Meteorologist Silvia Martino said wet and windy weather was headed for Otago and Southland today, and was expected to hang around for the entire weekend. Although no weather warnings had yet been issued, she recommended residents prepare for them, to be on the safe side. Overnight Saturday, temperatures were expected to drop and snow may fall at higher levels around the southern regions, she said. The forecast was the same for Sunday, and wind and heavy rain warnings were again possible for Southland, Clutha and Dunedin. She said the weather was expected to ease later on Sunday.

Central Otago artist Bridget Paape’s shop has been closed by the Central Otago District Council due to building consent non-compliance. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONA Central Otago business owner is fuming over a lack of communication after council officers turned up this week and gave her a day to close down. Gone Potty owner Bridget Paape was told by the Central Otago District Council on Monday her shop needed to close the following day. Six months later an email arrived from the council saying she did not have appropriate building consent for a commercial building. A routine resource consent monitoring inspection revealed no building consent was obtained for the change from an unlined shed/garage to a retail space, he said.

IMAGE: SUPPLIEDThe first sod in Queenstown’s long-awaited, $2 billion Lakeview Te Taumata project — tipped to reshape the town’s urban centre — will be turned in three weeks’ time. The February 12 ceremony comes after Australian developer Ninety-Four Feet last month paid the council $8 million to secure the first parcel of what used to be the 10ha Queenstown Motor Park. In turn, it follows the 2019 signing of a development agreement between Ninety-Four Feet, triggering a council spend of about $70 million on civil works. Five percent of proceeds will also be given to the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust to deliver more affordable housing. "We’re seeing unprecedented interest from buyers who recognise the long-term value of Lakeview," local New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty (NZSIR) sales associate Myles Green said.

PHOTO: ODT FILESA Welshman on a working holiday visa has cut his stay short after crashing his car into a power pole while drink-driving. Gwion Enwyl Emberton, 19, was before the Gore District Court this week on one charge of drink-driving last November. The court heard he was on a working holiday visa, working as a contractor in Heriot and had a full UK driver’s licence. Emberton had already contacted the power company to organise payment for the damaged pole, Ms McCullum said. "He’s just made a bad decision and ... because of that he’s chosen for his working holiday to end."

Former Faigan’s Store manager Jude Omond, is transported back in time with memorabilia from the store now on display at the Millers Flat Bakehouse museum. The former Faigan’s Store has been brought back to life with a display at the Millers Flat Bakehouse and Museum which is just metres down the road from where the store used to be. Ivan Faigan in his Millers Flat store. Much of the memorabilia from the store, which had been converted into a cafe, is now on display next door at the Millers Flat bakehouse. On display was only a small selection of the collection, and there were more treasures to be uncovered and catalogued, she said.

The warning comes after the Commission analysed the range review processes of all major supermarkets. Photo: ODT filesThe Commerce Commission has warned Woolworths New Zealand for what it believes is a likely breach of the Grocery Industry Competition Act, following a review of major supermarkets' product delisting processes. The Commission analysed the range review processes of all major supermarkets to assess whether they were meeting their obligations under the Grocery Supply Code. The updated Grocery Supply Code is due to come into force on May 1. The revised code gives suppliers clearer rights to challenge delisting decisions and greater transparency in their dealings with major supermarkets.

Photo: Getty ImagesThe big interest rate question this year will probably be when interest rates start to rise materially again, but borrowers might want to fix their home loans soon, forecasters warn. BNZ chief economist Mike Jones said interest rates would likely be on hold for now. ‘‘I think we’re in a position we can probably draw a line under the downtrend in mortgage rates, but we can’t see mortgage rates jumping a whole lot any time soon either. ASB economists said the OCR and mortgage rates were now lower than they had expected in forecasts made early last year. ‘‘Longer-term NZ mortgage rates eased over 2024 to reflect the combination of the global and local outlook.

