Top exec who paid underage girl for sex named
Former Auckland executive Greg Hornblow was convicted of receiving "commercial sexual services" from a person aged under 18. Photo: Finn BlackwellA former Auckland executive who was convicted of receiving "commercial sexual services" from a person aged under 18 can now be named. The victim asked for UberEats, which the executive provided in exchange for intimate photos and videos of the girl, Judge Maxwell said. He paid $1000 to the teen to come to his house, where the two engaged in unspecified sexual activity in his bedroom, Judge Maxwell said. Under the Prostitution Reform Act, no one under the age of 18 may be contracted for commercial sexual services.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2026 02:42 UTC
Emergency services at serious Central Otago crash
Photo: Julie AsherEmergency services are at the scene of a serious crash where a car has gone over a bank near Ettrick. Police were notified of a single vehicle crash in Moa Flat Rd about 11.20am today. A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said crews were alerted by police after reports of a car over a cliff. Roxburgh and Millers Flat brigades attended to the scene near Ettrick and found a car over a bank. Police were also called around 1.10pm to a single vehicle crash on Rongahere Road near Beaumont.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 02, 2026 00:57 UTC
Restrictions on Good Friday, Easter Sunday alcohol sales could be gone by weekend
“Just because something’s always been that way doesn’t mean that that’s a good reason to keep it,” he said. If the bill passes, it is possible it may receive royal assent on Thursday, in time for Good Friday. Luxton’s own member’s bill to repeal alcohol restrictions on Good Friday and Easter Sunday was voted down at first reading in 2024. That bill would have repealed Good Friday and Easter Sunday as restricted trading days altogether. Once again we make it easier to access alcohol on the couple of days where there are some restrictions around it.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 02, 2026 00:19 UTC
former executive who received commercial sex services from girl
A former business executive who admitted receiving commercial sex services from an underage girl can now be named. The man, who was ordered to serve 10 months’ home detention in March, is former OneRoof chief Greg Hornblow. In a statement after suppression lifted, NZME chief executive Michael Boggs said the company had been “appalled to learn of the serious charge against former NZME employee Greg Hornblow”. Between September 3 and 17 last year, the girl sent Hornblow 12 images and 19 short videos. A disciplinary, unpaid stand-down period was imposed on Greg Hornblow along with a range of other punitive conditions he was required to meet.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 02, 2026 00:05 UTC
All for a privately funded Lake Onslow
Radio NZ reports:A prominent backer of the Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme says he’s already fielding interest from international investors. Now it is being backed by a private-sector firm, The Clutha Pumped Hydro Consortium, and the government has agreed to refer the scheme for possible fast-tracking. I was adamantly opposed to it as a government project where taxpayers would be forking out $16 to $28 billion. But if a group of private investors wish to raise capital for it, then that’s great. A spokesperson for the Ministry for the Environment said the Minister for Infrastructure had issued a decision to refer the project to the Fast-track approvals process.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 02, 2026 00:04 UTC
Lindsey Buckingham attack: Fleetwood Mac star targeted in Los Angeles
“The Los Angeles Police Department’s Threat Management Unit is working with the Santa Monica Police Department to investigate this incident,” police said. Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac was attacked on the street with an "unknown substance". Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975 with his then girlfriend Stevie Nicks. Speaking about his last departure, Buckingham told People he was “fired” from the band because of Nicks. Fleetwood Mac’s drummer Mick Fleetwood told the Herald in 2019 he was a huge fan of Finn.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 02, 2026 00:01 UTC
Armed police swarm Glenfield Mall, four nearby North Shore schools in lockdown
It has now been lifted.“Police said schools and childcare centres nearby were temporarily placed into lockdown. Glenfield Mall was evacuated and four schools went into lockdown after a person was seen with a firearm following a car crash. Quin, a worker at a Glenfield Mall restaurant, said he saw a lot of police arrive at the mall with “heavy firearms” before it was evacuated. Glenfield College wrote on Facebook that it had been advised to go into lockdown because of events at Glenfield Mall. Wairau Valley Special School said on its website that it had gone into lockdown because of an incident nearby.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 01, 2026 23:49 UTC
Why retailers are hoping you don’t work from home
The economic situation would be worse if people don’t come into towns and cities across the country. If people stop coming into town they stop buying. Young previously told RNZ that she worried that foot traffic levels might never return to where they were, for some businesses. But Brad Olsen, chief executive at Infometrics, said consumer confidence more generally was likely to be more of a concern for retailers than whether people were working from home. “I don’t think it’s a full and complete view that people only spend when they’re working in town and don’t spend otherwise.”Brad Olsen, chief executive at Infometrics.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 01, 2026 23:14 UTC
