Club licenced despite low price concern
The Dunedin City Council’s staff-only social club has been allowed to keep selling alcohol despite its drink prices being deemed "at the low end" by its own licensing committee. The committee understood Mr Stucki’s argument the club should be overseen by agencies other than council-employed licensing inspectors. While there was an ability for regulatory agencies to monitor premises, the committee understood premises were visited based on risk. A lot of premises, particularly club premises such as bowling and bridge clubs, were not visited because they were considered very low risk. Neither police, the medical officer of health delegate nor the council’s chief licensing inspector opposed the renewal of the club licence.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 05, 2026 16:05 UTC
Company hoping to add two more craft to fleet
The owner of Queenstown’s Hydro Attack wants to add two more semi-submersible ‘‘shark’’ boats to Lake Wakatipu, one of which is proposed for staff training. Watersports Holdings Ltd Partnership, a company associated with Silicon Valley entrepreneur Iraj Barabi, has applied to the Queenstown Lakes District Council to add a fifth Seabreacher craft to the lake for paying customers, and a sixth for staff training, safety and maintenance purposes. At present, Hydro Attack operates from the council-owned Lapsley Butson Wharf in Queenstown Bay. The proposal became more urgent after the pair learned their company would cop a massive rent hike on its existing wharf. Watersports’ application said once the new wharf was constructed, Hydro Attack would operate from there.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 05, 2026 15:33 UTC
Russian partygoer has emergency surgery after drinking deadly cocktail made by celebrity chef
A specialty at Suite Bar - sorbet cocktail made with liquid nitrogen. Photo / FileA Russian man was rushed into emergency surgery last week after his stomach ruptured when he drank a deadly cocktail containing liquid nitrogen. Several cocktails at the event reportedly used liquid nitrogen, a substance sometimes used by mixologists to create dramatic smoky effects. Attendees later claimed they were not warned about the dangers of consuming the extremely cold liquid before it had fully evaporated, according to the Daily Mail. Witnesses said Sergey was goaded by the chef to drink the cocktail immediately, which he did.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 05, 2026 15:26 UTC
Man dies at Disney World Orlando, sixth Disney park death in recent months
Disney parks have experienced a run of tragic deaths in recent months. Disney parks have experienced a run of tragic deaths in recent months. Photo / 123RFA man has been found dead at Disney World in Orlando, Florida this weekend, marking the sixth death at a Disney-owned property in three months. The man’s body was discovered about 9pm on Friday local time at Disney Springs Orange Garage, a shopping and entertainment complex within the Disney World resort, according to the New York Daily News. The United States-based Disney parks have experienced a run of deaths in recent months, most of them in Florida.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 05, 2026 14:19 UTC
Single tuna sells for record $5.6m at Tokyo fish market
Kiyomura Co President Kiyoshi Kimura poses with a 243kg bluefin tuna sold at auction for a record 510 million yen at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market. Photo: ReutersA Japanese sushi restaurant bid 510 million yen ($NZ5.64 million) for a single bluefin tuna on Monday, by far the highest price ever paid at the annual New Year auction at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market. The Takaichi administration pledged to work, work, work, so Sushizanmai will work, work, work too," said Kiyomura chief Kiyoshi Kimura, referring to the four-month-old government of Sanae Takaichi, Japan's first female prime minister. The eye-popping bid beat Kiyomura's own previous record of 333.6 million yen in 2019. The tuna dishes would be sold to customers at the usual price, Kimura said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 05, 2026 12:46 UTC
Timothée Chalamet declares his love for girlfriend Kylie Jenner after 2026 Critics Choice Award win
Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California, on Monday. Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California, on Monday. Hollywood heart-throb Timothée Chalamet has proclaimed his love for girlfriend Kylie Jenner after winning best actor at the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards today. “I’ll just say thank you to my partner of three years,” Chalamet said. Thank you so much.”An emotional Jenner was seen mouthing “I love you” from her seat in the audience.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 05, 2026 12:35 UTC
Colombian President rebuffs Trump’s threats of military action
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro on Monday rejected threats by his US counterpart Donald Trump, who also accused him of being a drug trafficker. US forces attacked Caracas on Saturday, bombing military targets during a shock snatch-and-grab raid to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from power and assert Washington’s control over the oil-rich South American nation. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday, Trump made similar threats of military action against Colombia, saying the South American country is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States”. “He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long,” Trump said. When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, the Republican leader said: “It sounds good to me.”
