“I didn’t see him jump up there or anything, I just saw him standing on top of the car,” Ropati said. As traffic began to move, Ropati said the driver accelerated, and the man was thrown backwards off the vehicle. “The dude just sort of got swept off his feet as the car went forward and just went wham, straight off his back, and his head just went bang on to the concrete,” he said. Ropati said the man appeared disoriented and severely injured. Ropati said he stepped back once paramedics were working on the man, who appeared to be in his late 30s or 40s.

Regent Theatre 24 Hour Book Sale convener Kath Wallace said attendance at this year’s event was excellent, although organisers could not pinpoint why. Proceeds support the operation of the 98-year-old Regent Theatre, which is run by a charitable trust. The money raised would go towards a new ramp for easier access behind the Regent Theatre stage. The book sale does not include CDs, vinyl records, DVDs, or music memorabilia — a separate music sale will be held mid-year on the Regent Theatre stage. Preparations for the music sale would begin soon, and then it would be time to start work for next year’s book sale, Mrs Wallace said.

Macandrew Aviator in action three years ago. PHOTO: HRNZHayden Douglas delivered the best kind of wedding present when Macandrew Aviator broke back into the winner’s circle at Cromwell yesterday. Though his rivals loomed up to challenge him late in the run home, Macandrew Aviator dug in to score a timely win under Douglas’ urgings. “He has been going great, racing lovely, lovely horses,” Douglas said. The 4yr-old ran to victory for the Douglas and Douglas combination at Cromwell on Friday before finishing third yesterday.

Conditions were challenging with strong winds at the St Clair Golf Club for the final round of the annual Dunedin strokeplay yesterday. So strong, in fact, the final round was eventually abandoned, and the title decided on Saturday’s opening two rounds. Cromwell golfer Troy Scott claimed victory with rounds of 73 and 71. Brian Helton (Otago), who led after round one with a 69, was a stroke off the pace in second, and St Clair youngster Albie Reed a further stroke behind in third. Both Scott and Reed will play in the final New Zealand Open qualifier at the Cromwell club today.

Fin Melville Ives. PHOTO: TRACEY ROXBURGHFin Melville Ives might be a bit sore but he has not lost his sense of humour. Melville Ives, 19, also thanked the medical staff that had helped him so far, and his coach Murray Buchan. Harrington said he had Melville Ives in his thoughts after seeing his team-mate crash in qualifying. New Zealand athlete Mischa Thomas was competing in the delayed women’s freeski halfpipe final last night.

Union defeated Waitaki Boys’ by eight wickets, Oamaru beat St Kevin’s by six wickets, and Valley edged Albion in a high-scoring match in the 11th round of Borton Cup cricket. At Waitaki Boys’, only Archie Haywood (36) and Luke Harrway (22) made scores of note, as the Union bowling attack dismissed Waitaki Boys’ for 112 in the 36th over. Opening the batting, the Wilson brothers Logan (63) and Alex (26) 91-run partnership put the game out of reach for Waitaki Boys’, Union winning by eight wickets, finishing with 115 for two in the 17th over. St Kevin’s reduced Oamaru to 24 for four in the ninth over, giving themselves an outside chance. However, Gamlathge (26 not out) and Luke Taylor (14 not out) guided Oamaru home, reaching 60 for four in 16 overs.

Southward Car Museum manager John Bellamore pictured with a Ferrari Monza 750, which was named ‘‘Best in Show’’ at the weekend’s Ayrburn Classic, held near Arrowtown. The first, a $15 million Ferrari Monza 750, loaned by Kapiti’s Southward Car Museum, was named "Best in Show" at the second annual Ayrburn Classic. The second was a replica 1930 Auto Union, powered by a 27-litre Merlin engine — used for Spitfires. Southward Car Museum manager John Bellamore said the vehicle ended up in Southland and was found by his father, Stan Bellamore, in 1967. It went to the Southward Car Museum in Wellington a few weeks later, but the restoration did not start until about 2005.

PHOTO: ODT FILESNew Zealand Olympian Leila Walker started her 2026 season on a winning note by defending her elite women’s title at the Oceania championships in Brisbane yesterday. Walker, 20, had the fastest lap time of the event to be awarded the title on overall points, following winning the title in New Plymouth last year. Walker was pleased to get some quality racing in the legs in her first competition since last year. There were about 200 New Zealand entries in the challenge and cruiser class racing over the weekend in Brisbane. The competition was one of three events for world championship selection for junior elite males and females.

