David Bruce

Altrusa distributes books to all babies born or cared for at Oamaru Hospital during September as part of Literacy Week, a project it has undertaken for decades.

Oamaru is "being proactive" to cope with the Undie-500 car rally when it passes through the town tomorrow on its way to Dunedin.

The liquor ban in central Oamaru could be extended, and other communities in the Waitaki district given the opportunity to implement temporary bans.

Charging patients who use Oamaru Hospital's emergency department is only one option which could be considered by Waitaki District Health Services Ltd after a massive increase in people using the service.

Drilling rigs began operating in the Hakataramea Valley yesterday, but it was not the start of a search for oil.

Details of discussions between Ngai Tahu and Meridian Energy Ltd on an agreement over a proposed Waitaki River power scheme have been kept confidential by the Environment Court.

A major redevelopment of the North Otago Museum will create a world-class facility and position it as the hub of the Waitaki district's heritage and natural attractions.

Orchid fan Margaret Harper has more than 500 plants in her collection, but only a few will make the grade for this weekend's North Otago Orchid Club annual show.

Rose beds in the Oamaru Gardens are getting a new lease of life with the donation of 190 rose plants by prominent North Island rose nursery Matthews Nurseries Ltd.

An elderly Oamaru man, not used to a second-hand BMW he had just bought, scraped his fence and then crashed into a neighbour's house yesterday morning.

A site for a refuse transfer station in Oamaru has been identified by the Waitaki District Council, even though it may not be needed for up to seven years.

A major redevelopment of Oamaru's Forrester Gallery which has been 10 years in gestation was launched yesterday and a tender for the project will be advertised late next year - if enough funds can be raised.

Oamaru is to get another set of traffic lights, this time for the Junction corner in south Oamaru on State Highway 1.

The Central South Island is the most popular fishing destination of all New Zealand fish and game council regions, excluding Lake Taupo, according to the latest national angling survey.

The Omarama community reckons it's the pits, and is demanding something be done to stop rubbish being dumped along its major tourist route, State Highway 8.