Jetstar plane swerved off runway after pilot accidentally hit 'full power'
A plane slid off the runway in Christchurch. Photo: Supplied / JJ GreenA Jetstar plane swerved off the runway after landing at Christchurch because the pilot accidentally put the thrust lever on to full power causing the plane to accelerate, investigators say. Passengers aboard the Airbus A320 plane travelling from Auckland reported a bumpy and "frightening" landing on 31 May 2024, although no one was injured. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC)'s report out on Thursday put the accident down to pilot error but also a lack of proper training from Jetstar. "The crew did a great job of landing the plane, had they stopped and then been towed off there would've been no issues," she said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 18, 2026 18:57 UTC
Penguin rescuer needs rescuing from tide
Photo: ODT filesA would-be penguin rescuer needed rescuing as the incoming tide caught them unawares in the Catlins yesterday. Mr Shute said the man, who was visiting the area, appeared to be attempting to rescue a yellow-eyed penguin from incoming waters when he became trapped himself. "He had been trying to rescue a penguin when the tide came in and caught him unawares. "Some of the sand has been washed away round that part of the beach, so it can catch people out. "We were doing a fundraiser for SAR just round the corner, so it was probably the quickest callout we’ve done.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 18, 2026 18:13 UTC
Resthaven to be sold
Gore’s Resthaven retirement village is set to change owners. PHOTO: GEMMA SINCLAIRAfter more than 70 years’ ownership, Presbyterian Support Southland (PSS) is poised to sell its Gore retirement village Resthaven. PSS has confirmed a conditional sale and purchase agreement has been signed for the transfer of ownership of its Resthaven facility, which includes Hokonui House and the retirement village. Resthaven has been housing the elderly since 1954, when it opened in a two-storey house on the corner of Crombie St and Gore’s main street. The 60-bed care home facility provides rest-home and hospital-level care, and the retirement village consists of 23 dwellings.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 18, 2026 16:55 UTC
Residents brace for surge in power prices
Photo: suppliedStewart Island-Rakiura residents are bracing themselves for a surge in power prices, or losing power altogether, as rising fuel costs threaten to hit the island’s diesel-generated electricity system. Residents were being charged about 84c a unit for their power, but he did not want to speculate on how prices would change, he said. "While [the electricity supply authority] does have reserves, this is not specifically held as a buffer for fuel prices. However, Cr Spraggon said rising fuel prices were not just hitting residents via the power meter. If the island’s fuel supply ran dry, it would also affect the wastewater system.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 18, 2026 16:45 UTC
'End of an era': Auckland's Luna Bakehouse owes $800k
Luna Bakehouse: "End of an era"Boutique bakery Luna Bakehouse, recently rebranded as Luna All Day, owes at least $815,961 to creditors, a first liquidators' report shows. It comes six weeks after Inland Revenue applied for the bakery to be put into liquidation on February 3 – and eight months after a previous application made back in May 2025.Owned by Thi Linh Dan Nguyen and Mohammed Farhan Waniya, Luna Bakehouse was founded in late 2019 and by early 2025 had branches in Newmarket and Takapuna. It also briefly operated branches on Elliot St...
Source:Stuff
March 18, 2026 16:06 UTC
Sunny social send-off
St Clair Bowling Club players Jenna McLaughlin (left) and Mary Ellen Copland display the Twilight Tosser’s Pairs Tournament Trophy created by Craig Reed. Photo: Craig ReedA final showcase is set to wrap up a summer of lawn bowls. The St Clair Bowling Club will mark the end of the warmer months with an end-of-season Twilight Tosser’s Pairs Tournament. The fixture on Sunday, March 29, will be open to all twilight bowlers, first-year participants and social players who have a competitive edge. Organiser Craig Reed said he had designed and built a unique trophy that would be presented to the winners alongside cash prizes.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 18, 2026 16:02 UTC
Pakistani groups merge into one
Pakistani Community of Otago president Anam Nawaz is unifying the local community. The Pakistan Association of Otago and the Dunedin Pakistani Society have formally merged to establish a combined organisation after months of extensive negotiations. Pakistani Community of Otago president Anam Nawaz played a central role in finding ways to bring the two groups together. "We wrote a new constitution which was approved by both parties and then we also selected a new name," Mrs Nawaz said. Pakistani Community of Otago president Anam Nawaz signs documents formalising the merger of the Pakistan Association of Otago and the Dunedin Pakistani Society.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 18, 2026 16:02 UTC
Trophy recognises fundraising efforts
