Two rugby field-sized sheds have been barely enough to contain Allan Dippie's obsession.Allan Dippie is well known in Wānaka for not only his developments but his astonishing vintage tractor collection which has caused “chaos” of blocked roads as thousands turn up to get a peek.Dippie’s love of tractors went “out of control” from just one in 2017 to about 300 today.But he’s having trouble storing them in his two rugby field-sized sheds, so he will be selling more than 100 in an auction this weekend.Allan Dippie's addiction has taken him all over the world to bring back some of his most prized possessions. Photo: Supplied/Allan Dippie via RNZ“They're not like stamps, are they? So that storage is a bit of an issue,” he told Midday Report.“It's just chocka, chocka, chocka and it's counterproductive 'cause then you can't get the one you want to drive out easily.”He’s not sure how much the collection has cost him over the years, but it was enough for his accountant to put her foot down and forbid him from buying anymore.“So then I had to kind of find devious ways of disguising them to get them into collection.”Listen here on Midday Report: Wanaka man to auction vintage tractor collectionThe hobby has taken him all over the world, including the USA, Australia, Scotland and Ireland to collect rare ones like a Ferguson Brown prototype, R&P, and a Saunderson – the first kind the British royal family had at their farms, he says. The oldest one dates to 1916.Because he's ended up buying whole collections, some are double-ups which he hopes to get rid of during this auction.“The problem with tractors is you can't take them to a retirement village very easy. The retirement village isn't really going to accept a tractor collection turning up on its doorstep. So people have to eventually sell their tractor collections.”The oldest one in the vintage collection dates to 1916. Photo: Supplied/Allan Dippie via RNZHis machines were also a main event at the popular Wheels at Wānaka, which started in 2019 and had its last run this Easter.“We had 65,000 people turn up and it blocked all the roads in and out of Wanaka and it caused chaos really. Tractor chaos. So we've stopped doing that now.“People love coming and looking at old tractors and trucks and cars and bulldozers and things like that.”Dippie reckons New Zealand has one of the best selection of tractors in the world.“I found a lot of tractors under trees over the years and brought them back to their prime working order.“We restore them and love them. It's a very strangely satisfying occupation restoring tractors. You wouldn't believe it.”Dippie reckons he'll still be in deficit after selling about 100 at auction.  Photo: Supplied/Allan Dippie via RNZWhile most are working, some are still “project tractors”, he says, but the challenge of getting them started “is just too much fun to ignore”.“The very early tractors were really designed to kill you on startup or if not then in how they operated because there's a lot of moving parts flying around and some of them you have to start in the most unusual manner.“Some of them you have to start fires and cause explosions and there's some that you have to start with shotgun cartridges and cigarette butts and all sorts. There's all sorts of weird ways of starting vintage tractors and so it's a dangerous occupation as well.”Although he believes he might still be in deficit after the auction, he’s looking forward to having more room.“I've loved it and I'm going to keep collecting tractors.“Although it takes a pretty special tractor to join the collection now. I've got to slow down and … I've got to kind of make sure I'm a bit more discerning with the tractors I bring into the collection over the next few year.”The auction went live online two weeks ago, and the live auction will be on 11 October, where the sheds will be open for the public to take a look and place their final bids. - RNZ

Mary Duff grew up in Duntroon unknowingly surrounded by the fossils which are now the subject of her first children’s book.She began putting together A Discovery in the Rocks about six years ago on a “very, very informal commission”, she says.While she was working for a Christchurch-based retail software company, Duntroon’s Vanished World Centre was looking at the software and mentioned how hard it was to find children’s books about fossils.“So I said, ‘well, I've got this little story I wrote for my nephew, just like a little DIY homemade thing’, and they're like, ‘oh, you should finish it off’.”The self-published book is a dramatised, non-fiction, children’s picture book for ages five to nine, about a rare ancient whale fossil found near Tokarahi, in the Waitaki Valley.Mary initially wrote the story for her young nephew, who is growing up on the family farm, which her brother now runs. She remembers her father talking to visitors about the 30-million-year-old limestone outcrops on the farm.“I remember they were really proud of this fact, and they'd been there all along, but we just didn't realise the treasure that it was.”Palaeontologist Emeritus Professor Ewan Fordyce, who had a huge interest in the area, helped make the locals aware of what lay on their doorsteps.Ewan was then instrumental in the discovery of several marine fossils in the Waitaki Valley and the development of the Vanished World Centre, as well as the Vanished World Fossil Trail. The news in early 2022 that Ewan was retiring from Otago University due to illness was the “trigger to hurry up and get it presentable to share with other people”, Mary says. Ewan died in November 2023.Mary says gathering the information and the illustrations for her book has been a “ridiculously involved” process. Producing the text and technical details in the book alone has taken her four years of solid research.“I had to really fully understand the details, to be able to re-explain it in a way that little kids can understand straight away. “And then the illustrations themselves are another project.”The book is illustrated with a compilation of four donated watercolours by Duntroon artist Burns Pollock, and children from Duntroon School.Two years ago, Mary was awarded a grant from the Waitaki District Council Creative Communities Scheme to run children’s workshops for more book illustrations, which were co-ordinated by Ōamaru-based artist Sarka Cibulcova. Ōamaru-based artist Sarka Cibulcova (left) and Mary. Photo: Supplied“And then it's been a whole 12 months of a lot of work by Sarka and another graphic designer in Christchurch to get it ready for printers,” Mary says.The book is now in its final stages of being printed and perfected, and will be officially launched in Duntroon on October 25. There will be further launches at Tūranga Library in Christchurch, Otago Museum, and Mary is planning to speak at Ōamaru Library, with a date still to be confirmed.Mary says producing the book has been “a really steep learning curve”, but she thinks she’s now addicted.“I've got all these words swirling around with me and I can't wait to get rid of this one to work on the next one.”While the next book won’t necessarily be for children, she is keen on non-fiction. The majority of Mary’s career has been as a food technologist working in food manufacturing.“But deep down I've realised that actually I'm a creative person, and I just love science. So I'm just blending those two together to create accessible science.” While she has some ideas in mind for the next project, she is reluctant to share more details, to avoid people asking for the next five years, ‘how’s your book going?’, she says.A Discovery in the Rocks will be available in major bookstores, but pre-orders are open now, which is helpful when deciding how many copies to print, she says.One dollar from each book sold will go to Otago Rural Support Trust, in memory of the owner of the farm where the main fossil was found in 1994, who taught Mary and her brother small-bore target shooting when they were teenagers.

Ōamaru’s Mariner Suites has been recognised for being the gold standard in New Zealand motel accommodation.The 22-unit complex opened in January 2021, and is only one of four motels in New Zealand to be awarded a Qualmark 5-Star Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award.Owners Ross and Debbie Ward gained a 5-Star Silver award in their first Qualmark assessment in 2023 and have been working towards achieving the Gold since then. They are proud to have earned the award, and to be one of only four (all from the South Island) makes it so much more special, Debbie says.“It highlights our dedication to guest satisfaction and quality accommodation and it’s nice to receive recognition for all of our hard work.“We have a dedicated and loyal team helping us too, so this is a real testament to their hard work and passion as well,” she says.The Gold Sustainable Tourism Award recognises the best sustainable tourism businesses in New Zealand, with the delivery of exceptional customer experiences an integral part of everything they do. It identifies those businesses leading the way in making the New Zealand tourism industry a world-class sustainable visitor destination. Debbie says to earn and maintain their 5-star rating, they have to consistently represent “best practice” in the exterior of the complex (buildings and gardens), public areas, guest bedrooms, guest bathrooms and services.Their Qualmark assessor commented that the Wards had gone to “huge lengths” to achieve architectural and colour harmony with Ōamaru’s Victorian Heritage precinct, "with the judicious use of lines, height, pigments, and Oamaru stone on your one-acre high profile site”.“I remain very impressed by your complex and the thought behind its design and architecture,” they say.“The complex has been built to maximise natural sunlight angles with over-spec insulation and high-spec double glazing.”The assessor also comments on the Ōamaru family’s community-minded approach and their support of an “impressive array” of local charities and initiatives.“Your complex still appears as new, and is very high-spec in fittings, chattels, beds and appliances. Your guest lounge and quality meeting room are a welcome feature. "The views and location are superb. It is well-presented with superb standards of cleanliness, maintenance and gardening evident in every corner and surface,” the assessor said.

