The Star

Dunedin man David Baird is celebrating an unusual achievement this week: two years of living "off the grid".

The Dunedin City Council has nothing in its budget with which to tackle the potential feral cat population problem in North Dunedin.

Motel operators are feeling betrayed by the Dunedin Visitors Centre's promotion of student halls of residence to Masters Games participants.

Jayden Taggart had half his left ear ripped off by a Staffordshire bull terrier when he was visiting a Wakari home in May.

More than 250 people were injured by dog bites last year in Dunedin, including 40 children under the age of 14.

Christmas parcels containing food, treats and gifts have been delivered to 300 Dunedin families by the Dunedin Combined Christmas Foodbank.

Security cameras in taxis are helping reduce crime and prosecute offenders, taxi industry spokesman Murray Alcock says.

The Dunedin City Council (DCC) has started work on a policy that could impose greater restrictions on alcohol outlets in the city, DCC liquor licensing and projects officer Kevin Mechen says.

A University of Otago study involving Dunedin primary school pupils has shown spending money on upgrading playgrounds does not appear to result in children being more active.

Sixteen staff at Muffin Break in Dunedin Hospital have been dealt a pre-Christmas blow with the loss of their jobs when the franchise closes next month.