Chris Morris

Tougher rules proposed to police anonymous donations in local politics do not go far enough, two Dunedin city councillors say.

Dunedin City Council staff appear to have changed their ways since a culture of cafe meetings - charged to ratepayer-funded purchase cards - was revealed two years ago.

The Dunedin City Council could still consider outsourcing more work on its $1.6 billion water network, despite stepping back from moves to create a council-controlled company to do the job.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull (circled, centre) joins members of the Dunedin Area Roading Team (DART) at a breakfast barbecue to say thanks, at the Sunnyvale sports complex, yesterday morning.

A circling seagull caught on camera searching for a way out of the spotlight inside Forsyth Barr Stadium is not the only one with ruffled feathers.

Dunedin company Palmers Mechanical is hoping growing demand for its products from the Australian mining industry will help it buck a gloomy business mood.

One Dunedin city councillor has apologised, but another is refusing to, after self-deprecating comments by both about their ages were condemned by Age Concern Otago yesterday.

Dunedin - get ready to party.

The size of the challenge ahead is not lost on Darren Burden as he prepares to become the next man to run the Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Darren Burden, the next man to run the Forsyth Barr Stadium, has again defended his role in a controversial contract.

Dunedin City Council staff have been forced to scrap the planned auction of the Athenaeum building in the Octagon, just a day before it was due to go under the hammer.

The principal builder of a Dunedin leaky home has bought the property as part of a confidential settlement with its former owners, it has been confirmed.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull has accused anti-stadium campaigner Bev Butler of "descending to personality attacks" while running a smear campaign against the next boss of the Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Angry rugby fans have forced a concession from Dunedin Venues Management Ltd, after threatening to tear up membership contracts over a lounge lockout for next weekend's All Blacks test against the Springboks.

The public will be able to have their say on a proposed $100 million, 28-storey hotel on Dunedin's waterfront at a consent hearing scheduled for December.

The owner of a Dunedin heritage building with more than a century of history as an office block says being forced to apply for resource consent to continue the tradition is "frustrating".

Dunedin builders under the spotlight from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Labour Group say a new crackdown on workplace safety threatens to drive up the cost of new homes.