The lonely fall of an ‘icon’: The blame and bitterness of Tim Shadbolt’s final years
Sir Tim Shadbolt passed away in Invercargill last week. But what really went on in Sir Tim Shadbolt’s final stint as New Zealand’s longest-serving mayor? Sir Tim Shadbolt was New Zealand's longest serving mayor. Sir Tim's final term was marked by controversy. After losing the mayoralty, Sir Tim withdrew almost entirely from public life.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 24, 2026 11:39 UTC
How to check if you won the $4m Lotto Powerball jackpot
For the Powerball jackpot to be claimed, a ticket-holder must get all six Lotto numbers correct as well as the added Powerball number. How to check if you won the $4m Lotto Powerball jackpotFor the Powerball jackpot to be claimed, a ticket-holder must get all six Lotto numbers correct as well as the added Powerball number. One lucky Kiwi could be millions of dollars richer after tonight’s $4 million Powerball jackpot draw. Tonight’s lucky numbers were 16, 40, 1, 21, 3, 13. What to do if you winTicket holders can see immediately title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/lotto-powerball-jackpot-hits-33m-financial-adviser-on-what-lucky-winner-should-do/VH55W2HRSFFVNLWQ4KEO6GQUBQ/">if they have won if they purchased a ticket through MyLotto.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 24, 2026 11:39 UTC
‘Really ill-informed’: Afghan veteran slams Trump’s Nato comments
Former army major Simon Strombom is the managing director of the NZ Remembrance Army and served in Afghanistan. Strombom told RNZ he commanded troops from Nato nations and found them exceptionally professional. “I was heavily exposed to the professionalism and the challenges that the Nato, particularly British and the Canadian, troops had,” he said. “I’ve always had a hell of a lot of respect for the discipline of British troops, and the professionalism of them, even down to their territorial army,” he said. Trump's NATO Afghanistan claim condemned as insult to fallen troops.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 24, 2026 11:29 UTC
Winston Peters rebuke puts Anna Breman in double bind over RBNZ role
Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman. Photo / Mark MitchellNew Zealand became a global leader when the Reserve Bank Act 1989 was passed. Arguably, it is the Reserve Bank board – particularly its chair Rodger Finlay – which is the appropriate sounding board for the governor. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s forthright speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos has been a lightning rod for plain speaking. For business people who had not travelled before with the Prime Minister and observed him close up, this was a revelation.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 24, 2026 02:01 UTC
All Blacks Baltimore test: Is NZ Rugby’s money chase hurting results? – Gregor Paul
New Zealand Rugby has been increasing the offshore matches played by the All Blacks. In the past four years, the All Blacks have played in the USA, Japan twice, and London three times for the money those bigger venues generate. All Blacks coach Scott Robertson, at Soldier Field, in Chicago, where his side played Ireland last year. By comparison, in Graham Henry’s first four years (2004-2007) as head coach, the All Blacks played 47% of their tests away from home. In Steve Hansen’s first four years as head coach (2012-2015), the All Blacks played 54% of their tests away from home.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 24, 2026 01:06 UTC
Homicide inquiry after woman dies at Clutha property
Cordons are in place and a police tent has been erected at the property this morning. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYA homicide inquiry is under way after the death of a woman at a Clutha property. He confirmed this morning that a woman had died in Crichton and a man remained in a critical condition in hospital following the incident. Stuff is reporting that a family member confirmed the woman as Milton vet Jillian Clark and the critically injured person as her partner. The property is cordoned off this morning and a guard in place while police conduct a scene examination.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 23, 2026 22:42 UTC
Store display brings back memories
Former Faigan’s Store manager Jude Omond is transported back in time with memorabilia from the store now on display at the Millers Flat Bakehouse museum. The former Faigan’s Store has been brought back to life with a display at the Millers Flat Bakehouse and Museum which is just metres down the road from where the store used to be. Ivan Faigan in his Millers Flat store. Much of the memorabilia from the store, which had been converted into a cafe, is now on display next door at the Millers Flat bakehouse. Millers Flat Bakehouse trustee and treasurer Hilary McKenzie said the Faigan’s Store Trust, which last operated the store, held the items in trust for the community.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 23, 2026 22:36 UTC
