'Serious' poaching ring busted
'Serious' poaching ring busted
A paua poaching operation has been busted by one of the biggest fisheries surveillance operations undertaken in Dunedin, the Ministry of Fisheries says.
Rebecca Fox
Fury at southern roads classification
Fury at southern roads classification
A recommendation State Highway 1 from Dunedin to Invercargill not be classed nationally strategic "blows me away", Otago regional councillor Bryan Scott says.
Notification change opposed
Notification change opposed
The Otago Regional Council should "vigorously" lobby the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) to ensure it does not drop newspaper advertising as a mode of notifying the public about hazardous substances and new organism applications, Cr Michael Deaker says.
Meeting on lagoon
Meeting on lagoon
Feedback from a public meeting about the future of the Hawksbury Lagoon will be converted into a series of options and presented back to the community.
CareNZ criticised over dismissal
CareNZ criticised over dismissal
The company which runs drug and alcohol programmes at the Otago Corrections Facility has been criticised for failing "dismally" to meet the provisions of the Employment Relations Act in its decision to fire a counsellor.
Hotere sale lifts hospice auction total
Hotere sale lifts hospice auction total
It was a charity auction for the Otago Community Hospice and its chief executive was the only one to walk away with a Ralph Hotere work.
Council, runanga seek to improve ties
Council, runanga seek to improve ties
It is hoped new terms of reference for the mana-to-mana group between the Otago Regional Council and Kai Tahu Otago runanga will improve their relationship.
The terms of reference were proposed by Kai Tahu ki Otago and, after consideration at a recent mana-to-mana meeting, it asked for formal endorsement of the terms by the regional council.
Solution for rare fish population
Solution for rare fish population
Conflict between the need for irrigation water on the Strath Taieri and saving a population of endangered galaxiids has been resolved without going to the Environment Court.
Regional council supportive, but with specific conditions
Regional council supportive, but with specific conditions
Port Otago's Project Next Generation resource consents should be granted, subject to conditions, the Otago Regional Council's staff report says.
Opponents concerned at effects of disposal
Opponents concerned at effects of disposal
More than 100 submissions on Port Otago's consent applications to dredge Otago Harbour will be heard over three weeks in Dunedin next month.
Photo of moose could fetch $100,000
Photo of moose could fetch $100,000
The hunt for the moose in Fiordland may soon heat up, with a $100,000 "bounty" being offered for a photograph of the elusive animal.
Warning shooting kereru is illegal
Warning shooting kereru is illegal
People need to be reminded it is "totally not OK" to shoot native kereru (wood pigeon), Project Kereru's Nik Hurring says.
Japanese market raises $10,000
Japanese market raises $10,000
About $10,000 has been raised by the Dunedin Japanese community for victims of the Christchurch and Japanese earthquakes.
Chinese focus of tourism bid
Chinese focus of tourism bid
It is hoped a visit by Chinese airline and government officials, travel wholesalers and media to Queenstown next month will translate quickly into more high-spending Asian visitors to the Lakes district.
Bahrain crackdown worries student
Bahrain crackdown worries student
Being on the other side of the world from your family when your home country is in turmoil is no easy thing, Bahraini student Noor Almahdi says.
Rabbit population thriving
Rabbit population thriving
Rabbit numbers continue to rise, especially in Central Otago, Dunback and some parts of coastal Otago.
ORC critical of Oceana Gold's monitoring
ORC critical of Oceana Gold's monitoring
An audit of Oceana Gold's environmental monitoring data has shown inconsistencies, inaccuracies and failures, the Otago Regional Council says.
Software behind lack of warning
Software behind lack of warning
A piece of monitoring software failed during last month's flooding, leading to a delay of about three hours in telephone warnings to landowners.
Otago's water system mystery to others
Otago's water system mystery to others
Otago Regional Council concerns about the direction of national freshwater management policy have not been allayed by meeting Land and Water Forum chairman Alastair Bisley.
No way to save whales
No way to save whales
About half a pod of 107 pilot whales have died and the remaining whales have been euthanased after stranding in hot, dry conditions at the remote southern end of Mason Bay on Stewart Island.