There are lots of ideas on how to get out of the way of climate change events. But, after years of discussion and some 'ad hoc' action, there is still no national plan.Once upon a time, the flowering of the kōwhai tree in front of Mark Solomon's house heralded the coming of spring.In recent years, though, the pendulous blooms have emerged months early, splashing colour against a flat July sky.On a short mid-winter day, some might welcome that. Tā Mark does not.He views it as a warning: a canary-coloured omen that things are not as they once were.Down the hill, where only the main trunk line separates the tiny settlement of Oaro from the sea, there are more troubling signs.The former Ngāi Tahu kaiwhakahaere's grandfather and uncles were coastal crayfishers on this part of the Kaikōura coastline, launching into the waves from a slipway."Where they had their winch to winch their boat up, we've lost over 60 feet already of coastline."Oaro, south of Kaikōura Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-FarrellyRecently, Environment Canterbury shared research that showed how future sea level rise could affect Oaro - a cluster of 50 or so houses on Ngāi Tahu land."By about 2080 - if it continues at the same level - we will lose between 27 and 30 metres off our frontage," Tā Mark says."There is a real possibility by the end of this century our little community will no longer exist."Tā Mark first shared his concerns with the trust board at Oaro three years ago, suggesting they set some of their returns aside to buy a new block of land further from the coast.Tā Mark Solomon Photo: suppliedNothing has come of it - but he understands why."Well, how do you retreat? How do you bear the cost? Who bears the cost? Climate change is a national issue … and the solution of how we do this has to be a national solution."From Oaro to Otago, Westport to west Auckland, communities around the country are grappling with the same questions: Do we need to move? How do we do it? And who on earth pays?For Māori communities with deep ancestral ties to land under threat, those questions are especially fraught.The previous government planned to pass a Climate Change Adaptation Bill that would have set out a national framework for managed retreat, or planned relocation - but despite years of work, draft legislation never made it to Parliament.The new government says it's working on its own solution - but in the absence of any national direction, communities are forging their own uncertain path.In the way of waterCoasts and rivers have always defined where people choose to live in this country: once for cultural and economic reasons, more recently for the lifestyle.Two-thirds of us live within five kilometres of the coast. Many more live in towns built on river plains and wetlands.To accommodate this, the water has been shunted round and shut out. Wetlands have been infilled. Streams have been undergrounded. Harbours have been dredged, reclaimed, sea-walled. Rivers have been diverted and walled in.Now, as climate change fuels the frequency and intensity of severe weather events, the water is beginning to push back.In the immediate aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, Hastings District Council chief executive Nigel Bickle was struck by how obvious the risk had always been."Post-cyclone, you're reading situation reports describing where problem areas are - Swamp Road, Awatoto, Te Awa, Riverbend - you know, the whakapapa in the place names kind of gives it away."A massive earthquake is still the biggest, most thoroughly-researched risk to New Zealand lives, homes and livelihoods.But mapping and modelling of the current and future coastal and inland flooding risk is accelerating, and the picture it's revealing is ugly.A paper published by NIWA and University of Auckland last year found just over 440,000 houses, sheds and sleepouts are in known flood risk areas, with an estimated replacement value of $218 billion.And research published in 2020 by the Climate Sigma group, looking at just the main centres, projected that 10,000 coastal homes would face full insurance retreat - where insurance is either not available at all or becomes prohibitively expensive - by 2050. Partial insurance retreat could begin as soon as next decade."The analysis in this report is conservative," the authors wrote. "We expect the true number of homes facing coastal insurance retreat to be higher, and the number on our inland floodplains to be far higher."Many New Zealand houses were built well before climate change was recognised as a problem, but even now, properties continue to mushroom in flood zones and on beach fronts.Despite objections from its own elected representatives, Auckland Council has continued to grant new dwelling consents in flood hazard zones at similar rates as before the 2023 Auckland Anniversary floods."Sometimes the political economy trumps good planning decisions," Bickle says. "There are lots of examples of where a hearings committee or the Environment Court's overturned a decision that council's made on planning."Hastings District Council chief executive Nigel Bickle Photo: RNZ / Tom KitchinA red-hot housing market for most of the last decade means existing homes have also been bought and sold with little due diligence - something Bickle knows all about."I came to Hastings as the chief executive in 2019, into a crazy hot housing market."I bought a house - didn't do any checking of the LIM or builder's reports, because I was desperate."So if new builds are going ahead in risky locations, and existing homes in hazard zones are continuing to change hands, what happens when the next Gabrielle arrives?Flirting with (another) disasterFor Ilan Noy, every day that goes by without a nationally-driven, properly funded system for moving people out of harm's way - and not putting them there in the first place - is a day gambled.Noy, who sits as Economics of Disasters and Climate Change chair at Victoria University, was part of an expert working group commissioned by the previous government to report on exactly how such a system could be set up."We started working on this in October or November 2022, not thinking that in January 2023, we would have the biggest extreme weather event in New Zealand history," he says."The same thing could happen tomorrow."Ilan Noy is chair of Economics of Disasters and Climate Change at Victoria University of Wellington Photo: suppliedThe group published its report in August 2023 - too late to inform the post-disaster retreat programmes that had already begun in Auckland and Hawkes Bay, and also too late for the previous government to introduce any legislation before that year's election.In it, the authors suggest a basic framework for how planned relocation could take place all over New Zealand.First, regional-level authorities would identify general areas at risk within a region.Next, each area would get a detailed risk assessment, and then the community would be fully involved in identifying and choosing the solutions for a "local adaptation plan", which might include planned relocation for all or part of an area when a threshold - such as a specific sea level rise - was met.The final stage of the process would be actually putting the new plan in place: identifying all of the practical things that needed to happen, and who was responsible.The report recommended full compensation for homeowners and slightly less for landlords and businesses. Owners of baches and other second homes would only get help with demolition or removal costs.The report was sent to the environment select committee, but is still waiting on a response.The same too, for a National Policy Statement on Natural Hazard Decision-making that was drafted in the wake of 2023's disasters, and would direct councils to give greater weight to natural hazards when considering new resource consents.Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says the work already before the select committee will continue and he wants the "heavy lifting" done by the end of this year."And then we see where we are … in terms of our ability to put that into whether it's legislation or a national policy statement."He won't commit to a brand-new piece of legislation, as the working group recommended, going only as far to say that it's "a probable scenario".Without government direction, retreat is happening in a piecemeal fashion, he says, and very rarely in advance."We're seeing very ad hoc responses to emergency events, we're seeing ad hoc decisions around house buyouts across the country, and we're seeing variation … between council to council, in the way in which the Crown interacts with that as well."That is not a sustainable model."The cost of livingVictoria University Professor of Public Policy Jonathan Boston, who served on the expert working group alongside Ilan Noy, says it's also not an affordable model.The cost of 2023's weather disasters has been put at up to $15 billion - tens of times more expensive than any previous weather-related event in New Zealand history.The longer the country delays investing in climate change resilience, adaptation and retreat - whether it's through taxation or borrowing - "the greater the future harm will be", he says."And then we'll get into a potential spiral where we simply won't have the resources to do the upfront investments, and will be forever in a worsening situation."Bickle also wants to see a "multi-generational fund" established to foot the cost of adaptation.He says only acting in the wake of a disaster has created a dangerous - and expensive - precedent in New Zealand."[There's] almost a community expectation that when bad things happen, that governments - whether it's central or local or a combination of both - they're going to step in to compensate."After Gabrielle, 167 property owners across Hawke's Bay were offered buyouts at 100 percent of their pre-cyclone market value, whether they had insurance or not, and were also assisted with demolition, legal and valuation costs."The moral hazard argument is well, why would people pay big premiums and be insured if when these things happen, governments and local governments come in and bail you out?" Bickle says.People had to be helped to move on, he says."But I'm also really, really clear that this is forecast to cost $100 million here. This will be the only time that we're able to do this, because we simply don't have the balance sheet or the funding to do this again."Even though people should not be given perverse incentives to remain in hazardous zones, you still need to offer them compensation, Ilan Noy says."We know from previous experience in other places that unless you offer a financially generous package, it's very difficult to get people to agree, and even then it's not always straightforward."Clarity, transparency and speedy decision-making are also fundamental to success, Noy says.He's critical of how authorities have handled the retreat and buy-out process after the 2023 floods. "It would be great if we do not repeat [that] because I think it took too long, it created a lot of uncertainty."The pain of inactionAt the end of Lyall Carter's cul-de-sac, the mud-stained Momotu Stream winds a lazy course through regenerating mānuka and cabbage trees.Most afternoons, he and the kids take the path through this pocket oasis to get to their local park in Rānui, west Auckland.On a summer evening just over a year ago, their benign stream became a pummelling, churning force, that rose and rose and rose until it overtopped the newly-built six-foot fence at the back of their garden.At the same time, stormwater coursed down the street, pouring down driveways and right-of-ways until the houses were waist-deep in the stinking, swirling flood.Their next-door neighbours left in an army Unimog, and have never been able to return.The water stopped just short of entering Carter's house, so the family have been able to continue living there while they wait - and wait - for Auckland Council to determine whether or not the property will be completely bought out.Lyall Carter looks out over bush bordering the Momotu Stream in Rānui, West Auckland. The stream rose rapidly during the 2023 Auckland floods, inundating his and his neighbours' properties. Photo: RNZ / Kate NewtonHouses all around them now lie empty - some already bought out, others simply uninhabitable.Carter gestures at the broken panes of glass, the junk piled up by empty garages. A cat squats in an overgrown driveway, then scampers away through the unkempt kikuya grass."When this was built in the 70s, it was built fine, but then you add a whole lot of things further upstream and it has a flow-on effect."He believes the area should have been "a perfect case study for managed retreat" before disaster struck.Carter was already part of a community group, West Auckland is Flooding (WAIF), which established itself in the aftermath of previous floods, including one in 2021.The post-flood response has been fraught, with missed deadlines for categorising properties, poor communication at times, and emotions constantly running high."I think for our community, the constant moving of dates has been really frustrating and really demoralising," he says."[There are] really good people at the recovery office and at council, but … in a lot of ways [they] were building the aeroplane as they were flying."A police officer wades through flooding in West Auckland on January 27, 2023 Photo: SuppliedWAIF has been trying to impress upon local and national politicians the need for a better system for adapting and retreating before disaster strikes."Auckland and Esk Valley were probably the first on such a scale, but we definitely will not be the last."Any system should still be rooted in community decision-making, Carter says."People know the neighbourhoods, they know the lay of the land, they know the environment that surrounds them. It needs to be led by the community, but supported by local and central government,because that way I think there is ownership of the outcome, but also ownership of the process."A managed retreat, without compulsionHelen Haslam led a successful managed retreat programme in Auckland two decades ago Photo: RNZ/ Kate NewtonHelen Haslam believes managed retreat before a large-scale disaster can be done successfully - because she's already helped it happen elsewhere in west Auckland.Twenty years ago, Halsam led the community engagement for Project Twin Streams, a decade-long scheme to restore the natural stormwater network of streams running from the Waitākere Ranges to Waitematā Harbour.Infill development within the floodplain meant that during heavy rain, the eroded, contaminated streams no longer flowed easily out to the harbour and properties habitually flooded.The project aimed to better protect both the environment and community, but would require removing dozens of properties.When the first round of homeowner consultation began in 2004, the team met with every owner individually, usually in their homes, and always visited in pairs - someone with technical understanding, and a "people person", Haslam says."I was absolutely adamant that people needed to fully understand the problem."They took historical documentation with them, along with computer models of future flooding, and information about climate change."The engineers could actually show them, sitting together on the couch, the water flows with certain levels of rainfall coming in over the years," Haslam says. "They could see how it was no longer just going to be their garages or their back door steps that would be affected."Some were relieved, others reluctant or even resistant.The news was never delivered as an ultimatum, Haslam says."We just said, 'Look, nobody's going to force you to sell… But you need to do your own research and talk to your family, talk to real estate agents and lawyers and so on.'"So we left them to it, but we made sure that each of them was connected with a key person at the council."Over three years, 78 owners sold all or part of their land to the council, without any forced acquisitions."I really believe strongly that if people have got information they will understand, and it breaks down those barriers that are there," Haslam says."But you have to give people time to go through their reactions and to feel that they've been really heard. It's very easy to get oppositional."Photo: RNZIs it necessary to retreat at all, though?Simon Watts believes that, in the wake of 2023, "conversations sort of jumped to managed retreat where there's a huge range of other interventions before that"."For some communities at some point in time in the future, remaining where they are is not going to be an option," he says."[But] we need a spectrum of options available, so that we choose the right option for the right situation at the right time."Jonathan Boston says the threshold for retreat should not just be "intolerable risk to life"."You don't want to wait until people's properties are being inundated multiple times, their health is deteriorating, their livelihoods have been disrupted, the kids can't go to school and so on... You want to be moving people out before you get to that critical point."The expert working group also warned against the temptation to harden the coasts with engineering solutions, if that could only provide short-term protection."For example, communities may favour protective measures such as sea walls, even where they cannot offer long-term protection against rising seas and escalating risks," the authors wrote.Managed retreat is just one of 16 different options being shared with residents in South Dunedin, a suburb at imminent threat of both sea level rise and a rising water table.South Dunedin Futures, a joint programme between Otago Regional Council and Dunedin City Council, has been tasked with first defining the problem and then helping the community choose the solutions."There's really no limit to what we could do," programme manager Jonathan Rowe says."Pumps, pipes, sea walls down one end, nature-based solutions, planning tools like making it easier or harder to build in areas, and things like moving away from the hazards - so managed retreat, de-intensification, that type of thing."His job is helping people understand what's on the table. "So then when we start to narrow down what we might do, they've got a really good baseline understanding."The other ways outSouth Dunedin residents meet with scientists, engineers and policy makers to discuss water issues hitting their low-lying suburb. Photo: Tess BruntonManaged retreat does not mean moving the entire community, or even moving people from the suburb. "There's been this kind of historical view that it's a binary: we dig in for as long as we can, there'ssome pumps and pipes or dykes or whatever and then there's a date that comes when everyone needs to leave."That kind of response would be "enormously traumatic for the community, probably really expensive and certainly not the best way forward".Instead, the suburb might exist within a smaller or changed footprint, Rowe says. "Maybe high-density housing, maybe there's more green and blue space. So when it does flood the water goes in those places rather than people's homes and living rooms."Above all, Rowe wants to take the fear out of the conversation."Climate change is a catalyst here, but this is really around urban regeneration and renewal. While we're making this place safer, why don't we also make it better?"

