“In terms of next season’s domestic T20 competition, with the assistance of Deloitte we’re currently evaluating the different options available, including franchise models and the Super Smash status quo. Photo / AFPNZC’s central contracts dictate players must be available for the Super Smash if international cricket is not being played. In 2022, Trent Boult opted out of his NZC central contract to become a T20 freelancer. Trent Boult gave up his NZC central contract in 2022. It is unclear as to whether or not next year’s central contracts would follow suit, given the 50-over World Cup in South Africa.

February 16, 2026 23:03 UTC

When police arrived at the intersection of Broadway and Rattray St at 7pm yesterday, they found the man had crashed his car into a traffic light. Photo: Google MapsA Dunedin driver who smashed into a traffic light tried to flee police on foot but was allegedly so drunk he was ‘‘hardly able to stand on his own’’. The man was later released from custody but returned to the police station to yell abuse so was locked up. When police arrived at the intersection of Broadway and Rattray St at 7pm yesterday, they found the man had crashed his car into a traffic light. Police took the man back to the Dunedin Central Police Station to undergo breath alcohol procedures but he refused to comply.

February 16, 2026 22:48 UTC

The latest issues follow at least four major IT outages at public hospitals last month. Photo: Getty ImagesDoctors and nurses at South Island hospitals have been struggling with clinical documents not being displayed or not being saved. 'Fixing longstanding issues'This follows at least four major IT outages at public hospitals last month. Health NZ has repeatedly told the public it had workarounds and plans to protect patient care during outages. Health NZ told RNZ last week it was moving from regional IT service desks to a national model so support was clearer and more consistent.

February 16, 2026 22:48 UTC

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February 16, 2026 22:13 UTC

“[It is a] bit daunting for 13-year-old girls who are trying to navigate their way on public transport for the first time in their lives. Other times, she had got bolder and tried to catch other public buses to get closer to home. “Just absolute radio silence, so that’s probably the most frustrating thing, considering that a third of our rates go towards public transport. The company said it would provide an additional bus if requested by Auckland Transport, if any buses were available. Auckland Transport confirmed it would be adding a service on the packed route temporarily this week.

February 16, 2026 21:51 UTC





The biggest part of any bike-packing trip, Ross says, is the organisation and logistics. Whether doing the 85km Old Ghost Road in New Zealand or the 386km Annapurna circuit in Nepal, being organised is key. For this trip there was the added complication of a youth uprising and political unrest in Nepal about a month before, resulting in the New Zealand government issuing a no travel warning. They packed up their bikes with their sleeping bags, clothes for both hot and extremely cold weather and water. Their hotel, hot water and rest were welcome before they dismantled their bikes for the trip back to Kathmandu.

February 16, 2026 21:34 UTC

Either way, both sides will be hoping to at least get some cricket after an annoying spell of wash-outs. The Volts (six points) are guaranteed to earn the Ford Trophy wooden spoon but, after six losses and three no-results, they should be highly motivated to avoid a winless campaign. Auckland (16) have had a moderate season with three wins, five losses and one abandonment. Auckland seamer Simon Keene will be thirsting for action after returning from injury against Northern Districts on Friday and taking a wicket with his second ball before the rain came. After the Queenstown game, Otago have 11 days to prepare for the first of their four remaining Plunket Shield games.

February 16, 2026 21:32 UTC

Dunedin’s only Mad Butcher store will close before the end of the month. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONDunedin's Mad Butcher store is to close after a fruitless year-long hunt for new premises. Mad Butcher had been looking for somewhere else to go, but nothing had been available. "We’ve been looking for close to a year to try and find something else in South Dunedin. He said the zoning was wrong in South Dunedin for a shop like the Mad Butcher, but he wanted to stay in the area.

February 16, 2026 21:13 UTC

The Rev Erin Pendreigh, of Balclutha, pictured with the Rev Andrew Harrex, of Lawrence, at her induction in Balclutha last week as the New Zealand Presbyterian Church’s assembly executive secretary. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDBalclutha minister the Rev Erin Pendreigh has made history. She is the first woman to be appointed assembly executive secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand - a role described as equivalent to a CEO. She was inducted at a special event at the Balclutha Presbyterian Church last week. She said she was looking forward to the challenging role, which involved supporting 400 churches around New Zealand.

February 16, 2026 21:00 UTC

Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis launches Adam Zampa through the leg side while chasing down Australia's 181. Photo: Getty ImagesPathum Nissanka made an unbeaten century as Sri Lanka chased down a target of 182 to beat Australia by eight wickets and reach the Twenty20 World Cup's Super Eight stage on Monday, leaving their opponents on the brink of a humiliating early exit. We watch the Zimbabwe-Ireland game with hope, but we are disappointed," Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said. With Sri Lanka needing 61 to win in the last six overs, Nissanka hit Stoinis for two fours and a six to score 20 runs off the over, easing the pressure. After many years, making it into the next round," said Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka, referring to his team's exit from the group stage in 2024.

February 16, 2026 20:40 UTC

Foote later wrote "Tender Mercies," a 1983 film for which Duvall won the Academy Award for best actor as a washed-up country singer. Another was for Best Supporting Actor for Coppola's "The Godfather," playing Tom Hagen, consigliere to the Corleone Mafia family. Duvall appeared in the second "Godfather" film but rejected the third because he considered the salary offer inadequate. Duvall also was nominated for Oscars for "The Great Santini," "The Apostle," "A Civil Action" and "The Judge" in 2014. He won an Emmy for the television mini-series "Broken Trail," appeared opposite John Wayne in "True Grit," and picked up an Emmy nomination for the mini-series "Lonesome Dove."

February 16, 2026 20:40 UTC

Photo: Dunedin City CouncilA vandal who targeted four of Dunedin’s public toilets destroyed ‘‘anything not made of steel and bolted down’’, meaning the Dunedin City Council was $5000 out of pocket for repairs.Over the past weekend, public toilets at the North Ground, outside Gardens New World, in North Rd, and at Marlow Park were damaged. The council said that while toilets were quite robust, whoever was responsible smashed ‘‘anything not made of steel and bolted down’’. Council property services group manager Anna Nilsen said identifying the culprit was going to be difficult as there was no CCTV footage in the areas. The toilets will be closed while the damage is fixed. - Allied Media

February 16, 2026 19:38 UTC

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February 16, 2026 19:25 UTC

Summer numbers had been good in Queenstown and investment confidence was climbing. Photo: ODT filesQueenstown has moved past pre-Covid tourism numbers and continues to be a key driver of the country’s tourism recovery. Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism chief executive Mat Woods said Queenstown was ahead of other areas. "While international holiday arrivals grew by an encouraging 6% nationally last year, Queenstown Lakes outpaced that trend with 11% growth." International visitor numbers were rising and they were from all corners of the globe.

February 16, 2026 19:20 UTC

“Many of these developments have few or no onsite car parks, as this approach produced a higher yielding investment than one with adequate car parking. This has led to parking and traffic congestion in the suburbs,” said Brealey. “The major investment in the City Rail Link provides an opportunity to concentrate housing intensification around station nodes and mitigate against the pitfalls of parking and traffic congestion. Councils are in charge of managing on-street parking,” Bishop said. Photo / Mark MitchellIn 2020, the previous Labour Government directed councils to abolish minimum car parking requirements in urban areas as part of a new National Policy Statement on Urban Development.

February 16, 2026 19:03 UTC