Otago

The European settlement of Otago began in March 1848, when the first two immigrant ships, the John Wickliffe and the Philip Laing, arrived from Greenock on the Firth of Clyde. The venture was an offshoot of the Free Chu…

Like many New Zealand provinces, the landscapes and the playground they provide are the main attraction - not settlements. Coastal attractions are common along the populated east coast, including unique wildlife attract…

Like the rest of New Zealand, Otago was first settled by the Māori people. Most of the Māori settlement in the region was on the coast and centred around the Otago Peninsula. The European Otago settlement, an offshoot o…

Otago is a region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island and administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately 32,000 square kilometres (12,000 sq mi), making it the co…

When you go on holiday or fall ill, someone needs to look after the cat, dog or rabbit. Neighbours are ideal: short distances and a familiar face for the animal. It's best to meet beforehand for a quick visit. Are you l…

For some older people the trip to the supermarket is hard work, especially when it's icy or very hot. If you're going shopping anyway, it's often easy to pick something up for someone else. A note in the hallway or a qu…

Guitar, drums, singing or beats on your laptop: music brings people together. Many towns have rehearsal rooms, music schools or open-mic nights where you can try things out. And bands are often looking for exactly the i…

Looking for an apprenticeship can feel huge at first. A good start: think about what you enjoy and ask local businesses directly about a work placement. Many companies welcome speculative applications even when nothing …

Festivals, customs and small rituals connect people across decades. Which tradition in Otago means the most to you, and do you take part yourself? Tell us about it in the comments!

So many nice things happen that never make the papers: a lost wallet returned, a new shop opening, a lovely celebration. What good news from Otago would you like to share this week? We look forward to your posts!

A sunrise over the rooftops, a front garden in bloom or a funny sign: home is full of great pictures. Show us your best photo of the week from Otago and tell us briefly where you took it!

I leant upon a coppice gate When Frost was spectre-gray, And Winter's dregs made desolate The weakening eye of day. The tangled bine-stems scored the sky Like strings of broken lyres, And all mankind that…

OUT of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeon…