Otago Daily Times News Feed

Food rescue service KiwiHarvest has expanded its network across Otago, after a 200% increase in food demand from families this year.

Emma Corson (9) votes for her favourite Christmas tree after admiring the 14 on display at Dunstan Hospital. PHOTO: ALEXIA JOHNSTON A festive forest has sprung up in the foyer of Dunstan Hospital.

It is not often talked about, but Sir Edmund Hillary did not climb the whole height of Mt Everest — just the last 7432 vertical metres.

George St in Dunedin. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery Who would want to be high street retailers these days? They are up against internet selling as well as big-box, drive-to shops.

Otago wicketkeeper-batswoman Polly Inglis plays a shot during a net session at Logan Park earlier this week. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH Otago wicketkeeper-batswoman Polly Inglis had some big travel plans this year.

Manitoto siblings Jessica and Ben Smith earned the right to represent New Zealand at the 2021 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship when they won the three-team national trial at Naseby last weekend.

RJ Sem-Cheyne spent 19 months on bail with the prospect of jail hanging over him. This week he was cleared of fracturing a man’s skull.PHOTO: CHRISTINE O’CONNOR Eight months after a man sustained a fractured skull at a Dunedin party, RJ Sem-Cheyne was charged by police. After more than 19 months on bail, the case was dismissed at trial this week because of holes in the Crown case. He tells Rob Kidd how it feels and takes aim at the authorities he says failed him.

Scott Willis at the opening of the Climate Safe House in Waitati. PHOTO : PETER MCINTOSH The first-of-its-kind climate-safe house built by the Dunedin community could be off the market.

A generous effort from colleagues allowed Prof Abby Smith to give 17 boxes of toiletries for those in need. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH After a tough year, a toiletry drive from staff at the University of Otago will make Christmas a little easier for those in need.

Invercargill list MP Liz Craig speaks in support of drug checking legislation.PHOTOS: SUPPLIED Over the Christmas break, Wanaka will host the hugely popular Rhythm and Alps music festival.

Otago Regional Council operations general manager Gavin Palmer (left) and Dunedin City Council infrastructure services general manager Simon Drew are considering what needs to happen to shore up South Dunedin’s future. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY Five years on from a big storm that flooded South Dunedin, some fixes have been made, but a grand plan mapping out the area’s future has yet to take shape. Grant Miller looks at the challenges and what needs to happen next.

The University of Otago clocktower. Photo: ODT files More than a year after it came to light, the University of Otago medical student travel rort has yet to be formally dissected by the tertiary institution.

Consulting arborist Mark Roberts inspects a large crack in the rata in the Knox Church grounds in George St yesterday. PHOTOS: GREGOR RICHARDSON Children have played in the branches of the Southern rata at Dunedin’s Knox Church for generations.

Ki uta ki tai, from the mountains to the sea, the state of the environment depends on working to improve the quality of both land and water. Otago Daily Times reporter Laura Smith spoke to those delivering the philosophy and the people behind the Southland programme working to do just that.

The Bond St side of the Distinction Hotel. PHOTO: ODT FILES Southland's promotion arm is hosting information sessions to encourage people to work in hospitality and tourism this summer.

Nobby Clark. PHOTO: ODT FILES An independent report has found Invercargill city councillor Nobby Clark was in breach of the code of conduct when he questioned the truthfulness of the Invercargill City Council chief executive at a public meeting.

Three generations of the Scully family who have attended Southland Girls’ High School (from left) Victoria O’Connell, Breea Scully, Pippa O’Connell (both 18) and Judith Scully, were at the school yesterday to mark the introduction of a new badge to acknowledge generations of families who have attended the school. PHOTO: KAREN PASCO Celebtraing generations of families who have attended Southland Girls’ High School has inspired the school to create new badges to acknowledge the legacy of former pupils.

The Kepler Challenge. Photo: ODT files Runners in Te Anau’s Kepler Challenge have had an extra hour in bed this morning, a reduction in the amount of climbing to be done and 1km knocked off the length of the course, thanks to forecast bad weather.

The Southland Museum and Art Gallery. Photo: Allied Press Files Discussions around the ownership of the Southland Museum and Art Gallery (SMAG) Trust returned to the table this week.