He added: “The doctors do not believe it has spread and I’m taking tests to confirm their diagnosis. He has previously been open about how he became hooked on cigarettes as a child and smoked for decades. In a previous interview with the London Evening Standard newspaper, he said: “Well, I smoked for 30 years. “Then I just started in Las Vegas and the band and I went down to a little club and somebody offered me a cigarette. Not on a pack a day, ‘cause when I was really smoking I was on three packs a day – non filters.

A knife-wielding Dunedin man allegedly lashed out at police with his teeth leaving one officer in hospital with bite wounds. CCTV footage revealed the man had driven to the business in an allegedly stolen vehicle, Snr Sgt Bond said. The man was handcuffed and restrained, but while being searched began "kicking and pulling against police", Snr Sgt Bond said. The man allegedly tried to bite a fourth officer while being transferred to the police vehicle. There had been previous interactions and court proceedings between the 30-year-old man and the Bridgman St business, Snr Sgt Bond said.

New Zealand Defence Force soldier Corporal Aidan Tamati is spending his first Christmas away from home as he is stationed in South Korea. New Zealand Defence Force corporal Aidan Tamati, originally of Dunedin, is stationed in South Korea, and will be spending his first Christmas on base. Being in South Korea had been an amazing experience, but he was missing home, Cpl Tamati said. Cpl Tamati said he arrived in South Korea in July during one of the hottest summers recorded in the country. Cpl Tamati said their main role was to observe the armistice being applied correctly within the demilitarised zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea.

Tom Latham celebrates his 15th test century, against the West Indies at Bay Oval. I think he’s probably considered to be a very, very, high-quality opening batsman.”Latham’s importance was on show during New Zealand’s 2-0 test series win over the West Indies this past month. “Your currency as a batter is runs,” Latham began. Photo / PhotosportPleasingly for the Black Caps, 2025 has seen Latham end a lean run with the bat in test cricket. And with the added responsibility of captaincy, Williamson predicts that the Black Caps are still to see the best of their captain.

Peppa, 15, Carter, 4, and Sandy Bayliss enjoy a walk and a skip through the Chain Hills Tunnel trail yesterday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHThe opening of the Chain Hills Tunnel trail has been a long time coming and is just the beginning of something special, its proponent says. A 1.5km section of the Dunedin Tunnels Trail project that goes through the historic Chain Hills Tunnel has had a soft opening over the past week. Dunedin Tunnels Trail Trust chairman Brent Irving said he was very pleased with the initial response. Mr Irving said that once the trail was fully complete, he envisaged it would be one of the most widely used trails built.

Much of Central Otago will be fireworks-free this holiday season as it enters into a temporary ban from Christmas Eve. The Queenstown Lakes District will be moving into a restricted fire season at the same time. No private fireworks would be allowed to be lit in the Central Otago, Queenstown Lakes and Upper Waitaki areas. In a restricted fire season most types of outdoor fires, including bonfires and campfires, require a fire permit. Central Otago and Upper Waitaki are also currently in a restricted fire season.

“We placed all the affected cheese in black plastic bags and took them to the dump. “Before we did this, we consulted with MPI, who supported our actions.”The cheese was taken from the landfill and resold on the roadside. “Selling dumped cheese is illegal and a food safety risk to public health. New Zealand Food Safety is investigating,” said Arbuckle. Over the Moon registered farmers’ marketsHamilton Farmers’ Market at ClaudelandsWedge Mobile Fromagerie – Hokowhitu Farmers’ Market (first and third Sunday of he month)Wedge Mobile Fromagerie – Feilding Farmers’ Market (every Friday)Over the Moon registered Waikato retail stockists

Every word and action they said and made should be reviewed under our hate speech laws, and prosecutions made if deemed appropriate. ‘Children mourned’Under a two-word heading, “Children mourned”, in the Herald’s World section (Dec 22) are 115 words on children killed in Gaza due to recent shelling by Israel. Unicef reports two children are killed in Gaza every day due to the fragile ceasefire signed in October. The vast majority of goods, from inputs such as petrol and diesel to cars and farm tractors to T-shirts and ballpoint pens, are imports whose prices are inflated by a weak NZ dollar. I’m not aware that existing law prevents us from demonstrating humanity in treating others as we would ourselves be treated.