About half the country's junior doctors have walked off the job for 25 hours with every aspect of the hospital system likely to be affected.Te Whatu Ora says emergency departments will remain open and patients should turn up to their regular appointments unless they hear otherwise.About 2500 junior doctors were due to walk off the job from 7am on Tuesday to 8am on Wednesday.Christchurch Hospital has said it might have to postpone treatment for some patients, saying it would contact them directly.That would likely be the case in some other hospitals, but Te Whatu Ora chief of people Andrew Slater said the agency would not know the full impact until after the strike had finished.Health services would still be available for those who needed them, he said.Senior doctors and junior doctors from the other main union would still be working, and would be providing essential "life preserving" services.One of the junior doctors in Dunedin today. Photo: RNZ / Tess BruntonThe doctors taking industrial action are members of the Resident Doctors' Association.Senior advocate Melissa Dobbyn said they worked across the country and in every speciality.They range from those just out of medical school, to those about to become specialists.Junior doctors go on strike (duration 3'59'') from Morning ReportMost were due for a pay rise of about 20 percent in their latest contract, but there were two major problems with what Te Whatu Ora was proposing.About 300 doctors working in areas such as radiation/oncology, psychiatry, public health and those entering GP training would miss out on pay rises.The second area of contention was that doctors in another union had reached a deal, however, it was higher than what the junior doctors' union had been offered.Junior doctors on the picket line in Dunedin. Photo: RNZ / Tess BruntonThis could result in colleagues working alongside the union's members being paid more for the same work."And our members are saying, this isn't right, this isn't fair."Dobbyn was asked if any deal might have to wait until the Budget is announced later this month so that Te Whatu Ora had more funds to possibly allocate for wages."This is such a vital workforce that the money needs to be found and it has to be found sooner rather than later."The workforce was short 500 resident doctors and 600 senior doctors so was already in a crisis.While doctors were reluctant to take strike action, "this is the future we're planning for", she said.One of the doctors, Dr Rosa Tobin Stickings told First Up the current pay offer was not good enough and they couldn't accept pay cuts for any union members.Why are half of junior doctors going on strike? (duration 4'14'')Tobin-Stickings who is training to be an emergency registrar said with 500 resident doctors short across the country, shifts were getting "harder and harder".It was not unusual to start work and be told she had to cover for another doctor."It's exhausting to be working in this environment and we've been working in this environment for some years ... and we're getting pretty burnt out."Sometimes, the doctors had to apply for annual leave a year in advance and it was difficult to get leave for education purposes or to attend conferences to help with their training.Many junior doctors had enormous leave balances and so far Te Whatu Ora had not responded to how leave pressures could be improved, she said.Some of those on strike in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Krystal GibbensHealth New Zealand Te Whatu Ora chief clinical officer Richard Sullivan said the country's EDs remained open and patient safety and welfare was the top priority.He encouraged those who were unwell to contact their GP or Healthline (0800 611 116) first if possible.Sullivan refused to comment on the strategy behind the approach of Te Whatu Ora cutting the pay for some doctors while raising salaries for others.The matter would probably need to be resolved by an independent facilitator, he said.Te Whatu Ora chief clinical officer on junior doctors' strike from Morning Report (duration 4'08'')A second two-day strike is planned from 16 May, and the union would take a vote on further action, Dobbyn said.Doctors in Dunedin have a dog summing up their situation. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton

