Hamish MacLean

Despite calls to halve the proposed rates rise and put a hiring freeze in place, regional councillors have confirmed an 18% increase for Otago next year.

Ten further issues have been outlined for the Dunedin City Council to address when it eventually replies to submitters’ concerns about its proposal for a landfill near Brighton.

Mana whenua have been granted another seat at the governance table as the Otago Regional Council develops its pivotal land and water plan.

Nearly two-thirds of Otago residents surveyed said a proposed 18% rates rise would have a "modest" or even less of an impact on their lives.

The end date of a hearing set to decide the fate of a proposed landfill near Brighton is now unknown after commissioners agreed the Dunedin City Council had left out crucial details from its plan.

The Otago Regional Council has abandoned plans to ask Otago residents whether they want a change to how councillors are elected.

The Otago Regional Council’s new code of conduct continues to block councillors from publicly speaking out against "illegal or muddleheaded" actions of council staff.

Despite concerns about a lack of diversity in Otago Regional Council’s leadership positions, a self-described "pale, stale and male" councillor has been appointed deputy chairman.

Too many questions remain about how a proposed landfill near Dunedin Airport can deal with birds for the project to safely go ahead, the regional council’s consultant says.

An independent chairman or commissioners should be appointed at the Otago Regional Council after another "cynical ploy" to delay plans to clean up the region’s rivers, a five-term councillor says.

Dunedin Airport was never consulted on the "unacceptable hazard" posed by a new landfill before a consent application was lodged, its lawyer says.

Departing Otago Regional Council chief executive Sarah Gardner's last day in the role ended with the organisation's latest woes being pinned squarely on councillors.

Dunedin Airport’s own practices concerning birds do more to raise the risk to aviation safety than the proposed Smooth Hill landfill would, the Dunedin City Council’s aviation expert says.

No report was produced as a result of mediation between councillors and Otago Regional Council staff, the council’s chairman says.

The final report from the Manuherikia River technical advisory group is expected to be ready for Otago regional councillors this winter.