Are you after art? This week is packed with artful options!The fabulous Forrester Gallery is hosting a series of new exhibitions, beginning Saturday 4th October.I love any opportunity to roam this historic space and browse the beautifully curated collections.Expect to see:Small Gestures - a series of small-scale works interrogate the ‘impact of scale’, as our perception of it shifts throughout childhood and adulthood, with the human body playing a pivotal role.Landscapes of Desire - celebrating stitch and textile art, the work of local embroiderers’ guilds across Aotearoa New Zealand.J.M. Lofley: Ocean Oracles and Odysseys - Rimurapa (bull kelp) and rimu kakauroa (giant kelp) position themselves as message and medium, telling stories of possibility and opportunity. - You might even be inspired to create something of your own!Offerings: The Influence of European Modernism on the Local Landscape - The late 1800s-early 1900s introduced contemporary artistic developments that offered new ways of encapsulating local landscapes.Image: John Charles Veitch, The Old Oamaru Windmill, date unknown. Collection of the Forrester Gallery (FG2001.22.1)In the mood for something racey?Giddy-up and support Ardgowan School with “A Night at the Races”.Tickets are $40 and include $300 worth of ‘funny money’ and a full supper.There will be Fashion on the Field prizes, plenty of laughs, and the bar will be open late.Don’t be the last horse out of the gate!Saturday 4 October at Weston Hall.You might know him as Mr. Buggyrobot, but Martin Horspool has many more strings to his bow…Martin Horspool ventures into public spaces, eagerly observing and waiting for the right opportunity to photograph people as they congregate and go about their day, his subjects unaware of his quiet presence.A talented, urban street photographer, he’s consistently on the lookout to capture unique and colourful characters, those that stand out from the crowd.This Sunday, head along for an informative, ‘meet the artist’ session, hosted by Forrester Gallery.This artist talk will be held in the Main Gallery.Kōrero Toi | Artist talk | Sunday 5 October 1pmYou’ll find me in the crowd, possibly decked out in my finest punk attire! Stick around after Martin Horspool’s Artist talk, bring back your best punk fashion (and piercings, optional) for the afternoon, and enjoy a live band performance amongst Martin’s punk imagery – how fitting!GY-RO is a two-piece rock band consisting of Martin and Gee. They have influences from ‘70s Glam Rock, Punk, Rockabilly, and Garage Rock. This will be their first public appearance since getting together a few months back – let’s get amongst it!GY-RO live music performance | Sunday 5 October 3pmIf you’re anything like me, finding a mindful moment to meditate can be a challenge.While distractions abound and our lives seem busier than ever, ‘switching off’ can feel like an unaffordable luxury.Monday Breath, Mindset & Meditation is just the ticket, a 45min guided class, to practice the tools & discover what you take home with you & add youtube your tool kit of self support.This is an offering to the community for connection through co-regulation, for anyone, at any level, no previous experience required.And the best part…? This is a pay/trade what you can event, which means you exchange what you can in value for what you are learning.. You choose what you want to contribute. Spring gardens have sprung! If you’ve attempted to arrange a vase of blooms, you’ll know there's a bit of an art to it.Why not check out the Floral Designer of the Year Competition and pick up a tip or two, and while you’re there, vote for your favourite design.Open for public viewing:Thursday 9 October 1-4pmFriday 10 October 8.30am-2.45pmOamaru Opera HouseWant to get your event on the guide? Click here and give us the details ~ free to you thanks to our wonderful local advertisers.

Ōamaru’s Becky Dennison is always looking for the next opportunity, but the business owner doesn’t sit around and wait for it to come to her.The 30-year-old, who will have been running women’s fashion store Hyde Boutique for five years in December, is on the cusp of her next venture - launching her own clothing label.Clementine has come to fruition from Becky seeing a gap in the market for accessibly-priced designer pieces that are fun.“Because there's a lot of sexy, there's a lot of corporate, there's a lot of really casual fun stuff, but having things that are a little bit fun, a little bit different, but still like really easy to style and wear. So that's sort of where we are going with it.”When she says “we” she mostly means she, but Becky’s accountant partner Kris Rush is a details man, and helps make the dreams a reality, she says.Clementine will launch in November, and be sold through Hyde and other New Zealand retailers. The designs are nostalgiac and inspired by “the little glimmers in life”.“Making the small things special . . . it's quite wholesome but also a little playful,” she says.She is co-designing with a contracted designer, starting small with about five styles, and taking her time to find the right factories to work with.“I was like, start smart, start small. I don't wanna bite off too much.“The dream would be, like, if we do grow, an in-house designer. But yeah, I have no design skills apart from knowing what I want - I can't even draw.”Becky, whose relatable videos of try-ons and pieces to camera have brought her business an Instagram following of more than 28,000 people, says creating her own label has been a dream for a few years.Last summer she decided to stop putting it off.“You kind of think it’s not the right time for it, but the time will never be right. The time is now. So then at New Year's, I was like, ‘right, I'm gonna get it into it’.”It will be a separate business from Hyde that she foresees will be easier to manage further down the track, alongside other things, such as starting a family.The name Clementine came to Becky from a Hyde customer order. “I saw her name written and I was like, ‘oh, Clementine’ . . . it’s a really beautiful name. It's pretty, feminine, but it like, it still has a bit of a nod to like the past, but also it's fun.”It embodies what she is aiming for with the brand, and little clementines have made their way into some of the illustrations on the clothing.“So then we started working with a graphic designer in Australia doing all our branding and we really wanted to do it properly. “We were like, let's not just come up with the name and do a logo, Let's do all our brand colours and our fonts and our everything. So it's been quite a process.”The pieces will be easy to wear - tops and “a little bit of denim” - with a focus on good quality, well-fitting essentials.She says it’s nice to have a bit of “creative excitement” away from retail. A first glimpse at the Clementine swing tag. Image: Supplied Becky wants to launch her label “properly”. She has photoshoots with professional models planned, and is involving a public relations company.“I keep saying that - ‘properly’ - because Hyde is pretty grassroots, and just, we are how we are, but we want it to be quite separate from Hyde . . . and we also want it to be not reliant on, like, it won't be my face on it.”But there will still be a local in-store celebration to launch Clementine, and a long lunch involving “all the florals and cutesy things”, she says.Five years in the retail game hasn't all been plain sailing, and Becky has taken risks which have provided learning opportunities.She opened another Hyde Boutique in Ashburton in 2022, which has since closed, and also took over Lynn Woods in Merivale, Christchurch, which closed in August.Becky has learned the importance of making hard decisions, and not to worry how those decisions might look to other people. “It's obviously emotional, but you can't let your emotions dictate your business decisions.”Those decisions were “bittersweet”, because although things hadn't turned out the way she hoped. they meant she could put all her resources back into her main focus, Hyde.For Becky, the key to her success in business is to be herself, and not try to fit a mold of what everyone else is doing, thinking or saying.“That's your superpower actually, just being yourself. It means that you don’t have to turn on and turn off.”She sometimes spends up to eight hours a day, recording try-ons of new clothing, and posting to social media. “If you're always just consistently you, you don't have to try and it's not hard, and also that's what makes you stand out sometimes. People like working with and interacting with real people.”Sales for Hyde are almost evenly split between online and in-store, although the online portion is now more than 50% and growing monthly. The business ships across the country, and regularly to Australia.Becky plans to continue growing Hyde, and have it remain “very much true blue, authentic”, while she sees Clementine becoming a business that stands on its own as a name in New Zealand fashion, maybe Australia, “then ideally Europe and America”.“But we’ll just work with one first. We’ll see how we go here,” she says.The first samples of the designs are due to arrive in the next few weeks, which is both exciting and nerve-wracking.The samples will be the regular size 8 of most samples, and also Becky’s size 12, so she can “fit-test and wear-test” them.“Wear it around, what does it wash like? Is it durable? Is the fit right, is the shouldering in the right places? Is it too wide? Is it too long? . . . It's kind of scary, but it's kind of like, if not now, then when, you know?”

