Skyline Queenstown opens new Bob’s Peak building in $300m upgrade
Skyline Queenstown general manager Wayne Rose said the building had been designed to maximise the views from the top of Bob’s Peak, while significantly expanding the public viewing area. Later this year, Skyline plans to open the Vortex slide, a high-adrenaline attraction launching from the viewing deck with a 20m vertical drop. The extension building includes a larger viewing deck and new food-and-beverage venues. The new extension building is the latest stage in a redevelopment programme that has been underway since 2018. With the extension building now open, deconstruction of the existing building will begin immediately.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 15, 2026 17:00 UTC
Barrel winner takes her whole family with her
Fairlie-based cowgirl Kate Hughes and her horse Sister kick up dust at the National Rodeo Finals held at Waikouaiti on Saturday. Fairlie cowgirl Kate Hughes had wrapped up the New Zealand barrel racing title before the National Rodeo Finals in Waikouaiti on Saturday. It was her first national title after finishing runner-up three times, including last season. ‘‘We’re so blessed to have a rodeo family like we do.’’Hughes has been competing in rodeo for 26 years, having started when she was a teenager. Sister also has three other siblings barrel racing on the New Zealand rodeo circuit.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 16:36 UTC
Driver cut from rolled-over racing truck
PHOTO: SUPPLIEDA driver had to be cut from his truck after it rolled over during a racing event at Teretonga Park raceway, near Invercargill yesterday. A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said appliances from Invercargill and Kingswell attended, along with a crew from Hato Hone St John about 11.40am. ‘‘One driver of a vehicle was trapped by a steering wheel. ‘‘Crews extricated the patient using hydraulic cutting equipment, and left the patient in the care of ambulance.’’The driver’s injuries were minor, but the racing truck was badly damaged in the incident.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 16:36 UTC
Lindis Pass crash kills one
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 15, 2026 16:36 UTC
Flights fright: business already hit, regional leader says
Billie MooreBusinesses are already feeling the pinch from Air New Zealand’s latest cuts to flights, and the ongoing impact to regional connectivity is becoming ‘‘significant’’, a Dunedin business leader says. That represented about a 5% reduction of its total domestic and international schedule, and would impact an estimated 44,000 passengers. Dunedin Airport chief executive Daniel De Bono said a total of 64 Air New Zealand flights would be temporarily cancelled at the airport from today until May 3, about 6% of scheduled flights across that timeframe. Business South chief executive Mike Collins said the changes by Air New Zealand risked undermining business connectivity and regional growth across Otago and Southland — particularly at a time when the regions were experiencing strong economic growth and contributing significantly to New Zealand’s recovery. When flights were reduced and prices rose, people travelled less — meaning fewer visitors, fewer business trips and fewer opportunities for investment and collaboration, he said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 16:34 UTC
Fast dogs, strong people pull crowds
Jack Stewart with his 2-year-old Jack Russell terrier Fred, after winning the Wanaka A&P Show Jack Russell race for the third year in a row. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONJack Stewart and his 2-year-old Jack Russell named Fred took out the annual Jack Russell race for the third year running at this year’s Wanaka A&P Show. ‘‘We’d never had a Jack Russell before Fred and now the race is a big part of why we come back every year,’’ she said. ‘‘She [the horse] did really well — got pretty tired towards the end but it’s her first time in Wanaka so I’m happy. Animal-focused events were not the only attractions: strongmen and strongwomen drew in crowds for both Friday and Saturday events.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 16:34 UTC
Judges can spot a good sheep
Mr Wallace was judging merinos at the Wānaka A&P Show along with fellow Australian judge Michael Corkhill. Mr Wallace had bred several other rams which he believed had influenced the industry more than he did. The runner-up was a ewe hogget owned by the Paterson family, of Armidale Merino Stud, near Ranfurly. There were some quality sheep entered in the show and it was refreshing to see paddock presentation, Mr Wallace said. Mr Corkhill said he and Mr Wallace shared a similar breeding philosophy and quipped that they had not had a fight over their deliberations.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 16:32 UTC
Residents frustrated by lack of notification
PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIENResidents of a Dunedin street are frustrated at the lack of notification about an all-hour road closure that has been imposed at one end of their road. One end of Glenross St in Kaikorai Valley has been closed for less than a week for cable upgrades by Aurora Energy. Meanwhile, Aurora Energy is warning residents to respect the workers on site after a motorist ignored traffic management instructions and instead chose to drive through the active worksite. Glenross St resident Richard Stewart, 89, is incensed at the lack of communication ahead of the closure. He said he was not opposed to the works, but was wanting ‘‘answers’’ about the lack of notification, and the ‘‘lack of an alternative’’.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 16:32 UTC
Nicola Willis urges motorists not to panic-buy fuel as oil prices spike
Some Gull stations have run out of fuel for the second time in three days. Gull told RNZ that customers have continued to “flock to our stations in search of fair fuel prices”. Photo / Mark MitchellKharg Island is located about 30km off mainland Iran and handles roughly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. That would see oil prices continue to rise up towards $180-odd a barrel. I mean, right now our fuel companies appear to be able to access supplies.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 15, 2026 12:27 UTC
Are the days of big Kiwi raids on Sydney’s Autumn Carnival fading?
