Long time between drinks for old mates
Mark ‘Horse’ Schultz, left, and Craig ‘Ferg’ Ferguson reunited in Queenstown this week after the latter determined to find his old mate whom he’d pledged to drink this bottle with, 30-plus years ago. PHOTO: ODT FILESIn October 1995, Queenstowner Craig ‘Ferg’ Ferguson, then a part-time coach driver, had a long session on the wines with fellow driver Mark ‘Horse’ Schultz, whom he’d bump into around the country. Ferguson says every few years he’d see the bottle gathering dust then try without success to locate Schultz online. The old mates caught up by phone and then, this week, in person, along with the undrunk bottle of wine — Schultz was visiting Queenstown before walking the Greenstone Track. Schultz, 60, tells Ferguson, 67: "I remember you vividly writing [the date] on the label.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 17, 2026 15:14 UTC
Outstanding community contributor
Recently-deceased Maureen Thomson in Queenstown with her second husband, the late Bill Thomson. Before moving to Christchurch in about 1996, Nelson-raised Maureen Thomson lived in Queenstown for about 25 years after earlier stints in Invercargill and Alexandra. For a long time she brought up six children — Dale, Desley, Sandra, Tony, Glen and Craig — by herself after her first husband, Bill Smith, left her. Her community work included making weekly lunches for Senior Citizens Association members and organising entertainment for children, and she was also a carer for much-loved doctor’s widow, Molly Anderson, who lived to 103. Maureen was one of the first local people awarded a civic honour in ’93 for her voluntary community service.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 17, 2026 15:03 UTC
Scholarships awarded
Wakatipu High School. PHOTO: ODT FILESSix more talented Wakatipu High School students have been given Kate Moetaua Foundation scholarships, which continue the legacy of the much-loved WHS teacher, who died in 2018. Kate’s daughter Anika says the calibre of applicants for the 2025 scholarships was "outstanding" and this year’s recipients are "exceptional". Winners last year in sport are Katie Battrick (hockey), Hugo Bogue (cricket) and Charlie Manser (rowing). In the arts, recipients are Lena Ibe (dance), Haru Kuroe (music) and Joe Leyden (musical theatre).
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 17, 2026 15:02 UTC
Apt winner of golf fundraiser
From left, event convener Linley Carter, winner Joel Hasselman and Frankton brigade senior station officer Paul Halstead, whose brigade was the fundraising tournament’s main beneficiary. PHOTO: ODT FILESConsidering last Sunday’s 36th Altrusa International Queenstown Charity Golf Tournament mostly fundraised for the Frankton volunteer fire brigade, there couldn’t have been a more fitting winner. The overall winner, at Queenstown Golf Club’s Kelvin Heights course, was Frankton Golf Centre teaching pro Joel Hasselman, who’s hugely appreciative of the brigade’s efforts in putting out the fire which gutted its pro shop last month. Over the years the Altrusa tournament’s raised $200,000-plus for many local causes. Attracting a field of almost 100 players in challenging weather, Sunday’s tournament raised at least $12,000 for the brigade, and also a donation to junior golf’s Futures Whakatipu programme.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 17, 2026 15:02 UTC
Best in show
from left, John Sanders, Kate Hamilton, and Bruce Patton. Sanders, 71, has been involved on and off for about 50 years and latterly provides about half of the sheep on display every year. He says his life membership’s also a credit to his late wife Mary-Liz Ford-Sanders whose experience in A&P shows stretched back to her days in Australia where she was a life member in Ballarat. He also donated a trophy in the wool tent in memory of his wife this year. "Now we’ve got to find people to step into that sheep role, otherwise we’ll lose that and it will be a devastating situation."
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 17, 2026 15:02 UTC
No sign of right signs
The new luxury Queenstown spa, 'The Bathhouse'. PHOTO: ODT FILESThe Aussie company behind a new luxury Queenstown spa called The Bathhouse appears to be defying a judge’s ruling to slightly rejig its name to avoid possible confusion with a local restaurant of the same name. Parties behind the latter sought a High Court ruling to get the Aussies to rename their spa to avoid misleading consumers. In her ruling last month, Justice Melanie Harland instead allowed them to keep the bathhouse name as long as they immediately changed the trading and marketing name to ‘The Bathhouse Spa Queenstown’. To be fair, the Aussies changed their name on Facebook but as of this week the signs on their Brecon St premises read only ‘Bathhouse’ or ‘The Bathhouse’.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 17, 2026 15:02 UTC
Playhouse finds perfect home
Wakatipu Plunket’s Tanya Moffat is pictured with local Mitre 10 Mega GM Paul Jackson and the playhouse built by Women’s Shed which is being donated by Mitre 10 to Plunket’s Arrowtown facility. PHOTO: TRACEY ROXBURGHCountless Whakatipu children for years to come will benefit from a special gift from the Whakatipu’s Mitre 10 Mega. Late last year, the Brookes Rd store marked their 10th birthday with a community celebration, at which Women’s Shed Queenstown founder Alex van Dam and Hannah Covington built a playhouse from materials supplied by Mitre 10. The store then called for nominations from the community to find a home for the playhouse, which has been built to last. "They do such amazing work in the community, and lots of kids will get to use it."
