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Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Decision on proposed Waikato medical school near: Reti
Fernando Hernandez. Photo: Peter McIntosh D-Day is approaching for the fate of the proposed Waikato medical school. At Tuesday's parliamentary tertiary education committee, Green MP Francisco Hernandez asked Universities Minister Dr Shane Reti about the status of the project. Dr Reti said the cost-benefit analysis for the project had been completed and the government would be making a decision in a matter of weeks. The Waikato medical school proposal has proved controversial — the existing medical schools at Otago and Auckland universities argue they can deliver more medical school students more cheaply and efficiently. National campaigned on the third medical school at the 2023 election, but Act New Zealand made it part of its coalition agreement it would not like the project to go ahead without a detailed cost-benefit analysis. Documentation from Treasury, the Tertiary Education Commission and Ministry of Education have all expressed concern about the cost of the project, the logistical hurdles in establishing it and the speed at which the government hoped to complete it. Mr Hernandez said he was disappointed it appeared to still be a going concern. "It was disappointing to find out at [Tuesday's] select committee hearings that the Waikato medical school project is still continuing to lumber on between life and death. "Every moment of delay is another burden at our health system which is already at crisis point. The government must do the right thing and embrace the Green Budget which would invest in funding more places at Otago and Auckland, so that everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand can get the healthcare they need — sooner and for cheaper than the Waikato medical school proposal."
Otago Daily Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Southern Catholic Secondary Schools Junior Winter Tournament
Photo: Peter McIntosh Photo: Peter McIntosh Dimpho Tiou (left), of Trinity Catholic College, attempts to evade Sophia Talaese, of Verdon College. Photo: Peter McIntosh Ace De la Cruz, of St Peter's College, warms up for his basketball match yesterday. Tilly Murch (left), of Verdon College, and Elsie Anderson, of Trinity Catholic College, compete for the ball in the Southern Catholic Secondary Schools Junior Winter Tournament at the Edgar Centre yesterday. The tournament, hosted by Trinity Catholic College, also featured students from Verdon College, St Kevin's College, and St Peter's College. Netball and basketball were held at the Edgar Centre, rugby at Kettle Park and hockey at the McMillan Turf.
Otago Daily Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
New retailer opens doors in Dunedin
Photo: Peter McIntosh The country's newest retailer has opened its doors in Dunedin this week. The Outlet is in the old Torpedo7 store in Andersons Bay Rd which closed last month. Auckland-based Tahua Group Ltd, which owns Torpedo7 along with the likes of Burger King, Hannah's Shoes, Number One Shoes and Starbucks in New Zealand, converted 10 existing stores into an "off-price retail concept". Categories include apparel, footwear, adventure and outdoor gear, home and living, toys, health and beauty and gifts.
Otago Daily Times
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Council has ‘obligations to protect' endemic species
Regional endemics to Otago include the flightless Cromwell chafer beetle. Photo: Peter McIntosh Otago is home to 360 species found nowhere else in the world, a new report says. Otago Regional Council biodiversity senior scientist Scott Jarvie said as many as 88% of those regionally endemic species were identified as having heightened risks of extinction. The council had "statutory obligations to protect" those species, Dr Jarvie said. The list of species endemic to the region should be treated as preliminary, but his report would provide evidence to support biodiversity management across Otago, he said. Regional endemics to Otago include the recently described Otago shag. Photo: Oscar Thomas While digital record-keeping had enabled the creation of such an extensive list, a lack of information "about almost all the species" was identified as an issue. There were "lesser known taxonomic groups" such as fungi, freshwater invertebrates and spiders not included in the present list. And of the 360 species identified as endemic to the region, only 194, or about 54%, had been assessed nationally for their threat status. Otago was home to 25 nationally critical species, 15 nationally endangered species and six nationally vulnerable species, he said. Regional endemics to Otago include the nine non-migratory galaxiids. Photo: DOC "Well-known regional endemics to Otago include the flightless Cromwell chafer beetle, the large-bodied and spectacularly coloured Otago skink, the nine non-migratory galaxiids, and recently described Otago shag," Dr Jarvie said. The most numerous species group of "regional endemics" was invertebrates, with 302 species, he said. Indigenous vascular plants followed with 40 species. There were nine regionally endemic freshwater fish, six reptiles found nowhere else on the planet and two bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) — as well as the Otago shag. The fossil record and archaeological midden analysis found the large shags were once spread widely along the east coast of the South Island but after human arrival they became restricted to rocky cliffs and islands off Otago's coast. Regional endemics to Otago include the spectacularly coloured Otago skink. Photo: Carey Knox "Endemic species often have specialised adaptations that allow them to survive only in unique habitats. "Such specialisations often make them susceptible to the effects of environmental disturbances." The regionally endemic species list would soon be cross-referenced with a recently completed Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for terrestrial organisms, he said. Councillors will consider the report at today's science and resilience committee meeting.
Otago Daily Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
New retailer opens doors
Photo: Peter McIntosh The country's newest retailer has opened its doors in Dunedin this week. The Outlet is in the old Torpedo7 store in Andersons Bay Rd which closed last month. Auckland-based Tahua Group Ltd, which owns Torpedo7 along with the likes of Burger King, Hannah's Shoes, Number One Shoes and Starbucks in New Zealand, converted 10 existing stores into an "off-price retail concept". Categories include apparel, footwear, adventure and outdoor gear, home and living, toys, health and beauty and gifts.
