Otago Daily Times News Feed

PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY The aurora australis viewed from Blackhead Beach, Dunedin, with Saddle Hill in the centre.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES A "long and dusty road" lies ahead for North Otago farmers as drought conditions look set to continue for months, not weeks, a long-term weather forecaster has warned.

Highlanders first five Cameron Millar kicks another goal in the Super Rugby Pacific game against the Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES And then a hero came along.

Steve Walker. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A Dunedin city councillor has labelled one of his colleague’s comments as "borderline racist" after being criticised for his predictions about the future of George St.

People watch the aurora over the south coast from St Clair, near Cargill’s Castle, about 9.30pm on Saturday. PHOTO: RICK WELLINGTON A "solar tsunami" lit up the skies — and social media — over the weekend, and a star-gazing authority says we should be prepared for more of them.

REPORT: ANI NGAWHIKA / PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON The official opening of Paulina Barry’s mural on the side of the Zoology Building took place on Saturday.

Robert Patman. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON Robert Patman’s "fearless" ability to educate both politicians and the public, about issues relating to international relations, has been recognised with a prestigious national award.

Secondary school teachers in Dunedin and Queenstown will step away from their whiteboards at 1pm today, to hold paid union meetings about the National-led coalition government’s attempt to reintroduce charter schools in New Zealand.

Dancers crowd George St for a flash mob on Saturday. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON There was a surreal moment when George St shoppers were suddenly surrounded by more than 60 people who broke into song and dance as part of a flash mob on Saturday.

Silver Fern Farms CEO Dan Boulton. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Financial projections show Silver Fern Farms returning to profitability in the 2024 financial year, chief executive Dan Boulton says.

Retiring Silver Fern Farms Co-operative chairman Rob Hewett will continue as an appointed director in the short term to help with the transition. PHOTO: SHAWN MCAVINUE "One very interesting ride" is how Rob Hewett describes his lengthy tenure on the board of Silver Fern Farms.

Appalling plans and phenomenal tax hikes are unacceptable, Russell Garbutt writes.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reviews an honour guard. PHOTO: REUTERS "History repeats itself — the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce", Karl Marx said.

The Baxter Memorial. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY In a turbulent world the principles espoused by conscientious objectors matter more than ever, Kevin Clements writes.

The proposed new Wānaka hospital. Image: supplied Today's Letters to the Editor from readers cover topics including train rides for cruise ship passengers, an arts centre and hospital for Wānaka, and fair pay for health workers.

Steamship Ngahere in trouble on the Grey River bar, at Greymouth. — Otago Witness, 20.5.1924 The steamer Ngahere went ashore when departing over the Grey bar at 3pm to-day with a full cargo of timber and coal for Wellington.

Today's cartoon from Voyager 2023 award winning cartoonist, Shaun Yeo.

After the last week, the slogan-ridden government might want to look for new ways to accentuate the positive.

Jodie Hope. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN Dunedin's Jodie Hope will lead the first all-female executive team in the history of the New Zealand Embalmers Association.