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
Cromwell man, 21, reported missing
Photo: Supplied / NZ PoliceA 21-year-old man has been reported missing from Cromwell. In a post to social media, police said Antoine was last seen on Saturday March 21 at about 11.45pm on Achil St, walking towards Inniscort St.Police believe he may also have been in the Cromwell Rugby Club area that day. "Police and Antoine's family have concerns for his welfare and would like to see him return home," the post said. If you have seen Antoine or have information regarding his whereabouts, please contact Police through 105 online or by phone. - Police reference number P065853181.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 24, 2026 06:35 UTC
ACT's Brooke van Velden quits politics
Photo: Marika KhabaziACT Party MP and minister Brooke van Velden has announced she won't be seeking re-election in November. Ms van Velden, the party's deputy leader and Workplace Relations Ministersaid in a statement today she had spent nine years in the public sector and it was time for a change. Van Velden said she told Seymour and the party general secretary before Christmas that she was considering leaving, and confirmed her decision with them earlier this year. She will remain a minister for now, and the party will confirm a new deputy leader at its general meeting in June. "I've been serving the people of Tamaki 100 percent until this point and that is what I'll continue to do until the election," van Velden said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 24, 2026 06:07 UTC
Thomas Coughlan: Nicola Willis tells Labour there’s a new sheriff in town
This strategy means that the payment won’t change the Government’s fiscal trajectory, although, unfortunately for Willis, the declining economic conditions almost certainly will. As of Budget 2025, there was only $928m left in Willis’ 2026 allowance (the rest was pre-committed to health and defence). That’s why the Government, more than a decade ago, invented the Independent Earner Tax Credit, a $10-a-week boost to middle-income people who worked but did not get any other income support. The Government pointedly went against using the Family Tax Credit and the IETC to deliver income support. Labour’s press release, potentially fearful of talking too much about beneficiaries, mentioned only “those who aren’t eligible for the in-work tax credit”.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 24, 2026 06:07 UTC
Lotto changes will make it harder to win the jackpot
Photo: RNZ/Cole Eastham-FarrellyChanges coming for Lotto will make it less likely that people will win the big prize - but more likely they'll collect a small one. Lotto will also add a "division eight" prize, raise the starting Powerball jackpot from $4 million to $5m, and increase the maximum jackpot from $50m to $60m. We expect its introduction will lift the total number of weekly Powerball winners by 30 percent, from about 47,000 winners to 62,000 winners on average." But what you're selling when you're selling a Lotto ticket is you're selling hope. People are already prioritising Lotto tickets over feeding their kids and these changes will only make it worse."
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 24, 2026 04:33 UTC
Teen girls arrested after alleged motorway dash in Auckland
Three females aged 14-18 were arrested following an incident in Manurewa around 2am, where a man’s vehicle was taken. Three teenage girls, the youngest 14, were caught speeding along an Auckland motorway overnight following an altercation with a man in a South Auckland suburb. Police said they are making inquiries into the incident after a vehicle was taken from the Manurewa area early this morning. “They had parked in the Manurewa area, when an altercation has occurred between the group. “Eventually, all three passengers left the area in the man’s vehicle, and police were contacted,” a police spokesperson said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 24, 2026 04:02 UTC
Brooke van Velden exit: what her departure means for David Seymour, Act and Tāmaki
Van Velden has succeeded, however, in putting together the least-worst resolution to the Holidays Act debacle – a problem that plagued many ministers before her. Act Party deputy leader Brooke van Velden has announced she will not stand for re-election in the 2026 general election. Van Velden is a different kind of female politician. That being said, list MP Nicole McKee is considered the strongest contender to replace van Velden as Act deputy. Van Velden has achieved a lot of change in politics in a short time, especially for someone so young.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 24, 2026 03:56 UTC
Death toll from military plane crash leaps to 66
Members of the military gather at the site of a Colombian military plane crash in Puerto Leguizamo, Putumayo, Colombia. Photo: La Voz de Amazonia/Mare Rafue/Handout via REUTERSThe death toll in the crash of a Colombian Air Force plane nearly doubled to 66 by Monday evening, two military sources told Reuters, as authorities continued to pull bodies from the wreckage. The incident was one of the deadliest accidents in recent history for Colombia's Air Force, which also injured dozens. Military vehicles later arrived, though authorities said the crash site was difficult to reach, impeding rescue efforts. Colombia's Air Force had initially reported a total of 121 people on board, comprised of 110 soldiers and 11 crew members.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 24, 2026 03:12 UTC