“The tyre is what fell on top of us... my daughter is injured, she has a head wound,” she added. Colonel Pavel Tovar of the National Fire Department told reporters that “between 15 and 16 [dead] people have been counted” in the disaster. Money grab ‘a crime’Fatalities were recorded both at the airport and on the busy avenue where the plane crashed and struck several vehicles. Operations at El Alto International Airport, the second most important in Bolivia, were suspended. La Paz, at an altitude of 3650m and surrounded by Andean peaks, is the highest administrative capital in the world.

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Photo: Bang ShowbizBritish rock band Radiohead said on Friday it wanted a promotional video for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency that used their song to be taken down. Ice, whose immigration enforcement tactics have been widely condemned by human rights advocates during President Donald Trump's hardline immigration crackdown, posted a video last week that used a version of Radiohead's song "Let Down". Radiohead said the song was used without the band's permission. Many celebrities have also previously condemned Ice. Rights advocates have also raised free speech and due process concerns in Ice's detention and attempted deportations of pro-Palestinian foreign protesters who opposed US ally Israel's assault on Gaza.

Emergency services have responded to a crash in Wiri, where a van rolled after hitting a stationary truck-and-trailer unit. Van rolls after hitting truck in South Auckland, 3 people taken to hospitalEmergency services have responded to a crash in Wiri, where a van rolled after hitting a stationary truck-and-trailer unit. Emergency services have responded to a serious car accident in South Auckland, with three people being transported to hospital. The van had struck a stationary truck-and-trailer unit before rolling. The police spokesperson said three people have been taken to hospital, with one suffering serious injuries and two having moderate injuries.

Hamish Elliott won Coast to Coast for the second time earlier this month and said the mental approach is the most important thing. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDWānaka athlete Hamish Elliott claimed first place at the Coast to Coast earlier this month, describing the race as ‘the pinnacle of multisport’. ‘‘I was still playing rugby at the time and was happy to try something else so I followed her into the race. Mr Elliott said his second Coast to Coast win felt ‘‘really rewarding’’. ‘‘I had done a lot of preparation and it takes a bit of a different mental approach when you’ve already won it once.

PHOTOS: JULES CHINAs part of the Otago Community Hospice’s 40-year anniversary the Oamaru hub had its official opening last week. About 50 people including Otago Community Hospice clinical staff, board members, as well as health and service leaders were present for the relaunch of the North Otago Clinical Hub, behind the Hospice Shop on Thames Highway. While the hospice hub had reopened last May the ‘‘stars had aligned to bring everyone together’’ for the official launch, hospice chief executive Ginny Green said. In her speech Ms Green said the Oamaru building was a ‘‘testament to generosity, commitment and vision’’ as they celebrated ‘‘40 years of caring’’. Kaupapa Māori care coordinator Harlam Uiti-Collins was there to represent the Māori care team including fellow co-ordinator Fran Barber.

Krishna Kai co-ordinator Jane Beecroft (right) and volunteer Poutama Crossman-Nixon are excited to be offering nutritious, low-cost meals through the fully kitted out mobile food truck. Photo: Brenda HarwoodThe new Krishna Kai foot truck is offering a lot more than food — community connection is key. That is the message from local Hare Krishna community leader Jane Beecroft, who is leading the effort to bring nutritious, low-cost food to local people. The focus of the Krishna Kai food truck is on ensuring no-one goes hungry and on caring about the wellbeing of people. Ms Beecroft said the Krishna Kai food truck had been very positively received by its first customers last week, and was enjoying a lot of goodwill among the community.

Jaimee Whiston is a finalist in the New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year awards. PHOTO: EVIE SINCLAIRWānaka's Jaimee Whiston has made a remarkable impression in the world of hairdressing, landing a spot in the finals for New Zealand Hairdresser of the Year. Entering into the contest allows Jaimee Whiston to ‘‘showcase artistic flair in an avant-garde manner’’. Alongside her nine fellow finalists, Whiston will travel to Australia in April for the announcement of the winner. ‘‘This platform allows me to showcase artistic flair in an avant-garde manner,’’ she said.

