The Timaru Herald

‘Team Timaru’: Impact of community redevelopment not lost on contractors

The project facilitator behind one of Timaru’s largest community projects says the impact of the massive redevelopment is not lost on those working at the site. Thompson Construction and Engineering project facilitator John Wilson said he was also...

Preloved clothing market expected to be a hit

As the cost of living continues to bite, and consumers become more conscious of the impact of fast fashion, the return of a preloved clothing market after a six-month hiatus is expected to be popular, its organiser says. Hazelburn woman Courtney Moore...

Temuka stadium to get upgrade

A Timaru councillor has questioned the council’s list of building priorities, asking whether a change of funding for work on Temuka’s Alpine Energy Community Centre could be better spent elsewhere. Stu Piddington’s comments came at Tuesday’s Timaru...

We shall remember the fallen

Timaru Herald visual journalist Aiman Amerul Muner went along to Anzac Day services across the Timaru District on Saturday and captured a range of images. Today we have included some of those taken at the dawn services at the Timaru War Memorial...

‘Shock and sadness’ after cafe burns down

A popular Canterbury cafe on State Highway 1 will be closed for the foreseeable future after a “devastating fire” ripped through it overnight. An investigation into the fire at Nosh Cafe, which sits at the SH1 turn-off to Waimate, began yesterday...

We remember

No-one really knows where Norman Frederick Hastings is buried. He was one of many Allied soldiers who died as part of the Gallipoli campaign and were likely interred during the chaos. Hastings was born in Auckland on July 18, 1879, but raised in...

Council considers Māori name for museum

As the concrete panels continue to go up on Timaru’s new museum, councillors are to consider the adoption of an additional te reo Māori name for the facility. As part of the $47.2 million Theatre Royal redevelopment and museum build, the South...

Remembering the stories of World War II

A special project showing photographic treasures and stories of South Canterbury men and women who served during World War II is on display ahead of Anzac Day, and it is hoped more stories can be added. The Genealogy Society of South Canterbury’s...

Sunrise over Timaru as Aussie show beams in

As the sun rose in Timaru, 8-year-old Monty Laming stood in front of a crowd gathered at Heritage Place, looked down the lens of the Sunrise breakfast show camera and greeted his family across the ditch. Described as “really sweet” by Venture Timaru...

Exhibition the last before the big move

From tiny moths to the hoiho/yellow-eyed penguin, a photography display focusing on wildlife will be the final exhibition at the South Canterbury Museum ahead of its big move. In Our Backyard, featuring fine art photography by Zenobia Southcombe, of...

For demolition or sale?

Purchased as part of a plan to redevelop Timaru’s Theatre Royal and create a heritage precinct, the future of what remains of the town’s oldest watering hole is uncertain. In 2018, the Timaru District Council purchased 132 Stafford St, the site of the...

Indie stores join Global Book Crawl

For the first time, independent bookstores in Canterbury have joined colleagues from across the globe to take part in an international book crawl that allows readers to join a like-minded community. The Global Book Crawl 2026 takes place from April 20...

First walls go up on new Timaru museum

As the first concrete panels go up on Timaru’s new museum, councillors have been told that the old museum will need to close in mid-2026 to allow its staff to work on exhibitions for the new space. Timaru District Council chief executive Nigel Trainor...

MP poses ‘guardrail overkill’ question TIMARU

Central Timaru’s yet-to-be completed Strathallan Corner upgrade has caught the attention of the local MP, who has questioned whether the design is an example of a society lacking a bit of common sense. In an email to stakeholders on Sunday night, MP...

Time to ban cars from Bay Hill? MP thinks so

As long-awaited work to upgrade an intersection on State Highway 1 through Timaru gets under way, Rangitata’s MP is turning his attention to the town’s CBD. It’s been just over six months since James Meager issued a firmly worded challenge to his home...

Hoping for quick finish to SH1 upgrade

Frustrated by financial losses and restricted access, a Timaru businessman is hoping a long-awaited upgrade to State Highway 1 outside his premises will be swift. Work to upgrade the intersection at SH1/ Evans St and Grants Rd, at the entrance to The...

Chrysanthemums to star in autumn show

As cooler weather begins to fall on the region, the Timaru Horticultural Society is preparing to host its annual autumn show. The society, now in its 157th year, is one of the oldest horticultural societies in New Zealand. On Saturday, the autumn...

Sideline hustle starts to mushroom

A venture to create a bit of extra money while learning a new skill is mushrooming for a Timaru couple. And now they want to pass their knowledge on to the community to show them how fascinating the edible fungus is. James McCarthy, a primary school...

