The world’s smallest little penguins are making history and surprising experts in what is one of the earliest egg-laying seasons in its history, despite threats to the marine environment. The Ōamaru Blue Penguin Colony have begun laying eggs almost three months earlier than usual, indicating a healthy and successful marine environment.Now experts are urging the public to do their part to protect this environment following the death of a male little penguin after it was discovered tangled in a discarded fishing line.The Ōamaru Blue Penguin Colony Science and Environmental Manager Philippa Agnew says a few days before Easter the team came across an injured penguin that was tangled in a fishing line near popular fishing spot, Holmes Wharf.“The line was wrapped around it so tight that the penguin had lost its leg,” Philippa says.“You could also see the penguin was then trying to use its flipper to get onto the rocks which did damage to the point that the bone was sticking out of its flipper.”“Bone infection was likely. An injured animal like that can’t live a healthy and pain-free life in the wild.“We had to have it euthanised to end its suffering. It was the only humane thing to do because it couldn’t survive in the wild with only one leg”.Philippa warns about the consequences of discarded fishing gear, which is a monumental problem for all kinds of marine animals.“The fishing line obviously wasn’t lost on purpose, but the person also probably didn’t consider the impacts that could have on the wildlife.“This sort of thing happens more than people realise,” Philippa says.The distressing damage inflicted by the fishing line. Photo: Supplied.The arrival of early penguin eggs was a welcome surprise after the upsetting discovery of the injured penguin.During a monitoring round, the colony discovered that the penguins have begun egg-laying for the season."We expected the season to be early, but this is the first time for our colony - and second recorded for the country - that we have had eggs laid in April”, says Philippa.Little penguins typically begin laying eggs between late July and mid-November, spending April and May feeding at sea in preparation for the nesting season.“Egg-laying is very food-driven so to have eggs this early means we have good food close to the colony. It tells us that things are looking good for the season,” she says.As a bonus, the colony has also noticed a large number of penguins coming onto shore during evening viewings which is another indicator of a good food source close by.

By RNZ In Depth data journalist, Farah HancockNew Zealand is considering a major overhaul of its genetic modification laws. While proponents tout the potential for more nutritious foods and reduced emissions of gene-edited products, a growing number of our biggest exporters are sounding the alarm.When Aotearoa's restrictive genetic modification laws are overhauled, the responsibility for assessing risk will largely fall on one person's shoulders.Under a proposal in the Gene Technology Bill, this person, a newly-minted regulator of gene technology, will zero in on two areas of risk when licensing genetically modified organisms.First: Does it pose a risk to human health? And second: Does it pose a risk to the environment?But amid the submissions on the bill, which is currently making its way through parliament, there are calls for the regulator to consider a third area: The risk to trade."We were told in no uncertain terms that this bill was not to consider economic impacts," says Organics Aotearoa's Scott Wilson. The industry group went ahead and commissioned its own report from the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research into the potential impact. The report said it was difficult to estimate the impact and gave a range from zero to $10-20 billion a year.The organics industry is a fierce opponent of GE tech, so its opposition to the bill, which aims to tackle New Zealand's long-standing precautionary approach to gene editing, was largely predictable.What was more surprising was that aspects of the bill also sparked concern from some of our biggest exporters.Fonterra and industry body Dairy Companies Association NZ (DCANZ) support the legislation, but asked for an amendment to be made for trade risks to be considered. Horticulture New Zealand, which represents approximately 4500 fruit and vegetable growers had a similar message.There is disagreement among government officials too. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) suggested there could be a risk to trade, but the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), opted to go against MFAT's concerns when writing the bill.Asking the regulator to consider trade, "would require the regulator to make a speculative economic judgement outside of its scientific expertise," MBIE noted in a Regulatory Impact Statement. It could also "create an avenue for opponents to GMO use to disrupt or prevent GMO applications beyond arguments based on risks to human health and safety and the environment".What's the benefit of GMOs?Dairy NZ chief scientist Bruce Thorrold says it is time to change New Zealand's cautious approach to genetic technologies, which does not allow field trials of things like genetically edited grasses.Thorrold gives an example of a "stunning piece of science" from Crown Research Institute, AgResearch. A ryegrass gene which produces more lipid - or more fat - has been stabilised. This could result in a more nutritious grass for the cows, leading to greater productivity and reduced methane emissions.The grass has been tested in the United States, with promising results, he says, but our current rules mean it can't be tested outdoors in New Zealand."We need to know that these plants express the genes in the climate and the sunshine hours and the temperatures that we have here."William Rolleston is a former Federated Farmers president and Life Science Network chair and is a longtime advocate for loosening the rules around genetic technology in New Zealand. He is also a South Canterbury farmer and can envisage a future where gene technology reduces farmers' overheads."If we were in the ETS (emissions trading scheme) and had to pay for emissions, and using a genetically modified rye grass, which reduced my emissions by 20 percent, was going to save me having to pay those ETS bills, then I'd be pretty interested in using it."Other examples given of potential farming benefits include breeding polled cattle - cattle without horns - meaning farmers would not need to use a hot iron to cauterise horn buds of calves. The painful process requires the use of local anaesthetic and for calves to be kept out of rain for 24 hours.Would we lose access to markets?The sticking point for many exporters is the proposed bill suggests allowing some gene edited organisms to be unregulated. This could mean products from genetically edited animals could get mixed into products.DCANZ executive director Kimberly Crewther explained some countries New Zealand exports dairy products to require any products from gene edited animals go through a permissibility and approval assessment.European Union countries require labelling, Japan approves products on a case-by-case basis. China requires importers of genetically modified goods to obtain a certificate. Indonesia and Malaysia both require the approval from food or biosecurity boards.These markets represented 49 percent of New Zealand's dairy exports, accounting for $11.7 billion, according to DCANZ."In terms of what we are asking for with changes to the bill, is to be able to manage those differences," says Crewther.This requires being able to trace animals through the supply chain so exporters can provide correct information to markets. Milk from gene edited polled cows, for example, would be able to be identified, and even kept apart for milk from non-gene edited cows, much the way organic milk is processed separately currently.It all relies on knowing what animals are gene edited, says Crewther. "Without visibility, you can't actually set up traceability, it's like looking for invisible needles in haystacks."The bill in its current form allows one type of gene-editing SDN-1 to be unregistered, this is where DNA is modified, but no foreign DNA is inserted. Rather than have a blanket rule that SDN-1 altered organisms be registered, DCANZ has asked for market risk to be considered by the regulator. Crewther says this could allow traceability where needed for export markets, and not have it imposed where it's not needed.Her response to MBIE's concern that a regulator might not have the expertise to consider market risks was that experts are available to call on for advice."We suggested a market access panel or market access committee," she says. This panel could call on expertise from the Ministry for Primary Industries, MFAT, or industry experts.Crewther has seen the report which Organics Aotearoa commissioned, which estimated $10-20 billion in exports per year could be affected. Her view is more moderate.If there's no ability to track products from gene edited animals with a traceability scheme, then "there could be costs associated with it", she says."We don't think that it's a case of liberalisation of gene tech and maintaining market access, maintaining trade value, needs to be mutually exclusive. We think it can be managed with changes to the bill."William Rolleston was less diplomatic about the estimates in NZIER's report, saying it applied premiums from some products across the board. "Then it said, if we have the genetic bill, that we're going to wipe all those premiums out. That's just not credible."He is not in favour of the regulator considering trade risks when assessing gene-edited organisms as it would require "a whole new set of skills". Reports like NZIER's demonstrate how subjective economic estimates can be."How's the regulator going to weigh all those things up? Because at the end of the day, they are speculative."Overseas countries do not require trade implications to form part of decisions around allowing the release of organisms."What they do is trust their industries to actually manage the trade situation themselves."Organics Aotearoa's Wilson says the organics industry contributes just under $1 billion a year to the country. He describes the industry as philosophically driven, as well as market driven. Even if there were assurances from scientists that testing had shown no risks from gene-edited organisms, he believes customers seeking natural products would try to avoid them.Currently, New Zealand produce can claim to be GMO free without the need for costly traceability schemes. It's an advantage Wilson says other countries are jealous of. If the rules change to allow the release of gene-edited organisms, then proving that status becomes harder.For DCANZ, the main concern is products from gene-edited animals. Export markets don't insist on assurances the food the animals eat is also GE free. In fact cows in the United States and South America commonly eat GE soybean and maize crops.But for the organics industry, grasses and crops are more of an issue.An organic farmer's neighbour might choose to use a GE free ryegrass. While measures can be taken to reduce the spread of the grass between farms, such as buffer zones on boundary areas, grazing or mowing to make sure seed heads weren't produced, or different flowering dates for ryegrasses on each farm, the organics industry still worries there's a chance of cross pollination.Organic products can earn a premium, but this often reflects an increased cost of production.Wilson acknowledged NZIER struggled to put a figure on what the changes could mean to exports."The main takeout from it was we have a lot to lose, whether that's $1 billion or $10 billion or $20 billion to lose - there is a loss."The Green Party's Steve Abel has sat through many of the oral submissions to the select committee for the gene tech bill. A common thread among primary producers is concern around risks to exports. He finds it "staggering" there hasn't been substantive analysis of the value of New Zealand's current gene editing free status.He described the bill as "radical deregulation" of New Zealand's current approach.The party's stance on genetic technology is support for medical use, and support where organisms are contained. The party is opposed to the release of any organism that has the ability to self-replicate."We have a point of difference, and we as an island nation have this ability to maintain that non GMO status. We know there's a huge and growing global market for GM free food, that seems to be an obvious advantage that we should retain and not forfeit for some speculative benefits from GM products."He's skeptical about any benefits from gene technology being introduced to food production. "There's no clear evidence people want to consume GM food," he said.When it comes to gene edited crops, like ryegrass, the impact to farmers' bottom lines are unknown while testing is still underway."These speculative benefits can't be costed because they haven't been achieved and they haven't been proven."The bill is currently before the select committee. The committee will prepare a report with recommended changes before the bill has a second reading. The report is due 31 July. -RNZ

