Lynda van Kempen

Sightings of a van used by the alleged offenders in an attempted abduction at Cromwell last week are helping police ''build up a picture'' of the crime.

Affordability was the key word yesterday as Cromwell Community Board members considered two multimillion-dollar options for upgrading the town's wastewater treatment plant.

Central Otago police have ''grave concerns'' about two incidents involving schoolchildren yesterday afternoon - an alleged attempted abduction of a 12-year-old Cromwell girl and a separate incident in which a 7-year-old Alexandra boy was offered a ride home by a stranger.

Public toilets are urgently needed at Pisa Moorings, but one of the possible side effects - an increase in freedom camping - is less welcome, submitters say.

The future of the potentially earthquake damage-prone Alexandra Plunket building will come under the spotlight next week as the Vincent Community Board debates whether to sell it.

A group of 19th-century farm buildings at Fruitlands, known as Butler's Farm, may get a new lease of life as travellers' accommodation and a function venue.

A 17-year-old youth who was shot in the upper leg by a hunting companion while spotlighting for deer near Orepuki, southeast of Tuatapere, early on Monday was discharged from hospital yesterday.

The police pursuit of a motorist from Roxburgh to Clyde early on Saturday resulted in the arrest of a 21-year-old Tapanui man.