SUBSCRIBER
Response to nitrate spikes questioned
Southland's regional council is being evasive about how to tackle widespread nitrate contamination in groundwater, a leading health academic says.
Regions
SUBSCRIBER
Community reintegration focus of new role
SUBSCRIBER
Community reintegration focus of new role
From representing the community, to rehabilitating men with criminal pasts — the next chapter of Gary Kircher’s life is under way.
Rerouting of track due to unstable slip
Rerouting of track due to unstable slip
A section of a spectacular high country walking track near Wānaka and Arrowtown has been rerouted to avoid a large, slow-moving slip, the Department of Conservation says.
SUBSCRIBER
ORC urged to step up over buses
SUBSCRIBER
ORC urged to step up over buses
As Wakatipu High School looks to ease its school bus woes, the ORC says a recently introduced after-school service is a trial that is "not intended to address the withdrawal of Ministry of Education services at all".
300 litres of fuel spilled
300 litres of fuel spilled
A petrol tanker spilled about 300 litres of fuel in Owaka yesterday morning.
SUBSCRIBER
Spot the dog makes himself heard to be rescued
SUBSCRIBER
Spot the dog makes himself heard to be rescued
Spot could not be spotted but he could still bark and that is what saved him.
SUBSCRIBER
4 times limit drunk driver tops 2025 regional list
SUBSCRIBER
4 times limit drunk driver tops 2025 regional list
An Alexandra man who almost caused a crash in a parking lot has been labelled Otago’s worst drink-driver after being found to be more than seven times the legal limit at 9am.
Staff work on oil spill response skills
Staff work on oil spill response skills
Staff from the Otago Regional Council and the Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes District Councils gather at Windfall Creek this week to take part in a freshwater oil spill response exercise.
SUBSCRIBER
Trust distributing $380k to causes in first round
SUBSCRIBER
Trust distributing $380k to causes in first round
A newly revived charitable trust is splitting $379,770 among 11 local and regional community causes in its first funding round.
Fully flowered
Fully flowered
A late-summer paddock near Browns, in Central Southland, this week.
SUBSCRIBER
Dental services’ removal ‘short-sighted’
SUBSCRIBER
Dental services’ removal ‘short-sighted’
The surprise removal of visiting school dental services from a South Otago town could lead to "unaffordable" 50km-plus round trips to the dentist for some families.
SUBSCRIBER
Digging fire break in Aust ‘no walk in the park’
SUBSCRIBER
Digging fire break in Aust ‘no walk in the park’
Mopping up after out-of-control bushfires burned through the Australian summer was "no walk in the park", recently returned Southland firefighters say.
Vacancies at council still unfilled
Vacancies at council still unfilled
More than a dozen positions remain unfilled at a southern council one year after consultation began on its major restructure.
SUBSCRIBER
Sewage contained after spilling into river
SUBSCRIBER
Sewage contained after spilling into river
Raw sewage has spilled into the Clutha River at Balclutha this week and an investigation is under way as to the cause, authorities say.
SUBSCRIBER
Concerns for children’s safety raised in joint carpark plea
SUBSCRIBER
Concerns for children’s safety raised in joint carpark plea
Children's lives are at stake due to a "highly dangerous" and congested road outside the local primary school, Hampden community leaders say.
SUBSCRIBER
All fishing bar cicada should be OK during colder weather
SUBSCRIBER
All fishing bar cicada should be OK during colder weather
The cold weather this weekend will do nothing for those hoping to catch fish on the cicada but it should not affect other sorts of fishing.
Arrowtown charity bowls event on a roll
Arrowtown charity bowls event on a roll
There were two winners of last week’s fourth Forsyth Barr Business Roll Up Challenge, this year played for the first time at the Arrowtown Bowling Club.
Seven Q’town reps in NZ team
Seven Q’town reps in NZ team
New Zealand’s under-18 men’s ice hockey team selected for next week’s Division 3 Group A U18 world champs in Hong Kong has a heavy Queenstown contingent.
Hometown ball tracker
Hometown ball tracker
While this New Zealand Open’s showcasing some amazing Queenstown golfers, another local’s getting involved for the first time in broadcasting the event.
The pro-am’s ‘people’s player’
The pro-am’s ‘people’s player’
In a novel concept, about 25 Queenstown mates cumulatively chipped in $25k for a slot in this week’s NZ Open pro-am — and, fittingly, decided who’ll represent them via a game of golf.