Reporting by Ashley Smyth and Cara Tipping SmithAn important 8 minute readIt’s long and complex - and it could affect you more than you realise. That’s the overarching sentiment of urban and rural property owners working to respond to Waitaki District Council’s Proposed District Plan for which submissions close on 9 May.There’s a sense of urgency as Waitaki App talks with locals.“I do feel that once these are embedded, then there'll be no going back from it, you know, that it'll become as of right, and so suddenly people won't surrender that,” Ōamaru man Mark Hay says.“I think the window of opportunity is quite small.”The Proposed District Plan has immediate and future consequences for property owners.The Proposed District Plan sets out the rules for how land across the Waitaki District can be used, developed and protected.That includes things like zones (e.g. rural, residential, industrial) and overlays - an additional layer of rules that apply on top of zones, based on special values such as significant landscapes, cultural sites, flood risks or ecological features.Changes to zones or overlays could impact what property owners are permitted to do with their land, now or in the future, although the RMA does protect existing land use rights for lawfully established activities.One example is that rural areas were previously divided into the Rural General Zone and the Rural Scenic Zone but the proposed plan merges them into a single Rural General Zone and converts the Rural Scenic Zone into an overlay.As a consequence of the zone change, the minimum permitted subdivision size increases from 4ha to 20ha - impacting the landowner’s potential ability to sell lifestyle blocks down the track.The Rural Scenic Zone overlay is an example where permitted land use could have a future impact for property owners. Image: https://waitaki.isoplan.co.nz/review/But it’s not just rural property affected by the proposed plan’s changes.Overlays in the proposed plan include; Rural Scenic Landscape (RSL), Outstanding Natural Landscape (ONL), Outstanding Natural Feature (ONF), Significant Natural Area (SNA), Significant Natural Feature (SNF) and Sites and Areas Significant to Māori (SASM).To assist landowners in understanding how these overlays may affect their property, the council has provided an interactive map to help them visualise how any proposed changes affect their property.There are questions about mapping and boundaries.Mark, who owns property in Ōamaru, says overlays are put on the land to protect various values, “areas that are pretty unique and they need to be protected, and we totally support that”.“The Waitaki River is a fairly narrow braided area and of course it used to expand over the whole valley, so . . . is it just where it’s currently running through the braided system or do you have to encompass all of the flat areas that are now farmland?”Various overlays in and around Ōamaru according to the ePlan. Image:https://waitaki.isoplan.co.nz/review/Sven Thelning is a farm consultant, owner of Thelning Systems and committee member of Waitaki Property Guardians.He gives an example of an initial map that had been drawn, “included, thousands of hectares of land which had not been natural or outstanding since probably well before the sixties”.“We’re not saying that the river shouldn't be protected. We’re all for that.“The problem is that to have any effect in your submission, you have to pay a landscape architect.“So this is where Waitaki Property Guardians comes into this. We’ve been quoted $18,000 to get a report done to try and have that overlay boundary shifted back.”Council says landowners can choose “to employ landscape architects or other experts to provide advice on overlays that affect their land” but it is not a requirement for making a submission on the Proposed District Plan.Council has also provided three independent ‘Friends of the Submitter’ to assist people making a submission.“They can provide good advice for this and to ensure you are providing valid RMA reasoning for your submission,” Waitaki District Council heritage and planning manager David Campbell says.Loss of property value is not in itself a valid reason for a successful submission.Sven explains the legal argument established by the courts is that the value of a property is derived from what you can do on it.“Therefore, when making your submission you need to argue how the rules affect what you do on the property, not the ensuing increase or decrease in value.”He says that there has been success in getting boundaries modified, but it involves consenting costs.There was a situation where $2990 worth of earthworks cost “another $9369 in council consultant and landscape architect advice”.The greater part of the fees were paid outside of the district to consultants in Christchurch and Dunedin, according to Sven.Concerns about current and future investment necessary to obtain resource consent.Underwriting some of the tension is the threat of current and future investment in getting maps adjusted to reflect what landowners are seeing on the land as well as future resource consents.That is something Waitaki Property Guardians, a local organisation that’s stood up on behalf of landowners, wants to be able to help support.Initiated two years ago, in response to issues identified in the Draft District Plan, the group represents property owners’ interests, “advocating for the protection of individual property rights through practical policies and solutions while considering cultural and natural values”.“Every one of our committee is one of North Otago’s top people in their field,” Sven says.“They’ve got big reputations to protect and they’ve stuck their necks out with this. That’s how important it is.“Part of the problem is that right now you don't need a consent for what you're doing, but you don't know what you might need to do next year.”Changes to maps can be successfully argued when you make a submission.Duntroon dairy farmer Geoff Keeling says, “once you’ve got an overlay on your property, rules can change”.He and his wife, Jan have successfully had two proposed overlays on their property ameliorated. See Farmers successfully challenge District Plan overlays story from Ashley Smyth here.“But when you think about it, we shouldn’t have had to have them changed, logic should have prevailed.”Mark says if you are within a town/urban boundary, resource consent will be needed to move more than 300m2 of earthworks in a 12-month period, for any earthworks on ground sloping more than 18 degrees or for cut and fill exceeding 1.5 metres.That means levelling a site for a house or installing a driveway could potentially trigger a resource consent.“That’s one part of it… I think they’ve gone too far with that,” he says.Overlays cover tens of thousands of hectares of the Waitaki and some properties could be subject to more than one overlay.A bird's eye view of mapping some of the different zones and overlays provided in the ePlan. Image: https://waitaki.isoplan.co.nz/review/Where external-to-council parties are the experts, including Heritage New Zealand, Iwi and others, gaining resource consent could require additional consultation.Where there is a range of experts with subjective opinions, the council could require expert advice to be peer reviewed at the land owners' expense.How much applications will cost, how they will be processed and in what timeframe is unclear.The current Resource Management Act is driving many of the changes.David says the District Plan process is entirely guided by the Resource Management Act.The council provided background to the overlays throughout the Draft District Plan consultation process from 2022, stating “it is a matter of national importance under the Resource Management Act” to recognise and provide for them.Property owners are at pains to state that they are not against valid protections.Equally, they do not want to be forced into a potentially expensive, adversarial stance against any other stakeholder or group.Sven says, “It’s not us versus Iwi. It’s not even really us versus council”.“We’ve got to be clear about that. We’ve got some good people in there.”Mark, Geoff and Sven also recognise the council has to follow the RMA and is legally in the right.“They put out a thing that’s so complex and they have to because that’s the RMA,” Sven says.“That’s the fundamental issue - the RMA.“That’s why the Government’s replacing it.”Waitaki didn’t need to issue the plan now, he says.“They chose to jump in with the outdated, complex, old RMA and put that into effect instead of waiting just a few more weeks to get a steer on the new one.”He notes that while the Government’s replacement act might have less complexity, “it still has the critical ones that we’ve got the biggest problems with”.The council holds a different position."The Government has not yet published its proposed RMA reforms, and they are not intended to be legislation which Council could use to change provisions [until] mid-2026 at the earliest”, says David.The time to look at your property and potential impacts of the Proposed District Plan, is now.Timely action now is vital, according to all parties.David says the council has also been working constructively with the Waitaki Property Guardians.“Providing them with information to share with their members regarding how to access the free and independent Friend of the Submitter.”Speaking to a Friend of the Submitter, they suggested the council was the best place to start an inquiry about your property.“If you’ve had a look at the proposed ePlan, found your property and associated mapping layers but have some questions about how this might affect you, contact the council for clarification from their planning team”, they said.“If your understanding of the proposed plan leads you to make a submission, a Friend of the Submitter can help you with that process.They suggested owners contact the service early rather than leaving it until May.Example information provided by the ePlan with associated downloadable report. Image: https://waitaki.isoplan.co.nz/review/Waitaki Property Guardians also encourage property owners with concerns to get in touch with them.Sven says people can join the group and split the cost of the planner and landscape architect if required.“They're better off to split their cost and have a lower cost now than to have to pay $6-10,000 next time they need a consent, under the new rules.”Additionally, he encourages people to review and submit on the new RMA when it’s available for submissions because, “they’re talking about when these property rights are taken away, that property owners under the new RMA will hopefully be compensated for them”.“If they still do legally have to do this at least people will get something back.”To find out if your property is affected:Find your property on the council’s interactive map at waitaki.isoplan.co.nz/reviewContact council for specific advice on your propertyTo find out more about Waitaki Property Guardians collective response:Contact Waitaki Property GuardiansTo make a submission:See council’s advice on how to make a submissionEmail council’s Friend of the Submitter service at [email protected] on the Proposed District Plan close 5pm, Friday 9 May.

