Regions

Doc ‘abdicating their responsibility’ on pest control

West Coast councillor has suggested the Department of Conservation is "abdicating" its pest animal control responsibilities to the West Coast Regional Council.
SUBSCRIBER

'Once-in-a-lifetime' flight emotional

A retired doctor on the verge of losing his vision was almost in tears before taking to the skies above Wānaka for an emotional flight in a fighter jet.
SUBSCRIBER

Historic Central Otago pub faces closure

Oturehua's Railway Hotel will close its doors if no buyer is found by June 1.
Festival delights wine-lovers, gastronomes

Overcast weather did little to dampen spirits as thousands gathered in Clyde yesterday for the town’s longest-running event, the annual Clyde Wine and Food Harvest Festival.

SUBSCRIBER

CODC planner against quarry proposal

SUBSCRIBER

CODC planner against quarry proposal

Up to 720,000 tonnes of gravel a year, or 100 truckloads a day, could be moved from a Queensberry site in 10 years’ time if quarry consent is granted.
‘Much-needed’ visitor centre faces closure soon

‘Much-needed’ visitor centre faces closure soon

The end of council funding for the Oamaru and Waitaki Visitor Information Centre could lead to the closure of the "much-needed" resource in the historic precinct, staff have warned.
SUBSCRIBER

Town centre’s ‘human scale’ loss feared

SUBSCRIBER

Town centre’s ‘human scale’ loss feared

A prominent Queenstown property investor says a council proposal to allow 24m-high buildings across a large section of the central business district would make the resort town less walkable.

queenstown

SUBSCRIBER

Invective over dogs gets fine, conviction

A Queenstown man hurled a tirade of abuse at a woman last year after he became enraged she was walking dogs off-lead in a wildlife reserve.

SUBSCRIBER

Town centre’s ‘human scale’ loss feared

SUBSCRIBER

Town centre’s ‘human scale’ loss feared

A prominent Queenstown property investor says a council proposal to allow 24m-high buildings across a large section of the central business district would make the resort town less walkable.
Frankton cribs worth $6.7m sold

Frankton cribs worth $6.7m sold

A "sold" sticker has gone on two holiday cottages below Frankton Rd.
Turf’s up at school

Turf’s up at school

It's probably the envy of every other school in the Whakatipu.

Wanaka

Wānaka resident Leigh Cohen was tired of driving past an "eyesore" roundabout every day, so she...

DIY roundabout weeders call for better solution

As Leigh Cohen drove past the weed-ridden roundabout at the base of Mt Iron on her daily commute, she had a choice.

SUBSCRIBER

Fears rising rates will force people out

SUBSCRIBER

Fears rising rates will force people out

Families moved to Luggate because they were priced out of the Wānaka housing market - now a massive rates rise is threatening to force them out of their homes.
SUBSCRIBER

Grape harvest under way after late start

SUBSCRIBER

Grape harvest under way after late start

Wānaka's Indian summer has offered hope to winemakers with harvest under way after a difficult year in the vineyard.
SUBSCRIBER

'Once-in-a-lifetime' flight emotional

SUBSCRIBER

'Once-in-a-lifetime' flight emotional

A retired doctor on the verge of losing his vision was almost in tears before taking to the skies above Wānaka for an emotional flight in a fighter jet.

Central Otago

The historic Earnscleugh Castle will feature on Grand Designs New Zealand tomorrow night. PHOTOS:...

National spotlight on Central Otago castle

A once crumbling Central Otago castle revived as a labour of love will hit the national spotlight this weekend.

SUBSCRIBER

New anti-mine group’s claims misleading: Santana

SUBSCRIBER

New anti-mine group’s claims misleading: Santana

Santana Minerals has slated a new anti-mining group in the region and its claim a tailings dam at the proposed Bendigo-Ophir gold mine had a "100%" chance of failure.
SUBSCRIBER

ORC to discuss input to mine proposal behind closed doors

SUBSCRIBER

ORC to discuss input to mine proposal behind closed doors

The Otago Regional Council is to discuss its input into the proposed Bendigo gold mine behind closed doors.
SUBSCRIBER

CODC planner against quarry proposal

SUBSCRIBER

CODC planner against quarry proposal

Up to 720,000 tonnes of gravel a year, or 100 truckloads a day, could be moved from a Queensberry site in 10 years’ time if quarry consent is granted.

South Otago

Balclutha resident Emily Wells received a runner-up award in Tūhura Otago Museum’s Aotearoa...

Mini moss forest photo commended

A chance snap for a cellphone background has led to an awards nod for one Balclutha resident.

Accessible mai mai ‘perfect’

Accessible mai mai ‘perfect’

Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for your sport, but a new mai mai in South Otago means duck-shooting has become a good deal simpler for at least one enthusiast.
Farmers’ environmental work praised

Farmers’ environmental work praised

Deer and cattle farmers Tony and Michelle Roberts, and Kate Roberts and Mark Lieshout are the Southland regional supreme winners of the 2026 Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
New reporter feeling right at home in Gore

New reporter feeling right at home in Gore

The Ensign would like to welcome new reporter Gemma Sinclair.

north otago

‘Much-needed’ visitor centre faces closure soon

The end of council funding for the Oamaru and Waitaki Visitor Information Centre could lead to the closure of the "much-needed" resource in the historic precinct, staff have warned.

Volunteer shuttle extended

Volunteer shuttle extended

A "critical" volunteer-run community shuttle service that operates from Oamaru to Palmerston and Dunedin has been extended by a further six months and will now run until the end of September.
SUBSCRIBER

'Serious concern' over condition of Oamaru aviaries

SUBSCRIBER

'Serious concern' over condition of Oamaru aviaries

Staff working at Oamaru’s aviaries have no professional animal care qualifications and there is ‘‘serious concern’’ about food storage areas where a ‘‘considerable amount’’ of rodent faeces was...
Feathered friends in need of new homes

Feathered friends in need of new homes

Have you got a home for five grey cockatiels, two budgies and one Jimmy?

southland

The two climbers who had to be rescued from Sabre Peak in Fiordland. PHOTO: SOUTHERN LAKES...

Climbers’ survival ‘remarkable’

Two climbers were rescued yesterday after spending three nights on a precarious Fiordland mountainside in what police are calling a "remarkable" survival story.