Otago just short of ‘aspirational’ rise
PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYProperty investors across Otago will be "a wee bit gutted" prices did not quite double over the past decade, a Dunedin landlord says. "Over the past decade we have seen significant regional variation and, in many areas, growth has fallen well short of that aspirational ‘doubling in value’ benchmark." Both Otago and Central Otago-Lakes District missed out by a hair, rising 95.3% to $609,497 and 96% to $1,485,995, respectively, over the past decade. Otago Property Investors Association vice-president Kathryn Seque-Roche said investors would be "a wee bit gutted". Ms Williams said that while neither Otago nor Central Otago-Lakes District properties doubled in value, both regions grew substantially over the past decade.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 19, 2026 22:07 UTC
Fletcher Building to sell construction arm
Photo: Fletcher BuildingFletcher Building has reached a binding agreement to sell its construction division to major international firm Vinci Construction. The sale of Fletcher Construction Holdings included its New Zealand business units Higgins, Brian Perry Civil and Fletcher Construction Major Projects. Reding was confident the sale to Vinci would be the right transaction for shareholders, Fletcher Construction itself and the broader New Zealand construction industry. Fletcher Building also expected to set aside $55m to $65m for probable future claims relating to legacy construction contracts retained following the divestment. The decision to sell Fletcher Construction followed a strategic review of the wider Fletcher Building business in 2025.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 19, 2026 21:41 UTC
Leggings, fuel tanks help save capsized trio
Three men spent six hours in the water off Tolaga Bay before a major search and rescue effort. Photo: NZ Defence ForceYellow leggings and fuel tanks helped three cray fishermen in the water for about seven hours after capsizing near Tolaga Bay be rescued. "We eventually got clear of the reef and picked up some flotation devices, which were two fuel tanks." "Once I got onto the rescue boat, I just had to lie down. Sidetracked has since been recovered and Destounis's focus is on getting back in the water and getting business back under way.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 19, 2026 20:33 UTC
Joseph fends off talk about All Blacks coaching role
PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHJamie Joseph says he is not in talks with New Zealand Rugby to replace the dumped Scott Robertson as All Blacks coach. The Highlanders coach is widely considered the No1 contender to replace Robertson, who was last week jettisoned two years into his four-year contract. Joseph missed out to Robertson three years ago when NZR sought to make an early appointment near the end of Ian Foster’s tumultuous reign as All Blacks coach. "We gave them a bit of a breather because we’ve got this stint where we’ve got 11 games on the trot." It is an open secret that Joseph will want former longtime assistant Tony Brown with him if he gets the All Blacks job.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 19, 2026 19:35 UTC
'Ghost houses': Concern for Queenstown's future
Image: RNZA town increasingly owned from afarLittle data is available on exactly who owns Queenstown's "ghost houses", but property maintenance companies told RNZ they had noticed a major shift in the market. On the other hand, it was becoming more costly to use houses for short-term accommodation, Nicol said. Photo: RNZCapital gains tax could make a difference - mayorMayor John Glover said many of Queenstown's ghost houses were legitimate holiday houses bought by people who intended to visit or move down eventually. He said a capital gains tax on second homes might lead to fewer ghost houses, although he framed that as a broader governmental debate. Without action, he warned, workers would be pushed out of the town and more houses would sit empty in the centre.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 19, 2026 19:35 UTC
New Zealand Opens Awards Backing Next-Gen Dairy Owners
NZDIA general manager Robin Congdon said the continuation of these awards strengthens the programme’s scope, extending support beyond trainees to those actively purchasing farms. The initiative reinforces NZDIA’s mission to recognise excellence across all career stages while supporting succession planning and long-term sustainability in the dairy industry. The impact of the programme is illustrated by 2025 ASB Alumni of the Year winners Steve and Amy Gillies, who credited access to 1% interest lending from ASB with accelerating their farming ambitions. After earlier success in NZDIA competitions, the couple purchased a 97-hectare farm in Te Awamutu and are now planning further expansion and opportunities to support future sharemilkers. The ASB Alumni of the Year Award targets NZDIA alumni from the past seven years who are transitioning toward ownership or early ownership stages.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 19, 2026 19:27 UTC
Letters: Trump’s approach to international affairs all about economic intimidation
No reward for prizeThe handing over of the Nobel Peace Prize to a warmonger who is stoking fire abroad with both once-close Nato allies and longtime enemies was odd. No doubt the Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado saw mileage in appeasing Trump’s longing to be recognised. Other peace prize medals have sold for millions of dollars. Though having given a seemingly placating gift to a vacilating president, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize was then sent home with no promise of support. Yes, Dad was heavily involved in farming and farming politics, just like his father, James Begg.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 19, 2026 19:01 UTC
Professor urges care on funding Wegovy
