Fun fact - the blue on the outside of the Whitestone Cheese Diner & Deli is colour-matched to the company’s famous Windsor Blue cheese mould.Attention to detail like this helped Annabel Berry secure two trophies at the national 2024/25 Resene Total Colour Awards held in Auckland earlier this month.Annabel Berry Creative Co won the Commercial Exterior Colour Maestro Award and the Commercial Interior Public and Retail Space Award for her work on the diner, which opened in December 2023. “I'm proud to get this because . . . I definitely threw my heart and soul into it. It was a massive undertaking,” Annabel says.Whitestone Cheese is co-owned by Annabel and her husband Simon. The couple continue to build on the business which was founded by Simon’s parents Bob and Sue Berry in 1987 as a way of diversifying their farming operation.“Being the family business as well added that additional pressure, but good pressure,” Annabel says. “It was nice to work with the family to do something new, and they were just so great at giving me a real broad scope.”The awards judges' comments describe the diner as “irresistibly charming”.“The fun, playful and nostalgic colour palette draws you in with a sense of anticipation about what lies within.”It puts a “refreshing spin” on vintage-inspired hues.“An exemplary showcase of the power of colour that has turned an overlooked building into a must-visit landmark,” the judges say.Annabel says she chose the exterior blue - Lynchpin, through Resene’s colour-palette generator.“So I took a photo of the veining in the Windsor Blue and then put it into the colour-palette generator and it produced a whole list of like 40 different blues . . . and I reviewed those blues and sort of tried to colour match it to the best blue.”The orange-based colours inside and out were inspired by Sue Berry’s love of sunsets, Annabel says. She dedicated her awards on the night to her mother-in-law.The blue on the exterior of the building was colour-matched with Whitestone's famous Windsor Blue cheese. Photo: Supplied/FacebookThe interior of the building is praised by judges as a “cosy, welcoming space” which perfectly balances modern aesthetics and timeless charm.“This interior blends retro with contemporary features, paying homage to nostalgic memories.”They commend the “painstaking care and attention to detail”.“No surface has been overlooked . . . The colour use is simply captivating.” Annabel says her goal in reviving the Art Deco building, formerly a red brick cafe and hotel, was to ensure it stood out. “It had to be that beacon when people were driving past . . . so people could see it from a distance.”She said the success of the year-long renovation, inside and out, was due to the quality of local tradespeople.“The people we worked with, none of this would have happened without them. They went above and beyond to get this project done as fast as possible . . . which shows that you can do something that's nationally competitive using local people, and it doesn't matter where you're based, you can actually achieve a world-class finish with the tradespeople that we have. So, I'm incredibly proud of them and all their work.”Darryn Stewart Painters and Decorators were behind the painting and Annabel says the team is amazing.“Because clearly this is not a standard project.”Colour-matching everything was a focus of the interior design, Annabel says. Photo: Supplied/FacebookAnnabel says she was particularly thrilled with the interior award. “The one thing they focused on was the fact that we had colour-matched everything.”“Just every inch of this place was considered from a colour perspective,” she says. “Which the judges picked up on, so it's just having that harmonious tone throughout.”Although she has closed her mainstreet store, Annabel continues to work on commercial design projects from home.“There are other residential designers in town and my focus is purely on commercial, because I can bring that branding, marketing and business experience alongside the interior design, and that is where I am at my best, is when I can not only help them with their interior, but also assist with developing their business and getting it to the next level.”Many commercial clients who want an interior designer know where they want their business to be, but are not sure how to get there, she says.“So they're kind of just looking for that advice and guidance on how to make a space feel how they want it to feel. “A lot of businesses are like, 'why isn't my business working? What's not happening here?' The mood or the feel or the vibe's not right, but interiors can dramatically change that, and that's what I love doing, is looking from an outside perspective at someone's business and just standing beside them and helping them through that process.”Annabel’s recognition shows “North Otago people can achieve at a high level”, she says.“I just want to encourage others to keep pushing.”

Former All Whites defender Ben Sigmund believes the current side can win a game at next year's World Cup.New Zealand qualified for the 2026 tournament in North America with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia in Auckland on Monday.That guaranteed them a place in the finals as the winner of the Oceania region and they become just the third New Zealand side to feature in the finals following the 1982 team in Spain and the 2010 side in South Africa.Sigmund was a member of that side in 2010 that drew all of their group games. The '82 team had lost all three of their group games.However, Sigmund believed this side could win a game in the finals."A hundred percent, those players are all up to a world-class standard," Sigmund told RNZ."Imagine if they got a win and a draw that would be something to be really proud of."The next World Cup increases to 48 nations with 12 groups of four teams.The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams progress to the round of 32.The All Whites game against New Caledonia was not all one-way traffic, with New Caledonia putting a lot of pressure on the New Zealand defence.The first goal was not scored until the 61st minute and that provided some concerns for many New Zealand fans, including Sigmund."They were a bit nervous looking and I think they thought it was just going to happen for them."New Zealand fans and supporters during the New Zealand All Whites v New Caledonia, FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier, Eden Park. Photo: PHOTOSPORT via RNZSigmund thought the substitution of an injured Chris Wood for Kosta Barbarouses was probably a good thing."Kosta was going to nip around and be a pest up front."He scored and set one up and deserves some accolades because he changed the game for New Zealand."Sigmund is impressed by the squad that has been assembled with most playing in top leagues around the world and a number from the two professional A-League teams in New Zealand."It's a young team which is great to see and what an exciting opportunity for these players to go to a World Cup."Football in New Zealand is on the up and it's just going to get bigger and better and it is exciting for all the young kids that want to aspire to be professional footballers in this country."New Zealand became the second team to qualify for the World Cup after Japan.As hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States are all included.New Caledonia now go to a six team Intercontinental play-off where two place are available to qualify for the World Cup. - RNZ

The Network Waitaki 2024 Sportsperson of the Year is Waitaki Valley-born Coast to Coast winner Hamish Elliott.Hamish, a former Waitaki Boys’ High School student who now lives in Wanaka, came out on top in his fourth attempt at what some might describe as the ultimate multisport event.  Hamish was also named Waitaki Sportsman of the Year at the awards evening, held at the Waitaki Recreation Centre on Monday night (17 March).The evening was a celebration of Waitaki sport and the hard work that goes into being among the country’s best - not only by the athletes, but also coaches and officials. It was organised by North Otago Sports Bodies Association, with former All Black Kees Meeuws as the guest speaker.Other winners were Otago cricketer Molly Loe, named Sportswoman of the Year, with younger brother Angus named Junior Sportsman for his rowing accomplishments.Junior Sportswoman was Emma Gillies for her achievements in equestrian, while Team of the Year was the Ōamaru Rowing Club Novice Coxed Four.Ryan Mountney interviews former All Black Kees Meeuws. Photo: Supplied/Sports Images NZMasters Athlete of the Year was Kona Ironman Mark Esselink, while the Emerging Talent awards went to Lucy Hoy (athletics) and Vinn Kennedy (touch).New Zealand Wheelchair Rugby representative Jacinta Richardson won the Athlete with a Disability Award.Former New Zealand Netball administrator, coach and umpire Anne Taylor (OBE) and former All Black and middle distance runner Bruce Hunter were both inducted into the North Otago Sports Hall of Fame.On the more administrative side, Coach of the Year was hockey's Mark Holthusen, while Lynda Wilson (rowing) received the Stewart Mitchell Award for Official in Sport, and Hannah Miller (hockey) received the Denis Birtles Memorial trophy for Service to Sport.The collection of awards handed out on Monday night. Photo: Supplied/Sports Images NZThe full list of winners and event sponsors is:  Loan & Merc Functions Denis Birtles Memorial Service to Sport Hannah Miller (hockey)LJ Hooker Stewart Mitchell Award for Official in Sport Lynda Wilson (rowing)Sutherlands Men's & Ladieswear Athlete with a Disability Jacinta Richardson (wheelchair rugby)Adair Craik Chartered Accountant Female Emerging Talent AwardLucy Hoy (athletics)Adair Craik Chartered Accountant Male Emerging Talent Award Vinn Kennedy (touch)Mortimers Garage Coach of the Year Mark Holthusen (hockey)Hi Flo Plumbing Team of the Year Oamaru Rowing Novice Coxed Four TK Hire Masters Athlete of the Year Mark Esselink (multisport)Milligans Food Group Junior Sportswoman of the YearEmma Gillies (equestrian)Plunket Electrical Junior Sportsman of the Year Angus Loe (rowing)Dean & Coleman Law Sportswoman of the Year Molly Loe (cricket)Dean & Coleman Law Sportsman of the Year Hamish Elliott (multisport)Network Waitaki Sportsperson of the Year (Supreme Award) Hamish ElliottThe New Zealand Whisky Collection Waitaki Sports Hall of Fame Inductees:Anne Taylor (netball)Bruce Hunter (athletics & rugby)

