Tax call puts ORC in black
Tax call puts ORC in black
A multimillion-dollar tax refund and a special dividend from Port Otago has translated into a $4.3 million surplus rather than an expected $13.2 million deficit for the Otago Regional Council.
Rebecca Fox
Take a tour, city visitors encouraged
Take a tour, city visitors encouraged
Rugby fans keen to see a bit more of Dunedin than Otago Stadium are being encouraged to take tours rather than go exploring by themselves.
Corporate goes green, with spots
Corporate goes green, with spots
Otago's jewelled geckos have faced some tough challenges in recent years but Setpoint Solutions Ltd has helped fund research and literally lent a helping hand. Rebecca Fox talks to the Coastal Otago Conservation Award finalist about what a corporate sponsor gets out of conservation.
Deadline for coal looms
Deadline for coal looms
In just four months' time, Otago residents in towns with the worst air pollution will no longer be able to burn coal, and if they do they put themselves at risk of being dobbed in by neighbours.
Dry, sunny despite snow
Dry, sunny despite snow
Despite last month's snow and frosty conditions, Otago's weather made the record books for low rainfall and high sunshine hours.
Environmental responses increase
Environmental responses increase
The Otago Regional Council has responded to a record number of incidents, mostly from the public reporting concerns about harm to their environment.
Constable triplets growing up, apart, but together
Constable triplets growing up, apart, but together
The Constable triplets are growing up.
Pumas at play
Pumas at play
Pumas Tomas Vallejos (left) and Bustos Maximiliano play with Oarabile Smous (2), of Waikouaiti, in the children's ward at Dunedin Hospital yesterday during a visit by the Argentine Rugby World Cup squad.
Six full-time Doc jobs to go in Dunedin
Six full-time Doc jobs to go in Dunedin
Six full-time positions will be lost from the Department of Conservation's Otago conservancy office in Dunedin in the department's latest reshuffle to meet government budget cuts.
Otago's winter one of driest on record
Otago's winter one of driest on record
Otago has again shown its winters are something to be envied, with the region having one of its driest on record.
91 breaches could affect environment
91 breaches could affect environment
Nearly 100 Otago resource consents involving effluent and odour discharge and water takes have been found to be non-compliant, with potential effects on the environment.
Councillor concerned about local body relationship
Councillor concerned about local body relationship
Recent criticism of the Otago Regional Council in the media has Cr Duncan Butcher concerned about the local body's relationship with the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
'Crude' appearance of weirs will improve
'Crude' appearance of weirs will improve
The "jumbled and crude" look of the new temporary weirs being installed on the lower Water of Leith will be improved by the time they are complete.
Accommodation for RWC going fast
Accommodation for RWC going fast
If you are more worried about the rugby than the thread count of the sheets you will sleep on that night, you might be struggling to find accommodation in Dunedin for the main World Cup games.
Effluent monitors installed
Effluent monitors installed
A trial of new technology to monitor and manage effluent pollution run-off has begun near Omakau and Hawea Flat.
Flightless parrot flies in for Orokonui holiday
Flightless parrot flies in for Orokonui holiday
They say he doesn't know he's a bird. Sirocco the kakapo thinks he's human.
ORC to keep FPP system
ORC to keep FPP system
The Otago Regional Council will continue to use the first-past-the-post voting system despite concerns about the confusion it might cause voters given other local bodies use an alternative system.
Council tells DCC to 'put up' over buses
Council tells DCC to 'put up' over buses
If the Dunedin City Council wants to take over Dunedin's public transport system, it "jolly well" needs to make a move before the end of the year, Otago Regional Council chief executive Graeme Martin says.
Wastewater effort pays off
Wastewater effort pays off
More than $232 million has been spent by Otago councils and industry in the past 10 years to improve wastewater discharges and, as a result, the "diabolical" water quality in parts of the region.
Cultural awareness
Cultural awareness
Lily van Buskirk (13) and Madison Hughes (13), from Columba College, try out sumo wrestling and Balmacewen Intermediate pupil Shaniia Taita (13, below) has a go at lion dancing at the Asia Awareness Day at the Edgar Centre yesterday.