Hunting safety workshop to cover bases
A hunting safety programme will take place in Balclutha this weekend. The Baden McNabb Memorial Firearms and Hunter Safety workshop is set for 10am, Saturday at the Deerstalkers Association Hall, 5 Glasgow St. Presented by the Baden McNabb Fund at the Clutha Foundation, the workshop is in memory of Owaka outdoorsman Baden McNabb, who lost his life in 2018. "Because when we just learn from our mates, sometimes important safety bases aren’t covered. Registrations are essential, by emailing givewhereyoulive@cluthafoundation.org.nz, or following the link from the Firearms & Hunting Safety Day on Clutha Foundation’s website.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 22:02 UTC
The numbers stack up for Tavatavanawai
Timoci Tavatavanawai. Highlanders co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai is having a whale of a season — and that is backed up by the numbers. Tavatavanawai is in a three-way tie for first after the opening five rounds. Tavatavanawai picked up eight points from the voting panel for his fine effort in the loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch at the weekend. Player of the year votes are announced every week before voting goes behind closed doors following round 10.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 21:57 UTC
Victim denies fabricating sexual assault claim
The accused man, who has name suppression, pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection between 1994 and 1995. The complainant said he was put to bed by the accused, and woke to find he was being sexually assaulted. The complainant had earlier mentioned the alleged abuse to the writer of a pre-sentence report. On Tuesday, the accused's defence lawyer, David Stevens, asked the complainant about the timing of the complaint. I don't advertise my past, I don't pity myself for what has happened to me over my life time.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 21:40 UTC
Mapping system of avalanche risk being developed
Photo: University of OtagoHeading off into the mountainous back country of the South Island is becoming increasingly dangerous as climate change increases uncertainty about snow and avalanche conditions. The NZ Avalanche Advisory provides widely recognised guidance on snow conditions and avalanche hazards across 13 alpine forecasting regions. Prof Cullen said avalanche risk was a complex interaction involving snowpack, weather, terrain and people, where terrain was the only factor that remained constant over time. University of Otago School of Geography researcher Prof Nicolas Cullen (left) and PhD student Phil Elder are developing a mapping system aimed at helping back-country visitors stay safe from avalanche danger in New Zealand. NZ-mATES would then use this information to identify locations where an avalanche might start, travel and dissipate, and calculate the risks accordingly.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 21:37 UTC
Protected tree survives twin onslaught of poetry and AI
PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIENA Mosgiel couple have given up the fight to remove a tree they say is threatening their family home, after a second bid for council permission failed. A poem to the pin oak and an AI-backed report have previously supported the couple’s efforts to remove the tree. However, the council’s hearing panel — commissioners Rosalind Day-Cleavin, Shane Roberts and Andrew Whiley — found the tree did not pose a significant risk. "The panel acknowledges there would be some benefit to the applicant and the neighbouring submitter from removing the tree. "However, no evidence was provided that any public benefit arising from removing the tree would be significant, nor that any public benefit outweighed the loss of the tree."
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 21:37 UTC
Sheep sale peaks in Ida Valley
Cairnlea co-owner Sam Stevens, with his sheep dog Storm, has sold his Poll Dorset stud flock in Ida valley, as he prepares to exit farming. About 250 two-tooth and mixed-age Poll Dorset ewes, 85 Poll Dorset ram lambs, 30 Poll Dorset cross ram lambs and 30 Poll Dorset cross ewe lambs sold at an on-farm sale last month. Poll Dorset sheep thrived on the farm because they liked hot and dry conditions. Poll Dorset sheep, which sold at a Cairnlea dispersal sale and are destined for farms in Whangārei, Northland. Mr Peddie said he bought about 60 mixed-age Poll Dorset ewes and about 30 Poll Dorset ewe lambs.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 21:33 UTC
Recovering lock has sights set on South Africa
Highlanders lock Fabian Holland works on his rehabilitation at team headquarters yesterday. Photo: HighlandersFabian Holland has never met the new All Blacks coach but is hoping to take a trip to South Africa with him later this year. Holland confirmed his hope was to be fit and firing by the time the All Blacks left for the Greatest Rivalry tour of South Africa in early August. "We’ve been doing a bit of planning and we’re aiming to be ready for selection for the South African tour. "Everything’s going good.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 21:33 UTC
Entering show continuation of family legacy
PHOTOS: SHAWN MCAVINUEThe Wānaka A&P Show is a must-attend event for three generations of a Maniototo merino breeding family. New Zealand Merino Stud Breeders’ Society chairman Simon Paterson said Wānaka A&P Show was the feature event on the merino showing calendar. The Patersons continued a long-held family tradition of renting a crib and entering merino sheep in show competitions last week. More than 20 Armidale merino sheep, a mix of ewes and rams, were entered in livestock competitions this year. He was the third generation of his family to take merino sheep to the show, beginning with his grandfather Bruce.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 21:33 UTC