John Ward Knox thinks he and the Crucible Artist Residency are a perfect match.The Karitane-based artist says he’s always been interested in “processes and craft and the skills it takes to make things”.“So it seemed like a perfect opportunity for me to both have the freedom and ability to make uninterrupted for four months, but also to learn a new set of skills.”John joins Dunedin-based artist Motoko Kikkawa in the second round of the residency pilot programme being run by the Hynds Foundation and Gillies MetalTech, at the Ōamaru foundry.The two are already good friends after they met through the Dunedin music scene when John moved south from Auckland 12 years ago.“I've known her for a decade-plus, so it's an easy relationship, which is good.”  Creativity has always been in John's DNA and what he has found most intriguing so far in the four weeks he has been at Gillies is learning about the properties of working with molten metal and all the “intricacies” that involves.“Because there's so much problem solving involved in what they do in the foundry. So aside from the stuff that they have and have got all worked out, all of their solutions to casting they're all bespoke and they're all hugely interesting.“There's so many different things that you have to keep in your mind's eye at any one time, like the way that metal flows. “You have to think of it as a liquid, rather than as solid, because obviously in its final form it becomes solid, but when you're actually making the moulds and making the patterns, you have to think about it being something that liquid has to flow through.“So it's really nice just sort of getting in touch with that sort of metallurgical part of the process.”Working with this medium is a rare opportunity that John appreciates many artists will never get to do, and others would perhaps shy away from.“I don't think ever in my life I would have found myself doing this if they hadn't offered the possibility.“Because it's not a traditional sculpting material . . . it has such hard parameters on what it can and can't do.“Most people, when they're of an artistic bent, would want an intricate form and to not have to worry about all the things that need to happen with a two-part process.One of John Ward Knox's planning sketches for his spiral staircase.“So with the sand moulding where your object has to be able to come out easily, basically, you have to design what you're sculpting to the parameters of the process. And I think that's just something that would put a barrier between most artists engaging with this medium.“But that's what I'm really enjoying about it, is tailoring what I hope to make, to the process,” he says.John wants to test the boundaries of what he can achieve during his time at the foundry, and is working on a spiral staircase.He wants it to be practical - an object that has function as well as artistic merit - but says foundry staff are “healthily sceptical”. “Of maybe the ability of everyone involved, but specifically my ability, to get this project across the line. “Because it's not only a time constraint, a material constraint, a man-hours constraint, but also it's an engineering challenge.”The goal is to have 15 steps - a complete rotation is 12 - and so far there is no “Plan B”, John says.He has learned “a lot of what not to do”, but says testing the limits early on of what will and won't work is giving him the best tools to make the process a lot quicker when he has finalised his templates.John is also learning to plan a lot further ahead than he is used to with his work, in terms of costs involved and feasibility over the time and effort this will take.He is hoping to make each individual step as light as possible so they’re easier to work with and the work “doesn't end up costing a bomb”. The staircase appeals to John because it is practical, but also has beauty.Iron has a similar appeal.“Because it's only really got compressive strength. So it really only resists weight by compression, that's its primary material strength. “It doesn't have a lot of ductility or tensile strength or anything like that, so essentially, the art, like, you're engaging with architecture because you're talking about weight displacement in the same way that stone is used in cathedrals.“A lot of your forms end up . . . if you're building them to be structurally sound, they echo these religious buildings that are shaped like that because of physics.“So things that we associate with spirituality have come about through practical reasons and have sort of been associated with them, because architects have had to work within these constraints.“And iron's got the same principles. So it's been really interesting thinking about architecture and iron's place within aesthetic and architectural movements and how that’s guiding what I've been making, and it'll guide my final form as well.“So it might end up looking a little bit churchy, which is interesting because it's never been an interest of mine before, but it's just the way the material sort of expresses itself.”This will be the largest sculpture John has attempted, in terms of weight. He has made bigger installations but with lighter materials. He says it’s interesting to compare his and Motoko’s work and methodology.“She's coming up against problems that I'm not, and I'm coming up against ones that she's not, so it's nice.”In his weekends, John heads back home to Karitane, where he is working on a wooden sculpture and a series of prints, which will be part of an exhibition at Wellington’s Robert Hill Gallery starting on April 3.The works John and Motoko make will be exhibited at the end of their residency, probably around King's Birthday Weekend.

By RNZ Rural journalist Susan MurrayAn AgResearch scientist is aiming to develop a traditional Japanese product with a unique New Zealand twist.Dr Renyu Zhang is the winner of the Meat Industry Association's inaugural Dragon's Den competition - set up to challenge Kiwis to develop ground-breaking ideas to advance the red meat processing industry.Zhang said he hopes to develop a unique New Zealand flavoured dried meat flake that can be used as a seasoning, snack or meal ingredient, similar to traditional Japanese product Katsuobushi, which is dried tuna flakes with umami flavour."We have exciting opportunities to turn low-value streams from the meat industry into high-value, uniquely Kiwi products that can strengthen our global presence and add to our unique Kiwi taste profile. I look forward to working with industry partners to bring this vision to life," he said."I think that's a beauty of New Zealand because we bring in multiple cultures... we're bringing different kind of thinking ...immigrants - they're bringing their unique background and also thinking into how can we make something to contribute to make New Zealand unique products for supplying to the rest of the world."Zhang's proposal for the high-value flake would use meat from mechanically-deboned meat (MDM) which is normally sold as a by-product and worth only a few dollars a kilogram.Zhang said New Zealand has the right facilities to produce a dried product.He doesn't have an answer for the special Kiwi flavour but has some ideas as he started thinking about the unique New Zealand taste journey many years ago.He said a Google search said a New Zealand flavour was tomato sauce but "we can do better than that"."We probably can use our native plants when it is seasoning. Or can we develop a unique process to generate the defined flavour. Unique to New Zealand. .... we can define that flavour and turn it into a New Zealand product that stands out."We have our own IP, so the rest of the world they can cannot easily mimic or copy our product. So (the meat flakes) will make our New Zealand industry stay strong and become a strong competitor to the rest of the rest of the world," he said.Like the Japanese Katsuobushi, the meat flakes will have the umami (savoury) factor and various options will be tested on trial taste panellists.Zhang said it could take a couple of years to develop the meat flake and the Dragon's Den $10,000 prize will help develop the concept.The other finalists were:Spray Chill Optimisation: Using machine learning to train spray chillers and optimise automated processing of carcasses. The project was led by Frank Phillips from Fulcrum NZ Ltd and supported by his colleagues Kev O'Reilly and Paul Nalder.Nutrient Enriched Meat: A mix of meat and organs to produce foods for the elderly, athletes and women into consumer friendly formats. It was led by Carolina Realini from AgResearch.Mycellium enhanced Hybrid Meat: Mixing meat with mushroom mycelium, using dairy byproducts to produce a hybrid product rich in dietary fibre and with reduced fat and cholesterol. Led by Maya Tangestani from Mara Bio.AI Mapping of Organ Meats: Using AI to design novel nutritional products, high in nutrients and low in production costs. Based on hyperspec mapping of organs. Led by Christine Tash and Yash Dixit of AgResearch Limited. - RNZ

