Steve Hepburn

Legislation to be announced — possibly as early as today — will lead to the demise of regional councils, says one councillor who believes the bodies can only blame themselves.

The government says it is expecting money to be granted to improve the strength of cellphone towers which failed to work after the recent wind event in the South.

Developers may look after their own sewerage and water systems in the future, the new Queenstown Lakes district mayor has suggested if more funding does not materialise.

Shane Jones is shrugging off an attempt to paint him as a hypocrite while taking a potshot at New Zealand actor Sir Sam Neill.

The eight Dunedin kindergartens which were closed on Tuesday because of issues over possible asbestos in classroom sand opened their doors yesterday

It is not the way Barry Gordon imagined he would bring up 40 years of owning the Concord Garage.

The biblical wind which hit the South last month has led to nearly 7000 insurance claims and one insurer is looking at a near $30 million bill.

Wholesale electricity prices are the lowest in a decade thanks to a wet and windy spring with water soon to pass straight through dams on the Clutha River, not generating power.

Successful enterprise never came easy. But it has landed something of a cruel blow on Frankie and Quinn Cropper.

A third of Dunedin kindergartens will be closed today as testing continues on sand in classrooms which may contain asbestos.

Another wind farm is under development in the South as the dormant second stage of the Mahinerangi wind farm project gets up a small head of steam.