Vaughan Elder

A star video-game developer has pulled back from slamming Gigatown as ''a joke'', but says delays accessing high-speed internet have held back plans for expansion in Dunedin.

Dunedin's opportunity to become the world's first ''dark sky city'' could be lost if the replacement of the city's street lights is rushed.

Dunedin's Cargills Hotel is to close, with the loss of about 40 jobs, but will be replaced with a 4.5-star motel.

Inventive sparrows have been reaping the rewards of their cleverness after learning to open the automatic doors at Dunedin Hospital.

Reality sank in for dozens of South Dunedin residents yesterday as the extent of flood damage became clear.

A Northeast Valley Valley resident was in for a shock when he looked out the window to see a slip had opened up a ''canyon'' in his section, leaving his kitchen hanging in mid-air.

''Panic'' set in for the woman living closest to the epicentre of the quake which shook Otago on Monday night, and the earth continued to ''grind'' and ''crack'' after it hit.

The fate of a $15 million Countdown supermarket proposed for Mosgiel is set to be decided at a hearing, which begins today.

Forget Hawaii. A bemused resident has set up Dunedin's answer to the tropical paradise on a controversial St Clair traffic island.

Residents  are weighing up their next move after consent was given for a child-care centre which they fear will ruin their quiet Dunedin street.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) staff have thrown their support behind only 175 of more than 900 new properties proposed under the Queenstown Lakes Housing Accord.

The Dunedin City Council's support for a Mosgiel aquatic facility means the project is one step closer to proceeding, but there is still ''a lot of work to be done''.

Police have begun a ''comprehensive'' investigation into yesterday's shooting in Purakaunui as a 34-year-old woman appeared in court in connection with the incident.

Cool weather and the threat of rain did not stop more than 1500 people from marching on Dunedin's Octagon today as part of nationwide protest action against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

The Notorious Mongrel Mob and Black Power could be coming to a lawn near you.

A large company has chosen Dunedin as its ''preferred location'' to set up an operation that could bring 200 jobs to the city, Mayor Dave Cull says.