A playground upgrade could spell the end for the St Kilda icon, but an 800-comment Facebook frenzy suggests the community isn't ready to let it go the way of the dinosaurs
New Zealand
Fri, Jun 5
4:35
The skeletal remains belonged to Murray Allen Wakefield, who was reported missing from the Deborah Bay area northeast of Dunedin on May 13, 2025.
Wed, Jun 3
Seven people have been killed so far on New Zealand’s roads this long weekend – including three in a crash near Waiouru this morning.
Mon, Jun 1
A trough embedded in a humid northerly flow was forecast to bring prolonged heavy rain to the top of the South before moving north in the coming days.
Sun, May 31
The Queenstown ski field is banking on new snowmaking technology to extend its season and take the uncertainty out of winter as climate variability continues to bite.
Fatal crashes in Taupō and Otago on Friday evening have brought the preliminary holiday weekend road toll to two.
Sat, May 30
Department of Conservation calls on drivers to be vigilant after a native pakake pup was found dead on Hoopers Inlet Road in Dunedin.
Environment
Fri, May 29
A Tasman low is set to end one of the driest Mays on record, bringing rain, strong winds and unseasonably warm nights to much of the country.
Councillors "reluctantly" agreed to the rates increase for the next financial year during an extraordinary Waitaki District Council meeting on Tuesday.
Thu, May 28
A 37-year-old man is charged with murder in relation to the death.
Crime and Justice
Wed, May 27
Two people are being referred to Youth Justice and the recovered antlers are being returned to the owners.
Benedict Ong - who was earlier this month sanctioned for leaking - has sent to media a letter to him from the mayor marked "confidential" in which concerns are expressed about his comments about the council chief executive.
A man has been arrested and charged in relation to the death of a person in Andersons Bay on Friday night.
Sat, May 23
Police said emergency services were called to the scene at 1.55am.
Around $700 cash was found in discarded cash register as officers track down suspects linked to break-in at a central city Sal’s Pizza.
Wed, May 20
Benedict Ong faced a code of conduct complaint after revealing details about a potential hotel development at Forsyth Barr Stadium to reporters in April.
Politics
Mon, May 18
Emergency services were alerted to the crash at around 9.50am on Sunday, with the aircraft crashing into a mountainside in rugged alpine terrain in Otago’s backcountry.
Police said it received reports of the incident at around 9.50am Sunday.
Sun, May 17
Michael Sherry was killed in a workplace accident at Scott Technology's Dunedin site on April 24 last year.
Sat, May 16
Junior Apolosi was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer last month after initially seeking treatment for back pain.
Health
Scientists predict there will be 40-50 fewer icy mornings in the Mackenzie Country and inland Otago if global warming continues.
Tue, May 12
Police say victim spent five years sending cash, Bitcoin and vouchers to an alleged scammer she believed was an American military leader.
Mon, May 11
Strong wind watches expand and heavy rain hits West Coast and upper South Island, with more disruption expected as system moves east.
Fri, May 8
Regulation Minister says it's too hard for home-owners and businesses to set up panels.
Thu, May 7
Warnings extended into the North Island and deeper south as a rapidly intensifying storm system approaches, with damaging winds, flooding rain and more alerts likely.
