Around the motu: Tess Brunton in Dunedin

The Waitaki District Council says it avoided a possible environmental disaster by removing thousands of tonnes of historic waste. The New Zealand Nurses Organisation has petitioned Parliament to roll back its cuts to the new Dunedin Hospital and Health NZ has not said what it is spending on the consultants it has looking into retrofitting the old ward tower block. Otago Regional Council is considering how to tackle a significant flood hazard risk in a Dunedin suburb. And the government has earmarked more than $2 million to expand an aquaculture business hub in Southland. RNZ reporter Tess Brunton in Dunedin covering Otago and Southland.