Fest brings the best machines
Racing action at last year’s Ascot Park Hotel Classic SpeedFest. This year’s SpeedFest is part of the Formula Junior Platinum Jubilee World Tour to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Formula Junior. The formula was a stepping stone to Formula 1 in the period from 1958 to 1963 and were driven by many of the world’s best drivers at that time. A fantastic field of more than twenty cars has been entered with entries from the UK, Italy, Australia and Great Britain. Other classes include vintage racing cars, Mini 7 South and Mazda MX5s, plus the Noel McIntyre Drainage club saloons.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:06 UTC
Partnership to boost junior football in South
PHOTO: SUPPLIEDA drive for growth has sparked an exciting new partnership which will support junior football in Southland for the next three years. Invercargill Motors is the official sponsor of Southland Football’s junior grades, supporting everything from equipment to coaching programmes and junior referees. Invercargill Motors co-owner Regan Lock said the partnership aligned both Southland Football and Invercargill Motors’ drive for growth, but ultimately it was about giving back to the community. “Southland Football is looking to grow and, as a new business, so are we, so there was a good synergy. ‘‘We will see them on site during the year on Saturday mornings as they are keen to get “on the grass” with the Southland Football community.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:06 UTC
Penguin sightings prompt renewed dog control calls
A snares crested penguin looks for a safe resting place among the rocks near Beach Rd, Oamaru. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDTwo recent penguin finds have sparked renewed calls for dogs to be kept on leashes on Oamaru beaches. Oamaru Penguins staff collected a little penguin over the long weekend that had been ‘‘bitten by a dog’’, Dr Agnew said. The euthanised little penguin was about 1 year old and had fledged from the Oamaru Penguins colony, she said. Staff had also recently collected a snares crested penguin from Beach Rd.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:02 UTC
New lizard species discovered
New Zealand has 147 living native gecko and skink species (lizards) — all of which are found only in New Zealand — and new species are still being discovered. Department of Conservation (Doc) senior science adviser James Reardon said 29 new lizard species had been assessed for the first time. ‘‘New genomic studies by Otago University (looking at complete lizard DNA) have led to previously recognised species being split into new species, overturning our understanding of some lizards. ‘‘Of 147 lizard species, 59 (40%) are classed as Threatened, 68 (46%) At Risk and 16 (11%) Data Deficient or too poorly known to assess. ‘‘The discovery of lizard species is showing no signs of slowing down and people can contribute to new findings when they’re out naturing.’’
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 15:02 UTC
Actor James Van Der Beek’s family thanks fans for donations
James Van Der Beek's family have expressed their gratitude after fans donated millions of dollars after the actor’s death. Photo / Getty ImagesJames Van Der Beek’s family have thanked fans for their recent show of support. The page reads: “James Van Der Beek was a beloved husband, father, and friend who touched the lives of everyone around him. Throughout his illness, the family faced not only emotional challenges but also significant financial strain as they did everything possible to support James and provide for his care. Every donation, no matter the size, will help Kimberly and her family find hope and security as they rebuild their lives.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 13:40 UTC
Canada PM visits memorial for mass shooting victims as new details emerge
‘Unheard-of cruelty’Carney is expected to speak on Saturday at a vigil for the victims outside the town hall in Tumbler Ridge, 1180km north of Vancouver. The town was quiet early in the day and residents have voiced weariness over the influx of media attention after the tragedy. A sign ordering media to stay out was taped at the entrance of the community centre on Friday. He described Tumbler Ridge as a town of miners, teachers and construction workers who represent “the very best of Canada: resilient, compassionate and strong”. The Prime Minister had been scheduled to attend the Munich Security Conference to discuss transatlantic defence with allies, but cancelled his plans after the shooting.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 12:28 UTC
Trump says Iran regime change would be ‘best thing that could happen’
He has previously backed off full-throated calls for a change of Government in Iran, warning it could cause chaos, although he has made threats towards Khamenei in the past. ‘Terribly difficult’When Iran began its crackdown on protests last month, which rights groups say killed thousands, Trump initially said the United States was “locked and loaded” to help demonstrators. Videos verified by AFP showed people in Iran this week chanting anti-Government slogans as the clerical leadership celebrated the anniversary of the Islamic revolution. Iran and the United States, which have had no diplomatic relations since shortly after the revolution, held talks on the nuclear issue last week in Oman. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights NGO said “hundreds” of people were facing charges linked to the protests that could see them sentenced to death.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 12:16 UTC
Alleged rape victim of Norway princess’ son says she took sleeping pills
After having consensual sex, Høiby is accused of touching the young woman’s genitals while she was unable to object and filming her without her knowledge – a separate charge. As she was prone to insomnia, she had taken sleeping pills that night, she said. In the hours preceding their encounter, he drank alcohol and took ketamine and cocaine, he said. According to the prosecution, the first showed consensual sexual relations between the pair, and the four others the rape of which he is accused. Høiby has repeatedly said during the trial he is “not in the habit of having sex with women who are sleeping”.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 11:34 UTC
Woman censured by Teachers’ Disciplinary Tribunal for discussing sex life with students, buying them vapes
Students told the tribunal that she mentioned this particular dream “lots of times”. In 2023, the woman told her students she was pregnant and discussed her relationship with the baby’s father, whom she’d met on Tinder. The woman also told her students that she had ovarian cancer and might lose her baby. After that investigation, a report was made to the Teaching Council, which opted to press charges in the Teachers’ Disciplinary Tribunal. The teacher told the tribunal that she accepted she had “likely had inappropriate conversations with some students” and blurred the line between teacher and friend.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 11:03 UTC
Funding for Wakatipu school expansion expected
PHOTO: PHILIP CHANDLERWakatipu High School should receive initial funding this year for its long-awaited expansion, its principal says. The formal process will start on March 1, when the school submits its 2026 roll numbers to the Ministry of Education. Principal Oded Nathan said he hoped the expansion, which would lift the school’s capacity to 2000, would start gathering speed by mid-year. The school had existing capacity for 1625 students, and it started this year with 1528. He said he had also "really emphasised" to ministry officials the school’s expansion was necessary and welcome, "but that can’t be the end game".
