Rebecca Fox

In a few years' time, Brockville residents hope to be enjoying apples and pears from their very own community orchard.

Orokonui Ecosanctuary is hoping to build up a foundation fund of up to $2 million from bequests and donations to help tide it over the tough times.

There is nothing 78-year-old Brockville man Glyn Beattie likes better than a quiet, clear river on the first day of the fishing season.

A decision on Fiordland Link Experience's monorail proposal will still be considered on the basis of the conservation land's stewardship classification despite a call for greater protection of such land.

Spring winds meant it was a real forage for Milburn grower Alan Brown to find his prize-winning daffodil.

Susie Staley hopes Dunedin and iD fashion show events will get more exposure as a result of her being named a finalist in the Women of Influence Awards.

Stomping through mud in gumboots, Ella Bezett and Jack Nicolaou could not be happier.

The fight to convince AgResearch's board to rethink its restructuring proposals will continue, despite confirmation of its plans to downsize Invermay.

About 130 pairs of hands and a ''year's worth'' of weekends have helped complete a predator-proof fence perched above the cliffs of St Clair.

Tui De Roy has travelled to the ends of the Earth in search of the perfect wildlife photograph.

It is ''irrational'' to exempt dams built before national building standards from proposed dam safety regulations, the Otago Regional Council says.

Duncan Butcher is synonymous with local government in Otago. After 30 years representing the region and his hometown of Cromwell he is retiring, leaving behind the need to travel thousands of kilometres a year, attend meetings and answer constant phone calls. Rebecca Fox finds out how he came to be known as the ''father'' of water regulations in Otago.

Retiring councillor Duncan Butcher had the last word at yesterday's final meeting of the Otago Regional Council's 2010-13 three-year term.

A perfect solution to targeting invasive weeds at the Sinclair Wetlands has been found - kayaks.

The Otago Regional Council will go into the next triennium having lost considerable experience from around its table, yet facing crunch time on some big issues.