Otago Daily Times News Feed

University of Otago student Indigo Faulkner (front) and her cheerleading team Dynasty at the 2025 Eclipse Showcase at Trinity Catholic College. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH Handsprings, tucks, rolls, roundoffs and high-flying stunts took over a Dunedin secondary school's gymnasium as cheerleaders from around the city showed a packed room what they could do.

About 300 people braved a frosty morning to take part in the 96th annual polar plunge at St Clair Beach yesterday.

One thousand additional walkers have trekked the Hump Ridge Track since it entered the international stage of the world’s great walks nearly a year ago.

The avalanche shelter at the Homer Tunnel has been recognised at the Concrete Construction Awards. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED A new avalanche shelter at the eastern portal of the Homer Tunnel on State Highway 94 earned a highly commended honour for its outstanding engineering, resilience, and environmental sensitivity at the 2025 Concrete Construction Awards in Auckland last week.

Ben Harris, of Wanaka, takes part in the Southern Apprentice of the Year practical challenge event at Carters Queenstown on Saturday. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Twelve of the southern region’s top apprentice tradies put it all on the line in Queenstown on Saturday.

Medsalv founder Oliver Hunt (front row, third from left) and his team have learned the supplier of remanufactured medical equipment will be added to Pharmac’s hospital medical devices list. PHOTOS: MEDSALV Medsalv Founder Oliver Hunt remains baffled it has taken so long for its remanufactured medical products to be added to Pharmac’s hospital medical devices list.

Prof Richard Green, left, and Dr Sam Schofield with the new chainsaw drone they’ve developed as part of a University of Canterbury Vision research team project. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED A chainsaw drone developed by a University of Canterbury team to cut wrist-size branches in hazardous areas may be commercialised soon.

Mr and Mrs Walter Taine, of Dunedin, and their car, were unharmed after a plunge off a flood-damaged road between Blenheim and Kaikoura. — Otago Witness, 23.6.1925 Mr and Mrs Walter Taine have returned to Dunedin from a motor trip through both islands, the pleasure of which was interfered with by only one untoward incident.

Waitaki bridge. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery Today's Letters to the Editor from readers cover topics including buses between Dunedin and Oamaru, wildlife concerns at Oceania, and planning for an electric future.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Many ill people are receiving a raw deal, Fiona Charlton writes.

Once upon a time, a long long time ago, there was a fearsome cannibal clan who lived in a damp coastal cave in Ayrshire. 

A giant piece of gorgonian coral being hoisted out of a bottom trawl net, photographed in 2005. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF FISHERIES At the age of 99, documentary film-maker David Attenborough has achieved his greatest triumph.

Today's cartoon from Shaun Yeo. 

Shortly after news broke of Israel’s aerial attacks on Iran, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made the cautious understatement they were an "unwelcome development" for the Middle East.

The St Clair Saints will host the Otago B52s in one semifinal, and the Otago Bombers will host Chisholm Links in the other, after a relatively uneventful final round in the metropolitan senior A pennant series on Saturday.

Ryan Fox plays his shot from the third tee during the third round of the 125th U.S. Open, at Oakmont Country Club on June 14, 2025, in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Like many at the US Open in 2025, the third round was another challenging day for New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox.

The Dunedin City Royals and Wānaka have emerged victorious in thrillers to advance to the Chatham Cup’s round of 16.

Otago University players Ashley Geusebroek (left) and Isla Ganley compete with Dunedin City Royals forward Raegan Potter for the ball during the Kate Sheppard Cup game at Logan Park yesterday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH Otago University are finally the ones with the royal smiles on their faces.

All signs are this could be one of the closest battles for the New Zealand Ice Hockey League crown in years.

Lyttelton Rd Tunnel has been closed following a crash this evening.