Duntroon farmers Geoff and Jan Keeling managed to have two proposed changes to their land removed after successfully arguing against their validity, Geoff says.“In our instance, we had two major overlays, one being the Outstanding Natural Feature, which was everything between the main road and the river . . . and our argument with that was that it's a longtime modified environment. It has been modified, rightly or wrongly, for probably the last 100 years.“So, anything that is outstanding still, it's going to remain outstanding because it's obviously been preserved by someone, but anything that is gone, is long gone.”In that stretch that they were talking about, especially the visible stretch from Duntroon to Kurow, the river is a sea of willows, he says.“There's nothing outstanding about it. They can't see the river, per se . . . there was nothing site-specific about it - you don't mind if there is something special there - rather just a generic blanket.”He says council staff would assure them they could “still do this and still do that”, but once there is an overlay on your property, rules can change, and it also has the potential to affect land value. As evidenced by a report obtained by local farmer Otto Dogterom.“Just from a dairy farmer's perspective, we have audits by Fonterra, we have audits by our irrigation companies, which get reported back to ECAN, we have effluent consents, we have land-use rules.“And then suddenly . . . there's an overlay at district council level . . . so it just adds another layer of bureaucracy and therefore to the cost.”The second overlay they contested was a Site or Area of Significance to Maori (SASM).The Keelings’s farm contains the Takiroa Rock art site, which is a reserve with public access, and is well looked after.As well as the Maori rock art, the Keelings also have wetlands on their property across the road that are protected by a covenant and under going major restoration work.“Again for us, they basically put a dot on the map and just threw a circle around it, and it included about 30 hectares of irrigated pasture, that had been an irrigated pasture for 50 years.“From our point of view as farmers, we've got six kilometres of Alps to Ocean track going through our property. We've got the Takiroa Rock Art site and the restoration of the Takiroa wetland going on at one end, and we've got Duntroon community wetlands on the other end of our property.“Us and a lot of other farmers are already doing a lot, and then you just sort of get slapped with this generic thing, with consultation but no real ability for adjustments to be made. . . . and you're almost being painted as the bad guy that wants to go and ruin things.“If there's stuff that's special now, you would argue that it's going to remain special or remain protected. Because if it's still there now, you know, everyone's awareness, farmers' awareness is a lot better than what it was 30, 40, 50 years ago.“And so, we all recognise that you've got to protect these things. Don't treat us as the enemy.”Through help from Sven Thelning and the Waitaki Property Guardians, the Keelings have had their SASM reduced back to the area that was already protected, and the ONF has been removed from theirs and a number of farms on the south bank of the Waitaki River.Geoff has been reluctant to speak out, because they did have their point of view listened to, and plans changed accordingly.“But then when you think about it, we shouldn't have had to have them changed, logic should have prevailed.“Council or their planners or whoever was doing these great big generic overlays should have been more pro-active and more specific to start with.“We wouldn't have minded if someone had come to us at the start with the SASM and gone, ‘do you mind if we put this in?’ And we probably would have gone, ‘well yeah, no . . . that's why this restoration is happening’, and it would have saved a lot of pushing and sort of, I suppose, to-ing and fro-ing.”Geoff wants to acknowledge the work Sven especially, and the group of people who were the forerunner before the Waitaki Property Guardians was officially formed have done for them and other farmers.“We've benefited as individuals, but it's been through the collective group . . . and we are just lucky that our sites and our farm, I guess, has got stuff happening and underway.Find more about the Proposed District Plan and how it could affect you - Waitaki property owners: urgent call to action as deadline looms.

Metservice has issued a road snowfall warning for the Lindis Pass overnight on Tuesday (15th April).Snow is forecast to lower to 800 metres tonight, and 1 to 2 cm of snow may settle on the road near the summit during Tuesday morning.This warning is valid for 6 hours from 2:00am Tue 15 April to 8:00am Tue 15 April. Caution should be taken on this road during this time.For the latest updated forecasts and real time conditions in your local area, click on your Waitaki town below.OamaruKakanuiHampdenPalmerstonMacraesNgaparaDuntroonKurowOtematataOmaramaLake Ohau Alpine Village

~ Opinion ~ There is nothing like the garden to bring you back to reality.Plants I thought were doing well from a distance, close up, are infested with greenfly.My gorgeous red and orange roses have rust, and sneaky weeds have sprung up overnight.I did a first pass yesterday – weeding, digging, cutting back and some spraying, but still not finished.Undeterred by the rain this morning, I put on my gumboots and stomped out to finish the job.Hey presto, weeds magically seemed to appear everywhere, and the job I thought I had done yesterday, hmmmm well, needed some major work today.Any gardener knows that gardens don’t happen by accident.They are work; fertiliser, compost, minerals, water, sun, and constant tending - deciding what should stay, what should go, what should be moved and what needs cut back, or cut off.This takes time and reflection, standing back and seeing things in different contexts – the sun and the rain.Then, coming back the next day to see something different that needs sorted, that we hadn’t noticed before.Gardening seldom follows a plan.Just like career development.I have never met one person yet in my practice who has followed a straight-line plan from school to their present self and career choice.What building a career does take, however, is critical reflection - on yourself, your world, the context you find yourself in, and continuous personal and professional development.To build a self-made career, you need three essential skills in your life ‘backpack’; meandering, manoeuvring and the ability make meaning.It’s good to meander – try things out (interest, hobbies and sports), give volunteer work a go, have fun and be creative.You never know how your creativity may impact the wellbeing of those people around you and the community.Research, network and talk to people about what they do.Learning and skills come from diverse places.Manoeuvring is a critical life skill.When things don’t happen the way you expected, or you’re facing a significant change, having the ability to transfer your skills to a new area, think laterally about your next career move or cope with transition and loss is essential.You may have to think about a horizontal career move, downshifting or even a period of not working.And finally meaning.What meaning can you make of your career? How does it fit into the design of your life? Do you want it to give you success, purpose or is it a means to an ends?Actioning the ‘3 M’s’ requires self-awareness and continuous learning and unlearning.Something like my clever apple tree.It’s the least work in my garden and yet it is the most prolific and does its own thing – it prunes itself, dropping smaller blemished apples to the ground, that don’t fit into its design so the best ones can grow.Perhaps we all need the ability to do this.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.