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 05, 2026 12:21 UTC
Cuba says 32 soldiers killed in US attack during Nicolas Maduro capture
The flags of Venezuela (left) and Cuba. The Cuban Government says 32 of its nationals were killed during the US attack on Caracas that ended in the capture of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro. The Cuban Government says 32 of its nationals were killed during the US attack on Caracas that ended in the capture of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro. Photo / Ringo Chiu, AFPA total of 32 Cuban nationals were killed during the US attack on Caracas that culminated in the capture of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, the Government in Havana said Monday. “As a result of the criminal attack carried out by the Government of the United States” against Venezuela, “32 Cubans lost their lives in combat operations”, the Cuban Government said in a statement read on national television.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 05, 2026 12:11 UTC
Radar to be used in search for missing tramper
Graham Garnett, 66, intended to return on December 30. Photo: Supplied / NZ PoliceSections of Kahurangi National Park in the upper South Island will be closed while rescue teams use radar technology to search for a tramper who has gone missing in the area. Graham Garnett, 66, was expected to return from a tramp in the Baton/Ellis River area on December 30, but has not. Sergeant Jonny Evans said police would be using a radar tomorrow, and has asked the public to steer clear of the search areas. Further south, police are also still looking for 20-year-old Connor Purvis, who has not been seen since he went to climb Mt Huxley on Tuesday last week.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 05, 2026 09:25 UTC
Millie Elder-Holmes confirms relationship with Māori Queen’s brother
Millie Elder-Holmes has confirmed her relationship with the Māori Queen's brother Korotangi Paki on social media. Paki was recently spotted at the opening of Koroneihana 2025, where he appeared with a new, full-face tā moko with the Māori Queen Te Arikinui Kuini Ngā wai hono I te pō. In 2014, Paki was convicted of drink-driving after initially being discharged at Auckland District Court on charges of burglary, theft and drink-driving. Korotangi Paki was convicted at the Auckland District Court in 2014 of drink-driving. He was sentenced at Hamilton District Court and received 100 hours community work and 18 months of intensive supervision after pleading guilty to one charge of assault with intent to injure.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 05, 2026 07:40 UTC
Bomb squad called out to 'item of concern' in Christchruch
A Christchurch street was cordoned off on Monday morning after the bomb squad was called to an "item of concern". A police spokesperson said officers were sent to St Barnabas Lane in Fendalton about 8.45am. It is understood the item found was a hand grenade. "There is not believed to be any immediate threat or danger," the spokesperson said. The NZ Defence Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squad (EOD) attended the incident.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 05, 2026 04:39 UTC
Action on Marlborough Sounds parchment worm ‘in the too-hard basket’
Photo: Supplied / LDRAn environmental group calling for control of parchment worm in the Marlborough Sounds has criticised the Marlborough District Council for years of inaction. Chairman Tim Healy said the parchment worm had been devastating for sounds marine life. The council's principal coastal scientist, Oliver Wade, said the parchment worm was overtaking the habitats and food supply of the Galeolaria tubeworm. A sampling of scallops from the sound could not definitively link the dying scallops to the spread of parchment worm. When the presence of the Hauraki worm variant was confirmed in the Marlborough Sounds, the council was advised not to conduct pest control measures.
Source:Stuff
January 05, 2026 04:35 UTC
Fire prompts evacuation at Invercargill food business
Evacuated workers congregate outside Quality Foods Southland in Invercargill. Photo: Toni McDonaldWorkers have been evacuated following a fire at a commercial building in Invercargill. Firefighters are still at the scene at Quality Foods Southland in Baker St, Rockdale. Firefighters are also currently responding to a ‘‘well-involved hedge and shed’’ fire in Invercargill. The spokeswoman said initially 8 metres of shelterbelt was ablaze, but it had since spread to a 10m x 10m shed.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 05, 2026 03:43 UTC
One person in serious condition after truck hits wall in Stillwater, Auckland
Emergency services are in attendance at a truck crash in Stillwater, Auckland. Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. One person in serious condition after truck hits wall in Stillwater, AucklandEmergency services are in attendance at a truck crash in Stillwater, Auckland. One person is in a serious condition after a truck collided with a wall in the north Auckland suburb of Stillwater. Emergency services were called to a crash on Jackson Way just after 3pm, police said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
January 05, 2026 03:28 UTC
Stranded pair rescued near Milford Sound
Two men were out on a fishing and diving trip south of Milford Sound when they got into trouble. File photo: ODTPolice are praising a boatie and his crew who rescued two men stranded in a remote area of Fiordland after hearing their call for help over radio. Police say the rescue at the weekend serves as a reminder to be prepared when heading out on the water. Search and Rescue coordinator Sergeant Dougall Henderson, of Invercargill, said the two men were out on a fishing and diving trip south of Milford Sound when their 6.4m recreational boat "failed" on Saturday night, leaving them stranded. The pair were able to use their iPhone satellite emergency text system to message for help.
Source:Otago Daily Times
January 05, 2026 03:17 UTC