Lifelong railways enthusiast Ken Sloper will make his last trip between Dunedin and Pukerangi as Taieri Gorge Railway's senior driver today.

Sinkholes in the Esplanade at St Clair could get bigger over the next week, but the Dunedin City Council is happy the damage is contained to that immediate area.

A University of Otago building programme to the tune of more than $350 million will be "massively positive" for the Dunedin economy, Otago Chamber of Commerce president Peter McIntyre says.

The temporary freezing of Dunedin's economy in this week's snowfall "ground the city to a halt" and cost "upwards of $10 million," a commerce expert says.

Police have appealed for any sighting of Dunedin convicted murderer George Charles Trounson, who is wanted on a warrant to be recalled to prison.

Contractors continue to battle sea, sand and snow to shore up a gap under Dunedin's St Clair sea wall.

Holes, one large enough to swallow a bench, started appearing in a Dunedin street yesterday afternoon as big swells pounded the coast.

Dozens of revellers taking part in a "student flat crawl" damaged property and invaded a North Dunedin dairy.

Otago Boys' High School rector Clive Rennie is backing the decisions of two teachers who had to be rescued along with 10 pupils from the Rock and Pillar Range on Saturday night.

Gareth Lawrence Smither, who murdered his ex-girlfriend in Dunedin almost 16 years ago, has had some limited unescorted ground leave, a New Zealand Parole Board decision notes.

Dunedin's central city parking is in for a shake-up as part of a push to improve cycle safety on the city's one-way streets.

The University of Otago boosted Dunedin's economy by $780.8 million last year, a new report shows.

A protester who was hit by a motorist in Dunedin while blocking a McDonald's drive-in claims he was faced with two options – "go under his vehicle, or go over it".

A crime-fighting device capable of detecting dodgy drivers, unsafe vehicles and criminals is being trialled by police on Dunedin streets.

McDonald's says protesters who blocked a Dunedin drive-through put themselves and customers at risk, after allegations that two picketers were run over.

A Dunedin ACC beneficiary is to be paid $10,000 after the Crown admitted a police search of his home was unlawful.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull has apologised for his "slight" against the Dalai Lama after sparking a minor protest over comments about the spiritual leader's upcoming visit.

An Oamaru man who admitted indecently assaulting three women in a Dunedin swimming pool was remanded in custody for sentence next month.

The University of Otago took a "very serious" look at the implications of hosting the Dalai Lama before opting to let him speak on campus during his visit to Dunedin next month.

South Dunedin cat owners are being warned to keep their pets indoors as police investigate an alleged feline serial killer stalking the suburb.

A life ban for a lawyer accused of stealing $3 million from clients was "the only appropriate penalty", the Law Society says.

A Dunedin father says he was tossed around his house "like paper" by his son trying to go cold turkey from the synthetic cannabis product, K2.

A machete, mallet and large wooden sticks were seized from dairy owners arming themselves against robbers targeting synthetic cannabis, Dunedin police allege.

There are fears Dunedin could lose out to Auckland as a result of proposed changes to the way the New Zealand Transport Agency allocates funding for roading projects.

The fight against the sale of synthetic cannabis in Gisborne has stepped up with the support of community leaders.

A holocaust survivor and one of the last remaining Jews to be saved by Oskar Schindler hopes her story can help prevent the horrors she witnessed happening again.