John Gibb

Several military treasures from the past, including ''trench art'' from World War 1 and a rocket launcher from Vietnam, have been unearthed during a preservation project at the Mosgiel Memorial RSA.

It's ''time for a change'' in the way the country tackles its ''serious'' obesity problems, New Zealand Medical Association president Branko Sijnja says.

University of Otago anatomy researcher Dr Jo-Ann Stanton is ''over the moon'' at contributing to successful international efforts to sequence the sheep genome, and pinpoint genes unique to sheep.

Leading Auckland health researcher Prof Valery Feigin says 90% of New Zealand's annual stroke death toll could ultimately be prevented, despite the country's ''very alarming'' obesity problems.

Dunedin barrister Anita Chan has just joined a rare club.

A collaborative initiative is shedding fresh light on Sir John Richardson, a visionary advocate of education for women, and for whom the University of Otago's Richardson Building is named.

Many drowning deaths can be prevented if people who fall into cold water keep calm and let the body's initial shock response wear off, ''dramatic'' new University of Otago research suggests.

Student representation on governing university councils and rising financial pressures may become election issues, a recent Otago University Students' Association referendum suggests.

An Otago ACC claimant support group has launched an online survey aimed at adding weight to its submissions to the United Nations over ACC-related access to justice issues.

Up-and-coming University of Otago chemical oceanographer Dr Rob Middag has won an award for leading young scientists, in the Netherlands.

Emeritus Prof George Petersen, New Zealand's ''father of DNA'' research, says this country benefited from scientists initially adopting voluntary restrictions over experiments with genetically-modified organisms.

Visitors to Toitu Otago Settlers Museum have helped prepare some of the materials to create a traditional wharerau, a Maori temporary dwelling, at the museum.

What drives this 63-year-old firefighter to charge up 51 floorsMosgiel firefighter and this week's Top Type Richard Yardley has come back down to earth after competing in the recent Sky Tower Stair Challenge in Auckland. John Gibb finds out what motivates him.

A survey showing 38% of public hospital staff had been assaulted in the previous year highlights matters requiring ''urgent attention'', University of Otago researchers say.

Two Wingatui jockeys have told a coroner's inquest how a race at Kurow in 2012 had gone ''like normal'' before a fall which led to the death of jockey Ashlee Mundy.

University of Otago research highlighting high levels of assault on public hospital nurses and other workers is a timely ''wake-up call'' requiring serious attention by district health boards, Ian Powell, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, says.

New Zealand cannot afford to be complacent about high levels of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis in many Asia-Pacific countries, including China and Burma, Prof Greg Cook says.

Despite tough times, Lockey Mundy has found plenty to be positive about after his daughter, jockey Ashlee Mundy, died following a race fall at Kurow in 2012.