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DunedinNovember 2

Disgraced beauty queen chased over pageant-fundraiser debt for two and a-half years

A beauty queen who ripped off a luxury Queenstown hotel is also being pursued by debt collectors over a pageant charity fundraiser

Rob Kidd

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DunedinNovember 2

‘Cars are getting taken all the time’: resident takes action as vehicle thefts soar

As rampant Dunedin car thieves set their sights on Subarus, a resident set on doing something about it says “pretty much everyone” knows someone affected.

Tim Scott

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DunedinNovember 2

‘Exorbitant, shocking, unjustified and unacceptable’: Stand-off between town and country over rates changes

A Mosgiel resident has called the new proposed rating system exorbitant and bringing unaffordable rates. Another says it is incredulous, unjustified and unacceptable.

Steve Hepburn

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SouthlandNovember 2

Just 13 and mixing it with the big boys as racing career continues to climb

Kimi Antonelli may be the new young king of motor racing but down in Edendale they have a youngster of their own who is flying on four wheels.

Steve Hepburn

Central OtagoNovember 2

‘Incredibly loving and devoted mum’: Tributes flow for Cromwell crash victim

Julie Asher

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DunedinNovember 2

Dunedin man takes knife to police station seeking night in cells, spends 10 weeks behind bars

Felicity Dear

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DunedinNovember 2

‘There will be anger’: late Presbyterian Church minister with links to Otago and Southland revealed as child sex abuser

Tim Scott

ODT QuizNovember 2

ODT quiz: November 3

Dunedin

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DunedinNovember 2

‘People are not included any more, it's a money-making venture’: Bradford woman frustrated as communications tower goes up

A Bradford woman says she is shocked how powerless she was when construction started on a large telecommunications tower, across from her home..

Steve Hepburn

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DunedinNovember 2

Ong’s bid to avoid by-election has no chance, says council boss

Benedict Ong’s bid to dodge a costly by-election over his seemingly impending resignation will do nothing to avoid sending voters back to the polls, Dunedin’s council boss has warned.

Ruby Shaw

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DunedinNovember 2

Council to consider bid to retain voting, quorum rights for some non-elected members

Concerns about the independence of a specialist committee have prompted the Dunedin City Council to consider applying for an exception to allowing its non-elected members to keep voting.

Ruby Shaw

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DunedinNovember 2

Sea lion takes time out at St Clair

It’s sea lion season again—so give them space.

Matthew Littlewood

Latest News

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SouthlandNovember 2

‘Vulnerable’ woman with dementia missing in Invercargill

2

SouthlandNovember 2

Southland man spends 700 days with ‘temporary’ catheter as region suffers through lack of urologists

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RugbyNovember 2

All Blacks’ security boss dies in Edinburgh after medical event

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DunedinNovember 2

Dunedin man takes knife to police station seeking night in cells, spends 10 weeks behind bars

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DunedinNovember 2

‘Cars are getting taken all the time’: resident takes action as vehicle thefts soar

Otago

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WānakaNovember 2

‘It feels very inequitable’: second Otago bookseller decries late delivery of major romance release

A second independent Otago bookseller whose order for a popular romance title came late says she was almost certain it would not arrive on time.

Tim Scott

QueenstownNovember 2

A quacking good fundraiser

The Rotary Club of Queenstown raised about $11,500 for the Queenstown and Arrowtown volunteer fire brigades at its long-running charity duck race on Sunday.

Guy Williams

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Central OtagoNovember 2

‘Rabbit-ravaged’ Cromwell cemetery could get a revival

A “rabbit-ravaged, windswept and exposed” Cromwell Cemetery could be in line for a historic revival, with a plan to revive a previously removed rotunda structure.

Carys Trotter

South OtagoNovember 2

Victim ‘incredibly shaken’ after alleged serious assault at Balclutha campground

Police are investigating an alleged serious assault at a Balclutha campground that left the victim “incredibly shaken”.

Tim Scott

Editor's Picks

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DunedinOctober 28

Fall of a beauty queen: Pageant runner-up involved in ugly Octagon assault, luxury hotel rip-off

A former pageant queen racked up a $2700 bill at a five-star Queenstown hotel then scarpered without paying, a court has heard.

Rob Kidd

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QueenstownOctober 30

Jason Momoa-owned company caught up in Queenstown restaurant collapse

Tim Scott

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WānakaOctober 27

‘Dressed like they’re working in a strip club’: Wānaka gym owner hits back at ‘sexist’ review

Ruairi O'Shea

Canterbury

ChristchurchNovember 2

Changes loom for narrow stretch of road

Concerns over congestion and the looming threat of El Niño will see changes made to a narrow Canterbury road.

Kees Chalmers

SelwynNovember 2

Councillors clash over voting rights exemption

Selwyn district councillor Elizabeth Mundt maintains her candidacy for New Zealand First is not influencing her council decisions.