Nine Waitaki residents have been recognised at this year’s Waitaki Citizens Awards held at the Ōamaru Opera House.The annual ceremony, led by Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher in his 12th and final ceremony, celebrates people who have given outstanding service to their community.Each recipient had a citation read by a Waitaki District Councillor before receiving their award, then offering brief remarks.Gary says one of the most important tasks he has had is valuing and recognising the community's volunteers."Councillors and I are honoured to do that each year with the Citizens Awards.""Every volunteer gives their time and skills to help our community in a broad range of ways, making Waitaki a better place to be."2025 Citizens Award recipientsMaria Buldain – Community Affairs – Waitaki Multicultural, ŌamaruDebbie Melton and Susie Sinclair – Community Affairs – Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Group / Ronnie Gardner Method Group, ŌamaruEdie Pont – Community Affairs – Community organising and public health, KurowBarry Gamble – Community Service – New Zealand Remembrance Army, ŌamaruRosemary Bentley – Community Affairs – Oamaru Foodbank, ŌamaruMaurice Gray – Voluntary Service – Alps 2 Ocean, WestonCraig Alter – Recreational Activities – Mountainbike trails, PalmerstonDavid Blair – Cultural Affairs – Musical Theatre Oamaru, Oamaru Repertory Theatre, ŌamaruFull citation details are available on the Waitaki District Council website.

By RNZ Morning Report A Dunedin property developer says unlike other parts of the country, the city faces bigger challenges following the government's overhaul of the earthquake-prone building system.Coastal Otago, including Dunedin, is shifting from a low to medium seismic zone under the new rules.The new Earthquake Prone Building system will mean unreinforced masonry buildings with unsecured facades and walls facing public areas or above neighbouring properties will be deemed earthquake prone.However, those under three storeys and in towns with under 10,000 people would no longer need strengthening, remediation or warning notices - and could be removed from the earthquake-prone register after having the facade secured.Listen here on Morning Report: Dunedin moves from low to medium seismic riskRussell Lund, who is running for council, told Morning Report many of the city's stone heritage buildings in the CBD are under-utilised.He said the cost of now converting these buildings into apartments, would be 'prohibitively expensive' due to the reinforcing requirements.Dunedin's biggest concentration of heritage buildings was in its CBD and this posed a major challenge, he said.Most of Dunedin's heritage buildings in the CBD were built to the street and the boundary, which under the new regime meant they would be considered earthquake prone, he said."The issue is that we've got to find alternative uses for the buildings, you know there's vast tracts of buildings that are either empty or under-utilised."When you change the use, when you've got an old building and you want to say put apartments in an upper floor, then the Building Act deems that 'a change of use' and you have to bring the building up to new building standards in all respects and it's prohibitively expensive."The loosening of rules in the government regulations would not apply to 'change of use' in buildings, he said.Actuaries for insurance companies would be the most important people in this change, he said."What this move has done is move the risk of earthquake to the insurers, previously there was a statutory obligation to strengthen the buildings."Insurance companies would not be willing to take the risk of insuring a quake prone building if it was not going to be strengthened, he said."They'll think there is a statistically significant you know risk that that building could turn to rubble at some point and they'll be on the hook for it," he said."From my point of view, I think it would be very short-sighted to say 'well I'm going to spend a whole bunch of money converting a building' then I really need to be doing the strengthening because it could only take one policy change from the insurers to say 'you know actually New Zealand is too higher risk'."That was what had happened in California where it was very very difficult to get earthquake and fire insurance and the state had had to step in as an insurer of last resort, he said.The rule changes were great news for Auckland, Northland and small towns, he said.If Dunedin had been left as a low risk quake area it would have changed the game there too, but that was not the case, he said."I can name, I can rattle off half a dozen quite significant heritage development schemes [in Dunedin] that just can't get started, they can't get off the ground because the numbers don't work because of various reasons."'It's a sensible thing, it's good news' - Auckland mayorAuckland, along with Northland and the Chatham Islands, will be removed from the system entirely.Listen here on Morning Report: Some regions exempt from new earthquake building rulesAuckland mayor Wayne Brown said it was a win for the city and the region, and was a step towards more affordable housing."Many older office buildings in Auckland Central are ripe for redevelopment as residential property. However, unnecessary seismic upgrades have pushed up construction costs, making these developments unattractive for finance companies and investors," he said.Brown said he had been pushing for the change for some time and he was pleased the changes had been made."It's been lumped with a whole lot of unnecessary costs during tough economic times and so this is a win for Auckland really and Northland."Some apartment owners had been financially ruined by the need for earthquake upgrades, he said."So they're sort of going broke to protect themselves from something that won't happen."The decision would work well for reintensification plans, he said."We've got a lot of older buildings in the Auckland central area that are ripe for redevelopment as residential property but the unnecessary seismic upgrade costs have made these developments unattractive for finance companies and developers," he said."It's a sensible thing, it's good news."The risk of a major earthquake in Auckland was probably less than the risk of a volcanic eruption, he said."If you look around Auckland ... you can see 40 volcanoes and the oldest one is 40,000 years and the newest one Rangitoto is under 1000 years so we're probably due for a volcano at some stage."But if you look through the geology of our cliffs around the harbour, there's no evidence there there's been an earthquake for the last 120,000 years, so it was just more Wellington exporting its problems to Auckland and I'm glad it's been fixed." - RNZ

Has your barbecue been languishing unused all winter? Here's how to restore it to its former glory.By RNZ reporter Graham SmithMy old Weber BBQ has been sitting out on the deck all winter.It's been uncovered, unloved, untethered from a gas bottle and a safe winter refuge for all manner of critters.So, with spring in the air and the prospect of summer BBQs beckoning, it's a good time for some restorative attention.In the eight years I've had it, it's never had a deep clean. Apparently, putting the lid down and blasting the heat on full doesn't count.So, the good people at Supercare sent Troy Morrell to walk me through a Weber resurrection.Morrell manages teams of specialist cleaners handling jobs in data centres and hospitals and all manner of commercial premises here and in Australia, but he kindly agreed to get back on the tools and show me how to bring my sad BBQ up to scratch.First up was the big reveal, as the lid went up, so did my shame level.Morrell generously said it wasn't the worst he'd seen.Troy Morrell. Photo: RNZHow to clean your barbecueThe first step is prep. Disconnect the gas, remove components: grill plates, grill drips, trays and other removables. Oh, and don't forget those rubber gloves.Now for the grill grates. We soaked the grill and hot plate in soapy water, just regular old dishwashing liquid. Hot water works best. Leave those soaking while you crack on with the interior.Scrape off as much loose build-up of gunk and grime as you can using a plastic scraper or a putty knife. Leave in the catch tray and it'll collect all the carbonised matter tumbling down.Gently brush the gas pod with a wire brush, from side to side, not along the length of the burner, so as not to push debris into the wee jet thingies.Morrell decided that my caked interior needed more than elbow grease, so the chemical cavalry was deployed. On went the oven cleaner, keeping a cloth over the gas burners to protect them.While that was doing its worst, it was time to check on those soaking grills.As the main grill was scrubbed with steel wool, the water turned a particularly unpleasant shade of brown, as years of neglect was sloughed off. A wire brush was also deployed at this point to get into the fiddly bits and remove the seriously stubborn build-up.The hot plate, the bit that gets the most punishment in my BBQ, was in a sorry state. This needed steel wool, wire brush and finally a gentle work over with a chisel to get it coming up shiny (ish) and new.Then it was back to the mothership for an interior scrub with warm soapy water and wire wool, that was all hosed down, with the drip tray removed the gunky, greasy water drained off onto the lawn.After an exterior clean, it was all put back together, left to dry before being fired up - it started first time.The Webber has had a glow-up and is ready for sizzling. Photo: RNZHow to keep your barbie in good conditionNow, if you don't fancy an almost two-hour mission to rejuvenate your barbie, don't be like me, be like Troy.After every cook give the plates a quick scrub while they are still warm and wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth.This will prevent build-up, Morrell said, and regular maintenance will save on future elbow grease.Give it a good, deep clean every two months.You don't need expensive chemicals (apart from oven cleaners in my case) baking soda, vinegar and dishwashing soap will do the trick.Don't leave it uncovered on the deck all winter, if you can, wheel it into the garage; if not, invest in a good-quality cover.Follow these simple steps and you'll have many happy seasons sizzling sausies in the sun. - RNZ

