David Bruce

"Fantastic" was the way police and community groups described the behaviour of young people who gathered at Otematata over the first two days of Labour weekend.

The pace will quicken from next month on the Alps 2 Ocean cycleway from Mt Cook to Oamaru, but already it is being marketed for tours.

Writer, columnist, raconteur and television host Jim Hopkins was yesterday elected as Waitaki's new deputy mayor after winning a two-way vote against Cr Helen Stead.

Three companies have denied they are again advancing large-scale dairy farming in the Omarama and Ohau areas - at least until the public better understands what cubicle farming is all about.

Last week was a golden one for St Kevin's College head boy, year 13 pupil Oliver Hailes.

Anglers have been warned to keep away from high country rivers until the fishing season opens there on the first weekend in November.

About 30 firefighters and volunteers from as far away as Otematata and Glenavy fought a fire covering about 3ha in plantation slash just east of the Hakataramea township yesterday afternoon.

Otago District Health Board funding cuts meant 2009-10 was a challenging year for Waitaki District Health Services, but it managed to cut its projected financial deficit considerably.

Measures put in place to stop bad behaviour at Otematata during Labour Weekend were so successful they are likely to be used again next year.

Lake Aviemore was a blaze of colour at the weekend, with 68 yachts competing in two days of racing for the 22nd Meridian Energy Aviemore Classic.

From Bathurst to Waimate, with 24 years in between, Timaru's Leo Leonard yesterday returned to the circuit where he raced as a teenager.

A train from hell burst into central Oamaru yesterday morning, stopping traffic at the south end of Thames St.

Farmers wanting more water for irrigation from the upper Waitaki catchment are working through issues associated with 110 resource consent applications, but the process is taking longer than expected.