Daniel Alvey

ChristchurchNovember 2

More mental health patients allowed leave at time of murder, inquest told

An increasing number of patients at Christchurch's Hillmorton Hospital were given community leave around the time a woman was murdered by one in the street, an inquest has heard.

CanterburyNovember 2

Nitrate levels in rural groundwater remain a concern

Greenpeace says Environment Canterbury's latest groundwater survey shows the region is still in a nitrate emergency.

David Hill, Local Democracy reporter

Election 2026

NationalNovember 2

Two-speed economy poses dilemma for National

As NZ emerges from years of sluggish economic growth, its lagging urban sector presents a challenge for National to retain votes in the cities of 30,000 or more that are home to about 65% of a population of 5.5 million.

Lucy Craymer and Alasdair Pal of Reuters

NationalNovember 2

Labour pledges crackdown on 'unfair' household bills

Labour has promised to prevent phone, internet and insurance companies charging loyal customers more than new ones, if it is elected on November 7.

NationalNovember 1

'Effectively being cyber-bullied': Chlöe Swarbrick hits back against Nats’ attacks

Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says the National Party's attacks on her in the election campaign amount to "nasty" hysterical cyber-bullying.

SouthlandNovember 1

Questions arise over timing of govt train loan

Invercargill's mayor says ratepayers should not be asked to pay for a new train service, at a time when the government is asking councils to cut down on spending.

Southland

SouthlandNovember 2

‘Vulnerable’ woman with dementia missing in Invercargill

Police are seeking a “vulnerable” dementia sufferer who is missing in the Invercargill area.

SouthlandNovember 2

Southland man spends 700 days with ‘temporary’ catheter as region suffers through lack of urologists

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SouthlandNovember 1

Wind, wins and wives: Tour of Southland legends reflect on 70 years.

Toni McDonald

National

NationalNovember 2

Concern as thousands of young people lose access to unemployment benefits

The government has ended Jobseeker payments for 18 and 19-year-olds whose parents earn a combined income of more than $67,225.

NationalNovember 2

Response for at-risk victims ‘outdated’: police staffer

A senior police staffer involved in the multi-agency response to family violence has publicly criticised the system used by agencies to respond to at-risk victims describing it as "outdated" and "no longer fit for purpose".

Sam Sherwood of RNZ

NationalNovember 2

Fraudster stole identities of 22 victims

After calling the national transport agency on a private police-only number from prison, inmate Hayden Gobey gave staff an ID number and fake name and listed his rank as either constable or detective.

Catherine Hutton, Open Justice reporter

NationalNovember 1

Labour leads National on all top five voter concerns

The latest Ipsos poll adds pressure on National in the final week before election day, even as the party clashes with its coalition partners over vote-splitting.

Sport

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NetballNovember 2

Ex-Silver Fern disappointed in NNZ communication, but domestic league could go ahead in 2027

Jodi Brown always remained hopeful Netball New Zealand had something in the pipeline for next year’s domestic competition.

Kayla Hodge

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BasketballNovember 2

Former Hoiho player wins maiden WNBA title with Valkyries

Ashten Prechtel cut her professional teeth with the Southern Hoiho — now she is a WNBA champion.

Kayla Hodge

RugbyNovember 2

All Blacks’ security boss dies in Edinburgh after medical event

The All Blacks’ head of security Logan Cadwallader has died in Edinburgh following a medical event.

MotorsportNovember 2

Antonelli makes history as youngest F1 champion

Kimi Antonelli is the first Italian Formula One champion in 73 years.

Reuters

Lifestyle

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The MixNovember 6

Throwing Muses frontwoman is focused on the songs

Sometimes you have to go it alone.

Matthew Littlewood

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TravelNovember 2

Discovering ‘blue mind therapy’ on a river walk in South Australia

Holidaying close to home this year, Jacqui Gibson finds the healing power of Australia’s longest river soothes the mind and body.

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The MixOctober 30

Community holds the solution to climate change

As a new report underlines the threat of climate change, long-time climate researchers say we already know how we need to respond, Tom McKinlay writes.

By TOM MCKINLAY

The MixOctober 30

Nurturing success at Orokonui Ecosanctuary

It’s been a year of mounting successes beneath the peaks of Māpounui and Mihiwaka, Madison Kelly writes.

Business

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BusinessNovember 2

Resource management lawyer keen to get amongst it in the Upper Clutha

When Bridget Irving drives through the Upper Clutha, she enjoys looking at the developments she has been involved in.

Sally Rae

BusinessNovember 2

Nappy company told to investigate after complaints of rashes

Consumer NZ says the country is not acting strongly enough to protect babies from potentially unsafe products.

RNZ Checkpoint

BusinessNovember 1

South Island businesses report Eftpos outages

Multiple South Island businesses are reporting Eftpos outages on Monday.

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BusinessNovember 1

Nesting birds spark millions of dollars in claims for tractor fires

Pesky starlings building bird nests are causing $1.2 million of claims in farm machinery fires for rural insurer FMG each year.

