January 18, 2026

Pact with Mercosur is aimed at showing EU can help maintain open markets despite US protectionism

New Zealand Blog News Service Jan 18, 2026

Although more than 25 years in the making, deal comes at a pivotal moment.http://dlvr.it/TQQMbB

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

ODT quiz: January 19 January 18, 2026
Test your local and general knowledge by taking the Otago Daily Times quiz for Monday, January 19.
Thousands attend annual gala day: ‘this is Brighton and it’s got a heart’ January 18, 2026
Brighton's community spirit was on full display as the seaside town’s annual gala day notched up 30 years with a bumper crowd.
Ruby Shaw
Navy Park group’s dreams now reality January 18, 2026
Vicente Lavanini, 5, whizzes down the flying fox at the newly refurbished Navy Park on Saturday. PHOTOS: GERARD O’BRIEN Face painting, volleyball, balloon animals and a sausage sizzle were all on the agenda as the reopening of a beloved Dunedin park was celebrated.
Laine Priestley
Old boat, new tricks January 18, 2026
PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN Despite being 65 years old, Norwegian folkboat Valkyr continued to be a strong contender in the Otago Yacht Club’s Principal Day races in the upper Otago Harbour on Saturday.
Petrolheads converge to support cancer charity January 18, 2026
Tim and Nova, 7, Simpson prepare to set off in their 1923 Ford T-bucket in the 2026 Friday Night Car Cruise around Cromwell to raise money for Camp Quality. PHOTO: ELLA JENKINS High-octane fuel fumes wafted across much of Cromwell at the weekend when vehicles from across the South Island roared into town for the […]
John Lewis
Gardener’s toil rewarded as judges rule lily best in category January 18, 2026
Otago lily judges (from left) Celia Joyce, Margaret Laughton and Liz Bremer get pointers on the art of judging lilies from New Zealand Lily Society president Rex Lyes, of Christchurch. PHOTOS: GERARD O’BRIEN A self-proclaimed "bit of a gardener" managed to swoop first place in her category, and second overall, in a lily show after […]
Laine Priestley
Defender pipped in final but wins u18 January 18, 2026
Dunedin surfer Alexis Owen in action off the coast of Gisborne at the 2026 New Zealand Surfing Championships on Saturday. PHOTO: PHOTOCPL Dunedin surfer Alexis Owen narrowly missed surfing to a remarkable double but he did add another trophy to his cabinet on Saturday.
Openers star in big win for Green Island January 18, 2026
A roundup of premier club cricket games played in Dunedin at the weekend.
Pace-setting Swans demolish Stingers by 163 runs January 18, 2026
The Waihola Swans cemented their position at the top of the South Otago 40-over competition with a 163-run win over the Valley Stingers at Tuapeka Mouth on Saturday.
Nth Otago can’t stave off big loss January 18, 2026
North Otago showed some late fighting spirit before falling to a heavy defeat to their old rivals as the Hawke Cup resumed in Oamaru at the weekend.

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January 18, 2026

Pact with Mercosur is aimed at showing EU can help maintain open markets despite US protectionism

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Pact with Mercosur is aimed at showing EU can help maintain open markets despite US protectionism

Media Insider: Scott Robertson’s axing – inside the All Blacks coaching storm; ‘Nothing made in China’ advertising controversy; Magazine editors step down

NZ sharemarket plunges 0.7% – Market close

NZ sharemarket ends volatile day up 0.7% – Market close

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