Univerity of Otago dentistry students were forced to re-sit their last exam without being told why, after 98 unmarked scripts were stolen from the Clocktower building.

In what the University of Otago has slammed as a "reprehensible act", 98 unmarked student exam scripts have been stolen in a burglary at the campus.

A man is facing several charges following an incident at the Tautuku Lodge in the Catlins, which involved armed police overnight.

Emergency workers are currently trying to get to two paragliders who got into some trouble while going over a mountain near Wanaka, in Otago.

A new frost-fighting invention known as the 'Heat Ranger' is being trialled, with the hope it will be able to protect crops next winter.

A blast of cold weather will give New Zealanders, particularly those in the South Island, a flash back to winter, as snow flurries descend on parts of the country.

In the heart of Central Otago Paul Davies is a little enclave that gives wine lovers a taste of heaven.

Dunedin's Methodist Mission has begun a literacy and numeracy programme at the Otago Corrections Facility.

A prisoner transferring from Rimutaka Prison in preparation for his parole release has been given more jail for assaulting an officer at Otago Corrections Facility.

A 101-year-old great-grandfather has proved you're never too old to try new things.

A Hampden house which has just been sold was significantly damaged when a car ploughed into it yesterday afternoon.

The cause of a fire which raged across Saddle Hill last week will not be released to the public, the Otago Rural Fire Authority says.

Police claim he was under the influence.

The wartime execution of English nurse Edith Cavell was commemorated in Arthurs Point yesterday - a hundred years after she was killed.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, so they say. But what about when life gives you 100ha fires?

A 95-year-old golfer is still buzzing about his hole in one but has modestly pointed out: "It's taken me quite a long time to get one."

Elisabeth Easther finds gold in a charming hamlet in Central Otago.

Police fears for thief who broke into a golf club after poison found scattered at crime scene.

Fire crews are battling serious blazes in Dunedin and Dunback. Two homes in Saddle Hill are burning and a third is threatened. Some residents have been evacuated.

Flights are at a standstill at Dunedin Airport and a large fire grew rapidly out of control this morning as strong winds batter Otago.

Police warn students told that "small jokes" at Otago University will be taken seriously following online shooting threat.

Police are warning students and staff to be vigilant as Otago University opens for ''business as usual'' following online threat.

Strong winds have severed power lines in Dunedin, cutting power to about 50 Port Chalmers residents this morning.

Gusts up to 170km/h in the South Island, leave emergency services inundated with calls.

Police say they were searching for a car involved in a crash near Queenstown this morning because of complaints about erratic driving.

Before Twitter, rolling 24 hours news channels, and even before the advent of newspapers, town criers were the original bearers of news - good, bad, or otherwise.

Japan's try-scoring hero in their shock win over the Spingboks was Karne Hesketh, who played rugby for Otago from 2006 to 2010.

Searchers have found debris today after two friends went missing at sea on Wednesday.

A teenager allegedly led police on a 40 minute pursuit through central Otago last night.

Searchers looking for two missing boaties off the Southland coast have found a drink bottle that may belong to one of the pair.