Tess Brunton
Wanaka families struggling as cost of living soars
Some Wanaka residents say they feel like they need to win Lotto to be able to afford to live in the booming and increasingly pricey town. Audio
Tourist hotspots struggle for staff before summer season
Tourist operators are having to offer more bells and whistles in order to recruit enough staff for what's expected to be another booming summer season. Last year, businesses in some tourist hotspots… Audio
Food worth thousands stolen from Otago restaurant
The owner of a popular Otago restaurant is considering installing new security systems after tens of thousands of dollars worth of produce was stolen from its freezers. Audio
Athletes converge on Wanaka for Winter Games
Thousands of eyes will be on the slopes and the sky as the Winter Games, billed as one of the world's top five winter sports competitions, officially opens in Wanaka tonight. Video, Audio
Protesters dressed as cows oppose Mackenzie Basin farm
The protesters mooed and chanted outside the office of Murray Valentine, who has resource consent to farm up to 5000 dairy cows on his Simons Pass property. Video, Audio
Alliance meatworks hiring 100 overseas workers
New Zealand Meatworkers Union says there are plenty of local workers vying for jobs that could now be going to overseas workers, but the company says it's recruiting to cover a worker shortage. Audio
Fight to save Lumsden Maternity Centre could head to court
The directors overseeing Lumsden Maternity Centre are considering taking Southern DHB to court over its decision to downgrade the centre to a hub. Audio
Community outraged over closure of Lumsden Maternity Centre
The fight to save Lumsden Maternity Centre from closing has been lost, despite protests and a petition with more than 4000 signatures urging the government and DHB to keep its birthing services. Audio
Dunedin man, abused as child in Australia, fights for redress
A Dunedin man who was sexually abused as a child in Australia is fighting an up-hill battle for compensation. Darryl Smith cannot get support for abuse that happened while he was a state ward in… Audio
Search continues after helicopter disappeared above Lake Wanaka
A team of navy specialists has been called in to help search Lake Wanaka after police divers found what appears to be the wreckage of an aircraft nearly 50 metres below the surface. Video, Audio
Dunedin to be alright for Kendrick Lamar concert
More than 15,000 people will converge on Forsyth Barr Stadium in Duendin tonight to watch the Pulitzer Prize and Grammy winning hip hop artist, Kendrick Lamar, who is touring in support of fourth… Audio
Plans for $300-a-night accommodation in Fiordland opposed
Plans to build a multi-million dollar accommodation complex in Fiordland National Park have put locals and environmentalists on edge. Audio
Queenstown hospitality businesses fear bed tax may bring ruin
Some Queenstown businesses say a new bed tax could ruin their livelihoods. The proposal for a local tourist levy is one Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult has been campaigning for to help pay… Audio
Multi-million dollar luxury floating hotel mooted for Oamaru
Oamaru could be the site of a new multi-million dollar floating hotel, the first of its kind in the country. But some locals are worried about the impact such a building would have on rare local… Video, Audio
Wallaby sighting in Otago extremely concerning for regional
An increase in the number of sightings of wallabies in Dunedin has officials alarmed they're moving outside of South Canterbury, into Otago and Southland. Audio
Weather: Roads closed in winter chill
The Desert Road in the North Island and the Lindis and Lewis Passes in the South Island are closed by snow this morning. Audio
Dunedin families 'devastated' after cuts to IDEA services
Those with disabilities and their families have been left reeling by cuts to support services that were only supposed to have a minor impact. IDEA Services, which offers everything from respite care… Audio
All Blacks v France: Fans head for Dunedin
With the final test match between the All Black and Les Bleus only a day away, French rugby supporters have started trickling into Dunedin. The game is a dead rubber, with the AB's winning the first… Audio
Dunedin locals furious about closure, change could take months
Dunedin locals are furious about the closure of four joint Kiwibank and New Zealand Post branches. Audio
