Otago
Deluge, lightning strikes hit Westland
Some parts of the South Island's West Coast received 200mm of rain overnight, and 300 homes near Dunedin Airport have been without power.
'If you had rats in your pantry, you'd be concerned' - union
Shoppers could be buying contaminated food from a Dunedin supermarket grappling with a rat problem, employees say.
'Complete and utter travesty' as developers eye up historic homes
Heritage advocates say they are seeing the most significant threat to homes and other buildings in decades.
Ode to the Bard: Burns Day celebrated in Dunedin
Toitū Otago Settlers Museum history curator Seán Brosnahan joins Nights to pay homage to Scotland's national poet, and perform the address to haggis. Audio
'Diseased lungs, ageing by nicotine': Exhibition tackles risks of smoking, vaping
A new exhibition warning young people about the risks of smoking and vaping is now timelier than ever, Tūhura Otago Museum says.
Viewers flock to watch Royal Cam albatross chick hatch
Hundreds of thousands of viewers have watched this year's Royal Cam albatross chick hatch on the Otago Peninsula.
Supermarket rat infestation prompts probe
Woolworths has confirmed a recent increase in "pest activity" at its Countdown Dunedin South store, with MPI now investigating. Audio
'Insipid' threat to heritage in Dunedin
A proposed development has become a focal point for heritage advocates who say the city's history is being torn down and replaced by "insipid glass and steel".
Elderly driver allegedly cuts off pedestrian, punches cyclist
A Dunedin motorist did not take too kindly to a cyclist squirting him with water after teaching him a lesson about his driving.
Migrant worker felt 'like a prisoner' working long hours for free at hospitality job
A young migrant who worked long hours for free at a Central Otago hospitality business says she felt "like a prisoner" during her nine months in the job.
Firefighters succeed in containing scrub fire
Firefighters have now contained a four-hectare grass and scrub fire near Lake Benmore in the Upper Waitaki area of Otago.
Goodbye Antarctica, hello Dunedin: Rare penguin's lengthy journey
A penguin is getting fattened up at its new temporary home after travelling thousands of kilometres to Aotearoa.
420,000 litres of partially treated effluent thought to have spilled into Queenstown swamp
The wastewater entered the natural swamp after spilling over the top of an oxidation pond at the Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant on Monday.
Dad trying to calm baby attacked at Dunedin lookout
A dad was attacked by a man from another car who objected to his baby being out late at night.
'We don't usually get penguins wandering onto our forecourt'
An Oamaru service station did not give a young penguin an icy reception after it waddled into the store.
Wastewater spills into Queenstown swamp from treatment plant
Crews are urgently trying to fix an overflow of partially treated wastewater that has entered a Queenstown swamp.
Man missing in Central Otago found safe
A man who went missing in the Otago town of Middlemarch has been found safe and well, police say.
Ōāmaru's little blue penguins turning up in odd places
Adventurous young kororā are biting off more than they can chew on their quest to reach the ocean.
Look out for heavy rain in western parts of NZ, strong winds in Canterbury
Cooler temperatures and rain are on the way for the South Island and the lower North Island, bringing some respite from the summer heat.
Dry South Island fire risk the worst it has been in years - FENZ
There is "extreme concern" about the risk of fires on the east coast of the South Island this weekend, Fire and Emergency says.