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.

Police claim he was under the influence.

The wartime execution of English nurse Edith Cavell was commemorated in Arthurs Point yesterday - a hundred years after she was killed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

But the would-be thief, who was only able to find loose change, left behind a bloody calling card in the building's reception area after being cut while breaking in.