Care home handyman groped 'defenceless' elderly dementia patient
Bernard Edward Cameron leaving court yesterday. Photo: Gregor RichardsonA worker at a Dunedin care facility who groped an elderly woman with dementia has avoided a jail sentence. Bernard Edward Cameron, 71, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after earlier admitting three charges of indecent assault. The court heard that the defendant was a handyman at the care home and the sex attack came near the anniversary of his wife’s death. Yesterday, the victim’s son told the court his mother’s illness made her the "perfect victim" for Cameron’s assaults.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 21:33 UTC
Hipkins 'considered his future in politics' after ex-wife's claims
Photo: RNZLabour leader Chris Hipkins says he did consider his future in politics after his ex-wife levelled claims at him on social media, but he remains "absolutely committed" to staying on. Hipkins appeared on a suite of morning media shows on Wednesday - including Morning Report - where he again flatly denied all the claims, but said he would not be litigating them in public for the sake of his children. The claims are not criminal and relate to a lack of support for his ex-wife Jade Paul during and after their relationship. Speaking on Morning Report, Hipkins acknowledged he had considered stepping down, noting the impact on his family. "Social media certainly has emboldened a lot of people, and, you know, we have a virtual vigilante approach on social media that anybody in a public profile role now has to contend with.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 20:41 UTC
Dunedin house prices up
Dunedin’s average home value increased by 2.6% over the summer to $652,147, bucking the national trend. "It’s interesting to note the relative strength of property values across much of the South Island compared with the North Island. Nationally, he said the housing market remained in a state of "steady as she goes" for now. "Listing levels and buyer demand are relatively well balanced, helping to keep property values broadly stable for the time being. "This will inevitably have implications for the housing market in the year ahead, as interest rates, employment trends and overall economic conditions continue to shape housing market activity."
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 20:18 UTC
Would a helicopter flight have saved this farmer's life?
During his evidence, the doctor said Smith may have benefited from an air ambulance transfer to Hutt Hospital. The national burns unit takes patients who have burns to 30% of their bodies. Shaw also asked Fullarton whether burn patients received suboptimal care because of the lack of a co-located burns unit and ICU. "I would say if you had to redesign the unit now, you would have the burns unit next to a major trauma centre. She said they would have liked it if he had been sent to Hutt Hospital straight away, but she couldn’t say what difference it would have made.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 20:08 UTC
After the oil shock: What economists now expect on inflation, GDP and interest rates – Inside Economics
“Higher interest rates now would not prevent the oil-related rise in inflation already in train.”Meanwhile, hiking interest rates sooner would likely compound any downturn in economic activity caused by the rising cost of living. So, even with a substantial lift in the inflation outlook, Westpac still expects the RBNZ will be hesitant to hike rates sooner than previously anticipated. Last week, I answered a question about why the Reserve Bank continued to cut interest rates even though inflation was rising last year. There has to be some sense of realism about how high interest rates can go without utterly crushing an economy. Too much can inflate an economy and flatter economic growth, which won’t look so good on a per capita basis.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 17, 2026 20:01 UTC
7 Oranga Tamariki workers accused of assaulting teens
Photo: RNZSeven Oranga Tamariki workers are accused of bashing two teenagers - or failing to stop them being hit - in a tiny phone room at an Auckland youth justice facility. Prosecutors said the staff had gratuitously assaulted the boys after the teens had barricaded themselves in the two-by-1.5 metre room for more than an hour. The investigation that led to today's charges was not sparked by a complaint from the boys, but other case workers had noticed their injuries. Shannon Withers, defending one of the men with name suppression, said the Crown case was "inferences at best, guesses and speculation at worst." Emma Priest, for another with name suppression, noted the text messages the Crown was relying on for some of its case should be taken with a grain of salt.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 19:46 UTC
Is Nicola Willis' 'worst case scenario' too optimistic?
Finance Minister Nicola Willis. Photo: RNZFinance Minister Nicola Willis might be being optimistic if she thinks inflation at 3.7 percent is a "worst case scenario", one economist says. "My instinctive reaction to the number from the Finance Minster yesterday of 3.7 percent being a worst-case scenario ... it felt too light to be a worst-case scenario." Westpac said it now did not expect inflation to get below 3 percent until the end of the year. ANZ said it did not think the change to the outlook for inflation would affect its official cash rate predictions yet.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 17, 2026 19:43 UTC