Survey shows overwhelming support for free dental care
In findings released on Monday, 83 percent of participants said they supported the move for free dental care. File photo: NZMEThere is escalating support for dental care to be absorbed by New Zealand's public health system and to be made free for adults, new research shows. The survey also asked participants whether dental care should be free for adults, with 80 percent supportive and 15 percent opposed. Association of Salaried Medical Specialists' policy research director Harriet Wild said a 2023 poll showed that 74 percent of people supported free dental care. "This poll shows public support continues to build to bring dental into our public healthcare system," she said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 29, 2026 23:23 UTC
General Debate 30 March 2026
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Source:Otago Daily Times
March 29, 2026 22:58 UTC
'Problem is not going away': Govt urged to do more on diesel
File photo: Getty ImagesThe government should start prioritising diesel allocation now as the fuel situation is only getting worse, Westpac's chief economist says. The government's utmost priority was ensuring that the country had fuel - even if that meant fuel suppliers paying additional Iranian tolls, he said. "There needs to be a reworking of the allocations which is what the importers and the distributors need to work out this week, and it's up to them to do so." 'This problem is not going away'Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold told RNZ's Morning Report the government would be wise to start prioritising diesel allocation now, and that the situation is only getting worse. "Diesel that we burn now could be diesel that we need in three or four weeks.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 29, 2026 22:02 UTC
Rat poison left on popular dog-walking route
John Wilson Ocean Drive at St Kilda. File photo: Google MapsA Dunedin veterinarian is calling on anyone who has taken their dog for a walk off-lead along John Wilson Ocean Drive over the past seven days, to contact their vet immediately, after it was discovered someone had placed rat poison along the popular walking route. Several dog owners have reported having to take their dogs to vets in the city after seeing them eat blocks of the poison near a rubbish bin. Unfortunately, it could take several days for a dog to show symptoms after eating the poison. She said poisoning could be lethal and dog owners who had been in the area recently should contact their vet immediately to see if treatment and an antidote were needed.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 29, 2026 21:58 UTC
'Possibly intentional': Damaged cable causes diesel leak
Emergency services respond to sabotaged fuel pipe at Auckland petrol station. Photo: RNZFire and Emergency have discovered that it is a power cable - not a fuel pipe - which has caused a diesel leak in South Auckland on Monday. Three crews have been at the scene on Great South Road in the suburb of Manurewa since 6.30am this morning. Northpower helped Fire and Emergency to establish that it was a power cable with fuel insulation around it in order to cool it down. A lane on busy Great South Road was closed with traffic being moved around it.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 29, 2026 21:00 UTC
One dead after crash in Belfast, Christchurch
Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. One dead after crash in Belfast, ChristchurchOne person has died after a crash in Belfast, Christchurch last week. Police were called to the two-vehicle crash on Main North Rd just after 1.30pm last Thursday. Five people were taken to hospital by ambulance with injuries ranging from moderate to serious. “Sadly, one person died in hospital last night,” police said this morning.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 29, 2026 20:26 UTC
The raft of changes that could affect your wallet this week
File photo: Getty ImagesApril 1 is approaching - a day on which a host of rule changes take effect. JobSeeker for a single person over 25 will increase from $361.32 to $372.55 a week, after tax. Residential solarA new exemption takes effect from April 1 that means power generated by rooftop solar systems and sold back into the grid is exempt from tax. There have ben concerns that the scheme is not well targeted and sometimes helps higher-income earners, while large low-income families pay comparatively more. A new rule will also allow employers to pay tax on employee benefits through the fringe benefit tax regime, rather than PAYE.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 29, 2026 20:16 UTC
Before an elevator door severed her arm, tenants complained about safety