Yogis (and yoga newbies) rejoice.A new yoga studio, FloweSpace, has opened in Ōamaru.Yoga teacher Ally Johnston moved to town about six months ago with her partner and two young daughters, and was surprised to find there was not really any regular yoga around, she says.With a background in fashion design, Ally used to manage womenswear for a large company in Sydney and was often working up to 60 hours a week. When she and her Kiwi partner Rory Lindsay started a family, they decided to move to Central Otago to be closer to his family, and bring their own children up at a slower pace.As a builder based in Cromwell, but working between Queenstown and Wanaka as well, Rory found himself in the same position, working longer hours.“They were just so busy, he never saw the girls,” Ally says.The family are happy they made the move to Ōamaru. Rory works more family-friendly hours as sales manager at Placemakers, and Ally has had the chance to reconnect with her long-time passion for yoga. “We've been able to find that real balance in life and, yeah, it's been really beautiful. We're very lucky.” Ally says while she has been practising yoga for almost 20 years, teaching is relatively new to her.She was initially drawn to it as a form of exercise, before discovering more about the philosophy behind it. Her own practice has changed a lot since she had her girls."It's slowed down a lot. It's definitely a time to relax and connect, where my practice used to be a lot faster."This shift in her own approach infuses into her teaching style. Her classes are Vinyasa - flow yoga. She aims to build heat in the body, but always concludes with a "well-rounded cool down" and the all-important savasana, or rest, at the end, she says.Finding a suitable space to teach her yoga was a community effort.Ally put out a call on a local Facebook page and was met with overwhelming support. She connected with a woman who had a studio on Arun Street, used for drumming and other holistic practices, and it felt perfect."It's surrounded by trees, it's beautiful and quiet," Ally says of the space. "It's really somewhere that you can go and just connect and relax into your own practice."Class sizes are kept small, with a maximum of eight people, to ensure a personal touch and allow Ally to "see what you're doing and help where needed”.As daughters Talulah, four, and Phoebe, two, settle into childcare, Ally will be able to expand the types of classes she offers.“While I've got little kids, I'm sort of just trying to work in around them and also just letting it organically grow . . . you know, I don't wanna be sitting in the studio with one or two people. It's nice to have a full class.”As well as Vinyasa, Ally is also introducing foundation classes, for those completely new to yoga who might find it daunting - although people of all abilities are welcome to all classes.Ally in her yoga studio on Arun Street. Photo: SuppliedThe foundation classes involve walking people through different asanas (poses) or sequences, such as the sun salutations.She urges people to give yoga a go, without expectations. "The most important thing is to meet your body where it is today on the mat," she says."It's not what it could be like in a couple of weeks, or what it used to be six months ago. . . It really is about where am I at now? And doing something for yourself that's going to benefit yourself."Ally has been unable to completely leave her fashion designer side behind, and has a small knitwear label, Hiild offering one-off, handknitted garments for children and women.“It's about making pieces that are going to last them more than just a season. So I really dive into the sizes and the quality and making sure that they're really gonna actually last in a kid's wardrobe.She uses it as an opportunity to have conversations with her daughters around buying less. “Buying one thing, you know?“Kids don't need five jumpers from Kmart, they need one good jumper that's gonna keep them warm and maybe one backup, one for when you need to wash it.”Hiild has been Ally’s main focus for the last few years, especially during pregnancy and postpartum.“Your ability to do too much is really limited, and I didn't want to. I wanted to be able to slow down and be with my girls and, I'm really lucky that my partner was really supportive and awesome. So lucky I was able to be home with them.”Knitting is another form of meditation for Ally, and it’s good for her girls to have a connection with where their clothes come from, she says.“Someone has to make it. They know that it doesn't just come from a shop and, it's beautiful, and they also see how many hours go into it. So it's like there is actually appreciation.”Prenatal and postpartum yoga is a passion of Ally’s and she is training further in that area, so she can add it to her class schedule.“I really want to be able to connect mothers not only to themselves, but also within the community . . . You know, there's a lot of mums who might not have family, might not know anyone else with children and finding their tribe is really important to me as well.” She also plans to add classes for pre-schoolers, inspired by her own children's love of yoga.Through her classes, Ally hopes people will learn to connect their breath with their movements.It is important to her, and important for her students to experience, she says.“I think that's something that gets lost in the business of life. We don't find a time to just slow down and really be able to tune in and connect to your breath through your movement as well.“Everything else just kind of disappears, you know, you stop thinking about what's on my to-do list for an hour.”Ally holds classes on Monday evenings,Thursday lunchtimes and Saturday mornings. Bookings can be made online.

By RNZ reporter Jogai BhattWellness studios are seeing more young people swap drinks for steam, turning sauna sessions into a new way to relax, connect and sweat it out with mates.Samantha Bluemel only opened Auckland wellness studio Mode a year ago, but she’s already noticed an influx of younger people hitting the studio for a bit of quality time in the sauna."We’ve definitely seen the younger generations spending time together without alcohol, particularly Gen Z, they’ve kind of moved away from that," she says."They’re a lot less interested in drinking as their primary source of socialising and instead a lot of them are turning to healthier ways to do it, and sharing a sauna certainly fits the bill for a lot of them."Samantha Bluemel is the founder of Mode Studio in Auckland. Photo: Supplied/Samantha Bluemel via RNZRelated stories:Can I fit a tiny pool in my backyard?The country's priciest pools: Where swimmers pay top dollar'Reclaim the real estate of your own mind' - meet NZ's first wellbeing professorBluemel’s set-up puts a big focus on recovery, with two private suites featuring saunas and ice baths for the ultimate contrast therapy.She says the use of sauna – a Finnish tradition of high heat and low humidity in a small, wood-panelled room – is proving especially popular for people who just want to unwind and share quality time in a lowkey setting."It's hitting two birds with one stone, because you’re getting that lovely physical and mental benefit from spending time in a sauna, but you're also getting in some social time."Bluemel says the term being used now is ‘social wellbeing’ - which stems from the idea that wellness is made up of more pillars than just the physical."There’s a lot of research that says our strong social connections mean we’re happier, we’re less stressed... it’s not just about going to the gym five times a week and having a protein smoothie afterwards."It's important to take a more holistic view on everything when it comes to wellbeing, so those rooms are developed for mental wellbeing and a happy consequence of that is social wellbeing as well."Mode’s recovery suites comfortably sit two people at a time and even feature a deck of conversational cards full of funny questions, and some serious and intimate ones too.Mode keeps conversational cards in their saunas to facilitate deeper conversations. Photo: Supplied/Samantha Bluemel via RNZ"Our clients get a lot out of them and I think saunas just create an environment that takes away the noise of the outside world, and that definitely lends to deeper conversations with friends. It's an opportunity to step away from the hustle and bustle of the world."While modern saunas are becoming popular globally, the tradition of communal sweat bathing has roots in cultures such as Japanese onsens and Turkish hammams.In Finland, saunas are an integral part of the culture and lifestyle, with an estimated two million saunas in homes and community centres across the country.Finnish sauna builder Petri Knuuttila is on a mission to strengthen the culture of saunas in New Zealand."Saunas have been going on for thousands of years. It’s part of our genes, it’s part of our culture. Besides purifying the mind and body, it’s where Finns socialise and do business."Finnish builder Petri Knuuttila wants to bring the culture and lifestyle of saunas to New Zealand. Photo: Finn SaunaKnuuttila says saunas have even historically been a place where Finns prepared for life's milestones, including births and deaths.“The original sauna is what we call today as smoke sauna. It took eight, 10 hours to heat up. We would use it as a place to wash the bodies of deceased before burying them in a coffin, and for women giving birth, it was a hygienic place to keep warm during winter.“My daughter was in the sauna the day after they came home from hospital, and my Swedish wife was terrified, but that’s just how we do things over in Finland. She loved it and she still loves it.”Sauna use has been linked to many claimed benefits over the years, from improved cardiovascular health, muscle relaxation and respiratory benefits to stress reduction, improved sleep, and even claims of improved skin health.At Wellington's HealthFit Collective, exercise scientist and academic director Carl Hammington's role revolves around researching whether "sensationalised" wellness trends stack up.Carl Hammington is the academic director of HealthFit Collective in Wellington. Photo: Supplied/Carl HammingtonHe says the studies around sauna certainly indicate real physical benefits, pointing to a 2015 study in Finland that found people who used saunas regularly, around four to seven times a week, showed a 50 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease risk."They found there was a definite correlation, not causation, which is important to differentiate ... one of the things worth noting with correlational research like that is, it can't take into account everything."Are people who use saunas more likely to exercise or eat healthy or be from a higher socio-economic status? All of these other wellbeing factors ... it needs to be put in context."Hammington has created some protocols around the use of HealthFit's recovery room, which features a sauna, a cold plunge pool, and a massage facility."The sauna fits three people at a time and bookings can be made for an hour or 90 minutes. It's usually 15-20 minutes in the sauna, then either a rest or cold plunge in between. Generally, I try and encourage people to try and bring their temperature back down to as close as normal level in between rounds."Hammington says this contrast therapy is based on the Finnish practice of sauna."The Finns would generally go in the sauna and they'd either go and roll around in the snow, or jump in an icy pond between rounds."It comes back to this idea around metabolic flexibility, so when you get hot, something happens called vasodilation where your body sends a whole lot of blood to your periphery. When you jump in the cold, it's the opposite, it sends a whole lot of blood to your core to protect your organs. So it has these really beneficial circulation effects."Hammington has been going to saunas for as long as he can remember. Supplied/Carl Hammington via RNZFor Blumel, saunas became a vital part of her own wellness journey during a challenging time in her life. When her mother was terminally ill with breast cancer, she turned to contrast therapy and sauna to manage stress."Fitness was the thing that kept me sane, but I realised after a while that it wasn't quite enough. My stress levels were so high dealing with such a big horrible situation ... contrast therapy and sauna was like a physical access point for a session around mindfulness."For Hammington, saunas have always been an outlet to connect with people and do good by his mental health."One of my colleagues and I used to go every Wednesday to a local sauna, it was a healthy form of socialisation and I got so much out of it. I slept well, got to connect with him on a social level, and we both just felt multiple benefits from that experience every week."I'm a bit older now, I'm 42, and I was sort of raised where I guess drinking was a big part of socialisation and I realised reasonably young that that wasn't a super healthy thing for me to do on a regular basis... and I just found sauna so nice."You can sit there, you can chat, you can have a bit of a laugh, and I guess trauma-bond with the heat and cold. It takes you out of your head and into your body, and I found that really beneficial for my mental wellbeing." - RNZ

