The Timaru Herald

TIMARU Processing plant seeks staff

A meat processing plant advertising for staff in Timaru will be based at the former Alliance Smithfield site. Southern Alps Meats listed an advertisement for a slaughter floor and boning operator on online employment marketplace Seek this week, with...

Councillors mull rates rise

Timaru ratepayers are likely looking at an overall rates rise of between 7% and 9% but the numbers to be consulted on are still to be decided. Yesterday, at an annual plan public workshop ahead of the release of its draft Annual Plan 2026-27 on March...

TIMARU National finals achieved at fourth attempt

After four years of trying, Timaru excavator operator Sam Burleigh has won the regional title and secured himself a spot in the national competition for the first time. Burleigh will compete in the Civil Contractors New Zealand CablePrice National...

Promising tennis star’s family connection

One of the world’s best junior tennis players has been revelling in his first visit to Timaru that has come with news about unknown South Canterbury family links. At 18 years old, Auckland-born Jamie Mackenzie is ranked eighth in the world junior...

A multimillion-dollar pipe dream

The Opuha is a hill-fed river that feeds into the braided Ōpihi River. Before reaching the whitebraided river, the Opuha is held back near Ashwick Flat by a manmade dam that provides relief to South Canterbury farmers during droughts and warmer months,...

Stadium addition agreed

Councillors have agreed to a change to the plan for the redevelopment of Aorangi Stadium that would allow for the addition of a $82,000 sliding divider wall in its function room. Timaru District councillors were provided with an update on the $24.2...

Community devastated by theft of lectern

The custodians of a historic church in a small South Canterbury settlement are devastated by the theft of a brass eagle lectern donated to the community when the building opened. Police are investigating the theft of the ornate lectern from the...

No fundraising plan yet

Ten months after telling the council the community could raise about $2 million towards the Theatre Royal upgrade, a new councillor says no fundraising has been done. Chris Thomas was asked to give an update on any fundraising that had been done for...

Where it went wrong for Black Caps

Tennis umpires in hot seat

Budding chair umpires eyeing a place on the world’s top professional tennis tours have been in the hot seat for their first qualifications in a five-day course hosted in Timaru. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) chair umpiring officiating...

40 years on: Remembering the flood

For many in South Canterbury, March 13, 1986 is a day they will never forget. Ahead of the anniversary of the largest and most expensive flood to devastate the region, and a commemorative event, senior reporter Rachael Comer speaks to those that were...

Taxidermy popular – auctioneer

As a collection of taxidermy and other curiosities go under the hammer at a Christchurch auction house this weekend the auctioneer expects plenty of interest in what he says are ‘surprisingly popular’ items. And one of those with a keen interest, is...

Timaru boy’s rare ailment diagnosed in Turkey

A Timaru woman is trying not to think too much about the war in Iran as she seeks specialised health care for her 5-year-old son’s ailments in neighbouring Turkey. Nesa Morey and her son Armani DocosMorey flew to Istanbul less than two weeks before...

Police to investigate serious dog attack

An investigation into a dog attack last month in Timaru that led to a woman being admitted to hospital for three days will now be handled by police. Shelley Glynn, 58, and her golden retriever Soul are recovering at home following the attack on Andrew...

Cemetery tours focus on women’s history

A guided walk focused on the history of wahine buried at Timaru’s cemetery will take place on International Women’s Day. Organised by historical researcher Roselyn Fauth, the tours on Sunday will be a chance to learn, reflect and understand “where we...

New custodian sought for historic building

The last surviving 19th century building that made up the now-closed Timaru Main School, and possibly the oldest surviving headmaster’s house in New Zealand, will go on the market this month. The category 1 listed historic Bluestone House building,...

Timaru – new gateway to Antarctica

It’s one of the fastest-growing destinations in the cruise industry, and the captain of an ultra luxury yacht that recently named Timaru as its base for trips to Antarctica says the opportunities are “huge”. Fresh from a trip to Antarctica, Scenic...

Woman feared for her life in dog attack

A Timaru woman who jumped into action to save her golden retriever during an attack on Saturday night says the incident has left them both traumatised. Shelley Glynn, 58, spent three nights in Timaru Hospital following the attack on Andrew St, and is...

Lunar New Year sees influx of tourists

Nine years after his first visit, Ziquan Sun remembered how beautiful he thought New Zealand’s scenery was and now he’s back with his family. This time around, Sun, who is originally from Shanghai but now resides in Brisbane, has returned with his...

