Tess Brunton
Alternative inland route out of Timaru opens
Travellers trapped in Timaru after floods closed State Highway 2 on Saturday were able to resume their journeys yesterday when an alternative inland route opened.
RNZ reporter Tess Brunton is in… Audio
Timaru cleans up after Rangitata flooding
Travellers are welcoming the reopening of a road connecting the lower South Island to the north.
On Saturday, the Rangitata River breached its banks, flooding the only two bridges allowing road… Audio
Weather: Timaru District remains in state of emergency
The Timaru District remains in a state of emergency with road access north to Christchurch blocked by damage to two bridges crossing the Rangitata River.
Hundred of tourists were left scrambling to… Audio
Weather: Timaru still in state of emergency after flooding
Residents in the South Island are picking up the pieces after a wild weekend of weather. Heavy rain battered much of the West Coast since Friday, causing major slips on a 350 kilometre stretch of… Audio
Dunedin pushes for a five-star hotel
Dunedin City Council is making a new push for the city's first five-star hotel, calling for developers to pitch their plans to transform an inner city carpark.
Two years ago, a five-star hotel… Audio
Medical student's family says intern punishments cruel
A medical student's family say the University of Otago interns caught abusing their overseas work placements are being used as scapegoats.
More than 50 final year medical students will be prevented… Audio
Mother of Otago medical student says punishment is overkill
The mother of a University of Otago medical student says it's overkill to stop interns from graduating with their peers, despite being caught abusing their overseas work placements. On Monday, the… Audio
Medical students asked to explain overseas work placements
More than 60 Otago University medical students are now caught up in an investigation into using overseas work placements to go on holiday.
The university has already found that 15 final year students… Audio
Dunedin faces summer without main water supply after fire
Dunedin will not run out of water after a massive fire damaged the city's water supply, but it will come at a cost.
The fire took hold near Middlemarch on Saturday, spreading across about 5000… Audio
'Some mud needs to be thrown' - farmers at Fonterra AGM
Fonterra shareholders are frustrated and want accountability after turbulent times for the country's biggest company.
About 200 farmers gathered in Invercargill for the dairy giant's annual general… Audio
New signs tell Tongariro Crossing trampers to turn back
"STOP: Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is NOT RECOMMENDED TODAY due to bad weather" - those are the words that will greet anyone trying to tramp one of the country's most popular walks in adverse… Audio
Dunedin has new Green mayor - Shadbolt back for 9th term
To Dunedin now and the city has a new mayor, who stood under a green ticket. At just 35 years old, Aaron Hawkins is one of the country's youngest mayors. The two-term councillor has faced tough… Audio
Police urge students get support after Dunedin flat party
The police are urging students at the University of Otago to get support if they were at a Dunedin flat party where a woman died on Saturday night. Hundreds of people were trying to flee the Manor… Audio
Students mourn woman trampled to death at Dunedin party
Students who were at a Dunedin party where a young woman died on Saturday night say it was a typical fun affair -- until they tried to leave. The woman, who is yet to be named by police, was trampled… Audio
Dunedin students shocked after weekend party death
Dunedin's student community is in shock, following a death at a party this weekend. A young woman died and two people were seriously injured as dozens of people tried to flee a house on Dundas Street… Audio
Electronic visitor visas kick in today
Visitors will be unable to travel to New Zealand without a new electronic travel authority or visa from today. Tourism reporter Tess Brunton spoke to the industry to find out if they're confident the… Audio
Simon Bridges pledges birthing unit in Wanaka if elected
National leader Simon Bridges travelled to Wanaka today and promised a much-needed birthing unit if his party is elected next year.
Maternity care in Wanaka has come under increased scrutiny since… Video, Audio
Queenstown closer to introducing bed tax
Queenstown is one step closer to taxing its visitors in a bid to cover infrastructure costs.
The government has thrown its support behind a levy for the resort town, saying it will help to introduce… Audio
New Zealanders' back PM's aim to eradicate terrorism online.
New Zealanders are backing the Prime Minister's aim to eradicate terrorism online. That's despite National Party leader Simon Bridges saying they don't care. People in Dunedin think eradicating… Audio