US senator sues Pentagon chief over ‘unconstitutional’ punishment
US Senator Mark Kelly (right) lodged a lawsuit against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Pentagon over efforts to reduce his military rank in retirement following a video in which Kelly urged US personnel to refuse potentially illegal orders. Photo / Jim Watson and Brendan Smialowski, AFPUS Senator Mark Kelly (right) lodged a lawsuit against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Pentagon over efforts to reduce his military rank in retirement following a video in which Kelly urged US personnel to refuse potentially illegal orders. The lawsuit – which names Hegseth, the Defence Department, Navy Secretary John Phelan and the department he heads – said their actions “violate numerous constitutional guarantees and have no basis in statute. The Pentagon is “aware” of the lawsuit but “does not comment on ongoing litigation”, an official said in response to a question from AFP. “Pete Hegseth is now coming after what I earned through my 25 years of military service, in violation of my rights as an American and as a retired veteran and as a United States senator,” Kelly said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 13, 2026 01:37 UTC
General Debate 13 January 2026
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Source:Otago Daily Times
January 13, 2026 01:04 UTC
Police discover two bodies in search for missing swimmer
Photo: Supplied / NZ PolicePolice have recovered two bodies from the Waikato River. Hamilton City Area Commander Inspector Neil Faulkner said they found a person dead in the Waikato River, believed to be missing 25-year-old man Teananga Tiotia. Police and divers have been conducting a search of the river since Tiotia was reported missing on Saturday. The formal identification process is underway, and his death has been referred to the Coroner. Police said a formal identification was underway and Brown's death was referred to the Coroner.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 13, 2026 00:26 UTC
Councillors to discuss plan to get rid of councils
PHOTO: ODT FILESA meeting tomorrow will discuss what Otago regional councillors think about the proposal to get rid of regional councils but the council chairwoman has questioned if mayors have any idea what they are getting themselves into. She said it was madness the Waitaki catchment had different regional councils on either side of the river. "How could they properly supervise a council like the regional council when they’ve got their own one to look after? There are 11 regional councils, five unitary councils and 67 territorial authorities. The meeting tomorrow will just have councillors expressing their thoughts and a full council meeting on February 11 will finalise the council’s submission.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 12, 2026 23:02 UTC
Traffic light brings wayward car to abrupt stop
Emergency services at the South Dunedin crash this morning. Photo: Peter McIntoshA driving mishap left a traffic light on a strange angle after a car crashed into it in South Dunedin this morning. A Fire and Emergency NZ spokeswoman said crews from St Kilda and Dunedin City stations responded at about 9.50am. The crash, on the intersection of King Edward St and Macandrew Rd, was minor, she said. A police spokesman said they received reports of a two-vehicle crash at the intersection and attended the scene.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 12, 2026 22:34 UTC
Student who scarred victim in bottle attack gets conviction overturned
Photo: ODT filesAn Otago student who bottled a man in a nightclub can now pursue a career as a chartered accountant after a successful appeal. The challenge was filed more than a year out of time because, the student said, he did not initially appreciate the potential impact of his conviction on his ability to secure internships and work experience. When Skeggs-O’Donnell regained his balance, he smashed the bottle over the victim’s head, then tried to punch him twice. The victim was left with visible scars to his forehead and chin, a ‘‘significant impact’’, the judge said. ‘‘He is a young man with a promising future and a low risk of reoffending.’’Justice Andrew granted the appeal and discharged Skeggs-O’Donnell without conviction.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 12, 2026 22:20 UTC
Welcome Bay: Witnesses describe ‘huge’, ‘out-of-control’ party where teen hit by car
Police at the scene on Kaitemako Rd after a vehicle hit a teenage girl in Welcome Bay on Saturday. Welcome Bay: Witnesses describe ‘huge’, ‘out-of-control’ party where teen hit by carPolice at the scene on Kaitemako Rd after a vehicle hit a teenage girl in Welcome Bay on Saturday. Photo / Cameron AveryA “huge” party in Tauranga that left a 14-year-old girl in hospital is being described as out of the ordinary for the street. Emergency services were called to Kaitemako Rd, near Waipuna Park in Welcome Bay, on Saturday night after the teen was hit by a car. They said the girl was crossing the road from the Waipuna Park side when the collision happened.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 12, 2026 19:33 UTC
How old is too old for a home loan?