Company’s debt climbs

A Timaru plumbing firm that failed to pay its debts owes creditors more than $700,000. The first six-monthly liquidators report, covering the period from July 24 to January 23, was released on Friday and showed unsecured creditors had filed claims...

TIMARU Determination to enter property market pays off

Thousands of dollars in debt and with little money to save, Mike Laughton and Sarah Smith never imagined they would be in a position to buy their own home. But that all changed just over a month ago when the Timaru couple got the keys to their first...

Sea Breeze Motel gets 60s makeover

A motel with idyllic views over Timaru’s Caroline Bay is becoming a sight in its own right as it undergoes a makeover to create “something quite special’’. The Sea Breeze has stood on The Bay Hill since the 1960s, and was being transformed into a...

$3m for ship upgrade

The Timaru-based coastal bulk carrier MV Rangitata will be upgraded with a deck-mounted handler for loading cargo so it can better support communities following natural disasters and other emergencies. Associate Transport Minister James Meager...

Black Falcons put on show over Timaru

Residents and visitors were treated to an aerial display by the Air Force’s Black Falcons yesterday about midday, as part of the Flying New Zealand 2026 National Championships being held at Richard Pearse Airport this week. The Falcons will return next...

Barker’s application ‘deceptive’ TIMARU

Barker’s claimed that a nearby pine forest would put an end to its long-running wastewater issues three months ago. Then the fruit and jam processor applied to empty its wastewater ponds on to 6.3ha of Department of Conservation (DOC) land. Multiple...

New business prepares to open in CBD

With changes afoot in Timaru’s Stafford St, a new business preparing to open next month hopes to create a “buzz’’ in the CBD. Hobby Lords, which opened its first store in Dunedin in 2022, will open on March 27 in the building formerly occupied by...

Kites flying high on the Bay

Timaru’s Seaside Festival wrapped up for 2026 with the Caroline Bay Kite Day event on Sunday. Timaru Herald visual journalist Aiman Amerul Muner went along and captured these images.

‘No lying down and wimping’

Fred Jackson is undecided on whether he considers himself fortunate to reach 103 years old but he is already focused on the challenge of reaching 105. “Old age isn’t what it is cracked up to be,” he said, a few days ahead of today’s milestone...

Parents turn to Turkey

A Timaru couple battling to get an accurate diagnosis for their 5-year-old son’s ailments have turned their attention to the other side of the world. Josh Docos and Nesa Morey are frustrated with a health system they say seems to place too much...

A life of duty and service

One of New Zealand’s longest-serving local body politicians and a man who was deeply involved in the Timaru community has died. Ray Bennett was a former mayor of the town he lived his entire life in, a lay minister, accountant, Justice of the Peace,...

Project end date now March

An update on the Strathallan Corner redevelopment was made public at a council meeting on Tuesday, with Timaru’s mayor saying it was “quite obvious’’ it should not have been discussed behind closed doors. The report, which was moved from the public...

First panels delivered to Aorangi Park project

It was an exciting moment, tinged with a small amount of nerves, as the first concrete panels from a new Washdyke plant were wheeled out and transported to the Aorangi Stadium redevelopment project. Yesterday morning, five panels – the heaviest...

Finding “THE ONE” for your skin

Meet the suitors The Palmer’s body oil trio Each Palmer’s body oil brings its own unique personality, charm and skin-loving strengths: the key is finding ‘the one’ that feels right for you and your skin’s needs. • Cocoa Butter Body Oil – the...

TIMARU

With the main construction phase of Timaru’s $47.2 million Theatre Royal and Museum project under way, a job offer has been made for the role of theatre manager. A status report on the project would be provided to Timaru’s councillors at a meeting...

Medal-winning carriage features at NZ’s new ‘national’ museum

Peter Lyttle wanted a place to store, preserve, and show the originality of his rare and historic horse-drawn carriage collection, so he funded and built a new start-of-the-art museum. The 74-year-old’s “vision” becomes a reality today with the...

Waitangi Day 2026

Today marks the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840, a time for all New Zealanders to reflect on our history, partnerships and shared future.

Foul odour probed at Barker’s

A new ECan investigation has been triggered by a putrid smell coming from two storage ponds at the Barker’s factory near Geraldine. Residents of the town neighbouring the South Canterbury fruit and vegetable processor have complained about the acrid...

Drink-driver dices with jail

A “belligerent” repeat drink-driver has avoided having her home detention sentence changed to jail after promising a judge she would pull her head in. The 58-year-old Timaru woman, who was sentenced to five months’ home detention on December 17, was...

