Latest fromOtago

Houses evacuated after Digger cuts gas main
One person has been treated by ambulance staff at the scene near Queenstown.

Search and rescue operation underway for missing man
Police rule out newly released footage as being missing Alexandra man Christopher Bates.

33 new speed cameras go up around NZ
Speed cameras have gone up at 33 high crash risk sites. Police hope they'll reduce carnage

Dunedin manslaughter trial: Victim struck six times, strangled
Crown says Blackler attacked his flatmate and left him face down, where he was found dead.

Road rage: Driver tried to punch mum while on school run
"I copped a whole heap of abuse then she went to punch me in the face," victim says.

'Zeddy' feeder wins rural innovation award
The Zeddy Dry Feeder has wowed the judges at the Southern Rural Life Innovation Awards.

Four out of five polytechnics face losses by 2022
Polytech and vocational training leaders meet in Manukau tomorrow to map a survival plan.

'I might have killed God' - friend on trial for manslaughter
Alan James Fahey, or 'God' to his friends, was found face-down, soaked in his own blood.

Dunedin man pleads not guilty over death of flatmate
Dunedin man allegedly beat his flatmate to death during a heavy drinking session.

Midnight the runaway pig leads merry chase around town
A pig on the loose in Greymouth has led an animal control officer on a gleeful chase.

Tramper swam raging river to get help for trapped mates
Four trampers plucked from Makarora River island after one swam for help

Devastated Wells shares x-rays of shattered knee
He was moments away from the event he's prepared for over the years.

Ambulance stolen while crew attended patient
Road spikes were used to stop the stolen ambulance.

Trampers rescued from Makarora River
The group of five became stranded after attempting to cross the river.

Weather: Gale and heavy rain warnings
Wet and wild weather to hit almost a week after ex-Cyclone Gita.

Grave concern: Rabbits wrecking cemetery
Rabbit control is 'proving to be a challenge to keep on top of', council says.

Crash: Doctor to pay victims $15,000; judge slams his decision to drive
Judge struggled to understand how someone made such a terrible decision.

Recidivist offender back behind bars
Judge notes convicted fraudster has 10 pages of criminal history.

Every day a good day for Coleridge Downs Training Farm cadet
Farming cadets tackle training with enthusiasm in Coleridge Downs.

Shelf-stacker tops the world in physics
Top student's advice: stop procrastinating, understand things and get to bed early!

Jailed for 2 years, and he wasn't even driving
Here's how man got charged for reckless use of a motor vehicle without touching the wheel.

Alexandra crash driver had been in eerily similar incident before
9 months before he killed his friend in drunken crash, he nearly killed himself same way.

Albatross chick killed by mother
Tough breeding season in Otago got even tougher yesterday when 'webcam' chick was killed.

Murder charge laid after Dunedin fire
A man has been charged with murder after two people were found dead in a burning house.

Man arrested, charged with threatening to kill in Central Otago
Police are responding to reports of a person with a firearm in Omakau, in Central Otago.

Patients angry ketamine trial to end
To have hope ripped away is 'horrendously cruel', says one patient.

'Grave fears' for missing man
Extensive land and water search for 22-year-old man who hasn't been seen in almost a week.

Mate decided to make car 'go boom'
Misguided arson attempt lands man in jail for a year.