A "well alight" house blaze in Dunedin has been contained by fire crews, as two people have been taken to hospital in moderate conditions. Four fire trucks and an aerial appliance responded to the scene of the fire in Concord about 10.50am today. A Fire and Emergency NZ spokeswoman said the house was "well alight" when crews arrived. "Two patients were assessed at the scene and both are being transported to Dunedin Hospital in a moderate condition," he said. Smoke rises from a Concord house fire as emergency workers try to get people to clear the area.

Smoke billows from a "well ablaze" in Concord this morning. Photo: Craig BaxterEmergency services are responding to a "well ablaze" house fire in Dunedin. Two fire trucks are on the scene of the fire in Concord, and three others are responding, a Fire and Emergency NZ spokeswoman said. The house fire was reported about 10.50am today, and was "well ablaze", she said. Smoke rises from a Concord house fire as emergency workers try to get people to clear the area.

A mother now on her 13th conviction for driving while banned, including while she had children in the car, has been sent to prison after a judge’s patience ran out. Trainor was sentenced on two charges of driving while suspended for a third or subsequent time; in the second instance, she had two young children in the car. “This is your 12th and 13th conviction for driving while suspended which is extremely concerning, including that on the second occasion you were driving badly with two young children in the car,” Judge Rielly said in the Nelson District Court. Judge Rielly said sentencing was to have gone ahead last December but was adjourned to allow her a better chance. “But you found yourself in custody because of further alleged burglary,” Judge Rielly said.

Ship Karu aground near Cape Maria van Diemen, Northland, abandoned by its crew, of whom two drowned. So suddenly did she sink that there was only time to launch one boat and this was smashed in the breakers. Finding that she was leaking badly her commander, Captain W. Richmond, decided to run to the shelter of Cape Maria Van Dieman and, if possible, to beach his vessel in calm water. Auckland: The latest report tonight states that the Karu, which loaded about 200,000 feet of timber, has drifted ashore at Scott's Point, West Coast, near Cape Maria. Five of the survivors who did not reach Te Paki with the other crew this afternoon were found at Spirit's Bay about six this evening in an exhausted condition.

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Fewer and fewer New Zealanders are feeling positive about the internet, despite many spending hours online per day. A study by Internet NZ has found that only 72% of Kiwis think the positives of the internet outweigh the negatives, despite nearly half spending four or more hours online a day. Attitude towards AIThe research also found kiwis were feeling increasingly confident in using artificial intelligence, but concerned about its potential to produce harmful content. It found 60% of Kiwis used AI weekly, but 68% were "very or extremely concerned" about it being used to produce harmful content. AI could amplify some of the worst parts of the internet, Maidaborn said.

One person died following a crash near Taihape yesterday morning. Two dead in separate central North Island crashes on SH1 and SH4 near Taihape and WaimarinoOne person died following a crash near Taihape yesterday morning. Two people have died in separate crashes on North Island highways yesterday. Yesterday morning, the driver of a car died following a crash near Taihape, where their car had gone off the road and into the Hautapu River. “On arrival, the car was located submerged in the river, with significant damage from the crash,” a police spokesperson said.

By Susan Edmunds of RNZInvestors can brace for volatility over the coming days as markets digest the impact and implications of attacks on Iran, as well as potentially higher fuel prices. "We're expecting when markets open on Monday there is going to be a bit of volatility," Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen said. Not surprisingly, investors should expect heightened volatility as global markets work through the noise and asses the direction of travel. Mike Taylor, founder of Pie Funds, said oil prices were his main concern. We're just a little cautious on the inflationary risk that there might be if oil prices did spike and hold higher.

Public transport operations group manager Rachel Cara said commuters are likely to be affected, regardless of how they travel. “So if it’s anything like past years, we should definitely see an increase this week and into March,” Glynn said. It was difficult to predict if traffic would be worse than in previous years, as typical indicators were inconsistent, Glynn said. “So it’s kind of hard to say, to be really frank.”Auckland commuters are warned to prepare for heavy traffic. Herald photo by Sylvie WhinrayAuckland Transport Operations Centre (AOTC) manager Claire Howard said her team would be “implementing reactive responses” during the busy period to optimise traffic flow.

Photo: RNZ / Samuel RillstoneLabour remains ahead on most of the key issues in the latest Ipsos Issues Monitor, but National has improved its ratings on the economy and the cost of living. The rating of the government's overall performance has also rebounded from its record low in the previous survey. While Labour overtook National on the economy in the previous survey, the parties are now neck and neck. The cost of living and inflation remains New Zealanders' number one concern, with 59% of people identifying it as a key issue, down from 61% in the previous survey. Healthcare is still the second most important issue, but decreasing again on previous surveys, with Labour on 37%.

The Black Caps will take on South Africa on Thursday at Eden Gardens in the semifinal clash. The 2024 runners-up, South Africa, chased down a target of 154 with 13 balls to spare to remain the only unbeaten side in this year's 20-team tournament. "Nice to get the win," South Africa captain Aiden Markram said. South Africa began with George Linde's left-arm spin following Raza's decision to bat after winning the toss. Tristan Stubbs (21) and Linde (30) combined in an unbroken stand of 53 to guide South Africa to victory.

Maniototo 9-year-old Oscar Jeffries was motivated when he stood on the start line of the WeetBix Kiwi Kids TRYathlon — motivated to beat his twin brother, that is. And finish ahead of Jimmy, he did — as well as all of the other children in their age group — coming first while Jimmy came in second. Oscar attributed his win to several weeks of training before yesterday’s event, held at Taieri College in Mosgiel. That’s really what gives it its impetus, along with the community spirit and the community vibe that comes with it: generally there’s a 50-50 split between boys and girls." This year, Anna Grimaldi (para-athletics) and Xavier Tito Harris (rugby) attended and handed out medals at the finish line to all those who participated.

West Harbour resident Jarrod Hodson, who is also the local community board chairman, paints out anti-Trump and anti-Semitic graffiti alongside State Highway88 in Ravensbourne yesterday afternoon. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONA West Harbour resident who was quick to remove "hurtful" graffiti says such messages have no place in his community and he has a big bucket of paint to back that up. Mr Hodson said he believed it appeared early yesterday morning, following US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Iranian retaliation. Mr Hodson, who is also chairman of the West Harbour Community Board, said he was contacted by residents upset by the graffiti, which appeared facing State Highway88, near Wanaka St."It’s absolutely disgusting and I was quite upset myself. He had not seen such messages around the West Harbour area before, but they were common on social media.

"’Mary said she had tried to follow the protests against the Iranian regime over the past few weeks. "Right now, there are a lot of very different opinions, both inside Iran and outside Iran between the Iranian diaspora. Mary said she had been impressed with Israel and the United States’ "targeted air-strikes". The Iranian regime had operated an "incredibly sophisticated propaganda machine for decades", and he feared the possibility of a civil war. About 20 of Dunedin’s Iranian community and supporters gather in the Octagon yesterday, following news of United States and Israeli strikes on Iran.

To be awarded the NZ Scholarship, students are expected to show a deep understanding of the subject and high-level critical thinking in complex situations. Photo / Jack RiddellTwo of them – Conor McCormack and Nikash Lanka – were from Hamilton Boys’ High School, while Rupert Heslop was at Havelock North High School. They were the only non-Auckland schools to have Premier Scholarship students in 2025. But most of the schools with scholarship students are in the “fewest barriers” EQI band, or private schools. “There’s no reason why that [Auckland scholarship dominance] should be the case.”Derek Cheng is a senior journalist who started at the Herald in 2004.