Eagles Golfing Society of Otago patron Bob Brent displays the Halberg Foundation Trophy recently presented to the club. The Eagles Golfing Society of Otago has been awarded a Halberg Foundation Trophy after generating $280,000 over the past 15 years for the charity. Treasurer Appie Borren said the trophy was given to the group during the recent national convention of the Eagles Society of New Zealand, held in Palmerston North. Collectively the national society has raised more than $6.2 million for the Halberg Foundation since 1969. The next event takes place at the St Clair Golf Club on Wednesday, March 25, with a shotgun start at 10.30am.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 18, 2026 16:02 UTC
Poisonous play
Casketcase will be staged during the Dunedin Fringe Festival. Image: suppliedPodcasts, poison and a promising premise are the ingredients of Casketcase, a new play by Dunedin theatre company Good for Her Productions. Written by Dunedin playwright and director Chelsea McRae, Casketcase combines elements of horror, choose-your-own adventure and true crime podcast culture. The play will feature original music created by University of Otago students Mario Sadra-de Jong and August Gaiger. Casketcase will be staged until March 21, from 7.30pm, at the Globe Theatre.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 18, 2026 16:02 UTC
Dog-owners protest tree-felling plan
More than 50 people and about 45 dogs gathered in Cromwell on Sunday to protest the Central Otago District Council’s plan to fell trees at a popular dog walking pine forest in Sandflat Rd. Photos: suppliedAll Cromwell residents may bear the brunt of the town’s only large off-leash dog exercise area closing, a dog behaviour specialist says. Zoomies Dog Training & Adventures owner Lisa Telle said there were fights between dogs and lots of barking. Miss Telle said the council had no plans for the recreation site and it claimed the trees were unsafe. Emily Honey-Fergusson and Rob Garrett and dog Willow joined the protest against the tree-felling decision.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 18, 2026 16:02 UTC
Marathon grant launched
Emerson’s Dunedin Marathon ambassador Mel Aitken is looking forward to mentoring one lucky athlete. PHOTO: SAM HENDERSONReaching the finish line at the Emerson’s Dunedin Marathon is set to become easier for one aspiring athlete. Race director Becs Adlam said a new Ambassador’s Grant would enable the recipient to work with Dunedin marathon veteran Mel Aitken. As the ambassador, Ms Aitken will mentor the chosen athlete, providing tailored support and equipment to get them to the start line. Registrations are now open at dunedinmarathon.co.nz for the 2026 Emerson’s Dunedin Marathon, which returns on Sunday, September 13.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 18, 2026 16:02 UTC
Sir Tim statue project slammed
Former Invercargill mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt died on January 8, aged 78. PHOTO: ODT FILESSir Tim Shadbolt’s partner of many years has criticised a crowd-funded statue project for the late mayor, urging people not to donate. Earlier this month, a Givealittle campaign was set up by Sir Tim Shadbolt Memorial Statue Project (Group) with a lofty goal of raising $367,500 in one year. While at Matakana, they discussed the idea of an interactive bronze statue of Sir Tim sitting at a bench so people could sit next to him and shake his hand. Sir Tim served two terms as Waitematā mayor before relocating to the South and clocking up eight terms in Invercargill.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 18, 2026 15:55 UTC
Sensory stimulation and wry commentary
Presented by Melbourne’s a2 Company, Motion Sickness — described as "an existential crisis at the rave" — is a mix of theatre, electronic music, dance and visual projections. It dwells on the three leading theories of the end of the world, along with some wry commentary on the current sociopolitical landscape. Because Motion Sickness delivers so much sensory stimulation all at once, I suspect the nuance of its subject matter perhaps went in one ear and out the other for most of the audience — not that that’s the sole point. Moments where the visual, spoken and physical elements were perfectly synchronised made Motion Sickness feel particularly rewarding. The show’s music, from the debut EDM album of one of the show’s creators, was highly enjoyable too.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 18, 2026 15:41 UTC
Caught sleeping on porch
Police are urging Dunedin’s student population to lock their flats and report suspicious activity after a middle-aged man returned to a flat where he was previously caught sleeping outside. Sergeant Matt Lee said police were called to an address in Forth St, North Dunedin, just after midnight on Tuesday. The occupants of the address discovered a 46-year-old man sleeping on a couch on their front porch. "Police moved the male on and told him not to return to the address." Sgt Lee said students should contact police if they saw suspicious activity or somebody who looked like they did not belong in the area.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 18, 2026 15:41 UTC