John Lewis

An autistic 6-year-old with history of non-speaking is now singing Bruno Mars songs thanks to a new, state-of-the-art sensory room at Dunedin's Sara Cohen School.

Given the mercury dropped to -6degC in Dunedin on Saturday, it was not surprising some of the hardiest members of the Southern Free Beaches naturist club chose not to participate in their annual winter solstice polar plunge.

The rugby will be played under a roof but fans on their way to watch the All Blacks have been warned of treacherous road conditions in Dunedin.

Former Dunedin baritone opera singer Julien Van Mellaerts has lifted his total prize winnings in the past 12 months to nearly $60,000.

Attention is being turned to the risk of tsunamis on southern lakes after researchers found it would be possible for a 5m-high wave to hit the shores of Lake Tekapo.