Hamish MacLean

Hundreds packed streets, cemeteries, parks and halls across South Otago on Saturday to honour the day that forged New Zealand's national identity.

West Otago residents came out to pay their respects to the fallen at Tapanui, Heriot and Dunrobin services on Saturday.

It rained on the parade to begin 2015 The Anzac Connection in Balclutha, but Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay said it did not dampen the spirits.

The diary of a World War 1 veteran from Tapanui is one of the source materials in a vastly different annual performance from the West Otago Theatrical Society this winter.

A 15KM loop cycle trail at Lawrence could be completed by next summer if the Department of Conservation approves the opening of a track through historic Goldfields Park.

Invercargill's loss is Tapanui's gain, after the decision was made to continue filming Pete's Dragon in West Otago rather than move to Southland.

West Otago residents will end their wait for the first Anzac Day dawn service in Tapanui in memory by spending the night under the stars.

A parade of military and war-era vehicles, horses, and more than 200 marchers, will mark the 100th year after the landing at Gallipoli of Anzac forces as it winds through the streets of Balclutha on April 26.

Speed limits need not have been posted in Tapanui, West Otago, during filming of Walt Disney Pictures' Pete's Dragon on Saturday.

The police national dive team has discoverd an oil slick during its search of Curio Bay this morning, after possible car wreckage was found washed up in the area during the weekend.

The police national dive team left the Curio Bay area yesterday unable to confirm what, if anything, lies below the water as the search continues for missing 11-year-old Mike Zhao-Beckenridge and his estranged stepfather John Beckenridge.

Clutha Development's Hamish Anderson is asking dairy farmers to start testing the water on their properties to meet the Otago Regional Council's new 2020 water standards.

Half the usual number of yellow-eyed penguins are expected to take their first swim this year from the usually productive Long Point breeding area in the Catlins.

Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan is challenging ratepayers to get involved in the district's long-term plan consultation process, which began this week.

The Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge in Auckland has captured the imagination of South Otago firefighters, 13 of who will take the challenge next month.

A 90-year-old Balclutha man is raising funds for a village in Tanzania after visiting

The future of the site of the old, unused swimming pool in Lawrence has opened up for public debate.