Albatross's return to breed heralded
Albatross's return to breed heralded
If you think your love life is complicated, spare a thought for the first royal northern albatross to arrive at Taiaroa Head for the new breeding season.
Rebecca Fox
Dummy sea lions ruled out as mating lures
Dummy sea lions ruled out as mating lures
Gatherings of female New Zealand sea lions along Otago's coast are not to be encouraged, it seems - unless they come of their own volition.
ORC doubles its budgeted surplus
ORC doubles its budgeted surplus
The Otago Regional Council has reported a $7.5 million operating surplus for the year, double its budgeted surplus and more than three times the previous year's $2.5 million result.
Ferrum drops appeal against ORC building
Ferrum drops appeal against ORC building
Ferrum Engineering has dropped its appeal to the Environment Court against the change of designation for the Otago Regional Council's new office block on the Otago Harbour Steamer Basin.
Scientist puts skinks on road to recovery
Scientist puts skinks on road to recovery
When James Reardon thinks of his return to the United Kingdom in terms of giving up the "magic" of the snow-capped Kakanuis and tussock landscape of Macraes Flat for the "grey drizzle" of Regent Park, London, he wonders at the sanity of relocating.
Sexy dummy sea lions to lure stayaway males
Sexy dummy sea lions to lure stayaway males
Dummy female sea lions may be placed lying alluringly on Otago beaches to attract more of the mammals to breed on the mainland.
Council says no to meters
Council says no to meters
Otago Regional councillors have backed off from a suggestion it require water permit holders to install water meters, even though a catchment investigation of the Strath Taieri showed only 48% of inspected takes were compliant.
Pharmacy funding proposal might not breach laws
Pharmacy funding proposal might not breach laws
Southland health providers will be consulted over a proposal to distribute drug funding to community pharmacies through bulk-funding of primary health organisations.
Man falls into old gold-mine shaft
Man falls into old gold-mine shaft
A man, believed to be 44 years old, was shaken but unhurt after falling down an old gold-mine shaft at Nenthorn, between Middlemarch and Macraes Flat, on Saturday.
Flower exporters hope ban will be lifted
Flower exporters hope ban will be lifted
Just weeks before harvest, paeony growers in the South are hoping they will be able to introduce measures to get around a United States ban on all New Zealand flowers and foliage imports.
Many keen to see kakapo
Many keen to see kakapo
More than 350 people from around the world have booked to see the kakapo Sirocco, one of the world's rarest parrots, at the Ulva Island bird sanctuary, Stewart Island, over the next six weeks.
Cartoonist entertains
Cartoonist entertains
Otago Daily Times cartoonist Garrick Tremain spoke about his work and gave details of his new book, 20 Years of Garrick Tremain at a New Zealand Book Month event at the Dunedin Public Library last night.
NZ sea lion programme
NZ sea lion programme
An education programme has been launched to help young people gain an understanding of New Zealand sea lions and the challenges they face in life.
Wandering penguin returned home
Wandering penguin returned home
A young yellow-eyed penguin got its first look at the beaches of home yesterday after a three-week "OE" in the North Island.
Extending a helping hand to native New Zealanders
Extending a helping hand to native New Zealanders
Nik Hurring has spent many hours looking after injured and sick kereru. Rebecca Fox talks to the winner of the 2008 Otago Conservation Awards - Coastal.
Dunedin frog man wins zoo award
Dunedin frog man wins zoo award
University of Otago frog researcher Dr Phil Bishop has been named Auckland Zoo's inaugural Conservationist of the Year.
Dunedin to host 2013 Special Olympics
Dunedin to host 2013 Special Olympics
Dunedin will host the Special Olympics National Summer Games in 2013, a four-day event tipped to bring an estimated $2.5 million to $3 million to the city.
Macraes shows rare diversity
Macraes shows rare diversity
Macraes Flat is well known as the home of New Zealand's critically endangered skinks, but now there is a new claim - that the area has the highest diversity of threatened plants for its size in the country.
Sea lions' curiosity endearing
Sea lions' curiosity endearing
It was unexpected, but the New Zealand sea lion's curiosity and interest in humans won Shaun McConkey over.
Celebration of conservation
Celebration of conservation
Connecting people with conservation work and issues in their area is the aim of this year's Conservation Week, with its theme being Meet the Locals.
To celebrate the week, a range of activities will be held throughout Otago, from planting days to picking up litter.