Man tortured family cat as relationship broke down
Photo: Al WilliamsA man bought his partner a cat only to subject it to serious acts of cruelty as their relationship broke down, including pulling it’s teeth out with pliers. Two veterinarians examined Max, the first saying the injuries and circumstances leading to them would have caused the cat pain and distress. A vet who viewed the footage said holding the cat by its tail would have caused immediate distress, pain and discomfort. It was only three months earlier that the cat had been examined by a vet who discovered fractures to its teeth. When asked by his partner why he had broken the cat’s teeth, Feng said the cat had bitten him, and he was afraid the cat would bite their daughter.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 24, 2026 11:52 UTC
The five groups vying to take over Molesworth Station
Photo: Supplied / Pamu FarmsFive groups are vying to take over the country's largest farm. Molesworth Station, the iconic high country property, is run as a cattle farm by state-owned Pāmu. Applications closed last week with five groups putting forward applications to take over running farm operations at Molesworth. And we're looking forward to working through those and working out who the best and most appropriate person is to take Molesworth forward into the future." Jim Ward, former manager of Molesworth station.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 24, 2026 11:05 UTC
Brooke Van Velden Quits ACT In Shock Move
Brooke van Velden’s sudden departure from ACT raises serious political questions — not just about her own future, but about the stability of a party already under pressure in the polls. Pay equity reforms remain deeply contestedThe woman who destroyed pay parity and robbed the poorest working women with the most despicable move ever in NZ Labour relations history is quitting! Why this resignation raises questionsIt is an enormous and deeply suspicious move by Brooke, who is the only other Electorate holder in ACT. She is a radioactively toxic individual who is highly despised for her role in destroying working women’s pay equity. She has caused working women more damage than menopause and osteoporosis combined.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 24, 2026 11:04 UTC
Gold Hits 4-Month Low, Silver Drops 3% Amid Global Market Pressures
Gold prices fell to a nearly four-month low on Monday, with the Gold Hits 4-Month Low trend reflecting global market weakness, rising inflation concerns, and expectations of higher interest rates that pushed silver down over 3% and reduced demand for precious metals. Domestic Rates Edge Lower Across CitiesIn India, bullion prices followed global cues with modest declines in early trade. Silver prices dropped more sharply, declining Rs 100 to Rs 2,44,900 per kilogram. Silver prices remained largely uniform at Rs 2,44,900 per kilogram in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, while Chennai quoted higher at Rs 2,49,900. Rising crude oil prices are fueling global inflation concerns, increasing the likelihood of prolonged higher interest rates.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 24, 2026 10:54 UTC
"Not really a surprise": Dion Nash 'falls on his sword' as NZ20 receives NZ Cricket backing
NZ20 has triumphed, but the administration disaster at New Zealand Cricket continues. Former Black Cap Dion Nash —understood to have been against the local franchise league that has been provisionally accepted— has resigned from NZC's board. A statement says Nash was no longer aligned with the future direction of the organisation. NZ Herald Sports Reporter Alex Powell told Ryan Bridge that it’s not surprising to see Nash falling on his sword. He says it was sort of known behind the scenes that he was the one board member really against NZ20, and without him, they could’ve come to this conclusion a few months ago.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 24, 2026 10:36 UTC
Locals push against mine on doorstep of national park
Australian mining company Siren Gold hopes to extract billions of dollars worth of gold at Sams Creek in the Upper Tākaka Valley. The group wanted to engage with Siren Gold and voice their concerns but did not hold out much hope, he said. Exploration drilling was ongoing at the site as the company awaited the result of its mining permit application, he said. MBIE minerals and offshore renewable energy national manager petroleum John Buick-Constable said the Sams Creek Gold mining permit application was still being assessed. The company's existing exploration permit remained in force while its mining permit was being assessed, Buick-Constable said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 24, 2026 10:25 UTC
Review: Synthony was at once joyous and a bit depressing
Synthony at the Auckland Domain is New Zealand’s biggest one-day music festival. Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra members concentrate under pressure. But Synthony has built up an almost cult-like following since its first ever show at the Auckland Town Hall in 2017. The joy started with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, which acted as backing band for the set of EDM classics in the day’s headline concert. Though Timothée Chalamet recently gave ballet and opera a terminal diagnosis, at Synthony the philharmonic showed aging artforms don’t have to lay down and die quietly.