Photo: 123RFHow old is too old for a home loan? But in 2025, the woman's husband died, and she claimed the loan was irresponsible and should not have been approved. She said the bank had not considered her and her husband's ages, and the 30-year loan term. She said they had never intended to work past typical retirement age or to increase their repayments. He said banks and lenders would have different policies for loan terms that would take people past the age of 65.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 12, 2026 18:44 UTC
Students get taste of life at university
Brian Wilson, 17, of Otahuhu College, gets into his biochemistry lesson at the Hands-On at Otago week at the University of Otago yesterday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHMore than 400 secondary school students are dipping their toes into university life this week in Dunedin. The Hands-On at Otago week-long event is taking place in the halls of the University of Otago with the campus having classes in many different subjects. The 403 pupils come from 203 secondary schools around the country. "This week is a wonderful way for secondary students to experience some of the exciting subjects and opportunities offered by Otago.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 12, 2026 17:27 UTC
Salad and Go to exit Texas and Oklahoma
Source: progressivegrocer.comUS: Salad and Go to exit Texas and Oklahoma as it closes 32 restaurantsSalad and Go is closing its restaurants in Texas and Oklahoma, according to local reports in Texas and the drive-thru salad-chain's home state of Arizona. Source: spar-international.comGreece: Masoutis signs deal to acquire rival supermarket chain KritikosNorthern Greece supermarket chain Masoutis announced that it has signed a preliminary agreement to acquire 100% of rival grocery chain Kritikos. Ethan Vickery and his father Shane opened Kai Co to give shoppers an alternative to the Woolworths and Foodstuffs supermarket duopoly. SPAR Slovenia's management team also includes Chief Executive Officer David Kovačič and Executive Director for Operations Jure Petkovšek. Source: spar-international.comNew Zealand: Asian retail chain goes into liquidation owing millionsA chain of Asian supermarkets and retail stores has been placed into liquidation owing millions of dollars.
Source:Stuff
January 12, 2026 17:22 UTC
Fear, uncertainty as family cut off in Iran
PHOTO: REUTERSAs anti-government riots in Iran lead to hundreds of deaths, a Dunedin-based expat says he is struggling to hear from family and friends at home. An Iranian expat and doctorate student in Dunedin, who declined to be named, said the government blackout of communication meant he did not know how to reach family or friends. "There are only a few Starlink terminals in Iran and they sent ... just a few videos to Iran International and we’re following the news from that channel. "The Islamic Republic has no moral boundaries and they would bomb Iranian protesters in the streets in their last hours. The expat said at this point, military intervention in Iran by the US was warranted.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 12, 2026 17:17 UTC
Upgrades around Octagon to disrupt traffic for a month
PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYAurora Energy is making electricity upgrades in the Octagon including working on underground infrastructure to improve network reliability. Temporary road closures and traffic management would be required throughout the project. On January 27 and February 13, traffic lights on the corner of Upper Stuart St and Smith St might be affected while crews worked on nearby infrastructure. There would be an increase in the number of vehicles in the area as the work was completed and traffic management would be in place. Aurora Energy asked that everyone should factor in additional travel time and obey all traffic management signs and instructions.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 12, 2026 17:17 UTC
Early interest as by-election set
A council spokesman said yesterday the by-election would be held on May 12. A mourning period for Mr Radich was appropriate, but she felt the by-election date was set far too late. The ODT asked how much the by-election will cost — in reply, the council spokesman said costs were yet to be confirmed but would be unbudgeted. Several people the ODT spoke to yesterday remained shaken by Mr Radich’s death. The council spokesman said the by-election date was decided in consultation with the electoral officer and complied with legislative requirements.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 12, 2026 16:35 UTC
Boon for South Island as visitor numbers grow
PHOTO: DESTINATION QUEENSTOWNFree-spending Aussies are leading the charge as an influx of tourists arriving in Christchurch spend their overseas currency on South Island attractions. Christchurch Airport is fielding 15% more international seats on in-bound flights over the four-month summer season, overall capacity increasing by 139,000 seats. KiwiRail Passenger executive general manager Tracey Goodall said the summer season had started strongly, passenger numbers continuing to grow year on year across Great Journeys New Zealand services. Destination Queenstown chief executive Mat Woods (left) and AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand co-founder Henry van Asch. The latest Statistics NZ results show more than 262,7000 overseas visitors landed last October, up 22,500 from a year ago.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 12, 2026 16:23 UTC
Twenty-six new visitor accommodation townhouses greenlit for centre
A Wanaka development initially intended to house workers has instead been given the go-ahead as visitor accommodation. Queenstown Lakes District Council approved resource consent for the town centre property to be used as full-time visitor accommodation once constructed. The project by developer Quarters Group will feature 26 townhouses at 14 Reece Cres. A website for "Reece Quarters" painted it as a brand-new development that "makes the most of Wanaka’s lifestyle in an unbeatable location". "While persons in residential visitor accommodation generally have less regular patterns of behaviour, as this zone is for business mixed use this will be virtually imperceptible and will have minimal adverse effects."
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 12, 2026 16:23 UTC