All Blacks great Ian Kirkpatrick blasts NZ Rugby for 1976 ref rejection
Photo / NZMEHe said the All Blacks should have been awarded two penalty tries and criticised the performance of referee Gert Bezuidenhout. Following last week’s New Zealand Rugby Awards, Kirkpatrick handed the medal which bears his name to Poverty Bay co-captain Keanu Taumata, for his efforts in Heartland rugby. The Ian Kirkpatrick medal for Heartland player of the year is awarded annually. Ian Kirkpatrick hands the medal which bears his name to Poverty Bay co-captain Keanu Taumata, for his efforts in Heartland rugby. “I want to thank you, Kirky, thank you very much,” Taumata said to Kirkpatrick at Rugby Park on Thursday.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 19, 2025 20:33 UTC
Grindr attackers Thomas Bull, Ethan Jeffs and Patrick Moloney sentenced in the Tauranga District Court
In Tauranga, Thomas Bull, Ethan Jeffs and Patrick Moloney had varied roles and levels of culpability, but all faced charges of assault, injuring with intent to injure and posting a harmful digital communication. Photo / Ayla YeomanJudge Stephen Coyle, who sentenced Jeffs in November, agreed with Judge Mason that it was a “hate crime”. Ethan Marc Jeffs, pictured at an earlier appearance in 2024, was sentenced in the Tauranga District Court in November 2025. Despite the reprimand, however, Judge Coyle concluded by telling Jeffs he was young and his life was ahead of him. Bull was sentenced to eight and a half months’ home detention, Moloney was sentenced to nine months’ home detention, and Jeffs was sentenced to 10 months’ home detention.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 19, 2025 19:45 UTC
Stage 4 bowel cancer patient fights for funding of life-prolonging drug
Bowel cancer is the second-highest cause of cancer death in New Zealand, second only to lung cancer. Bowel Cancer New Zealand said the incidence of bowel cancer in New Zealand is one of the highest in the world, with more than 1200 people dying from it each year. Bowel Cancer New Zealand said Bevacizumab (Avastin), which is a targeted therapy for metastatic colorectal (bowel) cancer, is not currently funded for this type of cancer. Another brand of the drug has been funded for conditions such as advanced ovarian cancer, the Pharmac website says. Photo / SuppliedAfter Robertson underwent an ultrasound, images showed “cloudy bits” on her liver, where she was eventually diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer that had spread to her liver.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 19, 2025 19:33 UTC
Finance Minister Nicola Willis is looking for ‘rock solid’ not ‘rock star’ economy in 2026
You know, Australia isn’t forecasting a surplus at any point in the future,” Willis says. “But it’s also been the case that as our economy recovers, more people choose to stay, which is another reason why the economy really matters.”Willis is optimistic that the trend has shifted. “Obviously, exports have stayed strong, and we have managed the tariffs as an economy really well. The New Zealand economy is now going to be hit with massive tariffs and the world’s in flux? “What I’m looking for is not a rock star economy, I just want a rock-solid economy,” she says.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 19, 2025 19:04 UTC
Black Caps v West Indies: Tourists resist after Devon Conway double-century sets up New Zealand’s declaration
Although he didn’t reach a milestone before the close of play, Campbell’s innings was impressive for its determination. Devon Conway celebrates reaching 200 on day two of the third test between the Black Caps and the West Indies. After threatening a big score all summer, with starts in the white-ball series against the West Indies, Conway Bay treated the Bay Oval crowd to a masterclass. The Black Caps huddle on day two of the third test against the West Indies. Perhaps following the template of Latham and Conway’s first-wicket stand of 323, the West Indies’ openers added their century in 116 balls and made sure both have the chance to keep building on Saturday.