Entrants encouraged to chip in for mini golf

While entries are still being received, the organiser of the region’s mini golf championships expects numbers to be down on previous years. South Canterbury Mini Golf 2026 Champs organiser Carl Black, who also owns the Shearers Quarters restaurant in...

Site protections proposed

Plans are under way to protect Tekapo’s Church of the Good Shepherd from bad parking, damage and visitors using the “bushes as toilets”. The Mackenzie District Council’s Lake Tekapo Master Plan proposes to recognise the popular tourist site as a New...

Large crowd for 128th A&P Highland Show

Despite the ongoing fuel crisis and a gloomy weather forecast for Easter Monday, the organisers of New Zealand’s largest one-day A&P show say they are pleased with the turnout, which was bigger than last year’s. Mackenzie A&P Highland Show secretary...

The Woman in the Wall

More than 2½ years after its UK premiere, a fabulous showcase for the always compelling Ruth Wilson has finally reached our shores. Yes, well before the English actor starred in Prime Video’s A Very Royal Scandal and Apple TV’s Down Cemetery Road, the...

Home, sweet home for Indie

After a challenging journey, travelling 13,330km so she could undergo proton therapy, 3-year-old Indie Todd and her family are happy to be home. But falling into some kind of normality was not proving easy after being away for two months, Indie’s...

Affordability main focus for 128th A&P Highland Show organisers

Rising fuel prices and the cost of living have been front of mind for organisers of New Zealand’s largest one-day A&P Show, to be held in Fairlie. The 128th Mackenzie A&P Highland Show, on Easter Monday, usually sees between 12,000 and 15,000 visitors...

Food bank demand soars

The fuel crisis is having a flow-on effect for organisations providing emergency food supplies in the South Canterbury region, where one Timaru service is at capacity every day and having to turn people away. And those spoken to think it will only get...

Campbell’s work in landmark exhibition

One of the country’s most quietly influential visual artists will be in the spotlight with a landmark exhibition and publication developed by Timaru’s Aigantighe Art Gallery. Rosemary Campbell: Undulations of Memory opens tomorrow night and will also...

Mission to preserve district’s military history

Driven by a desire to honour her grandfather’s service, a Waimate woman has launched a photographic project that will document the district’s halls and wall memorials. Photographer Rebecca Murray’s initiative aims to preserve the history of how local...

‘Our turn to back stadium’

The community is being called on to support the $24.2 million upgrade of Timaru’s Aorangi Stadium as a campaign to raise 10% of that cost is launched. Fundraising efforts to support the new eight-court stadium at the Morgans Rd site officially began...

‘A pretty solid spot’

As global uncertainty continues and Kiwis stare down the barrel of fuel shortages, higher inflation and business failures, an economist says the Timaru District still has plenty to feel positive about. Timaru’s advantage over similar-sized districts...

Ron puts the brakes on for the last time

For more than 40 years bargain hunters have flocked to an annual swap meet to nab treasures, and each year Ron Cooper has been there selling his wares. Tomorrow’s South Canterbury Vintage Car Club Swap Meet and Bazaar will be the last for Cooper as he...

Couple celebrate 60 years of marriage

When Nancy Lawrence and her future husband, John, attended a bible school dance, a condition of the evening’s proceedings was that the young men there had to ask a girl to dance before having supper. John’s friend Bob was going out with Nancy’s friend...

Fuel cost increases having a ‘real impact’

Business leaders are warning increasing fuel costs are having a very real and compounding impact on South Canterbury’s economy, and if the conflict in the Middle East continues the challenges could broaden. Venture Timaru chief executive Nigel...

‘Huge’ fundraising festival rocks Timaru

From “huge” crowds and an increase in vehicle numbers to more caravans than ever and sellout evening events, the 10th annual Caroline Bay Rock and Hop went off without a hitch at the weekend. The Hospice South Canterbury fundraiser was held over four...

Timaru image a winner

Timaru’s Roselyn Fauth has captured many of the region’s stories through her research, and now she can add award-winning photography to the mix. The historical researcher won first place in the recent Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Documenting...

Stage set for theatre supporters to form fundraising committee

A young Timaru man who stood for council last year is leading the charge in gathering enthusiasts to fundraise for the Theatre Royal. At Thursday’s Friends of the Theatre Royal Timaru annual meeting, several in attendance indicated they were keen to...

Good progress made on huge stockpile

Almost two months after contractors started shifting a large stockpile of material alongside a Timaru retail development, the pile is significantly smaller. The large stockpile sat on the site since work on the first stage of the development started...

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...