Hamish MacLean

Two Oamaru teenagers have been spoken to by police in relation to a fire on Cape Wanbrow yesterday.

KiwiRail has not yet confirmed the cause of a ''spectacular'' train derailment in North Otago at the weekend.

The Oamaru Union Parish, formed in 1970, will have its last service in the historic 1875 Methodist Church building in Eden St on January 24.

Tracing the footsteps of their forebears, a group of about 40 people walked down the Waitaki Valley over five days this week from Omarama to the mouth of the Waitaki River.

A pleasing symmetry exists when old cars travel historic roads, John Kennedy says.

A group of 40 people celebrated another milestone in The Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail in Duntroon yesterday afternoon.

The lives of West Otago residents in remote areas could be put at risk with the new rural practice funding model that includes the centralisation of after hours care to hubs, a Clutha district councillor says.

News Dunedin's courthouse is to be restored surprised Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher "to a degree'', he says.

At the end of November, three blade shearers headed to Ben Omar station to work on some stragglers missed in the muster. Hamish MacLean caught up with them to learn about the job, the lifestyle and what is, they say, a dying art.

Injuries suffered by a 17-month-old Oamaru boy at home on Tuesday afternoon appear not to have been suspicious, police said yesterday.

The Southern District Health Board and Waitaki District Health Services are remaining tight-lipped about meetings in Oamaru today.

The Waitaki District Council's property department lacks strategic direction and has unclear priorities and limited resources, a council memorandum says.

North Otago Vintage Car Club members Wanda Kent and John Adamson are ready to roll at the Windsor Rally on Saturday.

Despite another successful rodeo for the Waimate Rodeo Club, the club's president says he hopes more young people in the area become involved in the sport.

It only takes one rose to win a rose show, says North Otago Rose Society life member Val Clarke.

Santa Claus has checked his list and it could be a banner year for Waitaki children.

In September 2016, when the water is turned on in the North Otago Irrigation Company's expansion, the irrigation scheme will cover 25,000ha and it will be one of the largest irrigators in North Otago. North Otago reporter Hamish MacLean finds out how the irrigation company's water scheme is helping to transform the Waitaki district.