Chris Morris

Supporters of the Dunedin Public Library are vowing to defend the free service from the spectre of privatisation they see in new Local Government Minister Rodney Hide.

Claims the Dunedin City Council is planning to cut core services to overcome a mountain of debt and help pay for the planned $188 million Otago Stadium have been called "deplorable" lies by Cr Richard Walls.

The Dunedin City Council and Port Otago could be squaring up for a scrap over a $275,000 bill for damage to the city's railway pedestrian overbridge.

Port Otago is to be asked to pay $275,000 towards the cost of repairing Dunedin's 104-year-old railway overbridge, nearly 10 months to the day after it was partly torn down by a passing train.

Whoever is responsible for the contamination of a popular East Taieri creek, found to be laced with human waste earlier this year, faces a hefty bill as well as a possible prosecution.

Another central Dunedin retailer is to close and has taken a swipe at the DCC's Wall St mall plan as the tough economic climate continues to squeeze George St.

Councillors will consider a proposed rates increase of "single figures" early next year, after a week-long cost-cutting review in which Dunedin City Council budgets were put under the microscope.

A young mother ensconced in an organic farming community north of Dunedin is leading the charge against the city's fluoridated water supply, convinced those who drink it risk exposing themselves to toxic side effects. But why, exactly, should we listen? Chris Morris investigates.

Uncertainty surrounds a major funding stream for Dunedin's planned Otago Stadium after $18 million was wiped from the value of the Community Trust of Otago's overseas investments in just six months.

Former Dunedin man Phil Sweeney was convinced he was going to die at the hands of terrorists in Mumbai.

The battle to raise $55 million in private funds for the planned Otago Stadium just got a little tougher.

Planned spending by the Dunedin City Council should be brought forward where possible to help combat "economic climate change" and stimulate the city's flagging economy, the Otago Chamber of Commerce says.

The contractor responsible for a cloud of cement dust that damaged cars on the Dunedin waterfront is to be fined $1000, ordered to pay costs, and should consider paying for professional cleaning as a "goodwill gesture", the Otago Regional Council says.

Deep in the Dunedin Public Library's basement, an old book sits unwanted on a shelf.

Workers want answers after a cloud of cement dust from the Otago Regional Council's Dunedin waterfront construction site coated nearby cars, with one owner claiming vehicles were damaged.