Tess Brunton
Tourism businesses hopeful for game plan from Minister
Tourism businesses in the lower South Island are hopeful Stuart Nash will show up in town with a game plan when he visits this week.
The Toursim Minister begins his tour, which includes stops in the… Audio
Struggling Queenstown businesses face vitriol
Queenstown has gone from being described as tourism's crown jewel to a vilified community facing vitriol - and told it's getting what it deserved.
But businesses say it's not just the iconic… Audio
Wineries worried about staff for pruning
Some wineries are worried they may not have enough staff when pruning begins.
Their focus so far has been scraping together enough workers for the harvest which is about to start.
Many companies… Audio
Otago told to expect more wild weather in climate change report
Warmer, wetter, windier and wilder - that's what Otago residents are being told to expect as part of a milestone report on climate change.
The Otago Climate Change Risk Assessment maps out the… Audio
Glacier communities told government can't save every business
Franz Josef and Fox Glacier communities have been given the blunt message the government can't save every business that's struggling during the pandemic.
A week ago, the two communities sent Tourism… Audio
Tourism business owner on what help she needs
Franz Josef and Fox Glacier communities have been given the blunt message the government can't save every business that's struggling during the pandemic.
Tourism Minister Stuart Nash visited the… Audio
Disappointment after Tourism Minister's visit to Fox, Franz Josef
All talk and no support was the conclusion from Franz Josef and Fox Glacier locals after a meeting with the Tourism Minister today.
Stuart Nash and West Coast Tasman MP Damien O'Connor fronted… Audio
Queenstown businesses prepare for rough quiet period
As Queenstown moves into its traditionally quietest time, businesses are preparing for more tough times ahead.
The resort town remains one of the hardest hit areas, with the revenue of small… Audio
Queenstown will struggle after even tourists return - hotelier
A Queenstown hotelier says he's worried the resort town will struggle with staffing when visitors are allowed to return.
The resort town has been hard hit with some businesses down to 10 percent of… Audio
West Coast businesses plead government for support
Businesses near Franz Josef and Fox glaciers have issued a plea for government support after a new report finds widespread job losses and many people leaving the struggling communities.
They've sent… Audio
Changes needed to ensure tourism less harmful to environment - Commissioner
The gates are firmly shut to international tourists at the moment, and the government is being told to use this time wisely.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says tourism is putting… Audio
Confidence as Invercargill City Council gets new councillor
Invercargill residents are ready for a breath of fresh air from their council by-election after months of turmoil.
A councillor role has been empty since the deputy mayor resigned in October, citing… Audio
Anxiety as blood test results return for east Otago residents
An East Otago mother has been left confused and concerned as blood test results start to roll in after a lead contamination testing blitz.
It's been more than a week since residents in Waikouaiti… Audio
Water lead contamination review: Otago locals hope for answers
Residents affected by the water contamination issue in East Otago hope a top level review will shed some light on the issue.
Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall has ordered a rapid review… Video, Audio
Blood testing for Karitane, Waikouaiti residents is set to begin
Blood testing for residents of Karitane and Waikouaiti begins this afternoon, after the Council found high readings of lead in their water supplies.
People in the East Otago towns were told a week… Audio
Waikouaiti School adapting to no water while lead in supplies
Residents, businesses and schools from Waikouaiti and Karitane are having to drastically adapt to life without being able to drink water from their taps after concerning levels of lead were detected… Audio
Dunedin City Council unsure when water will be safe again
Residents in two coastal Otago towns don't know when they'll be able to safely drink their tap water again due to high levels of lead.
Yesterday the Dunedin City Council informed the 1,500 residents… Audio
Dunedin City Council wants to add 3000 homes to district plan
Dunedin City Council wants to lump an extra 3000 homes on to its district plan after admitting current ambitions aren't nearly high enough.
Projections suggest at least 5400 houses are needed over… Audio
Coastal Otago residents warned to avoid tap water after unacceptable levels of lead found
Residents of the Otago towns of Waikouaiti and Karitane won't be drinking the tap water for at least the next few days.
Samples taken in early December found nearly four times the safe amount of lead… Audio
Dunedin bar owners, police tackle bad behaviour near Octagon
Dunedin bar owners and the police are banding together to tackle bad behaviour and increased gang activity in the central city.
The Octagon Alcohol Group formed late last year in a bid to make the… Audio