Star’s involvement could boost region
Hollywood heavyweight Jason Momoa has bought into a longtime Queenstown hospitality business.
Otago tops table for weather insurance claims
Otago tops table for weather insurance claims
Otago residents lodged more insurance claims for wild weather events than anywhere else in the country during spring and summer, new data shows.
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Dairy farmer ‘blindsided’ by $44,000 rates hike
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Dairy farmer ‘blindsided’ by $44,000 rates hike
A South Otago dairy farmer says he was "blindsided" by a rates increase of $44,000 this year, as ratepayers and community groups feel the pinch.
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‘Step too far’ to appoint commissioner
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‘Step too far’ to appoint commissioner
Tensions flared in the Waitaki District Council chamber in Oamaru on Tuesday as veteran councillor Jim Thomson threatened to resign as chairman of the district plan review (DPR) subcommittee.
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President banned after outburst
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President banned after outburst
A South Otago rugby president has been banned from his own club for the rest of the season for an expletive-laced outburst on the sidelines.
Claim empathy for patients still lacking
Claim empathy for patients still lacking
An award-winning Southland health practitioner fined and censured for his repeated wrongdoings continues to lack empathy for his patients, a tribunal has been told.
Moose ‘most likely’ a deer, Doc says
Moose ‘most likely’ a deer, Doc says
Pics or it didn’t happen.
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Possible unmarked graves discovered in cemetery
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Possible unmarked graves discovered in cemetery
At least three probable unmarked graves were discovered using ground-penetrating radar at Cromwell Cemetery and it is very likely more will be discovered in the coming weeks as the data is...
Role was a ‘privilege’, retiring chief executive says
Role was a ‘privilege’, retiring chief executive says
Environment Southland chief executive Wilma Falconer is retiring from her role and will leave the organisation at the end of August 2025.
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In-house water delivery service preferred by district council
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In-house water delivery service preferred by district council
Any chance of Waitaki setting up a regional water company with neighbouring South Canterbury authorities has been scuppered, with Waimate district preferring to go it alone.
'Not putting up with that s***': Table-thumping councillor storms out
'Not putting up with that s***': Table-thumping councillor storms out
Buller’s mayor Jamie Cleine is calling for civility after a councillor saw red and stomped out of a council meeting.
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‘Lucky’ Aussie Ford hoons harmed no wildlife
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‘Lucky’ Aussie Ford hoons harmed no wildlife
Clutha's mayor says it was "lucky" no wildlife was harmed when Ford Australia salesmen tore up a pristine Catlins beach in their utes.
New viewing platform in works at falls
New viewing platform in works at falls
The Department of Conservation (Doc) is building a new viewing platform at Lake Marian Falls in Fiordland National Park to cater for more visitors, provide a great vantage point over the falls and...
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Concern over WDC decision to halt gambling review
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Concern over WDC decision to halt gambling review
Waitaki District Council has halted a review of its gambling policy, despite record poker machine losses in the town.
Shortlist of five treated wastewater disposal options presented to council
Shortlist of five treated wastewater disposal options presented to council
The Frankton Flats and the Shotover Delta are the best locations for the disposal of Queenstown’s treated wastewater, a council analysis has found.
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Man badly hurt in fall flown to Chch Hospital
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Man badly hurt in fall flown to Chch Hospital
An overseas man who was seriously injured in a fall in central Queenstown yesterday has been flown to Christchurch Hospital.
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Ceremony marks beginning of bridge replacement
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Ceremony marks beginning of bridge replacement
An official sod-turning has been conducted for a $11.6 million Kakanui Bridge replacement, 12km south of Oamaru.
Westpac wheels out mobile banking in Southland
Westpac wheels out mobile banking for Southland towns
Westpac is extending a four-wheeled solution to a lack of bank services in some southern towns - mobile banking.
Issues raised with current council model
Issues raised with current council model
A report supporting a shake-up of Southland’s four councils has raised issues with the current model, including high costs, "fraught governance" and concerns with the regional council.
‘Freaked out’ to find sea snake
‘Freaked out’ to find sea snake
A live yellow-bellied sea snake washed up on a Hokitika beach is the second such encounter on New Zealand shorelines in as many days.