Mayor Dave Cull refused to discuss ''speculation in the British press''.
Council staff would also not divulge details of Mr Orders' contract with the council, including whether he had an ''out'' clause in his five-year deal or financial penalties for an early departure.
''I consider those details to be private and confidential to [Mr Orders] and his employer,'' council human resources manager Bruce Miller said in response to Otago Daily Times questions yesterday.
The comments came after Wales Online reported Mr Orders was tipped as a candidate to replace Cardiff Council chief executive Jon House, who is quitting the $NZ343,000 role.
Mr Orders and Mr Cull would not comment on the report when first approached earlier this week, but would not rule out the suggestion either.
Mr Orders still has more than three years of his contract left to run, and recently turned down a $35,000-a-year pay rise while the organisation remained in savings mode.
Mr Orders would not be the first high-profile early departure from Dunedin.
Former Forsyth Barr Stadium head David Davies quit unexpectedly in May last year, after less than three years in the job, citing family reasons.
Mr Cull, asked yesterday if he expected to lose Mr Orders, said: ''I have no idea.''
''I'm not going to comment on speculation in the British press. That's all it is.
''That would be adding my speculation to the newspaper's speculation.''