PHOTO: SUPPLIEDA leading health academic says Pharmac should not consider wide-scale funding of so-called "miracle" weight-loss drugs until the country has a solid approach to treating obesity. "They are people with heart disease and heart failure, as well as some groups of people with diabetes. "I really think that this thing needs to be looked at as part of a big picture, not just should we fund Wegovy or shouldn’t we fund Wegovy." "The problem that we have in this country now is that we don’t have the opportunity for adequate counselling in primary care. "But if we are saying that these drugs should be used like blood pressure drugs or diabetes drugs or heart disease and cholesterol drugs, I mean, we’ve got years and years and years of experience with those drugs.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 19, 2026 18:55 UTC
Ambulance station work starts
An artistic concept of the planned Weston Rd St John station. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDAfter a 10-year wait, construction of a new ambulance station in Oamaru is under way. Ground was broken at the Weston Rd site at a ceremony last weekend and Breen Construction began work yesterday. The station will have a four-bay garage, housing an ambulance, a volunteer-based first response unit, a ‘‘patient transport services’’ vehicle and an event health services ambulance. Hato Hone St John district operations manager Otago Southland David Milne thanked Weston Rd residents Ray and Janice Walker, who gave the land to St John.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 19, 2026 18:32 UTC
Young dog’s life completely turned around by SPCA
PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIENWhen Staffordshire terrier-cross Layla first came into the Dunedin SPCA, she was sick, scared and severely malnourished. When she was first brought into the Dunedin SPCA in November last year, she was so scared she urinated as soon as she saw a person. SPCA Dunedin centre manager Laura Vander Kley said the day before they found Layla, they got an alert from a member of the public about five dumped puppies. Layla when she first came came to the SPCA in November. "She was really, really upset about that," Ms Vander Kley said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 19, 2026 18:28 UTC
‘Money motivated family’ gang not a threat yet: police
The group call themselves "money motivated family" and formed from a group of prisoners about July last year. Some members were associated with other gangs before Money Motivated Family, and sociologist Dr Jarrod Gilbert said moving between gangs was becoming more common. "Now, it’s been incredibly common, not just to change from one gang to another gang, but to maybe change two or three, four times. A local tradie, who declined to be named, was aware of one member of the Money Motivated Family. "If you live in Dunedin, you know which gang members to avoid and which ones not to avoid," he said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 19, 2026 18:27 UTC
Nelson teen admits stabbing stranger in Buxton Carpark alley attack
The Buxton Carpark featured various lanes and alleyways, and has been a focal point for the police in recent years. It was where Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming was killed in the early hours of January 1 last year. About 12.35am, Ropiha and two associates were in an alleyway of the Buxton Carpark, in central Nelson. Her colleague, Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay, was critically injured, and a third police officer was assessed for a concussion. She was previously RNZ’s regional reporter in Nelson-Marlborough and has covered general news, including court and local government for the Nelson Mail.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 19, 2026 17:33 UTC
How Nicole McKee picked new firearms group members in Paul Goldsmith’s name
The MAAG was set up in 2020-21, following the Christchurch terror attack, and has the ear of the minister responsible for firearms laws. Associate Justice Minister and Act MP Nicole McKee. They are both familiar to McKee; Spray has worked for McKee’s company Firearms Safety Specialists NZ Limited, which founded Whakatūpato. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. Public Service guidelines for filling positions in statutory bodies include nine ways to seek candidates, including asking the responsible minister.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 19, 2026 17:31 UTC
Pride of place
PHOTOS: GERARD O’BRIEN & SUPPLIEDA mural of a lion now graces the side of a Dunedin building. The image on the Mansfield Apartments building at the corner of Bond and Liverpool Sts was created by SwiftMantis, of Palmerston North. The artist had intended to depict a British bulldog (above), but animal welfare groups raised objections, highlighting the breed’s respiratory issues. The building formerly displayed Love is in the Air (above), painted by Polish street artist Natalia Rak in May 2015, showing a girl giving a boy a kiss as he holds a lollipop. That mural was painted over in 2024 so the wall could be repaired.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 19, 2026 17:25 UTC
Incomes not keeping up with cost of living - survey
Council of Trade Unions' annual Mood of the Workforce survey showed incomes are falling even more behind on the cost of living. Photo: RNZA major union-backed survey shows more workers reporting their incomes are not keeping up with the cost of living. The Council of Trade Unions' annual Mood of the Workforce survey showed nearly 60 percent of the more than 3000 surveyed saying their income had fallen behind the cost of living, compared to nearly 50 percent last year. Some haven't received a pay rise in five yearsThe survey showed union members were more likely to receive annual pay rises. "How do you go an pay for your groceries if you haven't had a pay rise in five years?
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 19, 2026 16:54 UTC