Bandits pip Crabs, Comets wiped
PHOTOS: NICK BROOKThe Owaka Bandits claimed a six-wicket win over the Milton King Crabs as the South Otago 40-over competition moved into its second round on Saturday. Milton were asked to bat and were bowled out for 137 in the 38th over, before Owaka chased that down inside 27 overs. Parker finished with four wickets for 15 runs off seven overs, while Gray managed three for 23 off eight. Bradley took another wicket in his next over, before Jacob Jenkins took two more to leave Owaka reeling at 16 for four. Opening bowlers Jared Hayes and Jared Cunningham took seven wickets between them for Waihola, Hayes taking five for five.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 05, 2026 15:03 UTC
Repair Cafe in need of new face
Rhys Taylor’s sudden death late last year has left Repair Cafe organisers on the hunt for someone to keep his legacy alive. The organisation’s monthly repair cafe has been left without a host, after its founder Rhys Taylor died in a sudden medical event late last year. ‘‘We want to continue Rhys and Anne’s legacy by continuing the repair cafe. ‘‘We are looking for a volunteer host to help support the event going forward — a role that doesn’t require repair skills, just a friendly face and good communication. ‘‘If this might be you, we would love to hear from you.’’‘‘We are committed to continuing the repair cafe in a way that honours his vision, his dedication, and the legacy he leaves within our community.’’The repair cafe took place on the second Sunday of each month.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 05, 2026 15:03 UTC
Giving Hoiho best chance
Hoiho chicks after feeding at the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDThe yellow-eyed penguin (hoiho) is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most distinctive seabirds — and one of our most threatened. For many years, dedicated conservationists have been working hard to give every hoiho the best possible chance of survival. Across several breeding seasons, the management of hoiho nests, eggs and chicks has become increasingly intensive. The goal is simple: protect nests of adult penguins, support vulnerable eggs and chicks,and strengthen survival outcomes for these precious taoka.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 05, 2026 15:02 UTC
Fiery crowd greets politicians in Waitangi
The coalition leaders advancing across the Waitangi Treaty Grounds during the welcome pōwhiri. Luxon addresses fiery crowdPrime Minister Christopher Luxon said it was a "tremendous privilege" to be back at Waitangi. Speaking from the mahau, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said Tiriti justice was the only way the country could achieve social and climate justice"Honour Te Tiriti. Although niceties were being exchanged at Waitangi, the government continued to trample on Te Tiriti and Te Taio while corporations benefited, Davidson said. "Te tiriti is about equity and unity and care and dignity for everyone."
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 05, 2026 13:34 UTC
Wastewater plant damage 'as bad as we feared'
Today's inspection showed the damage was "as bad as we feared", he said. Wellington Water said a rāhui (ban) is in place and covers anything the water can touch with the high or low tides. Cameras would be sent down the beginning of the long outfall pipe and divers would then check the end of it underwater. The worst part was not knowing when the water would be safe, he said, and wants clear communication from Wellington Water about that. McCaskill worried it would be a return to decades prior before the long outfall pipe was built.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 05, 2026 13:26 UTC
Food insecurity rising; support requests up
PHOTO: SUPPLIEDThe demand for food parcels and meals climb as food prices continue to rise, support agencies say. Last month a Statistics New Zealand (StatsNZ) release announced food prices had increased 4% for the past year. “Our agencies report having food support requests from more elderly than ever before and working families who are on minimum wage.”Food prices had increased more 10% in the past three years, she said. ‘‘This has caused significant strain on those needing food support.”The organisation could save more food if it was not for food safety regulations, she said. “For families with young children, illness, or sudden life changes, even small price increases can quickly tip them into food insecurity.”
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 05, 2026 11:41 UTC
Crime 'entitled' Bunnings to snag shoppers' facial data
In 2024, the commissioner's office found Bunnings had taken customers' private information without consent, failed to take steps to notify them and left gaps in its privacy policy. "Bunnings was entitled to use (the technology) for the limited purpose of combating very significant retail crime and protecting their staff and customers from violence, abuse and intimidation within its stores," the tribunal said. The extent of retail crime faced by Bunnings staff and customers was one of the "important factors" in its ruling. Threatening situations were "the worst it has ever been", Bunnings' national investigations and security manager Alexander MacDonald told the tribunal. "Our intent in trialling this technology was to help protect people from violence, abuse, serious criminal conduct and organised retail crime."