(Video: D.C.’s Department of Buildings)The door opens and Shadow, whose leash handle was looped on Fisher’s arm, steps into the hallway. When firefighters arrived, Beristain said, they were initially unable to open the elevator door and were forced to use an electric saw and other tools to pry it apart. Days after Fisher’s arm was severed in the door, Borger placed posters in the two operable elevators instructing residents on how to control pets in the elevator. “There’s just a laxness of enforcement in this city.”Fisher’s injury is by far the worst elevator incident to have occurred in the building, but not the only one. Fox frantically pushed the “open door” button but the elevator went up immediately, pulling Ruthie with it.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 29, 2026 19:01 UTC
Person dies following Christchurch crash
One person has died following a crash in Belfast, Christchurch last week that left five people hospitalised. Police said they were called to the two-vehicle crash on Main North Rd just after 1.30pm on Thursday, March 26. Five people were transported to hospital by ambulance with injuries ranging from moderate to serious. "Sadly, one person died in hospital last night," police said in a statement this morning. Another person remains in hospital in a stable condition, while the other three people were discharged at an earlier date.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 29, 2026 19:01 UTC
Lawson 'very pleased' to get in the points in Japan
Red Bull's Isack Hadjar and RB's Liam Lawson during the Japanese Grand Prix. Photo: ReutersSmiles again for Liam Lawson as some luck went his way in the Japanese Grand Prix. Lawson finished in the points for the third straight race after grabbing ninth position at Suzuka. "We were also a bit fortunate with the Safety Car, which helped us move into the points. His team-mate Arvid Linblad suffered because of the safety car after pitting just before and finished 14th.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 29, 2026 18:21 UTC
Acknowledge inadequate South D pipes
If insurance retreat reaches South Dunedin, it will not be due to tsunamis, but long-term inadequate drainage. About 90% of Facebook comments challenged the council’s stance, arguing that South Dunedin has been let down for decades. Climate adaptation is essential for the future, but it should not prevent a flood-free South Dunedin today, with fit-for-purpose infrastructure. This will demonstrate that 60 years of South Dunedin flooding has been triggered by moderate to heavy rain acting on an undersized stormwater system. Until the DCC formally acknowledges the inadequate South Dunedin stormwater system, accepts responsibility and commits to delivering a right-sized system within a defined timeframe, advocacy for South Dunedin stormwater justice will continue.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 29, 2026 17:03 UTC
Accident near miss thanks to device
A close call on a quadbike could have been worse if Otago farmer Simon Davies did not have a crush protection device fitted. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDOtago's Simon Davies is among farmers dipping into their pockets to make safety upgrades on quadbikes after a near miss on his sheep and beef farm near Milton. The accident would have been worse if it was not for a crush protection device fitted on a quadbike he was riding. She said Safer Rides was being continued so more farmers could benefit as the numbers showed incentives encouraged them to make safety a priority. Mr Davies said he would recommend other farmers get bars fitted to their quadbikes and side-by-side vehicles.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 29, 2026 17:03 UTC
Medical imaging firm finds export market
The company’s compact spectral molecular imaging CT scanner delivers 3D colour X-rays for upper extremity imaging. Official clearance unlocks the spectral molecular imaging scanners being able to enter US medical centres and clinics for producing three-dimensional colour X-rays initially for diagnosing hand to shoulder complaints. This is the first CT imaging system developed in New Zealand to be cleared by the big agency. Chairman Chris Stoelhorst said the milestone would expand patient and clinic access to photon-counting CT imaging. The company hopes to generate sales of clinical scanners in medical centres and the likes of wrist clinics.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 29, 2026 17:03 UTC
Naysayers, native moths and lizards, and getting anything done
PHOTO: SUPPLIEDIt is fair to say that New Zealand is fast becoming a nation of naysayers. The Santana mining proposal is a case in point. Many others, however, express equal but opposite concerns if the Santana proposal fails to actually gain approval. Unless you are into moths, which most of us are unlikely to be, it’s hard to assess a native moth’s true value — in every sense of the word value — to our society. Santana is to be commended for engaging with the public on a scale rarely seen over their mining proposal.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 29, 2026 17:03 UTC