Rhys Chamberlain

After nine months and more than 9000km, Atila Madrona completed an epic journey on Saturday by enduring a Mt Cargill hill climb and arriving back at his starting point, Dunedin.

Police say the Armed Offenders Squad was involved as a ''precaution'' when a car was pulled over in South Dunedin this morning.

Car dealers are still in the dark about what to do and what to advise customers about cars caught up in the Volkswagen emissions scandal.

A colder winter resulting in higher electricity bills has increased demand for food from the Mosgiel Community Foodbank.

Tahuna Normal Intermediate and seven other Dunedin schools have been given $100,000 worth of musical equipment by the University of Otago.

The queue wasn't exactly out the door and down the road, but Paul Wolland made sure he didn't miss out.

Donning a helmet, a high vis jacket and climbing aboard a scooter yesterday gave Sue Bidrose a ''front line'' perspective of what her parking officers do.

A terrified dairy manager ''locked the doors'' as police and gun-wielding armed offenders squad members stopped a vehicle in South Dunedin and arrested a man yesterday.

Redundancies are likely if enrolments ''are not on track for a February start'' when Otago Polytechnic takes over courses offered at Aoraki Polytechnic's Dunedin campus.

Police are warning residents of Mosgiel to keep an eye on small children and pets after a family dog died recently in suspicious circumstances.

A new $1.3 million crematorium due to open in October near Mosgiel has had its United States-built cremation unit installed.

Muslim students holding an Islam Awareness Week at the University of Otago are aiming to dispel common misconceptions about their culture.

Firefighters from St Kilda and City stations at a small ceiling fire at Piano Specialists in King Edward St yesterday morning.

Otago Country made a ''vast improvement'' on last weekend but was comfortably beaten 35-0 by Southland B at Clinton on Saturday afternoon.

Attention rockers, grow the hair out, prime the wardrobe and channel the inner metal because Ozzy Osbourne's Black Sabbath is coming to Dunedin.

A 12-year-old's photograph has beaten 2000 others to be the ''people's choice'' in this year's Otago Museum wildlife photography competition.

Proceeds from the sale of more than 15,000 second-hand books and 4000 records will go towards the Taieri Pool project thanks to the annual Mosgiel Rotary Club book sale which opens on Friday, September 11.