Otago
Historic Southland-Otago department store H&J Smith to close
A Southland-Otago department store chain has announced it will shut its doors after more than 120 years in business.
'Scarlette says it's fun' - How a young Scout made park better for his 'best buddy'
A young Dunedin boy wasn't playing around when he made it his mission to make his local park more accessible for his friend who uses a wheelchair.
Dozens of muttonbirds fall from sky in storm
Freezing gale force winds are believed to be behind the downing of hundreds of tītī (muttonbirds) in Central Otago, northern Southland and the Lakes District on Wednesday night.
Snow begins settling in Southland
Snow started to settle in Southland on Wednesday afternoon as the first taste of winter began to bite.
'It will just take away the Kiwiness of camping': Council to lease facilities to Australian company
There are concerns the sale of leases for five Queenstown Lakes camping grounds to an Australian group may spell the end to the Kiwi camping experience at the sites.
Road engineer admits no safety check at intersection where two people later died
A roading engineer has admitted he did not check the safety of an intersection, where two people died, when he visited it for an inspection just months before the crash.
Plan for pathology services at Dunedin Hospital still being worked through
The Dunedin Hospital rebuild is still looking into how to set up its vital pathology laboratories.
Wild pigs outnumber population of St Bathans and residents are nervous
Central Otago residents say they are tired of feeling unnerved and being constantly on alert with wild pigs running amok around St Bathans.
Colder weather coming, but first - more rain
MetService is warning of more 'intense bursts' of rain, high winds and thunderstorms across much of the country, ahead of a cool change later in the week. Audio
Cave dweller burnt down hut after being told to clear out possessions
An Otago cave dweller has been jailed for 13 months after burning down the hut he used to live in.
Investigation into unexplained Otago death ongoing - police
A post mortem has been completed but police have not released any further details surrounding the death.
Queenstown councillor wants government to do more to solve city's housing problems
Niki Gladding is concerned the local council is being lumped with fixing a problem central government should be tackling.
Thousands of state houses on flood prone land, and more going up
A sizeable chunk of state housing is on flood prone land, with more builds being put on land expected to flood in the future.
Hundreds of cars reportedly block highway in late-night gathering, one arrested
More than 300 cars were reported driving dangerously at a Western Bay of Plenty road gathering Saturday night, with one person arrested and a pedestrian injured.
Unknown gold mining settlers reinterred in Otago
Archaeologist have learned more about the early settlers in a gold mining town after examining their graves and exhumed remains. Audio
Otago Uni proposes cutting 'several hundred' jobs
Further job cuts are likely as the university grapples with a drop in enrolments and growing costs.
'My kids said I'd be cancelled. They were right': National's ex-candidate Stephen Jack
National's ex-candidate Stephen Jack has lashed out at the media after resigning, accusing it of "woke stupidity" and "character assassination" which destroyed his political ambitions.
Cemetery Project
This Sunday in the small Central Otago town of Lawrence the remains of 34 early settlers will be laid to rest, for a second time. The remains, which include four infants, are believed to have died in… Audio
Otago residents say tougher flood hazard rules could make land unsellable
Otago landowners are fighting to stop their properties from being rezoned, saying tougher flood hazard rules could make them uninsurable and unsellable.
DNA technology helps discover critical endangered fish
A previously unknown population of Clutha flatheads has been found in Central Otago thanks to DNA technology.
