Chris Morris

The "cave rave" planned for Long Beach will instead be held at Dunedin nightspot Sammy's after a safety inspection at the beach found revellers could be at risk from loose boulders perched high up a cliff face.

The cost of rebuilding New Zealand's core infrastructure - rather than shiny new stadiums or glory projects - is to blame for the country's first $1 billion rates bill, Local Government New Zealand says.

The Dunedin City Council may seek to retain ownership of Carisbrook and develop the site, rather than selling it, it has been confirmed.

Plans for the future of Carisbrook - now owned by the Dunedin City Council - were debated behind closed doors by councillors yesterday, after a last-minute bid to hold the debate in public was defeated.

A more cautious approach to visitors may be needed at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium, contractors are warning, following two accidents and 11 "near misses" at the construction site.

A "cave rave" expected to attract up to 1000 revellers to Long Beach will go ahead, despite the objections of some residents.

The French navy patrol vessel La Moqueuse berthed at Dunedin's Birch St wharf yesterday.

An initiative to promote the economic reuse of Dunedin's heritage buildings has been unveiled.

An interim decision supporting modifications to a plan for the $5.4 million upgrade of Riccarton Rd West, in East Taieri, has been labelled a "fiasco" by a critic of the proposal.

Dunedin City Council staff are still waiting for test results that could confirm a vascular disease not seen before in New Zealand is attacking Dunedin's plane trees.