Rebecca Fox

The more New Zealanders understand the economic stake they have in conservation, the more solid the future is likely to be, Conservation Minister Tim Groser says.

Otago Museum's newest exhibition, West Africa: Rhythm and Spirit, opens this Saturday.

Marian van der Goes has been appointed the Department of Conservation's new conservator for Otago, becoming only the second woman in New Zealand to hold the conservator's role.

Farmers fear the Otago Regional Council's underlying motive for water plan changes could be to reduce their water takes, immediate past president of North Otago Federated Farmers Robert Borst says.

With rat populations about to "explode" in Otago's beech forests, which are home to threatened bird and bat species, the Department of Conservation is spending about $260,000 on two aerial 1080 poisoning programmes.

Concerns legal uncertainty over the continuation of water race licences could result in major disruption to Central Otago's water distribution has led the Otago Regional Council to look to the courts for clarification.

Swine flu has arrived in the South, with three cases being confirmed in Dunedin.

Otago regional councillor Michael Deaker has described Forsyth Barr Stadium as the most "unnecessary" project he has seen in 14 years of local government.

A multi-million proposal to build an office block on the waterfront has been ''parked'' by Otago Regional Councillors.

An "exciting" new option for the site of Otago Regional Council's proposed office block had been suggested to councillors in the days leading up to yesterday's decision to "park" its multimillion-dollar waterfront proposal.

An "interesting outcome" is promised from today's Otago Regional Council meeting which will consider the future of its proposed $31 million waterfront office block and wharf redevelopment.

Dunedin's $405,000 "loop" bus services, which at their worst failed to attract an average of one person a trip, have been axed.

The future management and development of public conservation land will be examined at a public symposium next month.

Otago crayfishermen are taking a "wait and see" approach to their first season under an increased quota.

"Snow days" are a situation which needs to be dealt with by employers and their staff on a case-by-case basis, the Otago-Southland Employers Association says.