Conservation authorities are ramping up efforts to protect and nurture the local yellow-eyed penguin population.

The latest survey of nesting sites has revealed numbers are at their lowest in 15 years.

And locals are being urged to do their bit to help the endangered species.

Two locals are among the recipients of the latest AMP Scholarships.

Each is receiving up to $10,000 to further develop their projects.

59 year old Stuart Gunn is working on developing New Zealand's first national GPS emergency alert app.

It's based on his text and email alert service which sends warnings to users about all manner of hazards.

And 44 year old Melanie Grant is researching cell therapy for cancer patients.

She'll use the money to study in America and bring technology back to New Zealand.

Local workers across several industries are getting involved in strike action.

Staff at Bunnings Dunedin walked off the job yesterday afternoon, protesting the company's plan to change rosters.

Medical physicists at the Southern District Health Board are also involved in further strike action.

It follows bargaining tactics earlier this year.

And Department of Conservation staff throughout Otago are part of a nationwide course of industrial action.

They're unhappy with conditions set by the crown entity, following a major restructure.

The merger of Aoraki Polytechnic and the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology has been confirmed by the government.

The new institution will initially be called CPIT Aoraki, although it's likely to get a new name next year.

It'll include existing campuses in Oamaru, Timaru, Ashburton and Christchurch.

The Aoraki campus in Dunedin is being taken over by Otago Polytechnic, which will run its programmes based on demand.

The move comes after 18 months of planning as well as public consultation.