New research from the New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse has shown one in five girls and nearly one in 10 boys have experienced unwanted sexual contact.

Researcher Dr Melanie Beres, of the University of Otago, says the findings show abuse is a persistent problem in adolescent relationships.

Work to catalogue a collection of stone tools, found in a 30ha swamp at the Waitaki River mouth more than 60 years ago, began last year and is expected to take several years.

There are nearly 10,000 stone tools, flakes and broken artefact fragments to sort through from what is now known to be one of the largest archaic Maori settlements in New Zealand.

Owen Marshall has written or edited about thirty books since resigning as acting rector at Waitaki Boys' High School and taking on writing full time in 1985.

Paul Dee was killed on 28 April 2017 in an ATV side by side buggy roll-over, a stone’s throw from his Waihao Downs home, near Waimate.

Palmerston's community board will ask the Waitaki District Council to move the town's bus stop back to its original location.

This is following growing community frustration with the new site.

A year ago the stop moved from Bond St to Sanday St to create six more parks outside local businesses.

Users have since complained of a lack of shelter from the rain and heavy winter frosts and poor lighting at the new stop.

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher says five names are on the shortlist to replace Waitaki District Council chief executive Michael Ross.

In February, Mr Ross said he would leave the post he had held since January 2004 in June, six months ahead of schedule.

The mayor's report to council states the two top candidates as chosen by the executive committee will undergo a "comprehensive interview" by the full council.

An appointment is expected in June.