Three people have been arrested following a theft at Shag Point, near Palmerston, on Sunday morning.At around 9.45am, Police received a report of a bus being broken into, along with at least a dozen wallets and bags stolen, many of which had passports inside, Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond said.The total value of the property stolen has been estimated to be around $30,000.CCTV footage from the bus assisted Dunedin Police in identifying two suspects from Christchurch, who had also allegedly failed to return a rented van.With live GPS tracking, Timaru Police were able to locate the van and arrest the three occupants around 40 minutes after the theft was reported.Two men aged 28 and 34, and a 26-year-old woman appeared in Timaru District Court on Monday, facing a range of charges including unlawfully taking a motor-vehicle, theft, and wilful damage.They are due to reappear in Timaru District Court on May 21.

New Government regulations for dam owners come into force next Monday (May 13), and the Otago Regional Council wants to help.Owners of dams which are 4-metres high or more, and store 20,000 or more cubic metres of water (or other fluid) need to arrange and have this classification submitted to ORC no later than August 13.The new regulations have been developed to provide a nationally consistent risk-based approach to dam safety, the ORC says.The regional council’s dam register shows that in Otago, 98 dams will be affected by the new regulations, with an extra 34 dams close to exceeding the threshold, requiring further investigation.Of those, 82 are in the Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes districts, while 45 are in Dunedin City and Waitaki and Clutha districts.ORC acting regulatory general manager Joanna Gilroy says the council’s focus is on the implementation of the regulations and assisting dam owners to understand the steps they need to take over the coming months. “ORC is here to help as needed with the new regulations and if anyone has any questions they are encouraged to get in touch with the team.“We will be contacting dam owners directly, but we also have a number of resources online and are happy to help,” she says.Dam owners will need to check if they exceed the threshold, and if so, carry out a potential impact classification (PIC) to assess the potential impact (i.e. low, medium or high) their dam’s failure could have on the community, historical or cultural places, critical or major infrastructure, and the natural environment.Additional actions dam owners need to take will then depend on whether their dam is assessed as low, medium or high impact. The regulations allow for anyone to carry out a PIC assessment (e.g. dam owners, farm consultants, technical practitioners). The role of a recognised engineer is to audit and certify these PIC assessments. Engineering New Zealand maintains a register of recognised engineers that can be accessed on their website, and has tips on how to effectively engage with them. For more information, visit the ORC Dam Safety Regulations website, including the Dam Classification Certificate Form to use for submitting the classification. A recording of a MBIE webinar for dam owners and other stakeholders who have an interest in dam safety is also available. 

