Rosie Manins

The Otago Corrections Facility is one of New Zealand's worst-performing prisons and needs improvement, according to a new Government ranking system.

Otago tourism operators are gearing up for their best chance at showing off the region's activities, accommodation and attractions to hundreds of national and international delegates at Trenz 2013 in Auckland.

Dunedin musician Lisa Tui performs in the Sanctuary Sirens concert at Orokonui Ecosanctuary on Saturday afternoon.

New research suggests consuming caffeinated substances, like coffee, significantly protects against crash risk for long-distance commercial drivers.

That common bedroom excuse - a headache - needs to be turned upside down, sexologist Shelley Hiestand says. That's because headaches can be cured by sex.

The Otago Regional Council's problems with its new public bus service contracts may be solved by legislation being drafted by the Labour Party.

A southbound lane of State Highway 1 at Lookout Point in Dunedin is blocked by a jackknifed tanker after it skidded on diesel which had spilled down the hill towards Caversham yesterday afternoon.

New York, Milan, London ... Dunedin? Organisers say iD Dunedin Fashion Week is becoming more of an international affair, while maintaining its allegiance to Dunedin designers.

Fashion finery was on show in Dunedin last night, when hundreds of residents and visitors donned their glad rags for the iD Dunedin Fashion Show at the Dunedin Railway Station.

Despite several failed attempts, a national tourism strategy is due to be implemented at the end of the year.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull is endorsing Te Reo Maori ahead of this year's Maori Language Week, which runs from July 1 to 7.

Desperate to be accepted into a millinery workshop, an 18-year-old Stephen Jones made his first hat using a cardboard cereal box and spray-painted plastic flowers.

Trampoline skirts, plastic jackets, padded pants and a hologram helmet are among the bizarrely beautiful garments to be modelled on the catwalk at tonight's iD International Emerging Designer Awards.

Glamour gowns from the last century attracted about 270 people to the Black Tie from the Darnell Collection catwalk show in Dunedin's Golden Centre Mall last night. The sold-out event was centred around 12 outfits from the Australian collection, brought to iD by curator Charlotte Smith. Rosie Manins talked to Ms Smith about being bequeathed the priceless collection by her godmother Doris Darnell.

From the demure to the daring - headwear of all sizes, colours and styles stole the show at the official iD Dunedin Fashion Week launch at the Allied Press building last night.