Debt Awareness Week: Four in five New Zealanders ashamed to admit they are struggling
DebtManagers general manager of commercial Issac Manase said Debt Awareness Week was about creating a healthier, more open and supportive conversation about debt in New Zealand. “But our research also shows debt stress is widespread and too many people are struggling alone. Manase said even though 85% of New Zealanders say debt stress is something most people experience, many people still feel embarrassed to admit they are struggling. “What stands out is just how common debt stress is. “Let’s recognise the good things debt can enable in our lives but seek help when it is needed.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 23, 2026 07:04 UTC
Labour leader Chris Hipkins not offering policy ideas to help Kiwis amid fuel price rises
Yet he was unable to offer any alternative policy ideas of his own to highlight how Labour would address the issue if it was in power currently. Asked by the Herald what actions should be taken to help households, Hipkins responded, “the Government needs to come up with a plan”. The Labour leader said the onus was on the Government to offer ideas. Photo / Michael CraigAsked again to provide an alternative or any ideas, Hipkins said: “We will have plenty of ideas and we will be talking about them on the election campaign. “The onus rests on the current Government.”Generally, Hipkins said his principle for support was that it should help anyone on a low, fixed income.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 23, 2026 06:52 UTC
Air Canada plane crashes into fire engine at New York airport
Emergency crews work around an Air Canada Express jet that had collided with a ground vehicle at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York. Photo: ReutersAn Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a ground vehicle upon landing at New York's LaGuardia airport late on Sunday, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24, in an incident that closed the airport. The plane involved in the accident was operated by Air Canada's regional partner Jazz, which is owned by Chorus Aviation. Air Canada, Chorus Aviation, the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. New York City's emergency notification system said people could expect cancellations, road closures, traffic delays and emergency personnel near the airport.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 23, 2026 06:33 UTC
Human remains found at Ōwhiro Bay, Wellington property are centuries old
NZ Herald Morning Headlines | Trump threatened to "obliterate" Iranian energy facilities, Nicola Willis says 7 weeks worth of fuel in NZ. Sign in hereAccess to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Human remains found at Ōwhiro Bay, Wellington property are centuries oldHuman remains discovered in a Wellington man’s garden have been found to be hundreds of years old. Police launched an investigation after a homeowner on Happy Valley Rd in Ōwhiro Bay found the remains while gardening one weekend in June last year. At the time of the discovery, neighbours spotted police forensics team at the South Coast property, with police later confirming the “partial remains” were human.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 23, 2026 06:29 UTC
Human remains 300-400 years old found in backyard
Human remains found in a garden on Wellington's south coast are centuries old, according to police. RNZ understands an Ōwhiro Bay homeowner was gardening when they made the discovery in June last year. At the time, police said the resident was under no suspicion and a forensic anthropologist and pathologist determined the remains were human. On Monday, detective constable Sarah Steed said radiocarbon dating showed the remains were possibly pre-European from the 1600s-1700s. "Consultation will take place with local iwi to arrange a suitable burial site, once the remains are release by the Coroner."
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 23, 2026 06:03 UTC
Restaurant owner says death threat delivered after he placed US, Israel flags on floor of Lower Hutt’s Banoo eatery
On March 18, a group of six Iranians who support the Pahlavi Iran movement came to Aragon’s restaurant, which had the US and Israeli flags on the floor. Alex Aragon, owner of Persian restaurant Banoo in Lower Hutt, was filmed by members of the public after he placed the US and Israeli flags on the floor. Security footage seen by the Herald showed the group approaching the establishment and peering into the entrance. Images of the restaurant from the Wednesday incident showed Aragon also displayed a picture of Khamenei in the restaurant. During his interview with the Herald, Aragon’s phone rang more than 10 times with calls from unknown numbers.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 23, 2026 05:52 UTC
Govt plans change to fuel imports, 'targeted and temporary' support on way
Photo: RNZThe finance minister will reveal "targeted and temporary" support for hard-hit families on Tuesday, as fuel costs continue to rise. Jones also announced plans to align New Zealand's fuel standards with that of Australia, allowing the import of fuel destined for Australia to New Zealand instead. Motorists should fuel up as and when they needed to, she said, with the government's solution set to target income rather than fuel prices. 'No concerns' about fuel supplyFor now, there were no concerns about fuel supplies in New Zealand, she said. The government would not follow Australia's lead in relaxing standards to allow higher-sulphur fuel, he said, at least not yet.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 23, 2026 05:03 UTC
Weapons not part of any future NZDF contracts: Uni
