Tree falls on uni bridge, wastewater overflows in South Dunedin
Despite some localised reports of of surcharging in high-risk areas of South Dunedin, including Surrey Street, the steps taken to free up network capacity appeared to be working. The move comes as the city's heavy rain watch is upgraded to an orange heavy rain warning. The council has deployed the barriers in parts of South Dunedin where there are wastewater overflows. Photo: DCCSandbag stations remained open at the Dunedin Ice Stadium carpark in Victoria Rd, South Dunedin, and at Mosgiel Memorial carpark. Because South Dunedin was quite low-lying and flooded relatively easily, she said it was wise for residents to be prepared.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 17, 2026 01:30 UTC
State of Emergency declared in Banks Peninsula
Photo: RNZA local State of Emergency has been declared in Banks Peninsula as heavy rain causes flooding, slips, fallen trees and communication outages in the area. Earlier, a driver had to be rescued after their car got stuck in floodwaters in Banks Peninsula as heavy rain lashes parts of Canterbury. Walklin said fire crews responded to 16 weather-related incidents in Banks Peninsula last night, including the rescue, mostly in Little River. Boil water notice issuedChristchurch City Council has issued a boil water notice for Wainui on Banks Peninsula due to damage caused by floods. Diamond Harbour School on Banks Peninsula is closed.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 17, 2026 01:21 UTC
Former Kiwi league star shot in Sydney drive-by
Matt Utai during his spell with Wests Tigers in 2012. Photo: Getty ImagesFormer Kiwis and NRL star Matt Utai has been shot multiple times on his front lawn in an ambush attack with no clear motive. "It's a brazen ambush," Superintendent Rodney Hart told reporters. Utai starred in the 2004 NRL grand final, scoring two tries as his Bulldogs knocked off the Sydney Roosters 16-13. The New Zealand and Samoa international played 167 NRL games, joining the Wests Tigers in 2011 and spending three seasons there.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 17, 2026 00:53 UTC
First infrastructure plan for country revealed
Photo: RNZThe Infrastructure Commission has released the country's first National Infrastructure PlanInfrastructure Minister Chris Bishop requested the plan and is pushing for cross-party buy-inThe plan sets out 16 recommendations, and 10 priorities for the next decadeNew Zealand's first National Infrastructure Plan has been revealed, laying out an 'affordable' plan to tackle the country's infrastructure woes. The National Infrastructure Plan charts the course, but progress depends on how decision-makers, delivery agencies, industry, and communities use the plan to do things differently." "As part of our response to the National Infrastructure Plan I intend to engage with other political parties in Parliament. The National Infrastructure Plan is a great contribution to this shared agenda for everyone in New Zealand. Project information coordination: Require all infrastructure providers to maintain up-to-date data in the National Infrastructure Pipeline and strengthen arrangements for improving data quality over time.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 23:50 UTC
Legless drunk driver fails to outrun police
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.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 22:48 UTC
IT issues continue to plague Southern hospitals
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.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 22:48 UTC
Full cycle: majesty of Nepal
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.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 21:34 UTC
Last chance for Volts to avoid winless season
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.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 21:32 UTC
Mad Butcher store closing due to lack of suitable site
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.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 21:13 UTC
First woman to take on top church role
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.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 21:00 UTC
T20 World Cup: Aussies on the brink after another loss
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.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 20:40 UTC
Oscar winning actor Robert Duvall dies
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."
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 20:40 UTC
Public toilets vandalised
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
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 19:38 UTC
ODT quiz: February 17
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Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 19:25 UTC
Queenstown tourist numbers surge
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.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 19:20 UTC