Podcasting is for everyone
Last year, OAR FM hosted new shows about music and the arts, gardening, technology, faith, health, business, travel, social services and more. All OAR FM content is broadcast on 105.4FM and 1575AM, streamed from the stations website and podcasts from the accessmedia.nz platform. OAR FM staff can help with any questions about taking the first steps. Contact OAR FM on (03) 471-6161 from 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, or email community@oar.org.nz. A full schedule of OAR FM podcasts and programmes can be found at www.oar.org.nzBy Jeff HarfordCommunity liaison
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 14, 2026 16:06 UTC
Resident fuming as rubbish dumped
Dunedin resident John Oskam next to a dumped, and split, bag of polystyrene which was thrown down a bank in Ross Creek. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHA slice of inner-city paradise has been tarnished after some "idiots" dumped their household rubbish down a steep Dunedin bank. The bush around Ross Creek now features a full bag of polystyrene, an old lifejacket, a pair of dirty boots, multiple chairs, hoses, ropes and clothes. The rubbish was scattered down a steep bank in Burma Rd in Ross Creek Reserve, less than 50m away from the entrance to the water treatment plant. In 2023, Mr Oskam reported a cache of rubbish to the Dunedin City Council that some people had thrown down the bank.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 14, 2026 16:05 UTC
Beloved park gets facelift
Children from Little Citizens Early Learning Centre try out the new and improved play area at Navy Park. Dream South D project lead Rosie Hill said the renovation was an opportunity to add extra amenity to South Dunedin. Getting into the swing of things at Navy Park is Little Citizens Early Learning Centre preschooler Marie McKay, 3. Dream South D contributed funds for a covered electric barbecue area and a wheelchair-accessible drinking fountain, which includes a dog bowl and water bottle filler. Dream South D also shared the expense of a new tower for the flying fox.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 14, 2026 16:03 UTC
Adventure race attracts international athletes
Photo: suppliedEndurance athletes from around the world will be descending on Gore next month for a challenge spanning hundreds of kilometres — with an adventurous twist. The MAGNIficent Adventure Race was first held last year in Lumsden, as a part of the Adventure Racing World Series. We’re proud to welcome competitors and visitors to experience not only the race, but everything our region has to offer." Winners will receive free entry to the 2026 Free Adventure Racing World Championships in Corsica, France. The headquarters will be at the Gore Town & Country Club, which will serve as a central hub for competitors.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 14, 2026 16:03 UTC
Mountainbikers gearing up for festival
Queenstown Bike Fest co-organiser Emmerson Wilken, left, with Leroy Leslie and Jadon Wilson, both of Australia, looks forward to the start of this year’s festival tomorrow. PHOTO: JAMES ALLAN PHOTOGRAPHYThe Queenstown Bike Festival returns tomorrow after the brakes went on the event last year. Co-organiser Emmerson Wilken said they decided in 2024 to hold the 10-day fest every two years, so last year they held only the three-day McGazza Fest, still a full-on event. "Only because McGazza Fest is so popular, and it’s a memorial thing for every year, it still works," Mr Wilken said. "That’s a full top-to-bottom of Coronet, down to the valley floor, like, 1200 metres of vert," Mr Wilken said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 14, 2026 15:55 UTC
Police probe misconduct claims at government Christmas party
Police say they interviewed a civil servant accused of “unacceptable behaviour” at a Ministry of Social Development Christmas party but decided no criminal charges were warranted. Anne Shaw, MSD’s deputy chief executive for Disability Support Services, described the incident as “unacceptable behaviour”. However, the commission said it had not received a disclosure and referred the matter back to MSD, as reported by Stuff. Shaw rejected claims of a workplace culture of excessive drinking, saying strict rules governed alcohol at MSD functions. “The consumption of alcohol on MSD premises at any time required the prior approval of a manager,” she said.
