Who could replace Christopher Luxon as Prime Minister and National Party leader? – Audrey Young
In the interim, Luxon must say he will lead the party into the November 7 election – because to do otherwise would appear defeatist. The pair of them together could have a chance to lead the party in the future, but not this year. He is already playing a leadership role in the party, as Leader of the House and the election chair. Whether or not National wins or loses the election, she has a chance to become its leader next term. The hesitancy about elevating her is whether she has what it takes to be more than just a competent minister, but a competent Prime Minister.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 15, 2026 22:01 UTC
Man 'spat in the face' of officer during George St arrest
"During the arrest process, the male spat in the face of the arresting officer," Acting Snr Sgt Notman said. None of the windows were ultimately smashed, Acting Snr Sgt Notman said. Earlier in the day, about 5.30am, an off-duty police officer witnessed two male youth crashing an allegedly stolen vehicle in Andersons Bay Rd. Police arrested one of the youths at the scene and another at his home address, Acting Snr Sgt Notman said. Both of the arrested youth were scheduled to appear in the Youth Court this week.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 21:42 UTC
Drivers urged to not panic-buy fuel as prices soar
Photo: RNZDrivers are being urged not to panic-buy fuel as motorists worry about rising prices. Petrol stations across the country are seeing a surge of drivers filling up as petrol prices rise. She said she was closely looking at the cost of living impacts the rise in fuel prices has on lower-income working New Zealanders. "I simply don't accept the idea that giving subsudies to millionaires in Remuera would help those afflicted by high petrol prices," Willis said. Howie said students could miss out on school trips if fuel prices keep going up.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 21:36 UTC
Dementia patient died after rest home assault
A 99-year-old dementia patient died after being assaulted in his rest home bedroom by another resident suffering from dementia, a coroner has found. Leonard Ralph Hewgill suffered a head injury in the attack at the Ryman Healthcare-run Hilda Ross Retirement Village in Hamilton and died in hospital three days later. Coroner Dunn said Hewgill was a resident at Hilda Ross Special Care Unit, a 40-bedroom unit offering specialist dementia care. The care provided by Hilda Ross is paid care, residents are often vulnerable, and families place their trust in the residential care provider." "This resulted in changes across all our dementia care units, reinforcing our commitment to providing safe, respectful, high-quality care.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 20:51 UTC
Hurrell resigns from Fonterra chief executive role
Miles Hurrell. Photo: FonterraFonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell has announced he is leaving the dairy co-op after 25 years. Appointed the chief executive officer in 2018, he was tasked with leading a reset of the business to turn around Fonterra's financial performance and rebuild farmers' trust. Hurrell said while it's not an easy decision to step away, the time is right for the co-op and him personally. There's an exceptional team of people who will carry the co-op forward and continue to drive value for farmers," Hurrell said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 20:15 UTC
Govt climate change plans go to court
Simon Watts Photo: RNZA landmark legal case that argues the government's plan to tackle climate change is unlawful and risky will go ahead today. Lawyers for Climate Action and the Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) are jointly taking the case against Climate Change Minister Simon Watts. Under New Zealand's climate laws, the government must produce five-yearly emissions reductions plans, which set out how the country will meet its domestic climate targets. 'Phenomenal' reliance on pine plantingThe latest emissions reduction plan, which kicked in at the start of this year, was not really an emissions reduction plan at all, Prestidge-Oldfield said. "[There have been] two significant cases in the UK where environmental interests have successfully challenged the UK government's emissions reduction plans, or their equivalent," Rive said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 19:56 UTC
Lawson 'really happy' with seventh place in China
Liam Lawson finished seventh place finish in the Chinese Grand Prix. Photo: Getty ImagesNew Zealand driver Liam Lawson admits to being a little surprised with his success at the Chinese Grand Prix. Lawson had arguably his best weekend in Formula 1, capping off the weekend with a seventh place finish in the Grand Prix. "It turned out to be a really enjoyable race and we managed to pull off a few overtakes. "We were unlucky with the Safety Car as we pitted Liam the lap before, but he drove a really great race.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 18:40 UTC
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visiting Samoa, Tonga for first official engagements with new leaders
Pacific nations already experience typically high and volatile fuel prices because of their reliance on imports and shipping distances. “I think a major thing will be the fuel security in the Pacific,” Luxon said. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers (left) and Police Minister Mark Mitchell will be joining the Prime Minister's trip to the Pacific. Luxon said transnational drug crime was a “major, major issue” for the leaders of Samoa and Tonga. New Zealand’s transnational crime unit works with the Pacific Transnational Crime Co-ordination Centre in Apia and other units throughout the region.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 15, 2026 17:32 UTC
Supermarket boom: Woolworths and Foodstuffs add new stores
The former Woolworths Te Atatū store is being converted to a New World. Woolworths Paerāta RiseAt Paerāta Rise, a 3600sq m Woolworths store is to have a 180sq m online order hub. In another $50 million project, Foodstuffs is expanding and renovating the ex-Woolworths Te Atatū to become New World Te Atatū. Foodstuffs is expanding and renovating the ex-Woolworths Te Atatū to become New World Te Atatū. That is larger than Foodstuffs’ new 6100sq m Pak’nSave Highland Park, which opened last year.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 15, 2026 17:31 UTC
GDP preview: Did the economy keep growing through the end of 2025?
“We expect the data to show that the economic recovery continued into the end of 2025, just with a little less vigour than in [the third quarter]. On a per-capita basis, GDP looked to have expanded 0.2% quarter on quarter, the second consecutive lift. “Growth in per-capita GDP is consistent with things starting to feel a bit easier at a household [and] business level,” Mundy said. “GDP is lagged data that is prone to revision and covers a period long before oil prices spiked,” he said. “At face value, a downside surprise to GDP would imply it is now wider than the RBNZ had assumed.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 15, 2026 17:31 UTC
The ever dangerous myth of the just war
For centuries, one of the most influential ways of giving moral legitimacy to warfare has been the Christian tradition known as just war theory. Originating in the writings of thinkers such as Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, the theory attempted to place ethical limits on war. Almost every war in modern history has been presented as a just war by at least one of the parties involved. War begets war. That witness does not eliminate the difficult decisions faced by political leaders, but it does challenge the seductive myth that war can ever be comfortably justified.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 17:03 UTC