Boxing Day weather: Shoppers face possible thunderstorms, heavy rain and 90km/h gusts
⛈️The top half of the North Island is in for a bit of a wild Boxing Day⛈️Regions Waikato northwards may see thunderstorms, with localised downpours and💨 gusts up to 90 km/h from tomorrow afternoon. Keep an eye on the forecasts at https://t.co/Yjbq0jgaoz@AklCouncil pic.twitter.com/neuy4xBftm — MetService NZ (@MetService) December 24, 2025The South Island won’t escape the wet weather, with bands of rain falling from Nelson down the Southern Alps, through the West Coast down Fiordland, and thunderstorms possible in the lower regions. Southland, Clutha and Dunedin should expect some showers across the day, while the eastern ranges of the Canterbury Plains and Christchurch will have mostly fine weather. While the West Coast of the South Island might be having an unexpectedly fine start to 2026, the rest of the country faces erratic forecasts. “It’s still quite uncertain, to be honest, as we head to New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day,” Burrows said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 25, 2025 17:32 UTC
Man hands himself in for questioning over Ruatiti double homicide
Trina Cole and her partner Brendon Cole were found dead at their Ruatiti home on December 13. Man hands himself in for questioning over Ruatiti double homicideTrina Cole and her partner Brendon Cole were found dead at their Ruatiti home on December 13. A man has handed himself in for questioning over the double homicide of a Whanganui farming couple. The bodies of Brendon and Trina Cole were discovered on the driveway of their home along Murumuru Rd, Ruatiti, on December 13. A 29-year-old man was named a person of interest in relation to the double homicide near Whanganui National Park, sparking a nearly two-week search.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 25, 2025 17:24 UTC
Mullet chopped in honour of friend
Jacob Grimm, 11, about to have his mullet cut to raise funds for Epilepsy New Zealand in the Ebony & Ivory Salon, Gore, last Friday. PHOTOS: SUPPLIEDA Gore boy shaved off his mullet last week in honour of his friend who died from a rare form of epilepsy in September. A year ago, Dixon Cribb asked his friend Jacob Grimm if he would grow out his mullet with him to raise money for Epilepsy New Zealand. "He lived on-and-off in hospital, so he learned how to help," Ms Bangma said. "Things are in the works for supporting kids like Dixon in future," Ms Bangma said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 25, 2025 16:03 UTC
NZTA looking at fixes for bridge lights issue
Albert Town Bridge. PHOTO: ODT FILESNZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is looking at technical solutions to address an issue at the Albert Town bridge. The bridge is a one-way system controlled by traffic lights at present, where cars stop at the white line to activate the lights. An NZTA spokesperson said the issue at the Albert Town bridge was something NZTA was aware of and it was looking at technical solutions to address the issue. "More broadly, NZTA is looking at the busy connection between Wānaka and Lake Hāwea to see what improvements may be needed in the longer term," they said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 25, 2025 16:03 UTC
Sydney-Hobart forecast calmer than last year
The fleet has still been warned there is the possibility of strong winds down the coast, as well as a chance of showers at the start. Mark Richards, skipper of nine-time line honours champion Palm Beach XI — formerly known as Wild Oats XI — felt the fleet was in as safe hands as possible. SHK Scallywag 100 skipper David Witt made a snoring sound during Beck’s comments at the line honours press conference, with Allen also sceptical. "It’s going to be really on for line honours. "With these weather conditions, LawConnect is not a s...box."
