But the would-be thief, who was only able to find loose change, left behind a bloody calling card in the building's reception area after being cut while breaking in.

A tourist driver who killed an Oamaru 5-year-old girl in a crash will have to wait another two weeks for the result of an appeal against his jail sentence.

Taxi company Uber says it has no plans to launch its services in Otago and Southland just yet - but that hasn't stopped them offering sweeteners to the public today.

Life as a short-term resident of a beautiful Central Otago town suits Roger Hall fine.

Police are warning motorists in Otago and Southland to be careful in icy conditions this morning after overnight snowfalls.

Animal rights advocates have condemned a ''disturbing'' rise in the number of forced animal drownings this year.

The woman who died in a car crash in Otago on Friday has been named.

The mother of a man who died in Otago Prison is considering a private prosecution or civil action against those responsible.

The role of police in the death of a man in an Otago Corrections Facility four years ago should be investigated, a coroner has ruled.

A slip near the Otago-Southland boundary in the Catlins has closed the Southern Scenic Route between Papatowai and the Niagara-Tokanui Highway.

The reason a box of firearms "stumbled over" by a child was partly hidden on the Roxburgh Gorge cycle and walking trail remains a mystery to Alexandra police.

A leading family violence expert is welcoming a move to encourage more transparency between agencies dealing with domestic abuse cases.

A driver had to escape from a submerged car after it went off the road and into the Otago Harbour this morning.

Police are looking for the owner of a box of firearms found in a military ammunitions box on a Central Otago cycle trail.

The winter storm that brought snow and heavy rain to many parts of the South is moving north, but many roads in the region remain affected in its wake this morning.

Snow is falling in the South Island this afternoon as temperatures plunge to freezing in some areas.

Passers-by watched in horror as a ''rogue wave'' surged up to engulf a woman and her dog walking on a Dunedin beach yesterday.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull has rubbished claims a state of emergency should have been declared after this week's one-in-100-year flood.

Elisabeth Easther scopes out the many attractions of the tiny community nestled at the end of Lake Wakatipu.

The decades-long battle for Otago's cycle route was worth it, finds Cassandra Mason.

A civil defence response has been activated in Dunedin after torrential rain caused widespread flooding.

Panic set in for the woman living closest to the epicentre of the quake which shook Otago on Monday night.

A person has died following a crash involving a car and truck outside of Hampden, North Otago.

A Dunedin professor who invented the first drainage device for glaucoma has been honoured at a function at the Otago Museum.

The blaze that gutted two Queenstown homes was yet another caused by the poor disposal of hot ashes, a fire safety officer says.

Danielle Wright snowshoes cross-country in Wanaka.

The Otago Rugby Football Union says it is up to rugby to take a stand in the wake of recent abusive and racist behaviour at some matches.