A North Otago man beaten to death had earlier told friends he feared he would be knee-capped over a drug deal gone wrong, a court was told.

New homes being built on the Otago Peninsula could soon come with a strict new planning rule - no cats. But what would a cat ban involve?

A Chinese tourist had her rental car contract torn up and rewritten by a rental company yesterday after she was pulled over for alleged dangerous driving.

The body of a 65-year-old cyclist has been recovered from a bank near an Otago cycle track today.

From high-end Asian street food-inspired dishes to pizzas that have been popular for almost 40 years, Queenstown's food scene has something for everyone.

"Another kick in the teeth for the family", is how the father of teenager William Lewis has described a parole hearing for his son's killer.

A man who choked his victim in the toilet of a Dunedin bar has been sentenced to five years in prison, for the manslaughter of Ryan Court.

One of two suspects sought after a police pursuit in Central Otago a week ago involving a driver who fled at 140km/h, swerving past road spikes, is a man in a wheelchair.

They were meant to relocate a blackbird's nest and eggs from a central Dunedin traffic light. Instead the contractors dropped the eggs.

New Zealand's best produce is world class and a first-rate reason to travel, writes Nadia Lim.

A man was killed yesterday after a controlled burn-off on a 13,000 ha station in Otago, which was so big it was visible from the town of Cromwell.

A Queenstown policewoman accused of racially abusing a taxi driver in the resort last year has been found guilty.

Mana candidate Georgina Beyer has lashed out at Internet Mana backer Kim Dotcom: "He's using his power and position to seek retribution".

A police officer denies allegations she racially abused a taxi driver in Queenstown last year while affected by a cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol.

The body of a 21-year-old climber who slipped and fell to his death on Mt Aspiring last night has been recovered by a search team.

A father has today admitted abducting his young son from Dunedin and driving away at speeds of up to 170km/h north of Christchurch.

On a scenic flight in the south, Elizabeth Carlson gets into the pilot's seat.

Intrepid trampers or a bunch of softies? Pam Neville puts the case for guided walks.

Pamela Wade finds the unspoiled beauty of New Zealand's southeast is wasted on some.

'It was a wonderful flight, we were having a great time.' An American couple have spoken about the day their scenic Lord of the Rings flight turned deadly.

Pam Paterson mercifully remembers little of the night two strangers broke into her home and viciously bashed her.

Two American tourists are now in a stable condition in hospital following a light plane crash in Central Otago yesterday, which claimed the life of the pilot.

The son of a pilot killed in a light plane crash yesterday has paid tribute to his “hero” father’s actions in saving his two passenger’s lives.

A Queenstown man has died at the scene of the light plane crash in the Poolburn area in Central Otago this afternoon, police said.