Rosie Manins

Dunedin tourism operators are preparing for their most important annual trade event, in Auckland this week.

Dunedin's reputation with cruise lines is among the world's worst, and behind the soured image are badly behaved tour operators, Cruise New Zealand says.

A holiday wildlife tour ended in hypothermia for four young visiting women students kayaking near Taiaroa Head yesterday.

Fire safety officers are investigating the cause of an Abbotsford house fire in which a dog died yesterday.

Southern police face an uncertain couple of months.

More communities should ban the public sale of synthetic cannabis and other legal highs, Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan says.

A Dunedin resident is concerned Contact Energy has allowed his sister's unpaid electricity bill to reach more than $11,500.

A Dunedin student and eight ''local ratbags'' were arrested at an out-of-control house party in Castle St on Saturday night.

Corrections and police are in the dark about how much money they spend transporting Otago Corrections Facility prisoners to and from courts.

Enjoying the 29th annual Winter Ball as part of the Dunedin Cadbury Chocolate Carnival last night are (back, from left) Simon Wilson, of Dunedin, and Rowe Collings, Kaylene Gliddon and Lisa Butson, of Timaru, and (front from left) Rene Bignell, of Dunedin, and Christine Mold, of Timaru.

Melted chocolate soothes the skin, those being pampered in Dunedin are discovering.

Lookout Point firefighters and St John staff push a car back on to its wheels against a roadside bank after it ended up on its side in Portobello Rd, Dunedin, when the driver lost control about 8.45am yesterday.

Confidence is key for four young Otago women, who share a dream to represent New Zealand on an international stage.

Otago is above the national average in educational achievement and enrolment.

Extensive earthworks continue on the Caversham highway development in Dunedin yesterday. New Zealand Transport Agency projects team manager Simon Underwood said May was the wettest month encountered by contractors since they started on the State Highway 1 upgrade two and-a-half years ago.

Notions of convicted Dunedin fraudster Michael Swann living in luxury while on parole are exaggerated, Christchurch businessman Alasdair Cassels says.