Tim Cronshaw

Rural Life

DairyNovember 2

Environmental breaches on dairy farms leading to bigger fines

Some dairy farmers are starting to feel the impact of stiffer penalties of up to a million dollars introduced last year under the Resource Management Act.

DairyOctober 29

Improving demand boosts milk price forecast

Fonterra has lifted its forecast farmgate milk price for the current season by 25 cents.

RNZ

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DairyOctober 28

Eastern Southland dairy farmers collect supreme award as they seek to progress

Eastern Southland contract milker Jippy Singh is using his recent award success as fuel to take the next step in his dairy industry career.

Shawn McAvinue

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HorticultureOctober 28

Orchard workers arrive to good-looking fruit crops set up by favourable spring conditions in Central Otago

The season has been favourable so far but it may face a blight of rising freight costs, tighter retail margins and a staff accommodation shortage, Central Otago fruit growers say.

Shawn McAvinue

Food & Wine

Food & WineOctober 27

Healthier and more equitable food system needed from political parties

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Food & WineOctober 27

Cheddar, potato and caramelised onion focaccia

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Food & WineOctober 27

Grilled asparagus, melted curds and frozen lemon

In Season — Alison Lambert

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Food & WineOctober 27

Harvesting hops at night to enhance the flavour

Beer — Ric Oram

World

WorldNovember 2

Police with assault rifles begin Sydney patrols

The measure is the first of its kind in Australia, where the presence of heavily armed police officers is rare.

Reuters

WorldNovember 1

Nine people killed in Learjet crash in Florida

A Learjet 60 with nine people on board has crashed in Florida, killing all nine people on board.

Reuters

WorldNovember 1

Trump makes plans for Democrats win in midterms

US President Donald Trump's White House has spent months preparing for a possible Democratic takeover of Congress.

WorldNovember 1

Shops looted as German cost-of-living protests turn violent

Rioters looted shops in central Frankfurt late on Saturday as clashes erupted in German cities over the cost of living.

West Coast

West CoastOctober 29

WorkSafe seeks witnesses to ‘serious incident’ where teens plunged 12m to ground from Ferris wheel

A teenager has had nightmares since watching her friend fall 12m from a Ferris wheel at a West Coast agricultural show after a seat broke.

West CoastOctober 29

Rising riverbed risks Franz Josef disaster

A leading NZ hydrologist says Franz Josef is only one flood away from disaster as the Waiho (Waiau) Riverbed continues to rise at an alarming rate.

Vihan Dalal, Local Democracy reporter

Video

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DunedinNovember 2

Sea lion takes time out at St Clair

It’s sea lion season again—so give them space.

Matthew Littlewood

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DunedinNovember 1

AI wildlife trackers and Lego robots: Otago’s young tech innovators go head-to-head

Young Otago innovators went head-to-head in a high-stakes battle of coding and creativity at a regional robotics competition.

Laine Priestley

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DunedinNovember 1

Works of art, on the run

A Dunedin family participate in the Night 'n Day Rainbow Run at Logan Park, on Sunday.

John Lewis

OtagoOctober 31

Wind warning for inland Otago as front bears down

Forecasters are warning of strong winds which may become severe gales in inland Otago on Sunday.

Opinion

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OpinionNovember 2

What awaits the great unenrolled at Saturday’s polling booth

It is amazing that 300,000 people have not enrolled to vote.

Jim Sullivan

OpinionNovember 2

Tourism needs tales, not undermining

The silence in New Zealand’s tourism sector is deafening.

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OpinionNovember 1

When they were bad they were horrid

When I was a little girl, I had a little curl in the middle of my forehead. In fact, I had a whole head of blonde curls, springing like corkscrews from my incorrigibly round and sturdy head.

Jean Balchin

OpinionNovember 1

The don’t blame me, blame yourself, approach to climate issues

In the recently released movie Digger the oil tycoon Digger Rockwell faces a crowd of angry legislators who blame him, quite rightly, for his oil-drilling directly causing a major climate catastrophe.

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OpinionNovember 1

Have the political winds changed direction?

It has been quite a week.

Gwynne Dyer

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EditorialNovember 1

Pay equity farce

The bizarre stalling of the hospice nurses’ pay equity claim revealed last week illustrates the shallowness of the government’s rhetoric about the new scheme.

Editorial

100 Years Ago

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NewsNovember 2

Flood causes damage

100 years ago

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NewsNovember 1

Pope marries niece

100 years ago

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NewsOctober 30

Catholics mark new feast day

To celebrate the newest feast-day in the calendar of the Roman Catholic Church — a day set apart in honour of Jesus Christ as a spiritual King — October 31, 1926 was fixed by his Holiness Pope Pius XI, on which date all the Catholic Churches of the world were to join in common worship.

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NewsOctober 29

Champs to take on Victoria regatta

100 years ago