ODT.co.nz | Otago Daily Times | Latest South Island News

SUBSCRIBER

DunedinOctober 10

Dunedin teen who used bitcoin to pay for drug shipments ‘liked the money’

A Dunedin teenager who imported drugs via the dark web using bitcoin says he did it because he “liked the money”.

Felicity Dear

NationalOctober 10

National would make finishing Year 11 compulsory if re-elected

National will require high school students to stay in school until they complete Year 11, if re-elected.

RNZ

QueenstownOctober 10

‘Devastating betrayal’: Arrowtown store owners sponsored visa of worker caught stealing

The owners of Arrowtown’s Night ‘n Day store say the theft of $5500 in cash and stock by its manager was a “devastating” betrayal of their trust.

Guy Williams

SUBSCRIBER

North OtagoOctober 10

End of the (sealed) road?

Waitaki District Council is considering letting some sealed roads across the district "revert" to being unsealed as part of a novel cost-cutting measure.

Charley-Kai John

RugbyOctober 10

Otago steamroll Hawke’s Bay to make semifinals

Adrian Seconi

RugbyOctober 10

Fear factor drives emphatic All Blacks win

SUBSCRIBER

QueenstownOctober 10

Economist slams Queenstown’s transport funding

Tracey Roxburgh

ODT QuizOctober 10

ODT quiz: October 11

Dunedin

The StarOctober 11

Local restaurant owners will share their childhood meals at Dunedin's Diwali festival next month

As the Diwali Festival of Lights returns next month a local couple are keen to showcase childhood favourites.

Sam Henderson

SUBSCRIBER

DunedinOctober 10

Regional council listening to feedback from bus timetable changes: CEO

The Otago Regional Council is looking at feedback about bus timetable changes and will consider options.

Steve Hepburn

The StarOctober 10

Living Market brings Polytech and community together

The Otago Polytechnic will celebrate creativity, and sustainability with a “Living Market” for the whole community next week.

Brenda Harwood

The StarOctober 10

Beautifully balanced recital from young pianist

Young pianist Abhinath Berry, on a visit home to Dunedin from his London studies, demonstrated his ever-increasing skills in a beautifully balanced and performed recital.

Brenda Harwood

Latest News

1

NationalOctober 10

National would make finishing Year 11 compulsory if re-elected

2

WorldOctober 10

Nine dead in ‘deeply disturbing’ Pennsylvania mass shooting

3

NationalOctober 10

Pregnant teen and unborn baby killed after friend inhaled nangs, fell asleep at the wheel

4

WorldOctober 10

Russian attack on Ukrainian city kills 20, a day after Trump eases diesel sanctions on Moscow

5

WorldOctober 10

Saudi Arabia’s main airport struck for third time in a week as US mulls joining war with Houthis

Otago

SUBSCRIBER

QueenstownOctober 10

Down-sized stadium likely despite growth

A proposed $46 million stadium at Queenstown Events Centre is staying at four courts as councillors proved unwilling to spend an extra $19m on a bigger version.

Guy Williams

SUBSCRIBER

QueenstownOctober 10

Opinion: When facts become politically inconvenient

It used to be said that the first casualty of war was the truth.

John Glover, Queenstown Lakes District Mayor

North OtagoOctober 10

Amplifying girls’ voices, actions and leadership

A Zonta Club of Oamaru initiative recognising International Day of the Girl aims to enhance student opportunities by offering a scholarship to high school senior students.

Jules Chin

SUBSCRIBER

QueenstownOctober 10

Clearing way for top-end housing

Tree removal has begun this week to pave the way for Queenstown Hill's highest subdivision.

Philip Chandler

Editor's Picks

SUBSCRIBER

DunedinOctober 2

‘We have nowhere else to go’: Taxman blamed as small Otago town loses only pub

A small Otago town has lost its only pub and its owner is blaming Inland Revenue.

Tim Scott

SUBSCRIBER

DunedinSeptember 28

Dunedin lawyer’s courthouse theft leaves career in tatters

Rob Kidd

SUBSCRIBER

North OtagoOctober 5

Otago school at centre of student ‘sextortion’ allegation revealed

Jules Chin

Canterbury

ChristchurchOctober 10

Christchurch family receive call their house was burgled, car torched while on holiday

A young mother of three was overseas with her family when she got news that quickly turned the long-planned holiday into a period of fear and anguish.

ChristchurchOctober 10

Landmark study looks for heart disease clues long before diagnosis

What happens inside your heart when you reach middle age could help researchers in Christchurch identify the early signs of heart disease before more serious problems develop.

ChristchurchOctober 9

Christchurch man charged over disappearance and death of Braydon Hepworth

A 60-year-old Christchurch man has been charged in relation to the disappearance and death of Braydon Hepworth.

