Otago Daily Times News Feed

Olivia Podmore's mother Nienke and her stepfather Chris Middleton. Photo: NZME/George Heard The mother and stepfather of Olivia Podmore say Cycling New Zealand and High Performance Sport NZ  chose medals over the welfare of their daughter.

One person has been seriously injured after a gun was fired in central Auckland. 

Waitaki Youth MP Enya O’Donnell, 16, and Waitaki MP Miles Anderson outside his Oamaru office. PHOTO: NIC DUFF Waitaki has a new youth MP.

Waitaki Whitestone Geopark geoscientist Sasha Morriss speaks during the 7×7 Wild Talks event for the Wild Dunedin — New Zealand Festival of Nature. PHOTO: SUPPLIED The 10th annual Wild Dunedin New Zealand Festival of Nature had a North Otago flavour with the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark featuring in the 12-day festival.

Presidents, royalty and simple mourners have farewelled Pope Francis at a solemn funeral ceremony at the Vatican, where a cardinal appealed for the pontiff's legacy of caring for migrants, the downtrodden and the environment to be kept alive.

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis, met one-on-one in a marble-lined Vatican basilica on Saturday to try to revive faltering efforts to end Russia's war with Ukraine.

Presidents, royalty and simple mourners have farewelled Pope Francis at a solemn funeral ceremony at the Vatican, where a cardinal appealed for the pontiff's legacy of caring for migrants, the downtrodden and the environment to be kept alive.

Clients of Dunedin’s Plus Bus shopping service (from left) Helen Ross, 91, Kathleen Bradfield, 94, Betty McKie, 91, Nancy Gillies, 84, and volunteer driver Neil Redmond disembark ready to shop at Woolworths in Mornington last week. Photo: Brenda Harwood A weekly bus ride to go shopping is a chance to chat, swap recipes and enjoy the sights of the city for clients of the Plus Bus shopping service.

Rhys Fitzsimmons has started his own food delivery company in Winton. Photo: Nina Tapu Getting knocked back has not stopped a Southland man from achieving his dream.

Peter Davenport has been on this Dalefield property, now for sale, for 56 years. PHOTO: SUPPLIED With his lifestyle block on the market, one of Queenstown’s last farming identities is about to leave the Wakatipu Basin he’s lived in since 1962.

Aaron and Bridget Murphy with Partners in Grime’s new window cleaning van. PHOTO: PHILIP CHANDLER A Queenstown home services company has made its window-cleaning operation a stand-alone business.

Showing off Kiwi Park Queenstown’s new kea aviary are, from left, general manager Richard Wilson, wildlife manager Dean Jankings and ops manager Anthony Wilkins. PHOTO: GUY WILLIAMS Kiwi Park Queenstown’s most curious and charismatic residents have just got new digs.

Former tenant Vanessa Estupinan. PHOTO: PHILIP CHANDLER After living in Queenstown for almost three years, a migrant from Ecuador says she has left town due to her bad experiences as a tenant.

PHOTO: ODT FILES When it comes to rental accommodation issues, the most complaints Queenstown’s Citizens Advice Bureau receives relate to head tenants — which they’re powerless to do anything about.

Forrester Gallery director Chloe Searle and Friends of Forrester artist residency co-ordinator Brian Robinson outside the cottage to house the artist residency, at Kakanui. PHOTO: JULES CHIN The Forrester Gallery’s first artist residency will begin in Kakanui next week.

Five of 15 apprentices who have just passed their certificate in Electrical Distribution level four at the Network Waitaki training facility at Weston, are(from left) Ben Giles, Jake MacDonald, Joseph Soloman, Trent Woodford-Cameron, and Te Meihana Williams. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Fifteen men have just achieved their electrical qualification at Network Waitaki’s primary training facility in Weston.

Waitaki Youth MP Enya O’Donnell, 16, and Waitaki MP Miles Anderson outside his Oamaru office. PHOTO: NIC DUFF Waitaki has a new youth MP.

Waitaki District Council. PHOTO: ODT FILES A review of Waitaki District Council staffing is inevitable as it finalises a budget for the next few years.

Pembroke School kapa haka group perform at the school’s cultural assembly. PHOTOS: NIC DUFF Pembroke School has celebrated the growing diversity of their community and school with a cultural day.