Lawson 'really happy' with seventh place in China
Liam Lawson finished seventh place finish in the Chinese Grand Prix. Photo: Getty ImagesNew Zealand driver Liam Lawson admits to being a little surprised with his success at the Chinese Grand Prix. Lawson had arguably his best weekend in Formula 1, capping off the weekend with a seventh place finish in the Grand Prix. "It turned out to be a really enjoyable race and we managed to pull off a few overtakes. "We were unlucky with the Safety Car as we pitted Liam the lap before, but he drove a really great race.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 18:40 UTC
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visiting Samoa, Tonga for first official engagements with new leaders
Pacific nations already experience typically high and volatile fuel prices because of their reliance on imports and shipping distances. “I think a major thing will be the fuel security in the Pacific,” Luxon said. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers (left) and Police Minister Mark Mitchell will be joining the Prime Minister's trip to the Pacific. Luxon said transnational drug crime was a “major, major issue” for the leaders of Samoa and Tonga. New Zealand’s transnational crime unit works with the Pacific Transnational Crime Co-ordination Centre in Apia and other units throughout the region.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 15, 2026 17:32 UTC
Supermarket boom: Woolworths and Foodstuffs add new stores
The former Woolworths Te Atatū store is being converted to a New World. Woolworths Paerāta RiseAt Paerāta Rise, a 3600sq m Woolworths store is to have a 180sq m online order hub. In another $50 million project, Foodstuffs is expanding and renovating the ex-Woolworths Te Atatū to become New World Te Atatū. Foodstuffs is expanding and renovating the ex-Woolworths Te Atatū to become New World Te Atatū. That is larger than Foodstuffs’ new 6100sq m Pak’nSave Highland Park, which opened last year.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 15, 2026 17:31 UTC
GDP preview: Did the economy keep growing through the end of 2025?
“We expect the data to show that the economic recovery continued into the end of 2025, just with a little less vigour than in [the third quarter]. On a per-capita basis, GDP looked to have expanded 0.2% quarter on quarter, the second consecutive lift. “Growth in per-capita GDP is consistent with things starting to feel a bit easier at a household [and] business level,” Mundy said. “GDP is lagged data that is prone to revision and covers a period long before oil prices spiked,” he said. “At face value, a downside surprise to GDP would imply it is now wider than the RBNZ had assumed.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 15, 2026 17:31 UTC
The ever dangerous myth of the just war
For centuries, one of the most influential ways of giving moral legitimacy to warfare has been the Christian tradition known as just war theory. Originating in the writings of thinkers such as Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, the theory attempted to place ethical limits on war. Almost every war in modern history has been presented as a just war by at least one of the parties involved. War begets war. That witness does not eliminate the difficult decisions faced by political leaders, but it does challenge the seductive myth that war can ever be comfortably justified.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 17:03 UTC
Skyline Queenstown opens new Bob’s Peak building in $300m upgrade
Skyline Queenstown general manager Wayne Rose said the building had been designed to maximise the views from the top of Bob’s Peak, while significantly expanding the public viewing area. Later this year, Skyline plans to open the Vortex slide, a high-adrenaline attraction launching from the viewing deck with a 20m vertical drop. The extension building includes a larger viewing deck and new food-and-beverage venues. The new extension building is the latest stage in a redevelopment programme that has been underway since 2018. With the extension building now open, deconstruction of the existing building will begin immediately.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 15, 2026 17:00 UTC
Barrel winner takes her whole family with her
Fairlie-based cowgirl Kate Hughes and her horse Sister kick up dust at the National Rodeo Finals held at Waikouaiti on Saturday. Fairlie cowgirl Kate Hughes had wrapped up the New Zealand barrel racing title before the National Rodeo Finals in Waikouaiti on Saturday. It was her first national title after finishing runner-up three times, including last season. ‘‘We’re so blessed to have a rodeo family like we do.’’Hughes has been competing in rodeo for 26 years, having started when she was a teenager. Sister also has three other siblings barrel racing on the New Zealand rodeo circuit.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 16:36 UTC
Driver cut from rolled-over racing truck
PHOTO: SUPPLIEDA driver had to be cut from his truck after it rolled over during a racing event at Teretonga Park raceway, near Invercargill yesterday. A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesman said appliances from Invercargill and Kingswell attended, along with a crew from Hato Hone St John about 11.40am. ‘‘One driver of a vehicle was trapped by a steering wheel. ‘‘Crews extricated the patient using hydraulic cutting equipment, and left the patient in the care of ambulance.’’The driver’s injuries were minor, but the racing truck was badly damaged in the incident.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 16:36 UTC
Lindis Pass crash kills one
A serious two-vehicle crash on the Lindis Pass has left one person dead and three others injured. A police spokeswoman said the incident happened between Old Faithful Rd and Omarama, near the Lindis Pass scenic lookout, about 12.20pm yesterday. She said three others were injured in the crash. The police spokeswoman said the crash blocked the road and the pass was closed while the Serious Crash Unit conducted a scene examination. Inquiries intro the crash were ongoing.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 16:36 UTC
Flights fright: business already hit, regional leader says
Billie MooreBusinesses are already feeling the pinch from Air New Zealand’s latest cuts to flights, and the ongoing impact to regional connectivity is becoming ‘‘significant’’, a Dunedin business leader says. That represented about a 5% reduction of its total domestic and international schedule, and would impact an estimated 44,000 passengers. Dunedin Airport chief executive Daniel De Bono said a total of 64 Air New Zealand flights would be temporarily cancelled at the airport from today until May 3, about 6% of scheduled flights across that timeframe. Business South chief executive Mike Collins said the changes by Air New Zealand risked undermining business connectivity and regional growth across Otago and Southland — particularly at a time when the regions were experiencing strong economic growth and contributing significantly to New Zealand’s recovery. When flights were reduced and prices rose, people travelled less — meaning fewer visitors, fewer business trips and fewer opportunities for investment and collaboration, he said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 16:34 UTC
Fast dogs, strong people pull crowds
Jack Stewart with his 2-year-old Jack Russell terrier Fred, after winning the Wanaka A&P Show Jack Russell race for the third year in a row. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONJack Stewart and his 2-year-old Jack Russell named Fred took out the annual Jack Russell race for the third year running at this year’s Wanaka A&P Show. ‘‘We’d never had a Jack Russell before Fred and now the race is a big part of why we come back every year,’’ she said. ‘‘She [the horse] did really well — got pretty tired towards the end but it’s her first time in Wanaka so I’m happy. Animal-focused events were not the only attractions: strongmen and strongwomen drew in crowds for both Friday and Saturday events.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 15, 2026 16:34 UTC