Stories by Tess Brunton
News
Cruising for disaster: High costs have cruise liners bypassing New Zealand
The industry is warning millions of dollars and thousands of jobs could be in jeopardy as it grapples with high costs and regulations. Audio
Cruise tourism brought $1.37b into NZ last year - report
About 1011 cruise ships visited in a year, with Auckland receiving the biggest piece of the pie.
Dunedin council commits to funding of Save Our Southern Hospital campaign
The Dunedin City Council is not ruling out boosting their hospital campaign coffers again, after retrospectively approving $146,000 to cover costs.
New Invercargill museum receives backing from councillors after cost blow-out
Invercargill councillors are biting the bullet and backing their new museum, despite a multimillion-dollar budget blowout.
Students take part in neighbourhood clean-up in Sophia Crestani's memory
Organisers say it is a chance to connect with their community and look after their neighbourhood. Audio
Creating safer student culture after Sophia Crestani's death 'a long road'
A coroner's finding that Sophia Crestani's death in an overcrowded Dunedin party was likely preventable has prompted a call to action to help keep students safer.
'It was not safe': Student's death could have been avoided - coroner
Sophia Crestani, 19, died while being crushed in a stairwell pile-up at an over-crowded party at Dunedin's 'The Manor'.
'This is the start': Mayor threatens more protests over hospital downgrade
More than 35,000 people marched on Saturday and there's more to come, Jules Radich says. Audio
Central Otago residents weigh in on what they want to see for region's growth
Central Otago is creating a strategy to shape its economic future with hopes it may ease the pressures from rapid growth. Audio
'A broken promise': Government's plan to downgrade Dunedin Hospital
The government's announcement amounts to "clinical cuts and a broken promise", mayor says. Audio
Dunedin City Council votes to keep hold of Aurora Energy
It comes after public pleas not to sell the "family's silver".
New gold mine likely to be partly running by October
Another mining company is going for gold in Central Otago, with hopes an alluvial gold mine will be a boon for the business and local communities.
Proposed gold mine risks 'already established significant industries' - locals
Central Otago locals are worried a proposed gold mine will hit industry and devastate the special - and spectacular - natural environment.
Otago communities make plans for dealing with flooding, earthquakes and liquefaction
Otago communities are getting closer to deciding how they want to adapt to hazards like flooding, earthquakes and liquefaction.
Tourism industry hopes for busy summer after 'worst winter'
Youth travel businesses are hopeful to recover some of their losses this summer after one of their worst winters ever. Audio
Why the tourism body is against hiking visitor fees
Hundreds of millions of dollars are at risk if the international visitor levy is hiked to $100, Tourism Industry Aotearoa claims.
Farmers vs foresters amid allegations of stock shooting, poor pest management
Landowners are hopeful forestry companies will step up after allegations were aired at a public meeting.
Councillors doubt committee chair's apology over comments about Māori
A Dunedin City councillor says he is apologising for causing offence, but not for making the comments. Audio
'Like a Christmas scene': Drivers stranded by snow describe 'festive' air
A traveller says being stuck in Arthur's Pass overnight by heavy snow has been like a forced holiday. Audio
Invercargill mayor faces new call to resign after 'gratuitously provocative' second breach
Nobby Clark's latest breach was in relation to his notorious interview with comedian Guy Williams.
Investigations into dual bus crashes to consider conditions
The Transport Agency says it is too early to tell whether the icy Mackenzie District highway where two buses rolled should have been closed earlier.
Driver on SH8 where buses rolled nearly plunged into ditch
A van driver who was travelling on the same highway where two buses rolled in the South Island says it should have been shut.
Feral pigs run rampant in the Chathams: 'They've just got out of control'
The Chatham Islands is grappling with an 'out of control' feral pig population that residents say is causing widespread damage.
New travel data fund hoped to boost business confidence
The lack of quality tourism data has been an industry bugbear for years - the new $400,000 contestable fund is hoped to turn things around.
100 feral cats caught in one valley alone
The apex predators are being found from 2000m altitude right down to sea level and are so strong that one broke out of a trap - twice. Audio