Plans to cut mental health beds
Plans to cut mental health beds
A proposal to reduce the number of mental health beds in ward 11 at Wakari Hospital is still ''under development'', the Southern District Health Board says.
Rebecca Fox
Leith flood protection work starts
Leith flood protection work starts
A tracked excavator fitted with a single-tine ripper breaks up the concrete steps beside the Water of Leith near the University of Otago registry earlier this week.
Robins, saddlebacks breeding
Robins, saddlebacks breeding
An ''exceptional'' breeding season for two translocated bird species at Orokonui Ecosanctuary is a boost for conservation and advocacy, Prof Ian Jamieson says.
Waikouaiti smell caused by fertiliser dissipates
Waikouaiti smell caused by fertiliser dissipates
The ''vile'' smell over Waikouaiti was caused by composted fertiliser, including chicken manure, being spread over a paddock, the Otago Regional Council says.
No getting off the hook on fishy tale
No getting off the hook on fishy tale
Controversy over who needs a licence to fish at the mouth of the Taieri River has been clarified after a meeting between recreational fishermen and Fish and Game Otago.
Rain, rain, not going away any time soon
Rain, rain, not going away any time soon
Dunedin and Oamaru have already had more than threequarters of their average summer rainfall, yet there is still half the season to go.
ORC to investigate smell
ORC to investigate smell
A ''vile'' smell has been blowing through Waikouaiti the past few days, triggering an investigation by the Otago Regional Council.
Humble galaxiids go global on web
Humble galaxiids go global on web
They are small, mostly unknown native fish but they are being championed by a group of Otago master's students.
Climate extremes in Otago in 2013
Climate extremes in Otago in 2013
Otago recorded some of the highest and lowest temperatures of 2013, while Wanaka experienced its warmest year on record.
Christmas-New Year colder, wetter for Otago
Christmas-New Year colder, wetter for Otago
Niwa figures confirm what Otago holiday-makers suspected - this Christmas-New Year period was colder and wetter than average.
CBD flooded with shoppers
CBD flooded with shoppers
Tills rang, traffic jammed and retailers celebrated as tens of thousands of people flooded central Dunedin yesterday.
Familiarity and something to smile about
Familiarity and something to smile about
It was like catching up with an old friend you haven't seen in decades and finding out they haven't changed a bit.
Unlicensed anglers nabbed
Unlicensed anglers nabbed
More than nine anglers, including tourists, face legal action for fishing without a licence in Otago freshwaters in recent weeks.
Police seek pair caught on CCTV
Police seek pair caught on CCTV
Police are seeking help from the public to locate people who apparently deliberately lit a fire in Alexandra's renovated public toilets next to the Central Stories Museum building in Centennial Ave.
Otago 1080 drops highest
Otago 1080 drops highest
Otago might have one of the highest numbers of aerial 1080 operations in New Zealand but it also has one of the lowest rates of applying the poison.
High 'E. coli' levels at bathing spot continue
High 'E. coli' levels at bathing spot continue
Bacteria levels in the Taieri River at Waipiata, a popular bathing spot, continue to be up to three times higher than the national health guidelines, making it unsafe for swimming.
Turnaround in river levels
Turnaround in river levels
From flows low enough to restrict water takes to those rising quickly, Otago's river levels have done a major turnaround in the past fortnight.
Warm year but not the warmest
Warm year but not the warmest
Otago has experienced its second-warmest year since records began, climate scientist Jim Salinger says.
Satisfying protecting precious places
Satisfying protecting precious places
Dealing with enthusiastic, passionate people about protecting special features on their land is invigorating, Queen Elizabeth II National Trust's Coastal Otago representative Robin Thomas says.
Providing wild deer from Otago's high country
Providing wild deer from Otago's high country
Throughout Otago, people with a love of food and fresh produce are turning out amazing products. For some its just a hobby, for others it has turned into their livelihood. Rebecca Fox reports.