Emergency services are attending a serious incident in Hillsborough, Auckland, after a vehicle hit a parked car and flipped over. Emergency services are attending a serious incident in Hillsborough, Auckland, after a vehicle hit a parked car and flipped over. Photo / NZHA vehicle has hit a parked car and flipped over in a serious incident in an Auckland suburb. Police said they are in attendance at the serious crash in Hillsborough this evening. “Police were called around 6.30pm with a report that a vehicle has hit a parked car and flipped, near the intersection of Frederick St and Belfast St,” police said.

PHOTO: ALLIED MEDIAA new report that shows people with disabilities spend longer in emergency housing has not surprised a Dunedin sector advocate. A study by researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington, published in the International Journal on Homelessness, found between 2016 and 2022, people with disabilities stayed in emergency housing 6% more often and for 5% longer than those without disabilities. The study drew on Stats NZ’s Integrated Data Infrastructure to analyse 65,000 people in emergency housing, including 6800 with disabilities. It found the average income for disabled people in emergency housing was $22,519, compared to $28,193 for the overall emergency housing population. "Even if disabled people are able to find an accessible private sector rental, it is often unaffordable."

PHOTOS: OLIVIA CALDWELLIf I could sum up my night at La Rumbla restaurant in Arrowtown, it would be two words — world class. Owner Penelope Johnson runs the floor and hasn’t shied away from hard work for the decade La Rumbla has been in Arrowtown. The La Rumbla one was slightly fancier than the norm, but the same element of layered potato and cheese — super wholesome and filling. Next is my favourite Spanish dish of all, and I know it isn’t for everyone, but octopus is just so divine. This girl cannot go past lamb and I really loved this lamb dish.

The North Otago Photographic Society meets every month to discuss styles, techniques and elements of photography. These photos were voted the top three at the society’s February meeting at which the ‘‘Pic of the night’’ theme was weather. Co-ordinator Margaret Larder said the society also held four externally judged competitions throughout the year. Placings: Sonja Teague, 1; David Sutton, 2; Alan Wilson, 3.

Inaugural Hansby engineering intern, Wakatipu High school leaver Jed McLean, at his award ceremony with mayor John Glover and Gracie HansbyQueenstown Lakes District Council’s employed two interns in a new programme honouring former property & infrastructure GM Peter Hansby, who died just over three years ago. The programme is the idea of his daughter Gracie Hansby, a local solicitor, who received support from former mayor Jim Boult and newly-retired council CEO Mike Theelen. ‘‘I said to Mike this would actually be such a great way to continue dad’s legacy because he was so passionate about kids that were talented. And Mount Aspiring College student Dani Maguire was the first winner of the QLDC Hansby planning & development internship. Both students completed their two-week internships recently.

Horse riders are among those encouraged to get a sneak peek of the new Project Tohu trail network next monthLocals will be able to get a taste of Arrowtown’s newest trail network for the first time next month. Queenstown’s council, alongside lead contractor Te Tapu o Tane and trail funding partner Tahuna Ride and Conservation (Trac), is opening the Project Tohu restoration site gates, weather permitting, over the weekend of March 7 and 8. Trac founder Sir Rod Drury says investment in projects such as the Project Tohu trail network is helping position the Whakatipu as a ‘‘must-do riding destination’’. ‘‘Delivering a trail network on this scale will help ignite what we believe will become one of the most sought-after riding destinations in Aotearoa, if not the world. Wakatipu Riding Club president Kaye Eden says the club’s ‘‘thrilled to be back in the saddle at Coronet’’, where horse riders previously had access.

Keli Manson (left) and Natalie Carpenter are ready to welcome people to the relaunched Waitaki Creative Wellbeing. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDWaitaki Creative Wellbeing is being relaunched this month with a new venue, a new staff member and an abundance of art-related activities. Oamaru artist Natalie Carpenter has been in charge of the art aspect of the programme since its inception five years ago. Recently from Christchurch, Ms Manson had been involved in peer support groups there and has completed intentional peer support training. The Waitaki programme is co-ordinated by Dunedinbased creative space Artsenta, which also runs programmes in Wanaka, Cromwell and Balclutha.

