Argument led to murder and dismemberment, court hears
Photo: RNZAnimosity between two men led to one of them being murdered and dismembered, a Christchurch High Court jury has heard. Photo: Supplied / NZ PoliceWhile the two women sat in a bedroom and ate, Leman went to look for a way to smoke more methamphetamine, Mallett said. "They found Mr Leman and Mr Rodger in the lounge facing each other, while Mr Rodger had a gun in his hand." The Crown argues Rodger shot Leman twice, first in the leg, then a fatal shot to his chest. He said Rodger threatened to kill both women, took Leman's drugs and cash and dragged his body into another room.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 05:51 UTC
Youth motocross in spotlight after four deaths in two years
Jack Willson was 10 years old when he was killed in a motocross accident in Taupō in 2023. Photo: Supplied via RNZThe deaths of four young people in separate motocross accidents over a two-year span will be the focus of a joint Coronial inquest, placing the safety of the sport under scrutiny. "It is without question an extraordinarily difficult day for everybody involved, and particularly the parents of Jack, Luke, Eli and Wai'aryn," he said. The joint inquest builds on earlier proceedings into Jack Willson's death. The Cambridge 10-year-old died after a crash while racing at the Digger McEwen Motocross Park in Taupō in April 2023.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 05:21 UTC
She was earning £65,000 before AI came along. What happened next is a warning to us all
Anton Korinek, one of the world’s most influential economists studying transformative AI, says: “It may happen later this year or later this decade. Now, some of the world’s smartest people are warning that AI is making their skills obsolete. In the UK, someone earning less than £43,000 in 2023 would be at risk, according to the latest data. I don’t think we’re going to have AI take over airline traffic control any time soon. We’re not going to have AI take over chief financial officers, chief executives or chief operating officers,” Acemoglu says.
Source:Stuff
February 16, 2026 03:00 UTC
Judicial conduct hearing: Judge Ema Aitken questioned about alcohol consumption on night of Northern Club fracas
“None of the people at your table were intoxicated?” Stephens asked the judge. “You must have been affected to some extent.”“I don’t accept I was disinhibited or affected by alcohol in the way you are suggesting,” Judge Aitken replied. Stephens asked the judge if she had done anything to cause Costello to look in her direction. “I don’t know why she was staring at me.”“You didn’t call out loudly or yell at the top of the stairs,” Stephens asked. “No, we don’t want to put that in the statement,” Judge Aitken recalled being told during the phone call.
Source:New Zealand Herald
February 16, 2026 02:07 UTC
'Giving a bit too much way': One injured in Catlins crash
Photo: Nick BrookOne person has been taken to hospital with moderate injuries after a single-vehicle crash near Purakaunui in the Catlins this morning. A police spokesman said they were alerted to the crash at about 11.45am on Purakaunui Bay Rd, near the site of a popular beach-side campsite. "It appears to be a case of tourists giving a bit too much way when they've encountered an oncoming vehicle," a police officer at the scene said. "It is a narrow gravel road with blind corners and it's an all too common situation we do get called to." Hato Hone St John also attended with two helicopters and a first response unit.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 01:30 UTC
Prisoner with burst appendix six days delayed going to hospital
By Kate Green of RNZA prisoner with a burst appendix was told it was a stomach bug, and waited six days to be admitted to hospital for surgery. The Health and Disability Commissioner said multiple registered nurses saw the woman, but their clinical impression was that of a viral infection. The prison has denied clinical staff said this. Ms A said she was in a vulnerable and dependent state, and the clinical staff did not do enough to escalate her care. "The medical care Ms A received fell short of what is rightly expected of us.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 01:15 UTC
Vehicle search uncovers drugs, weapons - police
A machete was found along with cannabis, a set of scales and an imitation firearm inside a vehicle searched in Dunedin this morning, police say. Police stopped the vehicle in Ardmore Dr, near the Kensington Sports Bar & Tavern, about 12.10am this morning, Sergeant Matt Lee, of Dunedin, said. Officers spotted a meth pipe in the vehicle and invoked a search, Sgt Lee said. The search of the vehicle also produced a butterfly knife, a machete, police scanners, cannabis plant, scales and a ‘‘tick book’’. Officers witnessed a 19-year-old man allegedly ‘‘chasing after an associate and trying to kick him over’’, Sgt Lee said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 01:09 UTC
Highlanders to learn from opening win
Highlanders centre Jonah Lowe looks for an opportunity while Timoci Tavatavanawai and Cameron Millar are in support during the Super Rugby Pacific game against the Crusaders on Friday night. Highlanders fans might at least want a few days to revel in the pure joy of beating the Crusaders 25-23 in the opening game of the Super Rugby season before they contemplate losing their coach. They found a way to win the game, just about lose it, and win it again. "I thought he contributed really, really well," Joseph said. The other eyebrow-raising Super Rugby result at the weekend was in Lautoka.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 00:22 UTC
The Bluff beach battling asbestos
Photo: DOC/SuppliedFurther work could be required to protect a Bluff beach from old waste such as asbestos, despite tonnes of material already being removed. In August, Ocean Beach re-opened to the public following closure in 2018 due to contamination from a historic landfill. "Significant" amounts of asbestos needed to be removed and up to 30 - 50 years of work was forecast, Suter wrote. DOC operations manager Murihiku John McCarroll said contaminants, including asbestos, were first reported at the beach in 2018 and 1.2 tonnes of material was removed. Located just outside Bluff, Ocean Beach is situated near an old freezing works site which is now home to aquaculture and a distillery.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 00:21 UTC
Officials warn of 'compromised' fast track prison expansion
Photo: File imageA prison expansion is on such a fast track that it prompted officials to ask if compromises were being made. Corrections told RNZ it had accelerated the project "while still retaining checks and safeguards". Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell told RNZ the Gateway review "commended the department for active efforts to manage all risks". Double bunking: 'They're going to get angry'Corrections told RNZ the design had less internal communal space but an open-air courtyard instead. Mitchell told RNZ he had been assured Christchurch Men's was on schedule.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 16, 2026 00:13 UTC
Dairy cows centre stage in game
Tim Richards and his cows which are unwittingly becoming celebrities in the gaming world. A herd of North Otago dairy cows feature in Fantasy Herd, believed to be the world’s first fantasy sports-style game powered by real cows, real farm data and live wearable technology. Launched by Meadow Fresh, the game involved players selecting dairy cows from Tim Richards’ working dairy farm between Georgetown and Ngapara. He was keen for urban-dwellers to see the technology used on today’s farms. Mr Richards, who has about 700 cows, has used Halter technology for about three and a-half years and described it as a game changer.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 15, 2026 23:57 UTC
Driver fatigue thought to be behind Lake Hayes crash
Driver fatigue is thought to be the cause of a crash near Lake Hayes yesterday that left two Australian tourists injured. Queenstown police area response manager Senior Sergeant Glenn Wilkinson said a vehicle with four occupants was travelling east on State Highway 6 when it veered off the road and hit a tree near the Lake Hayes Pavilion about 4.30pm. A woman was flown to Dunedin Hospital, and a man was transported to Lakes District Hospital. It appeared the driver had fallen asleep at the wheel, Sen Sgt Wilkinson said. The incident was a reminder for all drivers to take regular breaks during long trips, or to change drivers if possible.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 15, 2026 23:29 UTC
Judge catches arsonist using AI to write apology letters
Judge Tom Gilbert wasn't impressed when he discovered an arsonist had used AI to pen apology letters. "It is clear these letters were generated by AI [artificial intelligence]," Judge Gilbert said, as defence lawyer Cindy Lee told the court Win had written letters of apology. Lee then approached Win in the dock, who admitted she had used AI to "help" write the letters. Judge Gilbert didn’t accept her explanation, saying the use of AI to draft apology letters "undermines the sentiments". While a pre-sentence report had recommended home detention, Judge Gilbert instead imprisoned her for 27 months.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 15, 2026 23:17 UTC
New drink tablets avoid use of plastics
Canterbury environmentalist-entrepreneur Brianne West has developed a new business called Incrediballs offering a new range of plastic-free drink tablets. Photos: suppliedPlastic-free drink tablets are the latest business venture by Canterbury environmentalist-entrepreneur Brianne West. This is being released as a sustainable alternative to the 583 billion single-use plastic bottles produced globally every year by soft drink manufacturers. The drink tablets took seven years to develop at a cost of about $500,000 using pioneering co-crystal technology developed by University of Bradford scientists in Britain to stabilise them. Developing the drink tablets had taken more money and longer than she first thought.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 15, 2026 23:09 UTC