Fish processor fined $20,000
The company received 27 shipments of the live green-lipped mussels. Photo: NIWA/Rebekah Parsons-KingA Christchurch-based fish processor has been fined $20,000 for illegally handling live mussels from a restricted biosecurity zone. Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) investigators found the company received 27 shipments - more than 239 tonnes - of live green-lipped mussels from the Upper South Contained Zone near Nelson and Marlborough. A biosecurity inspector discovered the green-lipped mussels were being moved illegally in October 2024, MPI said. "These green-lipped mussel shellfish were for export, and the unlawful movement of this shellfish had potential to cause serious reputational harm to the New Zealand shellfish industry.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 16, 2026 07:41 UTC
Luxon moves on from 'miscommunication' over matai title
Photo: RNZNew Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is putting the question of whether or not he asked for a matai title behind him, saying it was a miscommunication, and both he and his Samoan counterpart have moved on. Luxon thanked those present for the title, Tuisinavemaulumoto'otua, saying it was a great honour. Afterwards, Luxon said the Pacific had become a "super-highway for drugs," and both leaders were committed to more information sharing. Asked about what went wrong with the matai title mixup, Luxon said he was "done and finished" with the matter. A question was put to La'aulialemalietoa about the matai title, which he did not answer, but earlier said it was a "token of respect."
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 16, 2026 06:21 UTC
Resignation amid bullying, harrassment investigation
Photo: RNZ / Teresa CowieThe Deputy Chief Executive of the Social Investment Agency has resigned while under investigation in relation to allegations of bullying and harassment. Her departure comes after former SIA chief executive Andrew Coster quit in December following a scathing Independent Police Conduct Authority report. Within days of Coster's resignation, RNZ was contacted with allegations that Reiri was under investigation in relation to complaints of bullying and harassment. "Employment matters within government agencies are for agency chief executives and, if warranted, the Public Service Commission to manage." "Her career has been dedicated to improving outcomes for New Zealanders through data-driven decision making and social investment approaches."
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 16, 2026 03:43 UTC
ACC spied on man with traumatic brain injury
“I’ve no retention of short-term memory.”Nine years after a car crash left him with a traumatic brain injury, his speech still slurs. Clinicians treating him described his condition as a moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury, yet ACC documents recorded his injury as a “brain injury - other” or “mild traumatic brain injury”. A mild traumatic brain injury is generally expected to resolve within weeks or months. The letter arrived just as his GP referred him to a specialist traumatic brain injury rehabilitation centre in Auckland. “When I go to treatment providers, they see ‘brain injury - other’ so they say they can’t help me for my moderate brain injury,” he says.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 16, 2026 02:45 UTC
Housing market flat in February
The housing market was basically flat in February, with overall sales volumes and selling prices almost unchanged from a year ago and properties taking a little longer to sell. The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand reported 6523 residential sales in February, up by just 0.3% compared to February last year. Prices were similarly stuck in the mud, with the REINZ's House Price Index (HPI) unchanged from February last year. In Auckland, the country's largest real estate market market by far, the HPI was down 1.1% compared to February last year. "Three key forces shaped market activity during February - weather, interest rates and the approaching election," REINZ Chief Executive Lizzy Ryley said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 16, 2026 02:03 UTC
Food prices could be impacted by fuel crisis
Food prices are likely to be impacted if the war in the Middle East keeps pressure on oil prices. Photo: Getty ImagesFood prices are likely to rise if war in the Middle East keeps pressure on oil prices - but some types of food may be more affected than others. "The issue is how transportation costs start going through - I guess anything that's having to come from overseas is going to have a higher transportation component." Eckhold said it could be a couple of months before food price rises started to be seen on New Zealand shelves. Infometrics' supplier cost index showed costs to Foodstuffs supermarkets up 2.3% year-on-year in February, before the oil price rise began to be felt.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 16, 2026 00:50 UTC
One dead in Lindis Pass crash
A serious two-vehicle crash on the Lindis Pass has left one person dead and three others injured. A police spokeswoman said the incident happened between Old Faithful Rd and Omarama, near the Lindis Pass scenic lookout, about 12.20pm yesterday. She said three others were injured in the crash. The police spokeswoman said the crash blocked the road and the pass was closed while the Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination. Inquiries intro the crash were ongoing.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 16, 2026 00:38 UTC
IRD warning to employers not passing on PAYE tax
The department has issued a "revenue alert" over the failure of some employers to pass on PAYE deductions. Employers must pay PAYE, as well as any other deductions from employees' salaries, by the due dates. Robyn Walker, tax partner at Deloitte, said it was a timely reminder that not paying PAYE was a really bad thing to do and the consequences could be serious. This is conceptually different to if a business is having trouble paying its own company tax bill, because it is other people's money. "Rightly or wrongly, during the Covid years there was more leniency applied to PAYE payments, and so some employers may have begun taking a more casual approach to paying PAYE.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 16, 2026 00:38 UTC
Breakfast briefing: A week of global central bank updates
And there will be key releases from the US for PPI and industrial production, the Eurozone trade balance, and the Canadian inflation rate. The Australian 10 year bond yield starts today at 4.95%, down -4 bps from Saturday, up +6 bps for the week. The price of gold will start today down another -US$40 from Saturday at US$5018/oz, down -US$138 from a week ago. Silver is down -50 USc at US$80.50/oz to start today, down -US$3 from a week ago. The bitcoin price starts today at US$71,356 and down -0.9% from this time Saturday, although up more than +5% from a week ago.