As Aotearoa New Zealand embraces the final month of autumn, MetService is forecasting an extended run of low temperatures, signalling the approach of winter.This week holds in store a mix of biting cold winds and crisp, frosty mornings across much of the country.“This May marks a stark contrast to last year," MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane says. “Many may recall the tropical-feeling temperatures of May 2023, where places like Auckland and Hamilton experienced record-breaking warm nights. However, this year, expect an overnight drop to mid-single digits in Auckland City and early morning temperatures hovering near freezing in Hamilton.”The coldest days for the South Island look to be Monday and Thursday, with the chilliest mornings being Thursday in the far south where Queenstown will drop to –1°C, and Friday elsewhere with Christchurch starting the day at -3°C. “In the North Island, Thursday and Friday are also expected to be the coldest days, with the chill extending even to the typically temperate regions of Northland and Auckland.Wednesday and Friday morning are anticipated to be the chilliest in the North Island, with -2°C in Taupō on Wednesday and 0°C in Hamilton on Friday morning.  “Frost will be a notable feature this week,” Mmathapelo says.“We’re at that time of year where the nights are longer and combined with this cold air over the country, that frost could last well into the morning on some days.”This persistent cold is attributed to several cold fronts sweeping northwards across the country, bringing rain and a noticeable drop in temperatures. “These fronts will deliver much of their rain to the eastern parts of both main islands, even extending into eastern Northland,” Mmathapelo explains.Accompanying these fronts are brisk southerly winds, particularly affecting the lower and eastern South Island, as well as the lower North Island. “Between the rain, chilly southerlies, and icy temperatures, it will undoubtedly feel like winter,” she says. “However, amidst the wintery mix, brighter days are in store, such as on Tuesday and Friday.”

The rescue of a man swept out to sea from the Waitaki River Mouth at the weekend has prompted a police warning to take more care in the water.A man was successfully rescued on Saturday, after a report was made to police about 12.20pm, that he was in the water and needed help.He had no lifejacket or flotation aid and spent about 45 minutes in freezing water before being rescued, a police media statement said.It is lucky emergency services were contacted and able to provide a swift and successful response this time, but acts as a reminder that water safety is key, police said.They urge anyone going near waters, no matter the skill level, to take the basic precautions to keep themselves safe in case something goes wrong.“Always wear a lifejacket when boating or fishing, and have a waterproof bag to put your phone into to put inside your lifejacket, so it is always with you.“If you’re swimming or surfing, ensure you stick to your limits, and if in doubt as to the conditions, don’t go in.”They advise people to tell someone where they are going and when they will be back.“This can be crucial information for us to locate you,” police say.“Be aware of your surroundings and the dangers they may have – check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and water state changes.”Southern rivers can be dangerous, and with the incoming winter weather, water temperatures are much lower, meaning survival is less likely. This is the second incident at the Waitaki River mouth in as many weeks, after 79-year-old Leslie William Crosbie went missing on April 22 while fishing, and has not been found.Police confirmed last Friday, the search phase for Mr Crosbie had been suspended, but inquiries remain ongoing. They wanted to acknowledge the people who had come forward with information relating to his disappearance.They urge people to change their mindset from “it won’t happen to me” to “what if it does?”.

It is an exciting time for robot and drone-based technology use on farms, fifth generation farmer Stu Taylor says.He is the general manager of Craigmore Sustainables, which manages more than 25,000 hectares of farming, forestry, and horticultural properties.The company oversees a number of social, educational and environmental innovations including two scholarship programmes and devices for animal monitoring and methane reduction.Taylor told RNZ's Afternoons he has always been passionate about the future of the industry."It's a really interesting space as different generations and technologies and techniques come together over the next ten years and if we lay that over with what's expanding with AI and just how farmers will interact with that information... and working in synergy with that technology to really create a high performance farm based on what New Zealand's great at - which is growing pasture."It was an exciting time for robot and drone-based technology use on farms, he said.Listen to The Future of Farming from AfternoonsWork was being done to create cameras for dairy farms that will fly around a farm to measure the grass growth on a daily basis.Another type of camera can be used to measure the nutrient and moisture content of different pastures."So you get this visual data from drones and also we've had ground-based robots out on farms already."They're working on robots that identify weeds and specifically spray weeds and pasture, so that's cutting down the risk for an individual to be exposed to spray and also being really accurate."Taylor had already started to trial future farm technologies.He has been working with Lincoln University and Ravensdown which produces an eco pond system - an iron sulphate that is mixed with effluent as it goes from the cow shed into the holding pond."That stops methane being released from that effluent. That's about 4 percent... per farm of our greenhouse gas equivalent effect."Kowbucha was a trial Craigmore Sustainables was doing with Fontera - a biostimulant that reduces methane from the animals for at least the first two years of it's life - about 20 percent per animal."And then of course we're looking a farm efficiently, being a better farmer also reduces your effects on greenhouse gases."New Zealand could have a competitive advantage to be the closest to net zero dairy in the world, he said."I still believe farming's the greatest job, greatest industry in the world and what's happening in New Zealand is really positive change as we listen to our customers around the world, adapt to what they need..."

Kim makes good coffee and Cam makes a Danish to die for - put the two together and you’ve got the recipe for a successful business.Kimberley Forrester and Cameron Bremner have joined forces to open KC’s Bakehouse & Coffee Hut on Arun St, just a stone’s throw from Fenwick School.The pair have been friends for a long time, and decided around Christmas time to combine their talents and run a business together. The plan became a reality, and they are into week two, after opening last Monday (April 22).Cam qualified as a baker about 14 years ago, but took a 10-year break to work in dairy farming. After a stint overseas, he rediscovered his passion for pastries, and worked at U-Bake in Washdyke, near Timaru before the commute became too much and he became manager at New World South Hill bakery for almost a year. Kim previously ran KO Coffee at the junction, before also heading overseas. Since her return, she has continued to work in various hospitality jobs around Ōamaru.The KC’s premises most recently housed the disestablished Moa Bakery, Cakery - and so already had a commercial kitchen and a lot of what they needed.  “We didn't want to be in town, because everybody was in town, and we wanted a premises that was pretty much set up, and this came available,” Kim says.Not even two weeks in, business is going “really well”. “People are supporting us. Teachers come over and support us as well . . . before school, lunchtime and after. “It's been good so far. We're happy with how it’s going.”  Although Cam’s work day is about 12 hours long, he still feels like he has more freedom working for himself, and enjoys being able to bake the things he’s passionate about - mostly pastries, and particularly Danishes.“They're all custard-based, but we do a passionfruit, blueberry, apricot, salted caramel, raspberry and white chocolate, apple and rhubarb . . . it's just trying to expand that range, without going overboard,” Cam says.He makes savoury offerings as well, including croissants, pies, bread, and even croquettes. All filled rolls, croissants, sandwiches and cheese rolls are also made using Cam’s baking, while Kim cooks a selection of slices, as well as churning out the espresso coffee using closely-sourced MacKenzie Coffee Co beans.Cam starts work between 4am and 5am, and Kim usually starts between 5am and 6am. She has two children aged 15 and 12, and says she wouldn’t be able to do what she does, without the help of her mother and friends.“I'm thankful for my mother, who comes in the home and does the morning for my son, because he's got Down’s syndrome. That's my 12-year-old. So, I'd be lost without her, and friends as well. Like my mum's away at the moment, so I've got another friend of mine who's coming in.”The two are already involving themselves with community causes, donating their leftover bread at the end of each day for Toastie Tuesdays at the Oamaru Youth Centre, as well as contributing to the centre’s family community dinner.While the premises on Arun St is on the cosy side, there is table seating for about 10 people, and they plan to offer a larger room next door as a private meeting room for groups.“They can have the room for free if they order coffee and whatever,” Kim says. “That's going to be what we're looking at, when we get in there and sort it out.” The pair have their first catering gig this weekend, and are also looking to maybe join the Ōamaru Farmers Market once a month. Looking towards the future, the two have plenty of ideas - but are also conscious they need to “learn to walk first”, Cam says.KC’s Bakehouse and Coffee Hut is open Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm, and Saturdays 8am to 1pm. 

