A colourful celebration of the life of the Buddha took place in Dunedin on the weekend.
Dunedin city councillors took on the difficult job of making city streets safer for cyclists this afternoon.
A full council meeting was considering a recommendation merely to note work staff had done to deal with a spate of injuries and deaths.
But with feelings running high, debate took a different direction.
There are more signs of economic recovery, with a new survey showing investor confidence is gaining momentum.
The latest ASB Investor Confidence Survey shows the confidence index has jumped five points during the three months to March.
That has lifted it to levels last seen at the end of 2010.
The ASB says a rising confidence in public shares has contributed to an optimistic mood.
Forest amp; Bird has called for an immediate extension to a ban on commercial and recreational set-netting by Otago Peninsula.
The call follows the release of an international review that shows set-nets kill more than 400,000 seabirds internationally every year.
The DCC is expected to ratify partnership agreements with two major city organisations next week.
An initiative designed to inspire young Maori people to pursue higher levels of education was introduced to local high school students today.
They got the opportunity to listen to entertainer Moana Maniopoto talk about the project.
She told the students it's important for young people not to listen to everything they're told, when they're mapping out their future.
Police have quickly wrapped up a case that involved a sexual crime with disturbing overtones.
A 27 year old Dunedin man was arrested last night and faces two charges of doing an indecent act.
The arrest follows an incident where a woman was accosted on Highgate by a man who allegedly jumped in front of her and performed a sexual act on himself.
Dunedin book lovers queued up outside the Regent Theatre for hours this morning, keyed up with anticipation of the literary treasure that awaited.
The 24 Hour Book Sale was back, as organisers began a sleepless vigil till noon tomorrow.
But that 24 period was nothing on the time it took to make it happen.
The Southern Sinfonia have two symphonies in store for their matinee performances this weekend, one by Beethoven and one by Mozart.
But it's Kiwi Harp Soloist Helen Webby whose performance is really poised to steal the show.
The Greens say new figures showing a surge in electricity costs for business highlight a need for New Zealand Power.
New Zealand Power is a plan by Labour and the Greens to establish a single electricity purchasing body to control prices.
The party was responding to the Producer Price Index, that showed electricity and gas input prices to producers rose by 15% in the March quarter.
A Dunedin social service agency has attacked the Budget, saying it does nothing to help the plight of everyday families in Dunedin.
The agency asks where is the spending for economic growth, job creation and hungry kids at school?
Dunedin philanthropist and businessman Les Cleveland died yesterday, aged 82.
New Zealand Sign Language is one of this country's official languages, and this week is a chance for the deaf community to celebrate and promote it.
Here in Dunedin one woman who uses it everyday says its an easy language to learn.
She says if people knew two or three signs, it would go a long way to breaking down barriers.
And a note to our viewers: this story is subtitled.
A lone but lucky salmon that swam into the Water of Leith will be happy it made a right turn at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Organisers say a new exhibition blows apart the myth artists don't continue to produce work after leaving art school.
The exhibition, celebrating ten years of collaboration at the Dunedin School of Art, is under way in the school's gallery space.
And when graduate artists were invited to submit work, the response was anything but certain.
A Dunedin export with a big voice and a mantel struggling under the weight of awards is about to take a quick jaunt overseas.
Singer-songwriter Kylie Price dropped in for a song or two before she heads this weekend to a major trans-Tasman festival.
But the Tamworth and Gold Guitar winner says a more permanent move offshore will have to wait until a more academic award comes her way.
The aged care industry is continuing to show impressive financial results.
Ryman Healthcare has announced underlying profit of more than $100 million - up 19% on last year.
The company that opened the Yvette Williams retirement complex on Highgate says shareholders will receive a 19% lift in their annual dividend.
That will translate to 10c a share.
The Government has announced a budget it says is on track to return the country to surplus next year.
After two years of budgets with no new spending, Finance Minister Bill English has announced an $800 million cash injection.
But critics are asking if the spend is just a ploy to increase National's vote at the next election.
Submissions are currently being heard for the Otago Regional Council's Draft Annual Plan, which proposes a rate increase of 5.34%.
One submission today from the Otago Polytechnic Students' Association has requested a 30% to 50% student discount for bus fares.
But the ORC says ratepayers are already subsidising bus fares by 50% - so who will pay for the extra discount?
Dunedin ratepayers are facing a 4% rate increase this year, following the end of a three day grind to balance the city's books.
Mayor Dave Cull says the forecast increase was met as promised after annual plan deliberations that failed to raise the usual controversy.
Even a decision to cut fluoride levels could not raise much more than polite concern.