Pharmacist wins award for lifetime efforts
Ropati MualiaPlaying crucial roles in the development of Samoa’s healthcare and education systems has earned a ‘‘trailblazing’’ University of Otago alumnus a major award in recognition of his lifetime achievements. Dr Mualia went on to become the chief pharmacist at Cherry Farm Hospital in 1971 and, the following year, he returned to Samoa to serve as chief pharmacist at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital of Samoa, from 1972 to 1973. While there, he played a crucial role in the development of Samoa’s pharmacy services. Dr Mualia went on to establish Samoa Pharmacy Ltd, and later founded Multipharm Laboratories — a manufacturer and wholesaler of pharmaceutical products. Dr Mualia was presented with a prestigious University of Otago Distinguished Alumni Award, which formally recognises his exceptional and sustained contributions to his field and to society.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 01, 2026 23:03 UTC
'Definitely number one': Melie Kerr smashes century in White Ferns record run chase
Photo: Marty MelvilleMelie Kerr rates her unbeaten 179, that helped her the White Ferns to the highest successful run chase in women's ODI history, as the greatest innings of her career. "To get a big hundred like that in a big chase against a quality side is definitely number one." The White Ferns needed 11 runs off the final over to win and Kerr hit a four off the first ball to put New Zealand in the drivers seat. Photo: Marty MelvilleKerr said recent results among other teams helped her believe the White Ferns could pull off the highest successful run chase in women's ODI history. The third and deciding game is on Saturday in Wellington and Kerr said the White Ferns are determined to finish their home summer with a one-day series win.
Source:Stuff
April 01, 2026 22:57 UTC
What the war means for property prices
PHOTO: ODT FILESTurn on the news right now and all we seem to read and hear about is petrol prices, petrol prices and petrol prices. That is the real link between a war on the other side of the world and your local housing market. Over the past 20 years of house price data there is quite a strong correlation with interest rates. Why this matters is that long-term most people can ride out increases of interest rates, as housing is a long-term asset. But it is hard to see this conflict in the Middle East causing a major downturn in New Zealand property.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 01, 2026 22:36 UTC
Outreach service options on table
The Dunedin City Council will consider options on a homeless outreach service at a closed-door meeting today. In November, councillors committed to establishing and funding a housing outreach service, and narrowly voted to seek expressions of interest from community providers to deliver the service. Proposals will be compared with a council in-house model before a decision on the preferred approach. When asked, a council spokesman did not say if a decision to pursue an internal or external model was expected at today’s extraordinary council meeting. The expressions-of-interest terms included an initial three-year service beginning this month, performance measures, community outcomes and annual reporting requirements.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 01, 2026 22:36 UTC
Defence key in opening games
Well our season kicked off on a spectacular autumnal afternoon but in most cases the games were tight tense affairs with defence being the order of the day. Defence won the game for GI at the Toolbox as they resisted wave after wave off attack from Harbour. It was a photocopy at the Pony Pit as the Eels defence was too good for the AU attack. Defence was optional but Varsity as I said last week will be a force in this comp. Otago Rugby doesn’t seem to have a coaching strategy in place to alleviate this situation which is verging on catastrophic.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 01, 2026 22:35 UTC
Palmerston North council forking out an extra $2500 daily for fuel
Photo: LDRPalmerston North's council is facing "the same upward pressure on prices that households and business are" as it spends an extra $2500 per day on fuel costs, the city's mayor says. Photo: LDRCouncils across Central Districts were asked how recent government announcements and the constant uptake in fuel prices were impacting council business and decision-making. Smith said Palmerston North was "monitoring" the situation and keeping a close eye on the government's revised National Fuel Plan and the financial boost which some families were set to receive from April 1. Taraua's mayor Scott Gilmore said planning was in place to ensure council and community were prepared, but the "increasing fuel costs are starting to impact everyone, including council's operations". Horowhenua District Council remained focused on keeping council expenses down, and like Tararua and Palmerston North councils, it was in close contact with local Civil Defence teams.
Source:Stuff
April 01, 2026 20:41 UTC
Brain tumour diagnosis leaves migrant father fearing for family’s future in New Zealand
After weeks of worsening symptoms, Bob was taken by ambulance to Waikato Hospital on January 23, where doctors discovered a large tumour in the frontal lobes of his brain. Surgery removed some of the tumour, but what remained could not be safely taken out. Bob underwent surgery in an effort to remove as much of the brain tumour as safely possible. Bob begins his daily radiotherapy treatment after surgery to remove part of a brain tumour. While Bob’s treatment will continue into next year, his visa only allows him to stay in New Zealand until June.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 01, 2026 20:05 UTC