Strong winds are expected for North Otago tomorrow (April 8) as an active low-pressure system moves across the South Island.A Strong Wind Watch is currently in place for coastal areas of North Otago and Dunedin, as well as the Canterbury Plains and Christchurch (excluding Banks Peninsula), MetService says.The watch is in effect for seven hours, from 9am to 4pm on Tuesday. Southwest winds may approach severe gale force in exposed places and there is a moderate chance the watch will be upgraded to a warning.Residents are advised to prepare their property by securing items that could be picked up by strong winds. Driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles, so caution is urged.This weather event is part of a larger system affecting southern and central New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands.Strong Wind WatchArea: Coastal areas of Dunedin and North Otago, Canterbury Plains, and Christchurch excluding Banks PeninsulaPeriod: 7 hours from 9am to 4pm, Tuesday, 8 April.Forecast: Southwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.Moderate chance of upgrading to a Warning.

By RNZ Fashion writer Carolyn EntingOnce seen as a mark of conformity, ties are making a fashion comeback as a new generation craves "that little bit of extra fabulousness".At last count, Matt Wiseman had 258 ties. Hanging among them are three 70s originals in burgundy, the colour for winter 2025, a discovery he’s pretty chuffed about.Ties were the most popular accessory worn at Paris Fashion Week in January, including for women, especially at Saint Laurent. Wiseman’s partner Rose Jackson is already planning to rock out some of his 70s ties this winter.For Wiseman, wearing a tie is a point of difference as well as a sign of rebellion.Related stories:Is there such a thing as a thrifty thrift shop anymore?Telling the difference between real luxury goods and super fakesBirkenstocks are 250 years old - how did the 'fugly' shoe manage to take over the world?“Guys who wear ties now are saying I’m not part of that gang; I’m part of my own thing. Rather than being conformist, it’s being non-conformist.”Wiseman, the co-owner of national thrift and antique store guide Collectors Anonymous, dates his fascination with ties back to his childhood. When he was 10, his father took him to see Sean Connery in the James Bond film Dr. No. “I thought, that's a well-dressed guy and he had some very plain ties, but they all worked together with his outfit.”He's amassed most of his collection in the past 18 months, boosted by discovering outstanding vintage ties in thrift stores for $2-$5 a pop. It’s a long way from when he worked in London and regularly bought pricey new silk ties from luxury store Harvey Nichols, but as Wiseman has discovered it enables you to get a lot of them. And “because so many of them are made here it’s preserving a piece of New Zealand history”.Wiseman stores his ties on hangers across three different wardrobes in the Mt Eden home he shares with Jackson. They’re grouped into club ties, weddings and funerals, disco (1970s), “burning giraffe” (inspired by the surrealist Salvador Dali painting “because it’s very confusing with what’s going in these ties”), stripes, and a 90s collection of mostly Italian ties - think bold Gianni Versace, Moschino and Fornasetti neckpieces emblazoned with sun motifs and gold chess pieces.“I call it Disney because they are all kind of cartoony, though Rose calls them Eurotrash,” he laughs.Matt Wiseman has 258 ties. Photo: Marika Khabazi via RNZWhat he looks for in a tie is balance. The design needs to work in the space that it’s given. And when Wiseman finds a tie that speaks to him, “it feels peaceful”.“I know that sounds quite over the top, but I’m really aesthetically driven. I look at it and think ‘that’s beautiful’. It’s like looking at a beautifully designed car. That design and function.”Treasures in his collection include a National Coal Board tie made in New Zealand by Eskay with an “S” symbol going up in flames. Most of the club ties in his collection have come from charity shops.While he’s delighted that ties are making a comeback, he thinks most New Zealanders won’t adopt them because we’re a much less buttoned-up society.“But I hope more do, because I think a tie looks great, and makes you feel good and walk taller,” he says.“It’s one of the few things that men in the Western world can use to really lift an element of the clothing that they're wearing.”Accessory of the seasonClare Bowden, founder of Wellington menswear store Mandatory, confirms that ties are having a more of a moment.“There’s the less conventional guy who comes in rocking a vintage tie. A real statement piece. They’ve got a strong sense of what they like.”She says the new coalition government is also influencing tie trends.Clare Bowden of Mandatory. Photo:Supplied via RNZ“I'm hearing people who work in various government departments saying, ‘I'm going to need ties’.”Mandatory has stocked New Zealand-made Parisian ties for 27 years. John Crompton, a fourth generation tie maker at the company still crafting ties in the heart of Auckland, says a number of retail customers have commented that they are selling ties well.“We've definitely seen a resurgence in interest in the tie from our customers,” says Crompton.“What we’ve also noticed in the last 12 to 18 months is new and upcoming designers coming to us and saying, ‘can we do a tie?’.'That little bit of extra fabulousness'Italian luxury fashion brand Bottega Veneta is also being credited with leather ties making a comeback. It harks back to the late 1980s, when Wiseman bought his first tie made of pale pink leather (he's not sad that it's missing from his current collection).Auckland-based menswear label Porter James Sports is producing leather ties in blood red and black for its winter 2025 collection. The idea is to create depth of styling “with different textures dancing together” explains founder Joshua James Heare.Parisian marked its 100th birthday in 2019 with a celebratory 1919 collection of statement ties that it’s still producing. The ties are made from ornate and luxurious silks that Crompton has hoarded over the years and held back because they were too flamboyant for the market at the time.It’s also working on its latest Liberty range of superfine Egyptian cotton weave ties with pocket squares in complementary colours.“What’s cool at the moment is not matching your pocket square to your tie. It’s got a colour reference but it’s not matchy-matchy,” says Crompton.John Crompton of Parisian. Photo: Supplied via RNZ“Over the last 15 to 20 years, the tie has no longer been an obligatory item of clothing for the workplace. It's not that it's disappeared or that it's not relevant. It's just changed in its focus."Men that are wearing ties now, or people that are choosing to buy a tie, are really invested in that decision. Often, it’s for a special occasion or it's just a passion for neckwear and wearing ties."Consequently, we're always looking to create something that's got just that little bit of extra fabulousness about it because the people that are looking for a tie are looking for something a little bit special." - RNZ

