Concern on building charges
Concern on building charges
Increasing the cost of building consentscould make a difficult situation worse, Clutha builders says.
Hamish MacLean
Rain just what the living roof needed
Rain just what the living roof needed
It is not just farmers' fields turning brown in South Otago.
Main street work for tender soon
Main street work for tender soon
Work on Balclutha's $2.6 million main street renewal could begin at the end of March.
'One of the good wee country rodeos'
'One of the good wee country rodeos'
The weather held out and a crowd of more than 700 turned up, making this year's Lawrence Rodeo a great success, organisers said.
Otago farmers battle with extremes of spring weather
Otago farmers battle with extremes of spring weather
The weather could not have been more different for some farmers in Otago and Southland. While southerners struggle in the cold and wet, their northern counterparts wait for rain. Hamish MacLean and Sally Rae report.
Toxic swedes investigation continues
Toxic swedes investigation continues
Despite the efforts of an expert group working since September, the deaths of hundreds of dairy cows in Southland and Otago last winter remain unexplained.
Shonky work allegedly breaches visa
Shonky work allegedly breaches visa
Many reports claiming shonky driveway repairs in Otago by a Canadian tourist and his two sons could result in the man being given the boot from New Zealand.
Driveway crew may have moved
Driveway crew may have moved
The Canadian door-to-door driveway repair crew who left West Otago after a series of complaints on Monday appears to have been touting for business in North Otago on Tuesday.
Promotional sign may be past repair
Promotional sign may be past repair
Traffic through Lawrence has been steady over the holidays and weekends this summer, but questions are being asked about the quality of the signs promoting the town.
Beach racing starts summer series
Beach racing starts summer series
Balclutha has been included for the first time in Sport Clutha's Clutha Country Summer Series.
Last pool closure
Last pool closure
The Balclutha Centennial Swimming Pool will close for two days in February in what the Clutha District Council hopes to be the final shutdown to address technical issues that have plagued the swimming pool over the past couple of years.
Meeting people highlight of ranger's job
Meeting people highlight of ranger's job
Few people could claim to know the Catlins as well as Carl Chaplin (66).
Tapanui bed for Redford
Tapanui bed for Redford
Tapanui residents are offering to vacate their homes to accommodate Robert Redford and the expected 250 cast and crew shooting the Walt Disney Studios live-action remake of Pete's Dragon in April.
Man (62) arrested after three complaints made to police
Man (62) arrested after three complaints made to police
A 62-year-old Balclutha man was arrested yesterday, following three separate complaints in Owaka on Sunday afternoon.
Pressure on space at meat works
Pressure on space at meat works
Meat processing plants across the region are working overtime to clear a backlog of lambs brought to slaughter because of this summer's dry conditions.
Lambs going north as South Island grazing dries up
Lambs going north as South Island grazing dries up
Otago lambs are being sold to North Island farmers as arid conditions affect most of the South Island.
Memories make it special
Memories make it special
From the 1970s wallpaper to the children's scribbles on the walls, a Nugget Point crib has a special place in the heart of Kate Botting. Hamish MacLean discovers the reason for having a crib only 15km from home.
Bright Thai clothes come with free travel advice
Bright Thai clothes come with free travel advice
His display of shawls, dreamcatchers, hats and dresses could be one of the most colourful things drivers see as they tour the Southern Scenic route over the holiday break.
Journalist writing new life on the farm
Journalist writing new life on the farm
Gumboots are more part of Nigel Stirling's wardrobe than suits these days but the former journalist has not gone "cold turkey'' on his news background, despite the demands of farming life. He tells Hamish McLean about his return to the family farm in South Otago.
Change of tack on war memorials
Change of tack on war memorials
Staffing shortages, due to illness, have meant the Clutha District Council has funded its war memorial restoration programme from reserves rather than grants.