Ōamaru residents will soon have the chance to learn practical skills for self-protection at a free community course being offered at Te Whare Koa Marae.The course, led by Ōamaruvian Mark Mak isn't your traditional self-defence programme.It's based on what he calls "conflict resilience" and is designed for anyone of any age or ability.Mark isn't your typical self-defence instructor, describing himself as "a little guy" at about 165cm and 65kg."Not very intimidating. Hardly your caricature of an alpha male. And I'm 68."Growing up he realised that bigger kids assumed they could crush him."But I got good at being agile and slippery," he says.After leaving school he joined the New Zealand Army and later served with the Special Air Service."Their unarmed combat training was based on karate and I was a disaster in set-piece situations.""But in the field I was considerably more successful because I could capitalise on my physical and psychological assets," he says.Mark argues many traditional self-defence programmes miss the point, focusing on techniques for a fight that has already started.He gives an example: "If they grab you by the upper left lapel, this is the technique you use".Mark points out real life is far messier than the dojo or rec centre floor and it takes years to master all the variables.“This is not Fight Club.""This is Escape Club."The goal is to get out of trouble with the least physical and mental damage,” Mark says.He argues that many traditional programmes are geared towards stranger-danger scenarios, which are rare."Real-world risks lie in our homes and schools, at work, in the supermarket car park, with bad bosses, road ragers, bag snatchers and phone filchers, bullies, drunks, and nincompoops we know."Static, slowed down teaching methods fail to prepare people for real-world melee confusion."Our goal should be to escape confrontation without surrendering our integrity, not to win a fight."Later, Mark spent nine years as a social worker in a boys home for criminal adolescents and learned a few key lessons.Despite training in various martial arts and eventually earning a black belt, he realised the techniques weren't useful in that environment, where spontaneous attacks were rare.Instead he observed how confrontations truly began."All the fights I saw escalated from some trivial perceived insult which at numerous intersections could have been deescalated".This led him to the foundation of his current teaching."Our first line of self-defence should be about situational awareness, how to keep cool when the aggression heat dials up, deploying de-escalation skills, and escape-planning", he says.Now with a lifetime of experience and years of physiological and psychological studies under his belt, he offers a new type of self-protection."It's designed for normal people - short and tall, fat and thin, fast and slow, old and wrinkly."“We will discover that every body-type and personality-type has advantages in conflict, and that we have natural defensive and aggressive reflexes built into us."All we have to do is refine those reflexes,” he says.Te Whare Koa secretary, Sophia Leon de le Barra says, “this is a fantastic opportunity for members of our community to learn skills in self-protection and gain confidence”.Te Whare Koa Marae was established in 1981 on France Street as a place for people to gather, learn, share and connect with Te Ao Māori.Enrolments and contactThe programme will run on Mondays and Thursdays at 5:30pm for ten weeks in term 4 - October 6 to December 11.To enrol in the self-defence course, contact Mark Mak by email at [email protected] or phone 0210 222 6437.(Additional reporting Zara Murphy)

The Oamaru Pacific Island Trust (OPIT) is hosting a Moana Lei Pink Event this Saturday (27 September), offering women the chance to come together for important health checks, information and support.September is Cervical Screening Awareness Month and it will be a key focus, with on-the-spot registration and screening available along with information on breast and bowel screening, blood pressure and other women's health issues that affect many Pacific women but are often not talked about.“This time around, we wanted to focus on building health awareness on cancer, cardiovascular risks and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS),” says OPIT CEO Mata’aga Hana Fanene-Taiti.As of September 2025, only around 61% of Pacific women are up to date on screening and 13% have never been screened.Figure 1: NCSP cervical screening data for Otago and Southland women as at 10 September, 2025“Our women are less likely to be screened on time, or screened at all, compared to other ethnicities, leading to higher rates of cervical cancer, but also bowel and breast cancer", Hana says."With our large Pacific population in Oamaru, we need to make these simple and quick checks more accessible.”OPIT Community Practitioner Lead and event organiser Mafa Alaloto says "we know that these events make a difference"."Not only do women enjoy the time to listen and talk with each other, but the space is culturally appropriate and safe for many of our women, and being on the weekend in the afternoon, it is more accessible.”Key speaker on the day, WellSouth Senior Clinical Advisor, Pasifika and GP Dr Letava Tafuna’i. Photo: Supplied. Guest speaker Dr Letava Tafuna’i, a GP and WellSouth’s Senior Clinical Advisor, Pasifika, will speak on PCOS and cardiovascular health.OPIT nurse Robyn Cleverley and staff from Te Whatu Ora’s National Cervical Screening Programme will provide cervical screening on the day.Other OPIT staff members will support with education, sharing health information and encouraging registration and booking appointments for cervical, bowel and breast screening. Once again, OPIT is sharing the opportunity with the wider Waitaki community with a focus on women who are overdue, due or never screened."Non Pacific are welcome to register to attend the event, especially given the topic Dr Letava will talk about", says Hana.Due to venue constraints, women are asked to register via email or in person at the OPIT Learning Hub in Ribble Street.Alongside the serious focus, the dress code is pink and the afternoon will include a heart-healthy buffet, prizes, and Pure Fiji pamper pack giveaways.The Moana Lei Pink Event is free to attend this Saturday, 10-2pm at 22 Ribble Street, Ōamaru.Visit the OPIT Learning Hub, email [email protected] or [email protected] to register.

~ Opinion ~The end of the school year is quickly approaching. Local career development specialist, Jenny Bean has written an open letter to young people as they think about their future careers, these school holidays.Your Future is a Adventure, Not a Straight LineWhen you’re young, it can feel like the world is waiting for you to have all the answers. People ask, “What do you want to be?” or “Where are you headed?” as though there’s only one right response. But here’s the truth: life doesn’t move in a straight line. It twists, turns, surprises you, and sometimes knocks you down. And that’s not failure - that’s life.Your career isn’t a destination. It’s an adventure. And along the way, there are lessons and discoveries that matter far more than ticking off a checklist of job titles.Discover Who You AreSchool is not just about learning facts and passing exams. It’s a time to understand yourself. Who are you? Where do you come from? What values do you hold close? Your story - your family, culture, and experiences - can be the compass that guides you.Sometimes we don’t see our own strengths clearly. That’s why feedback matters. Ask others what they notice about you. Maybe you’re braver, kinder, or more creative than you realise. When you know your strengths and own your mistakes, you build the foundation of true confidence.Step Forward with CourageResilience is about picking yourself up after setbacks. Perseverance is about throwing yourself forward into the unknown. Both are essential.There will be times you won’t know what comes next. That’s okay. Take the next step, however small. Action sparks clarity. One step leads to another, and before long, you’ll look back and realise how far you’ve come.Protect Your WellbeingYour mind is your most powerful tool, but it needs care. Prioritise sleep, eat well, move your body, and get outside into nature. Build a bank of happy memories you can draw on when things feel tough.Stress will always be part of life, but it doesn’t have to control you. Learn ways to calm yourself - breathing slowly, pausing before reacting, or taking a walk. Protecting your wellbeing isn’t weakness; it’s strength.Build Your Support CrewNobody succeeds alone. We all need people who cheer us on, guide us when we’re lost, and remind us of our worth when we forget it.Look around - your mentors, teachers, whānau, friends, and even community connections can be part of your support crew. They don’t just help you in hard times; they also open doors to opportunities you may never have found on your own.Redefine FailureToo often, failure feels like the end of the road: the failed exam, the job you didn’t get, the course you dropped. But failure isn’t the opposite of success - it’s the foundation of it.Think of every setback as part of your training. It builds resilience, courage, and self-compassion. Some of the most successful people you admire have stories filled with failure. What sets them apart is not that they never failed, but that they never stopped moving forward.And remember, sometimes “failure” is not about you at all. Life throws obstacles - unfair systems, financial struggles, missed chances. These do not define your worth. What matters is how you respond, how you adapt, and how you continue to believe in yourself.Embrace the Adventure AheadThe world is changing quickly, and with that change comes opportunity. Focus not just on what jobs exist today, but on the challenges that excite you. Do you want to solve problems, create beauty, build connections, or protect the planet? Your career is less about job titles and more about making a difference in ways that matter to you.And don’t shy away from the tools of the future. Artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and new technologies are not here to replace you - they’re here to help you. Be curious. Experiment. Learn how to use these tools to open doors you never thought possible.The truth is this: your career journey will be full of surprises. You won’t always get it right, and you don’t need to. What you do need is courage, resilience, and the willingness to learn from every step. Surround yourself with good people, protect your wellbeing, and remember that failure is not the end.The path ahead is not fixed. It’s yours to shape - step by step, choice by choice. And with every turn, you’ll discover more of who you are, and more of what you’re capable of.Your future isn’t waiting for you to “have it all figured out.” It’s waiting for you to begin.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.

