An incident yesterday involving a fire left burning at a rural property near the Kilmog, north of Dunedin, highlighted growing fire risks in tinder dry conditions throughout much of Otago, Fire Service officials said.
A sea lion frolicking on St Kilda Beach, Dunedin, has delighted Tainui resident Kathy Richards.
Youngsters trying out their new boogie boards have been urged to take care at the beach.
Queensland cyclists Ian and Barb Christie have plenty of good things to say about visiting Dunedin and Otago.
Many Dunedin people may be on holiday elsewhere, but holidaymakers from Australia, Christchurch and the North Island were among those filling holiday parks in and around Dunedin at the weekend.
Outram fruitgrower Steve McArthur could be forgiven for having raspberries on his mind these days.
A Christmas Eve theft of five plants from the Lady Thorn Rhododendron Dell at Port Chalmers has been described as ''desipicable''.
About 1000 people visited the Otago Museum's new free exhibition, ''Bugs: the Mega World of Minibeasts'', during its opening weekend.
University of Otago doctoral graduate Russell Bisset is ''pretty chuffed'' that the Royal Society of New Zealand has given him the prestigious Hatherton Award for his innovative physics research.
More than 170 people packed into the Iona Church, Port Chalmers, yesterday for an annual Christmas carol-singing event.
The Portobello community has received the ''best Christmas present'' with the repair and early return of its pontoon.
Answers to mysteries from the ancient past may be lurking in humble dental plaque.
University of Otago researcher Dr Margaret Ryan is delighted to have received a $186,000 grant from the Neurological Foundation, to deepen understanding of a protein that could help treat Alzheimer's disease.
Having overcome the daunting challenges of a house fire, motherhood and recent back surgery, Jenna Pope was ''thrilled'' to be graduating from Otago Polytechnic yesterday.
Esme Thompson (2), of Dunedin, cranes her head and tries to get closer to the magic while visiting the Pixie Town display at the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum this week.
If University of Otago software engineering student Smitha Keertipati (22) ever needed any advice about her studies she did not have to go far to seek help.
Six University of Otago graduation ceremonies and yesterday's record Otago Polytechnic ceremony are pumping several million dollars into the Dunedin economy as out-of-town relatives flock to the city.
Olympic swimming double gold medallist Danyon Loader will be among a record 550 people to graduate in person from Otago Polytechnic in a ceremony this afternoon.
The spirit of Christmas is burning brightly in Dunedin after city residents donated 800 banana boxes of foodstuffs and non-alcoholic drinks to the annual Emergency Services Can Drive Appeal yesterday.
New Zealanders need to play a more active role in international affairs, and should not simply despair when faced with ''appalling human suffering'' in this country and elsewhere.
