Online Editor

Anne Dickinson's method of preserving her birthday message from the Queen caused some excitement at the Wanaka centenarian's rest-home this week.

ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire offers his thoughts on last night's All Blacks' 28-27 victory over England at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council's draft dog control bylaw has been criticised for being complex and overly restrictive.

The weather may have threatened to dominate but the dogs won the day in the end.

A win in the New Zealand dog trialling championships counts as one of the best moments in Peter Kidd's life.

Being a ''determined old bugger'' paid off for hobby photographer Simon Larkin, who spent endless hours sitting silent and motionless inside a tiny bird hide to capture a winning wildlife shot.

While Coronet Peak maintained its tradition on Saturday of being first to open in the Southern Lakes ski season, the district's four other skifields are all scheduled to open this month.

Arriving late for his scheduled start was not enough to stop Dwayne Sheddan (Hill City-University) winning the open men's title in the annual Barnes Cross-country at Kettle Park yesterday.

The Taieri Tuataras played out of their skin to earn a 1-1 draw with Albany A but could not pry the challenge shield from the defending champion's vice-like grip on Saturday.

ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire identifies five key points from the All Blacks' test win over England in Auckland last night.

Nearly a tenth of their shoestring film budget was soaked up by Auckland parking fees alone, yet Wanaka duo Darren Simmonds and Ian Bowmer still managed to scoop a string of accolades at the Wairoa Maori Film Festival last weekend.

''Jumping the shark'' is a phrase used to describe the point where something has passed its peak, usually highlighted by one especially far-fetched event (think The Fonz, on waterskis and wearing his leather jacket, jumping over a shark in an unforgettable episode of Happy Days).

Continual reinvestment, innovation and sustainability are some of the key drivers of partners Wayne, Stuart and Sharyn McIntosh's successful orchard business.