Tess Brunton

The risk of travellers bringing Covid-19 means some mainlanders are accepting being stuck at level 2, despite no cases there.

The South Island is facing more time under level 2 restrictions while… Audio

Residents in Lake Ōhau are rebuilding their lives and homes while slowly restoring the scorched landscape after last year's devastating fire.

Today marks one year since fire tore through the remote… Video, Audio

Monday marks one year since a fire ripped through the Lake Ōhau alpine village, forcing people to flee in the middle of the night.

Roughly half the homes in the remote MacKenzie basin were destroyed… Audio

It's a year today since a fire ripped through the Lake Ōhau alpine village, forcing people to flee in the middle of the night.

Roughly half the homes in the remote MacKenzie basin were destroyed or… Audio

The cruise ship industry says it needs some certainty around the border to save the industry and help towns who rely on their visitors.

Princess Cruises has announced its extending its pause of trips… Audio

An apprenticeship programme aimed at ridding Aotearoa of its worst pests has received a $2 million funding boost.

The two-year programme kicked off last year and is aimed at increasing the numbers of… Audio

Fox Glacier businesses are holding out hope for a school holiday boost after a long and difficult winter.

Several businesses have already closed in town and others are considering whether to… Audio

Franz Josef business owners say they are struggling to keep their heads above water after losing Aucklanders and international visitors.

The winters are traditionally quiet, but businesses say… Video, Audio

The school holidays are just around the corner but some parts of the country are expecting to miss out on an influx of visitors from Auckland.

Lockdown meant Wanaka lost weeks of prime ski season… Video, Audio

An Auckland couple's illicit lockdown escape to a holiday home is being described by Wānaka locals as selfish and inexcusable.

The 35-year-old man and his 26 year-old partner crossed Auckland's… Video, Audio

Otago locals are furious an Auckland couple flouted level 4 lockdown escaping Auckland for a family holiday home in Wanaka.

The 35-year old man and his 26 year old partner crossed Auckland's southern… Video, Audio

Now to Central Otago, where the Alexandra community is devastated their annual blossom festival has been cancelled.

It was to be the 65th year of the historic event and is the longest, continuously… Audio

An independent reviewer says Invercargill residents should feel confident that their local council can do its job after a tumultuous 12 months that included potential government intervention.

Late… Audio

From midnight Wednesday morning all of New Zealand - barring Auckland - will move to alert level 2, but with new restrictions in the face of Covid-19 Delta.

South Islanders say they are relieved and… Audio

Reluctant cooks and coffee fans across the South Island are embracing the shift to Level 3 and return of their favourite takeaways.

Hamburgers, lattes, chips and croissants were all on the menu as… Video, Audio

Takeaway is back on the menu in the South Island.

For many reluctant cooks, Level 3 brings a much-wanted break from baking, braising and boiling as well as a boost to businesses.

Tess Brunton has… Audio

Takeaway food is back on the cards from Wednesday and in the Covid-19 free South Island businesses are already busy preparing to reopen their doors.

While they're relieved to have some customers… Audio

Some Canterbury health staff are being told they can't work from home. Their rationale - there are no Covid-19 cases in the South Island and vaccination is available. And a union says other DHBs are… Audio

A South Island festival organiser says they're scrambling to work out how to enforce mandatory scanning, if they're able to go ahead.

Tess Brunton has more. Audio

Meanwhile travellers stranded in Queenstown have been given a temporary reprieve before the travel window is poised to slam shut.

Hundreds of people are in town trying to get back, but there have… Audio