Collector couple give important art collection to city
Art collectors Mary Barr and Jim Barr (right), of Wellington, have enjoyed a long relationship with the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSONA well-curated relationship between a gallery and two art collectors has resulted one of New Zealand’s most significant private collections of contemporary art being bestowed on Dunedin. Wellington collectors Jim Barr and Mary Barr have given their 435-item collection to the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, much to the delight of its director. The collection had been on long-term loan to the gallery since 1997 — a decision which proved to be a ‘‘total win-win’’, Mr Barr said. ‘‘The main reason to have it in a public art gallery was so people could see it,’’ Mr Barr said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 08, 2026 00:01 UTC
Southland meatworks evacuated over gas risk after fire
Photo: Toni McDonaldA Southland meatworks has been evacuated due to elevated levels of a toxic gas after a fire this morning. The gas is highly toxic, flammable and has a rotten-egg odour. The plant was filled with smoke and all people were evacuated and accounted for. In total, six trucks responded as well as a tanker and a Hazmat command unit. The fire was contained by about 7am but the spokesman could not advise what the specific cause of the fire was.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 07, 2026 23:24 UTC
Trainer 'pulled over' by horse knocked unconscious
Bruce Negus. Photo: HRNZA veteran Canterbury horse trainer is facing six weeks of light duties after being seriously injured at Addington Raceway. Burnham trainer Bruce Negus was taking horses off a ramp at the Christchurch raceway on Easter Saturday when one of them "took fright and pulled me over". Though he has no recollection of the accident, it was clear from his injuries that his head, knee and hand took the impact. "I was knocked unconscious, cracked some ribs, got stitches in my head and I broke a finger."
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 07, 2026 22:22 UTC
Iran defiant on eve of Trump's ceasefire deadline
Iran and Israel traded attacks as Tehran defiantly refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and accept a ceasefire deal on the eve of a deadline set by US President Donald Trump to agree to his demands or get "taken out." On Monday, Trump said "the entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night." He vowed to destroy Iranian power plants and infrastructure if Tehran refused to agree before the deadline. Majid Khademi, the Head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' intelligence organisation, speaks during an interview in Tehran, Iran in this handout image. Trump has brushed off questions that his vow to wipe out Iranian power plants would constitute war crimes, saying he was "not at all" concerned about the prospect.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 07, 2026 21:55 UTC
Images from moon 'really amazing'
The moon is seen from a camera outside the Orion spacecraft after the Artemis II astronauts yesterday surpassed the farthest distance ever travelled by humans from Earth. Now the time has finally come for him to put his master plan in place — to study the Artemis II crew’s images of the dark side of the moon. The Dunedin astronomer is ‘‘salivating’’ at the prospect of seeing the images, which will be released over the next few days. ‘‘I’ve been listening between meetings to what was going on and it was really amazing to see. ‘‘The sun has gone behind the moon and the corona is still visible, and it’s bright and creates a halo almost around the entire moon.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 07, 2026 21:45 UTC
Boil water notice continues after E coli found
The notice was put in place for parts of Hillsborough, Mt Roskill, Royal Oak and Three Kings on Monday after routine water sample testing showed traces of E coli. Two public water tankers were set up at 113 Duke Street, Big King Reserve, and Hillsborough Park carpark, Carlton Street. Watercare apologisesWatercare has apologised for the impacts of the boil water notice. Mark Bourne from Watercare told Checkpoint he understands the disruption the boil water notice caused, and he is "truly sorry". He said the sample tap appears to be the smoking gun, but tests on Wednesday will confirm that.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 07, 2026 20:54 UTC
Auckland E. coli alert: Watercare boil-water notice remains in place for several suburbs
Watercare issued the notice for 7800 properties across Hillsborough, Mt Roskill, Royal Oak and Three Kings after a single test showed traces of E. coli. Watercare is operating public water tankers for affected residents until the issue of potential E. coli contamination is resolved. “This work is continuing and will remain underway until the boil water notice can be safely lifted.”Which areas are affected? Watercare has issued a boil water notice for parts of Hillsborough, Mt Roskill, Royal Oak and Three Kings (outlined) until further notice. Image / WatercareWatercare has issued a boil water notice for parts of Hillsborough, Mt Roskill, Royal Oak and Three Kings (outlined) until further notice.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 07, 2026 20:04 UTC
