New Zealand’s most popular baby names for 2025 revealed
The top name choices for Kiwi babies changed little last year. Noah held strong for the third year in a row as the top name for boys, shared by 244 other children in New Zealand. Isla was the most popular girls’ name with 179 name registrations. Luca was the second most popular for boys, chosen by 236 parents this year, and Charlotte was second for girls, given to 178 babies. Olivia remained a consistent favourite among parents of baby girls, entering the top 10 again last year, as it has done since 1994.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 09, 2026 00:52 UTC
These clever dogs rival toddlers when it comes to learning words
“Can you take the dog for a W-A-L-K?” Many dog owners know their pets excel at learning words such as “walk,” “sit,” “stay” and even their own names. Dogs tend to be better at learning words for actions — think “fetch” or “roll over” — than at retaining the names of objects. So Dror sought out what she called “gifted” dogs that had previously demonstrated an ability to learn the names of their toys. The researchers instructed the dog owners to discuss two toys that their dogs had never seen before. “This is something that came before language,” Dror said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 08, 2026 23:31 UTC
Person decontaminated after boiler explosion at workplace that handles medical waste
A worker was washed by fire hoses in Dunedin's industrial area this morning following a reported explosion at a company which handles waste for healthcare facilities and "biosecurity risks". A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said they received a report of a boiler exploding and a gas leak at the Dunedin branch of Interwaste in Ward St. He confirmed one person had been decontaminated after getting ‘‘debris’’ on them, believed to be medical waste. Ward St has been closed. Interwaste handles waste for healthcare facilities and "biosecurity risks".
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 08, 2026 23:18 UTC
Solutions limited for roaming wild deer in Whanganui suburb, councils and DoC say
DoC’s acting wild animals manager, Mark Ryan, said the department was aware of the ongoing deer issue. “Under the Wild Animal Control Act 1977, [DoC] is responsible for managing populations of wild animals at priority conservation sites on public conservation land,” he said. Whanganui District Council regulatory and compliance operations manager Jason Shailer said the animal management team only responded to reports of wild deer if the animals were creating a traffic hazard. “However, managing wild deer on private property is outside the council’s jurisdiction,” Shailer said. Delhi Village resident Richard Thompson said he had requested that Horizons schedule deer as a pest in Whanganui so it could undertake pest control.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 08, 2026 23:03 UTC
Sir Tim was last ‘celebrity-type’ mayor
Former Invercargill mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt has been remembered as the last "celebrity-type" mayor, and former colleagues have said they were fortunate to have been "part of that era". He served eight terms as Invercargill mayor and two terms as Waitematā mayor, making him one of the longest-serving mayors in New Zealand. Former Invercargill mayor, and Sir Tim’s former deputy mayor, Nobby Clarke said Sir Tim was "well known" for his sense of humour and ability to entertain. Sir Tim’s former deputy mayor, Nobby Clarke, said Sir Tim was ‘‘well known’’ for his sense of humour. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYHis partner Asha Dutt described Sir Tim as "a kind-hearted man who cared deeply about the people around him".
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 08, 2026 22:33 UTC
How Queenstown is attracting the uber-rich
In Queenstown, a hotel with rooms priced up to $50,000 a night is attracting visitors willing to book not just a suite, but sometimes the whole hotel. No expense has been spared for this luxury accommodation in Queenstown. ROKI Collection has been attracting visitors from New Zealand and overseas - most generally staying at least four to five nights, McAteer said. Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism chief executive Mat Woods said it was exciting to see the private sector's confidence in Queenstown as a luxury destination. Mat Woods said despite the flurry of new, upscale services in the district, Queenstown was still popular with backpackers.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 08, 2026 22:33 UTC
Passengers stuck for 15 hours after ferry ramp fails
Photo: RNZPassengers were stuck on a Bluebridge ferry for 15 hours due to a problem with a ramp. The Connemara 8.30pm sailing from Wellington to Picton had to return to the capital shortly after departure yesterday, following the discovery of the fault. "We're doing everything we can to make the 200 passengers onboard as comfortable as possible accommodating them in cabins as available and serving refreshments - but we acknowledge that it is a huge inconvenience for everyone," he said this morning. "We are also adding an additional sailing of the Livia this evening to accommodate these passengers." Photo: supplied'Boring' night on vesselPetra Clarke told RNZ it had been a "long and boring" night onboard the ferry.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 08, 2026 21:48 UTC
