Families spend end of year at night markets
Tucking into the Esk St night market’s food truck treats on New Year’s Eve are Invercargill pals (from left) Milky Tran, Kayden Zhao, both 6, An Tran, 10, and Mela Zhao, 9. PHOTOS: NINA TAPUSouthlanders got into party mode for New Year’s Eve by tucking into ethnic food, listening to music and playing outdoor games at the Esk St night markets. The set-up of free outdoor games for "tamariki of all ages" delighted the Westhoff family, who were first time visitors to Invercargill city. Eating wontons at the Esk St night markets on New Year’s Eve are (from left) Japnaaz, 15, Revaar, 6, Yaad and Jaspreet Singh. Bluff residents Cheryl Kumeroa and daughter Melanie enjoy whanau time at the Esk St night markets with Layla Waddell, 3, and the family pooch.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 01, 2026 16:04 UTC
The simple dots which simply mean an enormous amount to many
Braille enables access and inclusion through touch, and touch is a sense that belongs to all of us. It is a set of tools that allow each person to engage with information in a way that works best for them. PHOTO: APAudio is essential, and digital tools offer great freedom, but they do not replace the value of reading through touch. It reflects our belief that every person deserves access to information in a way that works for them. When we value Braille, we value independence, dignity and the right to be informed and included.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 01, 2026 16:02 UTC
Not just peace enforcers needed
The answer, it is argued, lies instead in "whole of government, whole of community, whole of society responses". When we speak of "community" and "society responses", we are talking about far more than official programmes or government funding lines. At the centre of the Christian faith stands Jesus Christ, Lord and Saviour of the world. The gospel insists that peace is not first imposed from above but grows from transformed hearts. We are recovering a vision of humanity grounded in dignity, accountability, mercy and peace.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 01, 2026 16:02 UTC
Magic moments: January 2
Delight your friends and family, captivate our readers and share your favourite holiday images in our Magic Moments competition. The winners will be announced in the Otago Daily Times on January 12. First prize: $100 voucher and an A3 canvas of the winning photographSecond prize: A3 canvas print of the second prize photograph. Third prize: ODT puzzle of the Dunedin Railway Station. Also: Everyone who has a photo published in our competition can take the original file to Jonathan's Photo Warehouse in Dunedin and receive a free enlargement.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 01, 2026 15:35 UTC
Hard year for many but New Zealand is not yet broken
The dazed and disoriented tenants surveying what’s left of their homes. And people tell me that New Zealand is broken. And people tell me that New Zealand is broken. What’s left of their pension barely covers the constantly rising cost of living. And people tell me that New Zealand is broken.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 01, 2026 15:35 UTC
Last boat reaches Hobart
The Millennium Falcon of Star Wars fame was a worn-out spacecraft that still managed to pull off some of the more impressive feats in the universe. A Sydney to Hobart yacht of the same name, fittingly, has many similarities. The New South Wales 39-footer, skippered by 71-year-old part-time ophthalmologist Robert Griffits, was the final boat to finish the 80th edition of the ocean race, at 10.22am yesterday (local time). "I’ve only ever seen one [Star Wars] episode ... and everyone said ‘what a great name for a boat’," he said. "The boat had a few issues ... you find the weak points on the interior with all the bashing around out there.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 01, 2026 15:35 UTC
Thrillers, mysteries the most borrowed
All Dunedin City Library’s 21 physical and digital copies of the book were checked out on Wednesday. On Wednesday, Dunedin City Library’s 21 copies of the book — four audio, five large print and 12 general copies — were all checked out. Most authors on the adult fiction list were well-established international authors; Ms Vare said she would have liked to see New Zealand authors make an appearance. However, New Zealand authors came to the fore in adult non-fiction, filling out seven of the top 10 spots. Generally, local readers enjoyed a wide range of genres, Ms Vare said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 01, 2026 15:35 UTC
Hundreds gather to usher in the new year
Hundreds of people gathered at the Wānaka lakefront on Wednesday night to welcome the new year, enjoying fireworks and live music. A New Zealand Police spokeswoman said throughout Wānaka, Queenstown and Dunedin there were no major events on New Year’s Eve which needed police intervention. The New Year’s Eve crowd at the Wanaka lakefront. He has been charged with wilful damage and is set to appear in the Queenstown District Court on January 5. The Wānaka lakefront event was one of seven across the country attended by Red Frogs.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 01, 2026 15:34 UTC
One critical, two seriously injured after two-vehicle crash on SH57 in Levin; road closed
State Highway 57 is closed between the SH1/SH57 intersection and north of the intersection of Kimberley and Arapaepae South Rds in Levin after a serious crash. One critical, two seriously injured after two-vehicle crash on SH57 in Levin; road closedState Highway 57 is closed between the SH1/SH57 intersection and north of the intersection of Kimberley and Arapaepae South Rds in Levin after a serious crash. Photo / NZTAOne person has been critically injured and two are in a serious condition after a two-vehicle crash in Levin, Manawatū. Police said the crash on State Highway 57 was reported about 7.20pm. The highway is closed at the intersection of Kimberley and Arapaepae South Rds.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 14:33 UTC
Auckland CVs: What is the city’s most expensive street?