University of Otago deputy vice-chancellor Greg CookThe University of Otago is not planning to build weapons as part of any partnership with the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), it says. Deputy vice-chancellor for research and information Prof Greg Cook said weapons were not the plan. "It is important to be clear that as part of the RFI (request for information), the university is not proposing to build defence weapons. However, Prof Cook said weapons would not be a focus of any partnership with the NZDF. Asked about concerns from staff who might have objections to working with the NZDF, Prof Cook said there was no requirement for anyone to work on these projects.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 23, 2026 04:40 UTC
Data shows 2025 among hottest years on record
Photo: Getty ImagesLast year was among the hottest on record, as the world's "addiction" to fossil fuels continues to drive global warming, new data shows. 2024 remains the hottest year on record, but 2025 was the second- or third-hottest, across the nine major global datasets. The organisation said the global climate was more out of balance than at any other time in observed history, as greenhouse gas concentrations reached their highest levels in at least 800,000 years. The WMO's State of the Climate report said increasingly severe weather, driven by climate change, was already affecting agricultural production and displacing people from their homes. Victoria University professor of climate science James Renwick said the science of climate change had been understood for a century or more now.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 23, 2026 04:40 UTC
Bill slammed as 'beginning of the end for our fish stocks'
The bill, which is scheduled to have it's first reading on Tuesday, has been welcomed by the commercial sector but condemned by recreational fishing groups. It's beginning of the end for our fish stocks, and that' not over dramatising it." He said it wouldn't encourage commercial fishers to avoid undersized fish and would decrease overall fish stocks. The current recreational size limit for snapper is between 25cm and 30cm depending on location, while the commercial size limit is 25cm. Seafood New Zealand's Inshore Policy Manager Tamar Wells said the commercial sector was trying to make the industry more sustainable.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 23, 2026 04:40 UTC
Unpursued fleeing driver dies in centre city crash
A workman works to replace a traffic light in Kelvin St at its intersection with Gala St in Invercargill yesterday after it was struck by a vehicle involved in a fatal crash. A person was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Winding Creek Rd near Waikaia, police said. Another person sustained moderate injuries in the crash and was treated by ambulance officers at the scene. A reporter at the scene yesterday afternoon said other than tyre marks, light vehicle debris and a traffic light being replaced, there was little evidence of the fatal incident. If anyone saw the crash, or had CCTV in the vicinity of Wellesley Ave, Avenal St or Kelvin St, they were asked to contact police.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 23, 2026 04:36 UTC
Family of murder victim 'very disappointed' by appeal success
Last week, Ethan Webster had his life sentence quashed due to his significant neurocognitive impairments, which came to light after his sentencing. Following the Court of Appeal's decision to overturn Webster's sentence, Ramsay's family said they were "very disappointed" with the outcome. William Candy was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum period of 17 years for his role in the murder. Candy, who pleaded guilty to murder alongside Webster, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum period of 17 years. The court ruled a life imprisonment sentence was manifestly unjust when public safety concerns "do not loom large".
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 23, 2026 02:32 UTC
Patient dies after 'burnt out' brain surgeon ignores advice
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGESA brain surgeon who refused advice from his colleagues has been stood down after his patient died of a brain bleed post-operation. When he asked Dr C what he was going to do about the pseudo-aneurysm, and Dr C replied: "(W)hat pseudo-aneurysm." It said Dr C had a history of persevering despite recommendations from others, and a culture of staying silent had developed. "Dr C told HDC that this was made sarcastically in reference to the brain-bleeding because it was so obvious that an injury had occurred." Caldwell said Dr C described being "burnt out", and in her view, Health NZ had an organisational responsibility to staff its service safely.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 23, 2026 02:32 UTC
Milk spill disrupts traffic on Canterbury highway
A milk spill on SH73 near Parapet Rock, between Lake Pearson and Castle Hill, means that road users are being asked to stop on demand. Photo: Supplied / NZTA via RNZMotorists are being warned that a milk spill is affecting traffic on State Highway 73 in Canterbury. It comes after an oil spill closed Porters Pass for several hours this morning, after a vehicle towing a fuel tank became stuck on the one-lane Porter River Bridge. Fire and Emergency NZ sent crews from Springfield and Sheffield, who assisted with road control. Waka Kotahi NZ said the milk spill occurred near Parapet Rock, between Lake Pearson and Castle Hill.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 23, 2026 00:34 UTC
Police search for trio after alleged armed robbery
Three people, one armed with a gun, broke into a home in the Auckland suburb of Wesley on Sunday night, police say. Detective Senior Sergeant Rebecca Kirk said the armed robbery took place in Gifford Avenue at about 10pm. She said the trio demanded cash and other items before fleeing. The police Eagle helicopter searched for them but couldn't find them. Police are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area to contact them with information.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 22, 2026 23:11 UTC