Suicide prevention targeted
Suicide prevention targeted
Suicide rates will not inevitably increase because of the stress caused by Covid-19 but people’s wellbeing needs to be watched carefully.
Mike Houlahan
Southern candidates for Act, Greens
Southern candidates for Act, Greens
Prominent Queenstown businessman Basil Walker and Central Otago Pistol Club secretary Robert Andrews are among several electoral candidates announced by Act New Zealand yesterday.
List MP vulnerable backing losing horse
List MP vulnerable backing losing horse
At first glance, the National Party’s messy leadership scrap was only of passing interest from a southern perspective, given it pitched one Bay of Plenty-based candidate and Auckland-based deputy...
Former Otago rugby team physio censured, fined over conduct
Former Otago rugby team physio censured, fined over conduct
Dunedin physiotherapist Ashley Stiven has been censured and fined for incorrectly billing ACC, treating a family member, and himself being treated by his own employees.
MPs get behind leader
MPs get behind leader
Southern National MPs yesterday united to offer full support for the party’s new leader Todd Muller, although his triumph over former leader Simon Bridges likely holds mixed fortunes for their individual prospects.
Woodhouse pledges allegiance as Bridges faces challenge
Woodhouse pledges allegiance as Bridges faces challenge
Dunedin list MP Michael Woodhouse has strongly backed Simon Bridges to retain the leadership of the National party, whose MPs will meet tomorrow to vote on who should lead them.
Report shows early effects of lockdown
Report shows early effects of lockdown
Dunedin and Queenstown’s economies were buoyant at the start of the year, but Covid-19 has caused a ‘‘precipitous drop’’ in those rosy figures, new research shows.
$40m cost to fix Wakari Hospital: report
$40m cost to fix Wakari Hospital: report
Repairs and refurbishment of ‘‘distressing, sad and dilapidated’’ facilities at Wakari Hospital, in Dunedin, could cost more than $40 million, newly released documents suggest.
Lockdown points up utility of technology
Lockdown points up utility of technology
Covid-19 requirements for video consultations with doctors has given a glimpse into how hospice services may be provided in far-flung parts of Otago and Southland in the future, Mike Houlahan finds.
MP’s flip-flop: a tale of two pandemic Bills
MP’s flip-flop: a tale of two pandemic Bills
As flip-flops go, Michael Woodhouse’s effort in Parliament on Tuesday came close to setting some sort of speed record.
Economic growth moving into reverse
Economic growth moving into reverse
One sector will have done very well out of the Rebuilding Together Budget — whoever makes red ink, because the Government’s books are awash with it.
Health spend led by $833m for disability services
Health spend led by $833m for disability services
There was still money left over for health in Budget 2020 yesterday, even after the $4billion of extra funding for district health boards and planned procedures announced on Tuesday.
Fuel for a long winter
Fuel for a long winter
Finance Minister Grant Robertson had one stark message yesterday — winter is coming.
Billions for health ‘catching up’
Billions for health ‘catching up’
A multibillion-dollar funding package for district health boards yesterday is a chance for Southern to claw back lost ground, chairman Dave Cull says.
Govt gives big boost to DHBs
Govt gives big boost to DHBs
The cash-strapped Southern District Health Board and its fellow providers are to receive a major funding boost, the Government announced this morning.
‘Vital role’ of nurses highlighted as day marked
‘Vital role’ of nurses highlighted as day marked
The Covid-19 crisis has made this year’s International Nurses Day all the more significant, Southern District Health Board chief nursing and midwifery officer Jane Wilson said.
Pandemic shines light on nurses’ ‘important role’
Pandemic shines light on nurses’ ‘important role’
Nurses join the profession to help their community, but in recent weeks they have been serving in ways they might not have thought possible, WellSouth director of nursing Wendy Findlay says.
Cadbury demolition work under way
Cadbury demolition work under way
A piece of Dunedin history has started to disappear from the city landscape, as demolition continues on the former Cadbury factory.
Health officials in South remain on high alert
Health officials in South remain on high alert
A weekend with no further cases of Covid-19 does not mean Otago and Southland are clear of danger where the pandemic disease is concerned, health authorities say.
‘I had to rope in the only living person that I’ve got’
‘I had to rope in the only living person that I’ve got’
When medical lecturer Ruth Barnett needed a helping hand — or a helping leg or a helping back for that matter — she did not need to look beyond her bubble to find one.