Firefighters on strike
Photo: Peter McIntoshDunedin firefighters take part in a strike on the corner of Anzac Ave and St Andrew St yesterday. It is the 10th time the New Zealand Professional Firefighters’ Union (NZPFU) has taken strike action in a bid to get a collective employment agreement for paid Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) firefighters. Fenz and the NZPFU have been in bargaining talks since July 2024. During yesterday’s one-hour strike, from noon to 1pm, Fenz received calls for 18 incidents across the country. Of those, 10 were in areas affected by the strike.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 06, 2026 16:22 UTC
Underground electric cable to be installed
Businesses and residents in Kaikorai Valley and surrounding communities will notice activity happening in the area over the coming months , as lines company Aurora Energy installs a new underground electricity cable. Aurora said the 3.15km 33kV cable would stretch from the Kaikorai Valley zone substation, in Stone St, to Transpower’s Halfway Bush grid exit point yard, in Wakari Rd. The company said the project would improve the security of electricity supply for the more than 3300 customers in Kaikorai Valley, Brockville, Kenmure, Mornington and Belleknowes who are supplied by the Kaikorai Valley zone substation. "We ask all customers to factor in additional travel time and be prepared for delays. The Kaikorai Valley to Halfway Bush cable project is part of Aurora Energy’s wider $560 million investment programme across Dunedin, Central Otago/Wānaka and Queenstown.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 06, 2026 16:22 UTC
Guardian deters grumps and jumpers
Sea lion Mika’s guardian, Kaitlin Beyer, holds a picture of Mika and one of her pups. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONA 12-year-old Dunedin girl has become the guardian of a sea lion who chose to give birth near her house — not once, but twice. Both times Mika gave birth, Kaitlin found herself guarding Mika from people trying to interfere with her. When Kaitlin discovered Mika had given birth she immediately became fascinated by the sea lion and spent countless hours watching her. A sea lion would normally spend about two weeks in the place where they gave birth, but Mika hung around for about six weeks.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 06, 2026 16:02 UTC
Be mindful of attitude to alcohol, driver told
Photo: fileA 23-year-old Queenstown builder caught driving nearly five times the alcohol limit in Frankton Rd had already been fined twice for drink-driving. The result came back at 245mg — nearly five times the legal limit and equivalent to a breath-alcohol reading of 1225mcg. Ms Steele asked the young man’s lawyer, DeAnne Nicoloso, if he had a problem with alcohol the court could help him deal with. Ms Steele said Redmond had no previous convictions, but had incurred demerit points from twice exceeding the legal alcohol limit. Although she accepted his belief he did not need any help for alcohol issues, she urged him to be "very mindful" of his attitude to alcohol and driving — his blood-alcohol level was of a magnitude that made an alcohol interlock sentence mandatory.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 06, 2026 16:02 UTC
Racing this time in two contentious high-stakes handicaps
Upon taking office, the current minister, Winston Peters, bluntly told greyhound racing it needed to get its house in order. That it was, and the Racing Industry (Closure of Greyhound Racing Industry) Amendment Bill unanimously passed its first reading in November last year — although Act New Zealand expressed concerns about infringement on personal property rights. One of the fastest out of the traps was Bronwyn Eade, the secretary/manager of the Southland and the Otago Greyhound Racing Clubs. She told the committee, which includes Waitaki National MP Miles Anderson, that greyhound racing had — literally — been her life. It certainly has parliamentary support, so in racing parlance greyhound racing is a rank outsider to win this race.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 06, 2026 15:36 UTC
Racing on the beach
PHOTO: DAVE LOUDONAndrew Rudd, of Ashburton, leads the field in the 2026 Burt Munro Challenge E Hayes & Sons Beach Racing and New Zealand Championships at Oreti Beach yesterday. The event began on Wednesday with the Southland Honda Track Day, followed by the Star Insure New Zealand Hill Climb Championship and Indian Motorcycle Twilight Drag Racing on Thursday, and will continue today with the Super Seller Shelley Speedway at 3pm, and the Teretonga Sprint Races and Superbike Championships today and tomorrow. The event celebrates the life of Southland motorcyclist Burt Munro, who modified his 1920 Indian Scout and set a land speed record of 288.02kmh at the Utah Salt Flats in 1962. He travelled there a further eight times and set two more world records. His 1967 record of 295.44kmh still stands today
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 06, 2026 15:35 UTC
Native birds on the rise as possum numbers drop
The number of native birds, including tūī , is on the rise around the Wakatipu, thanks to the sustained efforts of a range of volunteers and volunteer groups. PHOTO: BEN CARSONPossums are losing their grip near Arrowtown and native bird numbers are on the rise. Despite the increase in traps, though, the average number of possums has steadily declined — over the same time, native bird numbers have been on the rise. WWT was about to begin bird monitoring, which was hoped would confirm "native bird abundance", while SLS has recently installed acoustic monitoring devices to support that. "Hearing locals tell us they’re seeing more native birds in the area shows the real, positive impact of sustained predator control."