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 17, 2026 15:02 UTC
QMC pulling plug on hacked portal
PHOTO: ODT FILESPoor communication and "mixed messaging" is behind Queenstown Medical Centre’s (QMC) decision to dump beleaguered patient portal provider Manage My Health (MMH), CEO Ashley Light says. Meanwhile, QMC is sharing all the information it receives on the unfolding situation on its website. Patients can check whether their personal data has been affected by logging into the MMH app or website, he says. "We’re leaving it up to patients to make their own decision on that, we can’t do that on their behalf." Live medical records, GP notes, specialist referral documents, prescriptions, secure messaging and appointment systems were not accessed or affected, the company says.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 17, 2026 15:02 UTC
Inquiry after Auckland shooting leaves man critically hurt
Photo: RNZForensic experts are spending a second day examining a house in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga where a man was shot. Police were called to the property on Arthur Street late on Friday morning following reports that several people had arrived at a house and fired shots. Detective Senior Sergeant Matt Bunce said a man was in a critical condition in hospital. Det Snr Sgt Bunce told The New Zealand Herald investigators were urgently working to identify and locate those involved. “Several people arrived at a residential address and discharged firearms at the front of the house, and the victim has been struck as a result of this,” Bunce told the Herald.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 17, 2026 13:36 UTC
Hopes for a compelling ASB Classic final as Mensik, Baez clash
The third youngest finalist in the modern history of the men's ASB Classic wants to put his name alongside the greats. Czech 20-year-old Jakub Mensik will face seventh-seed Sebastian Baez in the final from 2pm. NZ Herald Sports Journalist Michael Burgess joined D’Arcy to preview the finals. LISTEN ABOVE
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 13:12 UTC
Wellington exhibition lays Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes at your feet
Five million people visit the Sistine Chapel each year to marvel at Michelangelo’s frescoes, which cover every inch of plaster on the ceiling. "The Last Judgment" fresco, reproduced here, fills the entire western wall behind the Sistine Chapel altar. For people from all different backgrounds, it speaks to them, too.”Visitors to the Sistine Chapel crane their necks to admire the ceiling, more than 20m above them. It’s very clearly around a woman.”"David and Goliath", one of the corner scenes in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes. “For me, the Sistine Chapel asks a lot of questions but it also answers them.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 09:42 UTC
Winston Peters’ global gifts: From Mongolian horse to Hillary-signed note
“I thought, ‘this is pretty special’.”The $5 note signed by Sir Edmund Hillary and given to Winston Peters by Hillary's grandson, Alexander. Winston Peters in the 2023 advertisement. The Miami Dolphins ball given to Winston Peters by Marco Rubio. He also has one from China and one from Mexico, among the nine horse gifts in the past two years. The statue given to Winston Peters by the Saudi Arabian government after he attended the Saudi Cup in Riyadh.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 09:32 UTC
Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki continues plans for major protest in downtown Auckland
“It’s obvious [the] Government and Police are panicking that big numbers of Kiwis will be turning out to cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge on Sat 31st January. The decision will be made then.”Tamaki claimed the decision not to allow what he described as a peaceful protest over the Harbour Bridge was a “desperate panic reaction” from the Police. He also referred to “the Muslim police commander and Indian police commander in charge.”Destiny Church's Brian Tamaki. The January 31 protest has been heavily promoted on social media platforms, including Facebook, by Tamaki and those involved with the True Patriots of NZ Facebook page. Tamaki has been telling followers that this was their chance to protest about immigration.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 09:29 UTC
Tongariro Power Scheme: The national grid’s underground secret
The now abandoned control room for the Rangipō Power Station, near Tūrangi. The station is now controlled remotely by Genesis Energy's Tokaanu Power Station. A tunnel through Mount Tihia takes water from Rotoaira to the 240 MW Tokaanu Power Station, the 200m drop ensuring it hits the station’s four turbines with force. “We have a number of different iwi and hapū around the power scheme, which is geographically quite widespread, so we cover different territories. “If the plates fall down, then it takes a while to get them back up and running, but it’s not that easy.”Genesis Energy's Tokaanu Power Scheme.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 08:31 UTC
Far North police pitch roles to waitlisted recruits in South Island
He said he’s had some success luring officers north but wanted “20 plus” extra staff. He acknowledged there were serious issues with crime in the mid and Far North but said such challenges present a more stimulating and diverse day job. You’re not a one-trick pony.”Senior Sergeant Clem Armstrong wants police recruits on South Island waitlists to come north. Senior Sergeant Clem Armstrong (inset) wants to lure waitlisted recruits in the South Island to jobs in the Far North where he says young officers can fast-track their careers. “Usually, those negative comments come from people that aren’t from this town, and they don’t know anything about our town.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 17, 2026 08:31 UTC