“This evidence does point towards the possibility that Mr Potter had become locked in his vehicle immediately before his death. “I accept that excessive heat and/or stress may be relevant factors in his death,” the coroner said. However, Coroner Schirnack said the evidence supporting this theory was inconclusive. He may have suffered the fatal cardiac event without perceiving that he was trapped and/or becoming overwhelmed by heat,” Schirnack said. Coroner Schirnack extended his condolences to Potter’s family and community.

One person died after a serious crash in Coast Rd, Karitane on Saturday. One person died at the scene. The police serious crash unit carried out an examination after the crash and the road reopened mid-afternoon. Four other people died on New Zealand roads over the weekend with one person dying after a crash on State Highway 1, just north of Tūrangi, near Rawhira Rd yesterday afternoon. Police also confirmed yesterday the driver of a vehicle involved a Dome Valley crash on Saturday evening died at the scene.

Emergency services were called to a water related incident on the Waimakariri River. One person dies following water related incident on Waimakariri RiverEmergency services were called to a water related incident on the Waimakariri River. Photo / NZMEOne person has died following a water-related incident on the Waimakariri River in Canterbury. Senior Sergeant Stephen McDaniel said emergency services were called to the scene about 4.30pm. “Despite the efforts of emergency services, the person died at the scene,” he said.

Record enthusiast Joel Longmore digs deep into a box of CDs in search of a bargain at the Dunedin Pop Culture and Record Fair at Moons yesterday. Photo: Gerard O'BrienHundreds of people crammed themselves into tight corners at a Dunedin pub to look at the array of musical artefacts — and maybe even buy them. The Dunedin Pop Culture and Record Fair held its seventh iteration in two years at Moons pub yesterday. Co-organiser Leighton Jones said it was the biggest Dunedin record fair yet in terms of stalls — 22 private individuals had their vinyl, CDs, cassettes and DVDs for sale. Limited edition vinyl can sell for exorbitant prices, but Mr Jones was confident there were still bargains to be had.

PHOTO: SUPPLIEDTouring the cruise ship Noordam on Saturday are (from left) Port Otago cruise manager Carolyn Bennett, Port Otago chief executive Kevin Winders, Dunedin Mayor Sophie Barker, Cr John Chambers, Port Otago customer general manager Craig Usher and Cr Doug Hall. Ms Bennett said in addition to the tour of main facilities, the group also visited the bridge and engine control room — the day’s highlight, as these areas were not accessible to passengers. "The purpose of the tour was to show first hand why Otago, our port and our region, is known for delivering a quality experience for cruise passengers and cruise lines. "Based on the interest shown during the day and quality of questions asked by the mayor and councillors, I believe we achieved that," she said. "It was a positive visit with plenty of open conversations," she said.

Oil prices briefly hit $US85 ($NZ143) a barrel on Tuesday. UK wholesale gas prices nearly doubled — the biggest two-day rise since comparable records began in the 1990s. UK gas prices have leapt to about 142p ($NZ3.21) per therm — if purchased now for delivery between June and August — from 60p-70p earlier this year. "It’s potentially very alarming and has a very serious impact for the UK economy," Good Energy chief executive Nigel Pocklington said. He added that UK suppliers will inevitably cut their cheap tariffs because they look unaffordable given the shifting circumstances.

Photo: social media via ReutersFire engulfs a Kuwait City tower yesterday following what the Kuwaiti Army said was a drone attack, amid the United States-Israeli war with Iran. This screengrab was taken from a social media video.

Weather: Heavy rain watch for Fiordland and Southland as tropical low develops north of New ZealandHeavy rain drenching the lower South Island could approach warning criteria today as forecasters monitor a developing tropical low that could bring unsettled weather to the upper North Island. A heavy rain watch has been issued by MetService as a front is expected to bring a period of heavy rain to Fiordland and Southland today. MetService meteorologist Katie Lyons said places such as Invercargill were already seeing rain as the system moved across the region. “A heavy rain watch is in place for Southland from 9am today through to 7pm tonight,” Lyons said. “We also have a heavy rain watch out for Fiordland from 9am today through 9pm tonight.”