‘Do-it-yourself’ road safety markings ‘unsafe’
A "home-made" approach to road safety in one Mosgiel street is putting people at risk, a local representative says. Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board chairwoman Rebecca Shepherd said while she understood the sentiment behind the ‘‘do-it-yourself’’ pedestrian crossings and road markings appearing on Murray St in recent weeks, safety interventions were best left to the experts. ‘‘People drawing their own pedestrian crossings on the road is unsafe at the end of the day,’’ Mrs Shepherd said. A painted ‘‘speed hump’’ in Murray St, near the Murrey St Playground. PHOTOS: PETER MCINTOSHThe unauthorised markings posed their own safety hazards and the council was required to remove them, she said‘‘Installing markings on the road without proper safety precautions is inherently dangerous and can lead to confusion for road users, creating safety risks for pedestrians — especially smaller children.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 07, 2026 19:38 UTC
Pilot had to be held back from ex-prince
From English royalty to Elton John, former RAF pilot Michael Crymble's life has been about flying the rich and famous around the globe. Michael Crymble, who now owns Mandeville Aerodrome in Southland, previously flew VIPs around the world during a career in the Royal Air Force and as a pilot of private jets. ‘‘Since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, I was always mad about airplanes,’’ Mr Crymble, 72, said while volunteering at Warbirds Over Wānaka. After three years as a co-pilot, at just 23, Mr Crymble became the RAF’s youngest captain to pilot a Hercules. ‘‘We were the first in and the last out,’’ Mr Crymble said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 07, 2026 19:34 UTC
Parents praised for road safety efforts in wake of son's crash death
Kelan Stroud, of Cromwell, died in a serious crash on State Highway 8, in March 2024, on his way to work in Alexandra. Mrs Stroud and her husband Michael were praised in Coroner Heather McKenzie’s report into Kelan’s death, for their ‘‘valuable and lasting contribution’’ to their community. The driver of the Delta truck told police he was hoping Kelan would pull back in, but he decided to keep passing. The Mainfreight truck driver heard a loud bang and felt his trailer swing slightly, so he pulled over. After colliding with the Mainfreight and Delta trucks, Kelan’s vehicle also hit an oncoming car at low speed.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 07, 2026 19:24 UTC
'Whole civilization will die,' Trump warns as Iran deadline looms
Photo: ReutersUS President Donald Trump threatened that "a whole civilization will die tonight" as Iran showed no sign of accepting his ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz by his deadline. As the clock ticked down on Trump's deadline, strikes on Iran intensified, hitting railway and road bridges, an airport and a petrochemical plant. TRUMP'S THREATS REACH NEW LEVEL"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. With only hours left before the deadline, a senior Iranian source said Tehran was still refusing to reopen the strait without US concessions that had so far not been forthcoming. Earlier, another senior Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran had rejected a proposal conveyed by intermediaries for a temporary ceasefire.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 07, 2026 18:49 UTC
Strong demand for every class of
Bidding was hot at the first beef calf sale of the season in East Otago. ‘‘Demand was strong across all classes,’’ PGG Wrightson auctioneer Mark Yeates said. Top steers sold for between $1800 and $2000 each, the second draft of steers fetched between $1600 and $1800 and younger, lighter steers sold for about $1400. The best heifers sold for between $1550 and $1700, the second cut fetched between $1300 and $1500 and the lighter and younger heifers sold for between $900 and $1200. Heifers fetched between $740 and $1840 each.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 07, 2026 18:28 UTC
Cooking that sparks the feeling of home
‘‘Comfort doesn’t necessarily mean heavy, cheesy, creamy food, but the kind of nourishment that sparks the feeling of home. In a large frying pan with a lid, heat two tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat. This olive oil cake is hard to beat. In another large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, olive oil, vanilla paste and lemon zest and juice. Serve with fruit and crème fraîche or thick Greek yoghurt, drizzled with olive oil.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 07, 2026 18:28 UTC
Generator noise blasts port as ship loads up
Maersk Rio Bravo berthed at Port Chalmers yesterday. The size of the ship and the cargo it was loading forced the ship to run a second and unsilenced generator. Port Otago chief executive Kevin Winders said as soon as the second generator started it made a noise. With meat products, a second generator was needed to keep the cargo at a specific temperature. Yesterday the wind was blowing from the north, directing the noise straight at the Port Otago office and down the harbour towards Dunedin.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 07, 2026 18:21 UTC