Japanese-born artist Motoko Kikkawa loves to challenge herself when it comes to art.“In the art world, a mistake is not a mistake,” she says. “That’s upside down. We celebrate the mistake.”That’s also what she enjoys about New Zealand, and why she decided to move here from Tokyo about 20 years ago.“Everyone recommended me, oh, you should go to New Zealand . . . because it's opposite. Everything is opposite.”She says “the rules” are different here than in Japan.Motoko is one of the new artists taking part in the Crucible Artist Residency, about a month into the pilot programme’s second phase.The residency programme was launched by the Hynds Foundation and Gillies MetalTech foundry at the foundry, last year, and Karitane-based artist John Ward Knox is also taking part this time around. The pair follow on from Karen Aitken and Sian Quennell Torrington. Motoko has been living in Dunedin since she moved to New Zealand and graduated from the Dunedin School of Art in 2010.She is having fun in Ōamaru, she says.Learning how to use the foundry, with the help of staff, means she gets to extend the way she expresses herself through her art.“It’s very, very fun, because I love doing new things.”She says someone once told her, her work is very organic.“I work with my feelings, not logic.“I am a very logical person but I don't make logical art, I follow the feeling.”Motoko's artwork for this residency began as the inside of a Census envelope. Photo: Ashley SmythShe has always enjoyed making contemporary art and likes using materials she finds lying around - like rubbish.The patterns for the work she is doing as part of her residency came from the inside of the Census form envelope she has been holding onto.“The envelope was black and white, and, wow, it's very cool, and I wanted to keep it . . . And I didn't plan anything, just made the cutout.”Her cutout shape is inspired by seaweed.“Because seaweed is really beautiful, flowing. And when it's dry, it's very beautiful, and this is kind of our life.”The works she is making are painstakingly intricate. Once she had her shape, she photocopied it onto a transparent sheet, and then played around with putting duplicates of the same design together and on top of each other to make different forms.“So depending on how you put it on, completely different things come up,” Motoko says. She took photos of the different patterns, and is using them as the templates for the moulds she makes for casting in the forge. The templates have been laser-cut from wood, and then the edges rounded, to make it easier to pull out of the sand moulds the molten metal is poured into. “That took a looong time”, she laughs. “I didn’t know how to use it, I didn’t know what materials were good.”Now that Motoko has her first piece of work out of the forge, she is left with the task of refining it, and smoothing out all the edges with a small metal sanding tool.She is hoping to make at least three pieces in the 16 weeks she has at the forge, to show how the idea works.Playing with the shapes has made her realise that symmetry looks “very comfortable”.“If it is symmetry, or perfect, we, I feel, maybe everyone feel, kind of comfortable. People think it's cool, but at the same time, boring,” Motoko says.“Maybe, how about a little bit of not too similar . . . could be interesting.”Some of the shapes Motoko has come up with by layering her template in different ways. Photo: Ashley SmythIn her breaks from working on her Crucible pieces, Motoko produces artwork using watercolours and calligraphy ink.She paints, and then draws delicate and intricate details within the paintings.“It's asymmetrical, but balanced,” she says. “So, I think my work has all ended up about the world . . . Helping each other and fighting with each other, and carrying on the life.“I think this way of thinking is a very Asian, Buddhism way of thinking - I'm not living by myself, I'm part of everyone's life . . . It's like we are sitting in a swimming pool or a common bath, and everyone is connected.” She says the work just appears without her thinking.“I just follow.”She enjoys creating intricate art, using small things such as grains of rice, which take a lot of time. But because she finds it fun, it’s easy, she says. Motoko says Ōamaru is perfect for her, because she doesn’t drive and can walk everywhere she needs to go, and it’s easy to meet people.One of the artworks Motoko has done during her residency. Photo: Motoko Kikkawa“Everyone looks very friendly and happy.“I think young people in Ōamaru are thinking Ōamaru is small and boring, but from overseas people, it's ‘wow’!”Once she has finished with the residency, Motoko has plans to use grass for her next project.“I like to do new things. To enjoy the life,” she says. “I always look at science for new discovery or new idea.”As we grow up, we are taught what things in nature are good and bad, Motoko says. “But actually we don't need to think like that . . . this is what I’m thinking.“I'm always trying to make beautiful. Also new . . . I love to surprise myself.” An exhibition of Motoko's and John's works will be held towards the end of their residencies, at around King's Birthday Weekend.

By RNZ Regional senior journalist Tess Brunton (5min read)When you think about a New Zealand delicacy, it's hard to go past a plump Bluff oyster.Whether eagerly plucked straight from the pottle or freshly shucked and served with champagne, bluffies are in high demand across the motu from March to August.It was an early start for skipper Greg Mead, who leaves the Bluff wharf about 4am in the morning and headed into the Foveaux Strait.The volatile stretch of water was not for the faint-hearted, but he was used to it and Rakiura protected them from the worst of the large, rolling souwesterly swell.A boat dredges for Bluff oysters. Photo: Supplied/ Tony Smith via RNZRelated stories:Bluff oysters looking good as the season startsThe regulars helping keep New Zealand's fine dining restaurants afloatA rival to the cheese roll? The story of the Hawke's Bay meatball"You definitely get some rough days out there. Those days aren't so nice, a bit of wind and waves and things like that," he said."But the good, nice flat days make up for it and you enjoy your job a lot more when it's nice and calm, that's for sure."It took about an hour-and-a-half to get to the oyster grounds and then he and his staff of four hit the ground running, getting their dredges in the water and towing them along the sea floor.Boats sit at the wharf in Bluff. Photo: Supplied via RNZThey pull up about four times an hour with his crew sorting through to find oysters that live in the sand and gravel 35 to 40 metres below.He works for Marina Fish & Oysters, the family business.Fishing and oysters have been in their blood for about five generations.What's behind the hard mahi that goes into Bluff oysters?Listen: Checkpoint What's behind the hard mahi that goes into Bluff oysters? (1 January 2021)"It's pretty cool to be involved in a generational family business. Everyone in the family's pretty passionate about it and cares about the fishery so yeah, we want to look after it the best we can and keep it going for generations to come," he said.The days were long, usually not returning to shore until 1-3pm, and they felt longer when days were darker and winter began to bite.The first month of the season always amazed him - they could never keep up with demand regardless of what the season was like.He preferred his bluffies cooked - crumbed, kilpatrick or battered from a fish and chip shop, but said it took a lot of mahi behind the scenes to get them on the plate.Marina Fish & Oysters skipper Greg Mead says they can never keep up with the demand during the first month, regardless of what the season is like. Photo: Tony Smith via RNZ"It's not only the boats that do the hard work to get them onto the plate. Once they're unloaded, they go into the factory and they're all opened by hand and then there's packers in the factory that are individually counting them and pottling them and then you've got the freight companies," he said."There's quite a lot of sets of hands touch an oyster before it gets to the public."Barnes Wild Bluff Oysters manager Graeme Wright said the last few years haven't been too kind to the industry, battling some difficult weather and a drop in quality.But this season was off to a better start and the future was looking bright, he said."Definitely seeing lots and lots of little juvenile oysters this year. In actual fact, we're even seeing oysters still even spawning, which is we don't normally see at this time of the year," he said.He looked for a good, plump Bluffie - not necessarily the biggest - with a crisp, clean, salty blast.While he liked his oysters straight from the source, he wasn't too fussy."To be on the boat and have it straight from the sea is definitely priority but at the end of the day, I'm happy any way. I'll take kilpatrick or deep fried or crumbed," Wright said.Thousands of people are expected to pay homage to the salty taonga during the Bluff Oyster and Food Festival in May. - RNZ

