OpinionMost of us have heard the saying “No news is good news”.This can be interpreted two ways - there’s no such thing as good news (such a depressing thought), or maybe if there is no word about something, then that in itself is good news.Here, at the Waitaki App, we disagree on both points.The beauty of the app is, because it’s digital, everything is measurable. And apart from the occasional car crash and inclement weather story - we have found that overall, what you, our users and readers, want to read about is he tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata - it is people, it is people, it is people.I love writing about people, and luckily for me, people seem to love reading about people.Their triumphs and their challenges; their new businesses, their different cultures, their children, their interesting lives, their sporting battles and achievements; artists, entrepreneurs and the elderly.Everybody has a story to tell, and I want to hear it - and so it seems, do you.The app is privately owned, and not in any way affiliated with the Waitaki District Council and we receive no funding from them (no matter how many people on social media will argue with us over that - we are still right and they are still wrong).But over the past two and a bit years we have been operating - and I have been writing the majority of the news stories - our statistics over and over show far fewer people are engaged with stories about the council.So with our limited resources, and given I am for the most part the sole reporter here, I have mostly stopped writing them.Occasionally there might be a new initiative happening - a positive project for the town, or an interesting new staff member who I will sit down for a chat with. And of course we will cover the upcoming local body elections (although, again, there is a chance the public interest will be low). Also, if you have an issue that is affecting you on a personal level and you don’t know where to go next, then feel free to give us a call.But I am reluctant to get into the nitty-gritty of how these people, who I mostly believe are trying to do their best for the district they and their families also live in, deal with the impossible task of keeping the owners of 14,000 rateable properties happy with the decisions they have to make.It is sometimes hard to remember that a loud minority, particularly on social media, does not necessarily reflect the views of a largely silent (and can I say, more evenly-tempered?) majority. And while council news is not officially bad news it appears to have a negative effect on people - providing fuel for another online barrage.So, whether people consume their news with their coffee in the morning, or watch it with dinner at night - or choose to expose themselves to continuous online sources throughout the day - they can seek out the “bad news” in a million other places.According to a 2015 study in the Harvard Business Review, people exposed to negative news stories in the morning were much more likely to report their day as unhappy, even up to six to eight hours later, compared with people who had been exposed to "solutions-focussed" stories. It also affects productivity at work.Close to 10 years on from that study, with a far more toxic climate online, I can’t imagine things have improved much in that department.Here at the app, while stories can’t always be happy - because life has its ups and downs - they can always be human, and hopefully uplifting in some way.Maybe they will help make your day better instead of worse. 

By RNZ Team Leader Entertainment and Lifestyle Nicky Park"Ten things women with great skin do", "The science of orgasms" and a guide to modern dating terms - all coverlines the very first edition of Australian Cosmopolitan magazine screams at us from New Zealand newsstands.But in a day with fast-moving internet trends, access to every bit of information, and our tiny attention spans - can a 132-page glossy women's lifestyle magazine cut through the noise?Australian businesswoman Katarina Kroslakova, head of independent publishing house KK Press, thinks it can.Cosmopolitan started life in the US in 1886, but became the version we know, aimed at "single, modern women" in the 1960s under the guidance of celebrated feminist Helen Gurley Brown.After a 45-year run in Australia the magazine closed in 2018 after it was deemed "commercially unviable" by owner Bauer Media. The German family-owned publishing company axed rows of lifestyle magazines in Australia and New Zealand, including Cleo, Cosmo, Grazia and InStyle prior to Covid, then went on to cull many more during the Covid years (including the company's entire New Zealand arm).Kroslakova, who says she likes to be "disruptive", launched T magazine - the New York Times style magazine - in Australia in 2021 in collaboration with Hearst Magazines International."I know that seems like madness and my financial planner and my accountant at the time were like, 'Um, are you not reading the media landscape at the moment?'"And I'm like, I am, which is exactly why we're gonna do this."Kroslakova says there were highly skilled creative writers and artists who needed work, and plenty of advertisers wanting to spend cash."This is like a really cynical way of looking at it, but you actually have all these different people who still needed magazines… I thought … I have an opportunity to do something really different, really fabulous."Australian businesswoman Katarina Kroslakova, head of independent publishing house KK Press. Photo: [email protected] via RNZWhen Cosmo was staging its comeback from a "six-year hiatus" (as they put it) in Australia, Kroslakova got the call to kickstart the magazine. She signed up Tessa Ogle as editor-in-chief and they are now four issues in. The plan was always to hit New Zealand, and the launch issue with 'The Veronica's at 40' on the cover dropped this week. A version of Cosmo is already available in about 40 different countries.The magazine is aimed at women aged 18-32, but early data suggests readers skew older. It features all the classic elements - a sealed section to rip open, a sexy centrefold to unfold, quizzes like "what's your manifestation style?"Twenty-year-old Aucklander Isla shared the first issue of the magazine with her 50-year-old mum who immediately felt a lot of the content was "a nod to nostalgia".But Isla, an international relations student who grew up reading Dolly magazine aged 11 and 12, says no one in her age group would get that.Isla says she thought the reincarnated Cosmo would be more "experimental".While she thought the launch issue was "plain" and "boring", she did lap up the longer reads about dating with ADHD and "why we need to talk about male friendships" (once her TikTok attention span could focus on the printed word). She says the spicy sealed section still hits the spot, despite the saturation of sex advice on the internet."When you're a teenager, these [topics unpacked in Cosmo] are still the biggest things on your mind," she says."You can't go and ask your mum 'How am I going to give a great blow job?'. At least in a magazine it's going to be censored. When you search up 'how to give a blow job' online... you get extreme pornography, so wouldn't you rather get something that's written by women, for women?"Annie, 17, agreed ripping open the sealed section was a highlight: "I thought that was a really fun thing ... a lot of it I did not know."...In terms of learning about sexual stuff you don't really get much of that stuff online so I think a magazine would be a cool way to do that."However, Annie, who likes to flip through her mum's old music magazines, added, "the cover [of Cosmo] didn't really pull me in".Ogle, Cosmo's optimistic editor-in-chief, is determined that there are some things digital media can't snatch away from print.Tessa Ogle, Cosmopolitan Australian editor-in-chief. Photo: Supplied"There's nothing like holding a magazine... it's immersive and curated and it's also a break from the screens. I think people are really craving that," she says from the Sydney office."Print allows for this different level of depth and it's... something to sit with and return to and hopefully collect... I've still got stacks of magazines from back in the day... I collected them and had them under my bed and would redo quizzes with friends."Ogle was at the tail end of the original Cosmo generation in Australia."I would buy it and then my mum would be like, 'you can read it, but you can't read the sealed section'. I'd be like in my room under my doona just ripping it so quietly..."I was of that generation that was like just on the cusp of the internet generation. So the sealed section was absolutely a way that I learned about sex... I'm also gay, so... learning about queer sex was definitely not something that I had access to."Ogle reckons young people want to turn down social media noise, they are aware of its impacts on their mental health, and they want to have a more considered approach to screen time.She says the experience and expertise of the freelance writers they use across style, beauty, lifestyle and entertainment ensures the magazine feels "fresh and relevant and speaks to current social trends, speaks to the challenges that this current generation is experiencing".Rosa, 19, who read the magazine when it arrived in NZ this week, backed up Ogle's expectations."I like having the information in print because it means I am off my phone and it means what I am reading in my hands is trustworthy," she said, "because there's always a doubt in my mind that what I am reading online is trusthworthy."Dr Rosemary Overell, a media lecturer at the University of Otago, agrees New Zealanders are turning to hard copy press as an alternative to scrolling. But she says there is nothing new about the latest iteration of Cosmopolitan."It really is the same sort of stuff that was in there 20 years ago."Having a sealed section is almost a cute, novelty thing rather than giving women some sort of secret info they may not have had before access to the web... it's not exactly ground-breaking women's lifestyle journalism."Could Cosmo kickstart the return to rows and rows of glossy magazines on New Zealand newsstands?Kroslakova says she is in talks with Hearst to bring back two more familiar titles - but she can not say which yet.Overell says Kiwis could be here for it."Even with Gen Z, there's a push-back towards the screen and for in-real-life, tactile experiences… which could bring back the magazine."In a world where all of our lives are screens there could be this kick back for something held." - RNZ

By RNZ Senior Rural journalist Stephanie OckhuysenAn industry body leader says New Zealand is at risk of losing significant amounts of its locally grown veggie supply if government policies are not addressed.John Murphy, of Vegetables NZ, said the current system was broken and local growers were being put out of business.He said this was not an issue that was 30 or 40 years away, this was an issue right now."Growers are being strangled by regional decisions that take too long, make no sense, and ultimately drive them out of business. This isn't just a grower issue - it's a public health issue."He said vegetable growing needed to become a permitted activity in the current round of resource management reforms."In places like Horowhenua there's a very real prospect of growers being told that they can no longer grow as they currently are. That will have a dramatic impact on New Zealand's vegetable supply."The reality is that in many places growers are having to operate outside of consents, which is alarming."There was currently a patchwork of different rules and policies based on different regions which was making it unworkable for some growers, Murphy said.Associate Minister of Agriculture Nicola Grigg, who is responsible for horticulture, said she understood the commercial vegetable sector was urgently seeking regulatory certainty."As the Minister responsible for Horticulture, I am relentlessly focused on supporting the sector's success," Grigg said in a statement.Government was considering the best ways to address their concerns to enable growth and reduce burdensome regulation that allowed for New Zealand to be an export powerhouse, she said.Grigg said this included considering policy amendments including proposals relating to freshwater, water storage, and vegetable growing.Cabinet would take decisions on a new direction for freshwater as part of the government's Quarter 1 action plan to ensure pragmatic rules for on-farm water storage and vegetable growing, she said. - RNZ

