West Coast's $65m investment in flood defences
The West Coast Regional Council has a record $65 million worth of flood protection projects on its books. Among the most critical is a $25.8m project for the flood-prone town of Westport.
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The South feels the heat - and wind - in autumn 2026
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The South feels the heat - and wind - in autumn 2026
If autumn 2026 felt more like summer than the actual summer did, it may be because parts of Otago and Southland had their second-warmest, driest and windiest autumn on record.
Ute and truck collide at Oamaru intersection
Ute and truck collide at Oamaru intersection
Emergency services were called to a collision involving a truck and a ute in Oamaru this morning.
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Dairy industry gets early access to council report
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Dairy industry gets early access to council report
Southland’s public watchdog for freshwater slipped a damning report about nitrate pollution to the dairy industry while health chiefs were still in the dark.
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Tenants' fears rise over social housing changes
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Tenants' fears rise over social housing changes
Government changes to social housing have left an Oamaru charity official heartbroken.
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Southern corridor commuter trail development set to start
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Southern corridor commuter trail development set to start
Construction of a new $850,000 trail, ultimately linking Jacks Point to Frankton, is expected to start towards the end of winter.
Trust goes into bat to help relaunch cricket
Trust goes into bat to help relaunch cricket
Organised cricket is returning to the Teviot Valley for the first time in roughly two decades.
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Herefordbull fetches $65k, record smashed
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Herefordbull fetches $65k, record smashed
A smoking bull fetched $65,000 and set a stud record in Central Otago.
Polytech campuses set to reopen after bomb threat
Polytech campuses set to reopen after bomb threat
Dunedin’s Otago Polytechnic plans to reopen on Tuesday after being forced to evacuate all staff and students and close due to a bomb threat.
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Funding for more classrooms, pupil increase
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Funding for more classrooms, pupil increase
Funding for four new classrooms will allow a ‘‘squashed’’ Upper Clutha primary school to grow its roll to 500 pupils, the principal says.
Meridian gets draft approval to use contingent lake storage
Meridian gets draft approval to use contingent lake storage
Meridian Energy has been granted a provisional go-ahead to access additional water in Lake Pūkaki for electricity despite opposition from government ministers and the national grid operator.
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Data-collecting buoy to be installed on lake
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Data-collecting buoy to be installed on lake
Fresh data on the health of Lake Hāwea will be collected from next month.
Vanished World reopens in new guise
Vanished World reopens in new guise
Museum of the Vanished World is open for business once again.
Two hurt in Arrowtown as golf cart crashes into ditch
Two hurt in Arrowtown as golf cart crashes into ditch
Two people have been taken to hospital after a golf cart crashed into a ditch in Arrowtown this evening.
Mother, son fined for unlawful pounamu export attempt
Mother, son fined for unlawful pounamu export attempt
Two West Coast Ngāi Tahu hapū say the sentencing of an Auckland mother and son shows people trying to take pounamu out of the country illegally will be caught.
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Affordability to ‘deteriorate’ despite joining water entity
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Affordability to ‘deteriorate’ despite joining water entity
Water charges in Waitaki are expected to increase by 130% within a decade despite the district joining Southern Waters to soften the financial blow.
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Safety concerns prompt dismantling
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Safety concerns prompt dismantling
Dismantling the historic scow The Portland has made the Pounawea hulk safer, its owner says.
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Working to restore climbers’ Wye Creek access
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Working to restore climbers’ Wye Creek access
Queenstown’s climbing community is working with Pioneer Energy to maintain access to one of New Zealand’s premier climbing areas that was closed off after being overrun by the public.
Bird’s-eye view
Bird’s-eye view
Tracks weave their way along the rocky outcrop of Makotukutuku/Cape Wanbrow Reserve in Oamaru with boats idling in the North Otago town's harbour.
‘Don’t sweat the small stuff’, survivor’s advice
‘Don’t sweat the small stuff’, survivor’s advice
For Hāwea woman Angela Lines, cancer hit at the most unexpected time