Spring is in the air, and with spring comes some updates to the Ōamaru business scene.Firstly, we have a handful of businesses that have been recognised both regionally and nationally for being at the top of their game.The Whitestone Cheese Co team is thrilled with their latest achievement, a Qualmark Gold Sustainable Tourism Award. The award caps off what managing director Simon Berry is calling a “golden year” after the family business also celebrated a Champion of Champions title and received a string of gold medals at the New Zealand Champions of Cheese Awards, earlier this year.“This latest award goes hand in hand with winning the National Champion with our Monte Cristo Cheese,” he says.“It’s quite humbling to think about how far we’ve come.”The Whitestone Diner and Deli welcomes thousands of tourists through its doors over a year, and the company also offers factory tours to enhance the visitor experience, which has helped it land the Gold Award recognition. Another favourite Ōamaru eatery, Cucina, is also among the country's best, having maintained its "Hat" in the Cuisine Good Food Awards four years in a row.Yanina and Pablo Tacchini’s restaurant was awarded the Hat last month, and Cucina is one of close to 100 Hatted restaurants around New Zealand.Cuisine describe Cucina as "a testament to clever flavours and the blending of cultures".Meanwhile, Ōamaru bird and pet food company Topflite has been named one of New Zealand’s Best Places to Work 2025.The family-run business has been named as a finalist in the Spotlight Awards category for Community and Regional Impact. “While we don’t need an award to tell us that our workplace is a healthy, happy one, we are chuffed to be recognised,” say owners Greg and Carolyn Webster, and Peter and Sandra Mitchell.We wrote about Topflite making the shortlist last month, and now to find out they've made the finals is even more exciting. We are looking forward to the winners being announced in Auckland at the end of October.Another Ōamaru-based company, Mīti, has been chosen as a finalist in the New Zealand Food Awards, Primary Product Sector, for its Smokey Kanuka and Honey Beef Bites.Founder Daniel Carson says he’s proud his fledgling product, which finds a use for surplus dairy calves, has earned a finals spot alongside bigger names such as Aoraki Salmon and Airborne Honey. The winners will be announced in Palmerston North next month.Meanwhile, three Waitaki businesses have been named finalists in The Grand Business South Awards.Inc Design owners Helen Riley-Duddin and Michael Duddin. Photo: Supplied/InstagramInc Design is being recognised for Excellence in Retail, Riverstone Kitchen for Excellence in Hospitality, and Whitestone Contracting Ltd for Excellence in Workplace Injury Prevention.Business South Waitaki navigator Rebecca Finlay says she is delighted to see such a range of businesses from the region represented at the awards.“This truly represents how diverse an economy we have in the Waitaki, from a small business supporting niche New Zealand creatives, to hospitality establishments supporting the best of New Zealand-grown produce and gourmet cuisine, and a large engineering business prioritising its community wellbeing,” she says. The winners will be announced in Dunedin, in November.New businessesMeanwhile, opening soon on Tees Street, is a new burger joint, courtesy of Liz Tui Morris and Dion SymeAll going to plan, Burger, baby! is set to open this Friday (September 20).Since both Liz and Dion have day jobs that keep them busy, they will initially be open three nights a week.“Basically, we have always talked about a gap in the market in Ōamaru for a dedicated burger joint at night - fresh homemade, more gourmet-style than your typical fish and chip sloppy joe,” Liz says.“I work next door at one agency so my office is connected to Burger, baby! which makes it easy for me to prep and be organised while working both jobs.”Both Liz and Dion are qualified chefs with experience in running their own eateries, and have always worked in customer service roles.Everything is coming up burgers for Dion Syme and Liz Morris, who are opening their new business Burger, baby! this Friday (20 September). Photo: Supplied“We both saw the opportunity and didn’t want to miss out! Life will be busy, but we have energy plus passion and have thoroughly enjoyed the process so far!”With a maximum emphasis on atmosphere, the couple aims to offer their customers an experience that will complement their good food. There will be vegetarian/vegan and gluten-free options available.A little bit further north, at 34 Thames Street, is Rust Atelier, which quietly opened a few months ago.The premises, which most recently housed Art on Thames, is now a treasure trove for lovers of linen, run by Sally Vendetti. It stocks New Zealand-made clothing, accessories and homeware. It’s worth popping in if you’re looking for a gift for somebody special, or to treat yourself.Meanwhile out the North End, Saxon Morgan has opened his own barber shop on 5 Tern Street, called Saxon Blendz.Saxon worked with the team at The Don, on Thames Street, for 18 months, and has now taken the brave leap to go out on his own. Also out the North End, and only open Friday to Sunday, is Venerable Vintage at 409 Thames Highway. For those who love hunting for a rare treasure, the store stocks retro and vintage items, such as Crown Lynn, Temuka Pottery, Tupperware, and restored furniture - and all the favourites from your childhood (for those whose childhood was pre-2000s!).Change of ownershipMeanwhile, the Heritage Precinct’s flagship building, the Criterion Hotel, is now under new ownership.Sahil Lohan has been living in New Zealand for the past six years and has been working in hospitality throughout that time. “It’s an industry I really enjoy, especially because it allows me to connect with people and be part of the community.” Last year he started running a pub in Fairlie, with his brother Sachin, and they where we were “truly humbled” by the warm welcome and support from the locals.Sachin (left) and Sahil Lohan have been enjoying the community support since taking over the Criterion Hotel. Photo: Supplied.“We’re looking forward to the same here in Oamaru, and it’s been wonderful to already feel that support from the community around the Criterion.”Sahil says he was drawn to The Criterion, not only because it’s a stunning historic building, but also due to the stories and heritage surrounding it, and its importance to the town. “There’s a real sense of character here, and I want to see it thriving again as a place where locals feel at home, just like it used to be in the past.”The brothers have already reopened the accommodation, which has been really well received, Sahil says.They are also planning to extend the opening days from five to seven days a week. “Looking ahead, our goal is to create a lively, welcoming hub for both locals and visitors - somewhere that celebrates the Criterion’s history while giving it fresh energy for the future.”If you have a new business opening, changing hands, or winning awards, please let us know at [email protected].

It’s been about 18 months incubating, but Ōamaru’s new-look penguin colony has hatched and is ready to welcome the public.Formerly, Ōamaru Blue Penguin Colony, Ōamaru Penguins is the new, cleaner name, and there is a new-look Discovery Centre for a more interactive visitor experience.The new branding reflects the organisation’s broader role as both a leading conservation hub and an internationally recognised wildlife destination, Science and Environmental manager Dr Philippa Agnew says.“We’re still the same world-class colony, just with a fresh face and a wider lens,” she says. “The name ‘Ōamaru Penguins’ better reflects everything we do – from protecting little penguins to sharing their story with the world.”At the official opening on Monday afternoon (September 15), Te Ha o Maru board chair Trevor McLinchey welcomed invited guests, and spoke about how Te Mahi o Waitaki Trust, a mana whenua-owned community trust, built the first seating area to watch the penguins come ashore in the evenings.Tourism Waitaki director Mike McIlhinney said the new-look centre was a culmination of a vision to create something extraordinary for the community and for visitors. He highlighted Philippa’s “exceptional leadership and dedication”.“Your vision, expertise, and determination and unwavering commitment to penguin conservation and visitor experience have been the driving force behind this . . . transformation,” he said.The company behind the new logo and website build is Wellington-based Salted Herring, while the Discovery Centre design and execution has been created by Locales. Also a Wellington company, Locales’ expertise lies in exhibition and visitor centre design, and it has worked on several projects, including the Gallipoli and Colossal Squid exhibitions at Wellington's Te Papa Museum.Members of the public, invited to yesterday's new Discover Centre opening, try out the new exhibits. Photo: Cara Tipping SmithLocales founder and creative director Chris Hay says the goal was to create an experience that is as fun as it is meaningful.“Where families can laugh at a penguin selfie one moment and reflect on climate change the next."You can go to a lot of contemporary exhibitions and they sometimes feel a bit too digital, so we really try hard to make things tactile and work for everybody - there's drawers, there's pullouts, there's comics, and so it's very multidimensional.”Operations and commercial general manager Cyndi Christenson says the renovations began about the same time she did, at the start of August.Cyndi, who has come to the colony from Waitaki District Council, says her new role is “great’.“This has been really exciting, and I'm so pleased to just come in on the back end of it and see it come to fruition.“You can just see the amount of work that Pip and the team have all put into it, and the dedication to bring it all together,” she says.Philippa says having Cyndi join the team allows her to focus on her real passion, which is the science and data side of things.She is most excited about “bringing the science to life” in the Discovery Centre, through the visualisations and interactives.“But bringing it in such a way that it's really, really engaging. Because, as a scientist, it's really hard to tell the story without people just immediately, you know, eyes glazed and getting bored,” she says.“[Locales] have just made such an amazing job of making it so engaging, with the beautiful illustrations.” The new-look colony is part of Waitaki Destination Management Development Plan, and was signed off by the council about 18 months ago, Philippa says.The plan serves as a roadmap to enhance tourism in the Waitaki District, ensuring sustainable growth, fostering community involvement, and promoting environmental preservation. The penguin colony was one of the top 10 priority projects highlighted, and the upgrade costs were entirely covered by ticket sales.“We’ve had two really good years,” she says.The interactive centre invites visitors into the fascinating world of the kororā (little penguin), blending science, storytelling, and playful design.Some of those present at the new Ōamaru Penguins Discovery Centre opening on Monday. Photo: Cara Tipping SmithFrom a 180-degree animated film that plunges viewers deep into the history of penguin evolution, to a hands-on research lab where guests become honorary penguin scientists, the new experience bridges conservation with wonder.Discovery Centre highlights include: A Build-a-Penguin interactive – where people design their own penguin and snap a selfie, a mural and data-driven display showing how Ōamaru’s penguin population has flourished through decades of protection; live science insights featuring tracking tech, nest box innovations, and predator control.There is also a Mandarin language app to make the colony more welcoming for Chinese visitors.To strengthen its scientific impact, Ōamaru Penguins has partnered with Dragonfly DataScience to develop modern data entry and reporting systems. These digital tools support the colony’s research programme – one of the most comprehensive long-term studies of any seabird species globally.“Every burrow check, every GPS track, every rescued penguin adds to our understanding,” Philippa says. “The new systems streamline how we collect, analyse, and report data – enabling smarter conservation decisions and better sharing with the global science community.”The colony has been operating for more than 30 years, and Philippa hopes this latest upgrade will help people to not only see the penguins but also understand and care about them.“Ōamaru’s penguins are thriving. By sharing what works here, we hope to inspire wider action to protect seabirds everywhere.”If you live locally, this week it is free for those in the Waitaki to experience the new Discovery Centre, in its first week open.Bookings should be made by emailing [email protected] is required when collecting tickets.A day booking includes a self-guided tour of the nesting boxes, and a night booking includes viewing the penguins coming to shore.There will be specials running during the school holidays as well, to get families to spend time and check out the Discovery Centre.An interactive Build Your Own Penguin that you can take a selfie with, as it swims past. Photo: Cara Tipping SmithAdditional reporting Cara Tipping Smith