A GP who has branched out into lifestyle medicine is offering a new specialised service, and has a special interest in helping women navigate menopause.Dr Erika Hollow, who has worked as a GP in Ōamaru, and now lives in Alexandra, says she was drawn to lifestyle medicine as she came to appreciate how much of an impact the way we live our lives has on our health and wellbeing. With her new business Life Reno Medic Erika is in Ōamaru once a month offering in-person consultations, and other times is available through telehealth support.Erika, who has worked as a GP for more than 20 years, began studying lifestyle medicine in 2020.“So that's kind of looking at the way that we live and our, what we call pillars of health - so sleep, social connection, nutrition, physical activity. They do discuss tobacco, alcohol use, that kind of stuff - stress management. “Looking at all the determinants of health and healthy living.”Having lived in Wānaka and around Central Otago, where people tend to lead more active lifestyles, and then living and working in Greymouth and observing the lack of access to care and how lifestyle was impacting peoples’ health, Erika was encouraged to search for “a different way”.“Trying to look at the preventative ... I think it's about giving people the tools and resources to make gradual lifestyle improvements in the right direction to live healthier lives and feel better.It is too easy to pull out the prescription pad, she says.“I'm not anti-prescription, I still work as a GP part-time as well.”She says there are a lot of “really good GPs working really hard”. “They're all just doing what they can do . . . it's not that they don't want help. It's just sometimes they don't have the time or the resources.” The difference with her new clinic is people have more time to talk about what is going on for them. “So it's having more time to kind of sit with people, and really get to grips with what their health concerns are.”An initial consult with her is up to 60 minutes, and then follow-ups are 30. She takes a holistic approach, looking at the whole person in front of her.“What I like to do is just spend a bit of time in the first consult getting to know people, getting to know what their issues are.” She sends out an extensive questionnaire and spends time going through it before the appointment, so she can have a think about what might be going on for the patient.“Then we'll have a really good chat and then come up with a bit of a plan. “That might mean me doing some tests and things . . . sort of talk about what resources are available, what they might want to do, and then do a follow up with them to see how everything's going.”Erika says lifestyle medicine should not be confused with functional medicine, which tends to focus more on testing and supplement use.“I don't really do a lot of that.”She describes herself as “one piece of the puzzle for people”.“So I'm kind of doing a bit of the overview and the medical assessment, so I can organise any screening that's needed.“It's really just more of a consult service . . . and it’s kind of led by the person and what they want to address and what they want to do.Women's health is particular focus for Erika. Photo: Pixabay/Skica911“So if they want more nutritional help, I might refer them to a nutritionist . . . whatever's needed, basically.”While she sees people with a range of health concerns, there is a particular focus on women’s health.“I think there’s become a lot more of awareness around menopause and perimenopause symptoms and issues . . . and there are a lot of really fantastic female GPs that really know a lot in that space, but there’s also people who may not be able to get into say, a female GP in their own practice, and for them that can be tricky.” Also, a lot of women don’t realise some of what they’re going through could be related to menopause, and so Erika will take them through a menopause score sheet. “So we can actually identify all of that.” Erika started Life Reno Medic towards the end of last year, and says people contact her for a variety of reasons.“It's often been maybe slightly tricky issues that they haven't managed to get sorted, and just feeling like they need a little bit more time.”She likes sitting down with people and “solving a puzzle”.“And spending that time with people, getting to know them as well.“I just think it's hopefully the future of medicine too . . . there's definitely a place for medication, there's a place for surgery, but I think our health system at the moment is really overwhelmed with a lot of people who are chronic - like the increasing rates of diabetes - and I think it's really important to look at what's driving that.” She acknowledges it is a difficult time for everyone navigating the health system at the moment and wants to acknowledge there are a lot of “really good GPs working really hard”. “They're all just doing what they can do . . . it's not that they don't want help. It's just sometimes they don't have the time or the resources. “It's challenging for Kiwis trying to access healthcare - it can be extremely challenging - and it's also challenging for the few of us that are actually left in the public health system, because it feels to me like dwindling numbers and increasing demand, really.“We just haven't met pace, really, both with infrastructure and training. And I think there's a whole lot of other determinants of health that are deteriorating, you know, like financial stresses, cost of living. It's just tricky for people.”Putting basic steps towards better health into practice can feel difficult for people, but she offers some pointers on where to begin.“It comes back to really basic stuff. Walking in time and nature is really important for people.“We're kind of designed to spend time in nature and we spend a lot of time in rooms inside, so having that time in nature and a little bit of gentle exercise . . . and breathing strategies, mindfulness meditation, it's all really helpful.