Otago Daily Times News Feed

US President Joe Biden speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington after the House of Representatives passed his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. Photo: Reuters President Joe Biden scored his first legislative win as the House of Representatives passed his $US1.9 trillion ($NZ2.6 trillion) coronavirus relief package on Saturday (local time), though Democrats face challenges to their hopes of using the bill to raise the minimum wage.

The Blues' Mark Telea makes a break against the Hurricanes. Photo: Getty Images If you were gathering evidence that the Blues could be the real deal in 2021, their 31-16 season-opening victory over the Hurricanes would make a strong start to the prosecution's case.

Team New Zealand in action during Prada Cup racing in Auckland earlier this month. Photo: Getty Images A busy week of sport has been turned on its head following Auckland's move to alert level 3 for seven days while the rest of the country is at level 2.

Team New Zealand in action during Prada Cup racing in Auckland earlier this month. Photo: Getty Images A busy week of sport has been turned on its head following Auckland's move to alert level 3 for seven days while the rest of the country is at level 2.

Auckland residents will need to observe level 3 rules from 6am today. Photo: File New Zealanders are coming to grips with another change in Covid-19 alert levels - as Auckland returns to a level 3 lockdown.

The usually bustling Queen St in Auckland during alert level 3 in December. Photo: RNZ Aucklanders have woken up back in lockdown after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last night announced the region was going into level 3 for a full week after a person with Covid-19 visited public locations while symptomatic.

Joseph Parker lands a punch against Junior Fa. Photo: NZ Herald Joseph Parker remains king of the New Zealand heavyweights and on track to push towards the best fighters in the world division after securing a unanimous decision victory over Junior Fa.

Joseph Parker lands a punch against Junior Fa. Photo: NZ Herald Joseph Parker remains king of the New Zealand heavyweights and on track to push towards the best fighters in the world division after securing a unanimous decision victory over Junior Fa.

The Maniototo Rodeo has been postponed for a second time following the move to Covid-19 alert level 2.

Auckland residents will need to observe level 3 rules from 6am today. Photo: File New Zealanders are coming to grips with another change in Covid-19 alert levels - as Auckland returns to a level 3 lockdown.

The usually bustling Queen St in Auckland during alert level 3 in December. Photo: RNZ Aucklanders have woken up back in lockdown after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last night announced the region was going into level 3 for a full week after a person with Covid-19 visited public locations while symptomatic.

Good Group chief executive Russell Gray. Photo: Mountain Scene The boss of one of Queenstown’s biggest hospo companies is bullish about the resort’s prospects, predicting a transtasman bubble could be only three months away.

Queenstowner Paddy Turnhout's preparing to go on ice for a good cause. Photo: Mountain Scene If the idea of 60 seconds in an ice bath gives you cold shivers, how about 23 minutes?

It will be celebrations all round for a lucky Powerball player from Christchurch after taking home $22.5 million with Powerball First Division in tonight’s live Lotto draw.

It will be celebrations all round for a lucky Powerball player from Christchurch after taking home $22.5 million with Powerball First Division in tonight’s live Lotto draw.

A new case of Covid-19 has been detected in the community in Auckland today.

A new case of Covid-19 has been detected in the community in Auckland today.

A close up view of destroyed buildings at an Iraq-Syria border crossing after airstrikes. Photo: Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS Syria said US air strikes against Iranian-backed militias in the east of the country on Friday were a cowardly act and urged President Joe Biden not to follow "the law of the jungle".

Christchurch Hospital. Photo: Geoff Sloan Christchurch's brand new hospital is having to pull out and replace almost 700 faulty hot water valves.

More than 200 children have completed their managed isolation alone in a dedicated facility in Auckland (file picture). Photo: Supplied/ NZDF More than 200 children have completed managed isolation alone since December.