Life off the grid: one pioneering family's experience
Life off the grid: one pioneering family's experience
Who lives there: Writer Murray Grimwood (53) and teacher Jennie Upton (45), their cat and dog, and on and off, their two teenaged sons.
Rebecca Fox
Children lifted from gorge after river jaunt
Children lifted from gorge after river jaunt
After six children risked their lives by trying to float down the Manuherikia River on inner tubes, Alexandra police are suggesting signs need to be installed warning of the river's dangers.
Big projects' costs implication flagged
Big projects' costs implication flagged
Otago Regional councillors need to know all the possible funding implications of its decisions on big dollar projects like the Otago Stadium, proposed office block and Leith Lindsay Flood Protection Scheme, Cr Doug Brown says.
Dairy farms facing court
Dairy farms facing court
More than 20 dairy farms are facing prosecution for effluent offences as the Otago Regional Council nears the end of its 2008 season inspections.
Hearings fees to be 75% in advance
Hearings fees to be 75% in advance
People required to have a hearing to consider their resource consent application could have to pay 75% of estimated costs upfront.
'Bad feeling' over fishery observers
'Bad feeling' over fishery observers
Some Otago and Southland fishermen are risking a $250,000 fine by refusing to take out Ministry of Fisheries observers under a new programme aimed at helping save endangered dolphins.
Rise in cost of consents considered
Rise in cost of consents considered
"Significant" costs of holding resource consent hearings have led the Otago Regional Council to consider seeking 100% of the costs from the applicant.
Some people 'never' recovered
Some people 'never' recovered
It was a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky, yet the ground was awash with water, homes submerged and people stranded on roofs, as Southland struggled with the biggest flooding event in its history.
Artist returns from the Antarctic
Artist returns from the Antarctic
Sitting in a tent in the middle of the wilderness in the Antarctic during a massive storm rates as one of the most exhilarating experiences Dunedin artist Claire Beynon has had on the icy continent.
Rain gives rivers a much needed boost
Rain gives rivers a much needed boost
In over the ranges at the weekend and cooler, overcast weather since has boosted coastal Otago river levels.
Geckos at home in ecosanctuary
Geckos at home in ecosanctuary
Jewelled geckos introduced to the Orokonui Ecosanctuary last month are settling into their new home.
Chance to try hand at being firefighter
Chance to try hand at being firefighter
Dragging a 90kg dummy along the ground is one way to find out if you have what it takes to be a firefighter.
Protest urges end to Israeli war in Gaza
Protest urges end to Israeli war in Gaza
Protesters called for the New Zealand Government to take a stand on Israel's bombing of Gaza as they remembered the victims of the conflict during a peaceful protest in Dunedin on Saturday.
Dunedin one of the driest cities
Dunedin one of the driest cities
Dunedin's reputation as a wet and cold city has taken a hit, with a national climate report showing the city was one of the driest in the country in 2008.
NZers in Fiji bracing for more flooding this week
NZers in Fiji bracing for more flooding this week
As heavy rain fell in Fiji again yesterday, residents and visitors were bracing for more flooding just days after a state of emergency was called to cope with last week's floods.
Mohua face a difficult summer
Mohua face a difficult summer
As hundreds, if not thousands, of hectares of beech trees around the South Island flower and seed profusely this summer, the potential for a population explosion in rats and stoats grows, threatening the hard work done to protect the nationally endangered mohua.
Judge criticises regional council
Judge criticises regional council
Ratepayers face a bill of more than $266,000 for the Otago Regional Council's response to a failed challenge against its Leith Lindsay Flood Protection Scheme - a response which the Environment Court describes as "excessive".
Walkers glad of broken glass
Walkers glad of broken glass
A new method of building walking tracks has helped the Dunedin City Council improve access to its golf course track at Ross Creek, Dunedin.
Good old Steinway music to their ears
Good old Steinway music to their ears
Playing her father's favourite music on the Dunedin Centre's Steinway piano is the best Christmas present Ailsa Howard could think of giving her father.
Christmas babies best little presents
Christmas babies best little presents
Christmas will never be the same again for the Williams and Savarimuthu families.