A new accelerator programme, run by Queenstown’s Grit Works, will help entrepreneurs turn cycling-related product ideas into realityIt's another spoke in the wheel of Queenstown’s diversification plans. Grit Works has just launched the Queenstown Cycling Hardware Accelerator, an 11-week programme to help entrepreneurs turn cycling-related product ideas into manufacturing-ready businesses. During the course, which covers everything from prototyping to supply-chain thinking, participants will also leverage Queenstown’s cycling community and outdoor industry as a real-world testbed. Its executive chair, Dr Martin Schlegel, says by extending networks and specialist expertise across Australasia, ‘‘we are continuing to help founders accelerate their journey from prototype production and into global markets’’. Part of a global movement to help rider-driven innovation thrive, Professor Tom Campbell, a leading academic in Scottish mountain biking innovation, notes the fit with global product journeys.

Waitaki Art Trail founder and convener Joan Edridge in her home studio. PHOTOS: SUPPLIEDThe Waitaki Art Trail invites you to visit artists in their studios and enjoy the colourful and sometimes quirky atmosphere created within our community, convener Joan Edridge says. Waitaki Art Trail founder Joan Edridge leads a paintand-sip class. In addition, we have invited junior guest artists to send in work for display over the Open Studio Weekend. The Pottery Painting Shop is one of the venues for the Waitaki Art Trail.

Helen FortuneOamaru accountant Helen Fortune has been appointed a trustee of the Waitaki Power Trust, following the resignation of Gary Kircher due to a change in personal circumstances. Under the trust deed, the trust may appoint one trustee when a vacancy occurs between elections. Through this process, Ms Fortune was confirmed. Trust chairwoman Lichelle Guyan said the trustees were pleased to welcome Ms Fortune, who brought strong governance experience, along with her experience in the accounting industry. “Helen’s experience and insight will be valuable as we continue to represent the interests of consumers across the Waitaki region.

At its core, the proposal would replace regional councillors with a board of local mayors, known as a Combined Territories Board (CTB). Mrs Tavendale said that while there was a need to find the most ‘‘cost-effective processes’’ they wanted the best version of local government for the district. The council’s draft proposal submits that any meaningful reform of local government must begin with a clear definition of outcomes. The third question asked whether the council agreed with replacing regional councillors with a CTB. ‘‘Trying to have a group of mayors govern their own councils, manage the regional organisation plan, and then also govern regional councils as a group is a distraction and it’s too much.

Maritime New Zealand is not taking action against Skippers Canyon Jet in relation to a jet boat incident near Queenstown a year ago that left four passengers injured. The agency’s general regulatory operations manager, John Drury, tells Mountain Scene it completed its investigation of the incident in September. ‘‘A decision was made, based on the evidence gathered, not to take compliance action against the operator or any other party.’’Two helicopters were called to the scene of the incident on the Shotover River about 5pm on February 25 last year. A St John spokesperson said at the time one passenger was flown to Dunedin Hospital with moderate injuries, and three others were treated for minor injuries.

A highly infectious virus and bacteria affecting the respiratory system have led to the deaths of dozens of tigers at an animal park in Thailand. Photo / Mladen Antonov, AFPA highly infectious virus and bacteria affecting the respiratory system have led to the deaths of dozens of tigers at an animal park in Thailand. Photo / Mladen Antonov, AFPA deadly virus and bacterial infection have killed at least 72 tigers at a private animal park in Thailand’s north in recent weeks, authorities said. The provincial livestock office in Chiang Mai said in a statement on Friday that testing detected the highly infectious canine distemper virus as well as bacteria affecting the respiratory system. The park where the deaths occurred, Tiger Kingdom, could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

Figures released to RNZ reveal the number of head injuries suffered by Oranga Tamariki staff while at work had increased by 80 percent in the past five years. Oranga Tamariki said there were 157 work-related concussions between January 2021 and December 2025, suffered by 146 staff members. The association would be seeking assurance from Oranga Tamariki on what action would be taken, he said. Public Service Association national secretary Fleur Fitzsimmons said concussions suffered by Oranga Tamariki staff were a symptom of youth residences under too much pressure. "Oranga Tamariki needs to look into all these factors and others to make sure that this aggression towards Oranga Tamariki workers stops."

Close relations Now Watch Me and Just Like Jagger lifted late to boost their family’s record with wins at Cromwell on Friday. Now Watch Me is by Always B Miki from the standout producer Mach N Elle. Mach N Elle is the dam of the Group One winner and New Zealand record-breaking mare Watch Me Now. McIntyre bred the matriarch of the family of successful pacers Mach N Elle with Steve and Claire Sloan, who raced Watch Me Now. The four-year-old is by Vincent from a daughter of Mach N Elle in Machjagger who won five races for her breeder-owners.