In an age of rapid technological change, Literacy Aotearoa continues to be a lifeline for Ōamaru residents of all ages, extending far beyond the traditional "three Rs" of reading, writing and arithmetic.From helping a 98-year-old navigate her mobile phone to assisting young apprentices with dyslexia, there is far more on offer than many would expect.Core literacy and numeracy skills remain fundamental to their work, Ōamaru adult tutor Ruth Blair says."We help people improve their reading, writing, spelling, communication, and math skills."Literacy Aotearoa offers a diverse range of programmes, including group classes that cover unit standards (levels one and two) in literacy, numeracy and computer skills along with budgeting, becoming work-ready and learner licence education.They also provide one-on-one, workplace-based support, she says."I'm actually supporting some people with Microsoft Excel at the freezing works, and one guy, he's dyslexic, so I'm helping him work out how to use his email."She also assists young apprentices in fields like cheffing and automotive mechanics, ensuring they have the necessary skills to succeed."I know what it’s like not to understand the schoolwork because the teachers have got a criteria they have to follow”.“The ones that are dyslexic or ADHD, anything like that, they can get left behind, so with these guys, I work at their pace," Ruth says.Beyond traditional literacy, the organisation addresses the growing need for digital skills."We help older people with cell phones and tablets, use their camera, how to do online banking, spot a scam, and figure out their voicemail. That’s a big one," Ruth says.Teaching English as a second language is another crucial aspect where classes are flexible and designed to accommodate the diversity of participants’ ages, genders and cultures.Literacy Aotearoa can work with anyone from the age of 16, or younger with a special exemption.Government funding enables the orgnaisation to provide these services at no cost to eligible residents, with criteria including citizenship or residency.Individuals with a Level 5 certificate who lack computer skills may also qualify, “ because they might have a level five certificate but not know how to use a computer”, Ruth says.The organisation emphasises a non-judgmental approach, adapting its methods to accommodate different learning styles and abilities.For Ruth, “it’s a pretty special thing to feel like you’re making a bit of a difference in someone else, seeing that lightbulb moment”.“And even if they’ve got a wall up when they come in, seeing that wall drop is good.”Literacy Aotearoa New Zealand offers free classes to adults through supportive tutors, small groups, and a positive learning environment.If you or someone you know could benefit from Literacy Aotearoa's services, contact Ruth Blair at 022 525 0566 or email [email protected].

~ Opinion ~Taking a strengths base approach to careers work is fantastic.Looking at your assets – your personality, values, aptitudes and skills provide markers to who you are, what you might be good at doing and what you might be able to offer the world.So too, is looking at the labour market needs and the future trends in workforce development.Equally important though, is what you learn from your career experiences about what you are not and what you don’t want to do.In one my early career experiences, I was working for an agency designing questionnaires – really important questionnaires about the future of New Zealand, or that’s how the role was sold to me.In reality, I was sitting in a very small room where there were six other people.There was minimal light and we weren’t supposed to talk much.Just design questions and think about the questions, their interpretation and analysis.After about four months of this, I was not feeling great, in fact, I was well on the way to watching my marbles run across the floor and out the door, never to be found again.What did I learn?I’m an extrovert – I need colleagues to discuss things with, to help me think through my thinking, to brainstorm with and to have fun.Did I mention fun?! I like to have fun at work – if I’m not having fun, then I’m not learning or working.Aesthetics is very important to me. In fact, so important, that where I work – the light, the heating, the fresh air, the ability to see the natural world, can influence my mood and therefore my work.The work content – the questionnaire design skills I learned way back then has certainly come in handy when evaluating programmes, but I do not want to be a survey questionnaire designer. My skills are with people, and evaluation is in service of those people skills.These are all great things to learn about yourself as you move forward to your next career move and particularly in interview situations.It’s important to check thoroughly how what you don’t want to be and do measures up to the new role before you sign that contract.So, what are the situations you have been in where you learned about who you don’t want to be and what you won’t do?And then, what do these experiences tell you about yourself and what you are looking for?Do you hate competition?Do you loathe working by yourself?Do you prefer to support others, rather than be out the front?Are you not bothered whether you have supportive colleagues?Do you like being technically masterful?Are you task oriented and care less about people and their day?There is so much to consider, that makes up who we are, and who we are not!Learning from your experiences takes time, and sometimes set-backs, while keeping in mind your values, career motivators and anchors.Jenny Bean is a professional member of the Career Development Association of NZ (CDANZ). If you are looking for career development support (personal or organisational), contact her at CareerBeanz.

