Steve Hepburn

Bus patronage has risen by more than 50% in the past five years in Dunedin and Queenstown, but fears remain it will sink when fares are increased.

An annual report has laid bare why rates are going up, one regional councillor says — too many staff, earning big pay rises and pocketing more than $100,000 annually.

Six months to the day since being refused permission to build a multimillion-dollar wind farm in Southland, Contact Energy remains committed to the project.

A proposed multi-use venue which would allow disabled people to get on and into coastal waters has been described as life-changing and the first of its kind in the South Island.

The closure area for set netting off the Otago coast has doubled as the process for consultation on long-term measures to protect hoiho from the effects of fishing gets under way.

The Otago Peninsula fishing industry is reeling and feels bewildered after a large part of its fishery was closed to save the hoiho, a move described as a good start but not going far enough by...

The Southland District Council just quietly goes about his business. But regions editor — south Steve Hepburn finds the winds of change are not far away.

People will be free to fossick at Gemstone Beach in Southland despite a mining permit for much of the beach being applied for.