Southern driver racks up 117 speeding offences in rental car
Photo: Getty ImagesA woman driving a rental car hit speeds of 170kmh while racking up 117 speeding offences all over Otago and Southland in a week. The rental car company reported her to police after their systems recorded her reaching speeds of 170kmh and 157kmh yesterday morning, Sergeant Matt Lee, of Dunedin, said. The vehicle had recorded 117 instances of speeding since the car was rented on March 19. ‘‘The rental company requested the immediate cancellation of the hire of the agreement,’’ Sgt Lee said. The rental company collected the car, he said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 25, 2026 22:18 UTC
Entertainment centre to be rebuilt on existing site
The former Roxburgh Town Hall and Entertainment Centre was destroyed in a fire last year. Photo: Andrew Gordon/filesThe Roxburgh Entertainment Centre will be rebuilt on its existing site. Last week the Teviot Valley Community board passeda resolution to recommend the council proceed with the design and construction of the Roxburgh Entertainment Centre on the existing site as planned. Neighbour of the existing site Anne-Marie Gardiner suggested the council buy 1406sq m of her property to enlarge the existing site. Mr Jessop said he favoured going ahead on the existing site while investigating creating a stage two for further expansion.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 25, 2026 22:02 UTC
Big softie bikers raise $2000-plus for SPCA
Dunedin SPCA huntaway collie Tanggol with SPCA community support officer Eric Odell and Niflheim Social Motorcycle Club members (from left) Sean Lloyd, Marinus Leppens, Chris Dowson, Matt Rowling and Karl Winton (front right). PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIENSome motorcycle clubs have historically had a bad rap for being uncaring and antisocial. But Niflheim Social Motorcycle Club co-founder Karl Winton said he and many of the club’s members were big softies — particularly when it came to animals. Dunedin SPCA community support officer Eric Odell was delighted with donation. "It goes towards feeding, vaccinations, de-sexing, caring for the animals, basically — $2000 goes a long, long way here, for sure.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 25, 2026 21:35 UTC
Dunedin-born broadcaster Catherine Saunders dies
Catherine Saunders. Photo: NZMEDunedin-born-and-raised broadcaster Catherine Saunders has died. Mrs Saunders, nee Dowling, was born in Dunedin and attended St Philomena’s School. She also had her own television show, Tonight with Cathy Saunders. In 2001, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to broadcasting and the community.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 25, 2026 21:35 UTC
Christchurch cancer drug campaigner dies aged 45
Vickie Hudson-Craig with her husband Ryan and daughter Ruby. Photo: SuppliedA Christchurch woman who advocated for the public funding of lifesaving cancer drugs has died aged 45. Vickie Hudson-Craig and husband Ryan at the 2024 Heart Surf fundraising event. “To have that hope just wiped away is just devastating.”Vickie Hudson-Craig, her 5 year old daughter Ruby and husband Ryan. Hudson-Craig died on March 13.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 25, 2026 21:31 UTC
Bullying linked to inmate's suicide mismanaged by corrections
A Dunedin-born man died by suicide after being bullied in jail — an issue which was mismanaged by Corrections — a coroner says. Coroner Allie Cunninghame recommended bullying be "proactively" managed in prisons and said greater training for custodial staff needed to occur. Tragically, in 2016, his father, Russell Braddock, died in an avalanche in France, which led to an exacerbation of Nicholls-Braddock’s alcohol issues. Four days before his death, officers found a tattooing needle, ink and tobacco in Nicholls-Braddock’s cell, which resulted in a misconduct charge. In desperate phone calls to family, Nicholls-Braddock suggested the items were not his and said he had been repeatedly assaulted.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 25, 2026 21:14 UTC
General Debate 26 March 2026
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Source:Otago Daily Times
March 25, 2026 20:58 UTC
Peptide therapy is booming on social media. Here’s everything you need to know
Here’s everything you need to know about what peptides are and why they’re flooding your social media feed. If you’ve scrolled social media lately, you may have heard people talking about GHK-CU, BPC-157, TB-500 and “stacks” on podcasts and TikTok feeds. Who’s taking peptides? A friend told her about trying BPC-157 after an injury, and before long Smith’s social media was flooded with talk of peptides. And what really scares me are these side effects and contra-indications of who should and shouldn’t be taking what peptides,” Smith says.
