Indestructible pilot’s story to be told
James Hayter. After baling out of his burning Hurricane at 25,000 feet, Sqn Ldr Hayter drifted down into the manicured grounds of a country estate in Cranbrook, Kent. Sqn Ldr Hayter had interrupted a cocktail party hosted by a member of Parliament, but unfazed, he had his wounds dressed by a guest and even joined the gathering. Where Sqn Ldr Hayter landed in Cranbrook after being shot down in the Battle of Britain was only about 500m from Mr Piper’s house. When considering Sqn Ldr Hayter’s remarkable toughness, Mr Piper thought he must have had a guardian angel flying as wingman.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 18:45 UTC
UK passport changes causing headaches
In a month's time, anyone classed as a British citizen will need a UK passport to fly there - but citizenship status rules are complex. Internal Affairs stresses that information suggesting the UK Passport Office can cancel a New Zealand passport - sent to it as part of verification for a new British passport - is incorrect. "The UK Passport Office has no power to cancel a NZ passport. "If you have not had a passport issued on or after 1 January 2006, you'll usually need to apply for a UK passport instead of an emergency travel document," it says. "An emergency travel document lets you travel from abroad if you need to travel urgently and cannot use your UK passport," it says.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 17:48 UTC
Three players share $1m Lotto first division win
Three Lotto players have struck it lucky, each taking home $333,333 in Saturday night’s live Lotto First Division draw. Meanwhile, 13 players celebrated wins in Lotto Second Division, each receiving $17,722. The winning tickets were sold across Auckland, Te Kūiti, Hastings, Palmerston North, Lower Hutt, Ashburton, and Canterbury, Stuff has reported. The latest results follow a major win earlier in the week, when a player from Otago claimed $5.3 million after winning Powerball First Division in Wednesday’s live draw. That winning ticket was purchased online through MyLotto and included $5 million from Powerball First Division and $333,333 from Lotto First Division, as reported by Stuff.
Source:Stuff
January 24, 2026 17:44 UTC
Mount Maunganui landslide: Photo shows walkers standing precariously above slip – nearly two hours after 111 call to report it
A new photo shows walkers above a Mt Maunganui slip – nearly two hours after a local called 111 to report the danger. McHardy said emergency services didn’t visit until after the 9.30am disaster. Emergency services searching for people after a slip at the Mount Maunganui Beachside Holiday Park. “Our focus right now is on the rescue effort and supporting those affected, along with the emergency services and our staff working on the ground.”The mayor added: “Right now our focus is on emergency services, supporting them and supporting those families”. The Mount Maunganui campground on Saturday.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 24, 2026 17:38 UTC
The madness of ICE arresting Native Americans
Lo and behold that’s exactly what Trump has mutated ICE into. At this stage of history repeating, you can’t pretend Trump isn’t evolving before your eyes into a full blown fascist in real time. The clergy gathered in prayerful solidarity to demand airlines — especially @Delta and Signature Aviation — cease contracting deportation flights… pic.twitter.com/oftgMoDfyY — Pablo Manríquez (@PabloReports) January 23, 2026…consider the madness of ICE arresting native Americans…Oglala Sioux Tribe says three tribal members arrested in Minneapolis are in ICE detention…where are we at right now? These are dark, dark, dark times. Increasingly having independent opinion in a mainstream media environment which mostly echo one another has become more important than ever, so if you value having an independent voice – please donate here.
