Taking a gamble and the law of unintended consequences
As the law stands, casinos and other gambling outlets have to return a portion of the profits to the community. She kicked off by probing the issue which has most concerned the various charities which tackle gambling harm: will more outlets for gambling therefore lead to more gambling harm? "We’re delivering faster access to support and more frontline workers: 83% of Kiwis are now accessing primary mental health support within one week; 82% of Kiwis are now accessing specialist mental health support within three weeks. The frontline mental health workforce has grown by 11% since coming into government. The child and adolescent mental health workforce has grown by 19%."
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 04:03 UTC
Dog of an Act needs replacing
Say no to roaming, dangerous dogs. So it is with roaming and dangerous dogs. Just as the kerfuffle was fading, dangerous dogs were back in the national news this week. Blind Low Vision NZ reported attacks on its dogs and has had to decline guide-dog placements in areas prone to dog attacks. During one of the periodic dog panics, the 1996 Dog Control Act was amended.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 04:03 UTC
Mayors hail proposed AI factory
An early artist’s impression of Datagrid’s data centre in Makarewa, north of Invercargill. Photo: suppliedSouthern mayors have thrown their support behind a new data centre which is set to become the country’s second-highest electricity user. Southland Mayor Rob Scott said the data centre had been on the cards for a while and was a good opportunity for the region. He said a cable coming onshore at Ōreti Beach meant the city would have the fastest internet in the country, which could attract tech companies. Trenching along the beach could impact cultural and spiritual values, lead to the discovery of cultural artefacts, and disturb toheroa, he wrote.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 04:02 UTC
Marriage still on track after 70 years
Irene and Ted McCreath will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary with family and friends on Monday. The Rangiora couple, who will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary with family and friends on March 16, still have clear, fond memories of their first meeting at the station. Photo: suppliedIrene planned to travel to Auckland by train, but Ted intervened paying for her to fly to the city instead. The couple married a little over two years later, on March 16 in 1956, at Dunedin’s First Church and spent their honeymoon in Oamaru. Ted left the navy before he and Irene married and the couple originally lived in Milton, where Ted drove trucks for a living.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 03:37 UTC
Special day for hundreds
Almost 1000 Otago Polytechnic students crossed the stage in graduation ceremonies held at the Dunedin Town Hall yesterday. Gerard O’Brien captured the celebrations as students took part in the traditional parade on George St.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 03:37 UTC
Eyeing further hotel fit-outs
Chroma Group’s Queenstown project director Lee Summer. During nine years in Queens-town, Summer has project-managed for the likes of Cook Brothers Construction, Queens-town Airport, The Building Intelligence Group and Octa. He says Chroma Group focuses on hotel/hospitality fit-outs, ‘‘and a little bit of wellbeing as well’’. Chroma Group’s first local project is converting Holiday Inn Express into an upmarket ‘voco’ hotel by the end of June. ‘‘And because Chroma Group originates from Australia, Melbourne and Sydney, we’ve got some existing clients and relationships there.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 03:03 UTC
Grads pay tribute to late classmate Jock Davies
But many graduands and staff wore the "unusual fashion" accessories yesterday as a tribute to their fellow student, the late Jock Davies, who was tragically killed in a hunting accident on Stewart Island in July last year. At a special pre-graduation ceremony for Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health students at the Sargood Centre yesterday, Mr Davies’ degree was given posthumously to his family. The late Jock Davies’ family, (from left) brother Tom, mother Sarah, father Peter and brother George with Jock’s Otago Polytechnic bachelor of applied science degree, presented at a pre-graduation ceremony at the Sargood Centre yesterday. The late Jock Davies, 21, who was tragically killed in a hunting accident on Stewart Island in July. Many attending the posthumous presentation of Jock Davies’ Otago Polytechnic bachelor of applied science degree yesterday, wore sandals, jandals and gumboots as a tribute to the much loved student.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 02:55 UTC
Slow down for secondhand style
They come to mind now because March is Slow Fashion Month at Wastebusters, and they are, I think, a decent metaphor for everything this month is about. Now in its seventh year, Wastebusters Slow Fashion Month is an antidote to endless fashion circles and poorly constructed clothing that was never made to find a second life. Meaning the environmental cost of buying new is about 50 times higher than choosing second-hand. As the month comes to a close, we’re continuing your slow fashion journey by showing our clothes some love at our mending club. Dig out your holey jumpers, loose-seamed shirts and patch-worthy pants, and round out your Slow Fashion Month by connecting with others who care about their stuff.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 02:32 UTC
Crusaders host Highlanders for 50th clash in final Addington game
Crusaders host Highlanders for 50th clash in final Addington gameCrusaders host Highlanders for 50th clash in final Addington gameThe Crusaders host the Highlanders for the last time at their temporary stadium in Addington which will also be the 50th match between the South Island neighbours, with the Crusaders winning 34 of the matches. After stuttering to a 1-3 start to their title defence, a response is expected by the Crusaders, already beaten by the Highlanders in Dunedin to start the year, being swept by their neighbours would be a significant blow to their chances of a top-three finish just five weeks into the season.