The El Niño weather event, which has keep the country relatively dry for nearly a year, is expected to be over by the end of this month.But National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) forecaster Ben Noll said we still should not be expecting many downpours May through to July.He said while some people may be happy that there would be less wet weather this winter - Northland, Taranaki, Manawatū-Wanganui, Wellington, Marlborough, Tasman, Nelson, Canterbury and Otago were all in need of rain after droughts were declared earlier this year."Quite a few regions are in need of a reprieve from those dry conditions," he said."Even though we expect El Niño to end by the end of May, some of those dry patterns that those regions have been experiencing may continue through at least part of the upcoming three-month period."The seasonal climate outlook for May - July 2024. Photo: NIWAWhile May is expected to feature rounds of chilly, southerly quarter winds, Noll said there could be milder, westerly quarter winds from late in the month into June and July."It has been a fairly cool autumn so far, and that is going to continue into May," he said."As we go toward winter, there are signs that the temperatures actually could turn somewhat milder for the time of year as we go toward toward June and July because the winds may change direction."The average person might think that, 'Oh, it's been really kind of cold lately, it's going to be super cold this winter', and that might not necessarily be the case."El Niño is part of a climate phenomenon called the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) system.ENSO influences rainfall, temperature, and wind patterns around the world, including New Zealand.NIWA's seasonal climate outlook for May - July 2024. Photo: NIWA

Plans for a disc course near Ōamaru are off to a flying start, all thanks to a group of volunteers.Oamaru Rotary Club member Sven Thelning and K South director Kerry Robb were discussing the idea over a beer, and decided to make it happen, Sven said.“It’s been something people have been trying to get done for a long time.”Other members of Rotary were also keen to see it happen, including retired Apex engineer Mark Hay, who has been making the baskets in his spare time.“Mark has built about a third of the baskets so far, and we also have K South putting a huge donation of time and resource to the project installation which we are planning for their quiet time over winter,” Sven said.Kerry came up with the idea of using a piece of reserve land out the back of Weston Domain, and has all the gear and expertise to trim vegetation and prepare the site, Sven says.The nine-basket course has been funded with a $14,000 from Sport Waitaki, funds from Rotary, and local businesses.One of the new baskets, created by Mark Hay. Photo: supplied“We’ve been donated enough for eight of the nine baskets,” he says.“We just need another $600 for the last one.” Fellow Rotarian James Braid has also been heavily involved in the organising and planning, such as liaising with Matthew Lanyon from the Waitaki District Council Parks and Recreation team, who has helped pave the way for the development, Sven says.“It’s all come together really well. Basically the stars aligned and all the right people seemed keen on it happening.”The course design, which has had professional input from an expert in Auckland, has undergone a few realignments to further reduce the chances of discs being lost over fences and affecting children in the playground.Sven says the hope is to finish constructing the course over winter, so it’s all ready to go next summer.“One caveat is, it’s all being done by volunteers.”Disc golf is a sport in which players throw a disc (similar to a frisbee) at a target basket. It is played using rules similar to golf. The sport is usually played on a course with 9 or 18 holes.There are 14 disc golf courses in Otago, but the closest courses to Ōamaru are in Waimate, where there is an 18 and a 9-hole course.A map of the nine-hole disc golf course planned for around the Weston Domain. Photo: Supplied

More than 40 artists in and around the district will open their doors this King’s Birthday Weekend for the inaugural Waitaki Arts Trail.Visitors to the district, along with locals, are invited on a self-drive exploration loop between Ōamaru, Kakanui, Kurow and Waimate, with 22 different venues open to the public.Artist Beth Strickland, who is also one of the organisers, says people are encouraged to get a free ticket from the Waitaki Arts Trail website, which makes them eligible to win one night’s boutique accommodation at Valli Wines, a wine tasting and grazing platter at River-T Winery, and a $100 meal voucher for Whitestone Diner and Deli.Ticket holders are also encouraged to get signatures from each artist they visit for a chance to win more prizes at the end of the weekend.“It's to encourage people to get around as many artists as they can,” Beth says.“And besides that, we have participating businesses in the areas, so accommodation and food suppliers and some retailers are offering deals, and that's all just on showing the ticket, you'll get some kind of benefit, whatever they're offering.”To save people time, and provide some artists with more suitable venues to showcase their work, Ōamaru has been divided into three hubs. There is also a “curator centre” in Orr’s store in Harbour Street that will be open all weekend, offering advice to people on where to go and who to see, according to what type of art they’re interested in. It will also have “huge” art installations, Beth says.“That'll probably be a really good starting point for people.”The Arts Trail organising committee has managed to secure funding from Creative Communities, and the Hynds Foundation, which has enabled them to run a digital advertising campaign throughout the South Island. They have also had strong support from Tourism Waitaki.“So we're attracting people from around the South Island - with the focus on getting people from Dunedin - to come and stay for the weekend, see how cool Ōamaru is and want to come back and stay longer.”The artists are a diverse group, such as goldsmith Nicole Schofield’s Boneshaker Workshop and acclaimed photographer Chloe Lodge, both based in Kurow.While in Ōamaru, established artists such as Katherine Kovacs and Allan Jonassen, who has recently moved from Marlborough, showcase their work alongside early-stage and emerging artists, like the sustainability-focused seaweed art from The Kelpery.Andrew Killick of Silenzio Pottery will be showing his work as part of the Waitaki Arts Trail next month. Photo: SuppliedThe weekend is just as much about promoting the whole of the Waitaki, as it is the artists, Beth says.“So it has a good spin-off for the whole economy of the region.”Beth encourages people to check out the website, and plan their weekend ahead of time.“So they go here, they get their free tickets, they download the map and guide, it's all online.”Work began in December to get artists on board, and the response has been good.“To get that many artists on board in a short time, arts trails always start small and grow every year. The Kapiti Arts Trail started with less than 20 and now they have over 300 artists.”The Bay of Plenty Arts Trail grew to be a garden and arts festival and they get over 25,000 visitors in a weekend. “So we have the same vision for here, to expand it and include performing artists, light shows, gardens . . . to really make it a huge event that people want to come from everywhere to be here.” There are two arts trail events planned - the second to take place in October. “We're trying to attract people in the off seasons or the shoulder seasons.”Beth and her fellow organisers also have plans for other events, such as portrait and landscape artist of the year events.“We'll be choosing really interesting venues for that to happen, and people can come along and watch progress of the artists over time . . . and that will be open to everyone, all the artists in the region.” The group’s main objective is to support other artists and help give them a sense of community, because they often end up working in isolation or silos, Beth says.The group is also running “little workshops” to help them learn about marketing and selling their work. “Things like how to deal with a gallery, how to be professional. “Even universities don't really teach the business side of art, so it's really important that it is a sustainable business, for those artists who want it that way.“It's all supporting and promoting the artist, and our values are inclusivity, community, and authenticity. We just want to put Waitaki on the map for being the best creative place in New Zealand.”

