Luxon more focused on fuel prices than polls
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Photo: RNZPrime Minister Christopher Luxon says many people do feel that "things have got better" with the economy recovering, lower inflation and lower interest rates. Luxon reiterated his policy of not commenting on polls, saying he was focused on navigating the current fuel supply challenges. Just 17.3% of voters named Luxon as their preferred choice for prime minister, compared with 20.7% who picked Labour leader Chris Hipkins. Half of respondents - 50.4% - said Luxon was performing poorly as prime minister, compared with 29.8% who rated him well.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 20:25 UTC
Black Caps to play rare four-test series in Australia
The Black Caps will play Australia in four tests later this year. Photo: Getty ImagesThe Black Caps will play their first-ever four-test series against Australia when they tour later this year and it will be their first against any opponent in 26 years. The Black Caps host India directly before crossing the Tasman and Australia then are to leave for India almost straight after the series which will be played within a month, with short turnarounds between all four games. History will be against the current world No 5 ranked Black Caps toppling the top-ranked Australians, who have dominated their recent meetings in the longest form. Australia have won seven of their last eight tests, with the other drawn, including a 3-0 series whitewash when the teams last met in Australia six years ago.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 19:27 UTC
Price remains paramount for fashion retailers amidst economic uncertainty
Glassons Australia chief executive James Glasson said the company was starting to see green shoots in its New Zealand stores, although some regions were recovering faster than others. We have to make sure we make it very accessible.”Retail NZ’s most recent quarterly survey shows more than half of retailers are meeting sales targets. But chief executive Carolyn Young said a distinct gap was emerging between retailers who have stabilised and those who are still struggling, with some downgrading sales targets and taking on less stock. Glasson said while the year ahead remained uncertain in the wider economy, the chain remained focused on the factors it could control. He’s been covering business, politics, local government and consumer affairs for more than a decade.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 22, 2026 19:02 UTC
Why a Kiwi investor is choosing to rent instead of buying – The Prosperity Project
The Keep the Change podcast host is deliberately choosing to rent and invest his savings instead, challenging the deeply ingrained Kiwi money belief that home ownership represents financial success. Opting to rent has allowed him to access a lifestyle he enjoys in a “two-point-something” million-dollar property, without the price tag. “I’m thinking, okay, I’ve got X amount invested and that’s effectively paid for a whole week of my rent – maybe rent isn’t wasted money”. “We need to slow down the rush ... figure out what’s best for you and make sure you’ve got a solid plan.”Watch or listen to the full episode of The Prosperity Project for more. The Prosperity Project is hosted by Nadine Higgins, an experienced broadcaster and financial adviser.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 22, 2026 19:01 UTC
False information being reported to fuel price app
Photo: RNZThousands of people seeking to shave a few cents off petrol prices are flocking to a fuel price app - while some are fuelling false information about shortages. The app, which relies on user reports of petrol prices to allow people to compare prices across petrol stations, has gained thousands of users a day as fuel prices surge. Gaspy director Mike Newton said the app had seen a huge influx of new users in recent weeks. "It's unprecedented territory - we've been running for 11 years, and we've never had to deal with widespread shortages before." Newton urged users to keep updating prices and notifying shortages given it didn't look like the conflict in the Middle East or rising fuel prices would be resolved any time soon.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 18:57 UTC
National slips further behind in latest poll
Graphic: RNZNational has slipped further behind Labour in the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll, falling to 30.8% support. The poll, published Monday, puts Labour in the top spot on 35.6%, up 0.6 points from January, while National is down 1.1 points to 30.8%. That gives Luxon a net score of -20.6 (down 6.6 points), his weakest result in the Reid Research series since becoming National leader in 2021. National supporters are the most optimistic with a net score of +63.1, followed by ACT supporters on +24.1. NZ First voters are much more pessimistic, recording a net score of -24.6.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 18:43 UTC
British skydiver Sarah-Jane Bayram’s cause of death revealed after fatal Muriwai Beach jump
Skydive Auckland safety officer Fiona McLaren was on the beach monitoring the skydivers’ descent. ‘Extreme consequences’The summary also discusses regulatory settings and what precautionary measures Skydive Auckland had taken on the day. This noted that water landing was a hazard with “potential consequences of drowning”. Photo / InstagramThe following controls to mitigate water landing risks had been implemented, however:*Instructing parachutists not to fly over or land in water. *Providing instructions for an emergency response plan if needed in the event of a water landing.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 22, 2026 17:38 UTC
Specialist mental health team excluded from decisions on shared prison cells for mentally ill prisoners