Kate Hall is a young Kiwi educator, content creator and author who inspires others to lead an ethical and joy-filled life through her business Ethically Kate. Just One Thing Waitaki is bringing Kate and her husband Tim to Ōamaru's Harbour Street Collective Cafe on Monday, March 17, to answer questions and share insights from their journey to live more sustainably. The Waitaki App threw some questions at Kate, while the couple is on a literal journey around the South Island, to find out a bit more about her and her ethos. Q. Tell me about Ethically Kate - is it a person (you)? A business? A brand? A way of living . . . all of the above?!Ethically Kate is a business. It is a registered business, Ethically Kate Limited New Zealand, but it has grown out of me and my values. So there isn't a fine line between who Kate Hall is and Ethically Kate is. I'd say you're right, it is all of the above.Q. What are you hoping to achieve with Ethically Kate?I'm hoping to make sure - or trying my best to help - people and planet thrive together. That's it in a nutshell. But I do that by instilling joy-filled and positive encouragement and habits around sustainable living so that individuals can feel good, understand that they're part of nature, and also look after themselves.Q. Have you always had a sustainable approach to life? Or was it more of an "aha" moment . . . and when did it become a business for you?I grew up with a family of parents who led the way, I guess, with sustainable values. I always had a compost bin, we loved second-hand shopping, my mum hates the malls. I guess in hindsight, as an adult, I've realised we were pretty sustainable as a family, with the stuff that we did.I had an ‘aha’ moment in 2015, in August, where I watched the documentary The True Cost. It described the fashion industry's impact on people and planet.I thought, you know, we're all consuming clothes, even if we don't like fashion, we all wear clothes at some point in our days, in our weeks, and I was not okay with participating in a fashion industry that caused so much destruction on people and planet. So that was a really big ‘aha’ moment for me watching that and deciding I would first know who made the garment, what it's made from, that the people who made the garment were treated fairly and all those sorts of things before I purchased it. But I think it wasn't just a moment that stood alone, it was potentially an impending moment that was bound to happen. Ethically Kate was registered as a business in 2018, and it has been my full-time business since 2019. Kate lives near the ocean and loves to swim every morning. Photo: SuppliedQ. What does your day-to-day look like?I don't know what a day-to-day looks like for me anymore. I've been house-sitting with my husband since the start of 2023, and every day looks different. But a classic day for me in my normal home - I'm about to have a baby in a few months, so everything is always constantly changing - is I keep my phone on charge in a different room, so I try to spend the first few hours of my day without being connected to a wider online community, to people who aren't in my immediate, and get outdoors. I live on the Hibiscus Coast, just north of Auckland, and there are lots of beaches everywhere, so generally that will look like a run, or some yoga, stretching, strength exercise, and going for a swim.I swim all year round, all through winter as well. I've even swum in Dunedin in the winter, so yeah, I like the cold water. I like the challenge. Then I may head to my Limber desk (which is a dynamic desk, I haven't had an office chair since 2019. I'm big on looking after my body and that's all part of sustainable living, I believe) and I will do some emails - every job has emails - create some content that may look like editing a reel I filmed the day before, and writing captions, editing blog posts. I often have interviews like this one, or interviews in the form of podcasts, or Zoom calls - consulting with businesses. Some days, I go into the city, which is (depending on what mode of transport you take) about an hour and a half to two hours on four different buses, and visit a factory, to create content there, or meet with different people in person, different things like that. My day is always different.I also do corporate speaking around sustainability. So I can go into workplaces and talk to them and inspire that workplace and those staff members to live and think more sustainably. I'm lucky enough to have a flexible job and every day looks different. I try to really prioritise moving throughout my day. Some afternoons I go and pick up my nieces from school, and then I can work in the evenings. So yeah, it's all just a mixture. Q. What will you be doing in Ōamaru?We're just stopping through Ōamaru, so we are pretty much only there for the talk. We're on our way from Dunedin that morning, and we're staying at the Shed and Breakfast, near Waimate, which is an amazing, amazing Air BnB-type place. It's a shed that Farmer David, who's a good friend of ours, has built himself, and he reuses and repurposes a whole lot of things. And he has an organic sheep and beef farm, and it's just incredible. Q. You are coming here thanks to Just One Thing Waitaki. Can you maybe offer "Just one thing" people could do today, that would help the planet?One of my main things I encourage people to do is to compost. Generally around 50 percent of a household's waste is compostable and organic matter that can turn into lush soil and be reused, rather than put into a hole in the ground, also known as landfill, where it will not break down because it doesn't have the right elements in there.Even if a piece of lettuce was in a landfill, it is not going to break down because it doesn't have oxygen and nitrogen and carbon and microorganisms, it's just kind of mummified and landlocked down there. Anyway, composting would be great for people to start because also you learn the circular systems of a process, which is a big part of sustainability and a big part of nature. So it's a great first thing that snowballs into others. We have all sorts of different composting systems these days. If you're in a tiny little apartment, or you are on a lifestyle block, there are always solutions and ways to compost, which is really great.Q. Any guilty pleasures you can't give up - even though you know it's not great for the planet?I have so many guilty pleasures, because I can't always align my values with my actions. Occasionally that will look like a Domino’s salted caramel chocolate mousse, which sounds very radical, and not sustainable - because it's not, but it is a delicious treat.Q. Anything else you want to add, that you think people should know? Any messages you want to share?Sustainable living doesn't look like just one way of living and it's not about being strict on yourself or forcing yourself into things or giving up joy - I believe it brings a whole lot more joy and a whole lot more to life, and I hope that comes through.Ethically Kate (and TIm!) will be at the Harbour Street Collective Cafe on Monday, from 3.30pm to 4.30pm -- register your interest at [email protected].

Security camera owners in the Waitaki District are being asked to join forces to fight crime.Waitaki Neighbourhood Support co-ordinator Christine Dorsey says private houses and businesses with security cameras can register with Community Cam, a national database police can access when investigating a crime.“It’s a really good crime-solving tool,” Christine says. “Unfortunately it hasn’t been utilised very well in the Waitaki area.”Ōamaru Community Constable Rachel Osborne is on a quest to raise awareness of the database, and increase the number of Waitaki camera registrations, Christine says.The database means if there is an incident in a business area or residential street, police can see who has cameras in that specific location and request to see the camera footage.Police are the only people who can access the database.To encourage people to register with Community Cam, Neighbourhood Support has initiatives in place, Christine says.“Mitre 10 has donated a hamper, and anyone who logs their camera by the end of March goes into a draw. And in fact, anyone who's already existing on the site in the Waitaki area will also be in that draw, so it covers everyone. “Then the other thing is, even after the draw, Neighbourhood Support is putting some information into all of the businesses that currently sell cameras, so when people purchase a camera they'll also get an information card saying ‘please go and register your camera’.”Waitaki Neighbourhood Support co-ordinator Christine Dorsey. Photo: SuppliedThe uptake so far in the Waitaki is “very low” because the initiative has not really been publicised and people probably don’t know about it, she says.“Because we've had such a gap in not having a community constable for a period of time, so now this is just one of the initiatives she's doing, which is fabulous.”It gives police another tool and is an easy way to do something to help community safety, Christine says.“It literally takes you a minute. So it's not a big ask of anybody's time.”

