Lynda van Kempen

Apricot jam and a soundtrack featuring bird-scaring devices helped set the scene for a milestone being celebrated at a Cromwell orchard at the weekend.

Alexandra was not all it was cracked up to be for Charlie the free-ranging hen, who returned home to roost yesterday.

The estimated cost of the upgraded Manuherikia irrigation scheme has nearly trebled, which is a setback but not a ''knockout blow'', scheme promoters say.

The Central Otago District Council is seeking a grant of up to $54,000 for a feasibility study into options for housing, curating and displaying the Eden Hore Fashion Collection it bought for $40,000.

The former Alexandra man who died in a motorcycle crash in Christchurch late on Thursday was ''a real motor-head'' who loved cars and motorbikes, friends and family say.

Teaming up with Google's Project Loon balloons is a match made in heaven for climate scientist Greg Bodeker.

The land Meridian Energy bought for its controversial proposed $2 billion windfarm on the Lammermoor Range is on the market, spelling the final chapter of Project Hayes.

Central Otago WasteBusters is ''disappointed but not surprised'' to lose the contract for recycling services in the district and plans to reinvent itself to survive.

Parishioners and clergy face a big challenge as the Anglican Church is in ''great danger of dying out'' in Otago and Southland, the Anglican Bishop of Dunedin, the Rt Rev Dr Kelvin Wright, says.

James Williamson smashed the record for the Bannockburn Gutbuster mountain bike race on Saturday but was more interested in how the riders he coached were faring in the race.

Gold was the reason for its creation more than a century ago, but these days Aronui Dam is more likely to host Australian coot waterbirds or invasive raupo plants than gold-miners.

After a decade as the sole charge policeman in Ranfurly, Senior Constable Steve Burke is moving on.

A cool spring has added to a ''real tough'' start to the fruit season for some Central Otago orchardists and taken its toll on the apricot crop, which will be lighter than usual.

A shearing stand in the midst of polished paintwork and gleaming chrome at a car show may seem an odd combination.

St Bathans has been basking in the reflected glory of Hollywood A-listers for the past week.