Half of country’s most vulnerable children excluded from Govt’s fuel relief package
Photo / Mark MitchellThere are 18 questions used to measure material hardship. A family are classed as living in material hardship when they lack seven of the items or services referred to on the list. Photo / Ben DickensFigures released in February for a 12-month period between 2024 and 2025 show that material hardship and poverty rates remain persistently high, with around 14% of New Zealand children living in material hardship. One in four – or one quarter – of Māori children, one third of Pacific kids and one in four disabled children are living in material hardship. “We have a choice between letting families and children fall through the cracks or ensure everyone receives adequate support.”Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 26, 2026 05:07 UTC
Trump says Iran ‘afraid’ to admit it wants a deal
Lashing out at his domestic opponents, Trump also claimed Democrats were trying to “deflect from all of the tremendous success that we’re having in this military operation”. “President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared to unleash hell. Iran should not miscalculate again.”Asked if negotiations with Iran had stalled, Leavitt replied: “Talks continue. Meanwhile, the White House appeared to stick to the four to six-week timeline it had previously given for the duration of the war. “We’ve always estimated approximately four to six weeks [for the length of military operations against Iran], so you could do the math on that,” Leavitt added.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 26, 2026 04:54 UTC
Stuff Group announces closure of Petone printing press, 30 jobs to go
Photo: RNZ/Marika KhabaziNews publisher Stuff Group has announced the closure of its Petone printing press and the loss of 30 jobs on site. Boucher said the Petone site was bought from Australia's Nine Media by new owners in November. "This did not factor into the future of the plant for Stuff, as the Christchurch option was already well advanced." She said the lease didn't expire for another year and consultation with the 30 people employed at the Petone site would take place over the coming weeks and months. "[We] will be looking for opportunities for redeployment within the business, including at our Christchurch site where we will be adding jobs to accommodate the additional work."
Source:Stuff
March 26, 2026 04:42 UTC
Stuff announces closure of Wellington newspaper printing press
News publisher Stuff Group has announced the closure of its Petone printing press and the loss of 30 jobs on site. Owner and publisher Sinead Boucher told staff earlier today that the plant would shut down in 2027, with print operations moving to Christchurch. Boucher said the Petone site was bought from Australia's Nine Media by new owners in November. (Source: 1News)"This did not factor into the future of the plant for Stuff, as the Christchurch option was already well advanced." She said the lease didn't expire for another year and consultation with the 30 people employed at the Petone site would take place over the coming weeks and months.
Source:Stuff
March 26, 2026 04:41 UTC
Ockham lays off staff amid ongoing apartment downturn
Ockham co-founder Mark Todd at the developer’s Greenhouse building. (Image: Michael Craig)Veteran Auckland apartment developer Ockham has been forced to lay off 10 of its 27 staff due to the lengthy market slump.Ockham is the developer of 20 apartment complexes around Auckland.The projects are known for their attractive facades, such as the yellow Kōanga in Waterview, The Greenhouse in Ponsonby, and Aroha in Avondale.Co-founder Mark Todd has been an outspoken advocate for density done well, but said the apartment market had been tough for some time.“The pre-sales market [has been] effectively non-existent for close to four yea...
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 26, 2026 04:03 UTC
South Dunedin street attack caught on CCTV
The incident happened in front of the South Dunedin Library. Photo: ODT FilesA Dunedin pedestrian was forced to run for it when a woman he knew chased him down the street wielding a weapon. However, witnesses in the area said she had been trying to hit the man with a tyre iron and missed, Sgt Lee said. The incident happened in front of the South Dunedin Library’s new CCTV cameras which would be reviewed. Inquiries were continuing to identify and locate the woman, Sgt Lee said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 03:20 UTC
No fuel alert level change tomorrow: Willis
Photo: RNZThe country will not be moving up an alert level when ministers announce more details of the national fuel plan at Parliament on Friday. "Tomorrow we will also provide more information about the criteria we will use to assess when a change in the response phase is required. Willis also told MPs in the House that the government's goal was to "avoid ever getting to response phase three or four". Willis also doesn't expect the government would need to be "skipping through the response phases" of the alert level framework. On how much warning there would be for alert level changes, Willis said, "we are determined to ensure people aren't in a situation where things change suddenly overnight in ways that aren't expected".
