The troubled health portfolio is likely to be handed to Dunedin list MP Michael Woodhouse if it is vacated as a result of National's leadership contest, senior doctors' union head Ian Powell says.

A man who put a 3-year-old into a scalding bath, causing the boy's skin to "flake off", has been jailed for nearly four years.

A 40-year-old man had been charged with arson after three fires in Dunedin overnight.

Judge allows media to take photo of All Blacks test streaker in court: "He was happy to be filmed and watched by millions around the world..."

A group of tourists watched as a truck drove over ducklings and their mother.

Missing Dunedin woman Alice Tocher has been found and is in a Brisbane hospital, her father has confirmed.

A Dunedin teacher has had her registration cancelled after she had a sexual relationship with a Year 13 student.

An historic four-storey building near Dunedin's Octagon has been damaged in a suspicious blaze.

Police have released the last name of a Chinese National killed in a three car crash on State Highway 1 near Moeraki last week.

The signs of summer are among us with pohutakawa trees flowering already and forecasters say the official first day of the season on Thursday will be calm and dry.

The passport of a missing Dunedin Mother-of-three Alice Tocher has been found in Brisbane.

Competitors bust their guts trying to beat the world record in porridge eating.

A Dunedin mother-of-three missing since Thursday last week is in Australia, police have confirmed.

As border seizures of drugs go up, a Dunedin man reveals the depths to which he sank after being caught in the dark web.

An Oamaru man who caused a five-car smash that left five injured and one dead was a learner driver and had smoked two bongs before getting behind the wheel.

The lead singer of iconic Dunedin band has admitted drink-driving.

A man has been charged for using a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol after a passenger on a quad bike he was driving

Dunedin's 'arty' suburb is worthy of a film, writes Elisabeth Easther.

A Dunedin caregiver who imported methamphetamine and LSD for his birthday party has avoided a jail term.

A Dunedin man who burned down his family home days after his marriage fell apart can now be named.

Police might think twice before pinging John Croawell with a speeding ticket again.

Research reveals bosses would be barking mad to ban dogs from workplaces, say two visiting professors from the United States.

New Zealand is in for a relatively dry day today with areas of morning cloud and isolated showers in the north, clearing around midday and becoming mostly sunny.

A former Dunedin woman says she is "overwhelmed" and "excited" to be named young Australian businesswoman of the year.

A teen who killed a man with one punch unsuccessfully attempted to have his sentence of two years' in prison lessened. But the Court

Convicted criminals are trying to entice people into illegal cabs by offering a sober driver service in Dunedin.

'Long, scary night' for family as the earth continues to roll.

Heavy rain and wind is forecast to batter the upper South Island and lower North Island this afternoon.

Fire gutted a classroom at the former Kenmure Intermediate School site in Dunedin this morning.

A PhD psychology student drove her unwarranted and unregistered Mercedes Benz through Dunedin streets, while swigging on a bottle of wine.