Hamish MacLean

Biggest market day celebrates small town charm

Kurow Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer John Sturgeon offers rides yesterday on "Henry'',...

Biggest market day celebrates small town charm

The simple life - Kurow's small-town charm - is at the heart of what makes the Kurow Festival Market Day special, Kurow Festival Market Day committee member John Brocas says.

Day at the races about family, community

Timaru's Leanne Ryan gets a hug from her husband, Greg, after their horses finish one and two in...

Day at the races about family, community

Tailgate barbecues, cold drinks with mates, summer dresses and family get-togethers were as much the order of the day as horses at the Kurow Racecourse yesterday.

Quinn’s Arcade joins other properties bought by firm for redevelopment

Quinn’s Arcade joins other properties bought by firm for redevelopment

Another Waimate building has been taken on board by a local firm committed to refreshing the South Canterbury town.

Making most of opportunities

Nicko Mannix says he has been given a second chance at life.

Crowdfunded Otago eco-retreat for management team

Crowdfunded Otago eco-retreat for management team

A crowdfunding campaign to establish a Central Otago wellness retreat will not begin until a New Zealand-based management team is found.

Never-ridden bulls show who's the boss

Omarama cowboy Wyatt McAughtrie rides Ace of Spades at the Omarama Rodeo yesterday.

Never-ridden bulls show who's the boss

The big bulls at Omarama turned some of New Zealand's toughest cowboys into rag dolls in the rodeo arena yesterday.

Kiwiana theme with a difference

The former Strnger and Co building in Thames St, Oamaru, has had a $2.5 million makeover as a 15...

Kiwiana theme with a difference

After a $2.5million upgrade, the transformation of the former Stringer and Co building at the corner of Thames and Eden Sts into a 15-room "upper end" boutique hotel is nearly complete.

Police want to find mystery woman

Firefighters battle a blaze in Oamaru this afternoon. Photo: Hamish MacLean

Police want to find mystery woman

Oamaru police are appealing for information about a mystery woman who helped a teenager who suffered burns in a suspicious house fire this week.

'I needed to help them': Stranger sets up Givealittle

Fire and Emergency New Zealand crew members outside the house gutted by fire in Oamaru on Boxing Day. Screenshot: John Cosgrove

'I needed to help them': Stranger sets up Givealittle

An Oamaru woman who started a Givealittle page for the victims of Reed St's Boxing Day house fire says she has never met the family who lost "everything'', but says the fire was "a bit too close to home''.

Fewer cars, no building plea for waterfront

Fewer cars, no building plea for waterfront

Oamaru's self-described ''heritage watchdog'' has called for fewer cars in the Oamaru Harbour area as well as no new buildings on the waterfront.

Flood-damaged road a 'major repair'

The Westview Dr hole. Photo: Damien McNamara/Altitude

Flood-damaged road a 'major repair'

The gaping hole in a Weston road - damage from heavy November rain - will cost $300,000 to repair, Waitaki District Council assets group manager Neil Jorgensen says.

'Everything is gone': Fire destroys single mum's home

Fire crews work to put out a fire that destroyed a Reed St, Oamaru, home and set alight a...

'Everything is gone': Fire destroys single mum's home

A boxing Day fire destroyed a Reed St home yesterday and left the Oamaru single mother-of-three who lived there ''absolutely gutted''.

Teen injured in 'suspicious' Oamaru blaze

Firefighters battle a blaze which severely damaged a house in Oamaru this afternoon. Photo: Logan...

Teen injured in 'suspicious' Oamaru blaze

An Oamaru teenager has been taken to hospital after escaping a serious blaze, which is being treated as suspicious, just before firefighters arrived.

Organising dinner 'not a sacrifice'

Michael Cresswell, of Oamaru, makes sure everyone at his table has a drink before the start of...

Organising dinner 'not a sacrifice'

Oamaru's community spirit was once again on display in Orwell St on Christmas Day.

Tracking devices help show stormy season's effect on penguin behaviour

Prof John Cockrem, of Massey University in Palmerston North, with Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony...

Tracking devices help show stormy season's effect on penguin behaviour

Oamaru's little penguins are being tracked through turbid water which was a result of an unseasonably stormy start to summer.

Plans to claim rooftop back

Installing spikes on the roof of Countdown Oamaru is Woolworths New Zealand regional maintenance...

Plans to claim rooftop back from gulls

Zero nests next year. That's the goal for the rooftop at Countdown Oamaru after two years of problem-level numbers of red-billed gulls nesting atop the supermarket.

Penguin chicks in care after heavy rain

At Moeraki, home to the largest colony of yellow-eyed penguins on mainland New Zealand, about 21%...

Penguin chicks in care after heavy rain

Eleven of the 53 yellow-eyed penguin chicks at Moeraki are in rehabilitation.

Harbour survey draws numerous responses

With 878 responses to the Oamaru Harbour survey and more than 40 written submissions, the Waitaki District Council has received more feedback than ever as it begins work on its masterplan for the...

Opera house named top venue in 2018 Arts on Tour awards

Oamaru Opera House staff (from left) Carla Arlidge, Veronika Brylinska, Maddie Maxwell, Frances...

Opera house named top venue in 2018 Arts on Tour awards

The Oamaru Opera House has been named the top venue in a smaller centre in New Zealand by Arts on Tour NZ.

Gallery closed for rest of year after mould discovery

Oamaru's 1882 public art gallery will be closed for at least the rest of the year after toxic mould was discovered during maintenance work.

Search form

Search form

Hamish MacLean