December 23, 2025

How the Whitakers bought their first Waikato dairy farm in their 30s

New Zealand Blog News Service Dec 23, 2025

Their strict budgets, low early interest and off-farm income reduced debt fast.http://dlvr.it/TPzPHP

Tory Whanau may have to sell Wellington mayoralty to make ends meet September 20, 2024
Tory Whanau has revealed that she’s struggling so much financially that she may have to part with her beloved mayoralty, that of New Zealand’s capital city, if she’s to fund her ever-diminishing lifestyle. Whanau was elected to lead Wellington in 2022, winning an overwhelming victory against the incumbent mayor: the evil version of Jason Gunn. […]
Ben Uffindell
Ukrainian militia receives defective shipment of pagers that just send and receive messages September 18, 2024
There’s been a major setback for one Ukrainian-backed militia on the Russian border, after the group ordered a large shipment of pagers to use as improvised explosive devices. The plan was to litter the pagers throughout abandoned homes and buildings in hopes of wounding Russian soldiers. But upon arrival of the shipment, routed through the […]
Ben Uffindell
Government directs Te Puni Kōkiri to conduct Māori Language Week in English September 17, 2024
The coalition government has issued a directive to Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Māori Development, instructing them that – in the interests of clear communication – they are to conduct this year’s Māori Language Week primarily or exclusively in English. The directive is in line with the Government’s policy – signaled when they came […]
Ben Uffindell
Government celebrates fact that New Zealand’s healthcare is so good people are queuing up for it at 5am September 17, 2024
At yesterday’s post-cabinet press conference, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, flanked by his Health Minister Shane Reti and someone we can’t independently verify was a real sign language interpreter, announced that he had some positive news for the country. “Alright team, I’m just going to hand over to uh, Dr. Shane, because I think he’s got […]
Ben Uffindell
Heartwarming: Thoughtful driver uses indicator to tell you what they’ve just done September 17, 2024
It’s 4:10pm in the morning, and you’re in the middle lane heading north on the great southern motorway of our nation’s capital, Auckland. There are no cars directly in front of you, but quite a few in the lane to your left. Suddenly, without warning, a black ute enters your lane, cutting in front of […]
Ben Uffindell
NPC teams will now be allowed to actually use the Ranfurly Shield in play September 17, 2024
Following decades of controversy, the governing body of New Zealand rugby, New Zealand Rugby, has ruled that the team currently holding the Ranfurly Shield may once again use it in play during the National Provincial Championship (NPC). The ruling restores the utility of a prize that for many years was rendered merely symbolic, after the […]
Ben Uffindell
Police say they won’t respond to bomb threats anymore as ‘it’s never anything’ September 16, 2024
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says that New Zealand’s police force will no longer respond to bomb threats, in an attempt to cut costs and redirect police resources to less boring activities. Coster said that threat response and bomb disposal was a “fairly obvious” area for downsizing, as bomb threats are “never anything”, a “huge waste […]
Ben Uffindell
Air New Zealand flight attendant named CEO after one year on job November 30, 2021
New Zealand’s national carrier, Air New Zealand, has expressed great enthusiasm in announcing its new CEO today: 51-year-old Nathan Guy, a flight attendant who has spent about 1200 hours on the job. Guy joined the company as a fresh-faced, wide-eyed flight attendant serving now-reduced domestic routes in November of 2020, and has since spent a […]
Ben Uffindell
National Party board denies it unanimously agreed to Collins’ Faustian bargain with Satan November 26, 2021
National Party president Peter Goodfellow is today issuing a strong denial on behalf of the party’s board, saying they did not, at any point, agree to the Faustian bargain that National leader Judith Collins struck with the Evil One, Son of Perdition, the Devil Satan himself. When Collins became the leader of the National Party […]
Ben Uffindell
Super Saturday recap: Patrick Gower doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do October 16, 2021
It was Aotearoa’s first national day of action in over ten years, the first since 2010, when Prime Minister John Key tried to inspire us to clean up our nation’s berms. It didn’t work. Today, New Zealand’s berms are worse than ever. But history is not destiny, and other cliches. Today, we tried again, this […]
Ben Uffindell

‘Unafraid’ cartoonist dies aged 84 December 28, 2025
A Garrick Tremain self-portrait. Former Otago Daily Times cartoonist Garrick Tremain has died, aged 84.
ODT quiz: December 29 December 28, 2025
Test your local and general knowledge by taking the Otago Daily Times quiz for Monday, December 29.
Bella on top of dog name list again December 28, 2025
Seven-year-old cairn terrier Gizmo makes it ashore after abandoning a ride with paddleboarder Tammy Rizzi on Otago Harbour on Saturday. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY If you yell the name "Bella" out at a Dunedin dog park, expect a swarm of labrador retrievers to answer the call.
Laine Priestley
Fewer ships, drop-off sites affect trade December 28, 2025
Passengers aboard the cruise ship 'Norwegian Spirit' take in the sights as it enters Otago Harbour yesterday morning. The cruise ship has a capacity of 2018 passengers and 912 crew. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY Dunedin retailers say they have their fingers crossed for a busy cruise ship week ahead following a season that has been "pretty […]
Mark John
Magic moments: December 29 December 28, 2025
It's back! Send us your photo and win!
How lawyers turn routine legal work into a luxury few can afford December 28, 2025
How much did that will cost? PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES High charges for routine legal work are a barrier to justice, Bruce Curtis writes.
Cherry-pit spitting competition a cheery day out December 28, 2025
Showing he still has it is Dunedin-based Aaron Collins, who reclaimed the top spot at this year’s national cherry-pit spitting contest in Cromwell yesterday. Mr Collins’ sister and two of his four children also took places at the contest. PHOTOS: JULIE ASHER The family that ... spits together, plays together?
Julie Asher
Pilot programme to foster youth digital leadership December 28, 2025
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES An innovative pilot programme to help youth become leaders in addressing online harm and to identify the digital challenges that matter most to them is coming to Central Otago early next year.
Ella Jenkins
Widespread disease still a concern December 28, 2025
A waxeye bearing a bird pox sore feeds with others at a Tahakopa Valley property in October. PHOTO: OWEN MCNUTT Bird pox is widespread in Otago and remains a concern for conservationists protecting native species.
Richard Davison
Keeping islands pest-free focus for holiday period December 28, 2025
Weka chicks on Lake Wanaka’s Mou Waho. PHOTO: ALLIED MEDIA FILES Boaties and lake-users are being asked to be extra vigilant when visiting the pest-free islands of Lake Wānaka this summer.

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December 23, 2025

How the Whitakers bought their first Waikato dairy farm in their 30s

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