When Kirsten Popplewell sold her farm in the Hakataramea Valley, she joked that if she couldn’t find a job, she would make coffee.And she has been running her coffee trailer Echo at Weston since the start of January.“I'm qualified, sort of, at lots of things, but I think just the whole market is quite depressed and I basically couldn't get a job. So I decided that I needed to find one, as much as I enjoyed gardening, riding my horses and fluffing around at home. I wanted some structure to my day.” Kirsten had been farming her whole life, and drought brought with it “a bit of a crunch time” for her.“I watched the meat prices go down, merino wool was going down, bank and other costs were going up, and I just decided to make an economic decision to sell and put my money elsewhere,” she says.She gets up at five in the morning, and is at the coffee cart, parked up next to the Weston Four Square just after 6.30am to be open by 7am.She closes when it gets quieter about mid-afternoon.While she works alone, Kirsten enjoys the interactions she has with customers, which is something she had been lacking having also farmed alone - although she did enjoy it.“But you become socially lazy, and I just wanted some social contact, so I decided that I would buy a coffee cart.” Kirsten noticed the previous coffee trailer next to the Four Square had been gone for a while, so spoke to store owner Kyle Went about setting herself up there.He said yes, so she bought herself a coffee trailer, gave it a bit of TLC, and did some barista training.“And then sweated over the whole entire Christmas break, about coming out and doing it for real,” she says. “I just practiced and practiced making coffee. Everyone that came to visit ended up over-caffeinated and probably couldn't get away fast enough!” Echo Coffee is open Monday to Friday, and as well as the regular coffees, Kirsten also offers real fruit ice cream (in the warmer months), and affogatos (espresso coffee poured over ice cream).She also offers a more palatable option to the usual takeaway cup, with edible Twiice cups, which come in chocolate, vanilla and gingerbread flavours.It is like having your coffee in your biscuit, she says, and the cups last for at least eight hours with coffee in them, so there is no issue with them disintegrating before your drink gets cold.“So they are quite sturdy, and a $3 charge, which just covers the cost,” Kirsten says.“But I just like the whole idea of not adding to the landfill, which is why I stock them . . . I just like their philosophy.”Kirsten now lives at Fuschia Creek, and although she still has dogs, horses and sheep, she does miss living in the Hakataramea, and her farm.“I think all my life I've been a little bit - I love the dog and horse work, I love the stock work - but I've always been annoyed at how much sheep and beef farmers have to take farmgate prices, and the product’s treated as a commodity, no matter how much effort we put in to produce a beautiful product” Kirsten is enjoying her new gig. She has met amazing people and says her customers are “really cool”.“I’ve got people that really support the business on a daily basis, which is super.”On a nice day, she’ll put out a table and chairs, and if a customer sits down to drink their coffee she might join them, if she’s not too busy.“And then I get up and make someone else a coffee and then they'll sit down.“You can end up with three or four people that have never met sitting there having an amazing conversation and I love that. That whole vibe.”It is also handy being parked up next to the Four Square, because she never runs out of milk.Kirsten won’t be taking her coffee cart to events. She loves just working a Monday to Friday, and the anticipation of a free weekend is a luxury she didn’t always have as a farmer.“I just wanna treat myself to those days off.” 

Daylight saving will soon come to an end for another year, which means an extra hour of sleep for many (for those of you with dairy cows or small children, our hearts go out to you).But when do the clocks switch over? Why do we observe daylight saving? And how do you check the time on your phone is accurate?Here's what you need to know.When does daylight saving end in New Zealand?Daylight saving time ends every year at 3am on the first Sunday in April.That means it ends this year at 3am on Sunday 6 April.Do the clocks go forward or back?Rock legends Shihad can answer that one for you:That's right: Clocks go back for the winter, from 3am to 2am.That means you get an extra hour's sleep-in and it won't be as dark when you wake up in the morning - at least for a while.It also means the sun will go down an hour earlier in the evening, so if you've got outside chores to complete, get them done faster.How do I change the time on my phone?You probably won't need to, because most smart phones will adjust to time zones automatically.Here's how to check if your smartphone does that:Android: Go into the clock app, tap more and then go into settings. Then go into change date and time, select set time zone automatically and then select use location to set time zone.iPhone: Open settings, select general, to go date & time and make sure set automatically is turned on.Samsung: Open settings, go to general management, select date and time and then make sure automatic date and time is turned on. This should mean your phone will automatically reflect the time depending on where you are.Why do we have daylight saving?Because the Earth is on a tilt (of about 23 degrees, for those curious), we are exposed to more sun during summer and less during winter.That means the days are longer during the warmer months and shorter in the colder months.Daylight saving is intended to make the most of those long daylight hours. It means an extra hour of light on summer evenings, rather than super early in the mornings when hardly anyone is awake to enjoy it.Daylight saving means we have more daylight in the evenings. Photo: 123rf.comHow long have we been doing this?New Zealand first observed daylight saving in 1927.However, the dates that clocks went forward and back, and the amount of time they were changed, varied over the following years.In 1941, daylight saving was extended year-round under emergency regulations to help save energy during World War II.Five years later, daylight saving time (or summer time as it was then known) was adopted as standard time, effectively discontinuing daylight saving.In 1975, daylight saving was introduced again.It was extended to its current dates - from the last Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April - in 2007.Clocks go forward again in September, from 2am to 3am. Photo: AFP/Xamax via RNZWhen will daylight saving time start again?Clocks will go forward one hour at 2am on Sunday 28 September.Do other countries observe daylight saving?They do, but they're in the minority. About two thirds of the world's countries do not change their clocks throughout the year, according to Pew Research.The practice is most popular in Europe, where 37 out of 44 countries observe daylight saving, and it's also observed in parts of North America, Latin America and Australia.Egypt is the only African nation with daylight saving after bringing it back in 2023.Countries close to the equator do not usually change their clocks as the length of their days does not vary enough throughout the year to justify it.What if I'm working when the time changes?The rules around getting paid for working during daylight saving time are set out in the Time Act 1974.It says that if you're working when clocks go back an hour, you are entitled to be paid for that extra hour.For example, if your shift started at 10pm and finishes at 6am, you will have actually worked nine hours and must be paid for nine hours of work.If you're working on 29 September when the clocks go forward, you are still entitled to be paid for your normal hours. In this instance, a 10pm-6am shift will only mean seven hours of work, but you must be paid for eight.I've changed the clock on my microwave - what next?Daylight saving is a good time to check the batteries on your smoke alarm by pushing the test button to sound the alarm.Check the alarm's expiry date too - most last a maximum of 10 years - and give the cover a clean to avoid false alarms from dust buildup.Daylight saving: Does an hour really make a difference?Firefighters warn to check smoke alarms for daylight savingHow to avoid daylight savings wreaking havoc on your sleep cycleWhy time has always been against us - RNZ

A trio of artists who call Palmerston home have brought together an exhibition of postcard art.Zenobia Southcombe, Leanne Breet and Alicia Hall are running No Place Like Home throughout April at the Community Art Hub, which Alicia opened in November last year.There have been more than 150 entries from as far as away Auckland and Christchurch, although most are local, Zenobia says. “I am delighted with the number of entries, and how creative all the artworks are. We've had painting, photography, clay, collage, printmaking, wool felting, patchwork, paper quilling, and various other combinations and techniques. “I love seeing all the different ways people have interpreted the theme. That's what I love most about visiting exhibitions - seeing different perspectives, and getting inspiration for my own work.”The idea for postcards came from an artist friend who had seen it work well in a small town in Australia, she says.“I thought it was a great idea because it's so accessible. Even people who don't consider themselves an ‘artist’ can apply their creative skills and talents to a 10x15cm work.” It also means more works can fit in a small space, which allows for up to four entries per person.The theme No Place Like Home can be widely interpreted and is relatable, Zenobia says.Taking part in the Waitaki District Council’s Revitalise Our Places Ōamaru programme last year with a pop-up exhibition inspired the artists to recreate the concept in Palmerston.Some of the artworks in the No Place Like Home exhibition. Photo: Supplied“I collaborated with local business and fellow artists to create our own - the first was at Waihemo Museum/Puketapu Radio (https://www.dwindleriver.com/news/radio-pop-up) last December.”Because the Community Art Hub has recently been built, the postcard show is a great way to share it with locals and visitors, Zenobia says.In the lead-up to this exhibition, Alicia and Leanne ran two community workshops at the hub. They taught people how to create a small felted landscape using wet wool felting, or how to create a mixed media postcard.Zenobia worked with East Otago High School artist and teacher Rachel Foster running a drawing workshop with her Year 9 and 10 art class. “They started with drawing but many of them used paint, markers and other media to build on their original piece.”The exhibition opening is this Saturday (5 April) from 12pm to 1pm. The show is open Thursdays to Saturdays, 10am to 2pm (except public holidays) during April.Another well-known artist Nic Dempster will be judging the art and awarding prizes on Saturday.About the artistsZenobia was born in India, and is also a writer. She is focussing on drawing and photography currently.She grew up in Auckland and moved down south in 2018, eventually settling in Palmerston. “My work is inspired by te taiao, the natural world. I love how landscapes I see every day can look so different as the light and weather change, and I'm fascinated by our native wildlife - especially creatures like hoiho (yellow-eyed penguins) and kekeno (NZ fur seals) that I didn't get to see in the North Island.”Leanne Breet is a photographer who loves taking portraits, landscapes and macros, and also enjoys painting, drawing, felting and mixed media. Leanne and Zenobia have an upcoming exhibition with Leanne’s daughter Kristen at the Dunedin Botanic Gardens.Alicia Hall is a Palmerston-based artist and a community arts facilitator. She is passionate about the healing and empowering aspects of art. Her own practice consists of fibre installations with the focus on process. Zenobia is also exhibiting solo as the Artist in the Terminal at Dunedin Airport.'Puketapu Sunset' by Zenobia Southcombe.

