Te Kaika chair takes aim at critics
Ms Matahaere-Atariki described him as ‘‘a little bit of a letdown, because I guess he didn’t get the values that we got’’. Mr Laurence firmly rejected that characterisation and clarified that he departed Te Kaika because he believed the vision for the project was changing. Mr Laurence said it was clear he was part of the inception, but refused to get dragged into a war of words. Te Kaika has come under scrutiny recently for its consistently late filing of annual audits, which Ms Matahaere-Atariki conceded was ‘‘regrettable and ... embarrassing’’. Ms Matahaere-Atariki, though, denied Te Kaika was under investigation.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 16:40 UTC
Restored Tiger Moth gets to stretch wings over Taieri
Simon Spencer-Bower, of Wānaka, with his newly rebuilt Tiger Moth, which flew for the first time in 33 years over the Taieri Plain on Wednesday. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYAfter decades sitting idle, a brilliant-yellow Tiger Moth finally stretched its wings over the Taieri Plain. Owner Simon Spencer-Bower, of Wānaka, said the refurbished vintage biplane passed its first test flight on Wednesday with full marks. When it became surplus to air force requirements, the plane changed hands several times and was painted in civilian colours before Mr Spencer-Bower bought it in 1974. The plane was restored to its ‘‘particularly nice’’ Air Force colours when Mr Spencer-Bower was contracted to work on the 1981 film Bad Blood, based on the manhunt for mass-murderer Stanley Graham in 1941.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 16:40 UTC
Fuel crisis may spur public transport rethink
Kate WilsonPetrol shortages could lead to the opening of new and desired routes for public transport in the South, one regional councillor has suggested. The Otago Regional Council discussed public transport at its monthly meeting in Balclutha this week, with the fuel shortage front and centre. Exact data for Queenstown was not availableShe was expecting more people to use public transport and was confident there was enough capacity in the system to cope. Council chief executive Richard Saunders said if measures around rationing or prioritising fuel were introduced then public transport would be seen as a critical service and should have access to fuel. The Oamaru trial was the council’s first entry into community transport, which is a not-for-profit transport service funded and operated by local organisations to improve transport access in areas where traditional public transport is not feasible.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 16:40 UTC
Court chaos as defendant attacks cop and Corrections officer
Police stand outside the Dunedin Courthouse after a defendant allegedly physically lashed out at custodial staff. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONTwo people required medical attention after a defendant allegedly physically lashed out at custodial staff because his bail was declined. Turipa kicked a Corrections officer in the chest, knocking him over, Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond said. Both staff sought medical attention and the Corrections officer injured his ankle. When the alleged attack broke out, the court was cleared and Turipa was restrained by police, Corrections and court security staff and taken back to the court cells, he said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 16:40 UTC
Opinion: Volatile conflict beginning to bite
Combined with a forecast milk price of $9.70 per kilogram of milk solids, this is the kind of season where money starts moving again — through local businesses, local tradies, local towns. Conflict in the Middle East is having a global effect, and Kiwis are feeling it at the pump. Rising fuel prices hit every trip, every delivery, every time you fill up. New Zealand has close to seven weeks fuel supply, with more coming. The government’s also taken the practical step of allowing fuel that meets Australian specifications into the New Zealand market.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 15:26 UTC
Local legend
The Silver Fern Farms, Clutha Leader last Local Legend for March is good neighbour Christie Burrows. The Balclutha mother of three takes time out of managing her own family to help her less able friends with everyday tasks around their homes, as well as her own. ‘‘I have mobility problems and she often vacuums for me,’’ friend and nominator Carol Miller said. ‘‘If I got ill and I had no family around, I’d want someone to help me,’’ she said. And I can, so I do.’’Keep sending your nominations’ names, contact phone number and reason they are our Local Legends to: nick.brook@cluthaleader.co.nz
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 15:26 UTC
A shelter and a sanctuary
The owners of this Orokonui house feel like they are living within a forest canopy. But for most, the sculptural roof echoes a canopy of trees, which is what the architect intended. The result was a comfortable, calm space where the owners could ‘‘experience indoor and outdoor living immersed in the natural environment’’. As well as ensuring there were views through the house, the architect included high-level windows which provide unexpected glimpses of the skyline. The owners say the end result is testament to an architect and builder who cared about the fine details.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 15:26 UTC
On your marks
Mark-Up Day for mai mai sites has been brought forward a week because Easter falls early this year. Hunters who held a mai mai last season can reclaim it before 10am by purchasing a licence and attaching the tag. On public land mai mai must be occupied before 7.30am or become available to others. The 90-metre rule applies between sites and landowner permission is required. Mark-up rules apply equally to private and public land, landowner permission is required to hunt on any land and without permission, mark-up rules are irrelevant.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 15:26 UTC