Weeks of work ahead to clear part of SH35 on the East Cape due to ‘massive’ landslide
Slips across SH35 above Hicks Bay Motor Lodge. That included another large slip at Hicks Bay which swept across the state highway and into the motel lodge. A chef at Hicks Bay Motor Lodge said water was still flowing down from the 200sq m slip on Friday afternoon. She urged people to be cautious about driving in the open sections of State Highway 35, where workers were still clearing debris, trees and culverts. The landslide at State Highway 35, Punaruku, on the way to Hicks Bay.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 23, 2026 22:35 UTC
Pensioner left stranded after car set alight
A Gore pensioner has been left gutted after his car was destroyed in an act of suspected arson this week, leaving him with no means of transport for medical appointments. PHOTO: NZ POLICEA newly retired Gore man has been left stranded after his uninsured car was torched this week in a suspected arson. Mark, a pensioner who only wanted to give his first name, was awoken by a couple of "small explosions" around 1am on Monday. However, his burnt-out car was left glued to the road. "[The car] was uninsured too — I ran out of insurance and couldn’t afford to renew it.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 23, 2026 22:02 UTC
Coach to tackle cafe ownership
Settling in as the new owners of St Clair’s Starfish Cafe are (from left) Sarah and Riki Flutey with their daughter Maddie. He and his wife Sarah officially took over ownership of Starfish Cafe, in St Clair, on Monday. When she saw a listing for the cafe on social media, it felt like it was genuinely meant to be, Mrs Flutey said. They were only a few days in and despite the steep learning curve she had found running the business really energising, Mrs Flutey said. They had been overwhelmed by the support, Mrs Flutey said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 23, 2026 21:46 UTC
Board of directors sought for WaiSouth
The Queenstown Lakes district’s Three Waters company has a name. Now it needs a board of directors. The size and makeup of the board for the council-controlled organisation (CCO), named WaiSouth, dominated discussion at a full council workshop this week. The board’s size, length of term and the desired skill mix of its directors must be decided at a full council meeting on February 5. Mayor John Glover said he preferred asking iwi what kind of relationship they wanted with the company, rather than presenting specific options.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 23, 2026 21:32 UTC
Stormy snapshot
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Source:Otago Daily Times
January 23, 2026 21:32 UTC
Police release names of six unaccounted for in Mt Maunganui landslide
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Source:New Zealand Herald
January 23, 2026 19:05 UTC
Leaky St Lukes apartments repair costs jump, enforcement action targets unit owners for unpaid levies
Dozens of owners have stopped paying the body corporate levies, with nearly $20m now in arrears, incurring penalty interest of 10%, according to documents viewed by the Herald. The interest rate is “commercially sensitive” but in line with penalty interest rates charged to unit owners who are in default. “The administrators are aware that some unit owners are unable to pay their levies (in part or in full). Administrators launch action over levy arrearsThe report warns that recovery action commenced in November against unit owners who failed to engage with the body corporate over unpaid levies. “Appropriate documentation” was now being prepared for recovery action by a law firm specialising in body corporate law and levy repayment.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 23, 2026 19:01 UTC
Stab wound penetrated to within 2cm of heart
PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYA stabbing in central Dunedin left the victim with a wound just 2cm from his heart, a court has heard. The confrontation "quickly turned into a heated exchange during which the defendant announced ‘I have a knife’," the court heard. The man told the ODT the sequence of events was a blur. A cardiothoracic specialist had to be called in to treat the victim and discovered the knife had penetrated the man’s chest to within 2cm of his heart. When asked how he rationalised his experience, the victim told the ODT he tried to remain positive.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 23, 2026 18:40 UTC