Japan came to Calton Hill today to get a taste of the Pacific Islands. The meeting was part of an annual language and cultural visit from the Yasuda Womens University of Horoshima, and they were treated to some excellent cultural performances. ›see story

An international team of researchers, including University of Otago archaeologists Chris Jacomb and Richard Walter, has successfully isolated ancient Moa DNA. Their findings are being published today in the prestigious UK journal 'Proceedings of the Royal Society B'. ›read more

Dunedin based production company Natural History New Zealand is strengthening its China-based operations by appointing award-winning producer Kyle Murdoch as Senior Producer China Projects. Murdoch, who for the past three years has been looking after NHNZ's growing slate of China based productions, will be based in Beijing, where his wife Ella and three young children are joining him. ›read more

In a world first, University of Otago researchers have developed a simple urine test to detect kidney transplant rejection. This ground-breaking discovery may mean the current invasive biopsy procedure is on its way out. ›see story

Car manufacturer Toyota has issued a world-wide recall of its Hybrid car, known as the Prius. Toyota New Zealand Executive Director Paul Carroll says 260 of the cars have been sold in New Zealand, with no reports of the ABS Brake fault, which has been reported overseas. ›see story

The issue of music plagiarism is in the media spotlight with a case against Australian band Men at Work for their '80s classic, 'Down Under'. While the case may be headed for the High Court, a Dunedin expert in music copyright infringement says the Australian band are a bit unlucky. ›see story

Veteran Natural History New Zealand film maker Max Quinn has joined an Australian research expedition on board the NIWA research vessel, the RV Tangaroa. A group of scientists doing ground-breaking research on whales in Antarctica, aimed at proving Japan does not need lethal whale research, is the subject of a new NHNZ documentary. ›read more

US food giant Kraft has sealed the deal to take over Cadbury Confectionery for more than 26 billion New Zealand dollars. The news has sent shockwaves through international media organisations, with close to 700(seven hundred) articles appearing online within hours. ›see story

This week marks the 50th anniversary of a record breaking submarine dive. A US Navy submarine went 11 kilometres into the Marianas Trench, an achievement which has never been repeated. ›see story

The international climate talks at Copenhagen finished at the weekend, with thousands of delegates returning to their home countries. Dunedin-based youth delegate Louis Chambers believes the conference was worth it, even if no targets to reduce emissions were set. We caught up with him via Skype just before he left the hotel in which he was staying. ›see story

Major research by University of Otago clinical psychologist Dr Kate Scott has found marriage is good news for mental health, but separation and divorce have negative impacts. The study spans 15 countries, and nearly 35,000 people, with results showing disorders such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse were common after couples broke up. ›read more

The School of Business at the University of Otago has been re-accredited, and has obtained highly respected international EQUIS accreditation. EQUIS is a stringent European quality standard held by only 118 business schools in 34 countries. ›read more

Australians generally aren't too fond of chilly temperatures but a pair of them are in Dunedin hoping to throw a party that's ice cold. With the sighting of some very large chunks of ice heading Dunedin's way, the city is being used as a base for preparing what's believed to be the world's first party on an iceberg. ›see story

Senior Constable Malcom Parker of the Dunedin police was today presented with a United Nations Courageous Service Award. The award acknowledges Parker's heroic actions, which saved an elderly man from drowning, while working as a United Nations police officer in Timor-leste. Parker is the first Southern District officer to receive the rare UN commendation. ›read more

International protest organisation Greenpeace is trying to raise awareness about dwindling supplies of certain breeds of fish the world over. This weekend the campaign comes to Dunedin, with the organisation's mascot 'Sad Fish' making an appearance. ›read more

The People's Republic of China is celebrating its anniversary today It's been 60 years since Mao Zedong stood at the Tienanmen Gate and proclaimed: the people of China have stood up. Many Chinese stood up today as a huge display of military might, and public celebration brought the country to a stand still, as these pictures from our broadcast partner CCTV9 show. ›see story