Otago Daily Times Online News

LA fires: Death toll rises, whole neighbourhoods wiped out

Updated 9.25 pm

Wildfires menacing Los Angeles have killed at least 10 people and devoured nearly 10,000 structures, with five fires burning into a third night as dry desert winds fanning the flames again gather strength.
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Highlanders in switched-on mode

Jamie Joseph is looking forward to having the Highlanders, well, as many of them as possible, back on deck.
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Eight-year journey reaches New Zealand

Cromford, it's a village in the middle of England, ironically about as far away from the sea as one can get.

Mechanic slated for 'audacity' of his offending

Mechanic slated for 'audacity' of his offending

A Queenstown mechanic who defrauded a Christchurch couple says he will move to Australia after completing his court sentence.
'Suspicious' house fire north of Oamaru

'Suspicious' house fire north of Oamaru

A fire that caused ‘‘substantial damage’’ to a house north of Oamaru overnight is being treated as suspicious, fire officials say.
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Dermatological services in South criticised

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Dermatological services in South criticised

Employing specialists in Christchurch will not be enough to meet the needs of Otago and Southland patients with serious skin conditions, a retired dermatologist says.

dunedin

Emergency services at the scene of a crash in Stafford St this afternoon. Photo: Gerard O'Brien

Two-car crash on Stafford St

Stafford St in central Dunedin was closed this afternoon after a two-vehicle crash.

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Person rescued after 10m fall

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Person rescued after 10m fall

A person was flown to Dunedin Hospital after falling 10m down a bank at a "notorious" area at Cape Saunders yesterday.
Devotees promoting ancient horse breed

Devotees promoting ancient horse breed

If the mythical Norse god Thor and his trusty hammer were to ride into town on a horse today, they would probably be on one of these, a Norwegian fjord horse.
Tavern all but gone from site

Tavern all but gone from site

Only the facade remains of Caversham’s gutted Mitchells Tavern.

regions

The results of Invercargill's most recent residents' survey are a mixed bag. Photo: Matthew...

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Property values lift in Southland, dip in Central

Southland's average house asking price has jumped the highest of all regions in the country over the past year, while its neighbour has taken the biggest tumble.

Tourist pleads guilty after head-on crash

Tourist pleads guilty after head-on crash

A US tourist on the first day of his holiday caused a "terrible, horrible tragedy" for another group of holidaymakers when he hit them head-on.
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Not freezing, residents assure

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Not freezing, residents assure

Metservice staff may be booking an appointment at Specsavers after an observation glitch reported a temperature of -33C for Stewart Island yesterday.
Doc making short-term switch

Doc making short-term switch

The Department of Conservation's Queenstown visitor centre will be temporarily operating from Glenorchy between January 13 and 26 but it is not deserting Queenstown.

National

Middlemore was one of eight 'higher-risk' EDs that received five extra security staff in a bid to...

Patient left at ED by police tried to strangle nurse - report

The patient who attempted to strangle a nurse at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital on Monday was reportedly dropped off by police at ED, and unprovoked before the attack.

Huge increase in warnings to Kāinga Ora tenants

Huge increase in warnings to Kāinga Ora tenants

The government says more eviction warnings and shorter complaint wait times show its crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants is working.
Car thief who rammed police car found hiding up tree

Car thief who rammed police car found hiding up tree

A man who allegedly stole a vehicle at knife-point then drove dangerously through northern Auckland and rammed a police car was found hiding up a tree.
Family concerned for missing woman

Family concerned for missing Christchurch woman

The family of a missing Christchurch woman are appealing for anyone who has seen her to report it to police.

sport

Otago Spirit prop Rebekah Wairau is heading for a stint in Spain. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

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Southern pair embarking on Spanish adventure

Rebekah Wairau is hoping a bold new adventure will help spark a leap to a higher level of rugby.

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Notes from the slip, January 10th

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Notes from the slip, January 10th

The Southland Tribune has renamed the Otago Volts and the Otago Sparks, and editor Logan Savory might just have a point.
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From the Chathams to a test at the Basin

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From the Chathams to a test at the Basin

Born in the Chatham Islands and raised in Port Chalmers, Louise Clough is one of life’s uncovered gems. The former long-serving Otago women’s cricketer and one-test White Fern has plenty of...
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High-calibre field for downhill

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High-calibre field for downhill

New Zealand mountainbike stars Anton Cooper and Sammie Maxwell are among the talented riders lured south to compete in the opening round of the Mountain Bike New Zealand National Series at Signal...

Easy meals on the move
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Charred peppers with blistered tomatoes
A toast to the South’s top pubs
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Little strawberry, almond and brown butter cakes

Business

The approvals gives Pacific Edge access to about 20 million Americans. Photo: Supplied / Pacific...

Shares for Dunedin's Pacific Edge in trading halt

Dunedin-based cancer diagnostics company Pacific Edge's shares are in a trading halt while it considers the implications of new information from the US federal health insurer.

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Property values lift in Southland, dip in Central

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Property values lift in Southland, dip in Central

Southland's average house asking price has jumped the highest of all regions in the country over the past year, while its neighbour has taken the biggest tumble.
Sub-5 percent home loans 'on the horizon'

Sub-5 percent home loans 'on the horizon'

Home loan borrowers should see rates below 5 percent before too long, a mortgage expert says.
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Retailer puzzled why others not trading in evenings

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Retailer puzzled why others not trading in evenings

Two Queenstown retailers who open until 10pm are questioning why so many other CBD shops are missing out on lucrative night-time trade.

Rural Life

Sheep killed by lightning strike in Canterbury

A bolt of lightning likely killed seven sheep found dead on a Canterbury farm under a tree with a huge crack down the middle of it.

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Orchardists hit staffing sweet spot

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Orchardists hit staffing sweet spot

Not too many, not too few, Central Otago orchardists are having a Goldilocks season for staff.
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Wet spring continues to affect ‘man, beast, pasture’

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Wet spring continues to affect ‘man, beast, pasture’

The effects of a soggy spring will be felt in the Southland farming community for a few more months, rural community members say.
Calls for use of webcams ‘impractical’

Calls for use of webcams ‘impractical’

Calls for mandatory web-cameras in shearing sheds have been labelled as an overreach by farming lobby groups.

Life & style

Your garden, January 10th

Vegetables

Angelface Wedgwood a most anticipated new flower

Angelface Wedgwood a most anticipated new flower

Norman Winter of Tribune News Services takes a look at a new flower variety being released in the United States this year — hopefully not far away from reaching New...
Call out to ‘citizen scientists’

Call out to ‘citizen scientists’

Scientists need help to work out why monarch butterfly populations in Australasia seem to be declining, writes Myron Zalucki.
Photos of 2024: Gregor Richardson

Photos of 2024: Gregor Richardson

ODT photographer Gregor Richardson chooses his favourite pics from 2024.

LIFESTYLE & ENTERTAINMENT

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What's on for 2025
Quality night of hard rock

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Winery’s sustainability practices get nod
Designs on a delightful garden

World

Japan's iconic Mount Fuji without snow in late October, marking the latest date without snow...

Climate change: 2024 warmest year on record

The world just experienced the first full year in which global temperatures exceeded 1.5C above pre-industrial times, scientists say.

Summer heat continues to scorch Australia

Summer heat continues to scorch Australia

Multiple Australian states are sweltering through a low-intensity to severe heatwave, with temperatures in some place expected to hit the mid forties.
LA fires: Death toll rises, whole neighbourhoods wiped out

LA fires: Death toll rises, whole neighbourhoods wiped out

Updated 9.25 pm

Wildfires menacing Los Angeles have killed at least 10 people and devoured nearly 10,000 structures, with five fires burning into a third night as dry desert winds fanning the flames again gather strength.
Consul-general, Football Fern among Kiwis fleeing LA fires

Consul-general, Football Fern among Kiwis fleeing LA fires

New Zealand's consul-general and a Football Fern are among New Zealanders who have evacuated amid blazing wildfires in Los Angeles.

Opinion

An aerial view of South Dunedin. Photo: ODT files

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Whither house prices

The new year regularly begins in New Zealand with various predictions about how house prices will track.

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Cartoonist's view - Yeo

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Cartoonist's view - Yeo

Today's cartoon from Shaun Yeo
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Letters to Editor: peninsula, Seymour, TOP

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Letters to Editor: peninsula, Seymour, TOP

Today's Letters to the Editor from readers cover topics including the maintenance of the Otago peninsula, David Seymour, and the mainstream media's treatment of small political parties.
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Expo court ‘should look well’

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Expo court ‘should look well’

The manager of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition Co (Mr C.F. Hainsworth) granted an interview to a Daily Times reporter yesterday.

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Updated 9.25 pm

Updated 9.25 pm

Updated 9.25 pm