By RNZ Digital journalist Serena SolomonComedian Pete Davidson has revealed his tattoo-free skin. What does that mean for tattooing and its transition from an alternative life to the mainstream?At first, I couldn't figure out why Pete Davidson was all of a sudden really good-looking. The New York City-based comedian and actor is known more for his mental health struggles, many tattoos, drug addiction and short, intense celebrity relationship than his actual entertainment.And there he was modelling for the cool-girl brand Reformation, lying shirtless on the ground, propped up on one arm in a campaign that launched a few weeks ago.Hang on.... All his tattoos were gone, screamed the internet in a collective revelation."Yeah, I was a sad boy," he said on The Tonight Show when host Jimmy Fallon held up an old image of Davidson during a recent interview. He was scrawny and heavily tattooed with hollowed-out eyes."It was a weird time. Everyone was getting tattoos five years ago,"said Davidson, as he spoke about the painful and decade-long process he is in the middle of to remove 200-plus tattoos through lasers. He says he will keep two or three of his tattoos.In some ways, Davidson personifies the cultural transition tattooing has been on. A decade or so ago, tattoos were still frowned on and carried the stigma of an alternative lifestyle. Now, they are thoroughly mainstream.A tattoo poking out from the sleeve of a blazer in a boardroom meeting wouldn't be out of place. Stylish and slick tattoo shops alongside espresso cafes are common in the gentrified suburbs of New Zealand cities.Pete Davidson in a recent campaign for the brand Reformation. Photo: Instagram/Reformation via RNZIn a linked but completely different phenomenon, tā moko, traditional Māori tattooing, is also in revival after the practice was disrupted by colonisation almost two centuries ago.But has New Zealand, considered by many to be a heavily tattooed country, reached peak tattoo for work that isn't considered tā moko?"Obviously, things come and they go, and I think that sort of fashion trend-aspect of tattooing may perhaps go and then the more traditional aspects of tattooing will stay," said Briar Neville, a tattoo-removal technician who founded Sacred Laser ten years ago. She and her husband, tattoo artist Dan Anderson of Sacred Tattoo, share a building in the Auckland suburb of Kingsland. It is her side of the business that has an increasing demand."I'm already looking at opening another clinic. I've got one in Christchurch as well but yeah, I think it's my industry that has the growth," said Neville.For Anderson, collecting small tattoos has peaked, but well-considered, quality work that is in harmony will endure."...Definitely after Covid but even before that, there was this huge intake of breath where tattooing really expands, and then it's breathing in," said Anderson, adding today's kids will probably "rebel" against their heavily tattooed parents and be more restrained with tattooing.Some of Neville's removal clients want their tattoos dimmed so they can cover it up with another tattoo. Others want full removal because of poor quality work or because they no longer associate themselves with the image or the phase of life they were in when they were tattooed.Removal starts at $100 per session for a small 5cm by 5cm tattoo and the price increases with tattoo size. Complete removal takes six to 12 sessions and fading a tattoo for a coverup takes two to four sessions. A small tattoo can take seconds or minutes to laser each session.Each time Alison Brewer, 47, goes to Sacred Laser, she cries. It isn't because of the pain of tattoo removal, although it is painful like short bursts of a soldering iron burning the skin.Alison Brewer is in the process of removing a large shoulder tattoo. Photo: supplied via RNZ"It's a long road and it's really quite emotional... especially coming up to 50 [years of age] and not having this scribbling mess on my shoulder," said Brewer, a makeup artist.The mess she is referring to is a shoulder tattoo that started out as a sizable peacock done in Bali 25 years ago. The original work wasn't great and four other tattoo artists tried to fix it or cover it up. Each new addition made the tattoo bigger and drove ink deeper into her skin.Brewer has done four removal sessions and anticipates needing another 10 before the tattoo is gone. She is also removing a handful of others that she got at age 17 including a "weird little star" that was the cheapest on the wall of the tattoo shop."I don't identify as that girl who was just trying out things not thinking whether the canvas of her body would be fine with it in 20, 30 years' time."Her words mirror Davidson's. He spoke of wanting to be taken seriously as an actor."But I'm trying to clean-slate it. Trying to be an adult," he said.Hayden Ayrton, a tattoo removal specialist from Feather Touch Cosmetic Tattoo in Wellington. Photo: Supplied via RNZHayden Ayrton is from Feather Touch Cosmetic Tattoo in Wellington and specialises in makeup tattoo removal such as eyebrow and lip colour. He also does smaller body tattoos and fades larger tattoos for coverup work.Women in their 30s and 40s make up the majority of Ayrton's body tattoo removal clients and it is often to do with poor-quality work."I find most guys aren't really worried about it unless it's the name of an ex and their new partner wants it taken off or something like that."A lot of the stuff I'm getting at the moment, it's a style of tattoo. It's big, dark, old stuff that was done ten-plus years ago, and they just don't want it there anymore."It's rare that a client asks Ayrton to remove a tā moko. He has only removed one in six years."I'm Māori and I'm covered in tā moko and I just couldn't even think about removing it... but then again, I think it's up to the person who is wearing the tā moko and if they want it or they don't want it."Tattoo artist Stefan ‘Spider' Sinclair. Photo: Supplied via RNZStefan "Spider" Sinclair does not see a decline in tattoos but he does see the shift away from collections of smaller, random tattoos that people would often start with. Now, he gets clients coming to him with no tattoos and wanting a full sleeve.Sinclair, who considered himself a "tattoo collector," loves the look of tattoos as they age."It ages like a fine wine. After 50 years, it has so much history and character and patina to it."Brewer, amid her painful removal process, recently got a tattoo that matches what her 40-year-old brother has. He has special needs and is battling cancer. Anderson of Sacred Tattoo did it in the same building where Brewer goes to get her shoulder piece removed."It's like you go there for removal and then you also get ink put back in." - RNZTattoo artist Dan Anderson and Alison Brewer with her brother after they both got tattooed. Photo: supplied via RNZ

Ōamaru Art and Craft Fair organisers are feeling a bit forgotten about, following the upgrade to the Farmers Market space.Fair organiser Helen More says since the Farmers Market space was sealed by the Waitaki District Council in December last year, the craft fair has been edged out of the space at the southern end of the market. It used to set up the first Sunday of every month and for special events.“When the council re-did the space, they allocated more to the new area, so that left us with a smaller area, for a start. And then, the lovely asphalting was great, but it also had lines on it for cars, so there were cars left in there overnight.” Stall owners were forced to set up between cars, and those who had been designated a space where a car was parked couldn’t use it. The fair has also grown, and some Sundays there can be more than 40 stalls, Helen says.“So it was really hard to organise.”The decision was made to relocate to Harbourside Park, the green space north of the children's bike park, where both markets had been operating while the upgrades took place. “It was just really difficult and we decided that everybody had enjoyed being over on the grass when they were doing the renovation work.”Joining up with the Farmers Market had worked well for the fair, because people who regularly attended the Farmers Market also wandered past the craft stalls.The newly renovated Farmers Market space. Photo: Waitaki District Council Facebook“We had actually been invited by the Farmer's Market manager, I think it was about 10 or 11 years ago, to join up, because they were small and the craft market was small at that stage, and they thought combining on certain days would be beneficial to both, and it was,” Helen says.Now the fair is not getting the foot traffic it once did, and earlier this month, on March 2, the road was closed for the South Island Secondary School Triathlon/Duathlon for most of the morning.“So, yeah, there was some disappointed people around.”Helen isn’t sure what the answer is, but just wants the community to be aware the market is there and worth making the extra effort to get to.Natural wool products are one of the many things for sale at the craft fair. Photo: SuppliedShe doesn’t blame the council for the predicament, in fact she sympathises with their position and knows it is impossible to keep everyone happy. Market organisers are in a similar position - with some vendors against the move to the new area.“They're actually trying to do the best by the community as they see fit . . . I mean, it's a big job. They had actually been really helpful in helping us to relocate.“We were kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place . . . and I think I've realised that it's going to take a while for people to realise that we're over there.”There are flags out to signpost the market, and organisers are working on new ways of getting the word out they’ve moved. They are also meeting with a council representative in April to brainstorm more ideas.King's Birthday Weekend in June is the final fair for the season, until October, Helen says.There are some “absolutely talented people” selling their creations at the market, and it is worth making the effort to get to, she says.“I can't believe the detail of what people actually make. Some of their wares are absolutely stunning.”Stalls sell knitting, artwork, photography, painted pots, coats made from re-purposed woollen blankets, and much, much more, she says.The next Art and Craft Fair is on March 23, the weekend of the Harbour Street Jazz and Blues Festival. 

