Tess Brunton
West Coast businesses plead government for support
Businesses near Franz Josef and Fox glaciers have issued a plea for government support after a new report finds widespread job losses and many people leaving the struggling communities.
They've sent… Audio
Changes needed to ensure tourism less harmful to environment - Commissioner
The gates are firmly shut to international tourists at the moment, and the government is being told to use this time wisely.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment says tourism is putting… Audio
Confidence as Invercargill City Council gets new councillor
Invercargill residents are ready for a breath of fresh air from their council by-election after months of turmoil.
A councillor role has been empty since the deputy mayor resigned in October, citing… Audio
Anxiety as blood test results return for east Otago residents
An East Otago mother has been left confused and concerned as blood test results start to roll in after a lead contamination testing blitz.
It's been more than a week since residents in Waikouaiti… Audio
Water lead contamination review: Otago locals hope for answers
Residents affected by the water contamination issue in East Otago hope a top level review will shed some light on the issue.
Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall has ordered a rapid review… Video, Audio
Blood testing for Karitane, Waikouaiti residents is set to begin
Blood testing for residents of Karitane and Waikouaiti begins this afternoon, after the Council found high readings of lead in their water supplies.
People in the East Otago towns were told a week… Audio
Waikouaiti School adapting to no water while lead in supplies
Residents, businesses and schools from Waikouaiti and Karitane are having to drastically adapt to life without being able to drink water from their taps after concerning levels of lead were detected… Audio
Dunedin City Council unsure when water will be safe again
Residents in two coastal Otago towns don't know when they'll be able to safely drink their tap water again due to high levels of lead.
Yesterday the Dunedin City Council informed the 1,500 residents… Audio
Dunedin City Council wants to add 3000 homes to district plan
Dunedin City Council wants to lump an extra 3000 homes on to its district plan after admitting current ambitions aren't nearly high enough.
Projections suggest at least 5400 houses are needed over… Audio
Coastal Otago residents warned to avoid tap water after unacceptable levels of lead found
Residents of the Otago towns of Waikouaiti and Karitane won't be drinking the tap water for at least the next few days.
Samples taken in early December found nearly four times the safe amount of lead… Audio
Dunedin bar owners, police tackle bad behaviour near Octagon
Dunedin bar owners and the police are banding together to tackle bad behaviour and increased gang activity in the central city.
The Octagon Alcohol Group formed late last year in a bid to make the… Audio
Covid-19: Tourism operators face another year of uncertainty
With a vaccine timeline of about a year, regional tourist operators are grappling with another year of uncertainty with some questioning whether their business will survive.
Tourism reporter Tess… Audio
Central Otago orchardists grieve 'write-off' season
Some Central Otago orchards are describing this season's crop as a 'write-off' while others struggle to find enough workers.
It's been a tough season for the growers with Covid-19 border restrictions… Audio
Trampers bemoan the lack of QR codes at DOC huts, loos
Slip, slop, slap and scan - that was the message given to New Zealanders as they entered a summer without international tourists.
But with many New Zealanders hitting the trails and exploring the… Audio
Tourism prepares for summer without international tourists
Tourism operators are preparing for their first summer without international visitors in decades as borders remain closed.
While New Zealanders have been invaluable for keeping the industry float… Audio
Whakaari eruption: Tourism operators fear possible rule changes
Tourism operators are worried they'll being bogged down by bureaucracy following a review of adventure activities near natural hazards.
Today the first findings were revealed after a review was first… Audio
First review into adventure tourism sector released
A tourism leader says WorkSafe has taken its eye off the ball by not providing enough oversight of the adventure activities sector.
Today the first review findings in the wake of the Whakaari… Audio
Otago polytech postpones graduations after security concerns
The Otago Polytechnic has postponed tomorrow's graduation ceremonies after a threat against University of Otago ceremonies.
Yesterday the university postponed theirs because of the online threat.
… Audio
Fruit picking getting unemployed back into work, study
A Christchurch man says he'd probably be on a benefit if he hadn't secured fruit picking work in Central Otago over summer. Luke Condon, who is planning to go to university in Christchurch next year… Audio
Push for workers not over - central Otago orchardists
Central Otago orchard owners say the push for workers isn't over as they prepare for harvest season.
Today government ministers visited an apple orchard near Alexandra to speak with workers and… Audio
