Tenders called for peer mental care
Phil GradyHealth New Zealand wants to establish a private ‘‘peer-led’’ mental health facility in the Southern district. It was decided in the review that ‘‘new models of care’’ in mental health services needed to be explored in the district. Phone services would also have to be prepared to operate beyond standard business hours, while all peer-led services could be accessed by ‘‘self-referral’’. HNZ national director for mental health and addictions Phil Grady said Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced in November two new peer-led acute alternative services to reduce inpatient ward admissions. ‘‘This service will complement the peer-led acute alternative service that is already established in Canterbury.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 12, 2026 21:48 UTC
Rory McIlroy wins back-to-back Masters titles after late scare
McIlroy joins Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters titles. McIlroy birdied the par four third before a double bogey at the par three fourth saw him give up the lead. Another bogey at the sixth saw McIlroy drop back to nine-under, but Young also found trouble at the par three. -11 Scottie Scheffler (USA)-10 Tyrrell Hatton (ENG), Cameron Young (USA), Russell Henley (USA), Justin Rose (ENG). -5 Hideki Matsuyama (JPN), Jordan Spieth (USA), Brooks Koepka (USA), Patrick Cantlay (USA), Patrick Reed (USA), Jason Day (AUS).
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 12, 2026 21:28 UTC
Kiwis delaying medical care, skipping meals
By Nona Pelletier of RNZThe cost of housing is making it difficult for people to pay their bills, with one-in-four delaying medical care and/or skipping meals in the past year. "The sacrifices revealed in this data are not a cost-of-living story," The Urban Advisory (TUA) co-founder and director Dr Natalie Allen said. The second annual Housing Survey by TUA drew on the experiences of 5232 New Zealanders surveyed between August 2024-January 2026. Dr Allen said the data could help inform commercial decision-making, as the country looked to invest more into infrastructure. The commercial opportunityThe market wasn't responding at scale to the demand for secure, long-term rental options by 52% of respondents.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 12, 2026 20:25 UTC
One person airlifted to Dunedin Hospital after Hampden crash
Trucks were backed up at the site of the two-vehicle crash near Hampden. Photo: Stephen JaquieryOne person has been airlifted to Dunedin Hospital in a critical condition following a crash which has closed State Highway 1 north of Hampden this morning. Police said they were alerted to the two-vehicle crash on SH1 near the intersection with Mile Flat Rd about 7.30am. A Hate Hone St John spokesperson said one ambulance, one prime responder, one helicopter and one operations manager attended the scene. One patient was assessed and transported by helicopter to Dunedin Hospital in a critical condition, the spokesperson said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 12, 2026 20:17 UTC
Christopher Luxon says fuel supply secure, oil importers ‘highly confident’
Luxon said that an essential supplies agreement, which is part of a “comprehensive strategic partnership” with Singapore, would help secure the fuel supply. New Zealand is operating under the agreement already, with Luxon saying he would fly to Singapore on May 1 to sign it. “We wanted always to make sure that we could get fuel and pharmaceuticals in a crisis. “So that’s the nature of our agreement.”Christopher Luxon spoke to Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking this morning. Luxon said Auckland had huge potential for growth that the whole country could benefit from.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 12, 2026 19:23 UTC
Critical minerals: How the proposed framework with US came about, why ministry told Herald to destroy sensitive information
Ministerial briefings reveal how a proposed arrangement with the United States on critical minerals came about, what a draft version included, and its potential risks. He told the Herald the “frequent narrative” of the Government that critical minerals were essential for transitioning to clean energy “masks a more sinister purpose”. Photo / Marty MelvilleThe global backdropDemand for critical minerals has grown in recent years. Last year, the Government released a minerals strategy and critical minerals list, identifying 37 minerals “vital to the economy and susceptible to supply chain risks”. The paper included the name of the proposed framework - “United States-New Zealand Framework For Securing of Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths”.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 12, 2026 18:32 UTC
Shelter, not investment: the Kiwi property breakup is overdue
As we navigate 2026, the recent RNZ report on The Great Property Breakup suggests the tide is finally turning. This shift is vital, because for too long we haven’t been treating houses as shelter: we’ve been treating them as investments. Recent polling shows a majority of Kiwis now recognise the need for change, whether through a CGT or a wealth tax. It acts as both a wealth tax and a stabiliser for capital gains. How much should a house cost?