Tony Brown, Springboks assistant coach, according to a report declined an offer to join the All Blacks six months ago due to his contract commitments but remains open to future possibilities after his contract is up with South Africa. Picture: BackpagePix Image: BackpagepixSpringboks assistant coach Tony Brown turned down an approach to join the All Blacks six months ago, according to a report. Brown said that he was approached by then-All Blacks coach Scott Robertson to join his coaching staff, stuff.co.nz reports. While Brown said he would like to be involved with the All Blacks, he always planned to honour his contract with the Springboks and therefore had to turn the offer down. He also left the door open to join the All Blacks in the future.

The housing market returned mixed results in December with stronger sales numbers but slightly softer prices overall. According to the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ), 6644 residential properties were sold throughout the country in December, up 8.1% compared to December 2024. However, sales activity was more muted in Auckland where 1886 residential properties were sold in December, up 2.2% compared to December 2024. However, while sales activity firmed, prices appeared softer overall. REINZ House Price Index - December 2025

Christopher Luxon is being urged to heed Mark Carney’s warnings and advice. A turbulent week in global politics has included Canadian Prime Minister Carney’s ‘‘absolutely superb’’ speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) gathering in Davos, Switzerland, Prof Robert Patman says. ‘‘Mr Carney made it quite clear the old order is over - we've had a rupture in the fabric of international politics,’’ Prof Patman said. Speaking at Davos, Mr Carney said middle and small powers must not cave in to bullying by great powers. ‘‘In other words, he's saying the current situation is dangerous, but it's also presenting great opportunities,’’ Prof Patman said.

Photo: RNZNew Zealand First has soared to nearly 12 percent in the latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll, its highest result since the survey launched in early 2021. The coalition parties have extended their lead over the left bloc, but Labour remains the highest-polling party. Labour, National, and New Zealand First are all up on the previous poll in December, while Act and the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori have all taken dips. The TPU-Curia poll's calculation assumes there would be no overhang seats for National and Te Pāti Māori, but that Te Pāti Māori would retain at least one electorate seat. Polls compare with the most recent poll by the same polling company, as different polls can use different methodologies.

Rugby commentator Justin Marshall says he experienced several All Black head coaching changes during his 81-test career. Marshall said he knows full well the position the players are in now, as he experienced several All Black head coaching changes during his 81-test career. However, Marshall doesn't see that as a negative, rather something that will make the All Blacks and Super Rugby Pacific stronger. Marshall said the task was pretty straightforward for whoever comes in as All Black head coach. But what we want to stop with All Black rugby are those fluctuations in performance which we've seen over the last six years."

Roads around the Coromandel Peninsula became submerged by immense flooding yesterday, leaving behind slips and damage. North of Tairua, SH25 through to Whitianga and Coromandel town has recently reopened. Residents of Tairua's Mt Paku said they've lost access to water and understand the reservoirs were emptied as a result of a slip. Photo / Tom EleyTairua Surf Life Saving supervisor Gabrielle said seawater around the Coromandel is brown, unsafe and gross. Despite the damage left behind, Grant said the Coromandel is a “very resilient place” that will be able to rebound.

“But also they know they shouldn’t have been doing it.”Hills explained that the company for which the individual worked is contracted on a fixed fee to ensure the tree stays alive. “Sometimes, under the contract expectations, if rainfall is not heavy, so even in ‘light’ summer rain, trees will still be watered to ensure water reaches the root system, giving the new trees a better chance of survival. “There are sometimes even pipes to the roots to ensure this is done.”The Auckland Council contractor was filmed watering a tree during heavy rainfall. The footage showed a mistake had been made, and all crews had now been reminded of procedures during heavy rainfall. Multiple areas went into states of emergency, while floodwaters cut off towns, shut off power for thousands and closed highways.

Police were called after two armed people threatened staff at a Christchurch commercial premises early on Thursday morning. A police spokesperson said officers were called to the commercial property on Moorhouse Ave about 1.30am after reports of an aggravated robbery. The pair threatened the staff members with weapons. Inquiries into the incident were ongoing, the spokesperson said. They took a number of items, then fled the scene in a stolen vehicle.