Cruise ship’s new home

An investment of at least $1.5 million in cruise ship infrastructure is paying off with an international ship making Timaru’s PrimePort its home for New Zealand voyages. The luxurious Scenic Eclipse II’s overnight stay on Wednesday last week was a...

BUSINESS Timaru store expanding into Ōamaru

After 45 years in Timaru’s CBD, Andrew Milliken has expanded his business, opening a store more than 85km south in neighbouring Ōamaru. Today, the owner of Milliken’s Furniture and Beds and Beds R Us Timaru will open Beds R Us Ōamaru, at 137 Thames...

Govt to give $2.84m to upgrade SH1

A stretch of State Highway 1 through Timaru, described as a “disgrace” by the local MP, could be fixed as soon as winter, with the Government announcing it will contribute $2.84 million to get the job done. The funding, which will come from the...

‘Hudson’s Hill’ on move, machinery rolls in

A large stockpile of dirt which has sat amassed on the site of a large retail development on the outskirts of Timaru is finally on the move. Contractors and heavy machinery could be seen working to move the dirt from the pile at The Showgrounds on...

Prominent Timaru tree saved COUNCIL

A high-profile cottonwood tree in a prominent Timaru location has been saved from the chop, but will need to come down within five years. Trees in the district were a hot topic at the first full council meeting of the year on Tuesday, as councillors...

Dog owner plans to fight court order

A Timaru dog owner plans to fight a court order for his dog to be put down almost three years after it was seized following an incident in Timaru. On January 16, a judge ordered the destruction of Craig Edgar’s dog Beau after it bit a Roncalli College...

Hope all Cossie club creditors will be paid

All former Timaru South Cosmopolitan Club staff members have been paid as the liquidation of the troubled organisation continues, and it is hoped all creditors will be paid in full and a surplus distributed to charities. In his latest six-monthly...

Little Indie’s journey to US

After a challenging journey, Indie Todd and her family have travelled 13,300km as the 3-year-old undergoes proton therapy. The Timaru girl, her parents Shaun and Haylee Todd, little brother Hudson and grandmother Ainslie Peck left New Zealand on...

Pedal power pushes expansion of Mackenzie District tourism business

Fuelled by pedal power encapsulated in a 91% surge in cyclists using the Alps 2 Ocean Trail over the past four years, a Twizel tourism operator with humble beginnings has moved into a bigger space to meet demand. Cycle Journeys’ new depot, thought to...

‘There’s nothing sad about sunflowers’

A Raincliff couple is hoping for second-time lucky with the weather as they prepare to open their 1-hectare sunflower paddock to the public to raise money for a neighbouring community camp. For the second year in a row, Kylie and Brychan Morgan are...

EARLY LEARNING CENTRE

Several years of “scrimping and saving” has enabled a Timaru early learning centre to fundraise around $250,000 for the design and construction of a new playground for its children. Creative Corner Early Learning Centre will officially open the...

Timaru stop for new train

There was time for photographs, refreshments and a stretch when The Mainlander passenger train made a stop at Timaru on its inaugural journey to Invercargill. Those onboard included Christchurch residents Manju Shaji, Monash Mohanan and their son,...

Stick with it

How to build daily habits

EB Games to close NZ stores

New Zealand’s hobby and gaming communities swamped EB Games stores across the country as the company prepares to close all 38 stores by the end of the month. The company’s announcement on Wednesday follows a consultation period earlier this month,...

Fire station rebuild on track for June finish

A $3.5 million rebuild of the Twizel fire station is on track for completion by the end of June, according to Fire and Emergency New Zealand. Work on the 55-year-old building, dubbed a “half-life refurbishment” by the fire service, began in May last...

Here’s the most popular reads of 2025

The Timaru District’s libraries’ boss was heartened to see some Kiwi titles crack their top 10 issued list in 2025. Michael Priest, the Timaru District Council’s general manager gallery, libraries, archives and museum said the popularity of A...

Heritage Precinct display grows

Vintage earthmoving machinery used in the construction of the Upper Waitaki power development is now part of a growing display that aims to showcase Twizel’s history. The latest additions are a 988 loader that worked on Mt Cook Rd, gravel pits and...

Court cuts through lease fight

Both sides involved in a dispute over the lease of pastoral grazing land in South Canterbury have copped criticism in a recent High Court decision. Justice Robert Osborne’s decision, released publicly in late December, said neither the lessors (Dave...

