Lynda van Kempen

Rural Art Deco Maniototo will investigate the extent and cost of work needed to save the facade of a distinctive curved building which was damaged by fire earlier this year in Ranfurly's main street.

Rugby games played at Ranfurly on Saturday were surrounded by soldiers.

The Clyde Pool will be closed this summer and a question mark remains over its future.

Tarras residents will "fight to the bitter end" a Queenstown-Lakes District Council proposal to store and discharge treated sewage sludge on a farm in the district, one of the neighbouring property owners says.

A misunderstanding about a proposed price increase at the Molyneux Aquatic Centre in Alexandra prompted a flood of submissions on the Central Otago District Council's draft annual plan.

A dead huhu beetle, stuck duck and smoochy aunt have been Millers Flat writer Kyle Mewburn's passport into the finals of the national children's book awards three times in the past four years.

Tens of thousands of spectators are expected to welcome 16-year-old Australian Jessica Watson home when she sails into Sydney Harbour today.

Nine kilometres of pipeline are bringing development to Millers Flat, as well as carrying water, Millers Flat Water Company chairman Bruce Abbott says.

Power prices would have to increase to make any new generation projects, such as the proposed Clutha hydro dams, viable, says Contact Energy.

Resource consent has been sought for an alluvial gold mining operation in the Nevis Valley in an area classified as an outstanding landscape.

The Central Otago family of Australian sailor Jessica Watson will be on hand at the celebrations marking her arrival in Sydney next week, reminding the Australians of her New Zealand heritage.