Cover image courtesy of Hawkesbury Race ClubFor decades, Sydney’s autumn carnival has been a natural extension of the New Zealand 3-year-old season. Kiwi staying strength has been well established in the pastIf several contenders do arrive in Sydney this autumn, history suggests they will command respect. The following years delivered further success, including Volkstok’n’barrell (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) in the 2015 G1 Rosehill Guineas, and Mongolian Khan (NZ) in the 2015 G1 Australian Derby. Later winners in the G1 Australian Derby include Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Jon Snow (NZ), and the G1 Rosehill Guineas winners includes Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}). Calendar tweak opens fresh pathwaysUnderlying the shifting nature of the carnival is a notable change to the New Zealand autumn calendar.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 15, 2026 10:43 UTC
Formula 1 result: Liam Lawson completes double points race weekend, takes seventh in Chinese Grand Prix
Only Williams’ Carlos Sainz in ninth made up more places in the grand prix than Lawson, who qualified 14th on Saturday. Having become the youngest driver to take pole position for a grand prix 24 hours earlier, Kimi Antonelli turned starting first into his maiden victory, continuing 2026’s trend of Mercedes winning every race. Teammate George Russell finished second to complete Mercedes’ second one-two in as many grands prix, while Lewis Hamilton came home third for his maiden grand prix podium for Ferrari. Eight points across the weekend takes Lawson to ninth in the drivers championship, level with Verstappen, while Racing Bulls are sixth in the constructors after Lindblad’s eighth in Melbourne. Formula One now takes a week off, before returning for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka at the end of this month, as the final race before a five-week break after the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia grands prix were cancelled due to the Iran war.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 15, 2026 10:10 UTC
East Tāmaki crash: One person critical, three injured after three-car smash
The three-car crash happened at the intersection of Smales Road and Te Irirangi Drive, East Tamaki. East Tāmaki crash: One person critical, three injured after three-car smashThe three-car crash happened at the intersection of Smales Road and Te Irirangi Drive, East Tamaki. One person is critical and another three injured following a serious accident in the Auckland suburb of East Tāmaki. Emergency services were called to the intersection between Smales Rd and Te Irirangi Drive at 8.05pm after a three-car crash. “We transported one person in a critical condition and another in a moderate condition to Auckland Hospital, and two people in a moderate condition to Middlemore Hospital.”
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 15, 2026 09:47 UTC
Cheese recalled due to Listeria concerns
The 200-gram packet of Emborg Emmentaler cheese that is the subject of the recall. Photo: suppliedA batch of cheese from Goodfood Group Limited is being recalled because of the possible presence of Listeria. Food Safety says the affected product is a 200-gram packet of Emborg Emmentaler cheese with a best before date of 5 November. People are being advised to return the cheese to its place of purchase for a refund or throw it out. Food Safety said there had been no reports of illness.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 05:18 UTC
Cheese recalled after Listeria concerns
The 200-gram packet of Emborg Emmentaler cheese that is the subject of the recall. Photo: suppliedA batch of cheese from Goodfood Group Limited is being recalled because of the possible presence of Listeria bacteria. Food Safety says the affected product is a 200-gram packet of Emborg Emmentaler cheese with a best before date of 5 November. People are being advised to return the cheese to its place of purchase for a refund or throw it out. Food Safety said there had been no reports of illness.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 05:14 UTC