing money challenges across the region. The fully funded Ministry of Social Development initiative helps clients navigate rising living costs and the pitfalls of buy now, pay later schemes. Financial mentor Michael Allan said the initial step was frequently the most difficult. "If you just don’t pay your rent for a few weeks, the landlord goes, ‘what’s happening?
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 16:24 UTC
Charity steps back from hub site to refocus
Tamariki Together administrator Krystal Ryland says the charity is regrouping back at the "batcave". A Dunedin youth charity has stepped back from ambitious plans to open a large inner-city hub. Last October The Star reported that plans were in full swing for Tamariki Together to move its operations to a two-storey building on St Andrew St. Tamariki Together administrator Krystal Ryland said navigating the complex funding landscape and transforming into a formal charity took a heavy toll. They have now paused the central hub project, although the St Andrew St landlord remains supportive of their long-term vision.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 16:24 UTC
Stormwater solution for Rockabilly
A Wānaka resident surveys the damage in 2021 after heavy rain causes significant erosion in Rockabilly Gully. Rockabilly Gully is on track to receive a new stormwater basin years after the Otago Regional Council (ORC) issued an abatement notice. Department of Conservation (Doc) Central Otago operations manager Charlie Sklenar said QLDC had proactively kept Doc informed of progress on the Rockabilly Gully Erosion Remediation project. ‘‘Currently, the stormwater runs through the Hikuwai Reserve, predominantly through the Rockabilly Gully — an ephemeral watercourse. The notice required QLDC ‘‘to cease the discharge of stormwater from its stormwater network on to the Hikuwai Reserve and into the Clutha River /Mata-Aū’’.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 15:22 UTC
Local SAR branch land new award from national body
Wānaka SAR consists of specialist incident management, alpine, sub-alpine, canyon/swiftwater, drone and search dog teams. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDWānaka Search and Rescue (SAR) has received national recognition for training videos it made for its members. ‘‘As the busiest back-country all-volunteer SAR group in New Zealand, we are constantly seeking ways of advancing our already very high level of skills and were thrilled to get this recognition from the national body. In the award presentation LandSAR said over the past year Wānaka SAR had demonstrated ‘‘exactly what Takina Mai represents — drawing others forward through shared learning’’. ‘‘By creating structured, highquality training videos, Wānaka SAR has enabled volunteers to refresh and build their knowledge in their own time, reinforcing learning outside of scheduled training nights.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 15:22 UTC
Trust on track with wellbeing of community
Upper Clutha tracks trust chairman David Howard (left) and contractor Greg Keen stand in front of the true right track which has recently started construction. It will mark 100km of tracks created by the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust (UCTT) since its start in 2006. In a statement, the trust said the addition of new tracks was about enhancing community wellbeing. ‘‘The track on the other side of the river is a grade 2 track and has commuters, we need different tracks for different purposes,’’ he said. The UCTT said it was proud of the support provided by Otago Community Trust, Central Lakes and the Hawea Community Association.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 15:22 UTC
Water infrastructure examined
Wastewater and drinking water mains inspections are under way in Oamaru as part of the Waitaki District Council’s amended Water Services Delivery Plan (WSDP) . Waitaki District Mayor Mel Tavendale said, in a statement, the council’s decision last month to rejoin the Southern Waters regional water group set the direction for the future of water services. ‘‘We are following the direction from the mayor and councillors to rejoin Southern Waters, subject to their approval, and preparing a WSDP with that intent,’’ council chief executive Alex Parmley said. ‘‘Our assets team and contractors have identified locations to gather data for our asset condition assessment, which will feed in to our revised WSDP. ‘‘We are keeping [Crown facilitator for water] Amy Adams and the DIA informed of our progress.’’
