Otago

It follows earlier RNZ reporting that some staff at Southland Hospital were told they couldn't chat to each other for more than five minutes.

Aurora fans have been treated to a bright display lighting up the skies over the South Island.

The vintage steamship is resuming regular sailings from Queenstown to Walter Peak after the complex five-month job.

The second month of spring began with a "bitter night" in the south as "freezing conditions" descended across the island - and it's just the start. Video

Access to a popular Glenorchy trail has been restored after a storm swept away a key bridge.

Getting consent for a vast gold mine is an "extremely rigourous and difficult process", the company has told shareholders.

The cost of developing stone heritage buildings in Dunedin's CBD will become "prohibitively expensive" due to the reinforcement requirements, a property developer says. Audio

And a high school event has been linked to a case in Northland.

One person was airlifted to hospital and motorists are advised to expect delays after a vehicle left the road and crashed down a 25m bank, police say.

A Queenstown principal believes plans to scrap 10 dedicated school buses will have severe impacts on student attendance and could put children in danger. Audio

A Queenstown councillor and a mayoral candidate say the task of finding a new CEO should wait until after local body elections.

Only two submissions supported the Super Liquor outlet.

A new regional council report finds nearly a quarter of monitored rivers, lakes and bays pose health risks from faecal bacteria or toxic algae.

The service on Lake Whakatipu will run hourly including until late at night and has been expanded to seven days.

The whale, estimated to be around eight to 10 metres long, was first spotted at the mouth of the Waitati River around midday Saturday.

A red wind warning has been issued for Canterbury, while orange weather warnings cover much of the South Island and further north, as gale force winds and heavy rains loom.

CPB Contractors will lead the $1.6b project, with measures to ensure deadlines and budgets are met.

The company is accused of failing to properly deal with the rats.

The much-delayed and costly rebuild has been debated since John Key was Prime Minister.