A female pedestrian has suffered life threatening injuries after being struck by a petrol tanker in central Dunedin this morning.

OceanaGold plans to scale back its operations and is expected to axe more than 100 jobs at the Macraes goldfield in Otago in response to a falling gold price.

While Central Otago's farmers were delighted by the rain falling on their parched land, cherry growers were less enthusiastic.

There's a mine of reasons to fall in love with Lawrence, writes Elisabeth Easther.

The owner of a dog which chased a sea lion from the sand dunes on an Otago Peninsula beach to the sea has been granted diversion.

Amid stunning Queenstown scenery, Winston Aldworth experiences a very fast, very yellow mid-life crisis.

"I thought 'That's some lucky bugger'," said a Mosgiel man - without realising after 18 years of buying Lotto with his friend they were finally first division winners.

Vandals have targeted the Beaumont section of the new Clutha Gold Trail, causing thousands of dollars' damage.

An elderly couple 'blinded' by a lightning strike on their home believe they had a lucky escape - they'd hung up the phone moments before it burst into flames.

This architecturally-designed two-storey house is nestled among a cluster of upmarket properties in a quiet cul-de-sac. It accommodates 14 in six sumptuous bedrooms and has three bathrooms and a galley-style kitchen. Views of Coronet Peak, Queenstown Hill, Ben Lomond and the Shotover Canyon complete the sense of luxury.

For further information see luxuryholidayhouses.com.

Justine Tyerman's wish for snow is granted during a pilgrimage to her spiritual home.

Student numbers are expected to increase at the University of Otago next year, turning around three years of declining enrolments at the institution.

A Central Otago farmer - said to be in the process of brokering a multimillion-dollar export deal with the United Arab Emirates.

Lloyd Esler describes himself as a "cold hard sceptic", but even he is starting to believe otters may have made themselves at home in Southland.

Sarah Lang finds Dunedin is much more than a city of Scots and scarfies — and a special spot for a weekend getaway.

A man is dead after his quad bike apparently crashed in steep terrain in central Otago over the weekend.

The hairy faces of three Otago rugby players were shaved at Dunedin Hospital yesterday to raise about $5000 in funds for the children's ward.

One person has been injured in a single vehicle crash near Lake Hawea in Central Otago.

He received death threats for blowing the whistle on a multi-million dollar defence scam - now a retired US Air Force officer is living a quiet life in Central Otago.

Adventure capital Queenstown has a quiet appeal, writes Cate Foster.

The UK's Daily Telegraph asked NZ Prime Minister John Key, about Queenstown, including his favourite sights, hotels, bars and restaurants.

A former Central Otago goldmine worker has admitted stealing gold-bearing sand, which police later found in a plastic lunchbox at his home.

An Alexandra teenager who got drunk on his 18th birthday and started firing his new airgun haphazardly, shooting his good friend in the knee, was sentenced yesterday to four months community detention.

Archaeologists yesterday battled against the tide to rescue 14th century moa bones from a "significant" historical settlement at Awamoa Creek, south of Oamaru.