Opera house 'place to be'
Opera house 'place to be'
As Oamaru Opera House director Richard McWha prepares for the opening festival after a $10 million facelift, he speaks to Sally Rae about his passion for the project.
Sally Rae
Wineries a plenty for food festival
Wineries a plenty for food festival
From Indian cuisine to ice cream, wine to waffles - there should be something to tempt all tastebuds at the Oamaru wine and food festival tomorrow.
History experience for cruise passengers
History experience for cruise passengers
A visit to Oamaru by cruise ship passengers this Sunday has been described by Scott Elliffe, of Living History New Zealand, as a "ground-breaking step" for the district.
75 years of trials by Tokarahi club
75 years of trials by Tokarahi club
Keith Sutherland has been running heading dogs at the Tokarahi Collie Club's trials for "40-odd" years.
Shock stop for woman (86) left behind
Shock stop for woman (86) left behind
A convenience stop in Oamaru proved inconvenient for an elderly Blenheim woman who was left behind at a public toilet when her husband of 64 years and a friend accidentally drove off without her.
'Priceless' marble statue vandalised at Teschemakers
'Priceless' marble statue vandalised at Teschemakers
A "Priceless" Italian marble statue of St Dominic, in the grounds of Teschemakers, has been vandalised beyond repair and will have to be removed.
Toxic algae in Shag, Waianakarua rivers
Toxic algae in Shag, Waianakarua rivers
People are being warned to be wary of swimming or allowing dogs access to the Shag and Waianakarua rivers following the discovery of a toxic algae.
Owners sense 'resurgence'
Owners sense 'resurgence'
In today's economic climate, opening a new business could be seen as an ambitious move - particularly in a small, rural town such as Waimate.
Tourism rate proposal concerns businesses
Tourism rate proposal concerns businesses
Latitude 45 cafe and wine bar owner Bruce Morrison plans to write to Tourism Minister John Key and Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean outlining his concerns about the possible introduction of a tourism rate in the Waitaki district.
Waitaki River flush-out welcomed
Waitaki River flush-out welcomed
Flushing of the Waitaki River next week will give the river "a good clean out", Fish and Game officer Graeme Hughes says.
Tourism rate discussion at meeting
Tourism rate discussion at meeting
The Waitaki Tourism Association has organised a public meeting on Monday to discuss the possible introduction of a tourism rate in the Waitaki district and the possible expansion of the Oamaru business area rate.
Music camp turns 21
Music camp turns 21
The annual New Zealand Suzuki Institute's South Island camp celebrates its 21st birthday this week.
Boar weighs in at 166kg
Boar weighs in at 166kg
When three North Otago men went wallaby shooting last weekend, they really did bring home the bacon - all 166kg (367lb) of very big boar.
Big river flows ahead
Big river flows ahead
The Waitaki River will be flushed next week when Meridian Energy releases 950cumecs of water down the river.
Couple 'sort of clicked a bit'
Couple 'sort of clicked a bit'
Yesterday may have dawned fine and sunny in North Otago but it was a different story 60 years ago, as Alan and Edna Ross well remember.
Visitors bound to get into hot water
Visitors bound to get into hot water
Things are hotting up in Omarama with the opening of a new business venture, Hot Tubs Omarama.
Elephant trainer switches to stilts
Elephant trainer switches to stilts
It would be fair to say elephants and black stilts have little in common - except Abby Smith has looked after both.
Breeding centre helps black stilt survive
Breeding centre helps black stilt survive
After being raise on a diet of white worms when didymo affected their natural diet, back on a natural diet this juvenile black stilt catches a fly. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Human intervention, which brought the black stilt (kaki) back from the brink of extinction, has now overcome one of the problems posed by didymo - its effect on food sources which were used to feed chicks in captivity.
Gliding: Canterbury pilot loving the high life
Gliding: Canterbury pilot loving the high life
Canterbury glider pilot Derek Kraak spent a frustrating three hours above Glendhu Bay on Monday, waving to people on a beach while soaring "a wee knob".
Special visit home from Solomons
Special visit home from Solomons
Detective Warren Duncan has always wanted an overseas deployment.