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 05, 2026 10:09 UTC
Schools, ministry disagree on what counts as a school day
By John Gerritsen of RNZSchools and the Education Ministry are at odds over whether welcoming new students a day or two before other students return to class counts as an official school day. School websites show multiple secondary schools opted to started with only one or two year levels, such as Year 9 students, present on the first day or two of the school term. It said schools were only open for instruction if all year levels were learning, either on or off-site. She said the school would not count the day as an official school day and had added an extra day to the end of its year. The ministry said from this year schools were expected to record the days they were not open for instruction and the reason.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 05, 2026 08:24 UTC
How NZ First retains support by absorbing fragmented Right-Wing votes
The reality is that NZ First can probably lean into enough support to hit double digits when you consider the sub 5% vote for anti-vaxx lunatics. The New Conservatives, NewZeal, NZ Outdoors, NZ Loyal and the Freedom Party are all crazy as fuck, and that’s why Winston is raging against the WHO! For New Conservatives, NewZeal, NZ Outdoors, NZ Loyal and the Freedom Party, the WHO is a shadowy one world government organisation run by a Satanic child abusing cabal. Micro targeting crazy sub groups of the Alt-Right is how One Australia and Reform are making in roads. The messaging sounds crazy to the rest of us, but to those alt-right sub groups who don’t get representation, the conspiracies are music to their ears.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 05, 2026 06:13 UTC
Record year for deer processing charity
Mighty Meats butcher Cory Orlowski has once again been voluntarily processing tonnes of venison into the small hours of the morning for Deer to Care. It had been a team effort of the Deer to Care co-founders Stuart O’Neill, Tim Cook and Wesley Baratcart to help others. ‘‘We started off as a group of mates looking to hand over excess deer to charities in Southland.’’A record 615 deer had been processed in the past year and charities as far as North Otago had reaped the benefits. Mighty Meats Butchery owner Cory Orlowski frequently volunteered into the small hours, processing donated venison into 500g tubes of mince meat, Mr O’Neill said. The Mataura Butcher had now also joined the meat processing team.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 05, 2026 06:08 UTC
Unaffordable insurance becoming 'really serious' situation
By Susan Edmunds of RNZConsumer NZ says New Zealand is facing a "really serious" situation with insurance becoming increasingly unaffordable and potentially inaccessible - and a new review needs to urgently tackle the problem. The first stage of the insurance review is expected to take six months and will be followed by a second phase, of policy development. "New Zealand's higher risk profile is likely a contributing factor, with investors demanding higher returns for the higher risk. Consumer NZ said New Zealand is facing a "really serious" situation with insurance becoming increasingly unaffordable and potentially inaccessible - and a new review needs to urgently tackle the problem. "New Zealand's higher risk profile is likely a contributing factor, with investors demanding higher returns for the higher risk.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 05, 2026 04:56 UTC
Who should decide the value of your local environment?
PHOTO: ODT FILESOver the summer break, following the repeal of the previous government’s Natural and Built Environment Act and Spatial Planning Act, the government introduced replacement legislation intended to resolve long-standing issues with the Resource Management Act (RMA). Under the proposed framework, regional spatial plans would replace the current network of district and regional plans. These include sunlight access, outlook, neighbourhood character, open space, landscape values and visual quality. This creates a risk that local character and environmental context become secondary to development efficiency. Smaller centres, such as Arrowtown, rely on local planning provisions to maintain scale, heritage character and sense of place.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 05, 2026 04:04 UTC
Theatre company readies for Fringe Festival debut
PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONJCR Productions actors (from left) Chris Cook, Eva Clarke, Thomas Burns, writer and director Jackson Rosie and Zach Hall, all of Dunedin, attend the launch of the 2026 Dunedin Fringe Festival at the Regent Theatre yesterday. Mr Rosie’s company, JCR Productions, will make its debut at the festival with two shows, We Remember Wrong, which will play at Shore Street Studios on March 13-15, and Let the Dinosaurs on the Ark!, which will play at the DSL rooms on March 18-20.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 05, 2026 03:37 UTC
Man charged with killing veterinarian
Dr Jillian Clark. Photo: suppliedA man is facing a murder charge after a veterinarian was found dead at her Otago home last month. Milton vet Dr Jillian Clark was found dead at her rural home. A man was also found in a critical condition at the property and flown to Dunedin Hospital. In a statement, Detective Senior Sergeant Nik Leigh said a man has been charged with murder following a bedside hearing today.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 05, 2026 03:05 UTC
ODT Racing Chat: Hazlett Stakes
On ODT Racing Chat today, brought to you by Craig's Investment Partners, we preview the Otago Racing Club's Waitangi weekend meeting, including the time-honoured Hazlett Stakes. We talk to GM Noelle Prince about what the cancellation of the big day at Gore last weekend means to the industry. We check out the family fun day at Wingatui on Saturday and how the planning is going for the Classics Day at the end of the month with over a $1 million in stakes. We talk to local trainer Terry Kennedy about why the roads are always shut out here and the chances of his 10 runners on Saturday. We finish the best tipster in the South who steers us into the "gold plated winners" of the Hazlett and the Gore Cup.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 05, 2026 03:05 UTC