Rebecca Fox

Avis rental sales agent Jolani Garner thought nothing of kicking off her boots and pulling waders on over her uniform yesterday to help push one of her cars out of floodwater at Dunedin International Airport.

At the flood peak on Saturday, the Taieri River's flow at Outram was the third highest since records began in 1968.

New Zealand needs to quarantine the Peter Bethune issue so it does not affect other aspects of its relationship with Japan, visiting Australian international law specialist Prof Donald Rothwell says.

As rain continued for the fifth day yesterday and with more forecast, the Otago Regional Council was warning coastal Otago residents to stay on alert for flooding.

If paying to have an electric blanket checked has been a financial barrier, then the New Zealand Fire Service is offering to do it free of charge.

Learning the science of honey will be one of the children's workshops being held as part of the festival's theme, Everyday Science: Food for Thought.

River levels remained volatile around eastern Otago last night as heavy rain continued to fall.

A fishing charter business run out of Port Chalmers should soon be joining those showcasing Otago Harbour's marine wildlife.

Disturbing numbers of endangered Hector's and Maui dolphin deaths have been reported in the last year, showing new protection measures are not as effective as had been hoped, University of Otago Associate Professor Liz Slooten says.

A new camping ground at the Lindis Hotel Historic Reserve will be further developed as a result of new work announced as part of Vote Conservation's $424 million budget announced yesterday.

Monarch butterflies have become Dunedin woman Jennifer Bradshaw's latest obsession.

Vandalism of Orokonui Ecosanctuary's predator-proof fence has left the enclosure vulnerable to pests on two occasions.

Nearly a year after the Otago Regional Council "parked" its multimillion-dollar waterfront building proposal, it is about to start the process all over again.

Farmers are calling for all Otago ratepayers to help fund future flood and drainage works on the Taieri.