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
Avid swimmers take on Lake Wakatipu
PHOTO: JAMES ALLAN PHOTOGRAPHYSwimmers leap off Queenstown’s historic TSS Earnslaw in Frankton Arm on Saturday for the Whakatipu Legend swimming event. Co-organiser Richie Lambert said conditions were near perfect as about 180 people launched themselves into Lake Wakatipu for the 4km swim, which started in Frankton Arm and finished at Queenstown Bay beach. ‘‘There was no wind, no rain and it was mild — you can’t ask for better than that.’’Nearly 300 participants took part in the sixth edition of the event, which also had 2km and 1km out-and-back swims. About 40 people did the ‘‘triple challenge’’, completing the 4km, 2km and 1km swims in succession.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 16:36 UTC
Crowds flock to Strath Taieri for 122nd A&P show
It was no Wānaka, but Strath Taieri’s A&P Show capped off a busy month demonstrating the best of the community, an organiser says. Attendees at the 122nd show enjoyed Middlemarch’s ‘‘always beautiful’’ weather yesterday, show committee secretary Didee Bradshaw said. ‘‘But for us, it's been a really good crowd and all our trade stalls seem to be quite happy. ‘‘We've got photos from 100 years ago of the committee, all the men in their suits, you know, sensible, but it's a bit different now. ‘‘We've got a nice diverse committee.’’She said organisers were already looking ahead to the next big anniversary show — the 125th.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 16:36 UTC
Zentera: new name, brand for merino company
Zentera Wool Company chief executive Angus Street is confident the name change for the industry body previously known as the New Zealand Merino Company will be positive for merino farmers. PHOTOS: ZENTERANew Zealand Merino Company has changed its name to Zentera in a major rebrand. NZM was started 30 years ago by merino farmers as an industry organisation and has developed into a sales, marketing and innovation company for merino, halfbred and strong wool. Zentera Wool Company chief executive Angus Street said the company had not taken the name change lightly in an 18-month rebranding process and pressed forward to increase the value of the wool clip. It’s important that our company name and brand is a true reflection of who we are and what we do.’’Omarama Station owner and Zentera director Richard Subtil (left) and Zentera commercial specialist Cassidy Gray in the new Zentera branded clothing for the industry body formerly known as The New Zealand Merino Company.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 16:36 UTC
Diversity celebrated at festival
Kadodo Music, of Dunedin, gets the audience on their feet with a performance of West African rhythmic dance music at the Queenstown Multicultural Festival on Saturday. PHOTO: GUY WILLIAMSMore than 3000 people enjoyed cultural performances and food from around the world while taking the chance to learn about their community’s diversity at the fourth annual Queenstown Multicultural Festival on Saturday. It was poignant the festival was held on International Race Relations Day at a time when everyone could ‘‘see what's happening elsewhere in the world’’, Mr Gloversaid. Also attending was race relations commissioner Dr Melissa Derby, who said New Zealand was not a perfect country, but ‘‘luckier than many’’. ‘‘We have far more in common with one another than what separates us.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 16:36 UTC
Winston Peters’ newest candidate makes a stuttering start but could solve NZ First’s dilemma – Adam Pearse
Former National minister Alfred Ngaro will stand as a candidate for New Zealand First in this year's election. Photo / RNZIt mightn’t have been the best start to Ngaro’s affiliation with NZ First, but it could have been worse. But what he and Nash offer NZ First is experience, and it’s an issue NZ First is seeking to solve. Asked how Ngaro could appeal to people, Peters first pointed to his experience as a Cabinet minister and later promised more candidate announcements to follow. Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 22, 2026 15:54 UTC
Kaipara late-night rescue: Three saved after rogue wave capsizes boat
On Saturday night, Coastguard Kaipara said it received an urgent callout at 5.30pm after a vessel had capsized in the water past the bar. “By pure chance, they were picked up after two hours in the water by a passing boat heading home,” it said in a Facebook post. Coastguard Kaipara praised the actions of the boaties after they were unlucky to be hit by a wave. Photo / Michael Cunningham“[They] were wearing lifejackets, stayed together and had attempted to make a bar crossing report. Photo / Coastguard KaiparaThis was an example of how quickly the situation can change on the bar, the Coastguard said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 22, 2026 15:38 UTC
Letters to the Editor: alcohol, AI and Manage My Health
The New Zealand Alcohol Beverages Council has welcomed the proposed changes to the Bill as this is a common-sense approach to help improve our licensing system. Virginia NichollsDunedin[Virginia Nicholls is executive director of the New Zealand Alcohol Beverages Council. On the other handI write in support of the editorial that proposed law changes to New Zealand’s alcohol laws downplays the harm alcohol does to our society. By making it impossible to easily log on to Manage My Health, those supposed to manage their health have no chance whatsoever, thereby dying perhaps prematurely, and decreasing the expenses of keeping people healthy. Richard HutchisonWānakaAddress Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 15:33 UTC
Auckland’s motorway crash response system is so outdated – Deborah Chambers
And increasingly they do it knowing that one crash can bring the entire system to a halt. A crash on Auckland's Northern Motorway, State Highway 1 delays motorists and comes at a substantial cost to the country. Photo / NZTABeginning in the late 1990s and early 2000s, police developed specialist Serious Crash Units trained in forensic crash reconstruction. It would be a nightmare to be wrongly convicted of a serious driving charge when in fact it was the other bugger. Because every time thousands of people sit trapped on a motorway behind a minor crash, it exposes a deeper problem.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 22, 2026 15:30 UTC
Motorcyclists flee South Auckland crash as police head to higher priority job
A group of motorcyclists have fled after crashing into a car in South Auckland today right in front of a patrol car, who did not pursue the bikes as they were on their way to a higher priority crime. Footage shows a Ford Everest stopped in the middle of the road in Ōtara with a badly damaged bike on the ground, and the rider appeared injured and limping. As the rider went to move the bike, he then dropped it in the middle of the road, right in front of the car before hobbling onto the back of another bike, which sped off as a police car with sirens emerged. There were at least six bikes as part of the convoy and two of them appeared to try to box the police car in, while the bike with the injured rider looked to get further away. But according to New Zealand Police, the car wasn’t chasing after the bikers, instead it was off to a higher priority job.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 22, 2026 15:27 UTC