ASB Classic: American star Iva Jovic on hype, pressure and ‘addiction to winning’
Unlike many on the circuit, Jovic never planned to be a professional tennis player. “I would say it’s more like tennis chose me a little bit,” said Jovic. “During Covid, I couldn’t play soccer anymore, so I decided to just play tennis,” Jovic said. So then I just got addicted to the winning and then you win some more, you win some more, and then the [going to] college thing just went out the door a little bit. It’s been a novelty to visit new cities but the job – and the pressure – is unforgiving, especially for younger players.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 07, 2026 15:56 UTC
Further inquiry needed: liquidators
Chris Swann. PHOTO: ODT FILESLiquidators of a property development business, owned by Dunedin businessman Chris Swann, have identified areas of concern that require further investigation. Shares were held by CJS Nominees (owned by Mr Swann) and Mr Swann, who is a former chairman of Waitaki District Health Services and listed cancer diagnostics company Pacific Edge. Mr Swann previously told the liquidators that Covid-19 and the lockdown in 2020 impacted the project. The liquidators would continue investigations in order to make a decision as to any further action required.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 07, 2026 15:49 UTC
Sanson triple homicide: Mum Chelsey Field unveils memorial garden for children killed
“They were just down the road from us, so I decided we’d turn this one into their little memorial garden.”Field, speaking publicly for the first time since her children’s funeral, said she is touched by the heart-warming memorial. “It means so much to me that Viv’s Kitchen has chosen to create this memorial for my children. The cafe was local to us and their kindness and generosity is so appreciated,” the mother said in a statement. “We hope this little memorial will help Chelsey to know those little lives mattered and will always be remembered,” her post read. Police issue update on investigationPolice are now describing the incident as a “triple homicide and arson”, saying their initial inquiries have concluded.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 07, 2026 15:48 UTC
Wilderness tamed to become five-star garden
A Doctors Point garden has been turned from broom, gorse and pine trees into a five-star property, planted with 1400 species from all over the world. His property has just been named by the NZ Gardens Trust as a five-star garden. It was a mighty turnaround for a property which resembled a "complete wilderness" when he first viewed the site. Dylan Norfield’s Doctors Point property has recently been appointed a five-star garden by the NZ Gardens Trust. Dylan Norfield is dwarfed by a Gunnera manicata, or Brazilian rhubarb, at his Doctors Point property.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 07, 2026 15:41 UTC
Marine research superyacht makes stop in Dunedin
The superyacht Pangaea Ocean Explorer off Roseneath yesterday. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYAn Australian billionaire’s $69 million superyacht, which doubles as a marine research vessel, has cruised into Dunedin. The Pangaea Ocean Explorer arrived in Port Otago yesterday from Port Lyttelton, sailing under the Jamaican flag. In 2023, his Minderoo foundation partnered with the Australian government to monitor the health of marine parks, contributing $8.4m and using the Pangaea Ocean Explorer which was adapted for use as a research vessel. In December, the 49.1m superyacht Teleost, owned by former Microsoft chief technology officer Nathan Myhrvold, docked in the harbour.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 07, 2026 15:34 UTC
Brown University suspect admitted to planning shooting for a long time, prosecutors say
The suspect accused of fatally shooting two Brown University students and an MIT professor in December admitted in videos found on an electronic device to having planned the attack for several months, officials said Tuesday. Prosecutors said that in the videos, Valente stated that his intended target was Brown, which is in Providence, Rhode Island. But, prosecutors said, “based on initial review of the evidence collected,” Valente did not provide a motive for either shooting. In the videos, the transcript says, Valente said he had long “planned this.”“It was, it was six months, man. On Monday, Brown University President Christina Paxson said in a message to the campus community that the school will beef up security in the wake of the tragedy.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 07, 2026 14:33 UTC
'Stab threat' in Dunedin neighbours at war cat dispute
Photo: Google MapsA Dunedin woman allegedly threatened to stab her neighbour in the face because her cat, which sought refuge next door, would not return home. Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond said police were called to an Allenby Ave, Pine Hill address to address the ‘‘neighbours at war situation’’ at about 2pm yesterday. A 51-year-old woman had been threatened by her neighbour, a 47-year-old woman that she was going to stab her in the face if she did not return her cat. The younger woman had shown up to the next-door house with a 50-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman yelling and screaming demanding the cat back. This made this situation worse and the 47-year-old allegedly threatened to stab her in the face.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 07, 2026 13:59 UTC
Gwyneth Paltrow on losing film job amid divorce backlash with Chris Martin