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 06, 2026 15:35 UTC
Farmer interest high in supplying organic milk
Fonterra organics general manager Andrew Henderson has tracked higher numbers than expected of South Island farmers willing to supply organic milk. Organics general manager Andrew Henderson said they appeared to have passed a target for a minimum volume of milk to expand organic milk production in the South Island. "With an organic milk price at $13.10/kg at the moment commercially it could be quite attractive so there are a number of drivers there... "From the South Island milk, we would look just to make the organic cheese at Stirling. Demand is also up for organic milk protein concentrate, whey protein concentrate and UHT into China.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 06, 2026 15:35 UTC
Housing crisis hitting former refugees
Some former Syrian refugees living in Dunedin say they are struggling with overcrowded accommodation due to the city’s housing crisis. PHOTO: MARY WILLIAMSThe plight of former refugees living in overcrowded, ageing Dunedin houses is a symptom of the city’s housing crisis that government must solve, social leaders say. Ms Barker said that in 2015, when Dunedin was being considered as a place to settle refugees, concerns had been raised about Dunedin’s "lack of quality housing and old state housing stock". "Overcrowding is a problem we have found for the former refugee community, and people in general, in the private rental market as well. The figure is around 7% of the 1500 refugees New Zealand aims now to settle through the settlement programme annually.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 06, 2026 15:35 UTC
Food, music key features
The Ngā Ara Wai kapa haka group, consisting of high school students from the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago regions, perform at the Waitangi Day celebration at Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens yesterday. PHOTO: GUY WILLIAMSFood, music and fun were the key features of Queenstown’s community Waitangi Day celebration at Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens yesterday. The free event was organised for the fourth year by Mana Tāhuna Charitable Trust, in partnership with the Queenstown Lakes District Council and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. "What brings us together today is having a heap of fun, some great kai and some inspirational music." Food was a key feature of the day.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 06, 2026 15:35 UTC
Birthday trip to remember for footballer and team-mates
Californian Jeff Serota (fourth from left) and his Serota Birthday Football California team-mates celebrate his 60th birthday trip playing football at the Masters Games at Forsyth Barr Stadium. California footballer Jeff Serota gathered his best mates — who all play together back home in Manhattan Beach — for his 60th birthday bonanza, convincing them to pack their bags and head to New Zealand to play in the Masters Games. "New Zealand is great. "The fact that my friends all committed to come over is really nice — they gave up a lot of responsibilities." If there is one thing for sure, it has been a birthday trip to remember.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 06, 2026 15:35 UTC
Trumpeter hitting all the right notes
Ollie Sharpe at his Jillian Jardine Trophy presentation with, from left, Turn up The Music principal/brass teacher Emma Wilson, trophy donor Jillian Jardine and his first trumpet teacher Chris Stevens, who’s now a music school tutorA very promising Queenstown trumpeter has won the prestigious Jillian Jardine Trophy which Turn Up the Music (TuM) school presents to a talented young musician each year. Ollie Sharpe, 13, who recently passed Grade 5 Rockschool with a strong merit score, started playing at only 7. That’s when then-Remarkables Primary teacher Chris Stevens presented him with a plastic trumpet donated by the TuM trust — ironically he then learned his dad, Stu, also used to play the instrument. He’s been receiving tuition from WHS music teacher Alistair Monteith and TuM principal and brass tutor Emma Wilson. Wilson says Ollie’s ‘‘a delight to teach as he always gives his best effort’’, and she’s super-proud he’ll be first trumpet in WHS’s production of Legally Blonde next month.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 06, 2026 15:03 UTC
New downhill run for newbies
Coronet Peak staffer and former NZ mountain biking rep Erin Greene will make the first ride of its new trailA new downhill mountain bike trail at Coronet Peak especially designed for beginners will be officially opened on Saturday. The 5km-long ‘Whakatipu View’ trail, which runs from the top of the lift to the ski area’s base building, is the Basin’s first-ever grade 2 trail. ‘‘It’s ideal for someone who has riding experience, but is looking to start riding some mountain bike trails.’’Ski area manager Nigel Kerr says Coronet Peak can seem ‘‘incredibly intimidating’’ for riders who haven’t tried downhill trails before. Built by local company Dirt Design since November, Whakatipu View provides a step between a riverside trail and a steeper downhill trail, Kerr says. Next in the pipeline is the grade 6 ‘World Cup’ trail — an extreme, top-to-bottom 1.9km run designed to test professional riders.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 06, 2026 15:02 UTC
Through the eyes of others
Lucinda Williams continues her remarkable recovery from a stroke with a new album. Photo: The ObserverBorn in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in 1953 to American poet Miller Williams and pianist Lucille Fern Day, Lucinda Williams is a multiple Grammy-winning singer-songwriter. I find that if I’m angry, it’s good to write about stuff through the eyes of regular, everyday people. Inevitably, she’ll bring up Bob Dylan’s name and say: "Well, I just saw Bob the other day, he’s doing such and such." Q Your breakthrough came on the English label Rough Trade, which you signed to in 1987, when it was home to the Smiths.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 06, 2026 15:02 UTC
Sweating the small stuff
Even more uniquely, we have unmatched opportunities to behaviourally shield ourselves from heat stress, e.g., by reducing clothing, using shelter, and accessing fans and water. Most of our heat stress even on the hottest days comes from inside us — our metabolism — rather than the environment (especially if shaded). Yet, warm and wet skin make us believe it is hot air, sun or high humidity. These realities of heat stress raise several issues. We are the single species that is increasingly and knowingly responsible for rising levels of heat and humidity.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 06, 2026 14:44 UTC