Construction of a new water intake for the Lower Waihao Rural Water Scheme began earlier this month. PHOTOS: SUPPLIEDWork has finally begun on a new water intake for Glenavy and the rest of the Lower Waihao Rural Water Scheme. Construction of the new water intake structure is happening concurrently with the installation of a new 4.3km raw water main between Bells Pond and the existing Ferry Rd bore site. The past few years have been distressing for the Lower Waihao consumers, we are glad that a solution is on the horizon. ‘‘The commencement of the project is a credit to the council assets and 3 Waters team.’’The pipeline is expected to take three months to complete, but he did not give a timeline for the construction of the new water intake.

Emeritus Prof John Drummond laid bare this sobering reality to the Seniors Climate Action Network in Dunedin on Monday. Conducting a "climate change stocktake" Prof Drummond reviewed the decades since a US climatologist first awakened the public to a warming planet. "This was the start of the spread of awareness about climate change beyond the scientific community," Prof Drummond said. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol set legally binding targets to cut emissions. Despite the 2015 Paris Agreement, the recent 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) made no commitment to transition away from fossil fuels.

Waitaki’s Finest Coast to Coast team of Waitaki Boys’ High School staff members (from left) Sam Henehan, Twyla Kingan and Jordan Horrell competed for the first time. PHOTO: SUPPLIED‘‘Waitaki’s Finest’’ took on the challenge of competing in the Coast to Coast and earned a top 10 finish. Waitaki Boys’ High School staff members Sam Henehan, Jordan Horrell and Twyla Kingan teamed up to compete as a three-person team in the two-day event. Head of social sciences Henehan completed the kayak, assistant rector Horrell completed the run and sport co-ordinater Kingan completed the bike. ‘‘The Coast to Coast is such a great event, the whole community is so welcoming and everybody is there for their own reasons and having a go.’’Horrell agreed.

Oamaru’s own affable railway man, Mr Andrew was the recipient of the Seven Sharp ASB ‘‘Good as Gold’’ award that screened on TVNZ this week. Mr Andrew said he was speechless when he saw the crew there and realised what was happening. Oamaru Steam & Railway president Ken McCallum said the recognition was ‘‘absolutely well-deserved and probably long overdue’’. Waitaki mayor Mel Tavendale said Mr Andrew was an ‘‘absolute stalwart’’ of Oamaru’s railway heritage. ‘‘It’s really, really great, he so deserves it.’’Mr Andrew has been the OS& R general manager since 1999.

The Central Lakes Trust has approved $1.4 million in grants in its most recent round of funding. The grants are to support a ‘‘diverse range of community initiatives across the region’’ and include an innovative musical playground in Wānaka, a new sports facility in Alexandra and expanded vocational training opportunities for secondary students. Wānaka Musicians Incorporated (WMI), the organisers of Wānaka’s ‘‘Stars in Your Eyes’’ concert received $20,000 to support the construction of a musical playground in Three Parks. ‘‘The programme is a partnership between the schools, Breen Construction, and the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation,’’ the statement said. Molyneux Turf Incorporated received about $500,000 towards developing new multisport turf in Alexandra on the grounds of Dunstan High School.

Wanaka duo Jeremy Presbury (left) and Michaela Rogan took home the men’s and women’s titles at the Crop Duster gravel bike race in Alexandra last weekend. The annual gravel bike racing series began with its first event — the Crop Duster — in Alexandra last weekend. The Crop Duster had some ‘‘really, really good fields’’ Cycling Otago race convener and gravel director Grant Campbell said. ‘‘[There was] a return of a lot of strong riders from last year but also probably 30% or 40% of the field were new to gravel races which was great. He was not the only Wānaka winner as Michaela Rogan took out the women’s race as well, finishing in 1hr 51min 02sec.

Arrowtown’s Nicky Sygrove’s been appointed NZ Nature Fund CEO. The Kinross Winery chief executive’s just been appointed New Zealand Nature Fund (NZNF) CEO, having spent the past two years as a trustee. NZNF was established 25 years ago, initially to manage restricted philanthropic gifts to support Department of Conservation projects. Sygrove says Aotearoa’s at an ‘‘extraordinary moment’’ for conservation. During her tenure, Kinross earned Qualmark Gold Status in 2023, was a Tourism New Zealand NZ Wine Tourism Award winner in 2024, and won ‘employer of the year’ at last year’s Queenstown Business Awards.