Daniel Birchfield

An Oamaru group pressing for a more "thorough restructure" at Oamaru Hospital will present a petition to the Waitaki District Council after this year's local body elections.

A large-scale infrastructure project under way in the Waitaki Valley will address "changing environmental requirements", Waitaki District Council water service and waste manager Martin Pacey says.

A quad bike rider was taken to hospital after their vehicle was hit by a truck on State Highway 1 north of Oamaru this morning.

A dozen firefighters battled a large shed fire inland from Oamaru yesterday that destroyed at least four farm vehicles.

A pair of ''new cell'' sites in Oamaru means Spark customers will not miss out on their mobile technology fix.

Security will be stepped up at an Oamaru boat club after several vessels were allegedly tampered with by would-be thieves.

Waitaki's parks maintenance contact, awarded three years ago in a controversial fashion, is again coming up for tender.

Allied Health and clerical staff at Oamaru Hospital will continue to be paid less than those employed in the same roles by the Southern District Health Board, for now at least.

Positive strides are being made at Waitaki Boys' High School but there is still work to be done, an Education Review Office report on the Oamaru school says.

Police say people should not fear for their personal safety after gunshots rang out in the South Hill area of Oamaru on Thursday.

An Oamaru medical practice has been targeted by thieves for the second time in three weeks, prompting police to visit other medical centres to check on security arrangements.

A controversial proposal for a floating hotel on Oamaru Harbour has been scuppered.

Oamaru police may have to keep an eye out for a thirsty suspect with a dodgy leg and a fear of sunlight after items were stolen from a vehicle in the South Hill area of Oamaru overnight.

Allegations of nails being intentionally scattered at the rear of an Oamaru service station, damaging vehicle tyres, is a serious matter that jeopardises public safety, police say.

Libraries in the Waitaki district are in line for a technological shake-up, as the traditional ways libraries operate move further into the past.