Otago

More than 50 University of Otago final year medical students will be prevented from graduating following an overseas placement rort.

Former Dunedin doctor Venod Skantha did not appear upset at all when meeting with the mother of Amber-Rose Rush, the girl he is accused of murdering, a court has been told.

A series of fronts bringing wild weather is increasing the risk of avalanches.

Twenty years almost to the day of the worst floods in Queenstown's history, Lake Wakatipu's level is nearing its "high" alert threshold.

The deaths of two endangered native parrots from Orokonui Ecosanctuary have been attributed to human error.

Migratory tītī muttonbird have returned to the Otago Peninsula late after their colony was decimated earlier this year.

Dunedin will not run out of water after a massive fire damaged the city's water supply, but it will come at a cost.

A woman has broken her leg after being hit by a tree in North Otago.

Unique conditions yesterday meant a blaze which tore through more than 4600 hectares of grassland and scrub in Otago was spreading five times faster than normal, Otago's top rural firefighter says.

Firefighters have been battling a blaze in Central Otago which started on Saturday morning and has burnt through nearly 2800 hectares of tussock and scrub.

A scrub fire north of Dunedin has grown from 10 to 16 hectares overnight, and more crews are on the way to fight it.

A Dunedin primary school has been closed for the day after the evacuation of the nearby Otago Boys High School due to a threat made.

Footage suggests a Dunedin doctor fatally stabbed 16-year-old Amber-Rose Rush only minutes before her boyfriend came to her home to check on her, the Crown has claimed.

Two climbers have died after falling from the side of a cliff face in The Remarkables mountain range near Queenstown.

Otago University began investigating in June after receiving evidence, including social media posts, that elective placements for some medical students were being abused.

Lua Rasmussen, one of four people sucked 300m offshore by a rip, will never forget the sight of a surf life-saver paddling out to save her.

A jury has been selected in the trial of a former Dunedin doctor accused of murdering a 16-year-old girl.

A decision to change a controversial school's name has been put on hold while Dunedin's Bishop waits for word from Rome.

A light aircraft has safely made an emergency touchdown in Wanaka.