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 15:22 UTC
Lakeview project developer unfazed by cost spike fears
The Lakeview Te Taumata site yesterday. The developer of Queens-town’s massive Lakeview Te Taumata project is not worried about construction costs escalating due to the Middle East conflict. The potential for cost increases was ‘‘certainly something we’re conscious of’’, but it is still too early to say. Rzechta says the site has been fenced off and temporary buildings trucked in since the sod-turning ceremony a month ago. Subject to the first building consent being approved, piling work for the three buildings’ foundations is expected to start in July, he says.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 09:49 UTC
Still bowling them over at 76
Queenstown fast bowler John Cushen notched up two top-10 bowling stats at the recent over-70s Cricket World Cup held in Christchurch. The 76-year-old also played in the inaugural over-70s tournament in England two years ago, where New Zealand finished fourth. This time the ‘Grey Caps’ just missed out on the final to England, on countback — England subsequently beat Australia to take the spoils. Cushen says he was thrilled with his bowling — ‘‘we never got one ball pulled or cut in the whole tournament’’. In tournament stats, he was the only Kiwi to make the top-10 list on economy rate — he was ninth — and had the 10th-best wicket average.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 08:47 UTC
New operator puts luxury hotel back on track
Marriott International and PHC Queenstown Ltd expect The St. Regis Queenstown to be open by the end of next year. Image: suppliedA stalled Queenstown hotel development is about to kick back into gear, under a new operator. The company had plans to construct a $70m hotel, to be operated by Radisson Hotel Group, which signed a 15-year agreement to manage the 61-room, five-star hotel. "St. Regis is a globally-revered name in luxury that is sought after by discerning travellers worldwide." PHC managing director Prakash Pandey said the St. Regis Queenstown would set a new benchmark in the hospitality sector.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 08:47 UTC
Anger over hydro scheme's fast-track approval
The Morgan Gorge could be "de-watered" if a planned hydro electric scheme goes ahead on the Waitaha River. Photo: Neil SilverwoodA plan to fast-track a controversial West Coast hydro scheme has been given an initial go-ahead. The West Coast lines company, Westpower, has applied to fast-track its controversial plans to build a run-of-river hydro scheme on the Waitaha River, and in its draft decision the fast-track expert panel has given it approval. Westpower Limited wants to build the $100 million Waitaha Hydro Project on conservation land between Hokitika and Franz Josef Glacier. "We are encouraged to see the Waitaha Hydro Project move forward.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 08:15 UTC
Israel threatens Gaza-scale destruction in Lebanon
People inspect a damaged building, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes in the Zuqaq al-Blat district in central Beirut, Lebanon. Israeli strikes have killed 773 people in Lebanon since March 2, Lebanon's state news agency said on Friday, citing the health ministry. It appeared to be the first time Israel acknowledged attacking civilian infrastructure during its current military campaign in Lebanon. ISRAEL DROPS LEAFLETS OVER BEIRUTIsraeli aircraft dropped flyers over Beirut threatening to inflict damage on Lebanon similar to the devastation the military wrought on Gaza during its two-year war with Hamas. "In light of the great success in Gaza, the newspaper of the new reality arrives to Lebanon," the flyer said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 08:03 UTC
World’s best-smelling airlines, airports and hotels and their signature scents
The Westin London, UKThis London hotel’s signature scent, the white tea, cedar and vanilla-based White Tea, proved such a hit in 2024 that the Westin rolled out a range of candles, reed diffusers and room sprays. The Westin London's bestselling White Tea candle, a blend of cedar and vanilla. Aspire Lounges’ scent is a heady blend of bergamot, tea and mandarin, and it was truly a labour of love. “We trialled three scents over three months,” says Graham Allen, global operations director at Aspire Executive Lounges. “For this reason, our scenting machines are fully adjustable to suit each space, ensuring the right intensity for the right space.”Vietnam AirlinesLast November, Vietnam became one of the first airlines to unveil a signature scent, but other airlines are following suit.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 14, 2026 07:01 UTC
Property manager took $11K in rent to feed meth addiction
Photo: NZ HeraldA Dunedin property manager used tenants’ rent payments to pay his meth bills, a court has heard. In January 2024, a family friend entrusted Strydom with the management of her rental property when she moved overseas. The defendant agreed to transfer rent payments into her account after deducting his fees and the arrangement went smoothly for the first couple of months. The victim and her partner had relied on the rent payments to pay the mortgage and now they were sceptical as to whether Strydom would pay them back. But the judge said unless Strydom learned to control his addiction he remained a threat to the community.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 04:34 UTC