Three rowing coaches sent home from Maadi Cup
Three Christchurch high school rowing coaches were sent home from the prestigious Maadi Cup after socialising on the first day of the regatta. Shirley Boys' High School has confirmed the trio were told they could not participate further at the competition and to return home because of their conduct. The Maadi Cup secondary schools national rowing championships is one of New Zealand’s most prestigious sporting events. Last year police were forced to call reinforcements when wide-scale disorder broke out on the small town’s streets following the New Zealand Rowing Championships. The 2026 Maadi Cup ran from March 23-28, with 2280 athletes from 127 schools participating.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 08, 2026 08:40 UTC
Jacinda Ardern documentary nominated for two Emmys
Jacinda Ardern attends the Jacinda Ardern "Prime Minister" London Premiere at the Curzon Mayfair on December 1, 2025. Photo: Getty ImagesA documentary about former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been nominated for two Emmy awards. The production, Prime Minister, looks at how the world's then-youngest female head of government balanced motherhood with leadership, and navigated crises like the covid-19 lockdowns and the Christchurch terror attack. He said the periods that the film looks at were some of the toughest times in their lives. Variety Magazine in Los Angeles reported it had been nominated in the 'Best Documentary' category, and also as 'Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary'.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 08, 2026 08:38 UTC
Reserve Bank holds official cash rate at 2.25%
Photo: RNZ / Samuel RillstoneBy Gyles Beckford of RNZThe Reserve Bank (RBNZ) has held its benchmark official cash rate (OCR) unchanged at 2.25 percent, as it forecast inflation to break above 4 percent but said it did not want to hurt the economic recovery. It said it expected inflation at 3 percent for the first three months ended March from 3.1 percent at the end of last year, rising to 4.2 percent in the June quarter. The MPC said economic growth would fall as a result of the war while prices have already risen. "The extent to which these criteria are met will influence the scope for the Committee to look through current near-term inflation or whether tighter monetary policy is required." "However, any signs of significant second-round inflationary effects or increases in medium-term inflation expectations would require decisive and timely increases in the OCR to re-anchor inflation expectations.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 08, 2026 08:27 UTC
'Unexplained' Christchurch death investigated
Police are investigating an 'unexplained death' in Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKERPolice are investigating a sudden death in Christchurch. Officers were called to a Main North Road property in Papanui at about 2.40pm. Police said the public may see more of them while they work to find out what happened. The death is being treated as unexplained.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 08, 2026 08:24 UTC
Warning about DIY pedestrian crossings
A "home-made" approach to road safety is putting people at risk, a local representative says. ‘‘People drawing their own pedestrian crossings on the road is unsafe at the end of the day,’’ Mrs Shepherd said. However, traffic-calming measures such as speed humps would likely be a better option to reduce speeds in Murray St, rather than pedestrian crossings or the ‘‘home-made’’ approach, she said. A painted ‘‘speed hump’’ in Murray St, near the Murrey St Playground. Two unofficial crossings had been added, and removed, on Murray St since March 23.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 08, 2026 08:18 UTC
Slight increase in fuel stocks in latest update
Image: RNZFuel stocks have again risen in the latest update from the government. The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment's latest fuel stocks update shows 62.6 days of petrol, 51.7 days of diesel, and 53.5 days of jet fuel as of midday Sunday. All are up on the last update, though petrol and diesel reserves have increased by less than half a day's normal consumption. Jet fuel is up by more than three days' consumption. On-land supplies amount to about 28 days, 24 days and 28 days of petrol, diesel and jet fuel respectively.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 08, 2026 07:36 UTC
14 released prisoners dead by suspected suicide since 2023 - coroners
Parolees have described being thrown into the outside world without support and say more psychological support is needed. Parolees say Corrections doesn't record the data, because it would only make it look bad. "Once I was released, the psychological services side of it didn't eventuate. "I got out thinking that I'm going to get out here and I'm just going to do it," he said. "You know, I'm going to get a job, I'm going to be working, I'm going to get my mortgage, I'm going to, you know, and it didn't happen.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 08, 2026 07:30 UTC
Mother guilty of ill-treating child during medical treatment
The jury has delivered its verdict in the trial of a woman accused of medically abusing her child. Image / NZME composite using RNZ insetA mother accused of ill-treating her child during medical treatment has been found guilty on all seven charges. Medical staff who gave evidence at the trial said the child rapidly recovered after being removed from the mother’s care. Medical child abuse was a recognised diagnosis, described as a form of child abuse where a child received “unnecessary, potentially harmful medical care” at the instigation of a caregiver. On three separate occasions in 2020, the mother allegedly caused illness in the child through wilfully causing a polymicrobial sepsis.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 08, 2026 07:30 UTC
Outrageous salary
The Post reports:The head of an investment fund which is being shut down by the Government has been on an annual salary of nearly $1 million paid by the public purse, which the climate change minister says is “hard to justify”. That is an obscene salary for the role. The GIF is very different to say the NZ Super Fund or the role overseeing ACC investments. Their job is to get the best return for their organisations, and their performance can easily be judged by the return on investment they get. They failed and lost $116 million in the last year.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 08, 2026 07:17 UTC
Marked for life: ‘Great Dane’ goalkeeper wears pride in Kiwi club on his body
Prior to his first season with Napier City Rovers in 2024, Tonning had played in Denmark, Canada, Sweden and the Faroe Islands. Tonning proved to be hugely popular with both his teammates and fans of Napier City Rovers during his first stint at the Hawke’s Bay club. Screen grab / Neil Reid videoLast Saturday’s win saw Napier City Rovers secure it for the first time since 2018. William Tonning's return to Napier City Rovers sees him link up again with the club's goalkeeping coach Kyle Baxter (right). He joined the Herald in 2014, has 34 years of newsroom experience and been covering the Napier City Rovers since 2022.
