Timothy Brown

It's the $1.2 billion industry you've probably never heard of.

Photonics use light to detect, image and send information.

You've probably heard of fibre optic cable, in fact you may be listening to… Audio

A new report has valued New Zealand's little-known photonics industry at more than a billion dollars. Photonics use light for sensing, manufacturing, and transmitting information - much in the same… Audio

The Government has ruled out housing managed isolation and quarantine facilities in Queenstown and Invercargill. Our Otago-Southland reporter Timothy Brown has more. Audio

The closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter has raised concerns over what it will mean for the thousands of tonnes of potentially toxic waste stored in the small Southland town of Mataura.  Audio

Southlanders have been thrown into turmoil with Rio Tinto's announcment today it will wind down the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter resulting in the direct loss of almost 1,000 jobs and another 1,600… Audio

Claims of dirty politics, cries of anger and disgust, and clear bitter division. The usually circumspect arena of the Otago Regional Council chamber had it all this morning, as three-quarters of… Audio

The former Labour Environment Minister, Marian Hobbs, was this morning ousted as chair of the Otago Regional Council.

She's held the role since last year's October elections.

But three-quarters of… Audio

A Southland teenager will today be sentenced for the murder of a nine-year-old boy in the small settlement of Otautau - about 40 kilometres northwest of Invercargill.

The rural town of about 800… Audio

Today marks the inaugural World Albatross Day.

While it is a day of celebration for the species, not all is well for the birds.

RNZ Otago-Southland reporter Timothy Brown headed out to the world's… Audio

Two young takahe have been released into Orokonui Ecosanctuary near Dunedin. The birds - Waimaire and Bennett - were relocated from Burwood Takahe Breeding Centre near Te Anau yesterday and will be… Audio

A Dunedin family wants answers after a 23-year-old man tried to take his own life just 10 hours after being discharged from a psychiatric hospital during lockdown.

The man's mother says she was… Audio

Official figures show mental health or distress is a factor in almost a quarter of police dog bites that need hospital treatment.

The police have defended the numbers, saying dogs are never used… Audio

The film and screen industry has emerged as one of the candidates to help rebuild Queenstown Lakes' shattered economy.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy sealed the district's reputation as a stunning… Audio

New Zealand is now at Alert Level 3, which which reduces restrictions on businesses and schooling and will see hundreds of thousands more people out and about.

However we're still being asked to stay… Audio

Former Dunedin doctor Venod Skantha will spend almost two decades behind bars before he is even eligible for parole for the murder of teenager Amber-Rose Rush.

The 32-year-old was sentenced to life… Audio

Former doctor Venod Skantha will be sentenced today for the murder of 16-year-old Amber-Rose Rush.

This afternoon's sentencing will follow a long road to justice for the teenager and her family after… Audio

What to do with 10,000 tonnes of aluminium dross - so-called ouvea premix - stored in Mataura is causing a quandary for authorities, but just as vexing is how it came to be there.

The dross came to… Audio

Plans to commemorate last year's terror attack on March 15 risk re-opening emotional wounds, say Christchurch's Muslim community, as they explain there's no tradition of marking anniversaries in… Audio

Central Dunedin businesses are up in arms about cars and buses being banned in the Octagon.

The city council is hailing the trial closure of the landmark as a success but retailers say it's left them… Audio