ChristchurchOctober 9

Man faces two charges of murder after ‘serious incident’ in Christchurch

A homicide investigation has been launched in Christchurch, after two people have died and a further two are in a serious condition.

Election 2026

SouthlandOctober 10

Election 2026 debate: Invercargill

Today the second of the ODT electorate debates has gone live.

Mike Houlahan

LEADER INTERVIEW

NewsOctober 9

Luxon adamant coalition strong, stable on inside

Whatever else you might say about Christopher Luxon, he is a man who defies predictions and pundits.

Mike Houlahan

DunedinOctober 9

Candidates ready for election races

No surprise last-minute names have emerged in the South, as the Electoral Commission released the final list of candidates for this year’s election.

Mike Houlahan

SUBSCRIBER

OpinionOctober 9

Scratchings have savaged the field in the 2026 election stakes

Back in the good old days when newspapers ran the results of the previous day’s horse races, the usual format was to print first, second and third in bold type, followed by ``Also ran:’’.

Mike Houlahan

Southland

SouthlandOctober 9

Popular seaside campground at risk of staying closed for summer

A popular Catlins campground which clocked up more than 17,000 stays last year could remain closed for its busy summer season amid uncertainty over its lease.

Matthew Rosenberg

SouthlandOctober 9

‘A moose’ seen in skies above Fiordland

John Lewis

SouthlandOctober 8

Young girl ‘stripped’ in Invercargill park attack

National

NationalOctober 10

Pregnant teen and unborn baby killed after friend inhaled nangs, fell asleep at the wheel

Around midnight, a young woman drove a 34-week pregnant teen, who was like a sister to her, to a scenic location where they filled balloons with nitrous oxide and huffed them.

NationalOctober 9

‘I don’t believe him’: Opportunity’s Wong confident Luxon will call

Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong is brushing off a new poll which has her party under the 5% threshold needed to reach Parliament and believes National’s Christopher Luxon will give her a call if she becomes kingmaker.

RNZ

NationalOctober 9

Car checks urged as WoF periods set to extend

Safety concerns have been raised across the industry with some expecting an increase in dangerous vehicles on the road.

RNZ Nine to Noon

NationalOctober 8

People cut from car after colliding with truck carrying house

Two people have had to be cut from their car after it collided with a truck that was transporting a house.

Sport

SUBSCRIBER

SportOctober 9

The Last Word: Otago fans dare to dream over next three weeks

Stop me if you have heard this before.

Hayden Meikle

SUBSCRIBER

RugbyOctober 9

Highlanders hero de Groot refreshed and ready to hunt Wallabies

Ethan de Groot is quite comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Hayden Meikle

FootballOctober 9

New head coach for South Island United

Former Western Springs coach Scott Hales will take the reins as South Island United’s new head coach for next year’s OFC Pro League.

Sam Coughlan

SUBSCRIBER

BasketballOctober 9

Hoiho ready for WNBA talent on home court

The WNBA is coming to town.

Kayla Hodge

Lifestyle

The MixOctober 9

Review: Life of a film star falls flat

It is boldly proclaimed that Rachel Cusk has, again, “fashioned a new kind of literature” with Life of M.

Tim Scott

SUBSCRIBER

The MixOctober 9

Sweet songs sung fast

Japanese originals Shonen Knife are bringing their upbeat punk-pop south next month, Tom McKinlay reports.

SUBSCRIBER

The MixOctober 9

David Byrne is bringing back wisdom

David Byrne’s new book is Sleeping Beauties: Why Good Ideas Go Dormant and How They Wake Up.

SUBSCRIBER

The MixOctober 9

The unexplained mystery of why we turn left

Business

SUBSCRIBER

BusinessOctober 9

Farmlands swats conflict of interest as farmer shareholders left seething over investment in AgriZeroNZ

Major rural supplier Farmlands has rejected a conflict of interest with chairman Rob Hewett as farmer shareholders fume over its investment in AgriZeroNZ.

Tim Cronshaw

SUBSCRIBER

BusinessOctober 9

BusinessNZ CEO shares lessons learned in her great-aunt’s Queenstown fabric store

It was her great-aunt Violet and her Queenstown fabric store that taught Katherine Rich you can only focus on things within your control.

Tim Scott

BusinessOctober 9

Why you might be missing out on a $30 Woolworths promo

Consumer NZ is questioning a promotion by Woolworths that gives $30 off to only some customers.

BusinessOctober 9

Property managers wary of Labour’s rent plans

Some property managers are concerned at the prospect of a Labour government removing their ability to issue no-cause eviction notices.

Rural Life

Rural Life OtherOctober 8

National woos farmer vote with $300m low-cost loans for water storage

National is promising to lend farmers up to $300 million to help them store more water, as it targets the rural vote in this year's election.

