Grads pay tribute to late classmate Jock Davies
But many graduands and staff wore the "unusual fashion" accessories yesterday as a tribute to their fellow student, the late Jock Davies, who was tragically killed in a hunting accident on Stewart Island in July last year. At a special pre-graduation ceremony for Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health students at the Sargood Centre yesterday, Mr Davies’ degree was given posthumously to his family. The late Jock Davies’ family, (from left) brother Tom, mother Sarah, father Peter and brother George with Jock’s Otago Polytechnic bachelor of applied science degree, presented at a pre-graduation ceremony at the Sargood Centre yesterday. The late Jock Davies, 21, who was tragically killed in a hunting accident on Stewart Island in July. Many attending the posthumous presentation of Jock Davies’ Otago Polytechnic bachelor of applied science degree yesterday, wore sandals, jandals and gumboots as a tribute to the much loved student.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 02:55 UTC
Slow down for secondhand style
They come to mind now because March is Slow Fashion Month at Wastebusters, and they are, I think, a decent metaphor for everything this month is about. Now in its seventh year, Wastebusters Slow Fashion Month is an antidote to endless fashion circles and poorly constructed clothing that was never made to find a second life. Meaning the environmental cost of buying new is about 50 times higher than choosing second-hand. As the month comes to a close, we’re continuing your slow fashion journey by showing our clothes some love at our mending club. Dig out your holey jumpers, loose-seamed shirts and patch-worthy pants, and round out your Slow Fashion Month by connecting with others who care about their stuff.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 14, 2026 02:32 UTC
Crusaders host Highlanders for 50th clash in final Addington game
Crusaders host Highlanders for 50th clash in final Addington gameCrusaders host Highlanders for 50th clash in final Addington gameThe Crusaders host the Highlanders for the last time at their temporary stadium in Addington which will also be the 50th match between the South Island neighbours, with the Crusaders winning 34 of the matches. After stuttering to a 1-3 start to their title defence, a response is expected by the Crusaders, already beaten by the Highlanders in Dunedin to start the year, being swept by their neighbours would be a significant blow to their chances of a top-three finish just five weeks into the season.
Source:Stuff
March 14, 2026 02:31 UTC
Iran crisis puts Nicola Willis’ election-year Budget under pressure – Fran O’Sullivan
Willis admits she briefly enjoyed a more comfortable moment when preliminary Budget forecasts arrived early and looked good. Earlier this year, Willis promised her third Budget would focus on supporting the delivery of core public services like healthcare, education, defence and law and order. But the political reality remains: whatever Willis delivers on Budget Day will be read as a confidence test in the Government’s economic management. Willis describes a “Maslow’s hierarchy of needs” for economic security. At the base is fuel security: ensuring New Zealand can secure enough petrol, diesel and jet fuel, and spotting emerging shortages early.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 14, 2026 02:01 UTC
Corrections ordered to pay officer Duane Farrell $94k after failures following prison hit threat
Farrell told his superior officers he believed he had suffered a significant injury and asked several times for an ambulance to be called to take him to hospital. In June and July 2017, information came to Corrections’ attention that there was a specific safety threat against Farrell, but Farrell was not informed. Following an assessment, the prison director arranged for him to be moved to another unit that was deemed safe, as there was a potential threat to Farrell. In March 2018, Farrell was working in a unit holding vulnerable prisoners when an inmate threw urine at another officer, which splashed on Farrell. A trial took place, with the Crown alleging that Farrell and two other officers attacked an inmate after he hit Farrell.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 14, 2026 01:53 UTC
Trump says US has 'obliterated' every military target on Iran's Kharg Island
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Source:New Zealand Herald
March 14, 2026 01:14 UTC
TVNZ has lost its way and the public deserves better – Bruce Cotterill
None of that excuses the behaviour of a TVNZ reporter or the company’s decision to show her report on Monday evening’s 6pm news hour. “Have you considered resigning, Prime Minister?”The TVNZ reporter was rude and disrespectful to the highest office in the land. As has happened before with this particular reporter, her enthusiasm for the poll result was difficult to hide. Remember, we are talking about a poll result. It’s important to note that, alongside his former government colleagues, Hipkins refused to testify in person at the Royal Commission.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 14, 2026 01:02 UTC
Battle lines drawn on asset sales
NationalNational's position on future asset sales is unclear post-election. Late last year, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon laid the groundwork for asset sales after the 2026 election if the National Party wins a second term. Luxon said the country needed to have a sophisticated conversation about “asset recycling” or selling existing assets to help fund the purchase of newer ones. LabourLabour leader Chris Hipkins said his party was not considering asset sales. New Zealand FirstNZ First's position is no asset sales, deputy leader Shane Jones said, adding: "But obviously we're going to campaign and test that New Zealanders have an appetite for our view".
