Liquidation of hotel company
The Commercial Hotel in Omakau. The company which was operating the Commercial Hotel in Omakau when it closed its doors in late 2023 has been placed in liquidation. In his initial report, liquidator Brenton Hunt, of Insolvency Matters, said the company Accidental Publicans Ltd had been placed in liquidation by special resolution of the shareholder. Staff were paid wages and holiday pay was paid along with as many creditors that could be paid. Plant and equipment were surrendered to the landlord and initial investigations did not indicate an overdrawn shareholder current account.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 19, 2026 16:54 UTC
Region top in use of ketamine
Otago is leading the country in ketamine use as new data reveals the region is a particular hotbed for the increasingly popular party drug. The latest New Zealand Drugs Trends Survey (NZDTS) showed ketamine had become a popular ‘‘party drug’’ option, and had been carving a ‘‘niche’’ for itself in the affordable drug market. That meant people were spoiled for choice — 25% of people from Otago who took part in the survey reported using ketamine within the past six months. Many people who took part in the survey who said they took ketamine also reported they were students, and tended to be of a younger age. Ketamine is a class C controlled drug in New Zealand and has a legitimate medical use as an anaesthetic.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 19, 2026 16:54 UTC
Otago prof to co-lead brain health partnership
University of Otago brain researcher Prof Louise Parr-Brownlie will co-lead a new international brain research project. So a new international partnership has been established with the aim of improving brain health research and treatment, which is to be co-led by University of Otago brain researcher Prof Louise Parr-Brownlie. In conjunction with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the European Commission, the University of Otago has been named as the New Zealand host of the Horizon Europe Brain Health Partnership. Prof Parr-Brownlie said teamwork was key to finding real-world solutions, such as new ways to deliver health services, detect brain changes or develop new treatments to improve brain health. ‘‘New Zealand health researchers are world leaders at delivering equitable, person-centric research that improves people’s lives.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 19, 2026 16:34 UTC
War skills all part of being medic
New Zealand Army medic Corporal Amanda Voice during Exercise Nui Dat at Waiouru recently, where soldiers from 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment recently honed their skills across both mounted and unmounted weapons systems. PHOTO: NZDFDigging trenches and setting up ambushes is just as much a part of the job as providing trauma aid to casualties for former Maniototo resident, now New Zealand Army medic and ‘‘marksman’’ shooter, Corporal Amanda Voice. Her first post was with the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1 RNZIR), Whiskey Company. War-fighting skills were part of the job of being a medic. ‘‘I operate alongside infantry soldiers — digging trenches, setting up ambushes and in the middle of the noise and smoke — treating casualties,’’ she said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 19, 2026 15:47 UTC
PM's electorate office targeted in minerals protest
Photo: suppliedPictures of United States President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and US flags have been plastered on Luxon's electorate office in Auckland. A sign which reads 'Trump War Minerals HQ' with a cutout of a bald eagle preying on a kiwi was also put up outside the office in the suburb of Botany this morning. She said a minerals deal would lead to more mining projects, causing "environmental destruction", and also make New Zealand complicit in the war in the Middle East. "We know a minerals deal would be bad for the land and sea of Aotearoa. "We're calling on Luxon to say no to a minerals deal with Trump.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 19, 2026 12:56 UTC
New Christchurch stadium to open doors to public
Photo: CCCThe gates at the new $683 million Christchurch stadium will be opened up to 15,000 members of the public for a free community open day on May 2. The stadium will be open to the public from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, May 2. Some food vendors will be operating at the stadium open day. Harvie-Teare is confident it will be ready when the gates open for the first time. The stadium open day will also feature on the Open Christchurch schedule.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 19, 2026 12:04 UTC
Cancer setback for 8-year-old 'trooper' lands him back in Christchurch Hospital
Dunedin boy Noah Dobier has begun a new round of treatment after previously diagnosed and treated acute lymphoblastic leukaemia returned. The Balaclava School "trooper" was rushed to Christchurch Hospital last month, where doctors discovered a combined leukaemia relapse — cancer in his bone marrow and spinal fluid. "We just felt really overwhelmed and devastated ... this time it’s a lot more aggressive," Mrs Dobier said. "They call it a combined [leukaemia] relapse because it’s in his bone marrow and his spinal fluid," Mrs Dobier said. "All the boys are starting to sign up for rugby ... because he’s older, he knows he can’t do that stuff now," Mrs Dobier said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 19, 2026 11:52 UTC
