helena de reus

St John needs more volunteers to run its 24-hour service in towns across Otago and Southland.

The future of the Clutha Agricultural Development Board is in the hands of its executive, after the non-profit organisation this week revealed it faced financial struggles.

All is not well in parts of the Pomahaka River, which is tucked away in the southwest part of Otago. Helena de Reus investigates the catchment's water quality and surrounding issues.

There is an air of acceptance, disappointment and frustration in Lawrence.

Lawrence's biggest employer, Tuapeka Gold Print, is moving its printing operations to Dunedin in a $2 million expansion project.

Two men were flown to Dunedin Hospital after a car and a van collided head-on near Lawrence yesterday afternoon.

A fault leading to crossed phone lines, prompting privacy concerns in the Catlins last month was caused by lightning strikes, Chorus says.

A Victorian gala season will be on at a stately homestead near Tapanui from next month.

Clutha district residents face a 3.25% rates rise, according to the council's draft annual plan released late last week.

At the sound of a siren or pager alert, thousands of rural people drop everything to answer emergency calls, be it for a fire, car crash, medical emergency or lost tramper. Volunteers are the glue that keeps remote rural areas and larger regional urban centres together. Otago Daily Times reporters investigate the health of Otago's volunteer services.

Milton's historic Tokomairiro Presbyterian Church is in better shape than previously thought, a restoration report has found.

Contractors are carrying out maintenance work on the Karoro Creek bridge near Kaka Point this week.

Plans have been unveiled for a new learning area at Waihola District School.

The roar of engines and the smell of burning rubber hung in the air at Lawrence yesterday.

Police seized more than 4.5kg of cannabis and cannabis plants with a potential street value of $200,000 in a drug bust in South Otago this week.

Speed enthusiasts will gather in Lawrence tomorrow for the annual quarter-mile sprint.

Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan has backed a statement by southern city and district councils asserting the Government's new law on synthetic cannabis fails to address the issues.