Dunedin

The days of creating a hut out of an old fridge box or a couple of sticks and some corrugated iron are long gone.

A total fire ban has been declared for Dunedin for the first time since 2004, with residents reminded to be extra careful when disposing of cigarette butts, or using lawnmowers during the dry conditions.

Most days, the word "extraneous" is far from relevant for Ian Snow.

Dog owners are being asked to take extra care with their animals on the Otago coastline over the next two months as penguins come ashore to moult.