A Canadian mining company hunting for gold in Central Otago hopes to start drilling in a matter of months.

As councils look ahead to a busy year in local politics, the Otago Daily Times asks leaders from across the South how they spent their breaks and what’s in the pipeline for 2026.

Slow and steady may have been the plan but fast and furious has taken over as the once-shuttered Hyde Hotel is revived and restored as The Hydeaway.

Alexandra could be in for a population boom as about 300 new sections come up for sale, but without "pipes in the ground" the reality could be unpleasant, a community leader says.

A meeting later this month is set to decide how much time will be needed for the controversial Santana Minerals Bendigo mine application but the company is sticking to asking for a 30-day timeframe.