You want AI with that? Masked woman tells BK to 'hire humans'
The 30-year-old woman was wearing a white mask and carrying two cans of white spray-paint when she ran into the Burger King in Andersons Bay Rd. Photo: Google MapsA masked protester defaced a drive-through at a fast food restaurant over the chain’s decision to replace human order-takers with AI. When she stopped at the drive through intercom, she whipped out the paint and wrote: ‘‘No AI, hire humans’’. She was arrested, and police found the two cans of spray paint and the white mask in her possession. When asked why she did it, she told officers she was ‘‘annoyed’’ at companies such as Burger King using AI technology instead of hiring humans.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 13, 2026 13:55 UTC
Child serious after being hit by car in Invercargill McDonald's carpark
A child has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a car in an Invercargill fast-food carpark. A police spokeswoman said emergency services were called to a McDonald’s carpark about 7pm tonight after reports that a vehicle had hit a child. ‘‘The child was taken to hospital in serious condition,’’ the spokeswoman said. A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokeswoman said they responded trucks from its Invercargill and Kingswell stations. No-one was trapped and they left the scene in the care of St John, the spokeswoman said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 13, 2026 13:45 UTC
Wastewater testing shows rise in Covid cases
Photo: Getty ImagesWastewater testing is showing an increase in Covid cases, and hospitalisations are on the rise as New Zealand enters it's ninth Covid wave. These days we know that testing is not so available, so wastewater testing is a really good indication of if we have got a surge in cases. But Dr Jack said the wastewater testing does provide accurate information. But if not, we have the wastewater testing to fall back on." While Covid cases are on the rise, so to are vaccination numbers.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 13, 2026 13:31 UTC
'Sick and dangerous' teacher aide jailed for sexually abusing girls
Manase Uaisele was sentenced in the Napier District Court to five years and four months in prison for sexual offending against young girls. Photo / Ric StevensPolice are open to receiving further complaints about a former teacher aide, described by a victim as a “sick and dangerous man”, who has been jailed for sexual offending against young girls. Teacher aide at Te Whai Hiringa SchoolFive victims were students when Uaisele was a teacher aide at Te Whai Hiringa School in Hastings, formerly known as Peterhead School. In the Napier District Court on Friday, an earlier victim, now an adult woman, confronted Uaisele in person. “You are a real coward who needs to live with this for the rest of your life,” the girl’s statement said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 13, 2026 13:29 UTC
'No AI, hire humans': Masked woman defaces Dunedin Burger King
The 30-year-old woman was wearing a white mask and carrying two cans of white spray-paint when she ran into the Burger King in Andersons Bay Rd. The 30-year-old woman was wearing a white mask and carrying two cans of white spray-paint when she ran into the Burger King in Andersons Bay Rd at 9.10pm yesterday, Sergeant Matt Lee, of Dunedin, said. When she stopped at the drive through intercom, she whipped out the paint and wrote: ‘‘No AI, hire humans’’. She was arrested, and police found the two cans of spray paint and the white mask in her possession. When asked why she did it, she told officers she was ‘‘annoyed’’ at companies such as Burger King using AI technology instead of hiring humans.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 13, 2026 12:49 UTC
Otago students struggle to pay rent amid loan payment delays
Photo: ODT FilesStressed out students are struggling to pay rent, buy food and take the bus to class because their student loan applications are still not processed, weeks after courses began. Other students in her hall were worried about being kicked out of university because they could not pay their fees, Bethell said. She confirmed students would be backpaid, and said anyone who's struggling students should contact them. Student associations advocating for studentsVictoria University Students' Association president Aidan Donoghue said up to fifteen students had been in touch this academic year struggling with Studylink delays meaning they can't pay their fees. Other student associations had also seen an increase in students reporting StudyLink application delays.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 13, 2026 12:32 UTC
US hitman allegedly flew into NZ to carry out murder
Police believe he then flew back to the USA where he attempted to murder someone else. Then, in August last year he allegedly attempted to murder a man in a shooting in Oakley, California. He's accused of attempted murder, shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, fleeing a pursuing police officer's vehicle while driving recklessly, and possession of a firearm. Photo: NZ Herald/Jason Oxenham'Investigation ongoing'Two other people have been charged with murdering Vi and are before the courts. Operation Block commenced on 19 August 2024 to investigate the murder of 59-year-old Tuipulotu Vi on Marvon Downs Avenue.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 13, 2026 10:28 UTC
Relative of Poseidyn Reigns Hemopo-Pickering admits he lied to police after infant’s death