The Rise in St Heliers, near Auckland’s eastern waterfront, is the second most expensive street with homes valued at an average $8.6m. Auckland Council’s chief finance officer Ross Tucker said the average home value across the city had dropped 9% since the 2021 CVs. It is often not included in lists of the most expensive streets, however, as it has so few homes. Overall, Auckland’s 10 most expensive homes are now worth just over $429m combined, according to the new valuation figures. Remuera's Westbury Cr is among the city's most expensive streets.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 12:43 UTC
New Zealand insolvencies: Why failures may not fall until 2027 – Tony Maginness and Jared Booth
In fact, it could take until 2027 before insolvencies start to fall again. This could have a dampening effect on the market, and property developers whose balance sheets aren’t strong could find themselves in trouble. In the commercial property sector, capital is freeing up for new investments. This year there have been good outcomes for businesses going into insolvency when they have really good fundamentals. As the economy picks up, more businesses may look to go into acquisition mode, meaning fewer insolvencies resulting in closures and redundancies.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 12:32 UTC
Auckland FC v Newcastle: Hosts shocked by 10-man Jets at Go Media Stadium
Auckland FC had 22 shots (six on target) to six (four) and enjoyed 71% possession, while forcing 10 corners to one. They’ll remain top of the A-League ladder but could be overtaken by Sydney FC by the weekend. Newcastle survived on scraps but still had moments of danger, as Auckland looked uncertain at times at the back. Woud had come forward for a final corner but it was headed away at the near post before Newcastle broke. Auckland FC 1 (Jesse Randall 13)Newcastle Jets 3 (Lachlan Rose 7, 90+6, Will Dobson 16).
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 11:19 UTC
New Year 2026 fireworks: Auckland, Sydney and cities around the globe
Seoul also has a bell-tolling tradition, with a bell ringing in Bosingak Pavilion on the stroke of midnight to mark the end and beginning of the year, while a fireworks display took place at Kim II Sung Square in Pyongyang. Thailand and Vietnam then put on a fireworks show in cities despite celebrating their traditional new year in April and February respectively. Thailand has Songkran, when the sun passes into the Aries constellation, while Vietnam celebrates the Lunar New Year. These included using 6500 drones to create the largest aerial display of a phoenix and launching the largest aerial fireworks shell which hoped to explode across 1km in the sky. London was the next major city to set off a fireworks display, combined with lights and music along the River Thames and starting with Big Ben’s chimes.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 11:19 UTC
Queen Camilla speaks about teenage train assault and anger that followed
Queen Camilla attends the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25 in Norfolk. Photo / Getty ImagesQueen Camilla has spoken for the first time publicly about fighting off an attacker on a train when she was a teenager, in an interview broadcast today NZT. “When I was a teenager, I was attacked on a train, and I’d sort of forgotten about it, but I remember at the time being so angry,” she told BBC radio. I was reading my book, and you know, this boy, man, attacked me, and I did fight back. “And I remember getting off the train and my mother looking at me and saying, ‘why is your hair standing on end?’, and ‘why is the button missing from your coat?’,” she added.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 11:06 UTC
From cuts to culture: How leaders can lift performance in 2026 – Darren Levy
As we step into 2026, leadership and culture are no longer supporting acts to strategy. The first is a move away from leadership capability as the focus, towards leadership cognition – how leaders think, interpret situations and make decisions under pressure. In 2026, leaders will increasingly be judged not by what they know, but by how they think when the path forward is unclear. In 2026, leaders who equate safety with comfort will struggle. As New Zealand organisations move into 2026, the question is no longer whether leadership and culture matter.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 01, 2026 11:03 UTC