MPs have reacted cautiously to the news they are set to get a pay rise, admitting it was a no-win situation.On Tuesday afternoon, the Remuneration Authority, an independent body which sets pay for key public office holders, determined MPs should get a pay increase.MPs have not received increases to their salaries since 2017.Those approached by RNZ shortly after the news broke stressed the independence of the authority."I follow the directions of the Rem Authority," cabinet minister Shane Jones said."It's an independent decision, I think it's really important these decisions are separated off and not made by politicians, that's why we have the system we have," fellow minister Chris Bishop said.An ordinary MP's salary will rise from $163,961 to $168,600, a 2.8 percent rise backdated to last October.That will be followed by another 2.9 percent bump from July, a further 2.4 percent next year, and then 2 percent in 2026.It means by the end of this Parliamentary term, an ordinary MP's salary will be $181,200.Chris Bishop said the Remuneration Authority made an independent decision. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver"That's a real surprise, actually," Labour's Willie Jackson said.Cabinet ministers will get $327,000 by 2026, and ministers outside Cabinet $276,000.The prime minister's salary will increase to $520,000.Christopher Luxon immediately indicated he did not want or need an increase, and so any increase would be donated to charity.A question to the Prime Minister's Office asking to name the charity or charities was not answered.The deputy prime minister's salary will increase to $369,800 by 2026 - but the role is set to change hands next year.The leader of the opposition's salary has been reviewed, with the authority deciding its status had changed since the advent of MMP, and its salary relative to other party leaders was overstated.It means Chris Hipkins will get a $13,000 increase over the same time period, rising from $296,000 to $309,000.MPs were keen to separate themselves from the decision-making process, while also admitting their discomfort."The Rem Authority makes those decisions, it's really good that we stand back from it and say it is what it is, right," Labour MP Duncan Webb said."I think probably there's never a right time to give MPs a pay rise," Webb's Labour colleague Rachel Brooking said.Speaking before the announcement, ACT leader David Seymour said MPs would accept the law and abide by it, and discussions over whether they deserved it or not were a no-win."Politicians' pay has been flat for six years, somebody has a legal obligation to set it for politicians and judges and so on. And from the point of view of someone like me, you're kind damned if you do and damned if you don't,it's just a process and law that you have to follow."He said it was not particularly great timing when the public was doing it tough.Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick. Photo: RNZ / Angus DreaverGreen Party co-leader Marama Davidson admitted she was uncomfortable getting the pay increase amid a climate of rising rents and the loss of half-price bus fares."There are other things we could be doing to make sure ordinary New Zealanders don't feel like we're rushing ahead," she said.Fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick agreed it would be galling to some members of the public to see MPs get a pay rise."I think that we end up with a real political football whenever we are engaging in what politicians should be paid or otherwise, and I think that's the point of the independent Remuneration Authority," she said.ACT's Simon Court, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Minister for Infrastructure and RMA reform, said he was not in Parliament for the money but observed MPs had not had a pay rise since he entered Parliament in 2020."I think it's really important we keep this in context. I'm willing to accept a pay rise of 2.8 percent. The cost of living has gone up by much, much more than that in the time I've been in Parliament. I think it's important that MPs'salaries and allowances keep pace as far as practical with the private sector."Parliament can pass legislation to overrule the pay rise.In 2018, then-Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern froze salaries for a year, while during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, ministers took a 20 percent pay cut and MPs took a 10 percent cut.In 2015, Sir John Key overhauled the Remuneration Authority Act, by tying MP salaries to those of the wider public sector. It was repealed in 2019.Labour leader Chris Hipkins said both Dame Jacinda Ardern, and Sir John Key before her, had made a mistake in intervening outside of the authority."I do think it was a mistake, I think we should just leave it to the process and MPs should stay out of it."

Police want to hear from anyone who may have seen a man in his late 70s on the day he went missing at the Waitaki River.A river search began for the man, who was reported missing to police about 7pm last Monday (April 22), after he failed to return from an afternoon fishing.Otago Rescue Helicopter, Aoraki Police Search and Rescue, North Otago LandSAR, and South Canterbury Coastguard staff all helped in the search effort throughout last week, but it was suspended on Friday, pending more information.Police investigating the man's disappearance are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen him between noon and dusk the day he went missing, a police media statement said.The man’s Isuzu four-wheel-drive and boat trailer were found at the boat ramp off Te Maiharoa Road, near Glenavy, and his boat was found anchored at the river mouth at about 11pm that night.Police are trying to establish the man’s movements. His Fireball boat has yellow sides, a white hull, and a chrome anchor cradle, and any sightings of him on or around the river between midday and 7pm.Anyone with information is asked to contact Police via 105, by phone or online at 105.police.govt.nz; please click “Update my report” and reference the case number 240427/9404.

Classified advertising is launching on Waitaki App next Sunday (May 12) to give locals a means of sharing traditional family and community notices in a more immediate way."It's time," app owner Alex Regtien says. "Waitaki App is here to support our community and one thing that's been a source of frustration is not realising when someone in our community has suffered a significant loss or has an event worth celebrating."The new service empowers people to share their news directly with the community, quickly and easily."Death notices and funeral services will be vetted with funeral directors to ensure accuracy of information and adherence with traditional protocols."That's why we'll be asking for their details in our online form," Alex says."We understand that local providers have systems in place already for newspaper notices but it's a bit of an ask to have them change all their paperwork to include Waitaki App and manage multiple photos and so on."So, we're putting it in the hands of families, but with appropriate checks and balances in place."App co-owner Cara Tipping Smith has lost two dads."We didn't have the same last name so people didn't always connect the dots from the traditional funeral notice."It's such a difficult time and it all felt like such a rush, trying to let people know and plan everything."The classifieds service allows people to put in as many words as they wish and up to three photos for a flat fee of $29 +GST."The price has been a topic of discussion", says Alex. "It's not a profit-maker, but we think that's a price point that will cut out any pranksters and be somewhat sustainable."I'm not the flashest with formatting photos and that sort of thing, so we'll be doing that for people at our end which takes a little bit of time."But it's not just about losses, Cara says."It's as much about our celebrations."I used to love knowing who was engaged or getting married, who'd had a baby, who had a significant birthday, whose marriage had lasted 40 years, and this means we have a way of sharing those significant milestones and the joy including what we all love to see - photos."The new service is launching on Mother's Day with a special tribute to local mums."We're inviting locals to try out the new service for free by ordering a special Mother's Day tribute to go live on the app on May 12," Alex says.People can share their tribute from the app via email, messaging or social media from midnight before Mother's Day. You can order your free Mother's Day tribute here.

