An 18-year-old has appeared in court charged with murder over the "violent" death of Otago dairy farm worker Justin McFarlane.

A dairy worker whose body was found near Oamaru yesterday suffered a "violent'' death, with his burnt out car found 25km away.

A hunter who fell down a ridge and broke his leg has been found after a freezing night on a South Island mountain.

The sight of a young couple trapped in a burning car with a power line draped over it, calling their children to say goodbye, spurred two firefighters into action.

Oamaru boy Aljay Rankin, 10, is being praised for his clear thinking and quick action in saving his sister and home from a potentially disastrous fire.

Rainbow Confectionery has doubled its capacity with the acquisition of an Australian confectionery plant.

Workers who will lose their jobs when the Summit Wool Spinners' Oamaru plant closes could struggle to find work and may have to move, the Otago Chamber of Commerce says.

Summit Wool Spinners' Oamaru plant - the second biggest employer in the town - is to close with the loss of 192 jobs

Oamaru locals have rallied around a Tongan family facing deportation before their young daughter is able to have much-needed surgery here.

Catherine Smith falls for Oamaru's Victorian township and modern food.

A 17-year-old who failed to stop for police later told them he believed he could drive fast because it was "just Hampden" he was travelling through.

Greg McGee is the author of The Open Side, the biography of All Black captain Richie McCaw. He is also a literary gender bender: McGee

Since having open-heart surgery at just three-months-old, an Oamaru toddler has shown tremendous strength, fighting spirit and resilience

Chloe Johnson delves into Oamaru's present and its charming Victorian history.