Source:Stuff
January 24, 2026 17:38 UTC
Former All Blacks and Black Ferns coach Sir Wayne Smith is leaving New Zealand Rugby for a new overseas role
All Blacks assistant coach Scott Hansen (from left), now-former All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson and New Zealand Rugby performance coach Sir Wayne Smith. “We’ll continue to work with Smithy across areas like All Blacks Performance Labs where he shares his incredible knowledge and experience with leaders around the world. As well as seeking a new All Blacks coach, it is also on the hunt for a chief executive, a chief commercial officer and a chief financial officer. He has also bounced back from adversity – his initial stint as All Blacks coach in 2000-2001 didn’t end well. Unfortunately, Razor hasn’t been given more time, greater opportunity to adapt and overcome many of the challenges new All Blacks coaches face.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 24, 2026 17:34 UTC
Wallaby pest control ramped up in central North Island containment zone
“Given wallabies are active primarily between dusk to dawn, the use of thermal optics mounted on firearms and thermal and IR cameras mounted to drones has been a game-changer during night-shooting operations.”The Central North Island Wallaby Containment Area (and fence). In the longer term, Bejakovich said, the focus was on strategically targeting wallaby populations inside the containment area. “Habitat and land management changes, like forest harvesting, may also cause wallaby to move into new areas.”Biodiversity-focused projects within the containment area may include wallaby control as part of their wider pest management objectives. Landowners/managers located within the containment areas can contact their council biosecurity staff for advice on wallaby control options to suit their situation. Bejakovich said that, depending on the location in relation to the containment area, the sighting may result in the use of detector dogs or trail cameras.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 24, 2026 17:32 UTC
Young family’s caravan lifeline after Pāpāmoa slip destroys everything they own
Her partner Bailey Anderson was in the sodden living room at the time of the slip ripping up carpet to dry it. Another lifeline was offered to the 22-year- old parents and Harlow in the chaos after the slip hit their home that afternoon. Isolated on the Pāpāmoa hills, cut off by flooded roads and multiple slips, Stewart called family friend Sam Roome. I could never pay them back.”Dani Stewart, 22, Bailey Anderson, 22, and their daughter, and Harlow Anderson, 2. Photo / Michael CraigThe couple are now living in a caravan in the backyard of the Roomes’ Pāpāmoa Beach home.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 24, 2026 17:31 UTC
‘I became a machine’: How Brad Thorn’s dad helped turn him into an All Blacks great
If you were watching it, you would have been thinking, How did this kid not make the state team? ‘There is Bunyaville State Forest over there,’ he continued. This forest run became my foundation, my rock. That moment as a 16-year-old in the middle of my first forest run was so significant that it helped change my mindset into that of the driven athlete I would become. That was a big moment, that belief that came from making the state team.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 24, 2026 17:31 UTC
Why the economic recovery might not be enough for National – Liam Dann
In fact, relying on this cyclical economic recovery might not be enough. As well as reeling off all the upbeat economic data, Luxon acknowledged that telling people the economy is better doesn’t work. People have to actually feel better off. “It’s unclear how much of an economic rebound we can enjoy before it becomes a problem,” ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner said. So the Government needs to keep selling the idea of steady and stable economic management, paying off in the long run.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 24, 2026 17:31 UTC
X Games: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott on podium in return; Luca Harrington claims Big Air silver
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott claimed X Games silver in the women's snowboard slopestyle competition. In her first competition of the 2025/26 season, the 24-year-old snowboarder has laid down a marker for the weeks to pick up a slopestyle silver medal at the X Games in Aspen. Sadowski-Synnott, who will be part of a 17-strong New Zealand team heading to the Winter Olympics in Italy next month, counted a best run of 93 to trail only Great Britain’s Mia Brookes’ 96.33. She will look to further add to that count in the Big Air competition tomorrow morning. The result saw Sadowski-Synnott add to her X Games career collection, now with four silver to go with six gold and two bronze medals.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 24, 2026 15:53 UTC
How to co-own your own home in Queenstown
Promoting co-ownership: Sales consultant Kirsty Sinclair. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDSo you think you could never buy property in ‘unaffordable’ Queenstown? Local Harcourts sales consultant Kirsty Sinclair says for the past two years she’s helped friends and family members — non-couples — club together to buy something. ‘Co-ownership’, she believes, is "an absolutely brilliant way of finding a way to get into this market and remain in Queenstown". She recently helped, for example, three friends get into their first property in Shotover Country — "that’s going to be, you know, a life-changer for them".
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 15:37 UTC
Heartfelt thanks to hospital
Declan Malone. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDWith help from local businesses, a Queenstown man dropped off almost $3000 worth of ‘thank you’ goodies to Dunedin Hospital after a life-and-death medical event seven months earlier. Builder Declan ‘Diesel’ Malone says last May he literally dropped outside his work site, then, when admitted to Queenstown’s Lakes District Hospital, had a "massive seizure". Helicoptered to Dunedin Hospital, the 36-year-old spent a week in its emergency ward before coming right and going home. Completed recovered, Malone says it’s thought his seizures stemmed from overwork and stress.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 15:37 UTC
One week left for speed-change submissions
Hampden is one of the places in Otago where speed limit changes are planned. PHOTO: ALLIED MEDIA FILESPublic submission on changes to speeds along North Otago’s coastal State Highway 1 finish next week. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is proposing speed limit changes on SH1 through Hampden, including the town centre and its northern approach. Under the proposals, the limit on SH1 between Lancaster St and Shrewsbury St would fall from 80kmh to 70kmh, and Shrewsbury St to Nottingham St will fall from 60kmh to 50kmh. Both zones will drop the speed limit from 100kmh to 60kmh when a turning vehicle is detected.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 15:37 UTC