Hamish MacLean

Dunedin mayor looks for budget revisions but not to ‘slash and burn’

Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins says he has no interest in a "slash-and-burn budget" — but he has called for a revised budget for the coming year in light of the effects of Covid-19 on the local economy.

Team stamping out the embers

There have been 11 consecutive days of no new cases of Covid-19 in the South.

Future hazy for airport

Revenue has crash-landed at Dunedin Airport amid the Covid-19 pandemic, and the airport’s executive leadership says there will not be a return to normal in the foreseeable future.

Education hit hard by border closures

Three Otago University researchers received part of the Health Research Council and Ministry of...

Education hit hard by border closures

International students contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to Otago’s economy; with the country’s borders closed, the hit to the international education sector will be significant and the...

Private jet leaves Dunedin, en route to Hong Kong

Amid the global Covid-19 pandemic a private jet which landed at Dunedin Airport from Cambodia has left for Hong Kong carrying 10 international travellers today.

Building sector in for hard time

WorkSafe said that during the March last year, the worker was installing attic trusses in the...

Building sector in for hard time

After five weeks of lockdown, the South’s construction industry is set to get rolling again under Alert Level 3 restrictions and in the face of employment uncertainty.

Active cases in South fall to 31

One patient continues to struggle in Dunedin Hospital as the number of active cases in the South dropped to 31 yesterday.

Glass will be picked up next week

Plastic rubbish bags may be replaced and existing wheelie and recycling bins joined by up to two...

Glass will be picked up next week

Glass recycling will resume in Dunedin next week, but the return of kerbside collection for cardboard, paper and plastic has yet to be confirmed.

Major industry’s future in Dunedin uncertain

Thousands of Dunedin jobs hang in the balance as tourism operators grapple with the uncertainty of a post-Covid-19 world.

Leaders wary about Level 3 conditions

As NZ continues on its course of staying home and staying safe, some businesses see a clear way ahead while others worry about the shadow the Covid-19 virus has already cast over the southern economy.

Greens’ $9b rapid rail plan excludes South

A Green Party $9 billion modern rapid rail proposal misses the South - but the party’s transport spokeswoman says it was not an intentional slight to the region.

Gunshots turn out to be trapshooting

Gunshots turn out to be trapshooting

Half a dozen police cars descended on Stedman Rd in Mosgiel early yesterday afternoon after a report of gunshots in the area.

Twin delights for rest-home residents

Leslie Groves Rest Home residents (from left) Eileen Gardner, Dorothy Graham, Marjorie Taylor,...

Twin delights for rest-home residents

Residents at Leslie Groves Rest Home have been watching the world walk by their window during lockdown — and over the past week they may have found two of their favourite neighbours.

SDHB head praises South’s testing regime

Over the next three months, the ministry’s animal health laboratory at Wallaceville, in the North...

SDHB head praises South’s testing regime

As New Zealanders await today’s cabinet decision about whether to step down from the restrictions of Covid-19 Alert Level 4, the head of the Southern DHB will be among those taking a wait-and-see approach.

‘Grim’ outlook spurs call for change

Autumn tones along the Manuherikia River near Alexandra. Photo: Rae Easton

‘Grim’ outlook spurs call for change

Human activity is threatening freshwater ecosystems — and the outlook is "grim" for Otago.

Councils seek govt funding

Councils seek govt funding

Otago's local governments are seeking roughly $280million in government funding for shovel-ready projects in a bid to create more than 2500 jobs and stop the flattening of the economy caused by the...

Picture of Level 3 coming into focus

Essential workers will be joined by staff in "safe operations". Bubbles will stay "exclusive" but get bigger. And some children will return to school.

Many ORC staff working during crisis

Nearly half of the Otago Regional Council workforce is responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, council chief executive Sarah Gardner says.

Aged-care facilities in focus as deaths rise

Aged-care facilities in focus as deaths rise

Covid-19 has killed nine people in New Zealand and the devastating effect it can have on the elderly is growing more apparent.

ORC after more consultation

ORC after more consultation

The Otago Regional Council will ask the Environment Protection Agency for further consultation on its contentious water quality plan even though it may no longer have a say in the matter.

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Hamish MacLean