By RNZ Money Correspondent Susan EdmundsFirst it was Saben, sending an "internal only" email to its wider customer database, including a discount code offering 30 percent off bags.Then it was Breeze Balm telling followers online that its "marketing girlie" had made a mistake and enabled free shipping a day early.These two examples in a matter of days recently highlight an increasingly common trend of 'mistake marketing' - and some shoppers are wondering how legitimate the mistakes really are.Bodo Lang, a marketing expert at Massey University, said mistake marketing offers tapped into shoppers' desire to find superior value and novelty.An email with a subject line that claimed an error or mistake had been made might be more likely to be opened."Importantly, these offers often suggest scarcity, prompting consumers to act now," he said."Typically, mistake marketing appears to offer value that is 'too good to be true', thus manipulating consumers into thinking the offer can only be a mistake and will expire soon. Using the disguise of a supposed mistake taps into consumers desire for seeking novelty and these offers typically suggest scarcity, increasing their persuasive power."The appeal of such offers also means that they may go viral. That is, they are so tempting and exciting that consumers not only use them to buy products for themselves but also share them with their network, typically online through social media."Thus, mistake marketing can spread like a virus across social media and induce consumers to take up the offer and spread the message further. This is called the 're-transmission rate' and is key to viral marketing."Massey University marketing expert Bodo Lang. Photo: University of AucklandBut he said there could be drawbacks and not everyone would believe the mistakes."While some consumers lack the ability or willingness to critically evaluate these offers, many consumers will see this for what it is: an attempt to capture consumers attention and making them buy a product with an offer that may be misleading because there was no genuine mistake. Instead, mistake marketing is a systematic attempt to manipulate consumers to buy products within a short time-frame."Using mistake marketing is risky for companies. Particularly large, reputable brands are unlikely to use mistake marketing as it can erode brand value, result in consumer backlash, and may result in third-party action from the media or industry watchdogs, such as Consumer NZ, the Commerce Commission, or the Financial Markets Authority."Saben and Breeze Balm have been approached for comment.In other cases, things are more clearly not what they seem.An announcement that Lynx Africa was being discontinued turned out to be a prank and Lipton said its announcement that the peach flavour was being discontinued was an "early April Fool's" joke.Consumer NZ spokesperson Abby Damen said the Fair Trading Act (FTA) made it illegal for businesses to mislead consumers, give false information and make misrepresentations, including in advertising."This applies to all forms of advertising, including social media. We think these types of ads are likely to breach the FTA and could be damaging for the brands in question."Businesses found guilty of breaching the FTA can face substantial penalties of up to $600,000 per offence. We recommend anyone who feels they've been misled by these ads lodges a complaint with the Commerce Commission. You can also complain to the Advertising Standards Authority. "

This year’s Bookarama marks a special chapter in the Rotary Club of Ōamaru’s history.The club is celebrating 100 years since its inaugural meeting was held, on 1 April 1925, and the official charter issued on 12 May the same year.The Bookarama is a popular fundraiser held annually, selling second-hand books, CDs, records, DVD, puzzles, etc.Last year’s event raised more than $50,000, and Rotary president Malcolm Walker, who is also co-ordinating the fundraiser with wife Lyn, says a new venue this year will mean more space for the increasing amounts of donations.The sale will take place on 9-18 May, in the former John’s Furniture Warehouse, at 37 Ribble Street.“With the increased space, we will also have an opportunity to offer a few more innovations for our shoppers, especially for the children and their parents,” Malcolm says.“Space is critical for shoppers, especially during the very busy hours of day one and the new venue gives us plenty of room for browsing and buying.”More donations are always welcome, with proceeds raised going back into the North Otago community, he says. “Bookarama is a great opportunity to have a clean out and donate to very good causes . . . As usual, please no magazines or encyclopedias.”One of the most exciting donations this year is from a local enthusiast who has gifted his lifetime collection of automotive books.“This collection is huge and covers all aspects of cars, trucks and trains. It has been his lifetime interest and we were delighted to accept the kind offer,” Malcolm says.Donations can be dropped off at two locations this year: North Otago Motor Group and Alex Campbell Menswear (the former Noel Leeming building) during business hours. They can also be collected by contacting Malcolm on 022 378 9605 or Mark Hay on 027 434 9084.An Ōamaru Rotary Bookarama was first held in 1974, with some of the funds from that event going to the Oamaru Fire Service to finance a Porta set of jaws for extracting victims from crashed vehicles.In 1987 the first of the “current series” of Bookarama was held as a fundraiser for Polio Plus, a worldwide project aiming to rid the world of polio.Malcolm says it is fitting Bookarama continues to grow, and to celebrate and honour its commitment to local communities.“We look forward to welcoming everyone to our annual fundraising event and we hope they enjoy the experience to the same extent that we, as Rotarians and volunteers alike, enjoy presenting it.”The club will celebrate its centenary next weekend (April 11-13) with a special dinner and the official launch of Rotary Club of Oamaru - 100 Years of Service - 1925-2025, a book written by local journalist Jacquie Webby.“It is a very special year for us, and for a service club to celebrate 100 years, makes this year’s Bookarama an extra special event,” Malcolm says.Bookarama 2025 will open at 10am on Friday, 9 May and will close at lunchtime on Sunday, 18 May.

By RNZ Money Correspondent Susan EdmundsThe first day of April marks the start of a new tax year - and the first full year of the new tax thresholds.But there is a warning that the way tax changes were applied last year might mean more people get a bill - or refund - in the coming months.In the year to 31 March, there were eight tax thresholds in play, reflecting the fact that the government's tax threshold adjustment took effect on 31 July, making it a "composite" tax year.Income to $14,000 was taxed at 10.5 percent, income between $14,001 and $15,600 at 12.82 percent, income between $15,601 and $48,000 at 17.5 percent, income between $48,001 and $53,500 at 21.64 percent, income between $53,501 and $70,000 at 30 percent, income between $70,001 and $78,100 at 30.99 percent, income between $78,101 and $180,000 at 33 percent and income above $180,001 at 39 percent."There were four months of the year at the old thresholds and eight months at the new thresholds," Robyn Walker, a tax partner at Deloitte said."That's where you get the eight composite tax rates for that year."She said the mid-year tax changes meant there could be more issues in this year's tax returns and automatic calculations from Inland Revenue."If someone hasn't earned income evenly through the year there might be more overs and unders," she said."PAYE tables should have been updated to the new threshold from July 31 but when you're calculating for the entire year, that's when you use the eight composite rates."If you earned more income in those first four months and less in later months you might have been overtaxed because more of your income would have been when the higher thresholds applied, and vice versa."If you only started working in the second half of the year, maybe you were a student, the tax would have been withheld at the new threshold and the calculation will assume you earned it evenly over the entire year. That's where you might have shortfalls."She said the amounts overpaid or underpaid were likely to be relatively small. Threshold adjustments had delivered up to about $20 a week in savings.If there were no other problems with a person's tax return, any amount owing might be written off.The threshold changes have other flow-on effects. Fringe benefit alternate tax thresholds change from 1 April - these thresholds are calculated with reference to personal tax thresholds, meaning there are 5 different rates which span from 11.73 percent to 63.93 percent and apply based on total all-inclusive after-tax pay.Employer superannuation contribution tax (ESCT) thresholds also shift. This ranges from 10.5 percent up to $18,720 through to 39 percent above $216,001.Walker said if people were doing mileage claims, they should also take an odometer reading on 1 April.That's not all…Other changes also take effect from 1 April.The minimum wage rises to $23.50. The 1.5 percent increase is less than the Ministry of Business, innovation and Employment had recommended.Benefit rates will also increase. A single person getting JobSeeker support who is over 25 will get $361.32 a week after tax. A couple will get $307.42 each. A sole parent with children will receive $505.80.Power bills will also lift. New limits apply to how much Transport and local lines companies can charge from April 1, which is expected to add $10 a month on average to household power bills. The Commerce Commission says average increase to household electricity bills will be different depending on where you live. Some regions will see average initial increases of around $10 excluding GST, while others will see average increases of $25 per month. - RNZ