SUBSCRIBER

Rural Life OtherOctober 7

Practical health advice for men focus of Awamoko event

Sam McBride would like to see men’s health have greater recognition in New Zealand.

Sally Rae

SUBSCRIBER

Rural LifeOctober 6

Drones prune control costs by making light work of tracking stray wilding pines

Drones are cutting control costs by tracing wilding pine stragglers in the Tekapo River area.

Tim Cronshaw

SUBSCRIBER

Red MeatSeptember 30

Six-figure sire hits Southland after North Otago stop to collect genetics

An $100,000 black bull is now in his new home in Southland after a stop in Otago to harvest semen to sell to underbidders.

Shawn McAvinue

Food & Wine

SUBSCRIBER

Food & WineOctober 6

Sweet, tender greens mark the beginning of longer days

Food & WineOctober 6

‘Fruity, chocolately, creamy or tangy?’ asks Australian baker

SUBSCRIBER

Food & WineOctober 6

Sauteed Brussels sprouts, leek and crispy kale

In Season: Alison Lambert

SUBSCRIBER

Food & WineOctober 6

Progressive lunch features cheese rolls and pavlova

Rebecca Fox

World

WorldOctober 10

Nine dead in ‘deeply disturbing’ Pennsylvania mass shooting

Nine people were confirmed dead in Erie, Pennsylvania, authorities said, after what Governor Josh Shapiro called a "tragic mass shooting."

WorldOctober 10

Russian attack on Ukrainian city kills 20, a day after Trump eases diesel sanctions on Moscow

Twenty people, including three children, were killed in a Russian attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Saturday, a day after US President Donald Trump announced a deal to lift sanctions on Russian diesel in a major setback for Kyiv.

WorldOctober 10

Saudi Arabia’s main airport struck for third time in a week as US mulls joining war with Houthis

Several people were wounded in an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh that forced a suspension of operations, the country's civil aviation authority said.

WorldOctober 9

Trump announces deal to buy diesel from Russia, angering Ukraine

President Donald Trump says that Russia has agreed to immediately supply diesel to US and global markets in an effort to lower fuel prices ahead of the US midterm elections, although analysts said the amounts would likely not reduce prices greatly.

West Coast

West CoastOctober 6

Truck and trailer rolls in Grey District

Traffic management is in place after a large truck and trailer unit rolled at Taylorville in the Grey District.

SUBSCRIBER

West CoastOctober 6

‘Cokitika’ — Druggy West Coast town gets Class A new nickname

Hokitika locals have dubbed their town “Cokitika” due to its high drug use.

Janna Sherman

Video

SUBSCRIBER

South OtagoOctober 9

‘My wee hero’: 7-yr-old daughter performs life-saving first aid on father

Seven-year-old Frankie Owen-Hale is being hailed as a hero for performing life-saving first aid on her father after he collapsed on their kitchen floor.

Nick Brook

SUBSCRIBER

DunedinOctober 9

Choir calamity averted as foreign student answers call on two days' notice

He has been settled in this country for only a month and he has had just two days to rehearse his big part at the Dunedin Town Hall.

Matthew Littlewood

DunedinOctober 9

Police still investigating unexplained Dunedin death

Police still don’t know what caused the death of a Dunedin man found lifeless in a city street last week.

Laine Priestley

SouthlandOctober 9

‘A moose’ seen in skies above Fiordland

Small sightseeing planes and helicopters are common around Te Anau, but the sight of two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft flying over the southern lake was something very new for residents.

John Lewis

Opinion

SUBSCRIBER

OpinionOctober 9

The hanging sword dangling over the election

Overhanging our general election next month is the threat of parliamentary overhangs.

Civis

SUBSCRIBER

OpinionOctober 9

Cartoonist’s view: October 10

Today's cartoon from Shaun Yeo.

YeoCartoonist

OpinionOctober 9

Recreating her visions a lifeline for revered Japanese artist

In the history of the National Gallery of Victoria, their most successful ticketed exhibition did not feature the work of Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet or Pablo Picasso.

OpinionOctober 9

Publisher took the NZ wilds to the world

Publisher, businesswoman, environmentalist, feminist, mother, and grandmother, Wendy Alison Harrex (1946-2026) was a prominent figure in the New Zealand publishing industry.

SUBSCRIBER

OpinionOctober 9

The secret diary of the Leaders debate

Steve BrauniasColumnist

SUBSCRIBER

EditorialOctober 9

‘Entering uncharted territory’

Editorial

100 Years Ago

SUBSCRIBER

NewsOctober 9

Māori ABs make an impression

100 years ago

SUBSCRIBER

NewsOctober 8

New rooms to let

100 years ago

SUBSCRIBER

NewsOctober 7

Choirs popular drawcard

100 years ago

SUBSCRIBER

NewsOctober 6

Otago School wins dance section

100 years ago