Law change removes retrospective employment status challenge for contractors
Photo: RNZThe government is tweaking its legislation removing the right for contractors to challenge their employment status to make clear that it will not be applied retrospectively. It followed a case by four Uber drivers who took the ride-sharing company to the Employment Court in 2022 over their employment status. The Employment Court ruled in favour of the drivers, which Uber appealed unsuccessfully at the Court of Appeal in 2024. ACT campaigned on amending the Employment Relations Act, so those who signed up to be independent contractors could not then challenge that status in court. The coalition agreement between National and ACT stated they would, "maintain the status quo that contractors who have explicitly signed up for a contracting arrangement can't challenge their employment status in the Employment Court".
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 12, 2026 15:52 UTC
Global Insight: Govt urged to show international leadership
Young people want New Zealand politicians to show leadership on the world stage, Prof Robert Patman says. Prof Patman is urging the New Zealand government to combat that by showing leadership internationally. "Many New Zealanders see their country as a brave little country that stands up for what's right," Prof Patman says. Photo: Getty ImagesProf Patman was speaking on the eve of the most important annual global security gathering, the Munich Security Conference. In this episode of Global Insight, Prof Patman also details evidence the world order is under strain and points to international signs of hope.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 12, 2026 15:45 UTC
Travellers warned of delays
The SH8/8B intersection near Dead Mans Point, where road resurfacing is under way. PHOTO: NZTAWork affecting a major highway in Central Otago is under way and travellers are advised to prepare for delays. Resurfacing work is planned at the intersection of State Highways 8 and 8B, alongside the Clutha River/ Mata-Au, near Dead Mans Point this month. The work was scheduled to happen daily from 9pm to 6am, Sundays to Thursdays. ‘‘During these times it will mean a single-lane closure and road users being asked to stop on demand.’’This work is weather-dependent and if the schedule had to change, notification would be provided.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 12, 2026 15:34 UTC
United despite our differences, views
Despite our differences, it was clear to me at least that we are united — and maybe sometimes even because of — our differences — by the commitment we all have to New Zealand and our desire for it to be the best place for families and communities. By the time those winter crops are all eaten we’ll be knocking on the door of the general election, November 7. This builds on 2025’s record-setting $60.4b — from meat and wool to kiwifruit and cherries, our producers are remarkable. An example of this is the new dialysis unit which opened at Southland Hospital on Monday. Being able to have the treatment closer to home will make a big difference and also reduce pressure on Dunedin.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 12, 2026 15:34 UTC
Customers upset as Air NZ strikes disrupt travel plans
Photo: Supplied/ Air NZ via RNZAn Air New Zealand customer has been left upset after discovering at the last minute that a cabin crew strike had disrupted her travel plans. "I have a flight tonight with Air NZ from Tonga," the traveller who wanted to be identified only as Lia said. Massey University marketing expert Bodo Lang said the strike could be an issue for Air New Zealand's brand. Profit expectations for Air New Zealand have recently been revised downward, not upward. Explaining the intricacies of Air New Zealand's financial statements to the public in an engaging manner is difficult.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 12, 2026 14:31 UTC
New outpatients building expected to open on time, within budget: HNZ
The new Dunedin hospital outpatients building is due to be operational by the end of this year. The Treasury investment report meanwhile showed the Dunedin outpatients building project under cost pressure, by a sum that was blanked out. It also red-flagged Nelson to ministers for not having its business case ready in time for Budget 2026 decisions. The Nelson project was shrunk to under half its former budget and cut into phases by the present government. In Dunedin's new hospital build, the cost risks had since been managed and it was expected to open within budget on time later this year, Trotter said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 12, 2026 14:07 UTC
Victims speak of impact after slave master jailed for 16 years
Two young people have told how they were held in slavery by an Auckland man for several years. "But sadly, instead, I am one of those girls fighting demons and emotions I don't deserve, every day," she said. "I find it very hard to communicate with others because I was always stopped from speaking with anyone and everyone... "He was funding your lifestyle," she told Tuai, saying that only ended when the man ran away and managed to get a new passport to return to New Zealand. "It is clear that as far as you were concerned, she was in New Zealand only for your benefit," Wilkinson-Smith added.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 12, 2026 13:14 UTC
Former mayor offers quirky advice for water complaints
Photo: Supplied / ODT via LDRA former mayor-turned water specialist has offered some humorous advice on dealing with complaints - just ask people how much contamination they're comfortable with. On Wednesday, water regulator Taumata Arowai specialist Tim Cadogan dialled in from Wellington to share safety insights with Southland district councillors. "So that's 43 times that water supplies in New Zealand were essentially infiltrated by faeces. There were four ways of protecting against unsafe water, he explained - protecting the source, filtration, disinfection and secure distribution. Good source water had benefits because it was cheaper to treat, while disinfection included methods such as chlorine and UV.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 12, 2026 12:41 UTC
Boat gets into difficulty
Two people got into trouble in a small boat on Lake Wakatipu last night. The incident happened about 6pm. Details were scant, but members of the public came to the aid of the two people and helped them get back to shore. — Allied Media
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 12, 2026 10:40 UTC
Govt increases NZ space launch limit to 1000
Photo: Supplied/Rocket Lab via RNZA physics professor says he does not trust the New Zealand Space Agency to make good decisions about a likely host of new space launches. Space Minister Judith Collins said the 100 cap was likely to be hit this year. The environmental impact from more debris from space vehicle launches had been newly determined to be low. The rules would have required a special marine consent for every launch over the 100 cap. "Firstly, we need to look at whether we trust the New Zealand Space Agency to do the right thing in private."