By RNZ Journalist Penny MilesFonterra's farmer shareholders will get an improved dividend this year, but they're being advised to spend the extra money carefully.Northland MP and dairy farmer Grant McCallum said the near 25 percent increase will make a significant difference when the interim dividend is paid into farmers' bank accounts next month.The dairy co-operative upped its full-year earnings guidance this week from 40-to-60 cents per share to 55-to-75 cents per share.Grant McCallum Photo: SUPPLIED via RNZFor a farmer who owns 100,000 shares and supplies 100,000 kilograms of milk solids, the latest figure will result in an estimated $60,000 boost, based on a 60c dividend. That will be in addition to Farmgate milk earnings (the amount paid for milk, minus costs such as transport, capital investment and marketing).And as milk prices remain elevated - with a $10.00 per kilogram of milk solids forecast midpoint - farmers are set for record profits."It's great news ... The dividend is going to add real value to those that are Fonterra shareholders," McCallum said."It might be another $60,000, which is not insignificant on top of a payout."With global uncertainty swirling around potential tariffs, he urged farmers to spend their money wisely.Learn more: US markets plunge, Wall Street fear gauge rises, after Trump recession comments"It's very prudent to pay down some debt and invest in some key infrastructure."That could mean investing in new milking equipment, machinery or fencing."Fencing off waterways, all those sorts of things, it gives us the opportunity and the income to do it."High returns for dairy farmers coincide with strong beef export prices and a weak New Zealand dollar, which traded at US57c on Tuesday.With some farmers earning an estimated 20 percent of their income by selling cull cows and rearing beef calves, the soaring United States market for beef was also playing a part.Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell said he was "pleased to confirm" the earnings boost, which was a "great outcome for farmer shareholders."Fonterra's Miles Hurrell Photo: RNZ / Dan CookThere was a downside, however, as farmers throughout most western and central areas of the North Island are grappling with drought conditions.Marotiri dairy farmer Richard Webber, who farms west of Taupō, said he had hoped to capitalise on the high milk price.He said production on his farm had been constrained as the dry weather started to bite. He had been drying cows off and bringing in feed."Thankfully we have a reasonable milk price to keep the cashflow in check," Webber said."But it would have been nice to double down on that this year and have a good production year, but it's just not going to be the case," - RNZ

Melanie Tavendale has made it official. She wants to be the next Waitaki mayor.The North Otago business owner and mother of two is the first to throw her hat into the ring for the upcoming October local body elections.Mel became a Waitaki District Councillor in 2013, and was deputy to Mayor Gary Kircher for two terms from 2016. She stepped away from both roles in 2022.Gary is yet to say whether he will be standing for his fifth term, after he too was elected in 2013.Mel says running for mayor has been on her radar since she decided to take a breather at the last election, and now the time is right.“My kids are at a great age and are really supportive. I love the idea of the role model side of things for my kids growing up, as to what they can achieve.“And I think in a community sense, I just get the feeling that our relationships could be stronger and we could be doing things just a little bit differently.”Josephine (Josie) is 13 and in her first year at St Kevin’s College, and Declan is 11 and goes to Weston School. Mel co-owns Hub & Sprocket Cycles with her husband Steve and the family live in Kakanui.If she becomes mayor, Mel wants to see more open dialogue around the council table, and more people contribute to the decisions being made.“I'd like to see a really open, supportive environment where the leader makes it easy for everybody else to have their say,” she says. Due to her previous experience working within the council framework, she has realistic expectations of what she can achieve in the position.“You understand how it works, and you understand how hard change really is, and that just changing one person at a time does not magically make everyone get it.“I'm realistic in that respect, but I also think building really strong relationships and people feeling open to challenging - respectful challenging, it can change the whole trajectory of things. You've got to start somewhere.”Mel says it has been good to have a break from local government, and in that time, she has gained a new perspective as a small business owner, and being back in the community “looking in from the outside”.“I think you always hear a lot about the challenges within the business community and the role council could play in those. “It's not until you go and put your own money on the line and things, that you really do know what they're dealing with. And the more experience you get in any field I think makes you better at understanding where people are coming from.” Taking a term off has helped Mel reignite her passion for serving the community she lives in, and she is particularly interested in ensuring clearer communication from the council.“I want us to be less scared of talking to the community about things. I think sometimes we're so worried about over-massaging the message in case we get anything wrong, that we forget to just talk. “It is a hard thing to do . . . but you need to keep remembering what you're doing, what you're there for.”Mel says she had a “good working relationship” with council chief executive Alex Parmley and would be happy to work with him again.She admits it is going to be a challenge to step back into the spotlight again, and put herself “out there” in the lead-up to the election.“That's probably the thing that puts me out of my comfort zone the most.”But she is also excited for the chance to immerse herself in all things council again.“I'm looking forward to testing the brain again and getting back out there and listening to what people want.“I'm not gonna say I've got all the answers because I don't, but I think if you build a really good team around you, then the conversations bring about the right answers anyway.”

We're launching a new advertorial series, "Waitaki App for Business," in partnership with local marketing expert Megan Miller of Megan Miller Marketing + Media. Megan is using the features of Waitaki App to promote her business, and sharing behind-the-scenes looks at how you can do the same.~ Advertorial ~Waitaki App for Business: Better Marketing Tools to Reach Local CustomersHi, I’m Megan. You might know me from my business, Megan Miller Marketing + Media, or more recently, from my marketing and sales collaboration with Waitaki App.I’ve been helping businesses with their marketing for over 10 years. Before that, I was a journalist. My whole career has been devoted to the importance of good communication: Knowing how to get the right information to the right audience, effectively.I’m also a US-born Kiwi who has been living and working between the two countries for 13 years. I probably don’t need to tell you - it’s wild times right now, over there in the USA.Globally, we’re living in an era when the information landscape has never been so complex. As consumers, we are constantly bombarded with media from all sides.Business owners have more marketing tools than ever before, but it can be hard to know where to invest your limited resources to cut through the noise and reach potential customers.Digital platforms like Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and Google offer more measurable and targeted results than traditional advertising, but they come with added complications. For one thing, these platforms only work effectively if they are managed well.They require expertise to set up properly and target your ads to the right audience. I’ve met many business owners who tell me, “I tried Google Ads, but I was paying hundreds of dollars a month and not getting results.” It’s easy to overspend and underperform on these platforms, without the right guidance.Another problem: It’s become clear these giant international media corporations don’t always operate ethically, or for the betterment of people and communities.For me, as a marketing and media professional, the state of the world has reinforced the importance of our local networks and dependable community resources.That’s one of the reasons I love working with Waitaki App. I began working with the App team in early 2024, and I’ve been so impressed with their vision and results.2024 was a big year for Waitaki App; although still a young platform, it got over 1 million content views. We achieved strong numbers of regular returning users, and we launched fresh, measurable forms of advertising for Waitaki businesses that are only available locally on this platform.Here’s some other great things about Waitaki App:1. Waitaki App is locally-owned and operated, and exists to serve Waitaki residents, visitors and businesses.Locally-owned by the Business Hive, the original idea for the App came out of the need for a central Waitaki events calendar. Now Waitaki App features independent journalism, events, community groups and activities, and supports other local businesses.2. Waitaki App makes it easy to find the information you want.Tired of scrolling through all the good, bad and ugly stuff on Facebook groups, searching for one particular post? Waitaki App gives you updates on local news, events and organisations, when you what, where you want. It’s available in the same convenient way, on your phone and online, without all the rest of that mess.3. Advertisers get the benefits of targeted digital advertising (including analytics reports for clear results) without the shortcomings of platforms like Facebook or Google ads.That’s the genius of hyper-local platforms like Waitaki App. It’s built to serve Waitaki residents, visitors and businesses. If your customers are local, you don’t have to “find” them online - they are already on Waitaki App.Check out my Facebook business page to see a video showcasing my Waitaki App Business Feature, one of the many ways businesses can promote themselves on the App. I’ll be popping up periodically to show you more behind-the-scenes content of how I use Waitaki App to promote my own business, and how you can do the same.Megan Miller is an Ōamaru-based marketing professional, specialising in digital marketing. If you are looking for marketing advice and services, contact her at hello[at]meganmiller.nz or 020 455 3000.