Source:Stuff
March 25, 2026 20:16 UTC
Expansion won’t encroach on town: miner
Millers Flat. Mr Johnstone said expansion was driven by the gold price and natural progression. Teviot Valley Community Board chairman Mark Jessop, who lives in Millers Flat, said the meeting would be interesting to see who would be affected. It had brought money into the town and Faigan’s Cafe would reopen next week after the mining company bought it. Millers Flat Water Company chairman Tony Dons said the company had 126 connections to residents in the town.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 25, 2026 19:50 UTC
Ong: 'Why would I consider resigning?'
Councillors yesterday accepted the findings of an independent investigator, decided Cr Ong breached the Dunedin City Council’s code of conduct and asked him to consider resigning. Photo: Gerard O'BrienSpeaking to media afterwards, Cr Ong said he had not considered resigning. The council voted 10-2 to invite Cr Ong to consider resigning. Asking Cr Ong to consider resigning did not serve a useful purpose, he said. Calls for Cr Ong to resign have come while a by-election is being held to replace Cr Jules Radich, who died in January.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 25, 2026 17:58 UTC
Associate Immigration Minister Chris Penk tells migrant couple’s disabled son to leave New Zealand
At the time, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said a “spike” in enrolments of high-needs children at schools was putting a “significant strain” on learning support services, and that New Zealand children needing help were missing out. Associate Immigration Minister Chris Penk has declined to intervene in Luandre's case. Photo / Annaleise Shortland“Did he [Penk] actually take the time to read about this little boy with his family in New Zealand?” she said. Penk acknowledged that the family not receiving a detailed explanation might be frustrating, but noted the Immigration Act gives him “absolute discretion”. Ruan said it was frustrating his son wasn’t being given a chance to contribute to New Zealand.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 25, 2026 17:35 UTC
Friends still supporting 100 years on
Rafael Clarke and Prof Nancy Longnecker host Friends Forever on OAR FM. Answer: The Friends of Tūhura Otago Museum. Friends Forever, a new podcast and radio series on OAR FM, will share stories of the special items donated to the museum collection and of the people who have been instrumental in supporting the institution. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Association of Friends of Tūhura Otago Museum. The first weekly episode of Friends Forever is broadcast next Thursday at 12.30pm on 105.4FM and 1575AM.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 25, 2026 16:24 UTC
Feedback sought on water bylaw
The Dunedin City Council is inviting feedback on a proposed new Water Supply Bylaw, set to replace the Water Bylaw from 2011. In a statement, a council spokesperson said the new bylaw aimed to make the rules clearer, more consistent, and better aligned with national water regulations and Dunedin’s future growth. Key changes in the proposed bylaw include a three-step approval process for new water supply connection applications, broader tools for enforcing compliance with bylaw requirements, and clarifying definitions to make the bylaw easier to understand. DCC 3 Waters, Property and Urban Development general management David Ward said the proposed bylaw was about making sure Dunedin’s water supply network continued to work well for everyone. The council welcomes feedback from residents, businesses, developers, community groups, and anyone with an interest in Dunedin’s water supply.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 25, 2026 16:24 UTC
Volunteers work to give park facelift
Rotary Dunedin member and Rotary Park project co-leader Gordon Tucker gets stuck into some track work. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDFive years into a long-term Rotary project to upgrade tracks and amenities at Rotary Park, progress is steady and a new phase is about to begin. Volunteer Corey Farrell takes a break from native planting during a recent working bee for Forsyth Barr staff at Rotary Park. Mr Tucker paid tribute to the "incredible efforts" of the many volunteers, Rotarians and others, who had put in more than 1400 hours of work since the Rotary Park project began. "We are so grateful to him and everyone else who has worked on this major project to upgrade Rotary Park," Mr Tucker said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 25, 2026 16:24 UTC
Aurora road closures
Local lines company Aurora Energy is undertaking electricity upgrades on Cumberland St (State Highway 1) in Central Dunedin. This project will run until mid-April and involves working on underground infrastructure outside the Victoria Hotel to improve network reliability. Work will be taking place overnight from 7pm to 6am. There will be increased vehicle activity in the area during this time, and traffic management will be in place. Aurora Energy asks people to allow extra travel time and to follow all traffic management signs and instructions, and thanks customers for their patience while this important work is carried out.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 25, 2026 16:24 UTC