January 12, 2026

Inside: Investigation escalates Trump’s long-running feud with Powell over interest rate levels

New Zealand Blog News Service Jan 12, 2026

NY Times: Trump has attacked Powell for resisting his demands to slash interest rates.http://dlvr.it/TQJFzV

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

Students get taste of life at university January 12, 2026
Brian Wilson, 17, of Otahuhu College, gets into his biochemistry lesson at the Hands-On at Otago week at the University of Otago yesterday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH More than 400 secondary school students are dipping their toes into university life this week in Dunedin.
Escape from window January 12, 2026
PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY / REPORT: TIM SCOTT A person eluded capture at a South Dunedin motel yesterday by using what appeared to be curtains tied together to jump out of a two-storey window.
Tim Scott
Councillors to discuss plan to get rid of councils January 12, 2026
Hilary Calvert. PHOTO: ODT FILES A meeting tomorrow will discuss what Otago regional councillors think about the proposal to get rid of regional councils but the council chairwoman has questioned if mayors have any idea what they are getting themselves into.
Yachts battle for honours January 12, 2026
PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH Yachts compete in a Port Chalmers Yacht Club race on Otago Harbour on Saturday.
Bug off! January 12, 2026
PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY Caked in wind-blown sand, a resting sea lion on Smaills Beach lifts its head, disturbing a cloud of flies which were gathered around the moisture from its eyes.
Fear, uncertainty as family cut off in Iran January 12, 2026
Mourners react, carry coffins during a funeral procession for members of security forces and civilians said to have been killed in protests on Sunday amid evolving anti-government unrest in Tehran, Iran. PHOTO: REUTERS As anti-government riots in Iran lead to hundreds of deaths, a Dunedin-based expat says he is struggling to hear from family and […]
Matthew Littlewood
Upgrades around Octagon to disrupt traffic for a month January 12, 2026
The Octagon. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY Aurora Energy is making electricity upgrades in the Octagon including working on underground infrastructure to improve network reliability.
Licence application withdrawn for proposed new student pub January 12, 2026
The building at 1 Great King St is still yet to be filled after an application for a new pub was withdrawn. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY Plans for a new student pub and club in a long-vacant building on the doorstep of Dunedin’s bus hub have been abandoned after a public backlash.
Tim Scott
Just doing her job: massage therapist January 12, 2026
Annie Varghese is on trial defending charges of indecent assault. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON A Dunedin massage therapist accused of sexually assaulting two clients says she was just doing her job according to her limited training.
Felicity Dear
ODT quiz: January 13 January 12, 2026
Test your local and general knowledge by taking the Otago Daily Times quiz for Tuesday, January 13.

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January 12, 2026

Inside: Investigation escalates Trump’s long-running feud with Powell over interest rate levels

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Inside: Investigation escalates Trump’s long-running feud with Powell over interest rate levels

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