Average rent for Central Lakes highest in NZ: data
Despite an average of 1350 new dwellings consented each year over the past five years, rents in Queenstown Lakes are the highest in the country. PHOTO: ODT FILESAt nearly $900 a week, rents in Otago’s Central Lakes area are the most expensive in New Zealand. Data from property website realestate.co.nz shows the average weekly rent in Queenstown Lakes-Central Otago last month was $891, up 11.8% on December 2024. That compares to the national average rent, which fell 2.4% year on year to $626 a week. In contrast, the website’s national rental report for December showed 13 of the country’s 19 regions experienced declines in average rents over the past 12 months.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 08, 2026 21:34 UTC
Body found on Coromandel beach identified as missing Auckland rock fisher
Police have named the person who was found dead on a beach on the Coromandel Peninsula last month. Police have named the person who was found dead on a beach on the Coromandel Peninsula last month. Photo / NZMEPolice have named the person who was found dead on a beach on the Coromandel Peninsula last month. He was Suy Lao, 43, from Auckland, and was previously reported missing on December 22 near the Waikawau boat ramp. title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/dive-squad-and-drone-join-search-for-rock-fisher-missing-in-firth-of-thames/QNKHANFLAFFALBQ5IVTARRC6UY/">Emergency services were alerted at 8.45am on December 22 after reports a rock fisher was in difficulty in the water.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 08, 2026 20:47 UTC
Harry Brook clashed with nightclub bouncer hours before captaining England
Ben Duckett was also filmed apparently drunk and disoriented late at night by an England fan. It can now be revealed that Brook, England’s Test vice-captain, was already on a final warning for his behaviour before arriving in Australia. The altercation occurred in Wellington on October 31 after the 26-year-old was refused entry to a nightclub because security suspected he was drunk. Brook became embroiled in a row with a bouncer and was struck, although he did not suffer any injury. England slumped to 31 for four batting first with Brook out for six off 11 balls.
Source:Stuff
January 08, 2026 20:42 UTC
Otago looking good bet for rest of summer
Queenstown is shaping as one of the better options for sun for the rest of the summer, Earth Sciences New Zealand says. File photoEarth Sciences New Zealand (ESNZ - formerly Niwa) is expecting the rest of summer to remain warm and wet for many regions. Despite the prediction of warmer weather, the North Island was still likely to get a few downpours, Fedaeff said. When all the weather factors combined, it looked like inland Otago was the perfect holiday spot for the rest of the summer. Sea surface temperatures around the country cooled markedly during December but remain generally above average, which meant nights would be particularly warm for the rest of the summer.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 08, 2026 20:38 UTC
Passengers disembark from Bluebridge ferry after ramp fault leaves them stranded overnight
StraitNZ spokesman Will Dady said the company is “extremely disappointed” and said passengers had been put up in cabins overnight and served “refreshments”. She said passengers were not allowed to go down to their cars on a below deck, “so nobody had much stuff with them”. A passenger said they had little sleep after being stranded on the ferry overnight due to a ramp issue. The Wellington to Picton crossing ordinarily takes 3.5 hours, with Bluebridge making 50 sailings per week but the company’s sailings are currently booked out until January 25. It is the second time the issue has occurred in recent months, with passengers stuck for hours after the Connemara’s ramp became stuck on a crossing to Picton in late November.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 08, 2026 20:25 UTC
Worker 'splashed with medical waste' in Dunedin explosion
Firefighters had to decontaminate a worker injured and splashed with medical waste in a gas explosion in Dunedin's industrial area this morning. The worker was washed down with fire hoses outside the Dunedin branch of Interwaste which handles waste for healthcare facilities and "biosecurity risks". Photo: Stephen JaquieryA Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said they received a report of a boiler exploding and a gas leak at the company's Ward St premises. He confirmed one person had been decontaminated after getting ‘‘debris’’ on them, believed to be medical waste. Ward St has been closed.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 08, 2026 20:00 UTC
Crash temporarily blocks road
PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYPolice attend the scene of a crash where a car towing a trailer filled with concrete blocks crashed into the divider barrier of the Southern Motorway near Fairfield yesterday. A police spokesman said police were called to the scene about 9am. No injuries were reported. The road was partly blocked for a short time while it was cleared of the concrete blocks, he said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 08, 2026 19:58 UTC