A Queenstown police constable has pleaded not guilty to an offensive language charge relating to an alleged incident involving a taxi driver.

A South Dunedin man is calling for more support for people trying to start their own businesses.

A lightning strike caused a large fire which razed an historic homestead to the ground near Glenorchy this morning.

Sometimes there's nothing like a chilly holiday to leave you feeling invigorated.

Leah McLennan looks at what's big and what's new on the Otago skifields.

Severe rain and wind warnings and a drop in temperatures have been issued for parts of the South Island and lower North Island this weekend.

The body of a 22-year-old tramper who was swept away on the Milford Track has been found.

"My teeth were broken, blood came out of my mouth and Jessica was gone." A backpacker has described being unable to save a woman swept away on Milford Track.

Police did not coerce Joyce Conwell to confess to the shotgun murder of Alec Rodgers in Christchurch in 1999, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has ruled.

Aviation website privatefly.com has named its top 10 scenic airports at which to land. Our very own winter wonderland Queenstown gets a mention.

Police had to be called after an Ashmore presented its owner with a 5g bag of cannabis.

A ''feral'' student party in Stafford St in Dunedin yesterday was shut down by police, amid concerns for the safety of intoxicated people climbing on the outside of a three-storey flat.

No matter what the weather's doing, Pamela Wade finds entertainment in Southland and Central Otago.

Miners and farmers have made way for curling, writes Elisabeth Easther.

The parents of the German teenagers presumed drowned in Foveaux Strait are returning home and say they know they are leaving their daughters behind.

Two Dunedin gangs - once at war - have come together to ask Dunedin's council to give them a contract mowing the city's grass.

It's no wonder people rave about the beauty of this place, writes Elisabeth Easther.

Three Otago Correction Facility officers were assaulted by an inmate yesterday morning.

What do you do when forced to spend the night in the freezing cold on an Otago mountain? Snuggle up to your smelly - but warm -sheep dogs of course.

Flood-ravaged Christchurch is under deluge again today, with 50mm falling in the past 24 hours, heavier than was forecasted.

Corstorphine House's history of accommodating royals and Hollywood actors may help attract global "A-listers" when the Dunedin property goes on the market for $3.8m.

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