Baby’s death not preventable CORONER

The death of a three-month-old baby in state care almost a decade ago has been put down to Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy and was not preventable, a coroner has found. Chloe Vera Nicholson died on June 6, 2016 in Palmerston North in the care of...

Local firms exit, stage left

Local building firms have withdrawn their interest in the construction contract for one of the Timaru district’s largest building projects. The revelation came in the Friends of the Theatre Royal’s December and January newsletter, which says members...

A dedicated follower of harness racing

Harness racing is about much more than just the horses for Elizabeth Shand. While racing remains a “real social day” and more, the long-serving Timaru Harness Racing Club member has plenty of jobs on her plate for the club’s twilight meeting on...

‘A roller coaster’ ride

An international shipping company advertised seafaring roles soon after the Government declined its application for an exemption to operate a foreign-flagged vessel in New Zealand’s domestic waters, but says that was an accident. An Employment...

Honour for services to theatre, community

For more than 50 years, Carol Angland has actively served the South Canterbury community. The 81-year-old Timaru woman, who also shares her time in Wānaka, has received a King’s Service Medal in the New Year honours for services to the community and...

Graham Carr ‘over the moon’

A South Canterbury man whose deer farm is the world’s largest producer of velvet has been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours 2026. Graham Carr, of Peel Forest Estate, is recognised for his “wide-ranging...

Consent changes disappoint

There is “a lot of feeling in the community” about a decision to allow smaller shops at The Showgrounds and the impact it will have on Timaru’s town centre, a business owner says. Glen Patterson’s comments come after it was revealed last month that...

What candidates spent on campaigns

One of the Timaru District’s new councillors spent the most in his campaign for a seat around the council table, while third-time Timaru mayor Nigel Bowen was the next biggest spender. Electoral donation and expense returns, following the local body...

What’s on in South Canterbury

Friday (Boxing Day) Caroline Bay Carnival Opening: 2pm, the 115th annual carnival in Timaru, featuring family entertainment, carnival rides, sideshow games and competitions. Runs until January 11. Concerts at 2pm (Tomahawk Radio) and 7pm (Fleetwood...

115th Caroline Bay Carnival swings into action

Preparations for the 115th Caroline Bay Carnival are in full swing ahead of opening day on Friday, with the president calling on the community to get behind the event. President Allen Martin said the association had been fielding numerous inquiries...

Christmas spirit alive and well

South Canterbury is coming alive with Christmas spirit and activities, and The Timaru Herald’s photographers have been out and about capturing it.

Collective plots growing competition

A Timaru group that hopes to grow vegetable gardens in green spaces throughout the district has plotted a competition that will benefit the community this Christmas. In October, 19 members of the Veggie Garden Collective were given a potato to grow in...

Christmas Procession pokes un-PC fun

It might be the most politically incorrect parade in the country, but just who will turn out to participate in Pleasant Point’s annual procession this evening won’t be known until they show up. The town’s annual Christmas Procession began in 1959, and...

Murderer ‘ashamed, sickened’

The men who exacted deadly “retribution” on a South Canterbury man whose body has never been found have been imprisoned for life. Anaru Moana was lured to a quiet reserve in Waimate on an early December morning in late 2021. There, he was chased, shot...

Monument unveiled at Timaru’s cemetery

A monument has been unveiled at Timaru’s cemetery, honouring those who lie there with no formal headstone. The community-led project was officially celebrated on Sunday when members of the public, those behind the initiative, Timaru District mayor...

Christmas in the Square marks major milestone

The organiser of Waimate’s annual Christmas in the Square credits the community’s support for helping keep the event going for 20 years. Organiser John Begg said the 2025 celebration at Seddon Square on Wednesday would offer an evening of fun and...

Gloriavale leader Temple jailed Howard Temple has been jailed for crimes similar to those of founder Hopeful Christian, including indecently assaulting girls and women

Gloriavale’s former leader Howard Wendell Temple has been jailed for two years and two months for indecency offending against six girls and young women inside the secretive Christian community over two decades. Temple, 85, is the second “Overseeing...

Good growing ahead of Strawberry Fare

A good berry-growing season ahead of Waimate’s 41st Strawberry Fare has been welcomed by growers and by organisers of the annual event. What started as a small community event with just a handful of stalls at Butler’s Berry Farm in 1984, now hosts...

World Tennis Tour returning to Timaru

Timaru will host the World Tennis Tour again in 2026, having been selected as a host location for the first time in 2025. Tennis New Zealand commercial and marketing manager Gareth Archer, who described the town’s tennis facilities as the best in the...