Maudie (106) an 'ordinary old girl'
Maudie (106) an 'ordinary old girl'
Otago's oldest woman, Maudie Wilson, has big plans for the coming year and they revolve around weddings.
Lynda van Kempen
Sporty, comfy, trendy, dressy and maternity
Sporty, comfy, trendy, dressy and maternity
Chantel Knox, of Cromwell, is the two-day Coast to Coast women's titleholder and managing director of NRG Health and Fitness gym and Stirling Sports in Cromwell.
Parched conservation land burns
Parched conservation land burns
The driest place in New Zealand ignited yesterday and up to 20ha of the Flat Top Hill conservation area near Alexandra was ravaged by the fire.
Cost of blaze estimated at $80,000
Cost of blaze estimated at $80,000
The cost of the Flat Top Hill conservation area fire has been estimated at $80,000, but its cause remains a mystery.
Cherries employ 3000
Cherries employ 3000
More than 3000 people will be involved this year in getting Central Otago cherries off the trees and into the marketplace.
Blaze reignites memories
Blaze reignites memories
It was a New Year's Day Roxburgh residents will never forget. The fire which raced from Branxholm St up the hill behind the town, destroying a home and burning 40ha of land on Friday brought home memories for firefighters of the wildfires which raged through Springvale and Fruitlands nearly 11 years ago.
'We're alive and that's what matters'
'We're alive and that's what matters'
Roxburgh resident John Kerr, whose home was destroyed by fire on Friday night, said being at the scene of the inferno was like "looking into the face of a locomotive roaring".
Red-hot pick obliges at Roxburgh
Red-hot pick obliges at Roxburgh
For Roxburgh's fire chief and many other residents, it was the hottest pick of the day.
Plenty of fun for families
Plenty of fun for families
Naseby celebrates the start of every new year by devoting an afternoon's entertainment to the children in the community.
Many await fruit-picking work
Many await fruit-picking work
Central Otago orchardists report the highest number of job seekers yet this year, but say the crunch time will be in the next week or two when the cherry season is at its peak.
Colossal catering effort for firefighters
Colossal catering effort for firefighters
A continuous stream of food for the 60-strong team of firefighters and pilots working on the Roxburgh wildfire appeared "by magic", incident controller David Rooney says.
Organisers forced to shed concert
Organisers forced to shed concert
The Kyeburn concert, billed as a picnic in the paddock, became the shindig in the shearing shed yesterday afternoon.
Roxburgh homes at risk
Roxburgh homes at risk
Five homes in Roxburgh were being threatened by fire last night as up to 60 firefighters battled a blaze on the hill behind the town.
All quiet on the celebration front
All quiet on the celebration front
Families were the focus of Central Otago's New Year celebrations, which were a low-key affair.
Woman says Pines fire lit
Woman says Pines fire lit
A fire which a woman claimed was deliberately lit in the Pines near Alexandra yesterday had the potential to be very dangerous, Alexandra Fire Chief Russell Anderson said.
Old fire flares up
Old fire flares up
Tree stumps on a Gimmerburn farm that were burnt in August flared up again this week, with the fire spreading to the surrounding paddock.
Rain helps douse flare-up
Rain helps douse flare-up
A fire crew was still on duty at Flat Top Hill yesterday after a flare-up on the site on Tuesday night, but light rain during the day helped douse hot spots.
Buying old friends and new: readers flock to book sales
Buying old friends and new: readers flock to book sales
"Sacks" of Mills and Boon romances are walking out the door every day at the annual Alexandra Rotary charity book sale.
Another twist for Olivers
Another twist for Olivers
Landmark property Olivers Restaurant and Lodge is changing hands again, for the sixth time in 12 years.
Entomologist brands Flat Top fire as 'wanton vandalism'
Entomologist brands Flat Top fire as 'wanton vandalism'
A fire in a conservation area near Alexandra was "wanton vandalism", destructive to soil, flora and fauna, conservationist Brian Patrick said.