Source:New Zealand Herald
December 19, 2025 18:02 UTC
Wind event cleanup to last until mid-2026
Business and rural editor Sally Rae pays a visit to Wenita Forest Products’ Akatore Forest, near the Otago coast, south of Dunedin and views the salvage operation. Fortunately, there was not a history in Otago-Southland of such events; most weather-related events involved rainfall or snow so the wind storm was "pretty unusual" and an occurrence Mr Cormack hoped was a one-in-one-hundred year event. "Everyone would have been anxious and it would have been slow, dangerous work," Mr Cormack said. Mr Cormack said the crews were fully mechanised and it was more productive and more safe. It had been an intense year, and staff and contractors all needed a holiday, Mr Cormack said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 19, 2025 17:46 UTC
Firefighters union continues strike action into holiday season
REPORT: LAINE PRIESTLEY / PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONCareer firefighters from all over Dunedin stopped work from noon until 1pm yesterday and took to the street to strike outside the Dunedin Central Fire Station. New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union Dunedin secretary and Senior Firefighter Mike Taylor said the strikes would continue throughout the holiday period, with walk-offs planned for Boxing Day and January 2. "They're going to go on holiday shortly ... in the same situation with our trucks, with our training and with the staffing levels — nothing's changed for us." After multiple failures to come to an agreement, the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union began nationwide industrial action in August. Fire and Emergency New Zealand deputy national commander Megan Stiffler said Fenz had repeatedly urged the NZPFU to call off the strikes, saying they were still in negotiations.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 19, 2025 17:46 UTC
Unpaid Otago fines hit $9.6m
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGESUnpaid and overdue fines in Otago have risen in the past year as the amount of debt owed nears $10 million. In data released to the Otago Daily Times by the Ministry of Justice, the total value of overdue fines in Otago as of November 30, 2025 was $9.6m. In the period between November 30, 2024 and January 1, 2025, the number of unpaid fines rose by $1.2m. The total amount of fines overdue in Otago was 46,930, a 13% increase from 2024. Ashburton also recently moved to the Otago Justice Service Area, meaning the numbers from that area came off Canterbury’s total and on to Otago’s.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 19, 2025 17:08 UTC
Man who murdered mother has term cut
PHOTO: ODT FILEA Dunedin man who beat his mother to death with a dumbbell will no longer be subject to life imprisonment after winning an appeal. He appeared in the High Court at Dunedin 10 months later, where he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 10 years. It makes Taylor one of the few killers in the country not to be subject to a life term. In an update, he said the defendant had found stability in a youth unit in prison and was engaged in activities and courses. Justice Mallon accepted that for a person with Taylor’s vulnerabilities, the effects of life imprisonment would likely "weigh very heavily on him".
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 19, 2025 16:54 UTC
Golf club gets board backing for new facility
The Wānaka Golf Club has plans to replace its ageing clubhouse. IMAGES: SUPPLIED/ODT GRAPHICA Wānaka golf club is taking the first swing at improving its historic clubhouse after a 38-year need for upgraded premises. The Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board this week recommended the Queenstown Lakes District Council grant minister’s approval to the Wānaka Golf Club for a new clubhouse building. "The Wanaka Golf Club is averaging one new member a day and that number is to keep continuing. "The age and ad hoc nature of the development of the clubhouse building is causing ongoing issues with functionality and maintenance.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 19, 2025 16:38 UTC
ODT quiz: December 20
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Source:Otago Daily Times
December 19, 2025 16:38 UTC
Small increase expected for forestry export revenue
PHOTO: ODT FILESNew Zealand forestry export revenue is forecast to rise 2% to $6.3 billion in the year to June 30, 2026, a report from the Ministry for Primary Industries says. Log export volumes fell 3% in 2024-25, but a 4% rise in export prices, supported by lower shipping costs and a weaker New Zealand dollar, resulted in a slight increase in export revenue. Over the forecast period, steady domestic supply was expected to sustain volumes but prices were expected to remain low as China’s construction sector remained weak. That gain reflected reduced imports from Germany, where bark beetle damage and rising domestic demand had reduced available export volumes. About 70% of sawn timber production was for the domestic market so increased residential construction demand would be helpful.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 19, 2025 16:38 UTC
Cancer scare sparks pony event to share lesson
Preparing for the Poniworks Summer Olympics fundraising event in Palmerston today, are (from left) organiser Susan Falconer, Casper the pony, Olivia McEwan, 14, and Jade Miller, 12. Earlier this year, after putting it off for years, Susan Falconer learned a valuable lesson when she finally got a breast screening done and found she had cancer. And today, she is celebrating by holding a public event to share that lesson. She said she would share her story with the more than 200 people that were expected to attend the event today. She hoped the event would become an annual fundraiser and an opportunity for people to learn from her lesson.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 19, 2025 16:38 UTC
What are NZ's busiest flying days this summer?
Auckland Airport on Friday, its busiest day of the year for domestic departures. A passenger at Auckland Airport today said it was already busy. Saturday, December 20 and Saturday, January 3 are the busiest international travel days, with up to 20,000 passengers travelling each day. The busiest day for international departures from Auckland is expected to be January 4, while January 15 is forecast to be its busiest day for international arrivals. In terms of domestic departures from Auckland, December 19 is tipped to be the busiest day, while January 16 is the busiest for domestic arrivals.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 19, 2025 15:45 UTC
Poor communication criticised over Beach Rd
Beach Rd from the air just as the council began its rubbish cleanup in August. Poor communication was criticised amidst a debate about how to approach the future of Beach Rd after an environmental cleanup that started three months ago resulted in the discovery of 58% more old rubbish than anticipated. Beach Rd was temporarily closed in August to facilitate stage two of the council’s $12.5 million-plus environmental cleanup of vulnerable coastal dump sites, Project Reclaim. Beach Rd is one of the most scenic stretches of highway on the South Island east coast. They options were:• $720,000 to realign the road around the edge of the two holes on the current path;• $353,000 to completely realign the road inland from the intersection of Beach Rd with Awamoa Rd.
Source:Otago Daily Times
November 27, 2024 01:41 UTC