Otago Daily Times News Feed

classroom.png Concerns are rising at the lack of quality teachers in Auckland. Photo: file A number of central Auckland schools are worried about the dramatic drop in the quality of teachers, on top of the region's mass shortage.

Australian Justine Damond was fatally shot by US police. Photo: file Minneapolis police chief Janee Harteau resigned on Friday at the request of the city's mayor, who said that she and the community had lost confidence in Harteau following the fatal police shooting of an unarmed Australian woman.

Christchurch residents are being asked to stay home as emergency services become stretched amidst flooding, road closures and foul weather.

henley_township.jpg The Henley township this morning. Photo: Otago Regional Council A Henley resident says he fled his flooded home in Henley with nothing but a spare tooth brush and underwear.

army_trucks.png Photo: NZDF The New Zealand Defence Force has sent an additional 120 troops to help flood-stricken areas in Canterbury and Otago.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull says it appears the worst of the deluge has ended - but the emergency isn't over.

The Highlanders have left Dunedin for Christchurch for their do-or-die quarterfinal against the Crusaders.

Otago lines company Aurora Energy says about 150 homes are without power in the region after a series of small outages.

Flooding in Taieri this morning. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery Dunedin police say a group of drunk flood rubberneckers were lucky not to be killed.

The Otago region woke to severe flooding, slips and other damage and multiple road closures on Saturday after a night of heavy rain and wind gusts.

Join us from 7.30pm tonight for live updates of the Highlanders' Super Rugby quarterfinal against the Crusaders in Christchurch.

Some games have been cancelled and the rest moved on the final day of the under-15 national basketball tournament in Dunedin.

north_otago_2.jpg Oamaru Creek State Highway 1. Photo: Shannon Gillies   The state of emergency, declared last night by Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher after heavy rain battered North Otago, remains in place this morning.

Roads in Central Otago have been badly affected due to heavy rain and snow and closures remain in place. 

Access to Milton in South Otago has been closed with State Highway 1 blocked north and south of the town due to heavy flooding this morning.

Access to Milton in South Otago  has been closed with State Highway 1 blocked north and south of the town due to a severe storm.

Director Eleanor Coppola has been married to Francis Ford Coppola since 1963.

Christopher Nolan is undoubtedly a director of great skill, ambition and vision; a certified movie geek getting his chance to play in the biggest, most elaborate sandpit on the planet, and yet repeatedly falling short of just nailing it.

The power bills of Palmerston resident Dot Duthie continue to soar despite installing solar panels. Photo: Gerard O'Brien. A pensioner in East Otago is doing everything she can to get cheaper power bills but is struggling to "beat the system".

Photo: Shannon Gillies. A pair of pied newborn lambs stand with the mother Lucky, in Papakaio in North Otago this week.