Source:Stuff
March 14, 2026 00:50 UTC
Australian college suspends censured NZ teacher, Jason Morgan, after tribunal reveals sex talk with students
A former student of Morgan’s at the time of the incidents told NZME he was shocked to hear Morgan was still teaching in Australia. However, a Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton spokesperson, who oversees the Queensland school at which Morgan was teaching, has now told NZME that he has been suspended. At the time of the misconduct, Morgan was a teacher and boarding house assistant at a school that cannot be identified. During this exchange, Morgan told the student that he would “come on your mum’s back”, the decision stated. Later that month, Morgan made inappropriate comments in front of several students when speaking about hunting.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 14, 2026 00:09 UTC
Kiwifruit labour boss in $57m tax collapse paid himself $7.1m salary, spent $2m on gold
A spokesperson for the Official Assignee – managing both the liquidations and the bankruptcy – said it did not know what had happened to the reported gold. That year, Gurukirpa claimed to be owed $1.4m by IRD, and a further $165,700 was recorded as a new asset listed as “investment – gold”. A spreadsheet attached to the claim, covering tax claimed since June 2019, showed a quarter of the total was made up of interest, and a tenth was penalties. Tax payments by Saran over the period totalled just $74,488, or 0.15% of the amount IRD claimed was now due. In June 2025, the most recent date for which figures are available, the department reported $9.3 billion in tax was owing.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 14, 2026 00:01 UTC
David Seymour prepares to take the reins as Iran crisis drags into third week – Thomas Coughlan
His deputy, Shane Jones, has pushed himself into the centre of the response to the energy crisis unleashed by the Iran war. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis discuss the economic fallout from the war in Iran. An analogy is the policy Labour looked at under the last Government, which was to move the country’s electricity generation to 100% renewable by 2035. Hipkins was also asked about his jobs policy, which is at the forefront of Labour’s “jobs, health, homes” mantra. That’s because Labour’s real jobs policy is to do Luxon out of one.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 13, 2026 23:36 UTC
Southern mayors back massive AI factory amid concern over impacts
An early artist impression of Datagrid's data centre in Makarewa, north of Invercargill. Photo: LDR/SUPPLIEDSouthern mayors have thrown their support behind a new data centre which is set to become the country's second-highest electricity user. Southland mayor Rob Scott said the data centre had been on the cards for "quite a long time" and was a good opportunity for the region. He said a cable coming onshore at Ōreti Beach meant the city would have the fastest internet in the country, which could attract tech companies. Trenching along the beach could impact cultural and spiritual values, lead to the discovery of cultural artefacts, and disturb toheroa, he wrote.
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 13, 2026 23:27 UTC
US refuelling plane crashes in western Iraq, six crew confirmed dead
A US KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, killing all six crew members, the US military has said, adding the incident was not caused by “hostile fire”. The incident, which happened Friday and involved a second plane that landed safely, brings the number of US troops killed in operations against Iran to at least 13. “All six crew members aboard a US KC-135 refuelling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased,” US Central Command (Centcom), which is responsible for American forces in the Middle East, said in a post on X. An investigation was underway into the crash, the command said, adding that “the loss of the aircraft was not because of hostile fire or friendly fire”. Iran’s military said in an earlier statement carried by state TV that an allied group in Iraq had downed the aircraft with a missile, killing all its crew.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 13, 2026 22:56 UTC
Video shows Tauranga teen lashing out at postie van after near miss
Hutchings said the DHL van almost hit the teenager and the driver was forced to slam on his brakes to avoid him. “The postie shouted out his window to say watch out, then he must have shouted something back, and the postie pulled over to explain what he just said to him. “The young guy decided that instead of letting the postie out of his van, he was going to try and kick his door to close the door on the postie,” Hutchings said. A young man was caught kicking a delivery van in an outburst at a Tauranga intersection. Photo / SuppliedA DHL spokesperson said the courier driver was okay and was not physically harmed during the incident.
Source:New Zealand Herald
March 13, 2026 22:53 UTC
Child hit by car
A child was taken to hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a car in an Invercargill carpark. Police said emergency services were called to a McDonald’s carpark about 7pm yesterday. "The child was taken to hospital in serious condition," the spokeswoman said. "Police have spoken to the driver of the vehicle, and inquiries ongoing into exactly what happened." — Allied Media
Source:Otago Daily Times
March 13, 2026 22:44 UTC