Photo: Gregor RichardsonThe government says help is on the way after a Wānaka man, caring for his 65-year-old wife with dementia, highlighted the "desperate shortage" of dementia-level care facilities in the southern regions. Mental Health Minister and Associate Health Minister with responsibility for rural health Matt Doocey acknowledged the issues raised about dementia care. He said dementia care fell under the responsibility of Seniors Minister and Associate Health Minister Casey Costello, and he would work with her to ensure all points were appropriately covered in the response. While Wānaka has a dementia-level care facility, he said it was full and had a long waiting list. "I can’t put myself in her place except to say that clearly that’s the most unsatisfactory thing for someone to be housed and homed in a situation that’s far removed from all her social supports.

Another model proposed funding decisions for grants above staff delegation sit fully with the council. Under one, small grants would be allocated by staff and mid-tier grants by a subcommittee. Under the other model, staff would be responsible for small and medium grants, and all others would sit with the council. ‘‘Feedback also indicated that while the grants system is valued and broadly effective, it lacks a coherent policy foundation,’’ the report said. A public workshop on the grants review was held last week.

Tūhura Otago Museum marketing manager Charlie Buchan admires a photo of a kea, by Giles Bryant, which was a finalist in last year’s Wildlife Photography Competition. Photo: Peter McIntoshSomething appears to have clicked after the number of entries in this year’s Tūhura Otago Museum annual photography competition shattered the previous record. Museum exhibitions manager and competition judge Shanaya Cunningham said submissions for the 2026 competition had now closed and the number of entries has almost doubled, to "an impressive" 9372 photographs. Of those, 5717 entries came from photographers outside Otago, highlighting the strong national appetite for wildlife photography and conservation storytelling. The winning photographs will then be announced later this year and featured in another public exhibition at Tūhura Otago Museum.

File photo: Linda RobertsonThe Forsyth Barr Stadium boss says he is confident acts will be coming to the stadium in due course but nothing can be confirmed yet. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston yesterday announced a series of events across the country but nothing came for any event below the Waitaki River. Events announced yesterday covered sport, food, culture and innovation. Dunedin Venues Management Ltd chief executive Paul Doorn said he was confident acts for the stadium would be announced in due course but could not say anything yet. He said the stadium was still very much in the hunt for acts but it was playing the waiting game.

Photo: suppliedThe Otago Regional Council has agreed local government must change but the new proposal will create unavoidable conflicts of interest and undermine the integrity of regional decision-making and democracy. The proposal would see a combined territories board replace the Otago Regional Council, which may also include a Crown commissioner. "[The council] is concerned that the combined territories model would create unavoidable conflicts of interest and undermine the integrity of regional decision-making and regional democracy. "[The council] considers that regional council governance functions should remain with those holding a regional mandate from the community or, as a fallback position, commissioners operating in a caretaker capacity." "For any combined territories to work effectively, members would require clear statutory expectations to act for the regional interest rather than their territorial constituencies.

Checking out a new oil tank in Parry St are (from left) New Zealand Oil Services project engineer Robert Ahrens, maintenance lead Johann Anderson, programme manager Hugh Evans and Dunedin terminal operations manager Ammay Flanders. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHA new oil tank to store jet fuel and diesel has been constructed in Dunedin amid a boom in the city’s tourism. New Zealand Oil Services is expecting to complete construction of the 21m-wide and 13m-tall silo in Central Dunedin’s Parry St, for BP, by the middle of this year. BP head of country and vice-president Asia Pacific aviation Haley Mahoney said Dunedin terminal works continued its recent investments in fuel storage across the country. "The Dunedin terminal’s additional fuel storage capacity will further enhance our South Island supply chain for jet fuel and diesel as travel and tourism continues to grow throughout Otago and Queenstown."

In 2023 Mr French finished 1443 votes behind sitting MP, Labour’s Ingrid Leary, in second place. Ms Leary is Labour’s nominee again, and the Greens are also fielding their 2023 candidate Scott Willis. Mr French, who formerly worked in hospitality, is now a branch manager of a will and trust provider. However, Mr French ran a strong campaign in 2023 and in an election which featured a strong swing to the right increased the National candidate vote by just over 7%. Since his loss in 2023 Mr French has remained active in southern National politics and was a regular at party events.