Source:Stuff
January 14, 2026 15:44 UTC
Teen to complete record-breaking ride down length of NZ
Mahe Braaksma aims to be the youngest person to cycle the length of New Zealand from Cape Reinga to Bluff. Photo: Evie Sinclair/ODT graphicMahe Braaksma hopes to be the youngest solo rider to bike the length of New Zealand once he reaches Bluff today. He now wants to be the youngest person to complete the ride solo. "It’s pretty cool, without the support, he would’ve been saving money this year to complete the ride next summer," she said. Other young New Zealanders have completed the 3000km bike ride, but they were not alone.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 14, 2026 15:37 UTC
Sea lion harassment denied as group surprised by accusation
A group of men accused of harassing a sea lion on a Dunedin beach insist they were doing nothing wrong. On Monday, Jarred Wilson shared photos of what he said were a group of five young men "getting up in the sea lion’s space". However, one of the young men photographed, who declined to be named, said they were not doing anything untoward. "As we came off the path down to the beach there were sea lions on either side of the entrance — we walked past hesitantly." He said if Mr Wilson was unhappy with their behaviour, he could have just talked to them.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 14, 2026 15:37 UTC
Man hit driver with bottle in road-rage incident
Photo: staff photographerA Dunedin man hit a driver with a bottle in a road-rage incident, leaving a wound that required eight stitches, a court has heard. Davies switched lanes, sped up so he was next to the other driver and threw an object, which hit the roof of the car. When the driver pulled over to check his vehicle, Davies stormed up to him, yelling at the victim while holding a glass bottle. He initially maintained he was not the driver as his car was missing, but later admitted that was a lie. Judge David Robinson said the road-rage incident had potential to cause more harm than it did.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 14, 2026 15:37 UTC
Police hunt passenger after Auckland bus driver sprayed with extinguisher
“The passenger left the scene before the police arrived and was last seen by witnesses walking on Mt Eden Rd. “The bus driver was assessed by ambulance staff and while she is suffering from some discomfort, there are no significant ongoing effects,” Darvill said. Police and Auckland Transport (AT) are supporting the driver in her recovery. “The issue of community safety and antisocial behaviour extends well beyond public transport,” an AT spokesperson said. Police guard the scene on Nehu St, Ōrākei, related to a fatal stabbing of a bus passenger in Glen Innes last month.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 14, 2026 11:21 UTC
EB Games stores to close at end of month
All EB Games stores will close on January 31. Photo: SuppliedEB Games is shutting down its New Zealand business and closing all its stores at the end of the month. In a letter sent to employees last week, EB Games Australia & New Zealand managing director Shane Stockwell said the company was proposing to close all remaining EB Games New Zealand stores and the New Zealand Distribution Centre. Another letter sent on Wednesday confirmed that EB Games will close its New Zealand operation on 31 January. EB Games is an Australian-based video game and pop culture merchandise retailer, owned by GameStop since 2005.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 14, 2026 11:20 UTC
Masked men accused of violent, unprovoked attack at party
Police are asking the public to help identify three men who they believe are able to assist with an investigation into a number of serious assaults in Churton Park. Photo: NZ PoliceWellington police are hunting three men in connection with a violent, unprovoked assault on seven young people in a Wellington park. They then went on to conduct a "planned, violent, unprovoked assault on seven young people in attendance of the gathering before fleeing the area." Police are asking for help to identify this man in relation to an assault in Churton Park. Photo: NZ PolicePolice are now asking the public to help identify three people who they believe could assist in enquiries into the assault.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 14, 2026 11:20 UTC
Pair to run in by-election
Two candidates — Gina Adcock and Neil Sinclair — have put their hands up to run in the Mataura Community Board by-election, hoping to fill the remaining seat. The by-election was triggered after only four candidates stood for the five seats at the table. Nominations opened late last year. Voting officially opens on January 30 and closes on March 3.gerrit.doppenberg@alliedmedia.co.nz
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 14, 2026 10:53 UTC
Holiday firefighting season busy
PHOTO: ALLIED MEDIA FILESLingering debris from October’s dramatic storm is fuelling a busier than usual fire season in Southland. Group manager Jodi McHugh said crews had been called out to more vegetation fires than it would normally expect. Ms McHugh cautioned people still disposing of downed vegetation to ensure it was well away from hedgerows as some burn piles had ignited hedges. "Keep checking the burn piles — don’t be complacent. Southland’s summer had provided some regular rain which had limited vegetation fires, but she expected the fire caution would soon change.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 14, 2026 10:39 UTC
Dry start to 2026 set to continue
The deep south has had a dry start for 2026, Metservice says. Meteorologist Lewis Ferris said last week’s rain could be "very important". Some parts of Southland already had dry soil moisture. There had been a weak La Nina event in the past two months but the forecast expected it would return to normal in February. "Current models have February looking pretty typical La Nina — low pressure systems in the north and Tasman Sea, high pressure draped across the South Island.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 14, 2026 10:32 UTC