It's that time of the year: Mother's Day is fast-approaching (it's on Sunday 12 May) and you're all out of gift ideas, again.The pockets are tightening, you're running out of time, then blink! The lightbulb goes on. 'Yes!' you think to yourself. 'I know just what mum wants - a coffee mug! Nailed it.'Of course, every mother is different. Maybe your mum is an avid mug collector, in which case you really have nailed it. But more often than not, these generic gifts tend to fall into the ones-to-avoid list.So what else should you steer clear of?Nothing for the houseNothing says 'I love you, mum' like a gift that's really a chore, right?"I'd love some new cleaning products for Mother's Day," said no mum, ever. Photo: PixabayBelieve it or not, kitchen appliances, cleaning products and other items associated with domestic work can send the wrong message.Real gifts given to New Zealand mothers in this category include: a doormat, a clothes horse, a rubbish bin, tea towels, fake plants, and a rock, "or more specifically, a piece of gravel".Gifts that create more admin are also a no-no. For example, if you're opting for the classic breakfast in bed, don't leave the dishes for her to do later.Auckland mum Jennifer says the best gifts are "special or luxury, not necessarily practical or something you need to have, but something you might not buy for yourself".Gifts for mum that are actually for youA ceiling fan, a reversing camera, new tools for the garage and a lawnmower topped the list of responses given to RNZ in this category.Unless she's specifically requested it, your mother is unlikely to appreciate getting a lawnmower. Photo: Hawkes Bay Knowledge TrustAny gift intended to serve your own interests above those of the receiver can feel grim. It can be forgiven if it's coming from young children, but if you're a grown adult buying your partner a present that's actually for yourself,it's best to head back to the drawing board.Local mum Ima puts it best: "One thing I don't want to see this year is something that my family likes and not me. Chocolates, sweets, cakes aren't really my thing. I want potato chips!"If chips are what mum wants, chips are what she shall get.Impersonal and inconsiderate giftsAuckland mum Judith recalls receiving a cake-baking book from her ex-husband one Mother's Day. You might be thinking, 'well, that's actually a perfectly nice gift'. It would be - if Judith actually liked baking.If you must buy a last-minute gift, try to make it look like you've put some thought into it. Photo: Loren Biser/UnsplashWhen impersonal gifts come from family, it can really sting. Meaningful gifts don't have to be expensive - sometimes, it really is the thought that counts.Petrina Redmond remembers buying her grandmother a vase when she was in primary school."I saved up my pocket money and got a 'lovely' 1970s green bud vase for my grandmother, as we spent every school holidays with my grandparents. When she died, the bud vase came back to me. Oh my god, it was ugly!But it stayed on the mantlepiece throughout her life."Sure, it was an ugly vase, but Petrina's grandmother appreciated the effort it took to get it - therefore, good gift.So, what are some of the gifts mums might want?A personal touchHand-written notes, cards, and crafts are popular for a reason - they show a little thought, care and consideration.It's the thought that counts, say mums. Photo: UnsplashVania Scully says handmade gifts are her favourite."My daughter is very creative and has made some beautiful handmade stuff. I appreciate what she does because it took time to make it with love."Gifts with a personal touch are always going to be treasured.On the handmade crafts suggestion - well, that's definitely more for the younger kids. If you've got the cash, it's time to splurge a little and treat mum to something nice. Time with youWe've heard it all before. "I don't need anything darling, just time with you". Turns out, mums weren't lying.The best gift for mum might be hanging out with you. Photo: UnsplashThe overwhelming response to the question of worst gifts received was a feeling of gratefulness for just about anything, so long as they're getting in that good quality time.Cheryl, who has flown from America to visit her daughters in New Zealand, encompasses the feeling best."I'm here for a three-month trip, I just want to spend time with my girls."I'm heading home just before Mother's Day, so we're going to celebrate early."

An Ōamaru-based truancy expert has mixed feelings about the Government’s attempts to address the problem.Dr Delia Baskerville, who completed a PhD on truancy at Wellington's Victoria University, says the key to solving the issue is by properly understanding it.She is also in the process of producing a play on the topic in Ōamaru, called Mattering, using the stories of truants she interviewed for her doctorate.Associate Education Minister David Seymour delivered the Government’s “attendance action plan” early in April.New Zealand school attendance rates are low by national and international standards. Regular attendance, defined as being in school more than 90% of the time, has declined from 69.5% in Term 2, 2015, to 45.9% in Term 3, 2023, Mr Seymour says. It hit 39.9% in Term 2, of 2022.England’s attendance rates in 2022 were 75.8%, the USA was 70.3%, Australia was 49.9%.The statistics do not differentiate between justified absence or unjustified absences, so a child who is sick for five school days (the recommended isolation time for a dose of Covid) is already teetering on the edge of being below the 90% benchmark for a 50-school day term.The Government’s target is to ensure 80% of pupils are present for more than 90% of term time by 2030. The Spinoff reports that in term three, last year, short-term illness and medical reasons were the largest contributor to absence in every week, and the proportion of time lost to illness has almost doubled in the last 10 years.Changes starting next week, as part of the attendance action plan, include weekly publishing of attendance data and a communications campaign to improve awareness of the importance of students attending school.Public health guidance has been released to help schools and parents to decide if a student is well enough to attend school, and expectations around attendance have been “clarified” to school boards.“If the truancy crisis isn’t addressed there will be an 80-year long shadow of people who missed out on education when they were young, are less able to work, less able to participate in society, more likely to be on benefits. That's how serious this is,” Mr Seymour says.“This Government is making reporting and enforcement action to reduce non-attendance and truancy a high priority . . . A key focus is getting a better understanding of the drivers of non-attendance through data. The more we define the problems the more effectively interventions can be targeted.”Dr Baskerville is pleased the Government is giving some attention to the issue of truancy, and is “really thrilled to hear that change in the narrative that it is a complex problem”.“They're acknowledging the complexities now that they weren't doing, you know, at the time when I started talking to radio and newspapers, I kept hitting the point that it's complex, it's complex,” she says.“It's great to hear that narrative's changed, and it's good to hear that we recognise there are contributing factors that are home-based, school-based, individual-based, and society-based.”She agrees truancy can have severe long-term ramifications.However, Dr Baskerville is concerned decisions are being made by “a set of very very privileged people”.“These people don’t have insights into lived experiences of people struggling at the lower echelon of our society, and this is what breaks my heart.” Dr Baskerville’s interest in truancy came about early in her professional career, as a teacher at Hagley Community College.She became concerned about how it affected a child’s wellbeing and future prospects, which led to her furthering her studies.She says the current Government blaming the previous Government for school attendance issues is unhelpful and won’t fix the problem.“I don't think you can compare the trauma of all the incidents that happened to us as a country under the previous government . . . We have big things to look at and I don't think that's helpful dialogue.”Mr Seymour announced more proposals to be brought to cabinet at a later date which included "making attendance a strategic priority for school boards so they have clear expectations to focus on minimising disruption to students".The acknowledgement it will require a community effort is good to see, Dr Baskerville says, although involving boards of trustees, given the potential disparities in knowledge between boards, is something she questions.“It's dependent on the nature of the skills, knowledge and understanding of those people in the community, and you know sometimes we don't have finance ministers and accountants necessarily living in those poor areas and offering to be on those boards of trustees.”She also questions the “congruence between the narratives and the actions” of the coalition Government. “Axing 500 Ministry of Education staff doesn't seem to have congruence with the priorities they're setting. Making decisions that impact negatively, make it harder for those at the grassroots to do the job that's expected to maintain order," she says.“You know, in the narrative that I'm reading and watching and viewing, there is definitely a focus on the financial. “We need to really look at our game and look at the people. These are hard times, we need to manage them well or else the damage is long-term, you know?”Dr Baskerville is keen to contribute her knowledge in any way she can, to assist in finding the solutions to truancy.“It would be great if we could all work together to find the answer.” Other proposals announced by Mr Seymour to be presented to cabinet at a later date include:Mandating daily reporting of attendance data by Term 1, next year.Developing a Traffic Light System to set out the requirements and expectations for parents, schools, and the ministry at different stages of a student’s attendance, with clear obligations for when a student is not attending.Using improved data and analysis to distinguish the drivers of non-attendance and targeting interventions, particularly for the chronic non-attenders or students that are now not enrolled.

