Where are the leaders, where are the peacemakers?
PHOTO: ODT FILESOn June 16 1963 United States President John F. Kennedy gave the commemoration address at America University in Washington entitled ‘‘Peace Speech’’. Unfortunately, this is just another highly questionable incursion by the US into the Middle East following on from the failed campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. John F. Kennedy shone a light on what should represent real leadership, with war being an absolute last resort when there are simply no other options. The Middle East is beginning to look like something out of Apocalypse Now, all because of the unchecked and unjustified actions of the US and Israel. It needs to be asked even more than ever: where are the real leaders of the world?
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 06, 2026 18:03 UTC
Candidates take aim at rates, rising costs
Fourteen candidates are contesting one seat on the Dunedin City Council, left vacant after the death of councillor and former mayor Jules Radich in January. The Otago Daily Times asked candidates what they saw as the biggest issue facing Dunedin. Bill Acklin said the biggest issue was the scale of projected rates rises and debt increases. Richard Knights said the city needed to determine how to continue infrastructure and service investment, while keeping rates rises as low as possible. ‘‘When fuel becomes more expensive or harder to access, it affects every part of our local economy.’’For Garreth Ottley the biggest issue the city faced was ‘‘rising costs and debt management’’.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 06, 2026 18:01 UTC
Businessman may face ban from running companies
Malcolm BurnsA bankrupt Mosgiel businessman could be banned from running companies for up to a decade after facing three liquidations in the past four years. It comes as a Dunedin businessman, who claims he is owed thousands by Mr Burns, is calling for tougher penalties on companies who ‘‘just take the piss’’ and intentionally rack up big bills. In January last year, Mr Casey said Mr Burns hired several shipping containers in which to store his personal effects. The liquidators also said it was understood Mr Burns intended to present a settlement plan to seek the removal of his bankruptcy status. Mr Burns disputed Mr Casey’s claims and said he was ‘‘recovering my position and providing solutions to pay creditors respectfully’’.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 06, 2026 17:47 UTC
Reprieve from rapid ice loss on Southern Alps glaciers
PHOTO: WANAKA LANDSARLate snow and miserable summer weather have delivered a reprieve from rapid ice loss on the Southern Alps glaciers. It has been 50 years since the ESNZ did its first aerial survey of the Southern Alps glaciers, and researchers carrying out this year’s end-of-summer snowline and glacier survey were surprised to see retained snow on some of the glaciers, he said. ‘‘This year’s survey showed some glaciers with snow and ice footprints that weren’t quite as small as what we’ve seen in the past two years. Our glaciers are one of the more visible signs of a warming climate, he said. ‘‘To limit the continued trend of glacier decline, climate warming needs to be halted quickly,’’ he said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 06, 2026 17:47 UTC
New anti-mine group takes aim at tailings dam failure risk
PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERYA local group opposed to Santana Minerals’ fast-track mining application launched this week with a campaign that questions the mine’s net economic benefit for the region. For the group, it was a simple equation: high public risk versus low public return was a bad deal for the region. For the group, the big risk was the mine’s use of a tailings dam, an earth-filled embankment used to store byproducts of mining operations. The group said the dam — used to store byproducts from the Santana project — would contain 18millioncum of toxic waste behind a wall of waste rock taller than the Clyde Dam, forever. In 2019, the collapse of a tailings dam in Brazil killed 270 people, with the mining company responsible ordered to pay $US840million ($NZ1.4b) in reparations to cover the environmental and economic costs.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 06, 2026 17:35 UTC
Hostel may close at end of year
Ben NettletonWaitaki Girls’ High School’s hostel could close at the end of the year, the school’s board has announced. A five-year period of ‘‘sustained downturn’’ was behind the provisional decision to close the hostel, according to school authorities. About 22 boarders were required to ‘‘break even’’, the school’s limited statutory manager, Ben Nettleton, said. A strategic workshop was held to consider sustainability, financial viability, future capital requirements and health and safety obligations at the hostel, leading to the provisional decision to close it. ‘‘Hostel numbers have steadily declined over a period of more than five years and have not returned to levels that support long-term financial sustainability,’’ Mr Nettleton said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 06, 2026 17:34 UTC
General Debate 06 April 2026
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Source:Stuff
April 06, 2026 08:37 UTC
Fuel stocks 'remain within expectations'
