Latest from Otago

New laws to crack down on hand-held lasers

Rabbits reaching 'plague proportions'

Tallies from the annual Great Easter Bunny Hunt in Central Otago must have embarrassed the Otago Regional Council, as they revealed the ineffectiveness of its pest management, submitters said this week.

Police investigating suspected poacher in Matakanui

A Matakanui farmer hunting on his property at dusk lined up a shot, was alarmed by hearing two gun shots nearby then spotted a suspected poacher through his sights when a man ran across his potential field of fire in what police are calling a "near-miss".

Parole review leaves family 'gutted'

An Otago woman and her family are "gutted" the killer of her teenage daughter will appear before the New Zealand Parole Board again next year, despite being denied parole earlier this week.

Meteor shower over Otago

Driver jailed over fatal crash

A driver in a crash that killed a young Otago man has been sentenced to two years and eight months in jail and disqualified from driving for four years.

IRD apologises after year-long struggle

A Milton woman has received an apology from the Inland Revenue Department after claims it ignored her pleas that her name and ID were being used fraudulently.

Disgraced lawyer struck off

A life ban for a lawyer accused of stealing $3 million from clients was "the only appropriate penalty", the Law Society says.

Sam's plans upset neighbours

Upset locals opposing a housing development by movie star Sam Neill will find out next week, whether their mountain views and idyllic lifestyle will be disturbed.

New breed of NZ pinot noir

<i>Viva</i> wine editor Jo Burzynska traverses plains, valleys and rivers on a pinot noir safari in Marlborough.

An enterprising Otago community are taking the resilience of their area into their own hands with the development of a mini wind farm.

Students blame police after fires

Drunk university students who set couches alight after being turfed out of parties are blaming police for inflaming tensions.

Paul Thomas: Saddle-sore and happy on the ride is all Kiwis should do

Apology over medication mix-up

A mix-up in medication dispensed by a pharmacy may have contributed to the death of an elderly Otago man but it was hard to determine to what extent, a court heard.

Proposed $100m hotel attacked by ORC

The Otago Regional Council has launched a fresh attack on the $100 million waterfront hotel proposed for Dunedin, saying a lack of information means resource consent for the project should be rejected.

Paua harvesting proposal opposed

Large tracts of Otago and Southland's coast could be opened up for the commercial harvesting of paua, with the move expected to face opposition from recreational fishermen.