All abuzz about Science Festival
All abuzz about Science Festival
Learning the science of honey will be one of the children's workshops being held as part of the festival's theme, Everyday Science: Food for Thought.
Rebecca Fox
Coastal rivers under watch as rain continues
Coastal rivers under watch as rain continues
River levels remained volatile around eastern Otago last night as heavy rain continued to fall.
Permission sought for marine tours
Permission sought for marine tours
A fishing charter business run out of Port Chalmers should soon be joining those showcasing Otago Harbour's marine wildlife.
Endangered dolphins still being netted
Endangered dolphins still being netted
Disturbing numbers of endangered Hector's and Maui dolphin deaths have been reported in the last year, showing new protection measures are not as effective as had been hoped, University of Otago Associate Professor Liz Slooten says.
Camp areas, cycleways get funding
Camp areas, cycleways get funding
A new camping ground at the Lindis Hotel Historic Reserve will be further developed as a result of new work announced as part of Vote Conservation's $424 million budget announced yesterday.
'Fascinating' monarch latest obsession
'Fascinating' monarch latest obsession
Monarch butterflies have become Dunedin woman Jennifer Bradshaw's latest obsession.
Vandals attack ecosanctuary fence
Vandals attack ecosanctuary fence
Vandalism of Orokonui Ecosanctuary's predator-proof fence has left the enclosure vulnerable to pests on two occasions.
Air quality breaches up
Air quality breaches up
So far this year, some towns in Otago have breached the national air quality standard 22 times compared to only six times during the same period last year.
Hundreds of passengers left in a fog
Hundreds of passengers left in a fog
Persistent low fog enveloped Dunedin International Airport yesterday morning, disrupting the flight plans of hundreds of people.
Policy needed for development on hazard-prone land
Policy needed for development on hazard-prone land
Individual "piecemeal" decisions allowing development on hazard-prone land will continue without any long-term national strategic direction, Environmental Defence Society policy analyst Raewyn Peart said recently.
Assault 'could have been homicide'
Assault 'could have been homicide'
The father of Queenstown assault victim Sam Ross says he is starting to become increasingly worried about violent crime in the resort.
ORC headquarters back on agenda
ORC headquarters back on agenda
Nearly a year after the Otago Regional Council "parked" its multimillion-dollar waterfront building proposal, it is about to start the process all over again.
Regional councillors want to continue
Regional councillors want to continue
Water issues and a love of the work are the main reasons the majority of Otago Regional councillors plan to stand again in the October local body elections.
Wider rating wanted for flood protection
Wider rating wanted for flood protection
Farmers are calling for all Otago ratepayers to help fund future flood and drainage works on the Taieri.
Council clarifies funding policy
Council clarifies funding policy
Groups seeking funding from the Otago Regional Council have been reminded of its policy to consider "tangible" projects rather than operational expenditure.
Regulatory 'overkill' angers boat owners
Regulatory 'overkill' angers boat owners
A Broad Bay couple are calling for the Otago Regional Council to improve its resource consent processes for granting moorings
ORC buys site for new Taieri depot
ORC buys site for new Taieri depot
Otago Regional Council's search for land for a new depot on the Taieri Plain has come to an end, with plans to develop a site in the Otago Business Park development on Dukes Rd.
Stuck in the mire
Stuck in the mire
In April 2006, local authorities and emergency services swung into action to help the occupants of dozens of homes flooded on the Taieri Plain. Questions were asked about why houses had been built in a flood zone.
Wilding pine issue dominates
Wilding pine issue dominates
Calls for the Otago Regional Council to take a more proactive approach to wilding pine control in the Wakatipu have dominated the local body's annual plan submissions.
Risks and costs
Risks and costs
Local bodies could be seen to be neglectful if they did not use the information they had on flood risks to prevent development intensifying in flood-prone areas, a University of Otago lecturer says.