Source:Stuff
March 14, 2026 02:31 UTC
Iran crisis puts Nicola Willis’ election-year Budget under pressure – Fran O’Sullivan
Willis admits she briefly enjoyed a more comfortable moment when preliminary Budget forecasts arrived early and looked good. Earlier this year, Willis promised her third Budget would focus on supporting the delivery of core public services like healthcare, education, defence and law and order. But the political reality remains: whatever Willis delivers on Budget Day will be read as a confidence test in the Government’s economic management. Willis describes a “Maslow’s hierarchy of needs” for economic security. At the base is fuel security: ensuring New Zealand can secure enough petrol, diesel and jet fuel, and spotting emerging shortages early.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 14, 2026 02:01 UTC
Corrections ordered to pay officer Duane Farrell $94k after failures following prison hit threat
Farrell told his superior officers he believed he had suffered a significant injury and asked several times for an ambulance to be called to take him to hospital. In June and July 2017, information came to Corrections’ attention that there was a specific safety threat against Farrell, but Farrell was not informed. Following an assessment, the prison director arranged for him to be moved to another unit that was deemed safe, as there was a potential threat to Farrell. In March 2018, Farrell was working in a unit holding vulnerable prisoners when an inmate threw urine at another officer, which splashed on Farrell. A trial took place, with the Crown alleging that Farrell and two other officers attacked an inmate after he hit Farrell.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 14, 2026 01:53 UTC
Trump says US has 'obliterated' every military target on Iran's Kharg Island
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Source:New Zealand Herald
March 14, 2026 01:14 UTC
TVNZ has lost its way and the public deserves better – Bruce Cotterill
None of that excuses the behaviour of a TVNZ reporter or the company’s decision to show her report on Monday evening’s 6pm news hour. “Have you considered resigning, Prime Minister?”The TVNZ reporter was rude and disrespectful to the highest office in the land. As has happened before with this particular reporter, her enthusiasm for the poll result was difficult to hide. Remember, we are talking about a poll result. It’s important to note that, alongside his former government colleagues, Hipkins refused to testify in person at the Royal Commission.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 14, 2026 01:02 UTC
Battle lines drawn on asset sales
NationalNational's position on future asset sales is unclear post-election. Late last year, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon laid the groundwork for asset sales after the 2026 election if the National Party wins a second term. Luxon said the country needed to have a sophisticated conversation about “asset recycling” or selling existing assets to help fund the purchase of newer ones. LabourLabour leader Chris Hipkins said his party was not considering asset sales. New Zealand FirstNZ First's position is no asset sales, deputy leader Shane Jones said, adding: "But obviously we're going to campaign and test that New Zealanders have an appetite for our view".
Source:Stuff
March 14, 2026 00:50 UTC
Australian college suspends censured NZ teacher, Jason Morgan, after tribunal reveals sex talk with students
A former student of Morgan’s at the time of the incidents told NZME he was shocked to hear Morgan was still teaching in Australia. However, a Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton spokesperson, who oversees the Queensland school at which Morgan was teaching, has now told NZME that he has been suspended. At the time of the misconduct, Morgan was a teacher and boarding house assistant at a school that cannot be identified. During this exchange, Morgan told the student that he would “come on your mum’s back”, the decision stated. Later that month, Morgan made inappropriate comments in front of several students when speaking about hunting.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 14, 2026 00:09 UTC