Petrol and jet fuel stocks have risen, while there has been a slight decrease in diesel stocks. The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment's latest fuel stocks update showed that as at 11.59pm on Wednesday evening, there were 61.9 days of petrol, 51.5 days of diesel, and 50.1 days of jet fuel. This is compared to 58.7 days of petrol, 52.2 days of diesel and 46.2 days of jet fuel, in the previous update. MBIE said the update showed national fuel stocks were stable, with sufficient stock levels. The government is giving the latest update on fuel stocks, as the war in the Middle East shows no signs of ending.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 06, 2026 08:03 UTC
Survey shows significant decline in butterfly numbers
Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust said the drop in Monarch butterflies was even more noticeable as they were once much easier to spot. Photo: ODT filesA survey has found that New Zealand's butterflies are in decline, with a drop of around 50 percent across most species. Since 2009, a member of the Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust has walked the same route weekly from October to March, recording butterfly numbers. That data was used to produce a report, which found common and paper wasps were to blame. Knight is urging the government to take the impact of those more seriously and is calling on volunteers to take part in butterfly transect monitoring.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 06, 2026 07:45 UTC
Drenching on way for upper North Island, cyclones being tracked
MetService says a tropical cyclone could potentially head towards New Zealand within the next week. There are now two tropical cyclones in the South Pacific - Cyclone Maila in the Solomon Sea and Cyclone Vaianu to the east of Vanuatu. MetService forecaster Louis Fernando said the Category 2 Cyclone Vaianu was gaining in speed and power. Cyclone Vaianu is currently tracking between Vanuatu and Fiji. Heavy rain watches are also in place for Auckland, the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 06, 2026 07:25 UTC
SH79 reopens after crash near Geraldine
State Highway 79 has reopened after a crash brought down power lines near Geraldine this afternoon. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) advised of the crash shortly before 4pm. A police spokesperson said a vehicle crashed into a power pole about 3.40pm. The highway was closed south of Geraldine township, near the intersection with Kennedy St, for several hours, but in an update about 6.35 pm NZTA advised it had reopened. Power contractors were still on site, working on the downed lines, and motorists were advised to take "extra care through the area".
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 06, 2026 05:52 UTC
Highway reopens after crash near Geraldine
State Highway 79 has reopened after a crash brought down power lines near Geraldine this afternoon. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) advised of the crash shortly before 4pm. A police spokesperson said a vehicle crashed into a power pole about 3.40pm. The highway was closed south of Geraldine township, near the intersection with Kennedy St, for several hours, but in an update about 6.35 pm NZTA advised it had reopened. Power contractors were still on site, working on the downed lines, and motorists were advised to take "extra care through the area".
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 06, 2026 05:52 UTC
Horowhenua mayor says street racing events are being used to intimidate
Photo: RNZ / Angus DreaverThe mayor of Horowhenua says street racing events are being staged to intimidate the public, and those involved will face consequences. It comes as the government progresses a law change which will expand police powers and increase maximum fines. Mayor Bernie Wanden said he was confident the law change would make a difference. Police from Wellington, Manawatu and Whanganui prevented the drivers from forming one big group, he said, and that made all the difference. Historically we have been sort of caught off guard a couple of times but not anymore, we are well prepared for these, we know our tactics, we know what's required and we respond appropriately."
Source:Stuff
April 06, 2026 05:39 UTC
Winners and Losers: The All Black whose stock is on the rise – Christopher Reive
While the severity of Metcalf’s latest injury is not yet clear, Warriors coach Andrew Webster confirmed the half would not be available for next weekend’s clash with the Melbourne Storm. Loser: Super Rugby Pacific’s Easter concessionWith big matches and full slates, Easter weekend belonged to the NRL and AFL. That’s a big drop from last year, when Super Rugby had a five-game slate that kicked off on Good Friday with a clash between the Crusaders and Blues in Christchurch. Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Jason Pine, Super Rugby chief executive Jack Mesley explained the decision. When we’re working with clubs, historically our clubs say Easter weekend is a difficult weekend for them.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 06, 2026 05:20 UTC
How Trump is turning Iran into a full military dictatorship
What he has not acknowledged is that his war has transformed Iran from a hybrid theocratic-civil system into something that increasingly looks like a military dictatorship under Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader. The contrast between the old Iran and the new one becomes clear by considering who holds the power now compared with a month ago. Before Feb 28, Iran’s system balanced multiple power centres. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) existed as a parallel military structure alongside the regular army, with its own ground forces, navy, air force and missile command. Guard commanders had to work within this system, competing with elected officials, civilian technocrats and moderate clerics for the supreme leader’s ear.
Source:Stuff
April 06, 2026 05:02 UTC