Wakatipu falls to CBHS
Wakatipu High School suffered a five-wicket loss to Christchurch Boys’ in their latest game at the New Zealand First XI boys tournament at Lincoln yesterday. Connor Clarke scored 39 and Angus O’Neill 20 as Wakatipu scored 139 in 45 overs. Christchurch Boys’ chased down the target in the 24th over. Hugo Mawdsley took three for 31 from six overs for Wakatipu, who play Napier Boys’ today. — Allied Media
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 21, 2025 20:20 UTC
Seller of fake home to repay victim
A woman who listed a tiny home for sale that didn't exist before pocketing the money will now pay the victim back at $20 a week. It will take Haley Denyse Mullen about three years to pay the victim $3125 after defrauding her last year. 'I wanted easy money'Mullen, using the fake name Riley Simpson, listed the tiny home for sale on Facebook on October 29 last year for $3125. The victim inquired and, believing it to be legitimate, agreed to buy it and duly transferred the money. However, Mullen's scam was exposed when she asked the victim for more money.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 21, 2025 18:53 UTC
Man jailed for 'cruel treatment' of dog, assaulting daughter
A judge has described the actions of a man who repeatedly hit his dog with a large square shovel, and later assaulted his daughter, as "callous and cruel treatment" of the animal. After being confronted, Little told the witness to "mind her own business", and told her he was hitting Marama because she had toileted on his deck. The dog was taken away and examined by a vet, and was observed avoiding placing full weight on her right hind limb. 'So fearful... they fled into a room'Then, in June of this year, Little's violence extended to his daughter and ex-partner. The man was given a 20% discount for his guilty plea, having initially pleaded not guilty.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 21, 2025 18:47 UTC
Lake Taupō boat fire under investigation after rescue from water
“A Search and Rescue operation was commenced, and the boater was retrieved just before 8pm. “The boater was transported to hospital.”A spokesperson said there was a fire on board the boat which is being investigated.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 21, 2025 18:38 UTC
Pāmu Landcorp boss promises better financial performance, says there are ‘conversations’ around its future
Leslie noted Pāmu was looking at options around its future, but noted it could come with complexities around leases, farms subject to Treaty settlements, and those with first right of refusal to iwi. “The last thing we also want to leave is a business that has sold some assets and is now unable to fund itself. “One thing Pāmu’s always been very proud of is that we haven’t had to go and seek funding from the Government. A July Treasury report on Pāmu Landcorp’s statement of corporate intent and business plan, obtained by Newstalk ZB under the Official Information Act, stated there was an expectation to improve performance and deliver returns. She joined NZME in 2022 and became a Newstalk ZB political reporter in late 2024, with a keen interest in public service agency reform and government spending.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 21, 2025 17:56 UTC
Santa’s not welcome: Why there won’t be festive cheer inside Gloriavale this Xmas
“There’s nothing harmful about making life happy and magic for your children,” Pearl said. Members of the Gloriavale community wearing their uniforms while on a skiing trip. Photo / SuppliedVirginia was born in the Gloriavale community. The fate of the private school inside the Gloriavale community is uncertain. “The sisters’ contribution to community life is essential and well appreciated by all.”
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 21, 2025 17:34 UTC
Te Pāti Māori ‘confident’ of a comeback ahead of 2026 general election
Eru Kapa-Kingi, a high-profile member of protest group Toitū te Tiriti, which was once closely aligned with Te Pāti Māori, accused the party of running a dictatorial leadership model. Expelled Te Pāti Māori MPs Tākuta Ferris and Mariameno Kapa-Kingi in the House as independents for Question Time in November. “The minute it’s gone too wide and you can’t contain it, then it’s gone beyond us scrapping behind closed doors. Photo / Mark MitchellIt’s been a few weeks since Ferris and Kapa-Kingi moved to their new offices as independents, a few floors away from Te Pāti Māori. “But the difference is it’s not as hard as it was in 2020 when there was just no ground support.”Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer at Koroneihana at Tūrangawaewae Marae in August.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 21, 2025 17:32 UTC
Trump’s new security strategy exposes the limits of NZ’s ‘softly-softly’ diplomacy
On that basis, it pledged to support far-right populist parties that, in its words, “oppose elite-driven, anti-democratic restrictions on core liberties in Europe, the Anglosphere and the rest of the democratic world”. From strategy to realityTrump’s strategy should not have come as a surprise. Nevertheless, the current coalition Government, like many liberal democratic states, has responded to the second Trump administration by adopting a “softly-softly” approach. More importantly, quiet diplomacy did not curb Trump’s sustained assault on the multilateral, rules-based order on which New Zealand – and most small and middle powers – depend. Yet Trump’s security strategy now leaves the Government with little room to avoid reassessing its stated goal of closer strategic alignment with the US.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 21, 2025 17:28 UTC
Mines an economic boost if done well
The proposed Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project site. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYThe proposed Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project near Tarras has been a consistent topic of discussion and media coverage over the course of 2025. The process in considering the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project has and will continue to be incredibly thorough. Provided Santana meets its obligations every step of the way, I am supportive of the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project. The economic impact of the Bendigo-Ophir project is staggering.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 21, 2025 16:04 UTC
20 years supporting athletes celebrated
Photo: suppliedILT Academy Southland celebrated two decades of supporting Southland’s best young athletes at a special function in Invercargill yesterday. Since the first pilot in 2005, the academy has supported more than 250 sportspeople. "We provide a programme that ... makes a short- and long-term difference to athletes’ performance and grows them as people. Ten Olympians, 30 Commonwealth Games athletes and many national and world champions had been supported by Academy Southland. "We develop young Southland athletes to excel at the highest level in life as well — Harvard, Duke, Princeton, Oxford and a Rhodes Scholar."