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 12, 2026 10:39 UTC
Labour challenged to retain investment policy
Photo: RNZFinance Minister Nicola Willis is challenging Labour to commit to keeping her Investment Boost policy if elected on November 7. Looking ahead, 49% planning to invest in the next five years were saying Investment Boost was positively influencing their plans, with 14% expecting a large investment. "That matters because capital deepening is how productivity rises and productivity growth is the only way we will grow wages sustainably over time." She called for Labour leader Chris Hipkins and his finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds to commit to not reversing the policy. Edmonds, who is set to speak to the forum this afternoon, has previously said the Investment Boost policy is overall good for business but stopped short of committing to retain it.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 12, 2026 10:04 UTC
A costly spiral: online gambling and university students
“They think it's just harmless fun, which is what it's sort of been painted to be by the gambling sector, but it is obviously quite an addictive and harmful product, so we’re calling for it to be treated the same as we do with tobacco, alcohol, all these other harmful products.”
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 12, 2026 06:06 UTC
Judge Ema Aitken judicial conduct hearing: NZ First minister Casey Costello claims celebrity doctor was ‘intoxicated’
“I did not recognise her at the time but subsequently learned she was Judge Aitken.”The judge continued, “How can you be listening to this?”, Costello said. Howard claimed to the panel that when she asked Reed to leave the NZ First function: “He refused to do so and became hostile”. Michael Reed, KC, seen in a video played to a Judicial Conduct Panel investigating Judge Ema Aitken. I had Cabinet ministers [in the room] and a man who was acting unstable,” Howard claimed. Jones then asked whether Howard wanted to “increase focus” on the judge so NZ First could “leverage” the incident.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 12, 2026 01:53 UTC
Instagram CEO denies addiction claims in landmark US trial
Addiction is at the heart of the civil trial, which centres on allegations that a 20-year-old woman, identified as Kaley G.M., suffered severe mental harm after becoming addicted to social media as a young child. She started using YouTube at 6 and joined Instagram at 11, before moving on to Snapchat and TikTok two or three years later. The attorney for YouTube insisted that the video platform was neither intentionally addictive nor technically social media, but more a viewing venue like Netflix or traditional TV. In opening remarks this week, plaintiffs’ attorney Lanier told the jury that YouTube and Meta both engineer addiction in young people’s brains to gain users and profits. Social media firms face more than a thousand lawsuits accusing them of leading young users to become addicted to content and suffer from depression, eating disorders, psychiatric hospitalisation, and even suicide.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 12, 2026 01:32 UTC
Cheating Norwegian biathlete skier Sturla Holm Laegreid backtracks on infidelity reveal
I will not answer any further questions about this.”The statement also said he regretted overshadowing his teammate’s win. Fellow Norwegian Johan-Olav Botn won gold and dedicated the win to a fellow teammate, Sivert Guttorm Bakke, who died last year. “We have been in contact, and he is aware of my feelings about this.”The viral media moment was sparked in the moments after Laegreid won bronze and was interviewed live on television. During a news conference after his declaration of love and cheating, he explained why he made the admission. “So today I made a choice to tell the world what I did, so maybe, maybe there is a chance she will see what she really means to me.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 12, 2026 00:46 UTC