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 12, 2026 18:06 UTC
Meeke again shows liking for event with another win in classic section
Kris MeekeA brush with a bank yesterday morning and a consequent puncture were not enough to stop Kris Meeke from cantering to a dominant win on the Classic Rally section of the Otago Rally. The ebullient Irishman, an ex-WRC star who won the classic rally in 2024 and finished runner-up last year, was in commanding form. Ostberg, driving a Mazda RX-3, was first to exit on Saturday’s fifth stage, while running third in the classic event. Jamie Luff (Australia, Ford Escort), Glenn Brinkman (Australia, Datsun Bluebird), Ally Mackay (Christchurch, Ford Escort) and David Fahey (Christchurch, Ford Escort) completed the classic rally top-10. Steve Cox won the Classic 0-1300cc class after a spirited drive in his Toyota Starlet.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 12, 2026 18:05 UTC
Trump orders US Navy to block Hormuz Strait after Iran talks fail
“I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. Iran’s Fars news agency reported on Sunday that two Pakistani-flagged oil tankers heading for the strait had turned around. Fears of renewed fighting rattled an already tense region after the US-Iran talks collapsed. I could have their entire energy everything, every one of their plants, their electric generating plants, which is a big deal,” he said. “I have always said, right from the beginning, and many years ago, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!” Trump said.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 12, 2026 18:04 UTC
Tireless effort to get bush tyre-less
Keep Dunedin Beautiful volunteer Vita Mayhem-Bullock, 10, stands near a pile of tyres pulled from the Dunedin Town Belt during a community cleanup of the area on Saturday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHEnough tyres to fit a standard car and a motorcycle were pulled from the bush around the Dunedin Town Belt in a community effort to clean up the area. About 40 people gathered at a section of the town belt between Braid Rd and Preston Cres to fill as many sacks as possible with rubbish. The cleanup happened where the Town Belt Active Travel Trial is taking place, and is part of the 2026 Wild Dunedin Festival. ‘‘We’ve deliberately done this now to get data for the closure.’’The Town Belt Active Travel Trial is due to finish on April 19.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 12, 2026 18:03 UTC
Smart meter trial deferred to new entity
A trial of smart water meters in Kurow has been shelved by councillors in light of bigger plans to rejoin the Southern Waters partnership. Kurow was picked for a potential smart meter trial as it was the only town across the local network which was already fully metered. Mr Hayes said feedback on the proposed trial had been useful but ‘‘what’s changed is our direction with going with Southern Waters’’. ‘‘We have come to the conclusion that the wisest use of our time and energy at the moment is to defer any decision on smart metering to Southern Waters,’’ he said. Waitaki District Mayor Mel Tavendale also cautioned councillors not to get ahead of themselves when it came to discussions, given an extraordinary general meeting was due to be held this week formalising Waitaki District Council’s re-entry into Southern Waters.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 12, 2026 17:58 UTC
Sealions inspiration for dance
Saltwater Feet dancers perform a sealion-inspired dance routine at St Clair Beach on Saturday. Scores of early-risers gathered at St Clair Beach before sunrise on Saturday to watch about 12 performers dance their way along the beach, and into the rising sun as it broke over the horizon. Saltwater Feet dramaturg Fiona Graham said the dance looked at the relationship between sealions, and aimed to envelop watchers with the natural landscape around them. It was the second year the event has been held at St Clair Beach. The dance was again choreographed by Dr Carol Brown, and Dunedin-born Russell Scoones composed the accompanying music.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 12, 2026 17:58 UTC
Water woes worsen
A Southland Regional Council report released earlier this year highlighted the issue in that area, where an estimated 15,000 Southlanders could be drinking water polluted by nitrates. That report said nitrate concentrations in groundwater frequently exceeded 3.5 mg/L and in some places exceeded the New Zealand drinking water standard of 11.3 mg/L. More than half of Southland's domestic drinking water supply wells were estimated to have nitrate concentrations above 3.5 mg/L. But despite years of dismal reports on water quality, these issues are not being handled urgently or cohesively. Other countries who had experienced similar declines had been able to make huge gains in their freshwater quality, he said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 12, 2026 17:58 UTC
Central Otago rugby triumphs in White Horse celebration
The Upper Clutha Premier rugby team celebrate after beating Maniototo 31-7 at the Queenstown Events Centre on Saturday to retain the White Horse Cup during a special ‘‘super round’’ to celebrate the cup’s centenary. Queenstown provided the perfect backdrop for the biggest-ever celebration of Central Otago rugby on Saturday, at which the 100-year-old White Horse Cup was the centrepiece. The cup, Central Otago’s equivalent to the Ranfurly Shield, was donated to the Vincent sub-union that administered Central Otago rugby at the time by White Horse Distillers through its Dunedin agent R. Wilson and Co in 1926. The first 15 of the specially-made White Horse Invitational jerseys went under the hammer — they raised $29,000, with the most sought-after jerseys being 15 ($3800), 7 ($3300) and 1 ($2200) — while two ‘‘White Horse 100’’ jerseys fetched a total of $4600. ‘‘We had all the dignitaries from Otago Rugby there ... and they couldn’t believe that we’d put this event on ourselves ...‘‘It was just a great celebration of Central Otago footy, really.’’tracey.roxburgh@odt.co.nz
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 12, 2026 17:58 UTC