So to run a story on this subject, two months later, we simply need to do more.”She continued: “And this is 60 Minutes. “Government silence is a statement, not a VETO,” Alfonsi wrote. “Their refusal to be interviewed is a tactical manoeuvre designed to kill the story.”“The 60 Minutes report on Inside CECOT will air in a future broadcast,” a CBS News spokeswoman said in a statement. The segment, titled Inside CECOT, was set to cover the Trump administration’s deportations of Venezuelan migrants to Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), one of El Salvador’s most notorious prisons. We go from an investigative powerhouse to a stenographer for the state,” Alfonsi wrote.

PHOTO: MELANOMA NZA spot check of South Islanders has turned up some alarming statistics around skin cancer-related symptoms. Melanoma New Zealand has been travelling the country in its spot check vehicle since 2021. The organisation carried out spot checks at 44 rural locations around the country, about half of them in the South Island. Skin cancer was by far the most common cancer in New Zealand, with eight out of every ten cancers being diagnosed as skin cancer. In June this year Melanoma New Zealand launched its second mobile spot check van, which was made possible thanks to funding from partner FMG and the Lion Foundation.

The Merino Downs subdivision near Twizel, in the early stages of its development. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDA wealthy United States entrepreneur has cut links with a residential subdivision in Twizel after going to court. On the Merino Downs website, Mr Crow explained why he liked the Twizel area. Mr White said there had been little activity the past two years because of rising building costs and higher interest rates than overseas. The show home owned by Mr Crow was unsold when placed on the market last year.

A concept image of the new Cromwell community facility. IMAGE: FILESCentral Otago residents are being urged to help come up with a name for the district’s new community facility on the shores of the Kawarau River in Cromwell. The Cromwell Community Board had recommended the $45 million venue have dual names — one English and a gifted te reo Māori one, Central Otago district councillor Sarah Browne said. Deputy mayor Tracy Paterson said it was important to remember the decision was for the whole district. Cr Browne urged anyone around Central Otago with an idea to contact their councillor or community board member and let them know about it.

Judy Muir works the tote at the Hawea Picnic Races in 2012. PHOTO: ODT FILESAfter 57 years as a volunteer at the Hawea Picnic Races, 80-year-old Judy Muir jokes her parents might not have approved of this achievement. It is said tongue in cheek, but it was through marriage that Mrs Muir found herself every year after Christmas stuck inside the hot aluminum totalisator building. Mrs Muir’s late husband Fred first attended as a child and his father had been there from the very start. The picnic races feature pony gymkhana events (jumping, pole bending), family fun sports races (sack races, lolly scramble, tug-of-war), and equalisator horse racing (harness racing, a locals’ hack race, human runner v horse).

Two offenders narrowly avoided prison after taking rehabilitative steps, amid warnings from a southern judge that family violence is at almost epidemic levels nationally. Judge Harvey said unfortunately, because family violence was at "almost epidemic proportions", the courts were sending serious offenders to prison. Te Aonui was looking after two of his victim’s children in Wellington when she came to visit. The judge also accepted Te Aonui had no previous convictions for violence "of this nature" and it was out of character. The positive report helped him narrowly avoid prison and for assault with intent to injure and threatening to kill, Te Aonui was sentenced to 12 months’ supervision.

Photo: supplied/ Prime Minister's OfficeNew Zealand and India have struck a free trade agreement, both governments say, making it easier for Kiwi exporters to reach the world's biggest population. NZ First to vote against dealThe deal makes good on a 2022 election promise from governing National Party that, if elected, it would finalise a New Zealand-India free trade agreement in its first term. The trade deal creates a new employment visa for Indian citizens, and according to the party will likely generate greater interest in Indian migration to New Zealand during a tight labour market. Dairy access to Indian markets was always going to be the holy grail for a free trade agreement with India - highly valuable but difficult to obtain, RNZ reports. McClay said dairy access would be future-proofed with a clause automatically triggering consultation for renegotiation of dairy access if India negotiated better terms with other comparable countries.