Burnt pans, ripped clothing and empty vodka bottles are just some of the items Dunedin charity stores are spending thousands taking to the tip.

With landfill charges set to increase, some charity shops are worried about what this may cost them.

A Kakanui-based rose grower won the overall prize for her rose at the recent North Otago rose show in Oamaru.

Alison Ludemann describes having her rose crowned Champion of Champions as being something 'very special'.

On Tuesday, the Otago Daily Times published a cartoon making reference to the measles crisis in Samoa.

The newspaper's editor Barry Stewart has apologised and says the content and timing of the cartoon were insensitive.

He says it should never have been published.

This apology came before protesters stood outside the newspaper's headquarters, calling for heads to roll.

After a hectic year at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium, the turf is now being ripped up and re-sown, hopefully creating a lush field of grass by February.

The re-turfing was scheduled for the end of next year, but has been brought forward to fit into a break between events over the next two months.

In some societies a smaller physique is sought after, but in some cultures bigger is better.

When it comes to fledgling sea birds, being a big record breaking fatty is a good thing.

A conservation department rodent catching dog was flown to Taieri Airfield after he was rescued from remote Campbell Island.

He'd been lost, around 700km from home, but the pint-sized terrier is now back on the Mainland.

With less than a month to go before Christmas, towns and cities around Otago and Southland have already started holding their annual Santa parades.

This weekend saw the streets of Oamaru, Dunedin and Invercargill filled with floats, in a celebration of both Christmas and the local communities.

With less than a month to go before Christmas, towns and cities around Otago and Southland have already started holding their annual Santa parades.

This weekend saw the streets of Oamaru, Dunedin and Invercargill filled with floats, in a celebration of both Christmas and the local communities.

With less than a month to go before Christmas, towns and cities around Otago and Southland have already started holding their annual Santa parades.

This weekend saw the streets of Oamaru, Dunedin and Invercargill filled with floats, in a celebration of both Christmas and the local communities.

Santa Claus made a special visit to Dunedin Hospital to meet children, who were unable to attend Sunday's parade.

With the help of the Santa Parade Trust, there were more than enough presents to hand out, with some of the gifts being made in the Otago Corrections Facility workshop.

Taieri Beach School pupils made an expedition to the local river mouth for the annual whitebaiting trip recently.

The event gave the children the chance to see first hand what they've been learning in the classroom regarding the life cycle of the tiny native fish.

Led by the ministry of education, The Tuia Matauranga roadshow made a stop in Dunedin yesterday.

The event commemorates the first waka hourua and European ships arriving in Aotearoa.

Invercargill and Southland are the winners following the latest round of funding announcements from the Provincial Growth Fund.

Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones was in Invercargill yesterday, announcing a further $3.6 million from the fund going to Southland.

Campaigners are declaring victory, in the six-year fight to save Dunedin’s Invermay research campus, and the dozens of top science jobs still based there.

Dunedin North Labour MP David Clark revealed a letter of expectation sent to AgResearch — by Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods.

Lunchtime diners in Dunedin's Octagon got a taste of what's planned for tomorrow's St Andrew's Day celebrations.

Local strongman Jayden Hill is set to lend a hand in the Highland games section, demonstrating some impressive lifting.