Gwyneth Paltrow says she was fired from a film role after backlash from her 'conscious uncoupling' from Chris Martin. Photo / The New York Times / Nina WesterveltGwyneth Paltrow says she was fired from a film role after backlash from her 'conscious uncoupling' from Chris Martin. Photo / The New York Times / Nina WesterveltGwyneth Paltrow has claimed she was fired from a movie role after the fallout from her “conscious uncoupling” from ex-husband Chris Martin. “So that was great, cause I was getting a divorce and then I got fired. It was so awesome.”She did not say which film role she was fired from.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 07, 2026 13:08 UTC
Memorial lets mother know 'her little ones' lives mattered'
Photo: SuppliedA cafe owner in the North island town of Sanson says a memorial to the children of the Field family is a chance to let mother Chelsey Field know "her little ones' lives mattered". The memorial would be a focal point for herself, friends and family to visit and remember the children. Vivienne Withers said that as she constructed the fairy garden on the cafe grounds, she said she decided she had to dedicate it to the children. "I take things to heart and when this happened I was just starting this little fairy garden," Withers said. She said she approached a local trophy engraver who was able to include images of the children on the plaque.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 07, 2026 12:40 UTC
Ex-users of health portal may be vulnerable
The health portal is New Zealand's biggest and used by general practices to relay information and dispatch subscriptions. Hackers are threatening to release 400,000 files from 120,000 patients, if the health portal does not pay a $US60,000 ($NZ103,000) ransom. "The Health (Retention of Health Information) Regulations 1996 say that health agencies must keep any health records they hold for a patient for 10 years from the last time they provided services to that patient. It would also inform practices that no longer use Manage My Health and was working on notifying affected patients. Manage My Health would also establish an 0800 helpline for affected patients, it said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 07, 2026 11:50 UTC
'Hero driver' thanked for rescuing Central Otago dogs
Photo: NZ PoliceA "hero driver" is being praised for helping return two dogs taken in a stolen ute in Central Otago. "The male got out, but our hero driver kept the dogs - Jock and Nala. Blue heeler Nala and huntaway cross Jock were in a ute stolen from an Ōmakau property on Saturday. Photo: NZ PoliceHone said police wanted to thank the man for his actions and keeping the dogs safe. The owners of Jock and Nala say they are "beyond thrilled" to have the dogs back.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 07, 2026 11:27 UTC
'Unusually hot' for some, heavy rain to hit Fiordland
Unusually hot weather may be on the way, with MetService warning above-average temperatures are projected across much of the country for the coming days. In Southland, Invercargill was forecast to be 4.1°C hotter than usual tomorrow with occasional showers, while heavy rain and thunderstorms were expected to hit Fiordland from 2pm. Heavy rain watch for FiordlandDespite the largely clear weather, some areas of of both islands were still due patches of rain and thunderstorms. A front was also expected to move across areas of the lower South Island during the second half of tomorrow and early on Friday. MetService has issued a heavy rain watch for western areas of Fiordland, about and north of Doubtful Sound, and Westland, south of Haast River, from 2pm tomorrow until 6am on Friday.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 07, 2026 11:18 UTC
'Good food priced fair': Father and son open own supermarket in Christchurch
Christchurch's newest supermarket, Kai Co, officially opened its doors on Wednesday. The new Kai Co supermarket opened at the Northwood Supa Centa off Radcliffe Rd today. The 32-year-old and his dad have been in food retail for many years, running a successful butchery. Kai Co is committed to good food priced fair. "For those who don’t know us, we’ve been involved in running large value-driven butchery, produce and grocery retail in Christchurch for a long time.
Source:Stuff
January 07, 2026 10:51 UTC
UK mum forgives son’s killer after one-punch attack and finds healing
“They wanted to do some campaigning and education around one-punch deaths,” he told the Guardian last year. That’s what I hold on to when hate is directed my way.”Joan Scourfield and Jacob Dunne have appeared in Q+A sessions after performances of the acclaimed play Punch. Photo / Nottingham PlayhouseTheir story has been reimagined in the acclaimed play Punch, which has earned praise on Broadway and the West End. Scourfield and Dunne were involved in the production’s creative process and have appeared for Q+A sessions after performances. Scourfield told the BBC that audiences are often astonished to see the pair embrace on stage.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 07, 2026 10:40 UTC
'Do not feed it to your baby': Infant formula recalled over toxin fears
The affected Alfamino infant formula brand. Photo: Supplied / MPIA brand of infant formula is being recalled over possible toxins, the Ministry of Primary Industries has announced. New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS), Pharmac and the Ministry of Health said they were are supporting Nestlé in its recall of five batches of Alfamino infant formula for babies with milk allergies due to the potential presence of cereulide. The affected batches of Alfamino 400g are:- batch number 51070017Y2, use-by date 17.04.2027- batch number 51080017Y1, use-by date 18.04.2027- batch number 51480017Y3, use-by date 28.05.2027- batch number 51490017Y1, use-by date 29.05.2027- batch number 52030017Y1, use-by date 22.07.2027MPI's food recall page has full information on the recall. "If you have the affected Alfamino formula at home, do not feed it to your baby, if at all possible.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 07, 2026 10:09 UTC