Photo: ODT filesThe under-fire Te Kāika health service has again failed to meet a government deadline to submit a critical annual financial report. Its latest report for 2024-25 was due last September, an extension deadline was granted until the end of last month and the report has still not been delivered. Before the latest failure to meet a reporting deadline, OHL had persistently filed its annual reports later than Charities Services requires. The latest failure to submit its annual report to a deadline has been added to the pile of concerns to investigate, DIA indicated. When asked to comment on the most recent failure to submit its report to deadline, OHL said "OHL and DIA have mutually agreed on arrangements".

Col Heath protests against homelessness. Colin, known as Col, Heath, who identified as non-binary and went by the pronouns they/them, went missing when living in Te Kuiti. Aged 46 at the time, they had moved to the North Island from Dunedin only months before their disappearance. A close Dunedin friend, who wanted to remain anonymous, said they had contrasting feelings about Heath’s remains being found. The group of friends had issues with the investigation into Heath’s disappearance and the resources put into it, the friend said.

Four iwi authorities — collectively comprising Kā Rūnaka — had already raised possible treaty breaches in a January memo to fast-track authorities. Mr Muir stressed that he did not wish to express any view on what breach concerns were held by Kā Rūnaka. The matter was important because Kā Rūnaka had "serious concerns" over the potential for "cumulative and long-term environmental effects of the proposed large mine." Santana’s legal counsel, Joshua Leckie, said in the meeting that the firm was engaging with Kā Rūnaka and in Santana’s view there were no treaty breaches. "It is our case there are not treaty breaches at play here."

Dog Rescue Dunedin has suffered a "perfect storm" of events, leading it to have to stop rescuing dogs — for now. Trustee Mandy Spearing told the Otago Daily Times that everyone involved was "overwhelmed" after a "perfect storm" of events. "We have fewer volunteers, more dogs coming in, and not enough people wanting to adopt a dog. "So please be aware that Dog Rescue Dunedin is not going to be there to rescue your dog if it is impounded. She also had advice for dog owners not wanting their dog to be sent to the pound.

Maia Flint in recovery mode after winning the Motatapu Miners Trail race on Saturday. PHOTOS: MOTATAPUMore than 2700 competitors relished fine conditions as they ran or biked in the back country between Arrowtown and Wānaka during the Motatapu off-road race on Saturday. In the 47km mountain bike from Glendhu Bay to Arrowtown, Priscilla Thompson won the women’s race in 2hr 18min 48sec. Mel Aitken smashed the women’s Trail Marathon field, finishing in 3hr 31min 53sec, while Talia Flannery was second in 3hr 49min 4sec. Meanwhile, 250 competitors aged from 7 to 15 took part in the 4km Junior Trail Run, which followed a loop along the Arrow River Bridges Trail.

Photo: Gerard O'BrienThere was a lot of horsing around for those finding themselves part of a revelling crowd of cavalcaders in Middlemarch over the weekend. And there was plenty of frivolity to look forward to, with the roads to and from Middlemarch busy with cars and horse floats headed to the Strath Taieri to celebrate the grand finale of the 33rd Otago Goldfields Cavalcade. Trekkers from 11 different trails — three walking, one mountainbiking, two wagon trails and five horse-riding trails — came from all directions to converge on Middlemarch. "All the trail bosses ... what a great bunch, friendly bunch and accommodating bunch of landowners," Mrs Walker said. Funds raised over the weekend would go towards a new roof for the Middlemarch swimming pool.

PHOTOS: SHAWN MCAVINUETownies studying in Dunedin are some of the latest recipients of the 2026 Meat Industry Association scholarship programme. "I’m a city boy and I had no exposure to any of the red meat industry prior to starting at Finegand." The career dream was to work in a corporate office in the red meat sector. She believed the future of the red meat industry was bright and was excited about opportunities in the sector . As part of the scholarship, recipients will attend the 2026 Red Meat Sector Conference in September.