Over the festive month we've been bringing you Christmas parades from around the region.
Last week saw both Bluff and Kaiapoi celebrate the season, with a festive procession to entertain both young and old.

The ongoing saga of Dunedin’s Octagon trial closure has taken a new turn.

Octagon market stall-holders say despite having initially been given confirmed market dates until April, the Dunedin City Council has changed its mind, and told them their last day will be January 23.

A celebration of Human Rights Day in Dunedin on Tuesday was used to promote the needs of some of the city's newest arrivals.

About 30 people gathered in the Octagon to celebrate human rights and the diverse society we live in.

Dunedin could not be further away from home for a pair of Norwegian rowers.

But with lakes and river frozen during the European winter, Dunedin is proving a good training ground as they chase their Olympic dream.

Members of the Cromwell Menz Shed have been overwhelmed by the support they've received from the local community to establish a base to work from.

The group, which has about 50 members, is now based from two, 40ft shipping containers at the Cromwell Racecourse.

Four traditional pacific island canoes, or vaka, are being built, in the hope they'll be part of next year's Pacific arts' festival.

Initially the plan was to build just one, however a generous donation means the project's goal increased four-fold.

Southland farmers concerned about the labyrinth of resource consents needed to clean up local waterways have now received a funding boost to help them navigate through the red tape.

Minister of Agriculture Damien O'Connor visited the south to announce a funding boost of $6 - $9 million.

People from Southland need to make their voices heard regarding the threat of closure of the aluminium smelter at Tiwai Point.

That's what about 100 people were told by Southland Chamber of Commerce president Neil McAra at a Fight for Fairness meeting yesterday.

Wanaka and Queenstown residents and business owners let out a collective sigh of relief this morning.

Both their respective lakes, Wanaka and Wakatipu, reached their peak levels earlier today without inflicting too much damage on the two townships.

A man in his sixties is dead after being shot by police in Kurow, North Otago late Thursday night.

Police say at a press conference the man 'held and presented' a firearm at police before he was shot.

A man in his sixties is dead after being shot by police in Kurow, North Otago late Thursday night.

Police say at a press conference the man 'held and presented' a firearm at police before he was shot.

People in Dunedin over the weekend are being invited to visit Dunedin North Cemetery and smell the roses this weekend.

Heritage Roses Otago are celebrating the replanting of more than 400 heritage roses at the cemetery after a large number were killed off in a herbicide incident three years ago.

At this time of the year may people hold appeals to help those less fortunate.

The K Mart wishing tree appeal is in its 14th year and the woman behind it says so far donations are down on previous years.

Over 150 people visited Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium on Wednesday morning to help re-sow the turf with grass seed.

The guests were winners of social media and local radio station competitions, scattering the first grass seed for a complete over hall over of the grass surface.

Next year's Highlanders rugby squad had a team bonding session, miles away from their home sports ground.

Footy boots were swapped for sports shoes, and rugby balls were replaced with spades and wheelbarrows, as the team had an outdoors workout.