Otago

The contamination risks for Queenstown's water are not as "extreme" as a plan it gave to the water regulator described them to be.

As Queenstown cleans up from flooding and deals with a cryptosporidium outbreak, the resort town's long-standing accommodation crisis hasn't gone away. Audio

Queenstown hospitality venues are finding creative ways to deal with the boil water notice as tourists stream in for the school holidays.

The Southern Medical Officer of Health says while there are 31 confirmed cases of cryptosporidium, she's sure there are more than what's being reported. Audio

Flood-weary Gisborne and the Eastern Bay of Plenty are next in line for heavy rain - after the lower South Island was battered last week.

There is concern that a bridge on the Haast Pass may have been damaged after thousands of cubic metres of debris from a slip washed onto it.

Queenstown residents are being warned that the cemetery grounds will have to drain before the flood-damaged site can reopen.

Te Whatu Ora is looking wider than Queenstown's town water supply, as it hunts for the source of the town's cryptosporidium outbreak.

Three Otago university students have travelled to Queenstown to help clear a property that was red-stickered after heavy rains.

Six more people have been confirmed to be infected with the parasite cryptosporidium in the past 24 hours in Queenstown Lakes District.

The environment and Māori identity were hot button topics among rangatahi at this year's Ngā Manu Kōrero speech competition.

As the clean-up continues in Queenstown following the recent heavy rain, there are concerns over potential damage to graves in the town's cemetery.

MetService says heavy rain which caused widespread flooding and damage in Southland and Otago is now making its way up the country.

The national water regulator says a boil water notice must stay in place for one of Queenstown's water treatment plants until it is upgraded or switches to another supply as cases of cryptosporidium…

Cafes, bars and restaurants are scrambling to find ways to remain open without using tap water due to Queenstown's cryptosporidium outbreak. Audio

Health officials have still not found the source of a cryptosporidium outbreak in Queenstown and say there is no clear pattern to food or water. Audio

Queenstown restaurant owners are angry about the delay in being warned about an outbreak of cryptosporidium in the tourist town. Audio

Queenstown and Frankton residents are being told to boil their water after an outbreak of illness from the parasite cryptosporidium.

The South Dunedin basin - home to more than 13,000 people - is at risk from climate change, flooding and rising groundwater. Audio

Sophie Barker says recent weeks have been crushing, and an independent investigator is being brought in to sort out the mess at the council.