Two shocked teenagers are being helped by victim support following the launch of two homicide investigations in North Otago today.

A 47-year-old man has been taken to hospital following an incident at a rural property in Central Otago involving cyanide.

Links with the past are strong in this town built on gold, writes Elisabeth Easther.

A Wanaka police officer was left bloodied and bruised after being attacked inside his patrol car yesterday - six years after being seriously injured in a similar drink-drive stop.

A yoga retreat in Queenstown with laughs and wine, suits Rebecca Barry Hill just fine.

Meeting a royal has meant a few extra lessons for a group of young students in Central Otago.

A transgender Oamaru woman sentenced on Wednesday to nine months' imprisonment in a men's jail could apply to be moved to a women's prison.

The tragic deaths of two children shot by their father could have been prevented if NZ and Australian police shared information on earlier criminal convictions.

There were tears at a Dunedin private school yesterday as principal Melissa Bell, who last year recovered from aggressive breast cancer, announced her resignation.

Cyclists burn gourmet calories on a pedal into heavenly countryside, writes Pamela Wade.

The South Island's first gold rush town is resplendent with colourful characters, writes Paul Rush.

Former children's television presenter Olly Ohlson lost his cool over the Government's handling of his red-zoned house in Christchurch and moved to Dunedin.

A stretch of road in the South Island is one of the 22 most dangerous in the world, according to a British driving firm.

A Dunedin man has changed his name to 'Full Metal Havok More Sexy N Intelligent Than Spock And All The Superheroes Combined With Frostnova' after losing a bet.

Police say two men seen speeding away in a boat from a huge fire at Cecil Peak near Queenstown have denied any involvement.

A Queenstown kapa haka performer who blackmailed a migrant taxi driver by accusing him of rape has been sentenced to nine months' home detention.

The collapse of the Southern District Health Board's computer system could affect elective surgery and other procedures at Dunedin Hospital.

A month after his marriage fell apart, Edward Livingstone had moved about 70km south of his family - a wife he was barred from contacting and children he could see only under supervision.

The death in Dunedin of two young children at the hands of their father sent David Fisher in search of a monster. He found something more unsettling - a man.

Australian-listed Origin Energy is bullish on the potential of exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Caraval prospect off the coast of Oamaru.

A 71-year-old Palmerston, Otago, man accused of historic sexual offending against 10 teenage boys over a 30-year period is denying all the allegations.

The children of a Dunedin man killed by one punch are pleased his death is helping to prevent similar acts of violence.

Cancer has not dampened British tourist Chris Burrows' spirit for travel and neither has the theft of his belongings - including vital medication.