Chris Morris

The young woman killed in a head-on crash near Mataura at the weekend was a University of Otago student with a bright future.

Southern councils are in for a shake-up after voters demanding change across Otago handed the mayoral chains to four new leaders.

Dunedin city councillor Fliss Butcher will not say why she quit this week's council meeting or refused a nomination for a committee post.

Midwinter Carnival organisers in Dunedin are planning a new lantern "promenade" to coincide with next year's Rugby World Cup, but staging the event will depend on securing a slice of a $9.48 million festival lottery fund.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull donned the robes and chain of office for the first time yesterday, pledged to do his best and received an enthusiastic hug from two future ratepayers.

A shake-up of Dunedin City Council committees has resulted in the creation of a new economic body, and its chairman is promising to consider deferring multimillion-dollar capital projects to save money.

Confusion surrounding Dunedin's new kerbside collection service could drive up the cost of the scheme for the city's 45,000 households, the Dunedin City Council is warning.

Hamish Chang has revenge on his mind after returning home to his student flat in Dunedin to find his every worldly possession tightly wrapped in tinfoil.

Dunedin city councillors will get straight down to business today by voting on whether to give themselves a pay rise.

Dunedin City Council candidate Bev Butler will return to the Dunedin District Court today as she continues her fight for an election recount without the threat of court-imposed costs.

University of Otago head Prof Sir David Skegg's annual salary is continuing to rise, even as the State Services Commissioner takes aim at tertiary-sector pay rates.

There were more than a few stories to swap when Michael Lake and Rodger Hilliker shook hands in Dunedin last night.

Dunedin's next deputy mayor looks set to be Cr Chris Staynes, with his appointment expected to be confirmed at a Dunedin City Council meeting next week.

A project manager who discussed possible delays to the $75.8 million stage two upgrade of Dunedin's Tahuna wastewater treatment plant has been ordered not to speak to media about the project.

Dunedin's Octagon plane trees are still fighting a mystery infection, despite efforts to nurse the 119-year-old trees back to full health.

Mayor Katsumaro Yamada of Otaru will be among a large Japanese delegation sampling the flavours of the south while visiting Dunedin over the next few days.