Thompson told the inquest last week that despite never having met Poseidyn or the baby’s parents, he was asked to uphold Tikanga Māori at the tangi. After a muddled back-and-forth with Tuialii, Kingi Snelgar, Pickering’s counsel to assist, questioned Thompson. To clarify, Coroner Fitzgibbon asked Thompson again if Pickering had said, aloud, that he hit Poseidyn, to which Thompson replied “nah”. “If none of them are going to tell the truth, then all of them are responsible,” Nathan declared. Huakau told the inquest she lied to make herself seem like a good mother, and so she would not be judged.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 13, 2026 09:48 UTC
Father questions police response after teen daughter hit by car on way to school in Māngere
“Joe Ben’s 17-year-old daughter was scootering along Māngere‘s Hokianga St to Aorere College on Monday when she was hit by a vehicle at the Portage Rd turn-off, about 1km from the school campus. Hato Hone St John said they were alerted at 8.48am and took one person to Middlemore Hospital in moderate condition. “A neighbour helped my daughter and stopped the car ... and said ‘don’t leave until the police come’,” Ben said. The crash was on the corner of Hokianga St and Portage Rd, about 1km from Aorere College in Māngere. The incident adds to a wave of road accidents involving children injured while travelling to or from school since they returned to class this year.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 13, 2026 09:37 UTC
Zendaya appears to confirm Tom Holland wedding as she flashes ring
Zendaya has seemingly confirmed her marriage to Tom Holland by showing a wedding ring during a Hollywood event. Photo / Getty ImagesZendaya has seemingly confirmed her marriage to Tom Holland by showing a wedding ring during a Hollywood event. Photo / Getty ImagesZendaya has seemingly confirmed she has married Tom Holland by flashing her wedding ring. Host Marsai Martin called out her “cousin” Zendaya and said the Euphoria star “doesn’t play about her private life” before asking her to “give me a sign”. Zendaya shyly showed off what appeared to be her wedding band to the camera, which was met with applause from the audience, while sources also told People magazine that she was overheard accepting congratulatory messages from fellow attendees.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 13, 2026 09:23 UTC
Massive AI factory could impact sea life, cultural values
The facility would use 280MW of power, making it the second-largest electricity user behind Tiwai Point aluminum smelter near Bluff. 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. "I note that Te Ao Marama Inc's Cultural Impact Assessment identifies that the cable impacts on Mauri, Mahinga Kai, Kaitiakitanga and Rangatiratanga values, both in the open coast and Ōreti Beach areas." The cable had an expected life span of 25 years, but the applicant had sought a 35-year consent.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 13, 2026 08:59 UTC
America’s Cup: Jo Aleh on Emirates Team New Zealand experience and milestones in new campaign
Aleh has been with Team NZ since October, confirmed as one of four new local recruits to the main sailing team with Seb Menzies, Josh Armit and Jake Pye. Over the past few months, the team have been sailing their two AC40 scaled-down vessels while also working to bring the prospective women’s team for Naples up to speed. Emirates Team New Zealand took AC75 Taihoro for its first sail of the new campaign on Friday. Jo Aleh will sail for Emirates Team New Zealand in the America's Cup in Naples. Team NZ confirmed they would be entering both boats into the regatta, with one crewed by main America’s Cup sailors and the other by sailors from the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup teams.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 13, 2026 08:57 UTC
Penguin found on Auckland Harbour Bridge bus lane has flipper amputated, rehomed
A penguin found on the Auckland Harbour Bridge had its right flipper amputated to prevent further injury or infection. The one-hour operation went smoothly, and over the next few weeks, the penguin received antibiotics and pain relief to support healing. The penguin was in the care of Auckland Zoo for a month before he was rehomed at West Coast Wildlife Centre. He was believed to have received his flipper injury from a predatory fish attack, the post said. “Despite the challenges they’ve faced, both boys are resilient, cheeky, and full of personality,” the wildlife centre said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 13, 2026 08:28 UTC
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown to undergo surgery after injuring hip ‘chasing down a cheeky drop shot’ in tennis
“He may be unavailable to attend some events for a short period afterwards.”The hip injury was sustained during a match last year. One public event Brown will miss is a March 27 speaking engagement at the Herald’s annual Project Auckland luncheon. Auckland Mayor Wayne faces an operation on March 24 but is expected to resume his mayoral duties the next day remotely. Last week, Brown also acknowledged a 7.9% average household rates increase was higher than he would have liked. It is the largest rates rise since the Auckland Council was formed in 2010.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 13, 2026 08:00 UTC
Teacher found guilty of serious misconduct after sexual relationship with student
The former student told the tribunal that his relationship with the teacher began when she kissed him on the lips in front of other students. After that, the relationship became sexual, and the student recalled having oral sex with the woman, including while in her parked car at a beach. He said the teacher told him not to tell anyone, as she did not want anything to happen to her. “I felt she was guilt-tripping me.”“She would say ‘you’ll be nothing without me’.”He told the tribunal he felt guilty about the relationship. The teacher, who did not attend the hearing, was found to have committed serious misconduct.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 13, 2026 05:35 UTC