PHOTO: SUPPLIEDFarmers are renewing calls for the government to enforce the same animal welfare standards that local pig farmers face on imported pork. A group of farmers, pork producers and advocates wrote to the Prime Minister and government ministers this week, calling for a "level playing field" among locally-produced and imported product. He signed the letter addressed to the government, and said farmers, consumers and the pigs deserved high welfare standards. But he acknowledged it was a significant concern for cash-strapped consumers, though many of them were passionate about animal welfare. Food and Agriculture Organization's latest statistics show New Zealand imported more than 47,000 tonnes of pork in 2023.

PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHInland Revenue Te Tari Taake site leader Emma Butler stands outside the government department’s new offices in the Mataukareao building in Great King St yesterday. Inland Revenue took up residence on the second floor of the building when office space became available. An Inland Revenue spokesperson said when the lease for its Dunedin site came up for renewal it took the opportunity to see what other office space was available and suited its needs. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHThe new site on Great King St gave the organisation an opportunity to improve on-site security, sustainability and access. Inland Revenue would not allow the Otago Daily Times on to the second floor to take a photograph of the office.

Northern Comets coach Michelle Parsons has been named head coach of the Fiji Pearls. The New Zealander will leave the National Netball League franchise, a feeder team for the Northern Stars in the ANZ Premiership, where she has been instrumental in helping develop players since 2017. She guided the Comets to their first NNL title in 2024. — Allied Media

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However, the top spot for drink-drivers last year went to a 52-year-old Alexandra man who recorded a breath alcohol level of 1800mcg at 9am on February 4, last year. At the time, Senior Constable Graham Perkins, of Alexandra, said the man was at Burton Creek, in Fruitgrowers Rd near Clyde, when he suddenly turned in front of another motorist while parking. It was his seventh charge of driving with excess breath alcohol, Snr Const Perkins said at the time. Despite his claims of having had just a few glasses, he then recorded a breath alcohol level of 1660mcg — the second-highest level in the region last year. He underwent breath testing procedures and recorded a breath alcohol level of 1492mcg — the fourth highest in Otago for 2025.

Characters Janet and Brad are played by Hayley Flaherty and James Bisp. Why are Brad Majors (James Bisp) and Janet Weiss (Hayley Flaherty) so cheesy? I’m awfully afraid I might snap an ankle,” O’Brien told the crowd. I wouldn’t recommend watching the production before watching the movie, as I did. The Rocky Horror Show is on at The Civic in Auckland until March 8, at Isaac Theatre in Christchurch March 11-15, and at St James Theatre March 18-29.

One on February 4, 2024, when the male neighbour was reported as being hostile and shouting threats while standing at the tenant’s front gate. A second incident occurred on March 2, 2024, when the male neighbour was reported as standing outside the tenant’s front gate making threats while holding a machete. The son said the male neighbour was working in the garden with a shovel and a machete and started to abuse him and his son and threatened to kill them. Kāinga Ora did not dispute that the tenant had reported ongoing issues with this tenancy and was well aware of the tenant’s complaints of shouting, abuse and loud music. Kāinga Ora was ordered to pay the tenant $5000 in compensation for breach of landlord’s obligations and was looking to transfer the tenant to a tenancy that is more suited to her current health needs.

Black Caps all-rounder Glenn Phillips covers his head in frustration during their loss to England. England, who had already qualified for next week's semi-finals, topped Group Two by winning all three of their games. They added 48 runs for the third wicket before Brook, fresh from his brilliant hundred against Pakistan, fell for 26 trying to hit Phillips over long off. Tom Banton and Sam Curran kept England in the game with a solid partnership before the latter holed out. Rehan (19) and Jacks hit Phillips for a six each to pick up 22 runs from the 18th over and they closed out the victory with ease.

Photo: RNZTwo Napier men have been charged in connection with the homicide of a Rotorua woman whose body was found at a worksite. A 47-year-old man was arrested today and charged with murder and injuring with intent, and was expected to appear in the Napier District Court tomorrow. A 45-year-old man was arrested yesterday and charged with accessory after the fact to a culpable homicide. He appeared in court today and was remanded to reappear in Napier on March 4. Detective Inspector Martin James said he hoped the arrest would reassure Smith's family and the community.

Health Minister Simeon Brown. Photo: RNZThe health minister says a doctor using an artificial intelligence scribe tool is able to see, on average, one additional patient per shift. Simeon Brown has announced every emergency department in the country now has access to the tool, which records consultations and generates draft clinical notes, referral letters and follow-up summaries. "This places New Zealand among the fastest health systems in the world to move from pilot to nationwide frontline AI use in emergency departments, helping clinicians spend more time with patients and less time on paperwork," Brown said. "AI will never replace clinical skill or judgement, but it will play an increasingly important role in supporting frontline healthcare staff and helping patients access care faster and more efficiently, now and into the future.

Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. A person has been seriously injured in an incident in Glen Eden this morning. Police were called to Great North Rd in the Auckland suburb about 10am after a report of an incident involving people known to each other. On arrival, police located one person with serious injuries, a spokesperson said. Another person has been taken into custody.

Blues legend Carlos Spencer with son Payton. You just want your son to be healthy and able to play and do what he loves doing. But in saying that, I’m proud of him to be able to achieve what he’s done so far.”Payton Spencer is an all-round talented sportsman. Carlos Spencer was capped 44 times for the All Blacks and represented the Blues 99 times, winning three Super Rugby titles and scoring 620 points. However, Gen Z (18-24) were most likely to say it’s very unimportant for young people to seek a healthy lifestyle.

Halo Project's Source to Sea project manager Alice Macklow holds a sycamore tree on Blueskin Rd above Port Chalmers. Photo: Peter McIntoshWork continues to get rid of sycamore trees around the Mt Cargill area, but that is only the tip of the iceberg, say those doing the work. Halo Project's Source to Sea project manager Alice Macklow said sycamore trees were steadily expanding into native forest remnants. As a tall deciduous tree, sycamore trees drop heavy autumn leaf litter that smothers small seedings. In the Upper Leith Valley and parts of the West Harbour, infestations threatened native forest.

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Bishop’s next big challenge – the Government isn’t calling it a “U-turn” – is what to do about the Government’s Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme. The 17 roads, promised on the 2023 campaign, were estimated by National to cost just $17.3 billion, with construction to begin this decade. The report also shone light on how Labour, which has pledged to restore the old regime, hasn’t any plan to pay for it. Photo / Evie ThorneMost of Labour’s MPs know restoring the old regime will be expensive, very few have an idea of how expensive it would be. Any big changes will hurt the party’s relationship with its base, but restoring the old regime as it was doesn’t seem politically possible.