Fund to hand out $50K to community projects
Vanessa HartnellCommunity organisations across Central Otago and the Southern Lakes region are invited to apply for grants as the ZQN Community Fund opens its 2026 funding round. The fund was launched last year by Queenstown Airport to empower grassroots organisations that contribute to the well-being of the region’s people and environment. Queenstown Airport partnerships and marketing manager Vanessa Hartnell said the fund recognised the responsibility to give back and support the communities that supported the airport. The Community Fund is open to charitable organisations working within the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago District. Priority would be given to initiatives that supported community wellbeing, youth, environmental sustainability, and resilience and particularly projects that respond to local needs and have a clear community impact.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 15:02 UTC
Cleaners 'face sack' days before new Christchurch stadium opens
One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha. It is responsible for the operation and asset management of One New Zealand Stadium, and manages the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Apollo Projects Stadium and Hagley Oval. Christchurch City Council is a Living Wage-accredited employer and directs Venues Ōtautahi through its letter of expectations to pay the Living Wage. O'Dwyer-Cunliffe says the move is a backdoor attempt to undermine the Living Wage. "When management tried to strip the Living Wage from new workers and failed, they found another way to do it.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 14:28 UTC
Over half of families in material hardship won't get fuel support package
Photo: RNZThe Green Party is crying foul after the government admitted more than half of families in material hardship will not benefit from its fuel support package. "According to the latest figures from Statistics New Zealand for 2024-25, 48% of children in material hardship are in working households. This support we are providing is intended to be timely, temporary, and targeted at those most in need," she said. "That is 52% of parents with children material hardship won't be covered by the in-work, tax credit boost ... this may be children of beneficiaries. "So we think it's appropriate that those working parents are who we target with this relief."
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 13:57 UTC
Concerns some countries hoarding jet fuel
File photo: Getty ImagesThere are concerns some Asian countries are beginning to hoard jet fuel as the Iran conflict drags on. News outlet Bloomberg has reported the South Korean government is discussing whether to redirect export-bound jet fuel to the domestic market amid mounting supply pressures. South Korea is a major source of refined fuel imports to New Zealand, providing around half of the country's fuel, and South Korea itself relies heavily on crude oil imports from the war-disrupted Middle East. "But it's also quite relevant for jet fuel, particularly South Korea which is a relatively important refiner of jet fuel," he said. Eckhold said even the west coast of the United States was not immune, because it got most of its jet fuel from South Korea.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 12:35 UTC
What a Republican loss in Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago district says about the US midterms
While some Republicans have argued that small special election results are being overblown, others privately acknowledge that the signals are troubling for their party. Since the start of 2025, Democrats have used special elections to flip a dozen state legislative seats, while Republicans have not flipped one. But this district and Florida in general represent the kind of places where Democrats have lost ground in the past decade. “It’s not a secret that Republicans don’t tend to do as well in off-year elections.”Why do Democrats do better in special elections? Voter participation in special elections is always relatively low.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 26, 2026 12:12 UTC
AI scribe concerns highlighted after 'jailbreak' exercise
HNZ said it was now being used by 1250 doctors and front-line staff in EDs around the country. But now, according to reports by Australian media, it is under review in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). With its system prompt changed, Heidi began calling itself "Nexus", and rewrote its own code when asked. "But a clinical scribe is developed for healthcare, and its use is approved by their institution. "It did not put patient information at risk, affect any users, or connect to Health New Zealand systems."
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 11:51 UTC
Some people may have to pay back fuel support
Image: RNZThere are concerns that offering fuel support via the Working for Families system may mean some people end up having to pay it back. The government announced on Tuesday that it would pay households who receive the in-work tax credit an extra $50 a week to help with the rising cost of fuel. But it was not uncommon for people to receive Working for Families payments that they were not entitled to. Because it was paid based on household income, when a family's income changed - due to shifting jobs or business income moving - they could end up receiving too much and having to pay it back. Inland Revenue said it would monitor all customers receiving Working for Families payments to ensure they were getting what they were entitled to.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 10:50 UTC