Children's Day is being celebrated on Sunday. A number of activities are taking place in Dunedin, including a picnic organised to coincide with Women's Day. From 11.30 on Sunday morning, the South Dunedin branch of the Labour Party is putting on games, face painting and more at the Navy Park on Oxford Street, South Dunedin. ›read more

Horrific cases of animal abuse have shocked and saddened many New Zealanders over recent years, including National MP Simon Bridges. Despite our nation having a major problem, in New Zealand's history less than ten people have been sentenced to prison for animal-welfare offending, and Bridges says it's time we stood-up for the rights of those who can't speak for themselves. ›see story

An Invercargill mum has been rewarded for making the choice to breastfeed. Roxanne Thornicroft has won the Otago and Southland section of a Ministry of Health breastfeeding photo competition. Organiser Rosie Gordon says the competition aimed to support and celebrate breastfeeding and, in particular, breastfeeding in public. ›read more

Green Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei has spoken about how a fair ACC system provides support to those who need it at a rally held this afternoon at Parliament. She also repeated the call to fund ACC on a year-by-year basis which will stop massive levy increases and cuts to ACC services. ›read more

The Law Commission released a paper this week on the misuse of drugs act, saying patterns of drug use have changed since the introduction of the act in 1975. Harsher penalties for large scale drug dealing and a case for more flexible approaches to possession of small quantities of drugs for personal use are on the table. ›read more

The Southland District Health Board has voted in favour of amalgamating with the Otago District Health Board. At the SHDB's meeting in Invercargil this afternoon, the topic was strongly debated, splitting the vote, which ended up narrowly in favour of joining the two boards. ›read more

Implications for the tertiary sector are high on the radar of Student Associations after recent announcements from the government proposing changes to taxation and GST. The President of the Otago University Students Association says her reaction to the changes is one of concern for students nationwide. ›see story

Widespread concern regarding changes to the way children are graded has led to a nationwide campaign by the education sector union NZEI. The campaign bus rolled up in Dunedin today, aiming to spread their message that National Standards need to be trialled before being tested on our children. ›see story

Prime Minister John Key opened New Zealand's Parliament at 2pm this afternoon. Speakers were passionate, and the debate so intense, the speaker was forced to call members to order several times. ›see story

The Otago District Health Board voted unanimously yesterday in favour of merging to create a single DHB across the Otago Southland region. The Southland DHB board will consider the recommendation and vote at their meeting next week. ›read more

Figures released today by the Department of Labour reveal the country's unemployment rate has jumped to 7.3%. That number is significantly higher than was being predicted, but those in the social service sector say it's just the tip of the iceberg. ›see story

Those who chose to quit smoking as their New Years resolution should already be seeing the benefits to health and pocket, and will be pleased to not be affected by potential increases on tobacco prices that may be introduced later this year. ›see story

New Zealand music has received a Christmas present of sorts. Iconic recording label Flying Nun is back in the hands of its fonder Roger Sheppard, who launched the label in 1981 on the backs of Dunedin bands The Clean and The Verlains, among others. ›read more

After much consultation, Prime Minister John Key said last night that the flag which represents many Maori will fly from Government buildings on Waitangi Day next year. However the site of the Tino Rangitiratanga flag flying from the DCC building is nothing new. ›see story

The Council of Trade Unions says information released by the Government shows women in the public sector are significantly underpaid and discriminated against. The Union claims gender pay gaps in the public service range from 3-35%, from 18-24% in Crown research institutes. ›read more

The climate summit in Copenhagen is entering its second week, and Prime Minister John Key will join other world leaders soon. With the issue in the public eye, activists the world over staged vigils over the weekend, including here in Dunedin. Members of Dunedin's 350.org group held a candlelight vigil on Saturday night at Woodhaugh Gardens. ›see story