Just One Thing (JOT) Waitaki drew a crowd of menders, makers, second-hand sellers, op shops and op shoppers for its third annual Slow Fashion event at The Business Hive last week.Slow fashion is the antidote to fast fashion - a movement to highlight sustainability and care in contrast to buying mass-produced garments made quickly and cheaply but at huge cost to workers and the environment.“There are enough clothes already in the world to clothe another seven generations”, JOT Waitaki co-founder Ann Brown says. Issues with the fashion industry lie in the poor treatment of the workers, low pay, harsh conditions and exposure to chemicals, as well as environmental concerns such as greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution, she told the groupThe ethos of JOT is to do “just one thing” towards sustainable practices. “It’s easy to get overwhelmed,” co-founder Ruth Davison says. “So all we need to do is focus on just one thing we can do to change, like buying second-hand.”Buying and selling second-hand makes a differenceRuth thanked Karyn Shaw and Julia Larkin from the Salvation Army Family Store, and Lisa Bosustow from St John's Oamaru for the work they do.The impact from our charity shops is far-reaching, Ruth Davison says. Photo: Alex Regtien.“The money raised in our community stays in our community”, she says.“They do a wonderful service, but when people dump their [unsellable] things, that money gets diverted into landfill fees. “So, if you wouldn’t buy it yourself, then please don’t donate it.”Local second-hand and vintage clothing sellers Zara Murphy, Rachel Fastier, Heather Machin and Jeannie Fletcher had stalls, while Annie Beattie sold jewellery on behalf of Justice for All.Clothes collected and sorted over the previous week were also available in the clothing swap for koha.The clothing swap for koha was buzzing at The Business Hive. Photo: Alex Regtien.Mending, repurposing and reusing tricks and tipsSandra Winder demonstrated ways to alter and mend clothes, sharing her top tips with the onlookers while Roz Armstrong showed how to make rag rugs from old fabric instead of sending it to the landfill.“That one’s been going for years,” Roz said, pointing to the rug on the floor while weaving her tuatara masterpiece by way of demonstration.Roz Armstrong enjoying a laugh while showcasing rag rug making. Photo: Alex Regtien.Meantime, Alana O Connor demonstrated darning, Lisa Potaka Ross showcased a huge array of relevant library books with the technology to lend them to cardholders then and there.And in a step back to timeless basics, Radka Balcarová demonstrated soap and salve-making including lip balm and a shaving soap for men and women. Finally, the annual catwalk invited people to show off their slow fashion outfits - second-hand, repurposed or remade. A jacket made with the salvaged charms of a formerly too small one, a coat bedazzled from a second-hand hoodie, op-shop finds and special items made with love were all on show and applauded by all. “Everybody has a story,” Ruth says. “That’s another thing I love about slow fashion.”Radka Balcarová demonstrating natural skin products. Photo: Alex Regtien.So many different natural products all sustainably made by Radka Balcarová. Photo: Alex Regtien.A closer look at Roz Armstrong's Tuatara rag rug. Photo: Alex Regtien.Alana O Connor demonstrating the lost art of darning. Photo: Alex Regtien.Sandra Winder with her top tips for altering and mending. Photo: Alex Regtien.Lisa Potaka Ross talking about the many books on sustainable practices available from Waitaki District Libraries. Photo: Alex Regtien.Second-hand and vintage sales. Photo: Alex Regtien.Papped looking fabulous. Photo: Alex Regtien.Repurposed with purpose - slow fashion stories. Photo: Alex Regtien.Found, made, saved - slow fashion stories. Photo: Alex Regtien.Discovered and re-imagined like a boss - slow fashion stories. Photo: Alex Regtien.Loves found, made and journeying on - slow fashion stories. Photo: Alex Regtien.

Young Ōamaru singer-songwriter Winnie Conlan is living her best life.The 16-year-old Waitaki Girls’ High School pupil has just been to Auckland with a small group of young songwriters for a special evening with Kiwi musician Bic Runga.The group got to watch the artist rehearse two new songs with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra on Friday night (September 5), in preparation for a concert the following night, followed by a Q&A session.Winnie was invited to take part, after coming second, out of almost 200 entries, in the Play it Strange Peace Songwriting Competition with her song One-Sided Love Getaway.The song was inspired by watching others her age going through relationships, and not having experienced that yet herself, she says.Play It Strange is a charitable trust established in 2003 by Split Enz founding member Mike Chunn, which supports and encourages young New Zealand songwriters to write, record, and perform their own songs.The other Play It Strange competitions include Junior Songwriting (years 9-11), National Songwriting (years 9-13), Waiata Māori, as well as the Strange Art Competition (for album cover art).There are 50 finalists in each category, and each finalist wins the opportunity to have their song professionally recorded to the value of $800, for a compilation digital album.Winnie spent a day at Sublime Studios in the Waitaki Valley last month, and just received the finished result a couple of days ago.“So hopefully it'll be going on Spotify next month.”Only about 12 finalists took up the last-minute chance at the session with Bic, and Winnie herself didn’t really think it was an option.“When they emailed me saying that it was an opportunity, I kind of assumed I'm not gonna be able to go because it's in Auckland . . . and I got [the email] the week before.“So I showed it to my mum, just because I was like, ‘look at how cool this is’ and then she was like, ‘okay, we'll make it work’, and I was like, ‘actually?’.“So I got to go, which was amazing. I’m so grateful to my mum for taking me.”Winnie and her mother Metka Conlan (middle row, far left) with other Play it Strange finalists and Bic Runga (back, right). Photo: SuppliedWinnie says Bic Runga is one of the artists she has grown up listening to, and she was excited that she had been one of the judges who chose Winnie’s song.“She gave me comments on it, which is awesome.”In Auckland, Winnie got to ask Bic several questions about songwriting during the group Q&A.“And her favourite song and why it means so much to her.”Writing and performing solo is a relatively new experience for the teen. She and best friend Olivia Morriss (16) perform together as Winnie and Liv, and have been writing their own songs and performing together since they were in year 9.“When we write songs together, she generally writes the lyrics, then I write the chords, and then we write the melody together and our own harmonies, and build it off that, kind of.”Both girls sing, with Winnie on the piano or guitar, and Liv on the bass guitar.The duo were winners at last year’s regional Rock Quest heat, and earlier this year also won the Ōamaru Jazz and Blues Festival Talent Quest.Their prize for the talent quest was also a recording session at Sublime Studios, where they laid down their first four-song EP, with their dads, Craig Conlan and Jay Morriss, as backing musicians.Winnie (left) and Olivia at Sublime Studios. Photo: Supplied.The four songs they recorded were Pretty like Purple, Queen of Hearts, Training and Bigger Man. The tracks now require final editing before they are released, which they just heard will be paid for by funding from the Ruby Marris Trust.“Because we won the Jazz and Blues Talent Festival, that gave us the opportunity to go and record a song. And then Steve [Harrop, owner of Sublime] was really generous and said that we could record four if we wanted.“So we went and recorded four, but we haven't quite finished them, and it's gonna be a lot of money to finish them.“So that is amazing.”The girls have also applied for other funding to record a whole album, which they are in the process of writing.Winnie performed one of her own original songs for the first time last year.“Then me and Dad had been working on the song that I submitted since January.“We were just kind of working it out ourselves, and Dad was learning all the mixing, and we recorded all the elements ourselves, and then we saw the Play It Strange Competition and we just decided, within a week, we should enter it.“So we put it in. I wasn't really expecting anything, and then I got second!”Aside from music, Winnie has also been Highland dancing since she was three and does a lot of musical theatre, so she’s had a lifetime of being up on stage.“I definitely still get nervous before I go on, but when I'm performing, I'm not normally nervous. It’s just always fun.” When she finishes high school, she is considering a double degree in psychology and performing arts. How that looks exactly depends on where she ends up studying.“Theoretically, I'd love to make a career out of music, but obviously that's quite hard to make happen, so probably, that's my dream." To hear Winnie and Liv perform live, catch them at Ōamaru’s Penguin Club on September 20.Olivia and Winnie, performing live. Photo: Supplied