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 21, 2025 16:03 UTC
Temporary crossing for heavy vehicles
Contractors put the finishing touches on the temporary Bailey bridge that will provide a crucial crossing between Rivers St and Graveyard Gully Rd over the Manuherikia River. PHOTO: ELLA JENKINSA temporary bridge spanning the Manuherikia River in Alexandra will provide a "crucial crossing" for heavy vehicles, the council says. The Little Valley Rd bridge would close from early March to allow the timber deck and beams to be replaced. It would remain open and available for use for suitable heavy vehicles, light vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists until construction began, the spokesperson said. The temporary bridge was suitable for vehicles, including class 1 heavy vehicles, but has no facility for pedestrian access.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 21, 2025 16:03 UTC
New Picton ferry in service
Union Steam Ship Co’s Wellington-Picton ferry steamer Tamahine on its maiden voyage. — Otago Witness, 19.1.1926December 21: There was a memorable scene at Picton this evening when the Union Company’s new ferry steamer Tamahine, specially built at Home for the Wellington-Picton service, arrived on her maiden trip with streamers of flags flying and the Australian Silver Band playing. The Tamahine was thrown open for inspection, and the visitors were delighted at the roominess and up-to-dateness. The Tamahine carried on her maiden trip about 400 ordinary passengers and 25 motor cars belonging to tourists. Later he was in the Secret Service in Russia during the height of the Bolshevist terror, becoming an official in the Soviet organisation.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 21, 2025 15:50 UTC
Growing village, hoping to elicit revisits
Christina Grant stands in front of her mother’s rose bushes with her husband Callum Grant at Tarras Village, a cluster of businesses they are working to expand. PHOTO: EVIE SINCLAIRChristina and Callum Grant are following through on a family vision by expanding Tarras Village. Mrs Grant said she took pride in adding "new flare" to the vision of her parents, John and Heather Perriam, who wanted to make Tarras Village a must-see destination. The Perriams, owners of Bendigo Station where Mrs Grant grew up, bought the cafe in 1984, and later opened the Merino Shop. When Mum passed away she had the merino shop and was in the process of making a high-end grocery shop," she said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 21, 2025 15:50 UTC
Summer Times
Over the next three weeks, the Otago Daily Times runs its annual Summer Times section. As one colleague put it, it is an opportunity to let our hair down and don very fashionable Hawaiian shirts. The 2025-26 edition includes "Working On It", a series of profiles on passion projects, "Collected", a series on collectors, and a personal favourite, "What’s In There? The sports department found people with obscure and unlikely favourite teams. — Summer Times editor George Elliott
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 21, 2025 15:50 UTC
Pair vying for vacant council seat
After a slow start, two nominations had been received by Friday for the Central Otago District Council vacancy. The council has been one member down since October’s election when Dave McKenzie stepped down days after being elected in the Vincent ward, blaming an online campaign against him. Closest-polling candidate at the election Louise van der Voort and business owner Nat Jamieson have both been nominated to fill the Vincent ward seat. Mr McKenzie was the target of an online campaign alleging financial impropriety in 2018 while he was working as a contractor to the council. After initially saying he would not resign, Mr McKenzie did so on October 14, saying online attacks had become "too higher [sic] price to pay".
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 21, 2025 15:50 UTC