Photo: suppliedA man whose actions triggered a bomb scare at a council is standing in the Dunedin City Council by-election. This involved him slipping an empty red suitcase into the Whakatāne District Council headquarters foyer and walking away, leaving it unattended. Dickson told the Whakatāne District Court he had not expected the police to get involved and the possibility of triggering a bomb scare had never entered his mind. The Otago Daily Times has been told Dickson, 72, is to be sentenced on April 15, which is five days after voting opens in the by-election. He has previously stood for the Otago Regional Council, Southern District Health Board and in a Port Otago electorate by-election.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 18, 2026 15:36 UTC