Vaughan Elder

A talk by University of Otago emeritus professor Jim Flynn on rising IQ levels has been viewed almost 800,000 times after being put online last week.

University of Otago scientists hope to reveal some of Carisbrook's secrets by running DNA tests on soil taken from the soon-to-be-demolished ground.

Leaked documents show the AgResearch management team evaluating restructuring plans pushed for more jobs at Invermay, not downsizing the facility.

Shifting Invermay jobs north might be part of a wider Government push, which is seeing the rest of the South Island being ''cannibalised'' to support Christchurch, Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull says.

The University of Otago is refusing to respond to reports it used ''strong-arm'' tactics to prevent the Otago University Students' Association buying a bar, while the students' association is rubbishing the claim.

There are fears a Government plan to change the way universities are run will result in students and the local community having less of a say.

A Dunedin Night'n Day dairy is set to close by the end of this month, with the loss of nine jobs.

An announcement Anadarko is set to drill a $US100 million test well off the Otago coast in January is good news for a Dunedin economy ''struggling for jobs'', Otago Chamber of Commerce president Peter McIntyre says.

Donaghys is bucking a trend of decline in Dunedin's manufacturing sector, taking on about 16 extra staff and making rope for Team New Zealand's America's Cup campaign.

Dunedin construction companies are sending staff north for the Christchurch rebuild because of a lack of work in Dunedin.

The head of AgResearch has been criticised over comments he made stressing the importance of ''regional innovation'' in the Waikato, with politicians saying the remarks contradict his plan to ''gut'' Invermay.

New Zealand's reputation as having the best food hygiene standards in the world has gone ''down the toilet'' because of the Fonterra botulism scare, a University of Otago professor says.

The University of Otago has a responsibility to help students drink responsibly and this could include building a new pub on campus, vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne says.

Student behaviour in Dunedin appears to be improving, with a significant drop in students being dealt with by the University of Otago for serious incidents.

Staff at Invermay are angry at their treatment by AgResearch management after being told the organisation is sticking with plans to slash jobs at the Dunedin facility.

The University of Otago remains in discussions with AgResearch over its plan to slash jobs at Invermay and hopes to ''influence'' its restructuring plans.

International students contributed $165 million to Otago in the 2012-13 year, making it the second most reliant on foreign students of all New Zealand regions.

The University of Otago is ''ecstatic'' after two of its emerging researchers were awarded $800,000 Rutherford Discovery Fellowships.

Aoraki Polytechnic's financial woes continue, with the institution facing a potential deficit of more than $2 million and more than 20% fewer students than forecast.

Frances Hodgkins Retirement Village will lose its tag as the ''pink palace'' once a six-month renovation project is finished.