Fiona Ellis

Hundreds of young Otago rugby players faced off yesterday in a longstanding tradition of friendly rivalry at the Taieri Rugby Football Club grounds.

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand (HNZ) has declined to provide a detailed breakdown of cuts to the new Dunedin hospital, citing commercial sensitivity.

The Government’s decision to launch a lengthy cost-cutting exercise for the new Dunedin hospital is expected to cost it $27 million in consultancy fees and rising costs.

Hundreds of staff will be joined by the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) national president next week in a show of concern against mass layoffs at the University of Otago.

Government ministers were alarmed at the unexpected extent of the redesign work needed to slice $90 million from the new Dunedin hospital just 10 weeks before announcing the cuts last December.

There are no plans for the Dunedin City Council to back off the campaign against cuts to the new Dunedin hospital, its instigator says.

The Winter Energy Payment has been welcomed as "godsend" for older people by Grey Power Otago , but it fears many are still facing a difficult winter due to rising energy costs.

Melissa Vining has launched a complaint accusing the Government of deliberately keeping people in the dark over cancer treatment waiting times.

The Dunedin City Council is reducing activity on its "They Save We Pay" campaign against cuts to the new Dunedin hospital, Mayor Jules Radich says.