Blanton Smith

New Zealand

News Director at Stuff.co.nz

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Mar 16, 2024 | stuff.co.nz | Blanton Smith
Stuff

Mar 14, 2024 | stuff.co.nz | Blanton Smith
Stuff

Jan 30, 2024 | stuff.co.nz | Blanton Smith
SH83 closed, six people in hospital after two-vehicle crash near Omarama

Jan 1, 2024 | stuff.co.nz | Blanton Smith

Six people have been injured in a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 83 near Omarama in the Waitaki District. In a statement, police said one of the vehicles involved was towing a caravan. The crash had led to the closure of Omarama-Otematata Rd at the intersection of Prohibition Rd. Emergency services were called at 12.35pm, police said. The serious crash unit had been advised.
State Highway 83 closed after two-vehicle crash

Jan 1, 2024 | stuff.co.nz | Blanton Smith

Four people have been injured in a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 83 near Omarama. In a press release, police said one of the vehicles involved in the crash, which had closed Omarama-Otematata Rd at the intersection of Prohibition Rd, was towing a caravan. Emergency services were called at 12.35pm, police said. “Initial indications suggest two people are in a moderate condition and two people are in a serious condition.” The Serious Crash Unit has been advised, police said.
High St Hāwera cordoned off after body found

Oct 4, 2023 | stuff.co.nz | Blanton Smith

Police have cordoned off one of Hāwera’s main streets after a suspicious death in the South Taranaki town. Detective Inspector Brent Matuku said police were called to an address and a man's body had been found. “CIB are in attendance, we’re conducting initial action at the moment, trying to identify the deceased.” The incident is being treated as suspicious and ESR are on their way to assist with scene examination, Matuku said. Cordons are in place on High St, near King Edward Park.
About the South: Ventifact fields, passing punch-ups and a solar eclipse

Sep 22, 2023 | stuff.co.nz | Blanton Smith

Between 20,000 and 18,000 years ago, in the course of the most recent Ice Age, the western South Island, including Fiordland, was immersed in an ice-cap from which long tongues of ice intruded into valleys as the great glaciers which carved the Fiordland landscape. Stewart Island and the North and South Islands were one land mass. A treeless Southland was blasted by icy winds that tore at the sparse shrubs and thin grassland.
Queenstown council working 'hard and fast' to comply with cryptosporidium-related compliance order - Mayor

Sep 20, 2023 | stuff.co.nz | Blanton Smith |Kiah Radcliffe

Queenstown’s district council is “owning” the outbreak of cryptosporidium in the community and working to get it fixed “quickly”, Mayor Glen Lewers says. There are 17 confirmed cases of crypto in the Queenstown area – an increase of two from Tuesday – and the Queenstown Lakes District Council was served a compliance order for its Two Mile treatment plant on Wednesday. Fronting up to media on Thursday, Lewers said they were working hard and fast to get everything back running as normal.
Compliance order issued to Queenstown council as cryptosporidium case numbers grow

Sep 20, 2023 | stuff.co.nz | Blanton Smith

Queenstown’s district council has been handed a compliance order for one of its water treatment plants as the number of confirmed cryptosporidium cases in the town grows. As of Wednesday, there were 17 confirmed cases of crypto in the Queenstown area – an increase of two from Tuesday.
A long speech, classic one-liners, a solid crowd and Vote the Mullet t-shirt - it's Winston Peters in Taranaki

Aug 26, 2023 | stuff.co.nz | Blanton Smith

Winston Peters’ visit to New Plymouth on Sunday was memorable for all manner of reasons. There was the length of his speech (1 hour 20 minutes), the large crowd, which packed out the Devon Hotel, the potshots at the media, classic one-liners, and Vote the Mullet t-shirt he was gifted by former mayoral aspirant Murray “Muzz” McDowell afterwards. Peters seemed moved, at least to laughter, when gifted the shirt after stand-up with media.