A severe-weather watch has been issued for Otago, alerting
people to the possibility of wind gusts up to 100kmh or more
in parts of Clutha and Dunedin this weekend.
A preliminary report on
the rating classification review promised for the Taieri
should be presented during the April committee meeting round,
Otago Regional Council chief executive Graeme Martin said.
"State of the art" hand-held water quality monitoring devices
have been ordered by the Otago Regional Council and will be
trialled in the field in coming months.
Health Minister Tony Ryall's approval will be
sought for a year-long pilot scheme which would offer some
Otago and Southland public hospital cancer patients the
option of paying for unfunded chemotherapy drugs.
Treaty of Waitangi settlements have topped $1 billion, and
Ngai Tahu and Waikato-Tainui - the iwi that negotiated
ratchet clauses as part of their settlements - are likely to
be entitled to further payouts within two years.
