Hamish McNeilly

Dunedin

Journalist at Stuff.co.nz

Articles

OPINION: Ban selfie-takers from museums – these people don’t deserve to see great art

3 days ago | stuff.co.nz | Amy Ridout |Hamish McNeilly

Tourist posing for pictures rips through priceless masterpiece paintingCelia Walden is a columnist, feature writer and novelist who covers lifestyle, entertainment and opinion. OPINION: A few years ago, I found myself standing before Vernet’s Portrait of a Lady in Los Angeles’ County Museum of Art, taking a series of “anger-management breaths”. What had made me cross enough to engage in a stress reduction technique I remain unconvinced by?
Former teacher sentenced after indecently assaulting a boy on school camp

3 days ago | stuff.co.nz | Hamish McNeilly

Warning this story contains distressing contentFormer maths teacher David Bond has been sentenced for indecently assaulting a boy while on school camp. Bond had pleaded not guilty to the charge, but was found guilty at a judge alone trial by Judge David Robinson last month. The Dunedin District Court heard it was Bond’s 26th conviction for indecency offending.
Texans to put on a sparkling display

3 days ago | stuff.co.nz | Alan Granville |Hamish McNeilly |Mildred Armah |Torika Tokalau

Nine T-6C Texan II aircraft will fly in a “diamond nine” formation over Manawatū. The aircraft will leave Base Ohakea at approximately 9.30am on Thursday and fly over Marton, Whanganui, Tangimoana, Foxton, Levin, Shannon, Tokomaru, Linton, Palmerston North and Feilding before returning to Ohakea. Flying training Wing Commanding Officer Wing Commander Nathan Barrack said the flying formation was a precise skill. “Equal measures of steady hands, head and heart are the recipe for success.
Skateboarder allegedly assaults pedestrian with his skateboard

3 days ago | stuff.co.nz | Hamish McNeilly

A pedestrian involved in a collision with a skateboarder was then struck multiple times by the offender with his skateboard, according to police. Police were called by multiple members of the public to an assault on the corner of Rattray and Princes St in central Dunedin on Tuesday about 1.08pm, Sergeant Matthew Lee said. Officers found a 38-year-old person who had multiple injuries “from being hit by a skateboard”. He treated at the scene by Hato Hone St John.
Christchurch, Tauranga the big winners in Black Caps home season schedule

3 days ago | stuff.co.nz | Robert van Royen |Phillip Rollo |Hamish McNeilly |Paul Cully

Rob Walter unveiled as new Black Caps coachThe banks of Bay Oval and Hagley Oval will be prime places for Black Caps fans this summer. The Tauranga venue will host one of the three tests the New Zealand men’s side will play in the 2025/2026 home international season. It will also get visits from Australia and England to start the season, which has a focus on the buildup to the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka for the Black Caps.
‘Parents were unaware’: Teen builds tool to get tax back on school donations

3 days ago | stuff.co.nz | Hamish McNeilly

Digital business which helps people claim back school donationsSchool donations are voluntary payments towards running a school. That donation, which should come with a receipt, will qualify for a tax credit. Individuals have four years in which to claim a school donation tax credit. Almost $500,000 in school donation tax credits were left unclaimed by parents at just one Dunedin high school, and Olivia Priemus saw an opportunity.
Airport runway falls short of gaining safety credential despite multimillion dollar upgrade

4 days ago | stuff.co.nz | Torika Tokalau |Amy Ridout |Hamish McNeilly

Despite a multimillion dollar upgrade to Masterton’s airport, the runway has failed to achieve safety standards required by most passenger aircraft. In a report to Masterton District Council, chief executive Kym Fell said aircraft with more than 30 seats could not operate from Hood Aerodrome because the current proposal for a 90-metre Runway End Safety Area (RESA) did not meet the threshold set by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Digitally business which helps people claim back school donations

4 days ago | stuff.co.nz | Hamish McNeilly

BACKWATCH: Digitally business which helps people claim back school donations Olivia Priemus, 16, of St Hilda’s Collegiate on DonateMate, a digitally business which helps people claim back school donations.
Dunedin’s first international flight in five years set to touchdown

4 days ago | stuff.co.nz | Hamish McNeilly

Dunedin is rolling out the welcome mat for a VIP visitor - its first international flight for five years. Jetstar’s JQ189 from the Gold Coast is due to arrive at Dunedin Airport at 2.45pm to much fanfare, including live music, food, and craft beer tasting. The city has also lit many of its major buildings orange for the occasion, including Tōitu Otago Settlers Museum, Tūhura Otago Museum, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the clockface of the iconic Dunedin Railway Station.
Backyard airsoft gun test sparks police response

4 days ago | stuff.co.nz | Hamish McNeilly

Two men were involved in two separate firearm related incidents in central Dunedin on Monday. Police were called to a York Pl address on Monday at 4.15pm following reports of a person spotted using a firearm in his backyard, Sergeant Matthew Lee said. The 21-year-old admitted shooting an air soft pistol, which shoots BB pellets, in the courtyard of his home “as he believed it was faulty and was testing it”.