As the new week gets off to a sunny start, MetService is forecasting a mid-week weather system to bring rain to parts of the country. This will be followed by a change to a southwest flow, which will bring cooler temperatures near the end of the week.It was sunny skies across much of Aotearoa New Zealand this morning for the first day back at school and things look to remain fine and dry heading into Tuesday for most. However, for the western and lower South Island, the next weather system brings cloudy weather on Tuesday, with rain not far behind. For Fiordland and the ranges of southern Westland, some of that rain could be briefly heavy, and Severe Weather Watches have been issued for Tuesday and Wednesday.The weather system extends to the eastern reaches of the South Island on Wednesday, and quickly makes its way to the North Island in the afternoon and into Thursday. MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane says the system moves through quickly. “By the end of Thursday, most of the country should be in the clear, apart from the occasional shower for southern and western coastal areas.”While the weather system is set to take the rain with it when it leaves, cooler temperatures will remain into the end of the week.“The switch to a chilly southwesterly flow will be the most noticeable thing this week once the rain clouds have cleared. “Thursday morning may see inland parts of the South Island waking up to frost, while daytime temperatures will feel cooler all round during the second half of the week,” Mmathapelo says.

A New Zealand geneticist says his research into the minds of sheep may hold the key to curing Alzheimer's disease.Auckland University's Centre for Brain Research received more than $300,000 of funding from the US-based Cure Alzheimer's Fund earlier this year.Professor of genetics Russell Snell said the funding would help expand his research focusing on the development of early-onset Alzheimer's disease in genetically modified sheep.The goal was to improve the drug pre-screening process for Alzheimer's disease, Snell said.Read more: Hope and false hope for Alzheimer's sufferers"By far and away the most value these animals will have is the pre-clinical testing of potential treatments, to throw away the ones that won't work, [and] to refine the list to the ones that do, so that they can then go on into human clinical trials."Sheep served as excellent models for Alzheimer's disease research due to their longer life span, complex brain structure, and genetic similarity to humans, Snell said.University of Auckland geneticist Dr Russell Snell. Photo: SuppliedMany drugs that performed well in rodents failed in human clinical trials and those trials could cost upwards of a billion dollars to run, he said.His work would be a game-changer for Alzheimer's disease research globally, Snell said."Our country's size means we are always close to the people we are working to provide real hope to. We look at things differently here; we ask, 'What can we bring that's unique?'"This work is truly unique. Our group has a vision for dementia, that it is possible to fix it."Centre for Brain Research director and research collaborator Sir Richard Faull said the Cure Alzheimer's Fund recognised the importance of their work."Our research work has not only a pioneering scientific value to it; it critically also has a human life value. This funding recognises that in the most perfect way."

Ōamaru woman Sally Randall would like to teach the world to sing - in particular, those who have been told they can’t.Sally created Ōamaru Sings in September last year, and is about to embark on a 10-week community singing project called All Together Now.“I want to get people who think they can't sing to sing, and research shows . . .  that it's as high as 85 percent of people have been told ‘don't sing, you can't sing’.“So, basically, you know, a lot of the time people say, ‘Oh, you don't want me’, and I go, ‘um actually yeah, I do, you're the one that I want’ . . . and doing it in a way that's as unthreatening as it can be. No auditions, no need to read music, no need to have any understanding of musical stuff or what singing is about. Just simply, all I'm asking people to do is to attend the 10 weeks and be in the performance.Sally and her partner Mark Townsend (That Food Guy) used to live in Auckland, where she set up a community choir in 2011 with the help of Auckland Creative Communities funding. That was also a 10-week programme with a concert at the end.“At that stage I contracted a song leader from Auckland, 'cause I was new to it. So we fast forward to now and I'm not so new to it.”Sally has been song leading for 10 years now, and also leads the Ōamaru Social Singing group, which is a non-performance group funded by Age Concern Otago.She hopes the All Together Now project will be intergenerational, and attract all ages, from 15 to 80+. It begins on May 12 at the Scottish Hall, and will run every Sunday 3pm-5pm for 10 weeks. The final concert will be on Sunday, July 21.The songs will vary from Zulu, to gospel, to traditional folk, and more, with guitar accompaniment provided by Rick Loos.“I sing a line, singers repeat it back. A song is built incrementally like this and multiple harmony parts can be taught and learnt sequentially,” Sally says. Because the songs are learnt “by ear”, people do not need to read music. The only pre-requisite is they will need internet access for practising between sessions.“That’s Mark's job, he's the tech guy. So he's setting up a website that we're in the throes of doing now, so we’ll have sound files for all the songs that we do.”Also in the organising group is Rick’s wife Amanda Dennis, who will contribute her skills and experience in art, design, stage and backstage work.Sally has managed to secure Creative Arts funding for the project, which is based on an uptake of 30 to 40 people. “If we get more than that, we'll deal with that and it will be great. We might just need to move the concert to a different venue from the Scottish Hall because we won't fit.“We are going to get a group of whatever number it happens to be.” Sally has a background working in health and wellness. She is a qualified psychiatric nurse, and also has experience in adult education, teaching at Wellpark College of Natural Therapies in Auckland in the area of mental wellness.There are “lots and lots” of different benefits of group singing, she says.“I believe that singing in a group has the power to enhance multiple and diverse aspects of individual and community wellbeing . . . I love how singing connects people and builds community,” she says.Following the end of the 10 weeks, Sally expects more singing projects will eventuate, and perhaps different workshops for those who want to develop their singing.“It’s a fairly organic process. We’ll see.”Those who are interested in taking part in the All Together Now project are invited to contact Sally at [email protected] or by contacting Sally on 021 046 1022.