Stories by Tess Brunton

Organisers say it is a chance to connect with their community and look after their neighbourhood. Audio

A coroner's finding that Sophia Crestani's death in an overcrowded Dunedin party was likely preventable has prompted a call to action to help keep students safer.

Sophia Crestani, 19, died while being crushed in a stairwell pile-up at an over-crowded party at Dunedin's 'The Manor'.

More than 35,000 people marched on Saturday and there's more to come, Jules Radich says. Audio

Central Otago is creating a strategy to shape its economic future with hopes it may ease the pressures from rapid growth. Audio

The government's announcement amounts to "clinical cuts and a broken promise", mayor says. Audio

It comes after public pleas not to sell the "family's silver".

Another mining company is going for gold in Central Otago, with hopes an alluvial gold mine will be a boon for the business and local communities.

Central Otago locals are worried a proposed gold mine will hit industry and devastate the special - and spectacular - natural environment.

Otago communities are getting closer to deciding how they want to adapt to hazards like flooding, earthquakes and liquefaction.

Youth travel businesses are hopeful to recover some of their losses this summer after one of their worst winters ever. Audio

Hundreds of millions of dollars are at risk if the international visitor levy is hiked to $100, Tourism Industry Aotearoa claims.

Landowners are hopeful forestry companies will step up after allegations were aired at a public meeting.

A Dunedin City councillor says he is apologising for causing offence, but not for making the comments. Audio

A traveller says being stuck in Arthur's Pass overnight by heavy snow has been like a forced holiday. Audio

Nobby Clark's latest breach was in relation to his notorious interview with comedian Guy Williams.

The Transport Agency says it is too early to tell whether the icy Mackenzie District highway where two buses rolled should have been closed earlier.

A van driver who was travelling on the same highway where two buses rolled in the South Island says it should have been shut.

The Chatham Islands is grappling with an 'out of control' feral pig population that residents say is causing widespread damage.

The lack of quality tourism data has been an industry bugbear for years - the new $400,000 contestable fund is hoped to turn things around.

The apex predators are being found from 2000m altitude right down to sea level and are so strong that one broke out of a trap - twice. Audio

This comes after allegations Nobby Clark mocked, disrespected and degraded guests at an event.

Passengers on a dramatic trans-Tasman flight that appeared to catch fire have recounted the horror, with one fearing the plane was about to "break in two". Video

Another partygoer at the flat where Sophia Crestani died said many people came close to death that night.

The tenants had blocked off other exits, sealed up doors, and put plastic on the floors to protect their belongings.