~ Opinion ~Things are tough out there.Unemployment is still trending upwards, overshooting 5% in the December 2025 quarter.It’s no surprise that redundancies will continue in the foreseeable future, with some people facing another wave of cuts.People who have been in careers all their adult lives, including our highly-skilled, early to mid-career 20-somethings, and people in the manufacturing industries; it’s impacting everyone.New Zealanders are leaving in droves, and according to Stats NZ, the “122,800 migrant departures in the January 2025 year are, provisionally, the highest on record for an annual period”.While information is no longer recorded on why people are leaving New Zealand, the current state of the labour market does beg the question as to whether our best and brightest are leaving in search of more stable and better paid roles.Youth unemployment also continues to be concerning, with apprentices being left in a precarious position as firms close.Many of those people close to retirement are choosing voluntary redundancy.But what happens to organisations when all that experience, skill and institutional knowledge walks out the door?Those who are left in the workplace post initial restructuring are anxious and nervous as they remain in a tenuous and insecure position, not knowing whether they are facing further cuts and what they need to do to help themselves survive the next retrenchment.Especially when many organisations just cannot afford to provide paid support for their redundant workers.Along with this, competition for jobs is fierce - there are a huge number of people applying for advertised roles, and those roles pay less than they did a year ago.When times are challenging, career development support can help.At a minimum sharpen your CV, your interview skills, and identify tips for looking for work that isn’t advertised.Ensure your identity is kept separate from your work, so you maintain a strong sense of self and keep mentally well – remember you are not your job! Importantly and essentially, career development can help you to protect, maintain and grow your value in the labour market, by determining your strengths, personality, skills, values, motivators and the unique ‘you’ you bring to your community and world.Access to career development may be free through your Employee Assistance Programme provider.It’s worth asking as it’s worth investing in you.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.

A small group of North Otago residents are part of a nationwide mission to implement the living wage for employees in the district.Mark Smith, Heather Machin and Hazel Agnew presented a submission on the Waitaki District Council Long Term Plan last Tuesday (March 18) on behalf of Living Wage Waitaki.The group submitted employees in the Waitaki should be paid a living wage, Mark says.The living wage should not be confused with the minimum wage, which is set by the Government as the minimum hourly rate an adult employee can legally be paid.The living wage has been established as the hourly rate necessary to provide workers and their families with the basic necessities of life, but is not legally enforced.The minimum wage is $23.15 and rising to $23.50 on 1 April. The living wage was lifted to $27.80 on 1 September for 2024/25, adjusted from $26 to keep in line with inflation.Mark says Living Wage Waitaki has made submissions to the council for “whatever we can persuade them to do”.“But, big picture, we want the living wage for everyone.” Heather says the group is hoping to raise people’s awareness.“You know, it's not fair. Things are not fair, and it wouldn't take very much to make this tiny little thing fair.“Just throwing a few more bucks at someone per hour gives them that feeling, you know, makes people feel like they're valued more.”The hospitality industry is an example where a lot of staff are paid minimum wage, she says.“And then they can't get people to stay.”Living Wage Waitaki would love the council, as employers, to set a precedent, and has been making submissions on the topic since 2020, so far with no luck, Mark says.“What we would like, and it's not just this council, it's all councils, is to . . . ideally become an accredited living wage employer, but at least pay the living wage as a minimum.“Now what you get when you start that, is a chain of people not only doing the right thing, but also it's good for the economy, it's good for employers who want to retain good staff, it's good for reducing staff turnover,” he says. Dunedin, Christchurch, and Waimate councils are all living wage employers, as is Environment Canterbury.If a person receives a living wage, their lives get better, Mark says.They can make plans for the future, they can “put down roots” and can rent securely or think about buying a home.“A lot of things aren't a problem anymore,” he says.“Our own little district, which is a leader in so many ways, and a good place to be - I think it's the centre of the universe - but it's not leading in this, and this is it . . . is Waimate fairer than Waitaki?”A Waitaki District Council spokesperson told the Waitaki App the council reviews the remuneration of staff on an annual basis, and makes decisions based on a range of factors, including minimum and living wage movements.“We are currently engaged in collective agreement negotiations so will not be releasing information on wages,” the spokesperson says.Information gained by Living Wage Waitaki via the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) in August last year showed that 55 council staff were on less than the living wage, but that figure is no longer current, the spokesperson says.“The stated number of 55 staff is incorrect - as that would equate to one quarter of the workforce at council.”In correspondence with Living Wage Waitaki between August and November last year, the council estimated a cost of $950,580 - just over a 5% increase on the 2025 budgeted payroll of $18,295,000 - to have all employees on a living wage.This figure reflects an increase in pay across the entire staff, including those on more than $100,000 per year (46 as of June 2023, according to the Taxpayers’ Union).The council Information Management Team said this was a “high-level estimate of the potential impact across the organisation”.“By calculating the average percentage increase required for the affected staff and applying it to the total payroll budget, we aimed to provide a clear and scalable estimate of costs associated with this adjustment, while considering potential flow-on effects on salary relativities.”The Waitaki App has calculated that for 55 staff (accepting this figure is now lower), assuming they are on the minimum wage of $23.50/hr and working approximately 30hrs/week, to bring them up to the living wage would cost around $385,000.While it is accepted other salaries will need to increase along the pay scale, Living Wage Waitaki disputes $950k is an accurate reflection of what the costs will actually be.“We are disappointed that the figure presented to elected members was higher than it needed to be, and saddened that the figure might have unfairly contributed to a negative perception of the Living Wage in general and the viability of it at WDC for elected members,” the group’s written submission to the council read.The group knows councils are being squeezed when it comes to trying to minimise rates rises, but believe the change can be made.Mark says studies show people who do not have a lot of money are more likely to spend it.“Which means that's great for the economy, which is a great way to avoid recession and things like that.” Living Wage Waitaki is not only keen for the council to adopt living wage pay rates, but also encourage its contractors to do the same.While some people will think that’s unreasonable, it is something that happens in other areas of the workforce, Mark says.“We do that with health and safety regulations. We do that with a lot of other rules, you know, we won't commit a tradie on-site if they're not properly certified. “There’s lots of things like that we do to influence partners and contractors and suppliers . . . it’s just part of maintaining a good supply chain.”The group wants to hear from community members who are keen to join the cause, especially if they are being paid less than the living wage. “If you're in faith groups that want a just wage, if you're in community groups, if you're an employer who wants to commit to the living wage.”The group accepts it can be hard, especially for small-scale retailers to pay the living wage, but say it is doable, and it can help save costs in other areas - such as recruitment. Employees who are happy and feel valued are also more likely to work harder, Heather says. “Everybody knows that if you're nice to people, they'll respond to that. “We think it's not just morally right, it's also smart,” she says. People interested in finding out more about the Living Wage can look online, or contact Mark at [email protected].“There's a lot of material about how to get involved, what the research is all based on, because it is grounded in research,” he says.There is also a Living Wage Schools campaign to have central government provide enough funding to schools to pay all contract cleaners, caretakers, canteen staff and groundskeepers the living wage.Almost all Waitaki schools have been approached to sign a pledge endorsing the campaign, and Ardgowan, Hampden and East Otago High School have signed up.Some other schools say they already pay it, but are not keen to sign the pledge “for whatever reason”, Mark says. “That's okay, that's fine, we will just keep talking.”

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.”