John Lewis

Coming from 30cm of snow in the north of England to the warmer climes of Dunedin has left the Hollies searching for breweries to quench their thirst.

Otago principals say the Government's plan for a ministerial inquiry and technical audit on the beleaguered Novopay payroll system is a step in the right direction, but say it is ''critical'' a deadline for fixing the system is set.

A Dunedin secondary school teacher is crediting her pupils for an international award she won this week.

A reminder of the days of horse traffic, and its residue, was evident on Dunedin's main street yesterday. Participants in tomorrow night's Ride the Rhythm Extravaganza at Forsyth Barr Stadium gathered in their finery to parade up George St.

The man who died when a dinghy capsized near Dunedin on Tuesday was a keen fisherman.

Mike Corkery has not always been a teacher, but his passion has always been education.

King's High School in Dunedin has recorded the highest year 9 pupil intake in the school's 75-year history.

Hamstring tendonitis tends to stop most people in their tracks. But not former Dunedin runner William Tokona.

Something is ''amiss'' in the way technology projects such as Novopay are sourced by the New Zealand Government, a computer software engineering specialist says.

A reduction in the frequency of warrant of fitness (Wof) inspections for cars first registered after 2000 drew both criticism and praise yesterday.

As 88-year-old Catherine Wintrup took a seat in the front room of the Tautuku Fishing Club, her finger pointed as she explained: ''There used to be a fireplace there, some beautiful chairs over there and velvet curtains on the windows.''

Now that Rob Wood has built one of the fastest sports yachts in the South Island, his family is delighted they can have their carport back.

Talent2 has seriously breached its Novopay contract with the Ministry of Education, which could legally wash its hands of the failing payroll system, a contract law specialist at the University of Otago's Faculty of Law believes.

A computer software engineering specialist says it would be easier to dump the Novopay payroll system and rebuild it from scratch than repair its compounding problems.

One of the city's largest second-hand school uniform suppliers is calling for more donations as some uniform items become as scarce as hen's teeth.

Had Dorothy Clark decided to walk left at the intersection instead of right while doing a spot of shopping nearly 70 years ago, she might not have met the love of her life, Peter Inglis.

The Novopay payroll debacle could financially cripple some schools, forcing them to close, if something is not done quickly, principals across the country are warning.

Violence, careless driving causing death or injury, excess blood-alcohol while driving, and driving while impaired have left 11 teachers with criminal convictions in Otago during 2012 - the highest number for more than 20 years.

Complete contrast is the only way to describe it. This time a year ago, Shania Hutton was in a coma, on life support in Dunedin Hospital. Now, she is playing outdoors in the summer sun, having the most memorable holiday she can imagine.