Dunedin mural artist Guy Howard renders a permanent reminder of summer on a Bellona St wall in St Kilda. Work has begun on new additions to the South Dunedin Street Art Trail, part of a festival celebrating and adding to public art in the suburb. Facing Bellona St, the mural features a surfer with a scene of the street in the 1970s and 1980s. The mural is one of eight featured in Ebb and Flow — a street art festival organised by the South Dunedin Street Art Trail Trust beginning on Saturday, featuring large-scale, live mural painting and street art workshops. Mr Howard said the festival was a "fantastic initiative" and events like it brought South Dunedin to life.

File photo : RNZA trip to the foodbank is becoming an increasing occurrence for University of Otago students, as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite. Figures provided to the Otago Daily Times showed that the Otago University Students’ Association issued 680 food parcels in 2025 — more than double what was issued in 2019 (258) and significantly up on the previous year’s 597 parcels issued. "Ultimately, our goal is to support students in overcoming any challenges that may hinder their ability to succeed in their studies." "At the time of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, oil prices increased dramatically — and Russia and Ukraine were all part of the agricultural exporter countries. "So prices increased and there was also increase in the energy inputs and other related things.

The final stretch of the Yamaha Tenere Rally finished up at Agricentre South last week, bringing an end to the 1100km journey through all the South Island had to offer. For the people who joined the Yamaha Tenere Rally — about 55 of them — keen was an understatement. The rally began in Timaru last week, travelling to Oamaru, then Cromwell, until finally last Wednesday pulling up to Agricentre South. Although it was a playground — it’s not to say it’s an easy one, as Mr Goldhawk said be on your toes traversing the territory. "It’s good, good fun.

Welcome back to our Super Rugby Pacific tipping competition for another year. We’ve got tipsters competing in Invercargill, Dunedin, Wānaka and Gore to become the best tipster in the land, so good luck to all. The Chiefs, Crusaders, Canes, Reds and Brumbies in no particular order should make the six. Good luck to all. Good luck punters, you’ll need it.

Goldsmith confirmed he would scrap the group, partly due to the resignations. Photo / Ben DickensThe group had recommended strengthening several powers for retailers, including controversial citizen’s arrest powers. Goldsmith admitted it was unlikely proposals the group was currently developing would make it through the House this term. Announced in July 2024, the group was funded from the Proceeds of Crime fund with a budget of $1.8 million per year for two years. Goldsmith accepted Kaushal could “rub up some people the wrong way” but said his decision had not been informed by Kaushal’s conduct as chairman.

Ms Graham made the complaint about Cr Ong after he sent an email on Wednesday last week. Ms Dyhrberg has been tasked with making a preliminary assessment, but Cr Ong asked her yesterday to "please advise if you believe you are independent". Cr Ong has had a tumultuous start to the term. In an email to Ms Graham and the ODT on Wednesday last week, Cr Ong did not name the staff member he criticised. In an email to Ms Dyhrberg yesterday, Cr Ong said the person was "anonymised and I have not identified the individual".

Photo: Stephen JaquieryA controversial large-scale forestry conversion in the heart of West Otago hill country, which caused ripples in the community, is to be sold. Yesterday, Ernslaw One South Island regional manager Cameron Alderton confirmed Pomahaka Forest — previously a sheep, beef and deer farm known as Warthill — was expected to be offered for sale later this month as a fully planted forest. The Otago Regional Council later requested additional information from Ernslaw One and got an independent assessment of the wilding risk calculator score. "While ownership arrangements may change over time, the foundations that have been put in place to support responsible forest management will continue to guide how the forest is managed into the future." It valued the relationships it had with neighbouring landowners and appreciated the engagement that had occurred over the life of the forest.

It is a well-regarded global survey across 28 countries that since 2000 has measured trust — the glue that holds society together. The fear that "other countries purposefully contaminate our media" has reached 65%, up from 54% in 2021. In my new book, How to Rebuild Trust in Journalism, I identify journalism’s four "superpowers" — objectivity, transparency, verification and caring. Because journalism needs you and, however tempted you are by that next cat video, you need journalism you can trust. • Tim Watkin has worked in journalism for nearly three decades and is an industry representative on the NZ Media Council.