$400m airport to CBD cable car route outlined
An artist’s impression of the proposed Queenstown cable car station in Frankton. Image: Southern InfrastructureThe planned route of a billionaire-backed cable car linking Queenstown Airport to the town’s CBD has been revealed. The maps show one line linking Queenstown Airport to the CBD and another linking to Frankton and Ladies Mile. Southern Infrastructure was advancing the Queenstown Cable Car alongside the proposed Southern Lakes Secondary Hospital as part of a wider programme to address the region’s most pressing infrastructure challenges, Mr Copland said. Refinements of the project, including the proposed route, will be incorporated and assessed as part of the substantive application.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 11, 2026 16:29 UTC
Niagara Falls act proves a hit
Bevan Gardiner, Matt Joe Gow and Melissa Partridge perform a set at the Niagara Falls Bluegrass Festival. PHOTOS: SANDY EGGLESTONA Canadian duo has been a hit with the crowd at the Niagara Falls Bluegrass Festival. About 15 years ago during a psychic reading Mr Zonnis was told if he wanted to find musical success he should go to New Zealand, Mrs Zonnis said. Matt Joe Gow, formerly of Dunedin, performed with Dunedin artists Melissa Partridge and Bevan Gardiner. He enjoyed performing and networking in the south, Gow said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 11, 2026 16:28 UTC
Captain Denies Baltic Cable Damage Charges
A charge sheet seen by The Associated Press accused Wan, who is in his 40s, of damaging a natural gas pipeline and submarine telecom cables between Finland and Estonia “without lawful excuse” and said he was “reckless as to whether such property would be damaged.”
Source:Stuff
February 11, 2026 16:07 UTC
Fifty years of fun
Members of the Brighton Friendship Club gather at the Brighton Bowling Club to celebrate fifty years of fun and connection. PHOTO: SAM HENDERSONA 50-cent subscription and a $50 piano were the start of a half-century legacy. The Brighton Friendship Club celebrated its 50th anniversary this week at the Brighton Bowling Club with wine, cake and a reflection on its enduring relevance. "The need to form such a group is the same now as it was then, to provide contact and friendship combined with fun and security. In 1976, the club subscription was 50 cents each and expenses in its first year included buying a piano for $50.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 11, 2026 16:07 UTC
Heritage festival revamped
The Foundations: Festival of Dunedin’s Past, Present and Future programme, a collaboration between the Southern Heritage Trust and the Dunedin City Council, will replace the Heritage Festival. The Southern Heritage Trust in a statement said the new festival represented a major step forward in how Dunedin’s outstanding heritage was shared and celebrated. "My expectation is that a heritage festival will attract significant visitor numbers in the offseason during April to October and will grow to be a marquee national event fitting to the Heritage Capital of New Zealand. "The Southern Heritage Trust has for many years run an informative and enjoyable heritage programme. ‘We are excited to incorporate and develop the Heritage Festival kaupapa within this new event."
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 11, 2026 16:07 UTC
Remembrance tree to be replanted
Dunedin woman Nikki Cockburn stands with the former suicide memorial tree in Mosgiel Memorial Gardens, which had to be removed due to damage from high winds. PHOTOS: SUPPLIEDA much-loved suicide remembrance tree in Mosgiel Memorial Gardens, which had to be removed due to damage from high winds, will be replaced with a new tree in a special ceremony this Saturday, February 14. Buried among the roots of the tree, which stood behind the rose beds in Mosgiel Memorial Gardens, were tokens and messages from loved ones. Ms Cockburn said, while the Through the Other Side Trust had since gone into recess, the tree had remained as a powerful symbol of remembrance for the community. Thankfully, because the memorial plaque was still intact, the council had arranged a new tree to be donated by Nicols Garden Centre, who had also donated the original tree, Ms Cockburn said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 11, 2026 16:02 UTC
Fringe offerings wide, bold, many
Cabaret, comedy, city planning, theatre, storytelling, music, dance, visual art and more will be on offer in the Dunedin Fringe Festival, running March 12-22. The Dunedin Fringe Festival co-leadership team of Katrina Thomson, Ruth Harvey, Vanessa Beck and Hannah Molloy have been hard at work to co-ordinate performers from Dunedin, across New Zealand and around the world for the festival. The flagship events for the Fringe Festival will include the opening night showcase on March 11 at Te Whare o Rukutia, which will offer a taster of the festival fun to come. The Late Night Line Up, featuring a selection of the festival’s comedy acts, will run throughout the festival at Te Whare o Rukutia. Molloy encouraged Dunedin people to support the Fringe Festival and "to step outside your comfort zone a little and experiment with some fringe fun".