Property investors’ $24.8b impact on economy questioned by economists
New Zealand Property Investors Federation advocacy manager Matt Ball says the group is fighting a narrative that property investment is "useless, unproductive and speculative activity". Federation advocacy manager Matt Ball told Herald NOW’s Business with Garth Bray they wanted to counter the narrative all property investors did was “buy and sell houses like [a game of] Monopoly, and then sit on a pile of cash”. They’d have contributed almost identically the same GDP.”Council of Trade Unions economist Craig Renney questioned the report on property investors impact on New Zealand's GDP. No one was saying property investment was wrong, but the country was grappling with how much money should be going into property investment at the expense of other investment, Eaqub said. Property investors spent $4.1 billion on maintenance and improvements alone in the year covered by the report.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 19, 2026 10:07 UTC
What can the Government really do to shield us from this oil shock? – Jenée Tibshraeny
Currently, around 51% of the fuel New Zealand imports comes from South Korea and 31% from Singapore. However, New Zealand importers may want the Government to signal, for social licence purposes, that it is comfortable with them selling fuel with Russian origins. Looser fuel specifications could, for example, create more pollution. Finally, Willis said the Government was open to reducing the minimum stock fuel importers are required to hold. Jenée Tibshraeny is the Herald’s Wellington business editor, based in the parliamentary press gallery.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 19, 2026 10:02 UTC
Northland crash: Mother of Kaikohe victim forgives teen driver who killed her daughter
As part of the Kaikohe Youth Court process, the 18-year-old, his whānau and the victim’s whānau took part in a family group conference. At the sentencing, Candice Walkley told a packed courtroom that Staci was truly unique for her happiness and lack of anger. Staci Walkley, 11, was was described as humble, caring and full of love. “No more looking backwards from this day forward.”The proceedings through Kaikohe Youth Court included a family group conference. Photo / NZMECandice Walkley told the teenager she loved him and accepted him as part of her family.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 19, 2026 08:52 UTC
As debt-servicing costs head to $2500 per Kiwi, a top Treasury official suggests spending less, taxing more and selling assets
Spending cuts, tax rises and asset sales are among the most politically challenging policy decisions for any government. Little addressed these challenges in a speech to the ANZ-Kanga News Debt Capital Markets Summit today, which focused on debt. “Fixing these intertwined fiscal and economic challenges will require successive governments using the levers available to them,” Little said. “The current system creates economic costs and limits options to raise revenue efficiently,” he said. This is seen as preferable to borrowing money to acquire more assets before seeing whether the current lot are performing well.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 19, 2026 08:40 UTC
Deculting New Zealand: Cult survivors form secret support groups | Ryan Bridge TODAY
Stalked is a three-part documentary series that will screen in New Zealand soon. It focusses on three women who were targeted and abused by stalker men. Video / Neon NZ and Sky NZ
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 19, 2026 07:57 UTC
General Debate 19 March 2026
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Source:New Zealand Herald
March 19, 2026 07:02 UTC
'Just went haywire': Wife died after man lost control of car
A day out to go and watch a football game turned to devastation for a family after a man lost control of his car, fishtailed and crashed into a tree, killing his wife. His wife, Julia, was sitting in the front seat and suffered severe chest and abdominal injuries. He then suddenly lost control, and the car slid sideways, crossing the centre line into the eastbound lane, rotating about 130 degrees before leaving the road. The front passenger door side of the car smashed into a tree, where the car came to a stop. A serious crash unit investigation found the cause of the crash was Organ losing control of his car on the curve and being unable to correct the car's rotation.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 19, 2026 06:05 UTC
Fuel supplies: Govt preparing for 'worst-case scenario'
Luxon said though national fuel supplies were okay for now, the government would consider whether to move New Zealand up a fuel escalation level next week. "We have sufficient fuel supplies, but even in the unlikely event the ceasefire is announced tomorrow, the effects on global supply chains and fuel supplies won't be immediately resolved. She sought to reassure New Zealanders the government was taking the situation seriously in case future fuel supplies were disrupted. We're not just sitting back and saying, well, the fuel supplies are fine now. The government will give twice-weekly fuel supply updates, with the next due on Monday.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 19, 2026 05:58 UTC