‘A sheltering haven for everyone’
About 50 people gathered on Saturday to celebrate the official opening of the $1.5 million Warrington Surf Lifesaving Club building. "Let it be a sheltering haven for everyone." Warrington Surf Lifesaving Club chairwoman Isabella Aldrich said being part of the group meant not only learning rescue skills, but also forming connections and relationships that often last a lifetime. She recognised the Moana Rua Ladies Surf Life Saving Club as the foundation of the current club. The new $1.5 million Warrington Surf Lifesaving Club building was made possible by a wide range of grants and donations.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 15:37 UTC
History of port church and its people remembered
Guests gather outside St Mary Star of the Sea church in Port Chalmers for the unveiling of commemorative plaques and a memorial cross. "Fr Newport never expected to die when he was sent here as parish priest. These included Saint Mary MacKillop, of the O’Halloran and Cameron family, and descendants of Thomas Pound. Nicholas Newport Pound (left) and Ned Newport Pound are descendants of Thomas Pound, the parish school pupil and altar boy saved from drowning by Fr Newport in 1896. Sister Ann Gilroy, RSJ, speaks during the commemorative celebration at St Mary Star of the Sea church in Port Chalmers.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 15:37 UTC
Boat Safe workshops offered for all levels
The Ride Smart, Boat Safe workshops are designed for jetskiers and small-craft users of all experience levels, from first-time boaties to seasoned operators looking to refresh their skills. Each session covers essential safety theory, helping participants understand boating rules, responsibilities and potential hazards. Alongside this, participants will receive guidance on trip planning and preparation to ensure safe, stress-free outings, as well as practical on-water skills training that provides hands-on experience with expert guidance. QLDC Harbourmaster and Waterways regulatory services manager Craig Fahey said the workshops were a proactive way to support safer behaviour on the water. Ride Smart, Boat Safe workshop dates:■ January 24, 9am-noon at Queenstown Coastguard■ January 25, 9am-noon at Wānaka Coastguard■ January 31, 9am-noon at Queenstown Coastguard■ February 1, 9am-noon at Wānaka Coastguard
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 15:04 UTC
Hardship leads to wholesome career change
PHOTOS: SUPPLIEDHilary Rose Smith knows well that life can change very quickly and so she has worked out the perfect combination in spending time doing the things she loves. The former nurse of nine years to Sir Tim Wallis had already had an adventurous life before settling in Wānaka 11 years ago. It was at that point that she took a break from nursing and assessed her own life. "Having Tim die was a life changing thing and then I lost my dad not long after that as well. Which was really nice because I was just my own boss, and I could schedule things when I felt like it.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 15:04 UTC
Break-ins prompt call to lock homes, vehicles
Wānaka Police are urging people to lock their homes and vehicles as the latest string of break-ins happened over the weekend in Hawea. A number of vehicles were interfered with in Lake Hawea between Timsfield, Capell Ave, and Lakeview Terrace. Police confirmed there were nine vehicles broken into on the weekend of January 18 and one of those cars stolen then involved in an accident. Sen Sgt Cranfield reminded local residents there is a need to keep homes and cars secure. "We constantly give prevention advice to lock vehicles, but people don’t seemed to listen ... until they become a victim."
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 15:04 UTC
Pros and cons of council-funded events
Social media was unhappy with the Waitaki District Council not organising a celebratory send-off for 2025. Most of these events are handled by willing teams of volunteers, sometimes co-ordinated by a commercial event planner, sometimes with a formal committee. But what defines a community event? The council needs to examine carefully why the public purse should be opened to significantly prop up any said event. These events relevant to a small section of the community are better dealt with by committees of like-minded volunteers and should not use council resources, neither monetary nor personnel.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 15:03 UTC
Getting fired up in new venture
Ceramicist Sam Mayell in The Pottery Lounge Queenstown. PHOTO: GUY WILLIAMSA newly-opened ceramics gallery in Queenstown is also offering a novel twist on ‘paint and sip’. Sam Mayell Ceramics and The Pottery Lounge Queenstown, which opened in Earl St early last month, offer customers a two-for-one experience. Choosing from a selection of pottery pieces — cups, bowls, vases and more — they can sip on complimentary snacks and a non-alcoholic drink while spending 60-90 minutes painting their piece, getting inspiration from art books and stencils if required. The pieces are then glazed and fired in a kiln, ready for pick-up the next day.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 15:03 UTC
'Completely renovated' luxury lodge up for sale
Luxury lodge Pen-y-bryn has been put on the market by co-owners James Glucksman (pictured) and James Boussy. United States-born couple James Glucksman and James Boussy took over the luxury accommodation lodge in 2010, after moving to Oamaru from China, where Mr Glucksman was working as a health economist. "We’ve completely renovated it," Mr Glucksman said. "We get almost universal positive feedback both for the lodge and for the experience of staying in Oamaru," Mr Glucksman said. We were foreigners coming in, completely cold, and people really, really, really treated us well."
