People injured after multi-vehicle crash blocked lanes on Auckland’s Southern Motorway
“The Princes St on-ramp is currently closed,” police said. Shortly after the accident, Google Maps showed traffic backed up more than 4km from Princes St East to south of the East Tāmaki Rd off-ramp. Multiple people are injured after a crash near the Mt Wellington turnoff. Also on Sunday morning, one person died following a two-vehicle crash on Auckland’s Southern Motorway near Onehunga. Photo / Google MapsSeparately, two trucks collided outside the North Island town of Levin overnight, closing State Highway 57 for at least six hours.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 22, 2026 22:52 UTC
Tragic death of Iranian school girls
Radio NZ reports:US military investigators believe it is likely that US forces were responsible for an apparent strike on an Iranian girls’ school that killed scores of children on Saturday but have not yet reached a final conclusion or completed their investigation, two US officials told Reuters. If the deaths were caused by the US, this was one of the worst mishaps in modern warfare. It is a tragedy for the families involved. There is no suggestion it was deliberate, but that is little comfort to the parents who have the unimaginable horror of having to bury their children. I hope there is a full investigation into what happened, if for no other reason than to minimise it reoccuring.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 22, 2026 22:45 UTC
Joseph included in Black Ferns squad
Maia Joseph on her way to scoring for the Black Ferns during their win over Ireland at the Rugby World Cup. Photo: Getty ImagesOtago halfback Maia Joseph has been included in Whitney Hansen's first Black Ferns squad. Among the squad, nine players were also part of the inaugural Black Ferns XV squad in 2023 under Hansen. However, veteran Black Ferns Amy Rule and Alana Borland (nee Bremner), who gave up Black Ferns contracts to play full seasons in the PWR, are not eligible for selection. Black Ferns Head Coach Whitney Hansen said the Pacific Four Series is an opportunity to showcase new talent and measure performance.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 22:43 UTC
Eid celebration marks Pakistan societies’ merger
Pakistani Community of Otago president Anam Nawaz, and her daughter Khirad Ahmed, 10, enjoy some spicy potato salad during the Eid celebration at the Edgar Centre on Saturday evening. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHTwo separate Pakistan societies have become one in an effort to connect the entire community together. The newly formed Pakistani Community of Otago (PCO), which has emerged out of the Pakistan Association of Otago and the Dunedin Pakistani Society, held a special Eid celebration at the Edgar Centre on Saturday evening to mark the event. ‘‘This is kind of our initiative to engage not only the Pakistani community, but the wider community in Dunedin. They hoped to host another Eid celebration in two months’ time.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 22:36 UTC
Drone footage shows large bronze whaler shark close to Bowentown Beach
Drone footage captured off Bowentown Beach has revealed what appears to be a large shark cruising close to shore. Drone footage captured off Bowentown Beach has revealed what appears to be a large shark cruising close to shore. Photo / The TravellerBrent said he had previously seen bronze whalers using his drone and, on sunny days, they came close to shore, bathing in the sun. I wouldn’t be swimming around there.”Dr Riley Elliott, also known as Shark Man, confirmed the shark seen in the drone footage was a bronze whaler. The bronze whaler shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus) is a large, slender, fast-moving species recognised by its bronze to olive-grey back, white underbelly, and narrow, hook-shaped tooth structure.
Source:Stuff
March 22, 2026 21:21 UTC
Walsh claims fourth indoor world title
Tom Walsh celebrates with his gold medal from the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland this morning. Photo: Getty ImagesTom Walsh has retained his World Indoor shot put title to become the all-time record holder in the event. He has now won seven indoor medals, a men's record. Walsh has now equalled Dame Valerie Adams total in indoor gold medals, the two global shot put greats stand alone in their career dominance of the indoor championship arena. Walsh has previously won gold in 2016, '18 and '25, silver in '24 and bronze in '14 and '22.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 20:33 UTC
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