It's no wonder people rave about the beauty of this place, writes Elisabeth Easther.

Three Otago Correction Facility officers were assaulted by an inmate yesterday morning.

What do you do when forced to spend the night in the freezing cold on an Otago mountain? Snuggle up to your smelly - but warm -sheep dogs of course.

Flood-ravaged Christchurch is under deluge again today, with 50mm falling in the past 24 hours, heavier than was forecasted.

Corstorphine House's history of accommodating royals and Hollywood actors may help attract global "A-listers" when the Dunedin property goes on the market for $3.8m.

A 47-year-old man has been taken to hospital following an incident at a rural property in Central Otago involving cyanide.

Links with the past are strong in this town built on gold, writes Elisabeth Easther.

A Wanaka police officer was left bloodied and bruised after being attacked inside his patrol car yesterday - six years after being seriously injured in a similar drink-drive stop.

A yoga retreat in Queenstown with laughs and wine, suits Rebecca Barry Hill just fine.

Meeting a royal has meant a few extra lessons for a group of young students in Central Otago.

A transgender Oamaru woman sentenced on Wednesday to nine months' imprisonment in a men's jail could apply to be moved to a women's prison.

The tragic deaths of two children shot by their father could have been prevented if NZ and Australian police shared information on earlier criminal convictions.

A transgender Oamaru woman has been ordered to serve a jail sentence in a men's prison, despite a request for home detention.

A man injured in a fall at Speight's Brewery earlier this week has died.

The South Island's first gold rush town is resplendent with colourful characters, writes Paul Rush.

Former children's television presenter Olly Ohlson lost his cool over the Government's handling of his red-zoned house in Christchurch and moved to Dunedin.

A stretch of road in the South Island is one of the 22 most dangerous in the world, according to a British driving firm.

A Dunedin man has changed his name to 'Full Metal Havok More Sexy N Intelligent Than Spock And All The Superheroes Combined With Frostnova' after losing a bet.

Police say two men seen speeding away in a boat from a huge fire at Cecil Peak near Queenstown have denied any involvement.

Sarah Lawrence and her teenage son have a wheely good time in Central Otago.

A Queenstown kapa haka performer who blackmailed a migrant taxi driver by accusing him of rape has been sentenced to nine months' home detention.

The collapse of the Southern District Health Board's computer system could affect elective surgery and other procedures at Dunedin Hospital.