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 03:20 UTC
Former Black Cap Luke Woodcock gives cancer treatment update as donations near $100k
Former Black Cap Luke Woodcock has started chemotherapy and radiation therapy for his brain tumour. “This one will be his weekly attire over a 6 week period whilst having radiation – here’s to kicking cancer! !”Former Black Cap Luke Woodcock had a helmet fitted for him which he wears during his radiation treatment. Wellington College also previously released a statement about his condition and asked its community to rally around their staff member. Woodcock made his debut for the Black Caps against Pakistan in a December 2010 T20 International, which New Zealand won by 39 runs.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 26, 2026 02:23 UTC
Long tailbacks on Dunedin motorway second morning in row
Traffic backed up on the southern motorway. Photo: Stephen JaquieryTraffic on the southern motorway is rolling again after being backed up for the second day in a row following a crash near Lookout Point. Police said the crash involving a car and motorbike happened about 7.35am about 400m south of the Lookout Point turnoff. That is the same place where a similar nose to tail crash happened yesterday morning. NZTA Waka Kotahi said the crash had blocked the right eastbound lane at Lookout Point, near Burnett Street.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 00:49 UTC
Balloons over Waikato Nightglow chaos: Traffic, buses and parking fury
The Balloons Over Waikato Nightglow went back to the University of Waikato this year. The annual hot air balloon festival is owned and governed by the Balloons Over Waikato Trust, which contracts Wellington-based Lightning Events to deliver the event. Balloons Over Waikato chairman Steve Gow said they were aware of the “frustration” and apologised on behalf of the event. Regarding the bus and park-and-ride services, Gow said Balloons Over Waikato partnered with Waikato Regional Council, which co-ordinated and delivered the free services through its providers. Those affected will be offered a full refund on parking and are asked to contact Balloons Over Waikato directly.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 26, 2026 00:39 UTC
Stadium scale-down aimed at securing more shows
File photoDunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML) has unveiled plans for a Capacity Reduction System at Forsyth Barr Stadium. The proposed curtains will increase the variety of ways the stadium can be configured to capitalise on an increasing market for ‘arena’ sized music and sporting events. The mid-tier ‘Arena Mode’ will enable the stadium to host between 8000 and 12,000 - perfect for the mid-sized touring shows that promoters across New Zealand are increasingly seeking. Our vision for the Capacity Reduction System is a solution that positions Dunedin to secure events we are currently missing out on. Rather than waiting for content to return, we are investing in our ability to attract it.” Mr Doorn said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 26, 2026 00:19 UTC
Electricity Authority launches power comparison site Billy
“Heading into winter, many households will face an increase to their power bill. It then funded Powerswitch with about $1.4 million a year, but announced last year that was coming to an end. The authority said the upfront investment for Billy was $2.5m. The site does not receive a payment from companies when users switch to them, as Powerswitch does. Consumers need advice from a truly independent source that doesn’t have a dog in the race.”
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 26, 2026 00:17 UTC
Man with knife arrested in garage of student flat
The man was found in a garage in Queen St. Photo: Google MapsA knife-carrying man allegedly tried to break into a north Dunedin flat in the middle of the night to wake up a woman he had briefly met. Residents of the Queen St property were startled at about 2.20am yesterday to see a 23-year-old man trying to open once of their windows, Sergeant Matt Lee, of Dunedin, said. He failed in trying to open the window, and fell asleep below the window. When he woke a short time later, he left a knife he was carrying lying below the window and broke into the flat’s garage. Police arrested the man and he was charged with being unlawfully in a building and possession of a knife in a public place.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 25, 2026 23:12 UTC
Drenching, buffeting on way for parts of Otago
MetService has issued a slew of severe weather advisories for the country. Image: MetServiceParts of coastal Otago, including Dunedin, are set to be hit by some wild weather leading into the weekend. While the worst of the severe weather lashing the country is in the North Island, some heavy rain and strong winds are forecast for parts of the South. The forecaster said northeast winds could approach severe gale in exposed places, especially on Otago Peninsula. There is also an orange heavy rain warning for North Otago and Canterbury south of Timaru and east of Otematata, for 13 hours from 5pm today.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 25, 2026 22:18 UTC