Source:Stuff
March 16, 2026 00:23 UTC
Prince of Wales shares unseen Diana photograph for Mother’s Day
The Prince of Wales has shared a previously unseen photograph of his mother holding his hand in the garden at Highgrove, saying he remembers her on Mother’s Day and “every day”. The Prince, who now has three children of his own, posted on social media an image of Diana, Princess of Wales, as a young mother, taken from the private family collection, to mark the annual day. In a personal note signed “W” for William, the Kensington Palace shorthand taken to mean he wrote the message himself, the Prince said: “Remembering my mother, today and every day. W”It shows the two-year-old Prince in a striped T-shirt and red shorts with a blond mop of hair, holding his mother by the fingers. The Royal social media accounts also shared photographs of family matriarchs who are no longer with us: Queen Elizabeth II; Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother; and Rosalind Shand, the mother of Queen Camilla.
Source:Stuff
March 15, 2026 23:22 UTC
Looking with fresh eyes: This new retinol-powered eye cream is rewriting the rules
A game-changing new release from Elizabeth Arden is proving that rules are made to be broken. And in major news for those of us struggling with puffiness, crow’s feet and fine lines, this one is for us: The new Elizabeth Arden Rapid Skin Renewing Eye Cream (RRP $135). This new release works in synergy with the other products in the Elizabeth Arden Retinol + HPR collection – the Elizabeth Arden Rapid Skin Renewing Capsules and Elizabeth Arden Rapid Skin Renewing Water Cream – to deliver transformation rather than irritation. The Rapid Skin Renewing Eye Cream brings that same wrinkle-softening prowess to the delicate eye area in a gentler formula, designed to brighten, smooth and de-puff. The new release is the final piece of the puzzle in the Retinol + HPR Ceramide Collection, of which I’m a long-time fan.
Source:Stuff
March 15, 2026 23:14 UTC
Formula 1: Is there an English media bias against Liam Lawson? – Alex Powell
Liam Lawson prepares for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Photo / Red BullDid Red Bull get it wrong? In Shanghai, Hadjar found himself in unnecessary contact with Kimi Antonelli in the sprint, and Ollie Bearman in the grand prix. Red Bull have no wingsIn pre-season, Red Bull and Racing Bulls’ new Ford power units looked to be immediately up to standard in their maiden campaign. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri has yet to even start a grand prix race thanks to his problems in and out of the cockpit.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 15, 2026 23:03 UTC
Police officer stole $68k after helping vulnerable pensioner
A police officer tasked with helping a vulnerable pensioner who had $14,000 stolen from her bank cards went on to steal a further $68,000 from her. Victim told to contact policeIn July last year, the then-officer was stationed in a small Waikato town as its community liaison officer. The officer went to the woman’s house eight more times, and, without her knowledge, used her mobile phone to access her online banking. On October 20, the victim went to her bank in a distressed state, advising that a substantial sum had gone from her account. The next day, the officer went to the victim’s house twice.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 22:40 UTC
Hall wins silver in slalom
Otago skier Adam Hall has finished second in the slalom on the final day of the Winter Paralympics in Italy. The 38-year-old improved from fourth after the first run to the silver medal position thanks to an impressive second run that produced a combined time of 1min 31.38sec. It is Hall's sixth Olympic medal from six games taking him level Patrick Cooper as the most decorated New Zealand Winter Paralympian. Dunedin Paralympian Adam Hall with his slalom silver medal at the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics. Photo: Getty ImagesHall has now claimed four Paralympic medals in the Men's Slalom Standing (two gold, one silver, one bronze).
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 22:10 UTC