Tess Brunton

Central Otago residents have vented their fury at the rising electricity prices they'll have to pay to repair aging and rotting power poles.

Aurora Energy's plan to fix years of underspending means… Audio

The new Tourism Minister has announced New Zealanders will no longer subsidise international visitors to the extent it has in the past.

Stuart Nash unveiled his goals at the Tourism Summit Aotearoa… Audio

The tourism industry is facing a multi-billion dollar loss of revenue after borders closed and international travel screeched to a halt.

Earlier this year, New Zealand experienced its first day of no… Audio

Residents at Lake Ohau have been allowed to begin returning to their homes, after a fire swept through the village at the begining of October. The fire damaged or destroyed 50 properties in the… Audio

Now to remote Fiordland where crews have been working hard to restore the Milford Track against a looming deadline.

The Great Walk was badly damaged when a metre of rain fell in less than three days… Video, Audio

Lake Ōhau residents remain in the dark about when they will be able to permanently return to their properties in the wake of the fire.

Ten days ago, the blaze tore through the village, destroying or… Audio

A Lake Ōhau couple figured their beloved pets were dead after they had to leave them behind and flee the fire - so were shocked to find the animals alive after returning to the village. Video, Audio

Strong winds that have been hampering firefighting efforts at Lake Ohau have died down, allowing the on-site crew to gain further control of the situation.

The fire has caused widespread devastation… Audio

Fire and Emergency says things are looking up as it continues to battle the fire at Lake Ōhau, which now has a perimeter of 43 kilometres.

Strong winds that were hampering efforts to contain the… Audio

The people that first raised the alarm - and the firefighters that raced to their rescue - have opened up about how the Lake Ōhau fire took hold.

About 40 houses in the small community were destroyed… Video, Audio

Lake Ōhau residents have been allowed in to see what's left of their village, after fires ripped through over the weekend.

A bus convoy left shortly after midday from the make-shift welfare centre in… Video, Audio

Residents are about to board buses to survey the damage to their homes.

RNZ's Otago-Southland reporter, Tess Bruton, has been speaking to officials and residents in the village and spoke to Māni… Audio

Air and ground crews continue to fight a huge wildfire in Canterbury's Mackenzie Country.

The fire service says more than 1600 hectares have been burnt.

Four crews have spent the night trying to… Audio

Farmers say the devastating fire ravaging through the South Island's Lake Ohau, has been a disaster waiting to happen.

A wildfire roared through Lake Ohau village early yesterday morning, spreading… Audio

The South Island will have to deal with freezing temperatures until tonight, when north westerly winds are expected to bring warmer weather.

Farmers in Otago and Southland say this week's heavy snow… Audio

Snow continues to fall in South Otago.

RNZ's Otago-Southland reporter Tess Brunton spoke to Māni Dunlop from Milton. Audio

It's been a snowy start for the school holidays with flurries down to sea level in parts of the lower South Island. Flights were grounded for most of the day, leaving holiday-goers stranded as biting… Audio

Heavy snowfall is causing widespread disruptions on the first day of the school holidays.

All flights in and out of Queenstown airport have been cancelled or diverted, while roads are closed across… Audio

Work will get underway on an access road to a popular Fiordland track soon, after it was partly wiped out by floodwaters.

Locals have been calling for the road into the popular Hollyford track to be… Audio