Damian George

Strong winds are wreaking havoc in the South Island, leaving emergency services inundated with wind-related calls.

Strong winds are set to continue across Otago today, with the MetService predicting gales of up to 130kmh this morning.

Police stand ''a good chance'' of catching the person responsible for an online shooting threat at the University of Otago yesterday, an associate professor in information science says.

A $200,000 drug bust has led to the arrest of a 21-year-old student.

A Gore police officer has admitted she should have acted sooner on a family's concerns about the mental health of a prisoner who was later found dead in his cell.

The fourth annual South Dunedin Street Festival was a celebration of the most ethnically diverse community in Dunedin, festival co ordinator Nick Orbell says.

An alternative to Halloween with a focus on family and community spirit attracted more than 5000 people to Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday evening.

A University of Otago study has confirmed what researchers expected: alcohol and sexual risk taking is contributing to unsafe sex among young people.

A group of Dunedin school pupils have been given a head start into the all-important world of technology through the Mosgiel Code Club.

A woman who was raped when she was 11 has given an emotional statement at the man's sentencing in the Dunedin District Court today.

A convicted con man met a judge's ultimatum to come up with $20,000 reparation for his victim by 9am yesterday in order to avoid jail.

A 26-year-old man who admitted unlawfully taking the "Little Sucker'' truck from a Dunedin plumbing business and driving it to Christchurch was "extremely intoxicated'' when he committed the offence, the Dunedin District Court heard today.

A decision on former All Black Andrew Hore's appeal against a firearms conviction is expected to be made within the next two days.

The man charged with the unlawful taking of the "Little Sucker'' truck from Dunedin has been remanded in custody by consent after appearing in the Dunedin District Court this afternoon.

Former All Black Andrew Hore's appeal against a firearms conviction has been dismissed.

Meeting police dogs, completing a mini training course and trying on uniforms and protective gear were all part of the fun for hundreds of people who attended a behind the scenes look at the Dunedin Central Police Station yesterday.

After a slow start, hundreds of people flocked to the Dunedin Botanic Garden yesterday for the annual Rhododendron Day and the opening to the public of a new facility.