A blast of cold weather will give New Zealanders, particularly those in the South Island, a flash back to winter, as snow flurries descend on parts of the country.

In the heart of Central Otago Paul Davies is a little enclave that gives wine lovers a taste of heaven.

Dunedin's Methodist Mission has begun a literacy and numeracy programme at the Otago Corrections Facility.

A prisoner transferring from Rimutaka Prison in preparation for his parole release has been given more jail for assaulting an officer at Otago Corrections Facility.

A sinkhole which could be up to 10m deep and is next to a popular walking track in Central Otago could be an old mining shaft.

Three charges laid against a man after he allegedly lit a bonfire to burn tyres, microwaves, washing machines and furniture were dismissed yesterday because of his ill-health.

A 101-year-old great-grandfather has proved you're never too old to try new things.

A Hampden house which has just been sold was significantly damaged when a car ploughed into it yesterday afternoon.

The cause of a fire which raged across Saddle Hill last week will not be released to the public, the Otago Rural Fire Authority says.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, so they say. But what about when life gives you 100ha fires?

A 95-year-old golfer is still buzzing about his hole in one but has modestly pointed out: "It's taken me quite a long time to get one."

Elisabeth Easther finds gold in a charming hamlet in Central Otago.

Police fears for thief who broke into a golf club after poison found scattered at crime scene.

He battled up to 500C heat and 18m flames to save a house and, for his efforts, was transferred to hospital suffering from heat exhaustion.

Police are ''following a number of lines of inquiry'' as they tried to track down the person responsible for an online shooting threat at the University of Otago.

Fire crews are battling serious blazes in Dunedin and Dunback. Two homes in Saddle Hill are burning and a third is threatened. Some residents have been evacuated.

Flights are at a standstill at Dunedin Airport and a large fire grew rapidly out of control this morning as strong winds batter Otago.

Police warn students told that "small jokes" at Otago University will be taken seriously following online shooting threat.

Gusts up to 170km/h in the South Island, leave emergency services inundated with calls.

Police say they were searching for a car involved in a crash near Queenstown this morning because of complaints about erratic driving.

Before Twitter, rolling 24 hours news channels, and even before the advent of newspapers, town criers were the original bearers of news - good, bad, or otherwise.

Japan's try-scoring hero in their shock win over the Spingboks was Karne Hesketh, who played rugby for Otago from 2006 to 2010.

Searchers have found debris today after two friends went missing at sea on Wednesday.

A teenager allegedly led police on a 40 minute pursuit through central Otago last night.

Searchers looking for two missing boaties off the Southland coast have found a drink bottle that may belong to one of the pair.

Two friends missing at sea off the Catlins coast were experienced sea-goers, loved in their community, with one a land search and rescue member.

Police have named 77-year-old Whetuki Sam Kopua and 60-year-old Matekino Lucy Burling, both of Owaka, as the people missing in the Catlin area.

A large forest fire south of Dunedin, near the small village of Waipori Falls, is believed to be under control.

New Zealand Post is pulling out of six-day rural delivery in parts of Otago and Southland.

A former Dunedin lawyer who did not turn up for her trial has been found guilty on all 46 charges of tax evasion involving more than $180,000.