The man killed in a motorcycle crash near Gore on Tuesday was convicted of raping and killing a South Otago woman in 1993.

Party-goers who attended an unauthorised event on Lake Wanaka's Ruby Island claim safety was paramount.

Any of the drunken teens who partied on a Wanaka island yesterday could have drowned, say despairing authorities.

An American motoryclist was found dead with his crashed motorbike two days after he left a hotel, and failed to turn up for work the next morning.

Hundreds of social media users have lifted the lid on an issue affecting the Pride of the South.

The death of a young Czech man who fell several hundred metres on Mt Aspiring is "tragic", the Mountain Safety Council says.

Road toll now equal to last summer's following death of motorcyclist.

A weak cold front will bring cloud, drizzle and showers to the country over the next few days but should clear in time for New Year celebrations.

A man has died after falling several hundred metres on to the Therma Glacier at Mt Aspiring.

Spending in the lead up to Christmas had grown in Otago 12.7 per cent year-on-year.

The driver already had 125 demerit points when he was caught speeding four times in about an hour in the Lindis Pass.

A serial sexual predator of young boys has finished a three-year jail term but will now have to live in a residence on prison grounds

MP fought off challenge to gain reselection and contest the Clutha-Southland seat.

Christmas Day should be fine but be ready for thunderstorms in the coming days.

A person has been injured at a Dunedin trampoline park and is being flown to hospital.

What will the weather be doing on Sunday for Christmas?

A major Dunedin tourism operator says it may be time to reconsider turning away public bookings in favour of cruise ship passengers.

A man has been taken to hospital in serious condition with spinal and rib injuries after a paragliding crash in Queenstown.

There was a record downpour in Auckland, a tornado in Taranaki and "quake lights" above Wellington. Oh, and 2016 was likely also New Zealand's hottest year on record.

A bad weather forecast has scuppered the historic Dunedin visit of mega-cruise ship the Ovation of the Seas on Thursday.

Rescuers say it's fortunate there wasn't a double fatality after two climbers fell 200m at Mt Aspiring.

A van and truck carrying a house collided on SH1 near Clinton this afternoon.

Police are seeking witnesses after a woman was indecently assaulted in Queenstown about 4am on Sunday.

If variety is the spice of life, this week is set to be a lively one.

Two family members have stabbed each other in Dunedin.

A woman lost on a track near Wanaka used the last remaining battery on her cellphone to call for help.

Leading local family law specialist Fiona Mackenzie was awarded a PhD in law from Otago University yesterday, three decades after

A new $240 million mozzarella plant will be the single largest foodservice investment in the history of New Zealand's dairy industry.

Beautiful Portobello has wildlife, great views and excellent coffee.

Environmental Protection Authority report finds a number of incidents on the West Coast including one where someone removed signs when baits were still toxic.