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 15:03 UTC
Govt tourism boost welcomed
PHOTO: ALLIED MEDIA FILESA $3.69 million boost in government spending on New Zealand tourism campaigns has been welcomed in the Waitaki. "This funding boost is enthusiastically welcomed by Tourism Waitaki," Tourism Waitaki RTO general manager Heather Matthews said. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said more international visitors will be exploring regional New Zealand this year, thanks to a $3.69 million investment from the second round of the government’s Regional Tourism Boost. The latest round of the Regional Tourism Boost is supporting five new initiatives:■ A $459,000 project will entice Australians from the Gold Coast to explore the lower South Island, delivered by Great South and seven associated Regional Tourism Organisations. "The Southern Way campaign brings together Great South, Tourism Waitaki, Enterprise Dunedin, Clutha Development, Tourism Central Otago, Destination Queenstown and Lake Wanaka Tourism.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 15:03 UTC
North Otago ducks part of surveillance testing
The Moeraki commercial poultry farm at the centre of an avian Influenza outbreak in 2024. "This project involves testing mallard ducks for avian influenza. "This includes avian influenza testing of mallard ducks in Otago, amongst other locations." Previous testing of mallard ducks, through the avian influenza surveillance programme, has shown them to be free of avian flu. As a result, HPAI is once again absent from New Zealand," the latest avian influenza surveillance programme annual report states.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 15:03 UTC
Car winds up in Southland creek
The car came to rest in Fosters Creek. Photo: Bill Gordon/suppliedA person has minor injuries after their car crashed on State Highway 6 and wound up in a Southland creek. A police spokeswoman said the crash happened on the Kingston-Garston Highway, near Nevis Rd, and was reported at 9.25am on Friday. A witness said the damaged car ended up in Fosters Creek, about 5km north of Garston. Police said St John ambulance treated the driver for minor injuries.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 14:20 UTC
Tauranga couple feel ‘absolutely’ safe with Welcome Bay new build home after ‘horrendous’ slip near miss
A slip has narrowly missed a new build home in the Tauranga suburb of Welcome Bay, viewed from Te Auhi Reserve. Multiple landslides can be seen along the hills extending from Welcome Bay down the coast to Pāpāmoa, with dozens of residents having to evacuate after a tropical storm swept through overnight Wednesday. One of those slips turned fatal on Welcome Bay Rd in Pāpāmoa after a slip tore through a house about 4am Thursday. Yesterday, it was revealed a grandmother and her grandson were the two people killed in that Welcome Bay Rd landslide. A slip has narrowly missed a new build home in the Tauranga suburb of Welcome Bay, viewed from Te Auhi Reserve on January 24, 2026.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 24, 2026 12:30 UTC
Work begins on new town housing project
Construction of foundations have begun on the former Bayfield Bowling Club site, where 18 new terraced townhouses are expected to be completed by November. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHAnother town housing project is about to spring up in Dunedin — this time on the former Bayfield Bowling Club site in Bayfield Rd. Developer/building company TGC Homes director Charles Blair said the 3200sqm site would be called The Green, and would contain 18 terraced townhouses. The townhouses would be a combination of three-bedroom, two-bathroom; two-bedroom, two-bathroom; and three-bedroom, two-bathroom townhouses with garages, with prices ranging from $599,000-$765,000, he said. An artist’s impression of the new terraced townhouses which will be built in Bayfield Rd.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 24, 2026 12:22 UTC
Kiwi nurse in war-torn Sudan: Life and death inside a Khartoum hospital
However, unlike other areas of Sudan, El Amrani says where she is stationed is relatively quiet and peaceful, as the Government army – the Sudanese Armed Forces – currently control the area. The fighting is mostly strategic and not directed at random individuals or aid workers, El Amrani says. El Amrani checks on a sick child at Bashair Teaching Hospital in Sudan. In her living quarters, El Amrani has access to cold running water and is given meals of meat with bread and rice or falafel. El Amrani, who quit her role at Hawke’s Bay Hospital, has had an abiding calling throughout her life.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 24, 2026 11:51 UTC
Parts of East Coast evacuated over slip risk
The chief coroner says identifying victims will be complex and time consuming. Video / Alyse Wright, Jason Dorday, Annabell ReidResidents are being evacuated this evening on the East Coast over landslide risks Civil Defence says are posing “potential risk to life”. Civil Defence has ordered around 30 houses evacuate in Onepoto and parts of Te Araroa, after finding evidence of unstable land in close proximity to houses yesterday. “Significant landslide risk had been identified but no geotech assessments have yet been completed,”Tairāwhiti Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group Controller Ben Green said. “We need to be confident there is no risk to life and until this has been completed they will not be returning,” Green said in a statement released by Gisborne District Council this evening.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 24, 2026 11:39 UTC