Mt Eden Prison, where Fitzpatrick died, has a dedicated team of forensic mental health specialists, whose job it is to oversee the care of prisoners in distress. Specialist mental health staff at Whangārei Hospital, where Fitzpatrick had previously been a patient, were under similar strain. At Mt Eden Prison, the shortage of forensic mental health staff also coincided with growth in the inmate population. The 46-year-old who had mental health issues was allegedly beaten to death by his cellmate while double bunked at Mt Eden prison. Mental Health and Addiction national director Phil Grady previously said any recommendations will be implemented quickly.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 22, 2026 17:32 UTC
Student mag fundamental to uni community
But my very first journalistic assignment — my first foray into the newsroom — was with Critic Te Ārohi, the University of Otago’s student newspaper. Student journalism is fundamental to the health of any university community. Its quality, influence and impact will gradually wane until it falls into irrelevancy.’’You see, this is how student journalism wastes away — death by a thousand careful, ‘‘justifiable’’ cuts. Student journalism matters. Critic Te Ārohi has survived protests, scandals and generations of student editors.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 17:23 UTC
Loose forward scored most famous try
Elliot Dixon scores a try for the Highlanders during their game against the Crusaders in 2018. It could also refer to the crucial metres the loose forward gained when he scored arguably the Highlanders’ most famous try. ‘‘I suppose the dream was to play for the Crusaders,’’ Dixon told Sky Sport. I love playing footy.’’Every Highlanders fan loved Elliot Dixon after the 2015 final, when he scored a memorable try — in his 50th game for the club — in the 21-14 win over the Hurricanes. Dixon is back in Christchurch, where he works in recruitment consulting, specialising in the civil industry.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 17:23 UTC
More long-term certainty important for construction industry
From the city’s historic commercial buildings to major infrastructure projects delivered across New Zealand, southern construction companies have helped shape the built environment the country relies on every day. What struck me early on was the contrast between the capability within construction companies and the structural volatility of the environment they operate in. Construction companies operate in an environment where the workload can fluctuate dramatically depending on when major projects are released. But it would allow construction companies to invest more confidently in training, technology and the next generation of skilled professionals. For a company like Naylor Love, which has been part of New Zealand’s construction sector for more than a century, that responsibility carries particular weight.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 17:04 UTC
Baffling back-out
There has been little fanfare about New Zealand’s decision to formally reject amendments to international health regulations (IHR) drawn up after the Covid-19 pandemic. That is possibly because it is baffling and an action which seems designed to appeal to some New Zealand First voters, and to suck up to the United States. As Newsroom reported, another seven said they had rejected the amendments as they needed more time to finally implement them. There have been no official ministerial statements issued on last week’s action by either Health Minister Simeon Brown or Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters. This was clearly illustrated during New Zealand’s Covid-19 response because countries took their own line on advice they received from the WHO.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 17:03 UTC
Firefighting contest tests skill, speed
Glenorchy Fire Brigade rural firefighters (from left) Matheus Silva and Will McBeth compete in the Wajax competition held in Dunedin at the Zingari Richmond Football Club on Saturday. On Saturday, rural fire brigades from all over Otago and Southland were at the Zingari Richmond Football Club in Mornington for the annual 2026 Wajax competition. It was the first time the event, in which teams raced to complete challenges, had been held in the city for 17 years. ‘‘We always have quite low women’s team numbers because there’s I think just naturally less women in firefighting — this year we have two women’s teams. A key part of the event was assembling Wajax water pumps — a staple rural firefighting device that applied high pressure to low water volume for maximum efficiency ground-fire suppression.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 17:03 UTC
Veterans claim titles at national cross-country championships
Samara Sheppard heads to victory at the New Zealand cross-country mountain biking championships in Rotorua on Saturday. PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPHYBYSAVANNATwo 30-something mountain bike greats showed class was permanent as they dominated the New Zealand cross-country championships in Rotorua on Saturday. Christchurch professional Anton Cooper, 31, claimed his 11th elite national honours, while Australian-based Kiwi Samara Sheppard dominated the elite women at the sport’s spiritual home in the Whakarewarewa Forest. Hamilton rider Fletcher Adams finished 3min 3sec behind the winner to claim third place and the under-23 honours. Cooper had to call on his experience after a puncture in his warm-up some distance away from the start.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 17:02 UTC
All aboard knitting, chatting
Preparing to knit their way to Oamaru while aboard The Seasider train are (from left) Sue Partel, Colleen Lyons, Kay Anderson, Ruth Tansley, Miriam Vollweiller, Sue Walton and Heather McDiamid. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHPlenty of yarns were spun when almost 200 knitters clambered into five train carriages destined for Oamaru at the weekend. Crofters Yarn Knitting on the Train return trip between Dunedin and Oamaru was held for the second time on Saturday, after a successful inaugural event in last year. ‘‘We got over 190 people to come — we had five full cabins of knitters,’’ Ms Aitken said. ‘‘This is all about honouring knitting.’’Many knitters on the train were working on baby blankets to donate to the Queen Mary Maternity Ward at Dunedin Hospital.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 16:36 UTC