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 11, 2026 16:02 UTC
Watch: Inquest opens with CCTV showing moment NZSAS soldier fell to death from US helicopter
A whānau household memorial to NZSAS Lance Corporal Nik Kahotea. WorkSafe's investigation found the helicopter drifted up to a metre away from the roof when Lance Corporal Nik Kahotea fell to his death. NZSAS Lance Corporal Nik Kahotea with partner Dr Sophie Walker. NZSAS Lance Corporal Nik Kahotea was an expert handler of military working dogs. Lois Pamment holds the photograph she carries of her son, NZSAS soldier Lance Corporal Nik Kahotea.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 11, 2026 16:00 UTC
Event showcase for rural power
PHOTOS: STEPHEN JAQUIERY"They’ll have to think of other ways to start conversations," Mr Henderson quipped. Ardie Field, 2, from Hillend, near Balclutha, was keen to check out the mud at Southern Field Days. In officially opening the event, Mr Henderson encouraged those attending to "spend heaps" and put cash into the exhibitors’ pockets so the Otago-Southland economy could keep going "around and around and around". A large crowd attended the first day of the three-day long Southern Field Days at Waimumu, which this year features more than 700 exhibitors. But that signified that when rural New Zealand — "the backbone of this country" — stood up, the whole of New Zealand took notice and that power should never be underestimated.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 11, 2026 15:57 UTC
Ong refuses to apologise after complaint thrown out
"There is insufficient basis to warrant further investigation, and so I dismiss the complaint," independent investigator Steph Dyhrberg said. "Although Cr Ong was offended by what he thought Cr Chambers said, the evidence indicates Cr Chambers’ remark was misinterpreted," her report said. She also observed Cr Ong was "resistant to participating openly in the complaint process, despite it being his own complaint". Asked by the Otago Daily Times if he would apologise to Cr Chambers, Cr Ong said "I believe it is time for Cr Chambers to apologise". "I stand for what is right and what is needed to serve and deliver to our community," Cr Ong said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 11, 2026 15:50 UTC
Person treated for burns
One person was treated for minor burns after a fire in a Dundas St flat last night. The fire started in a bedroom about 6pm and was contained to that room, a Fenz spokesperson said. The people inside were able to get out. One was treated for minor burns. — Allied Media
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 11, 2026 15:50 UTC
Sport-enabling cause funded
Local charity the TJ’s Way Trust was the chosen recipient of funds from the 100+ People Who Care Group during its November funding round, receiving $5800 in donations. TJ’s Way Trust chairwoman Marion Maxwell was delighted to receive the funds, which would enable the trust to expand its support to cover sports and other activity fees for an additional six to eight local children in 2026. TJ’s Way Trust was set up by Mrs Maxwell and her family after her daughter Teresa Jayne died as a result of a road accident in Australia on November 25, 2006. Mrs Maxwell said that when families ran out of money to cover fees for activities, the trust would step in to ensure the children did not miss out. For more information on TJ’s Way Trust, visit the website www.tjswaytrust.co.nz
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 11, 2026 15:36 UTC
Funding group keeps momentum going
"I’m very pleased with how strongly we are growing and hopeful that we might crack 100 members this year," Mr Berryman said. "The more members we have, the larger pool of funds we have to donate to our local charities. Alongside the main donation, charities often also receive direct and practical support from donors in other ways, Mr Berryman said. Last year, the 100+ People Who Care group donated about $23,000 to local charities. "The charities love the format as well — being able to speak directly to the donors," Mr Berryman said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 11, 2026 15:36 UTC
Can use urged for drinking
Otago University Students’ Association president Daniel Leamy, pictured with a campaign poster yesterday, wants students to avoid using glass bottles and switch to cans for drinking. Otago University Students’ Association president Daniel Leamy said while such behaviour was disappointing, it was displayed by "less than 1%" of the student cohort. "It comes down to the fact there’s 20,000 students in Dunedin, and it’s one bad egg in that situation that gets picked up on. "It is just that there will always be one or two people out there who ruin it for everyone else." "But the vast majority of students drink out of cans, which is more sustainable, because they’re not ending up getting smashed.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 11, 2026 15:34 UTC
One and two-year mortgages are most popular again, ASB CEO Vittoria Shortt says
Class action weighs on ASB’s profitabilityHowever, the factor that weighed most heavily on the bank’s profitability was its decision to enter into a $136m settlement with those who brought a class action against it. While ASB agreed to settle with the claimants, who were automatically included in the class action without having to opt in, it made no admission of liability. ANZ is still fighting its corner in the class action. ASB customers unlikely to benefit from bank capital rule changeTaking a step back and looking at the economy more broadly, Shortt saw a gradual but uneven recovery. She didn’t believe ASB customers would see a difference in the cost and availability of credit on the back on the Reserve Bank changing its bank capital requirements.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 11, 2026 15:15 UTC