Shawn McAvinue

Nine-year-old Amelia Steele, of Kyeburn, meets SPCA Otago resident dog Archie, in Dunedin yesterday.

A Dunedin teen is set to be the youngest driver and only female to race in the Cromwell finale of an endurance series this weekend - at speeds of up to 230kmh.

The Department of Conservation's move to set up a group to find Otago's first marine reserves within two years is ''extremely concerning'', Otago Rock Lobster Industry Association executive officer Simon Gilmour says.

A tennis tournament, a celebrity cook-off, a quiz night and massive party in the park will feature in next year's Festival of the Plain.

People should get off the ''high-fat bandwagon'' and dismiss a recent article that promotes a diet of saturated fats, University of Otago human nutrition professor Jim Mann says.

At The Evening Star reunion yesterday (from left) Roger Soroka, Bill Shadwell, Shirley George and Les Beck reminisce in the Allied Press publishing room.

Charlie - the cat that was tied in a pillowcase and dumped on a Dunedin roof - was feasting on fish after returning home to Mosgiel yesterday.

St Clair Surf Club lifeguards training for the opening of the season today at St Clair Beach. Lifeguards will patrol St Clair, St Kilda, Brighton and Kaka Point beaches from today and Warrington Beach from November 23.

The dumping of a cat in a tied pillowcase on the roof of a four-storey Dunedin building has been condemned by SPCA Otago.

A survey of nearly 500 New Zealanders living with psoriasis reveals more pain is associated with the chronic skin condition than just that from the scaly red skin lesions caused by the condition.

The hairy faces of three Otago rugby players were shaved at Dunedin Hospital yesterday to raise about $5000 in funds for the children's ward.

A mum watched in horror as the car carrying her husband and infant son was wrecked when it collided with another car and hit a power pole in Dunedin yesterday.

Mosgiel families with children under the age of 5 are being sought this month for their opinions.

A Dunedin garden centre was ''chock-a-block'' with green thumbs yesterday.

Japanese programme teaching fellow Haruko Stuart was ''thrilled'' to be voted 2013 lecturer of the year by University of Otago students.

Demand for food packages at the Presbyterian Support Otago food bank in Dunedin has increased 22% on the previous financial year, chief executive Gillian Bremner says.

A healthy lifestyle Stroke Foundation seminar in Dunedin yesterday coincided with the release of a ground-breaking study that shows a 25% global increase in the number of stroke cases among people aged 20 to 64 in the past two decades.

Dunedin police will randomly check ''young mums'' after changes to child restraint laws come into force next Friday.