It might be slow-moving, but the orange roughy holds top spot in the Fish of the Year - for now.Since voting opened on 1 March, 2300 votes have been cast.The roughy is fending off a school of challengers, and Fish of the Year spokesperson Kim Jones said its margin has remained steady since voting started.The competition is organised by Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, Jones said."There's been bird the year, there's been bug of the year. And we thought why not fish of the year?"Fish however tend to have a lower profile, she said."A lot of the time they are out of sight, out of mind because they're underwater."So we wanted to use it as an opportunity to really shine a spotlight on them, so that people would hopefully get involved and learn a little bit more about them."Voting is open until 5pm, 16 March and currently battling it out for second place, is the whale shark and the longfin eel.This is the first year that the whale shark has been in Fish of the Year, and not many people even know New Zealand has sharks, Jones said."They think of them as being overseas, in the tropics, but they come down on those warmer currents and quite often, around this time of year especially, you can encounter them when you're out there, especially in northern New Zealand."Last year the paketi, or spotty, took out top spot in the competition that has been running since 2021 and which aims to educate New Zealanders about fresh and saltwater fish and the fragile environments they inhabit."We really hope that people learn a little bit more about our fish and learn about some of the threats that they're facing and how people can help address some of those threats to ensure that we've got fish around for generations to come," Jones said. - RNZ

As Ōamaru's Harbour Street Jazz and Blues Festival grooves into its tenth year, the event still strikes a chord with musicians and music lovers alike.The festival, which runs every year on Otago Anniversary Weekend (March 21-23), means locals and visitors to Ōamaru will hear live music in bars and on street corners across the three days.About 40 acts - a mix of soloists, duos, trios and groups - both visiting and local, will be showcasing their talent.Festival organising committee treasurer Paula Gray says across the 10 years, the festival has changed from one that was almost being propped up by local musicians, to one that now draws musical acts from across the country who want to come back every year.“Our local bands have been absolutely amazing over the years and without them I don't think there would have been a festival to be honest, because they have supported it in the past when it needed to be supported - especially doing gigs for free for fundraisers and that sort of thing - they've been amazing,” she says.Regular out-of-town favourites such as Paul Ubana Jones, Jimi Kara, Dr Blue and the Ellesmere Big Band are among those back for another go, while one of the new local bands, Hot Mess, has only performed a handful of times.Hot Mess bass guitarist Jay Morriss is excited about the festival.“It's a great opportunity to wander down the historic part of Ōamaru, music emanating from all the alleyways, starting from mid-morning to late evening,” he says. “As a musician, it's a really supportive and welcoming environment.“It's a great chance to catch up with musicians from past events, meet new ones, and I think it's generally pretty inspiring really, just to see the music. And I think it's really nice being able to play in your hometown or your community.”A Jam Night at the Penguin Club on the Friday night offers the chance for different musicians to play together, Jay says.“It’s a great time to maybe see collaborations you wouldn’t normally. And I think most of the musicians that are there, you know, really welcome people just coming up and having a talk if they want to do that.”Two staple events on the weekend itinerary are the Talent Quest and the Grand Finale.The Talent Quest is on the Saturday, on the Harbour St main stage, with more than $2000 worth of prizes to win, the main one being a recording session at Kurow’s Sublime Studios.The competition is open to individuals and bands of all ages, and there are even prizes for the best air instrument playing and best “jazz hands” impression.Festival favourite Paul Ubana Jones is returning for another jam. Photo: Supplied/Dave BoyleSunday night’s Grand Finale has a theme this year of Old Hollywood Glamour, and with a burlesque show as part of the night’s entertainment, it promises to be one to remember.The night is being held in the Loan & Merc building, and begins with a two-course meal. Paula says the food is followed by performances from Burlesk Dunedin's Jersey Rhein and Verona Vega, plus Christchurch-based artists Bonita Dangerdoll and Amy Leigh.Guitarist extraordinaire Jimi Kara from Auckland will follow the burlesque acts, and then local and loved covers band Dee May and the Saints, who formed especially for the jazz festival back in 2015, will round out the night.The band was formed when drummer Rowan Park approached Mark Renalson (bass) and Deirdre McNulty (vocals) to form a band for the 2015 festival. After recruiting a few more band members, and learning 12 songs in 8 weeks, the band was given the thumbs up by organisers and included in the festival.“We had a ball, and the feedback was tremendous - so we couldn't stop there,” Deirdre says.What started as a potential one-off performance has turned into 10 years of gigs.“The Harbour Street Jazz and Blues Festival was where it all began and is our favourite gig of the year,” she says. “We love the energy, buzz and vibe the audiences bring to this event, making our performances extra special.” Tickets for the grand finale are available online, at Rose’s General Store and if there are still some left by the weekend, can also be bought from festival headquarters in the Grainstore on Harbour Street, Paula says.The event usually sells out, and as the only gig with a cover-charge, it is the festival’s major fundraiser.All the bands who attend the festival are paid, but a number of the local bands have performed in the past for free, especially for fundraising events, Paula says.“We do fundraising events throughout the year, because we try not to just rely on funding but, of course, the funding is really important to us, and our sponsors are extremely important to us.”People can also pay $25 to become a member, which comes with discounts to certain events, and helps with the costs of holding the event.The committee is made up of dedicated volunteers who come with a range of skills, “which is really fantastic”, she says.“They're all well-skilled in different areas that we require. So, yeah, a great committee.”Free workshops are another feature of the weekend, offering free tips on guitar playing, songwriting, singing, and swing dancing and even using effects pedals.Early registration is encouraged for these events to secure a spot.“The headquarters on Harbour St over the weekend is an important place for people to find out information, and the programmes will be there,” Paula says.The headquarters is open from 10am-4pm on Saturday and Sunday. All event information can also be found online at harbourstreetfestival.comThe Harbour Street Jazz and Blues Festival is one of the busiest weekends in Ōamaru's calendar. Photo: Supplied/Dave Boyle

An Orepuki deer farmer, who invented a non-polluting, edible bale netting, says he has been "overwhelmed" by the response to his product.Southland farmer Grant Lightfoot is the man behind Kiwi Econet, a type of bale netting made from jute.While Kiwi Econet does not replace the outer plastic wrapping used for baleage and silage, it provided an alternative to the plastic-based netting inside which stock have been known to eat."You can't recycle it, you can't do anything with it. Some farmers bury it, some burn it. It's a serious problem," Lightfoot said of the plastic netting used.He came up with the idea of an edible-alternative while working as a commercial diver, thinking of the farm back home while waiting in a decompression chamber.Grant tugs on the jute netting Photo: Cosmo Kentish-Barnes via RNZReturning home, Lightfoot and his partner Colleen Quirk hand-knitted the first 50m of the 1.25m wide netting out of jute twine. It took weeks at a rate of about a metre per night."Then we put it in the baler and it held together. It went through like a piece of cake and I thought, wow, we're onto something here and the old goose bumps started."The prototype bale net won the open section in the Southern Rural Life Farm Innovation Awards last year, and the first two shipping containers, filled with hundreds of rolls, have just arrived in New Zealand."I've been doing this for five years now just about and I can guarantee it works, it does, it works 100% on baleage."The inventor with a bale wrapped in his netting Photo: Supplied via RNZSince his story was shared on Country Life last week, he received dozens of calls and even more emails from farmers interested in his product.He said the interest had come from "all over the world", with several farmers from Texas getting in touch."One guy wants a shipping container already."He said the response was "mind-blowing" and left him feeling "pretty emotional".Lightfoot said it was still too early to tell what the overseas interest will mean for the business, with the nets currently manufactured in in Kolkata, India.In May, the entrepreneur is heading to the United States and Europe to further promote his product. - RNZ