Tess Brunton
Ohau Village resident views devastation that was their home
Residents of Lake Ohau Village in the Mackenzie Basin yesterday made a sombre trip back to their homes, many of which were destroyed in Sunday's wildfire. At least 20 homes were levelled by the fire… Audio
'Like a nuclear bomb has gone off' - Lake Ōhau ruined by fire
Lake Ōhau residents have been allowed in to see what's left of their village, after fires ripped through over the weekend.
A bus convoy left shortly after midday from the make-shift welfare centre in… Video, Audio
Government announces funding for Lake Ohau residents after fire
Residents are about to board buses to survey the damage to their homes.
RNZ's Otago-Southland reporter, Tess Bruton, has been speaking to officials and residents in the village and spoke to Māni… Audio
Air and ground crews fighting wildfire in Mackenzie Country
Air and ground crews continue to fight a huge wildfire in Canterbury's Mackenzie Country.
The fire service says more than 1600 hectares have been burnt.
Four crews have spent the night trying to… Audio
Farmers say Lake Ohau fire disaster waiting to happen
Farmers say the devastating fire ravaging through the South Island's Lake Ohau, has been a disaster waiting to happen.
A wildfire roared through Lake Ohau village early yesterday morning, spreading… Audio
South Island gets relief from snowy blast from tonight
The South Island will have to deal with freezing temperatures until tonight, when north westerly winds are expected to bring warmer weather.
Farmers in Otago and Southland say this week's heavy snow… Audio
South Otago experiences worst snowfall in years
Snow continues to fall in South Otago.
RNZ's Otago-Southland reporter Tess Brunton spoke to Māni Dunlop from Milton. Audio
Snowy start to spring school holidays in South Island
It's been a snowy start for the school holidays with flurries down to sea level in parts of the lower South Island. Flights were grounded for most of the day, leaving holiday-goers stranded as biting… Audio
Snow causes widespread disruption as school holidays begin
Heavy snowfall is causing widespread disruptions on the first day of the school holidays.
All flights in and out of Queenstown airport have been cancelled or diverted, while roads are closed across… Audio
Road to Hollyford Track repairs about to begin
Work will get underway on an access road to a popular Fiordland track soon, after it was partly wiped out by floodwaters.
Locals have been calling for the road into the popular Hollyford track to be… Audio
Election 2020: Finance spokespeople face off in Queenstown
Southern businesses are calling for more certainty ahead of a Finance face-off in Queenstown tonight.
The Finance spokespeople from the major parties will debate the key issues as the resort town… Audio
Documents reveal problems with tourism 'strategic asset' funding
Tourism operators are demanding a review into the controversial government fund that new papers show was nearly scrapped before it got off the ground.
The Strategic Assets Protection Programme has… Audio
Invercargill Council approves plan to deal with rising tensions
The Invercargill City Council has approved a draft plan, addressing concerns from the Department of Internal Affairs about rising tension among councillors and about the council's ability to govern
… Audio
Invercargill City Council holding meeting over conflict
The Invercargill City Council's plans to restore trust and confidence in its ability to govern is likely to cost ratepayers tens of thousands of dollars.
Last month, rising tensions between… Audio
Lake Pukaki fire: Snow and rain help efforts to fight blaze
Snow and rain have helped, but it could take months to fully extinguish a scrub fire in the Mackenzie District.
Property owners who were evacuated were able to return home yesterday. The blaze near… Audio
Update on the fire raging through the MacKenzie Country
Firefighters are still battling to slow a huge scrub fire burning since Sunday in Mackenzie Country, but bad weather overnight has helped their efforts. Reporter Tess Brunton talks to Jesse about the… Audio
Mackenzie district fire still burning as snow falls
Damage caused by a large scrub fire in the Mackenzie Country is being assessed by the Minister of Civil Defence.
Peeni Henare has been visiting the affected area near Twizel alongside the Mackenzie… Audio
Queenstown residents slam Aurora Energy's price hike plans
Queenstown Lakes residents have slammed Aurora Energy plan's to hike power prices, calling the power company untrustworthy, unreliable and even incompetent.
The company has applied to the Commerce… Audio
Return to Level 2 a 'kick in guts' for South Island businesses
The return to Covid-19 Alert Level 2 has been described a 'kick in the guts' for South Island businesses which were just getting back on their feet.
Last night's announcement triggered a flood of… Audio
Clean-up underway after St Paul's Dunedin Cathedral fire
Dunedin churchgoers have begun cleaning up after a fire broke out in the roof of St Paul's Cathedral early this morning.
Firefighters were called to the Anglican Cathedral at the corner of Moray… Video, Audio