Hamish MacLean

SUBSCRIBER

Shooting ruled out for euthanised sea lion

A dead female sea lion, known as Jade, was found riddled with shotgun pellets in the Catlins...

SUBSCRIBER

Shooting ruled out for euthanised sea lion

A female sea lion euthanised last month was not shot - but officials haven't ruled out a stabbing or another "nefarious" act leading to its death. It closely follows the shooting of a well-known mother and her pup in the area.

Person seriously injured in collision

Emergency services work at the scene of a serious crash on State Highway 8 yesterday. PHOTO:...

Person seriously injured in collision

A person was taken to hospital in a serious condition after a single-vehicle crash closed State Highway 8 yesterday.

‘Sea ball’ fascination to fear

Anna Knight holds mysterious sea balls she collected on Warrington Beach.
PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY

‘Sea ball’ fascination to fear

The Ministry for Primary Industries is investigating after mysterious green balls of seaweed began washing ashore at Dunedin beaches.

Drone finds no possums

A drone operator flies a drone on a recent survey flight looking for possums on Otago Peninsula...

Drone finds no possums

A thermal drone has swept Sandymount Reserve and come up empty as the war on possums on Otago Peninsula reaches its final, high-tech stages.

SUBSCRIBER

Alarm raised over lakes’ falling water quality

SUBSCRIBER

Alarm raised over lakes’ falling water quality

Regional councillors are raising the alarm as the water quality in Otago’s deep lakes reaches a new low.

SUBSCRIBER

‘Still work to do’ before farm repopulated

The entire flock of about 160,000 birds at an Otago egg farm is set to be culled to try and...

SUBSCRIBER

‘Still work to do’ before farm repopulated

Deep cleaning and ongoing testing at the Moeraki egg farm where bird flu was found will continue into the new year before chickens are returned to the site.

SUBSCRIBER

Council prepares to consult on 8% rates rise

SUBSCRIBER

Council prepares to consult on 8% rates rise

The Otago Regional Council is readying to consult on an 8% rates rise — its first single-digit increase in years.

SUBSCRIBER

ORC rates errors a tiny fraction of total take

SUBSCRIBER

ORC rates errors a tiny fraction of total take

Human error, the amount of money involved, and the number of changes to the rating system last year contributed to the Otago Regional Council’s rates error this year, the council says.

Jobs safe as chicken cull rises to 200,000

The Hillgrove egg farm near Moeraki at the centre of the bird flu outbreak. Photo: Craig Baxter

Jobs safe as chicken cull rises to 200,000

All 23 jobs at a Moeraki egg farm are secure, Mainland Poultry says.

More chickens culled due to bird flu

Mainland Poultry's Hillgrove egg farm last week. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY

More chickens culled due to bird flu

Another 40,000 chickens will be culled at a farm near Moeraki, bringing the total number of birds culled due to bird flu concerns to 200,000.

SUBSCRIBER

Budget blowout expected for ORC's new HQ

The final price tag for the yet-to-be-completed Otago Regional Council headquarters in Dunedin’s...

SUBSCRIBER

Budget blowout expected for ORC's new HQ

The budget is expected to blow out on the Otago Regional Council’s new $55 million headquarters and a councillor says ratepayers will foot the bill.

Tally hits 200k as chicken cull continues

Another 40,000 chickens will be culled at Hillgrove farm near Moeraki, bringing the total number of birds culled due to bird flu concerns to 200,000.

SUBSCRIBER

‘A lot more testing’ required: virologist

University of Otago evolutionary virologist Prof Jemma Geoghegan. Photo: supplied

SUBSCRIBER

‘A lot more testing’ required: virologist

In order to stamp out Otago’s bird flu outbreak, "a lot more testing" of the region’s chicken farms will be required, a leading virologist says.

SUBSCRIBER

‘Promising’ lack of new cases so far

SUBSCRIBER

‘Promising’ lack of new cases so far

A regional control centre with about 30 staff has been set up in Dunedin as the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) works to stamp out bird flu in Otago.

SUBSCRIBER

Councillors on both sides unhappy with ‘timid’ climate strategy

SUBSCRIBER

Councillors on both sides unhappy with ‘timid’ climate strategy

The Otago Regional Council adopted a climate strategy described as "very mild" and "timid" by councillors both for and against it.

SUBSCRIBER

Flood repair works could cost ORC up to $2.54m

SUBSCRIBER

Flood repair works could cost ORC up to $2.54m

October flood repairs, including urgent work on infrastructure at the mouth of the Clutha River, could cost the Otago Regional Council up to $2.54 million, a new report says.

SUBSCRIBER

Interactions with sea lions 'disappointing' - Rūnanga

The Department of Conservation says these visitors to Dunedin’s Sandfly Bay are too close to the...

SUBSCRIBER

Interactions with sea lions 'disappointing' - Rūnanga

Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou is urging people to alert authorities if they see injured, entangled, or harassed sea lions after a pair of tourists were seen throwing sand at an animal for the sake of a photograph.

SUBSCRIBER