From Otara to Oamaru, Shaun Osborne has brought his knowledge of two essential slices of heaven to the south.

He worked for more than 20 years for the nation's top ice cream manufacturer, and played rugby for Counties Manakau.

Police are warning those travelling through North Canterbury over Waitangi weekend to take care.

Highways in the area have become increasingly busy since the Kaikoura earthquake closed part of State Highway One, making the Lewis Pass the key route to the West Coast and Picton. Police are advising people on roads leading to the pass to allow extra time for their journey because of the congestion on State Highways 7 and 63.

The Otago Regional Council is asking for help from boaties to prevent the spread of Didymo, or rock snot.

With summer upon us, holidaymakers are being asked to look after the southern region’s waterways by checking, cleaning and drying equipment after use in water.

The Check, Clean, Dry message comes from the Ministry for Primary Industries as part of efforts to restrict the spread of didymo.

ORC spokesperson Scott MacLean says keeping our waterways pristine is everyone's responsibility.

Oamaru's Christmas in the Park has had its biggest turn-out since the event began in 2010.

Takaro Park filled up with more than 2000 people enjoying a day of fun and games.

The event was designed to be a place where families felt no pressure or stress and could spend time with their families, making memories.

Organisers say it was important to keep the event free.

Bottled water was the only cost, with the money raised from that going towards next year's Christmas in the Park.

Thanks to health and safety regulations a much loved piece of North Otago playground equipment will be laid to rest.

The slide at Papakaio School has been in place for 41 years.

The school's board has decided to sell it as it no longer complies with health and safety legislation. Problems with the slide include its height, steepness, lack of sides and a sharp change of angle at the bottom.

The school is selling it in an online auction. It's expected to be removed from the school grounds by mid-January.

An Oamaru man who caused a fatal five-car smash, was a learner driver and had smoked cannabis before getting behind the wheel.

Warrick Delaney Taylor appeared in the Dunedin District Court and pleaded guilty to five counts of careless driving causing injury and one of careless driving causing death.

Stuart Windle, of Kaikoura, died at the scene of the crash north of Dunedin while he was heading south to take part in the Hurricane Rodders Mid Winter Run in the city.

Oamaru’s North Otago Recreational Turf Trust is the major beneficiary of a funding round.

The Otago Community Trust has approved a $95,000 donation to the Turf Trust.

The money will be put towards the cost of replacing the recreational hockey turf at Oamaru's Centennial Park.

Turf Trust chairman Ray Simpson says the current water-based turf was originally laid in 1999, and is no longer able to be repaired.

Simpson says hockey water turfs typically last a decade, but they managed to make their old one survive 17 years.