Police are warning students and staff to be vigilant as Otago University opens for ''business as usual'' following online threat.

Strong winds have severed power lines in Dunedin, cutting power to about 50 Port Chalmers residents this morning.

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.

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.

Nathan Jacobs had been away from his Arrowtown home for only about 20 minutes last night, before returning to find three fire crews dousing it in water.

Protesters jostled with police tonight as they tried to disrupt a National Party fundraising event in Dunedin.

Otago police coastal area prevention manager Inspector Mel Aitken said 17 people were caught driving over the breath alcohol limit between Friday and Sunday.

Hunters tempted to ''farm'' wild deer or pigs before hunting competitions are likely to be out of luck at a competition later this month.

James Russell is amazed during a trip to Queenstown to discover that since he last grasped poles, Kiwi skifields have lifted their game higher than the Matterhorn.

A motorist last night spoke of cheating death after his ute accidently rolled into the path of a 900-tonne goods train.

Taxi company Uber says it has no plans to launch its services in Otago and Southland just yet - but that hasn't stopped them offering sweeteners to the public today.

Life as a short-term resident of a beautiful Central Otago town suits Roger Hall fine.

Police are warning motorists in Otago and Southland to be careful in icy conditions this morning after overnight snowfalls.

Animal rights advocates have condemned a ''disturbing'' rise in the number of forced animal drownings this year.

The woman who died in a car crash in Otago on Friday has been named.

Six people have been injured this morning after a van carrying a shearing gang skidded on black ice and crashed in South Otago.

Police are expecting a quieter morning in Canterbury with less ice to make the roads treacherous.

The mother of a man who died in Otago Prison is considering a private prosecution or civil action against those responsible.

The role of police in the death of a man in an Otago Corrections Facility four years ago should be investigated, a coroner has ruled.

A slip near the Otago-Southland boundary in the Catlins has closed the Southern Scenic Route between Papatowai and the Niagara-Tokanui Highway.