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 08:45 UTC
SailGP: Black Foils collide with France, two sailors including one Kiwi injured
Racing was suspended, when the two boats came together on the opening leg, with the Black Foils seemingly losing control of their rudder and spinning back into the French. The Black Foils later confirmed grinder Louis Sinclair was in stable condition with compound fractures to both legs. Photo: RNZUnsurprisingly, the Black Foils did not put anyone up for media questions, but driver Peter Burling and strategist Liv Mackay were both spotted - shaken, but apparently uninjured - afterwards. "A member of the Black Foils is being treated at Auckland Hospital, following a collision with the France boat during racing today," they later posted on social media. Moments into the season-opening race at Perth last month, the Black Foils collided with Switzerland, losing their stern, and were unable to race again that weekend.
Source:Stuff
February 14, 2026 08:41 UTC
Shaidorov shocks rivals as 'Quad God' crumbles
The American, dubbed 'Quad God', finished out of the medals on Friday in one of Olympic figure skating's biggest upsets. He looked absolutely distraught by the end of his free skate and kept shaking his head, scarcely believing the nightmare he had just endured on the biggest stage for his sport. Frenchman Adam Siao Him Fa, who entered the free skate in third place, struggled mightily, and Kagiyama and Soto also failed to live up to their usual standards. Shaidorov called Malinin, whose multiple‑quad programmes have earned him the nickname "Quad God," key to growing the sport's fanbase. "I was rooting for him and he's a very important athlete for figure skating, but ice is slippery," Shaidorov said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 08:17 UTC
Kiwi Chris Liddell recruited by AI giant Anthropic after it raises funds at $630b valuation, heads for possible IPO
Notably, in a chaotic White House where many senior appointees didn’t make it to 12 months, Liddell served the full four-year term. Liddell first rose to fame in US business circles when he was named Microsoft’s chief financial officer. Anthropic hit headlines this month when it released a new “co-work” plug-in for Claude capable of taking on various legal tasks. While OpenAI initially targeted everybody, sparking an artificial intelligence frenzy, Anthropic has focused more on professionals and gained popularity with software coders. He joined the Herald in 2018 and is the technology editor and a senior business writer.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 08:01 UTC
North Island floods: Waikato couple evacuate 18 people and pets by tractor
John and Julie Clark, who run Clark Contracting on Kio Kio Station Rd, pulled several families from floodwaters in the early hours of Saturday using their tractors. “He had a tractor parked there,” Julie told the Herald, “so he got himself and his partner and baby and dog and cat out. Torrential rain resulted in many of the houses on Kio Kio Station Rd being flooded. “We’ll just take a few days to regroup, we’ve got 10 staff that’ll come in and help us,” Julie said. The state of the roads in the area will be reviewed in the morning and the following state highways remain closed overnight:
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 14, 2026 07:55 UTC
Two sailors including one Kiwi injured in SailGP collision
Photo: Phil Walter/Getty ImagesSailors from the New Zealand and France teams have been rushed to Auckland hospital, after a high-speed collision in race three of the New Zealand SailGP event off Wynyard Point. All crew members were quickly accounted for, but two sailors - one from each team - were injured and taken ashore, conscious and alert. The Black Foils boat has made it to shore, but is not in good shape. New Zealand SailGP marks the first occasion 13 boats have contested racing, with the addition of Artemis Sweden for this year's series. After the Perth incident, NZ driver Peter Burling was judged at fault and became the first to incur demerit points under newly introduced SailGP 'Super Licence' protocols.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 14, 2026 07:34 UTC