Rebecca Fox

A gold-miner who wants to build a gold suction dredge to work a section of the Clutha River has been granted resource consent, but says its conditions could severely restrict or even end his plans.

A breakthrough in predator control in the habitat of Otago and grand skinks at Macraes Flat has led to a dramatic recovery in numbers of the lizards, which had previously been believed to be "doomed" to extinction.

Bluff's 2008 oyster season has been a "vast improvement" on last year, with some industry players suggesting it has been good enough to warrant looking at reducing the voluntary quota reduction by 15%.

Te Whaka, the near derelict resident of Otago Harbour's wharves, was moved to a new home at Fryatt wharf this week, but the move was short-lived.

Hector's dolphin protection measures will slow their decline, but more are needed if the populations are to recover, University of Otago Associate Professor Liz Slooten says.

Dolphin campaigner Liz Slooten has been awarded the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society's highest honour for her outstanding contribution to marine conservation.

Funding for the maintenance of Otago and Southland roads will increase by $10.8 million, to more than $90 million, in the final round of annual National Land Transport Programme funding.

Dunedin's very own "yellow submarine" will give a deep-sea experience like no other as it takes people on a virtual trip to the depths of Saunders Canyon, off the coast of Otago, surrounded by sharks, giant squid and fish.

Seeing the crowds of people huddled around two vehicles yesterday, you could have been forgiven for thinking they were looking at the latest model cars - instead they were a mini and a ute converted to run on electric power.

A nationwide crackdown on noisy vehicles netted 130 offences, including 15 in Dunedin, on Friday night.

Trail bike riders will get caught, prosecuted and possibly lose their bikes, if they continue to scar and wreck outstanding landscapes and historic sites throughout Otago, the Department of Conservation warns.

Now its new flood protection bylaw has been adopted, it is up to the Otago Regional Council to ensure it is enforced, deputy chairman Stephen Woodhead says.

A last-ditch attempt by Cr Michael Deaker to delay the Otago Regional Council's Awatea St stadium decision failed yesterday, with the majority of councillors voting to support the $37.5 million funding proposal.

A Dunedin scientist and singer has succeeded in releasing a CD featuring New Zealand music aimed at highlighting the plight of the Hector's and Maui dolphins.

The debate over Awatea St might have dominated Otago Regional Council's annual plan discussions, but it should not overshadow a rates decrease and growth in core business, councillors say.

Bus services to Opoho and Shiel Hill will be more than doubled under a proposal by Citibus accepted by the Otago Regional Council yesterday.

The crayfish season had a "spectacular" start, but already approaching bad weather is starting to affect catches.