Online Editor

Rugby royalty flew into Blenheim last night for New Zealand's wedding of the year - the tightly-controlled pairing of Dan Carter and Honor Dillon.

Despite his handlebars breaking near the start of the bike leg, Australia's Aaron Farlow came through a strong field to win the sixth Challenge Wanaka long-distance triathlon on Saturday.

As the oldest competitor in the world to complete any of the Challenge series of long distance triathlons, 75-year-old Garth Barfoot had plenty to smile about in Wanaka at the weekend.

There was little time for celebrating after coming second in Challenge Wanaka on Saturday for former Southlander Jamie Whyte, who was running late for his role as groomsman at a friend's wedding in Arrowtown.

Recent road races and training tips from a running champion paid off for Justin Stott when he won the New Zealand Cup on Wheels at the Seddon Park velodrome on Saturday.

Central Otago heritage stonemason Keith Hinds says the role he plays in preserving the past brings him the ultimate job satisfaction.

A transtasman challenge has been laid down between professional athletes competing in today's Challenge Wanaka iron distance triathlon.

Despite adopting a less demanding training schedule since giving birth six months ago, eight time iron distance triathlon champion Gina Crawford feels even "better" and "faster" than her pre-pregnancy form ahead of tomorrow's Challenge Wanaka event.

Contact Energy has asked for more time to establish a hydroelectric scheme at Lake Hawea, citing the global economic downturn and seasonal construction constraints as reasons for the delay in exercising the project's original consent.

The death of a Central Otago hunter missing since Sunday evening in the Mt Aspiring National Park is the third fatal accident dealt with by Upper Clutha police and search and rescue volunteers since New Year's day.

In the wake of the two recent fatalities in Mt Aspiring National Park, national volunteer search and rescue organisation LandSAR New Zealand is urging trampers, hunters and climbers going into the back country this summer to do all they can to help rescuers find them in an emergency.

A Christmas card sent to one of the dead workers in the Pike River mine from Prime Minister John Key and his wife has been labelled "really distasteful'' by the man's widow.

If you think the athletes in tomorrow's Challenge Wanaka iron distance triathlon have it tough, then spare a thought for Hamish Taylor.

An Upper Clutha wooden wagon believed to be more than a century old is set to get a new lease of life, in a nod to its modern-day transport counterparts.

The dumping of fish carcasses at a popular Wanaka lakeside reserve has angered Queenstown Lakes district harbourmaster Marty Black, who is calling for the public's help to find the culprits.

A recent change to his training regime is paying off for Bevan Stevens (Caversham), who controlled the senior men's 800m at the Caledonian Ground on Saturday.