The criteria used to assess the ecological health of the Manuherikia River may not be the same as for other Otago rivers, the Otago Regional Council says.
Dunedin iwi consultancy Aukaha has provided 10 recommendations for the governance of the planned new drinking water, stormwater and wastewater provider for the South Island.
An Otago regional councillor says he is astounded by the hefty price ratepayers have paid pursuing a code of conduct complaint against one of his colleagues.
Some new staff positions scheduled to start next year have been dropped as Otago Regional Council staff have started to pull back spending in order to stick to an 18% rates rise next year.
Police are reminding people to stay away from wildlife on Dunedin beaches this summer after reports a motorcycle rider was harassing endangered New Zealand sea lions at the weekend.
An independent investigator has cleared Otago regional councillor Michael Laws of wrongdoing in a code of conduct complaint against him by the council chief executive.