A safe containing almost $11,000 in cash has been found in bush in the Catlins - missed by thieves who took passports and jewellery in another compartment.

Herald Online reporter Paul Harper is making his way around the South Island by rail.

Greg McGee is the author of The Open Side, the biography of All Black captain Richie McCaw. He is also a literary gender bender: McGee

A woman has been sentenced to community work and reparation for dishonestly obtaining nearly $2000 from a rest home resident.

Otago police have been visiting retailers selling the synthetic cannabis K2 and asking them to drop the item from their shelves.

They are used to seeing double at Dunedin's Tahuna Normal Intermediate School - it has 14 pairs of twins.

Sarah Ivey sends the snow flying on a heli-ski adventure in the Remarkables.

Sarah Ivey is dropped among the pinnacles of the Remarkables Range in the Southern Alps by heli-ski in the search for white powder magic.

The Electoral Commission recommends abolishing the rule that allocates list seats to parties which win an electorate seat but do not reach the required threshold of votes. Do you agree? Vote now.

One Dunedin city councillor has apologised, but another is refusing to, after comments by both about their ages were condemned by Age Concern Otago yesterday.

Danielle Wright hits the South Island ski fields, on a sled pulled by huskies.

Labour MP Maryan Street is proposing a law change to permit voluntary euthanasia under some circumstances. Two doctors argue the pros and cons. You can scroll down to the bottom of the page and vote 'Yes' or 'No' and also leave a comment.

It will be a case of getting groceries by helicopter for one Skippers Canyon family after the only access road to the remote valley collapsed yesterday morning.

The Rimutaka Hill Road and the Desert Road have reopened after snow forced their closure this morning.