A groundbreaking Māori youth leadership programme run by Te Hā o Maru will be expanding, thanks to funding from the Otago Community Trust. The Te Pōhā programme is a unique leadership initiative for rakatahi (young people) that connects them to their environment and cultural identity.Te Hā o Maru Health and Social Services toihau (chief executive) Mani Molloy-Sharplin says the programme is the first of its kind in the Waitaki district.The pilot had attendance rates of more than 95%, with 100% of graduate rakatahi transitioning to mainstream education, employment or further studies."Te Pōhā is a unique kaupapa designed by Moeraki's cultural historians and mahika kai practitioners, all who have provided the most precious knowledge for our facilitators to pass down to the rakatahi who attend the programme," Mani says.Otago Community Trust funding of $700,000 over three years will enable a significant expansion to reach even more youth.“Us at Te Hā o Maru cherish the relationship with Otago Community Trust as true partners of our vision," he says.“The investment from Otago Community Trust has been pivotal in enabling us to provide such a special kaupapa to our rakatira of tomorrow.”The aim is to double the annual capacity of the programme, and extend its reach primary and intermediate schools, establishing a comprehensive pathway for rakatahi to connect with their cultural heritage and blossom into future leaders.Te Pōhā centres on mahika kai (traditional food gathering), and revitalising cultural knowledge and methods that have sustained communities for generations.Through immersive, hands-on learning in natural environments, students develop essential leadership skills while actively engaging in practices of Te Ao Māori, including Te Reo Māori, mahika kai, karakia, and waiata, Mani says.The three-year funding will facilitate the recruitment of additional kaimahi (staff), including outdoor specialists, education navigators, and pathways coordinators.Te Pōhā's vision aims for intergenerational change across three core areas: manahua mai te mana tangata (people flourishing), manahua mai te mana whānau (families flourishing), and manahua mai te mana whenua (environment flourishing), Mani says. By integrating NCEA-aligned education with traditional practices, the programme is set to create an impact within entire whānau and communities. Students will engage in vital conservation work, such as wetland restoration and planting, while acquiring skills that open doors to further education and employment.Te Hā o Maru’s long-term sustainability plan envisions programme graduates will eventually become facilitators and directors, ensuring the kaupapa continues to grow organically from within the community it serves, Mani says.The Te Pōhā programme is set to implement its expansion immediately, with recruitment of additional tauira (learners) and kaimahi (staff) already underway.

It starts with one simple task on your phone. Next minute, you’ve been endlessly scrolling social media for an hour.By RNZ Digital Journalist Isra'a EmhailIt’s hard not to be sucked into a spiral of short videos, or a quick session of a game, but we're becoming increasingly aware how these quick dopamine hits don’t do us any good in the long-term.RNZ asked a panel of people embedded in tech for ways to resist the urge to check your phone every five minutes.Kennedy Anderson, content creatorEntrepreneur and content creator Kennedy Anderson. Photo: Supplied via RNZAnderson reckons he uses his phone about six to eight hours a day thanks to his job as content creator and entrepreneur.But there are several ways to limit the ‘noise’ that grabs your attention. He suggests focus mode – a customisable feature on smartphones that restricts notifications – or a geo-blocking app that turns off distractions when you’re in a certain location, like work or home.He’s bought the Brick app, which locks you out of apps and blocks notifications of your selection. The only way to regain them is by physically tapping on the accompanying Brick gadget.Take note of your habits, he advises. Your smartphone’s weekly usage reports can help you be wary or consider using social media on your laptop instead, he says.Kennedy Anderson's Brick gadget. Photo: Supplied / Kennedy Anderson via RNZChloe Gong, author and BookTok superstarChloe Gong is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Secret Shanghai novels. Photo: Supplied / One Grid Studio via RNZNew York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong needs to focus on creativity but she's also a well-known 'BookTok star'. For the New Zealand writer it’s simple - out of sight, out of mind.It’s very easy to mindlessly pick up your phone and scroll when it’s accessible all the time, she says. So keep it out of your reach.“It means I add an extra step between the mindless scroll (getting up and getting it) which forces me back on track.”Sam Johnson, gamerUniversity of Waikato Esports coordinator Sam Johnson's club has more than 400 students. Photo: Supplied via RNZSam Johnson is a gamer responsible for the University of Waikato e-sports club which has about 400 members. He discusses digital wellbeing with students and does presentations for NZ Esports Federation.Think about phone use like a game, he suggests. Give yourself an objective, like only looking at a limited number of reels, and reward yourself for following through or get someone to keep track so you don’t cheat.Their club members can only play on the PCs for up to 10 hours a week – after that the software kicks them out, Johnson says. You can find similar apps for phones.If you have a personal and work phone, combining them makes you less inclined to pick it up, he says. “I've just gone from thinking I need access to it 24/7 to being like I almost never miss anything. Outside of hours, there's very little that comes through on mobile that you have to actually attend.”Katrina Colombie, high school tech teacherSmartphone-Free Childhood NZ managing director Katrina Colombie. Photo: Supplied via RNZFormer high school technology teacher Katrina Colombie has seen how the growth of tech use has shaped classrooms. She’s has seen first-hand how it can be a detriment to behaviour.Lock boxes are a popular option. “People say their kids give up trying to pry it open then succumb to the fact they've got to move on with their lives, pick up a book, a ball, a pencil, a guitar, a bike.” Some parents have even reinstalled landlines, she says.The mum of two now helps lead the New Zealand branch of Smartphone-Free Childhood, which encourages parents to sign up to a parent pact – a commitment to delay the age when you give your child a phone.She emphasises they don’t have an anti-technology stance but want to empower parents.Katrina Colombie says some parents are returning to landlines. Photo: RNZ filesSheridan Eketone, Parenting Place coachSheridan Eketone, a parenting coach at the Parenting Place. Photo: Supplied via RNZOECD data in 2018 showed that youth in Aotearoa used digital devices 42 hours per week on average, compared to 35 hours globally. Parenting Place coach Sheridan Eketone is a mum of four and knows how hard it can be to pull tamariki away from the phone.There are apps, like Face Surfer, which set up filters for devices and also sets a screen time limit, which can prompt the Wi-Fi to stop working.Think about where you charge your phone - are you making it easier for yourself to always be using it? Perhaps you can invest in a bedside alarm clock instead of setting your phone to. Photo: Unsplash / Allen y via RNZ“I really like technology doing it for us because then it helps us keep our relationship intact, so it's not me marching into the room going, ‘Right, give me the device’.”Charge phones away from where you spend the most time or leave it in a bag away from you if you want to spend time with the whānau, she says.Bree Arnott, outdoor education expertWhenua Iti Outdoors partnerships development manager Bree Arnott. Supplied / Whenua Iti Outdoors via RNZOne of the easiest things you can do is go outdoors and enjoy nature. But of course, you’ll be tempted to whip out your phone to capture a beautiful scenery. To avoid this problem, mum of three Bree Arnott has invested in a camera.“Go outside to places where you're likely to get wet or messy. They're the places that you're least likely to want to get your phone out, because if you're around a water body, you're going to be worried about dropping your phone, so clambering around the rocks at the shore, heading out on a stand-up paddleboard or walking on a track which means that you can't be on your phone.”Clambering over difficult terrain is an easy disincentive to not be pulling out your phone. Photo: Unsplash / Getty Images via RNZArnott is one of the managers at non-profit organisation Whenua Iti Outdoors, which delivers experiential learning programmes for a range of tamariki.Some of the high school students might be without their phones for up to nine days. It teaches them to build relationships in real-life and understand how to be self-reliant and manage their time.Jackie Riach, psychologistPsychologist and country lead for parenting programme Triple P Jackie Riach wants parents to consider how they use phones around their kids and what kind of messages they're putting to them. Photo: Supplied / Ann Orman via RNZPsychologist Jackie Riach, who is country lead for parenting programme Triple P, says you need to model good phone use to children. (There’s even a Bluey episode about it).Be present when you’re at kids' soccer practice or taking a walk with them. Decide as a family on a ‘tech-free time’ – perhaps it’s when you’re playing a game or in the car or having dinner.“Putting your phone down is, I guess, a little self-talk around this is good for my mental health, this is good for me, this is good for my wellbeing.” - RNZ

