Debbie Porteous

The long-term future is uncertain for the rubbish bins in John Wilson Ocean Dr and in parks and reserves across the city, but they are likely to stay put for some considerable time yet.

Visitor numbers to Dunedin's public libraries are down 8.1% this year compared with the corresponding period last year, a loss the library services manager attributes to the internet.

Sam Guest (16) struck out for White Island, off Dunedin's St Clair beach, on Saturday, confident he was up for the challenge of swimming to it, around it and back to the beach.

A portrait he painted of his father shortly before his father's death inspired Dunedin artist Lew Walsh to stick with portraiture, and his interest in music and pop culture inspired him to take it somewhere a little different.

An interim leadership arrangement for the Dunedin City Council's finance team is expected to be announced early next week, following the departure this week of the general manager of finance and resources.

Minister for Economic Development Steven Joyce has praised Dunedin's economic development strategy and cannot see any reason why its goals cannot be achieved.

Dunedin City Council senior finance manager Athol Stephens has quit and will clear his desk today after the shock announcement yesterday of his departure.

A charitable motorcycle organisation is angry at what it calls extortionate fees for traffic management, which has discouraged it from holding its annual Easter parade up George St this year.

Despite only a few days' notice, about 100 people turned up to a public meeting in Dunedin yesterday on the Government's Resource Management Act reforms, surprising officials with their level of interest. The meeting was the first of 50 to be held across the country over the next few weeks as part of a five-week public consultation on the proposed reforms.

The mystery of what Alucia was doing in Dunedin has been solved.

From increasing dog registration fees, to reducing stadium-related debt faster, the Dunedin City Council is seeking feedback on its draft budget for the next financial year.

Dunedin residents will have their chance later this year to influence when and where licensed premises can operate in the city in the future.