The Ministry of Fisheries is proposing to cut eight management jobs in Dunedin as part of nationwide changes to its "organisational design" to "better meet the expectations of a new Government".
Former Dunedin man Simon Pierre has gone into "self-imposed exile" in his apartment in Mexico City as he tries to avoid catching swine flu.
Healthy duck numbers could lead to a "vintage" opening weekend for Otago shooters, but only if the forecast for settled weather changes.
Residents keen to see a commuter rail service operating in Dunedin arrived by train at Dunedin Railway Station yesterday to present a petition to Otago Regional councillor Michael Deaker.
University of Otago vice-chancellor Prof David Skegg, author Ian Church and researcher George Griffiths attended the launch of Gaining a Foothold, a 467-page book which provides "Historical Records of Otago's Eastern Coast 1770-1839" and was published by the Friends of the Hocken Collections Inc.
The huge array of reports which look as "dull as dishwater" but have major impacts for Otago residents, need to be better communicated to the general public, the Otago Regional Council says.
A "full rethink of land use" in Otago is needed following the news that a quarter of the region's dairy farms did not comply with their consents this season, Otago Fish and Game operations manager Ian Hadland says.
Temperatures on the Taieri reached a record high for April of 27degC on Sunday and hit 24degC yesterday, but be warned - by Thursday, Otago is expected be plunged again into cold southeasterlies.
Despite possibly suffering "submission fatigue", people are being urged to have their say on the Otago Regional Council's 10-year plan outlining what it intends to do and how it should be funded.
No mercy will be shown to users of outlawed frost-fighting smoke pots, Otago Regional Council chief executive Graeme Martin says.
Dairy farm pollution of a "magnitude and scale a lot higher" than found last season, with effluent finding its way into waterways, has been described as "disgusting" by Otago regional councillors.
Who will benefit from any proposed flood protection work on the Taieri is to be assessed so Otago Regional Council targeted rates can be adjusted accordingly.
People thinking about building or developing on any of Otago's alluvial fans need to be aware of the risks they are taking and use the information recently released by the Otago Regional Council, councillors say.
Federated Farmers says the "vast majority" of dairy farmers act responsibly on environmental matters.
Spiralling costs for flood protection works at Wanaka's Stoney Creek may mean residents will face a special rate for the work - about four years after they successfully campaigned to have the costs shared.
Concerns about the impact of intensive dairy farming along the Manuherikia River have led the Clutha Fisheries Trust to do its own environmental monitoring of the waterway.
Claims by Otago Conservator Jeff Connell that Otago Fish and Game is being "mischievous" in commenting about tenure review and the Nevis River have been dismissed by the Otago Fish and Game Council.
A review of the management status of the Nevis River is to be considered by the Otago Fish and Game Council.
The South Island saddleback has returned to the mainland with 34 birds released into their new home within the Orokonui Ecosanctuary yesterday.
The Hunter River is too small to accommodate both jet-boaters and anglers, the Otago Fish and Game Council says.