Source:Stuff
March 24, 2026 10:12 UTC
Reserve Bank warns of inflation surge
Photo: RNZ / Samuel RillstoneThe Reserve Bank governor is warning of higher inflation and weaker economic growth due to the Middle East crisis. "We are likely to see higher headline inflation over the near term, and somewhat weaker growth momentum," Breman said. "For this type of disruption, we would likely see higher inflation over the next few quarters, along with squeezed real incomes and demand." She said the peak impact of monetary policy on inflation took about six to nine quarters. Higher fertiliser prices were another factor, and she believed it could take up to nine months to fully pass through to supermarket prices.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 24, 2026 09:44 UTC
Israeli minister calls for annexation of southern Lebanon
Reuters witnesses heard at least three blasts in Beirut's Dahiyeh district late on Monday, as the Israeli military said it had attacked Hezbollah sites in the city. An earlier strike in Beirut on Monday killed a commander of the elite Quds Force of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the Israeli military said. "I say here definitively...in every room and in every discussion, too: the new Israeli border must be the Litani," Smotrich said. Defence Minister Israel Katz said earlier this monththat Lebanon could face "loss of territory" if it did not disarm Hezbollah. The Lebanese government has outlawed Hezbollah military activity and said it wants to engage in direct talks with Israel.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 24, 2026 08:55 UTC
Raft of sex charges laid against man connected to religious group
Christchurch District Court. Photo: RNZPolice have laid several serious charges against a man connected to a religious organisation with links around the Pacific. Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Baillie said a 45-year-old man would appear in the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday morning. "Police executing search warrants have arrested one person from a religious organisation that has a presence in New Zealand, Australia, Samoa and Fiji," Baillie said. "Today's arrest follows a number of allegations, and partner agencies are supporting those that have come forward.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 24, 2026 08:03 UTC
Man electrocuted while allegedly taking copper from transformer
Superintendent Lane Todd said the incident was a reminder of the dangers of power infrastructure. File photo: Getty ImagesChristchurch police are investigating the electrocution of a man who is believed to have been attempting to take copper from a transformer. Power was automatically cut to 513 properties in Burwood and surrounding areas, but the linesman had to manually cut power to the transformer. "We are making a number of enquiries, however it appears the man may have been attempting to retrieve copper from the transformer," Todd said. "Emergency services were unable to reach the man immediately as the transformer was still live.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 24, 2026 07:39 UTC
Fuel prices to stay high for months, Labour told
By Jo Moir of RNZIt will be months of hiked up fuel prices at the pump even if the conflict in the Middle East was to end today, according to government officials. "They indicated to us they're expecting, and the government is expecting this to go on for months ... that the escalated price in fuel is going to go on for months," Hipkins told media on his way to caucus. He ruled out any wage subsidy support for employees but has indicated Labour would go further than the government in other support. *Correction: This story has been changed to reflect officials said it would be months of escalated fuel prices. Labour leader Chris Hipkins separately used 100 days as an example of how long the pain might go on.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 24, 2026 06:56 UTC
Fuel crisis: Nicola Willis slams Chris Hipkins’ ‘factually unbased claims’ over Govt’s tax take
This is a time for cool, calm heads.”Hipkins, speaking to reporters after Willis, wouldn’t walk back his earlier comments and argued that the Government would receive millions extra in GST revenue. He calculated that if fuel prices increase $1 a litre, it would result in an extra $3m a day in GST revenue. His reference to hundreds of millions extra was based on a briefing from officials suggesting higher fuel prices could persist for months. However, Hipkins wasn’t clear when asked if GST revenue would reduce as people pulled back on other expenses. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 24, 2026 06:53 UTC
The Warehouse fined $234,000 over kids’ toy safety breaches
Safety a ‘non‑negotiable priority’Fairley said the commission’s key grievance was the packaging, not the toy itself. The Warehouse previously issued a voluntary recall notice for the toy. “The Warehouse has, and always will, treat the safety of our customers as a non‑negotiable priority," Fairley said. A product safety recall was issued for the Roo Crew Take-Apart Vehicle. Any labelling applied to the toy must align with the age appropriateness of the toy.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 24, 2026 06:46 UTC
Supreme Court says man who committed rape at the age of 15 must be resentenced
G pleaded guilty to the sexual violations but chose to go to trial on the rape charge. He was found guilty and was sentenced under the Sentencing Act in the normal way for adult offenders. Had he been charged before his 19th birthday, the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 (OTA) and not the Sentencing Act would have applied. G’s lawyers argued that had the OTA been applied, a prison sentence would have been applied only as a last resort. “That objective is best addressed by the District Court on the basis of current and comprehensive information.”The Supreme Court sent the case back to the District Court for resentencing.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 24, 2026 06:37 UTC