— Otago Witness, 2.3.1926Betty, the new Canterbury 14-footer, registered an easy victory in the third race for the Sanders Cup, sailed yesterday morning over a windward and leeward course on the Upper Harbour. In last Saturday’s race she demonstrated her superiority in heavy weather, and in yesterday’s race she clearly proved herself superior in very light weather. In the last beat to windward for the mark at Anderson’s Bay Betty overhauled Avalon. The Auckland boat looked a sure winner to the completion of the second round of the course, when Betty proved her superiority to Avalon in pointing to windward. The Rev R.A. Chisholm dedicated the window, and, on behalf of the congregation, thanked the family of the late James Arkle for their generous gift.

Daikin New Zealand’s new Christchurch heat pump and air conditioning facility in Hornby. PHOTOS: DAIKIN NZJapan-based heat pump and air conditioning manufacturer Daikin has moved into its new multimillion-dollar Christchurch site. The Hornby facility, which opened last week, is the largest heating, ventilation and air conditioning warehouse in the South Island. Daikin New Zealand managing director Ryuta Hayashibara said this was becoming a commercial consideration for building owners and operators. The Hornby facility is fully electric with a 100kW rooftop solar system, electric vehicle and material-handling charging infrastructure.

The On the Fly Festival mixed a celebration of fly fishing, the Mataura River and education, as the Environment Southland team allowed people to have a fish while learning about the native fish and microbiome. The On the Fly Festival in Gore reeled in a thousand people yesterday afternoon to celebrate the Mataura River, from its microbiome all way to the catch. Environment Southland demonstrated the biodiversity of the Mataura River with displays filled with the small bugs which provide a vital role in feeding the fish of the river. An art installation with prints of the Gore Trout, chill-out spaces, historical displays — it was a curated celebration of all the Mataura River gives to the region. A windy day did not stop Gore District Council events co-ordinator Florine Potts having a go at fly-fishing the Mataura River under the careful eye of fishing guide Mike Dennis.

Current trail plans on Mt Iron include walking, biking and horse-riding tracks. PHOTO: EVIE SINCLAIRAn update on plans for trails on Mt Iron has left community board members divided. Queenstown Lakes District Council senior parks adviser Kat Banyard, who presented the Mt Iron trail plan, said the workshop was to update the board and to seek direction on the plan. Ms Dedo also said she had heard that the current plans for Mt Iron overwhelmed people in the community. Cr Niki Gladding said the Mt Iron tracks could provide for a range of people.

Otematata Station cook, farmer and cookbook author Philippa Cameron will be the guest speaker at a waste management workshop in Millers Flat this week. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDThe Teviot Valley Water Care Group will hold a workshop on Wednesday to discuss rural waste and what can be reduced, recycled and reused from it. Managing waste was an issue for everyone and the group thought bringing author, cook and farmer Philippa Cameron to speak would engage all the community, not just farmers. Packaging had changed dramatically on recent decades and even seed bags were now plastic-coated, Mrs Perkins said. The workshop would hopefully come up with ideas to reduce and reuse some of the waste produced.

Queenstown wastewater treatment plant, Project Shotover. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYA decision on a new disposal option for wastewater from Queenstown’s Shotover treatment plant could be delayed to allow formal consultation. She also questioned whether the council was complying with its community engagement policy by making the decision without formal consultation. If the Otago Regional Council and iwi were agreeable, the council could ask the court for an extension, she said. Three other disposal options in the vicinity of the plant are estimated to cost between $80m and $206m.

Photo: Getty ImagesA teacher who was experiencing a manic episode of bipolar disorder accessed pornography at school, swore at students and made inappropriate comments to other staff members. The Teaching Council then opted to charge him for serious misconduct, despite acknowledging that the incidents occurred because he was seriously mentally unwell. The school filed a report to the Teaching Council and subsequently dismissed the man, who has since returned overseas. The tribunal found that the teacher was guilty of serious misconduct, but noted that the incidents occurred in the context of his deteriorating mental health. "A disclosure of a mental health condition such as bipolar disorder does not automatically prevent someone from being registered or certificated," the spokesperson said.