Source:New Zealand Herald
April 08, 2026 06:28 UTC
Unlicensed Central Otago plumber's illegal work posed safety risk
Photo: ODT FilesA shonky plumber has been fined $8000 for illegal work at five Central Otago properties, a court has heard. Ben DeClifford was sentenced in the Invercargill District Court after pleading guilty to eight charges under the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act. The charges came after complaints about work DeClifford did at five Cromwell and Wānaka properties between 2023 and last year. This included installation of sewerage and stormwater drains, potable water pipes, sanitary plumbing systems, and a hot water cylinder. ‘‘The water pipes installed below the slab would have likely failed before the durability period of 50 years.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 08, 2026 06:21 UTC
The man with the golden touch
The golden boy of Highlanders and Otago rugby, whose exploits in a free-flowing era of the sport so thrilled his legion of fans. ‘‘In 50 years, people will talk about Jeff Wilson in the same breath as Bert Cooke and George Nepia,’’ Palenski said in 2002. The lad with the golden touch certainly had the complete game. Wilson played 60 tests, scoring a then-record 44 tries, and finished with 151 tries in 230 first-class games. Rugby, of course, is only half of the Jeff Wilson story.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 08, 2026 06:02 UTC
First do no harm with alcohol law reform
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGESNicole McKee MP (Opinion ODT 24.3.26) argues that ‘‘New Zealanders should have a serious conversation about alcohol’’. Furthermore, this is only the dollar cost. McKee goes on to say that, of the $9.1b ‘‘gross cost’’ (her words), foetal alcohol spectrum disorder contributes a cost of $4.8b. That means that more than half of the dollar cost ascribed to alcohol-related harm reflects impacts on children, inflicted before they are even born, and the lifelong adverse outcomes associated with this tragic, preventable condition. Apparently, it would be worth doing only if the monetary cost of fixing the road was outweighed by the social cost, in dollars, of not doing it.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 08, 2026 06:01 UTC
Aim to uncover fish toxin secrets
University of Otago chemistry researcher Dr Nicholas Green has received a $2million research grant from the Human Frontier Science Program to investigate fish toxins, which could be used to cure diseases. The grant will allow the team to study the genomics, biosynthesis, physiology and chemical synthesis of a little-known family of ichthyotoxins — toxic molecules produced by fish. ‘‘Given that most of us eat fish, it’s important that we know about these toxins. ‘‘But it also turns out that fish toxins include some of the most interesting, confusing chemical structures known to science. ‘‘In terms of the medical context, there’s a lot of mystery around why the particular fish in this case have this natural product present in their tissue.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 08, 2026 05:32 UTC
Southland businessman's boat death linked to generator fumes
Supplied photoAn Invercargill businessman died from carbon monoxide poisoning while on a boat trip, a coroner has ruled. The boat was found by police on July 21 and Mr Murrell was dead, and further investigation found a generator and diesel heater were being used aboard. Coroner Heather McKenzie last month ruled carbon monoxide toxicity, exacerbated by his heart disease and alcohol use, caused Mr Murrell’s death. On July 19, Mr Murrell and Mr Allison set off on their trip. They planned to travel from Lake Manapouri Boat Club and stay at the Freeman Hut.
Source:Otago Daily Times
April 08, 2026 04:21 UTC