Return of the ring: call put out to family
Air Milford chief pilot Antony Sproull is looking for the owner of a wedding ring he found in Milford Sound. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDAntony Sproull is feeling a little bit like Frodo Baggins, from The Lord of the Rings, after recovering a "precious" wedding ring which was lost on a track at Milford Sound. So I just asked them straight up, and said, ‘what’s happened, guys?’"And they said they’d lost a wedding ring. "I was pretty confident that we’d find this ring because the search area was a very small, pretty contained area just off the walking track. So he has put messages up on social media in the hope that six degrees of separation will help find the family, so he can return the ring.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 25, 2025 15:38 UTC
MTF Finance enters Deloitte Top 30 list
PHOTO: ODT FILESMTF Finance is the new entrant on the Deloitte Top 30 Financial Institutions Index for 2025, ranked 27th with total assets of $1228 million. It was great to see a Dunedin-based company doing well nationally; there was something about Dunedin that generated a really strong partnership approach to business, chief executive Chris Lamers said. The combined asset base of the Top 30 increased by 3.2%, rising from $732,848m in 2024 to $756,000m in 2025. ANZ remains firmly in the top position, with total assets of $199,176m, representing 2.5% growth year-on-year. The company was also looking for ways to support its customers more and also to support communities.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 25, 2025 15:38 UTC
Variety the spice of police life
The variety and each shift is different. What does a typical day in your life look like? I oversee a few different teams (youth engagement, Youth Aid, community, beat, co-response mental health and alcohol harm), so touching base with them to see what’s happening in their spaces. I’ve travelled around New Zealand for multiple different events and investigations and even been to America, as I was assisting with a deportation. We don’t, but we see what happens when crashes happen, and have been to too many unnecessary serious injury or fatal crashes.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 25, 2025 15:38 UTC
Herald afternoon quiz: December 25
If you were looking at Iguazu Falls, which continent would you be on? Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. If you were looking at Iguazu Falls, which continent would you be on? Test your general knowledge with the Herald’s afternoon quiz. Be sure to check back on nzherald.co.nz for tomorrow’s morning quiz.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 25, 2025 12:31 UTC
Model Chrissy Teigen loses tooth in Christmas candy cane calamity
Model Chrissy Teigen has lost a front tooth after a mishap with a candy cane. Teigen, who has four children with singer John Legend, shared on Instagram how the dental disaster unfolded. In the clip, she shared how she and her children had been “growing” candy canes. The children filled flower pots with crushed Oreo cookies before “planting” small candy canes inside. Teigen revealed she had planned on swapping the small candy canes for larger ones, to give the impression they had grown.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 25, 2025 09:44 UTC
Ohio deputy’s surprise as he stops speeding Santa and Mrs Claus
Sergeant Mark Robinson posed for a photo with "Santa" after pulling the man and his wife over for speeding in Ohio. Photo / Fulton County Ohio SheriffAlready a subscriber? Ohio deputy’s surprise as he stops speeding Santa and Mrs ClausSergeant Mark Robinson posed for a photo with "Santa" after pulling the man and his wife over for speeding in Ohio. Photo / Fulton County Ohio SheriffPolice in Ohio, United States, were surprised to pull over a speeding Santa and Mrs Claus over the weekend, before letting them off with just a jolly warning. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Department in Ohio shared bodycam video of an officer pulling over an elderly couple on December 20, capturing the deputy’s surprise at the duo’s seasonal costumes.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 25, 2025 08:36 UTC
Person airlifted to Middlemore Hospital after quad bike crash at Poutō Point, Northland
One person has been flown to Middlemore Hospital in a critical condition. Photo / Auckland Rescue Helicopter TrustAlready a subscriber? Person airlifted to Middlemore Hospital after quad bike crash at Poutō Point, NorthlandOne person has been flown to Middlemore Hospital in a critical condition. Photo / Auckland Rescue Helicopter TrustA person has been airlifted to hospital after a quad bike rolled over in Northland. Shortly afterwards a patient was flown in the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter to Middlemore Hospital.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 25, 2025 08:24 UTC
Witness describes chaos as Levin police chase ends with damaged cars and three arrests
A dashcam captured footage of the police chase through the back streets of Levin. A brief pursuit was initiated after the driver failed to comply but police abandoned the chase because of the person’s erratic driving. The person of interest then abandoned that vehicle and entered a second one nearby. Police launched a second pursuit but soon abandoned the chase because of the dangerous driving. About 2.20pm, the second vehicle crashed into a car on Queen St before being driven away.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 25, 2025 08:20 UTC
