Icy road conditions expected today
Icy road conditions expected today
Grit trucks were on standby last night as severe frosts were forecast so soon after Monday's snow and rain.
Rebecca Fox
Weather expected to clear
Weather expected to clear
A heavy snow warning was still in place for Otago and Southland last night, but forecasters expect conditions to clear slowly today, bringing frosts and sunshine by tomorrow.
Beached beaked whale butchered
Beached beaked whale butchered
A dead whale lying on Ocean View Beach near Brighton, has been illegally butchered, raising concerns that someone might risk illness by eating the meat which was possibly diseased.
Illness, weather hit ORC transport hearing
Illness, weather hit ORC transport hearing
Sickness and weather problems dogged the Otago Regional Council's hearing into proposed changes to the council's regional transport plan yesterday, leaving only four organisations with representatives making submissions in person.
A terrible thing, emotional PM says
A terrible thing, emotional PM says
Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday was close to tears as she explained how she and others battled for hours to attempt to save the life of close friend and respected mountain guide Gottlieb Braun-Elwert.
Listing for Oceania humpbacks welcomed
Listing for Oceania humpbacks welcomed
Researchers seeking further protection for Oceania humpback whales are welcoming a new "endangered" classification for the sub-population, which twice a year migrates past New Zealand.
Otago scientists net top national awards
Otago scientists net top national awards
Hours of working with stressed, slimy hagfish have paid off for Otago marine ecologist Rebecca McLeod, who last night was named the MacDiarmid Young Scientist of the Year.
Rescuers fly in to rescue rest of stranded party
Rescuers fly in to rescue rest of stranded party
A break in the snow has let search and rescue staff send in a helicopter to rescue the remaining members of Prime Minister Helen Clark's ski party this morning.
Bait run 'in the lap of the gods'
Bait run 'in the lap of the gods'
Even after a good spawning season and recent rain, the Otago whitebait season, which opens tomorrow, remains "in the lap of the gods", Department of Conservation Coastal Otago freshwater team leader Pete Ravenscroft says.
Building could start this month
Building could start this month
If all goes to plan, contractors could be on-site at the Otago Settlers Museum to build its new storage building by the end of the month.
Proposed water policy attacked as bureaucratic
Proposed water policy attacked as bureaucratic
A proposed Government water policy could be costly to implement, disruptive and too bureaucratic to be useful, Otago Regional Council's chief executive Graeme Martin says.
ORC waits for public call on electoral system
ORC waits for public call on electoral system
The Otago Regional Council will wait to see if the public demands a poll on how they elect their representatives, otherwise it will stay with the first past the post system for the 2010 election.
Prosecution of DCC tests partnership
Prosecution of DCC tests partnership
The Historic Places Trust's insistence on prosecuting the Dunedin City Council over breaches to an archaeological authority for its Wall Street development has done little to promote partnership and co-operation between the two, city council counsel Garth Gallaway says.
Dunedin doubly wet in July
Dunedin doubly wet in July
Dunedin might have had twice its normal rainfall for July, but it was still the driest main centre as several storms hit the country causing major damage.
Dunedin hospital runs out of beds
Dunedin hospital runs out of beds
Dunedin Hospital is in "code black" with the number of people needing treatment exceeding the beds available.
Break in the wet, but more forecast
Break in the wet, but more forecast
Coastal Otago's long wet spell ended on Saturday as Dunedin experienced its first dry day in nearly a fortnight.
80th birthday celebration for Prof
80th birthday celebration for Prof
Prof Pat Molloy, a retired cardiac surgeon, and his wife, Julia, celebrate his 80th birthday at the University of Otago's executive residence yesterday.
Council rents 'too high'
Council rents 'too high'
A review of Dunedin City Council's housing policy is being called for in a petition being circulated by Labour's Dunedin South candidate, Clare Curran.
New angle offerred on mystery 'cheque'
New angle offerred on mystery 'cheque'
A mystery "cheque" found beneath the floorboards of an old house at Studholme College is more likely to be an old-fashioned version of a hire purchase agreement, a Dunedin man believes.
The document signed in February 1930 promised to pay Mawhinney and Geddes 31 and 18 shillings, 12 months after the date.
Quality of air alarms council
Quality of air alarms council
Milton has a "very large" problem, as monitoring of the town's air quality shows readings much higher than the national standard and close to the region's trouble spot of Alexandra, Otago Regional councillor Stephen Woodhead says.