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 25, 2025 15:58 UTC
South African family enjoy city Christmas
Sarah Williams, 4, does the delicious test on a chocolate Santa watched by her South African family on tour (from left) father Nathan, brother Jayden, 7, mother Lee-ann and sister Rachel, 9, celebrating Christmas at Dunedin Holiday Park. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYSanta came down a motorhome vent for a South African family celebrating Christmas on the road in Dunedin. Parked up at the Dunedin Holiday Park, the Williams family, of Benoni, a town about 26km east of Johannesburg, were more than 11,000km from their extended family. It was their first Christmas away from their extended family and they were enjoying the "peace and quiet" of New Zealand. The family had been in New Zealand since December 9 and they had been all over the South Island.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 25, 2025 15:52 UTC
Dressed for success in Christmas Day run
Anna, 19, and her dad Mark Stevenson brought some festive cheer to the annual Christmas Day parkrun in Dunedin yesterday. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYWho's faster in a race to the Christmas dinner table — Rudolph or Santa? She said she and her dad Mark Stevenson did the parkruns every weekend, and always took the opportunity to dress up festively for the annual Christmas Day parkrun, to make it a little entertaining for the other runners and those watching. Both said the run was a great way to build an appetite for the massive Christmas dinner they went home to. They were "stuffed like a roast turkey" by 1pm, and were left wondering if they would be able to cope with the New Year’s Day run.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 25, 2025 15:52 UTC
Friends reminisce at annual festive dinner
Chinese holiday workers (from left) Simin Zhang, 29, Cong Li, 29, and Jia Hui Wang, 24, take a selfie together at the Dunedin Christmas Dinner in the Dunedin Town Hall yesterday. The Chinese trio met in Dunedin yesterday as part of their respective working holidays, and celebrated Christmas together at the annual Dunedin Town Hall Christmas Dinner. Miss Wang said they enjoyed the Christmas dinner, but it was inevitable they would reminisce about some of the Chinese Christmas traditions they had with family back home. Christmas dinner organiser and Dunedin Christmas Charitable Trust trustee Rob Riddell Tigeir said about 550 people attended this year’s dinner. He said there was a "lovely festive spirit" at the dinner, which made all the organisation worth it.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 25, 2025 15:52 UTC
Steel players among awardees
Kate Heffernan, pictured in action during the test series against Eng land, has been named Silver Ferns player of the year. PHOTO: MICHAEL BRADLEY PHOTOGRAPHYSteel players Kate Heffernan and Khanye-Lii Munro-Nonoa were among the winners at the 2025 New Zealand Netball Awards. The award recognises the best netballer across all elite competitions and Silver Ferns campaigns. Maddy Gordon was recognised by fans nationwide, receiving the Silver Ferns fan favourite award, while Peta Toeava was named ANZ Premiership player of the year. At community and pathway level, Avah Sila was recognised as secondary schools player of the year, while Geni Ah Tong received National Netball League coach of the year honours.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 25, 2025 15:52 UTC
Magic moments, December 26
To enter email your pictures {in JPEG format at actual size} to magicmoments@odt.co.nz. Only 1 entry per person. Please include the photographer's name and phone number, a description of who and what the photograph shows, where and when it was taken and ages if relevant.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 25, 2025 15:52 UTC
In front early
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGESNew Zealand darts representative Jonny Tata (left) in action during his world championship match against Englishman Ryan Meikle at the Alexandra Palace, London, on Wednesday. Tata shot to a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five encounter but Meikle stormed back to win 3-2.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 25, 2025 15:52 UTC
Otago defender in test squad
Kane Russell. PHOTO: ODT FILESOtago defender Kane Russell will boost the Black Sticks for the important series against Japan in Hamilton next year. He will be joined in the squad by Nic Woods, who also plies his trade for German club Hamburger Polo. Veteran striker and captain Sam Lane said starting the new cycle at home was a huge boost for the Black Sticks. "It’s exciting to start our very important 2026 World Cup year at home playing in front of our fans again," he said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 25, 2025 15:52 UTC
Safety urged after spate of incidents
About 20 minutes later, a teenager was summoned to appear in Dunedin District Court after recording a breath alcohol level of 501mcg, Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond said. That parked car was then shunted into another parked car. Police had the man undergo breath testing procedures, and he recorded a breath alcohol level of 1006mcg — over four times the legal limit of 250mcg. He recorded a breath alcohol level of 786mcg. The crashes came less than 24 hours before the official holiday road toll began at 4pm on Christmas Eve.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 25, 2025 15:52 UTC
Love of Panthers gift from mum
PHOTO: SUPPLIEDthe mighty Penrith Panthers. Not sure about that but it fairly sums up how the Panthers have played in recent years. My favourite moment... was near the end of the 2023 grand final. Co-captain in four straight grand final wins, two-time Clive Churchill Medal winner, two-time Dally M halfback of the year and an absolute wizard with the ball. Panthers v Warriors grand final in 2026?
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 25, 2025 15:38 UTC
Refreshment stop, mid-60s style
Tokomairiro District High School pupils outside the Tarras store in 1965, on a stop during a bus trip. From left: Eddie Eason, Bruce Robins, Valerie Burn, Rosemary Clark, Gaynor Flett and Stephanie Sproule. PHOTO: KEN DOLPHIN. MS- 5147/006/001, HOCKEN COLLECTIONS UARE TAOKA O HĀKENADuring 2025, staff at Hocken Collections added thousands of images to the Digital Collections website, most of them never previously seen online. The site can be accessed at hocken.recollect.co.nz
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 25, 2025 15:38 UTC