Northland police urge simple home and car security steps as summer thefts rise
Car theft also increased significantly in the summer months, with the Toyota Corolla, Nissan Tiida, Toyota Aqua and Toyota Hilux being top targets. Northland District prevention manager Dean Robinson said the region’s geography meant officers couldn’t be everywhere at the same time. “There’s a period for a few weeks where we shorten staffing in some areas to increase the staffing in other areas,” Robinson said. Robinson encouraged people to get to know their neighbours as a way to protect their property over summer. “Making your house look like a fortress is actually supporting the opportunistic offender who’s actually trying to duck behind that six-foot fence,” Robinson said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 25, 2025 07:40 UTC
Venus Williams’ wedding: Tennis legend wore 12 dresses for week-long party
On the day of their home wedding celebration, Williams wore “the most incredible” Georges Hobieka gown, teamed with jewellery from Messika. “I got the most amazing nails by Gina Edwards, and I wore the most incredible dress by Georges Hobeika,” she said. I was crying and happy.”Williams had been unable to try on her “magical and perfect” gown before the wedding but a sample wasn’t available. “I was in Paris for a day, and I said, ‘I have to go try this dress’. She said: “I didn’t want to be the team captain – I just wanted to be on the team with my husband.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 25, 2025 07:38 UTC
What to know about the European laws curbing big tech and irking the Trump Administration
Aimed at protecting consumers from disinformation and hate speech as well as counterfeit or dangerous goods, it obliges platforms to swiftly remove illegal content or make it inaccessible. The law instructs platforms to suspend users who frequently share illegal content such as hate speech - a provision framed as “censorship” by detractors across the Atlantic. Digital Markets ActSince March 2024, the world’s biggest digital companies have faced strict EU rules intended to limit abuses linked to market dominance, favour the emergence of start-ups in Europe, and improve options for consumers. The EU fined Meta €200m in April over its “pay or consent” system after it violated rules on the use of personal data on Facebook and Instagram. The rules require firms to seek the consent of users to collect personal data and to explain what it will be used for and gives users the right to ask firms to delete personal data.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 25, 2025 07:25 UTC
On The Up: Rotorua Airport’s four-legged employee gets national recognition for helping wildlife problem
He expected the long-haired lurcher would eventually accompany him there until a job at Rotorua Airport changed his career path. But having only just adopted Charlie, Alton arranged with his new manager to bring the pup along. In his new job, Alton realised how significant the airport’s bird problem was. Rotorua Airport’s Ben Alton with his dog Charlie, the only canine currently employed for wildlife management at any New Zealand airport. Charlie, Rotorua Airport’s “Head of Dog Ops”, has become a model for other airports looking to improve wildlife control.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 25, 2025 04:34 UTC
Hamilton’s Melville Primary School boarded up after vandalism attack causes $25k damage
The school said it is working with police to prevent similar incidents in the future. Boards are in place after the school was vandalised. Photo / Melville Primary SchoolThe post expressed the school’s gratitude to the wider community after the incident. “We were truly so blessed by your generosity, responsiveness and care for our kura.”The school is working with police to try to prevent any repeat incidents. Photo / Melville Primary School“Melville Primary is more than buildings and glass – it is our people, our tamariki and our community.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 25, 2025 03:56 UTC
Eastern Region lifeguards brace for busy summer amid multiple rescues in just two months
Gibbons‑Campbell said Whangamatā lifeguards also completed two rescues during this time, and on November 8 and 9, lifeguards at Pāpāmoa Beach performed three rescues. Surf Life Saving NZ eastern region lifesaving manager Chaz Gibbons-Campbell. Surf Lifesaving Eastern Region manager Chaz Gibbons-Campbell. Photo / Alex CairnsLifeguard patrols and hoursGibbons‑Campbell said this summer patrol season, there would be 147 paid (council-funded) lifeguards working across the Eastern region on weekdays until the end of March. Surf conditions for the Eastern regionGibbons-Campbell said the forecast surf conditions for the Eastern region over the coming few days would include small swells.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 25, 2025 03:34 UTC
How AI, tariffs and diversification shaped markets in 2025 for investors
The April “tariff tantrum” saw global markets sell off sharply as fears of renewed protectionism took hold. The result was a striking disconnect between nervous sentiment and resilient fundamentals, which ultimately pushed the market higher. Diversification had its moment – againAnother important lesson from 2025 was the value of diversification. However, the experts got it wrong – and after more than a decade of dominance, the US lost its grip on global market leadership. A potential turning point for New ZealandFor Kiwi investors, 2026 could mark the early stages of a recovery.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 25, 2025 03:31 UTC