The young couple bringing a new lease of life to Maheno Tavern have decided there is no time like the present, after the devastating loss of their newborn son.Johnny Johnston and Georgia Rae are re-opening the Maheno Tavern doors tomorrow (Friday, September 5) at 4pm.Georgia moved from Southland to be with Johnny, born and raised in Maheno, and his daughter Lilah (now 8), just over four years ago. The couple now have Zoe, who is almost two, and “angel baby” Johnny, who died in May.Baby Johnny (named after his father and grandfather) was born at 32 weeks’ gestation, after a problem-free pregnancy, Georgia says. “One night I had the stitch and was flown to Dunedin Hospital. Before we knew it, he was in NICU.”Their son’s heart muscle was twice the size it should have been, and he also had other health complications.“Wee Johnny had the amazing doctors from Dunedin, Starship and colleagues in America stumped, and at five days old, he passed away surrounded by family.”Doctors are still investigating what caused Johnny’s condition, and his parents are hoping that what they discover will be able to help other babies in the future.“What we did learn from wee Johnny is that, one - tomorrow is never promised, and two - we deal with our grief by speaking about our son,” Georgia says.“Through those conversations we have only just learned about other people having angel babies, some of them we knew for years.”The couple hopes the tavern will be a place where the community can come together, share their stories and feel less alone.“Because prior to speaking about wee Johnny we were very angry and frustrated and felt alone and targeted, but we weren't, we weren't alone,” Georgia says.Baby Johnny. Photo: SuppliedOlga and Tjarko Edzes, who bought the tavern in 2021, have been “nothing but supportive”, Georgia says.They had been in talks about the possibility of taking on the tavern for about two years, and now there is a signed sale and purchase agreement which, all going well, will be confirmed in December. “Tjarko and Olga . . . have graced us with three months’ due diligence, which includes that we enjoy the tavern, everything is ticking along nicely, and we are enjoying the lifestyle,” Georgia says. “We have a really great feeling about this, and the support from our community already is just amazing.”The tavern appealed to Johnny and Georgia, who are excited about being small business owners and providing a gathering place for the rural community.“We understand that a place like Maheno Tavern can create a space for the kids to play and socialise with each other and the adults to debrief, share work stories and feel better when heading home.”During those two years of discussions, Georgia says she and Johnny have come up with a lot of ideas.They are working with suppliers to bring in “awesome freebies” for children, and are planning an event for Mo-vember, to raise awareness for men’s mental health. They want to host work functions and Christmas parties.“Once we get on our feet we are keen to bring back the bottle store, raffles, the bands, and the Hot Rod Club have reached out, which we are ecstatic about.” Georgia says she loves the energy in the place, and is excited to have customers coming back in.“There's always nerves involved, but feel the fear and do it anyway. “We are just going to take it as it comes. I am sure those that walk through our doors will be patient enough.”Keeping time for family is important for the couple, and for now the tavern will be open Thursday to Saturday until late, and on Sunday until 9pm. They will consider opening more days down the track.Aside from socialising, the family enjoy jumping in the car for adventures and letting the girls experience new things. When the couple get some time to themselves, they enjoy going to the movies, Georgia says.For opening weekend, there will be live music each night, with Flip Side playing on Friday, The Yee Has on Saturday, and Southern Rust on Sunday afternoon.Georgia and Johnny are grateful for all the support they have received so far, and are looking forward to opening the doors to welcome everyone.

Aussie mum Queenie Tan says a lot of people laugh in amazement and are curious when they hear her plans to turn her one-year-old into a millionaire.Sydney-based financial influencer Queenie Tan makes a living sharing her top tips to more than half a million followers online for building wealth, regardless of whether you have $5000 to invest or just $5.When Tan’s own financial transformation began, she owed several thousand dollars in student debt and had no savings. Now she is worth seven figures and plans to turn her one-year-old daughter into a millionaire by the time she retires.The 28-year-old says she will put aside $1000 every birthday in a savings account so by the time her daughter is 18, she’ll have $40,000 which could turn to $1 million even without investing, because of compound interest and how it works.Finfluencer Queenie Tan and her daughter, Gia. Photo: Instagram / investwithqueenie via RNZBut adding investment will give returns “much more” than what you get from a savings account, Tan told Saturday Morning.“As we know, with the cost of living just rising everywhere, our money just gets eaten away by inflation. It gets worth less over time. That's why it's a good idea to start investing.”The author of The Fun Finance Formula says it’s important to balance your budget using the “dream combination” of three Fs – Foundation (spending for mortgage or rent and living costs) Freedom (investing or saving for your retirement or your dream home) and Fun (spending for a dream holiday or going out with friends).Listen on Saturday Morning: Queenie Tan: The Finfluencer Making Personal Finance FunHer “extremely frugal” single father, who retired early, shaped her views on what financial freedom can do and the importance of spending for fun, she says.“I never felt like we were rich growing up because I went to public schools, like we didn't take any holidays unless it was to see relatives overseas where we would stay in their place and not do any paid activities.“He would often like reuse things until they broke. Like his T-shirts had so many holes in them and he would often reuse clothes as like rags around the house. I used to be so embarrassed by all of these things.“While I don't agree with like how extreme he was, like financially, and it's important to still enjoy life, I also think that that freedom and not having to rely on a job is also so amazing.”A powerful move to financial freedom can be “mini retirements” instead of waiting until you’re 65, she says.Supplied / John Wiley & Sons Australia via RNZ“There are so many options to do remote working, so many options now to start a business or a side hustle that can give you a bit more freedom.“There are actually some really interesting studies around this that actually support the idea of taking mini retirements throughout your working life.”A “mini retirement” can also be a time of reset to allow you to return to work refreshed without completely derailing your finances, she says.“Sometimes we hate working because we hate working when it's stressful and we're kind of forced to do it. But I feel like working also does give us meaning and if you're doing work that you enjoy, we all kind of need that meaning in your life.”Investment tipsFor her daughter’s plan, Tan is turning to exchange traded funds (ETFs), which spreads money across a group, so the investment is diversified. She says ETFs help “ride out the volatility” of investments and are generally used in government superannuation schemes.“ETFs are a good way for, I guess, people that don't want to have to look into picking individual stocks. They just want something that they can just simply put aside.”But if you’re new to investment, Tan suggests setting aside an emergency fund (either about $1000 or three to six months of living expenses) to use when things go awry in the market and you have an emergency.She also advises starting small and early, but it doesn’t have to be big and can be at any point in life.Micro-investment apps also mean investment has never been more accessible, she says.“I think that when you do have hope, and when you believe that you can do it, it actually does manifest itself.“We still need to put pressure on like the lawmakers and the people to actually make a difference. But, you know, we can't always wait for them and it’s a good idea to put these things in our own hands as well.” - RNZ