“The tricky thing is we all know what to do, there's plenty of information about it. It's actually practising it over a regular period.”A little bit of coaching and/or accountability can be a big help, she says. That might be a friend or a family member who checks in as to whether a person has done what they intended to do, or asks if they want to go for a walk.“It's also that kind of knowing where to start. It can be really overwhelming.”In her spare time Erika loves to walk her dog, ideally on the beach, which is something she has missed since moving to Alexandra, but she makes do walking along the Clutha River track.She enjoys mindfulness meditation and recommends the YouTube channel Mindful Movement. “Some people find it difficult to sit and breathe and meditate, and so they've got yoga-based things that they can do as well.”She also enjoys Pilates, gardening and reading.Time in nature is good place to start when it comes to improving your health, Erika says. Photo: Pixabay

~Opinion ~This week is Eating Disorders Awareness Week with theme being "The Time is Now!"Eating disorders (ED) and disordered eating (DE) continue to be among the last taboo subjects in mental health, often surrounded by silence and numerous misconceptions in our community and workplaces.Despite our dedicated efforts, these common conditions within our communities¹ remain largely unnoticed by early detection systems, including our healthcare system, and are escalating at alarming rates.Research indicates that prevention and early detection are the most effective strategies to avoid potentially life-long medical issues related to both physical and mental health, as well as relationship challenges and substance abuse, which can lead to high fatality risks.The link between ED and suicide is highly notable. Research highlights the distressing reality that eating disorders and suicidality are deeply interconnected, requiring urgent attention in national prevention strategies.Among psychiatric conditions, ED has the highest mortality rates, with 20-30% of individuals succumbing to medical complications or suicide.Depression and overdose have been linked to these fatalities, including cases in elite sports, where years of untreated ED and the effects of malnutrition on the body and brain are often overlooked.Evidence of the harmful effects dates back over 150 years ago to 1868 when the term “Anorexia Nervosa” was first introduced by Sir William Gull who was a physician to Queen Victoria.Gull recorded detailed case studies including his treatment approach of refeeding support, rest, and supervision, leading to full recovery for his patients.Oftentimes, talk therapy is still prioritised in treatment over this understanding extending duration and harm.EDCS believes that "The Time is Now" to raise ED as a key priority public health focus to alter the trajectory of this deeply harmful condition that affects individuals and their families.We must take action now by emphasising ED in our systems, services, and legislation, while also addressing the many misconceptions through improved education in our schools and communities.We urge our community, media, and government public services makes active efforts to:✅ Become EDucated & ED Aware about the harmful effects which negative talk around food and other people's bodies has, including deriding our own bodies!✅ Share and adhere to the Eating Disorders Communication Guidelines, which closely mirror those for suicide.Now is the time to act for our loved ones. Please support us by reading, sharing, and promoting the ED guidelines, and by engaging in conversations about ED within our communities.With the right treatment and support, individuals can achieve a full recovery and lead a normal, productive life 💜Sarah Rowland lives in Oamaru and is Co-founder and Co-chair of Eating Disorders Carer Support NZ and takes part in community, system and lived experience advocacy.Eating Disorders Carer Support NZ (EDCS) is a New Zealand/Aotearoa registered non-profit charitable trust which supports all carers of people with eating disorders or disordered eating.Resources:If you are concerned that someone you know might have an eating disorder, the sooner you discuss your concerns with them the better.If you think your child or young person has an eating disorder, visit a health professional straight away. Ask for a referral to an eating disorder specialist service. If you feel your concerns aren't being taken seriously enough don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion.Any delay in seeking treatment can lead to serious long term consequences.Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand Kids Health The KidsHealth website has been created by a partnership between the Paediatric Society of New Zealand - Te Kāhui Mātai Arotamariki o Aotearoa (PSNZ) and the Starship Foundation, supported and funded by Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand.Eating Disorders Carer Support NZ (EDCS) The Mental Health Foundation Hope and Healing is a lived experienced support group for those fighting an Eating Disorder.

A business advocacy group says planned changes to the Overseas Investment Act will bring much-needed capital to the country.The government's changes will include making decisions on foreign investment within 15 days, unless they relate to residential or farm land and fishing quota.Associate Finance Minister David Seymour on Sunday said that the reforms would improve economic growth with foreign investment providing better tools and technologies, making workers more productive and improving pay rates.Listen to Morning Report here: Business NZ on planned changes to Overseas Investment ActBusinessNZ director of advocacy Catherine Beard said the organisation had been calling for a more encouraging business regime for many years."New Zealand's one of the hardest places to invest in the OECD and I guess a lot of that has centred around sensitivity over land."So the definition in the Act of sensitive land is anything over five hectares which is actually a pretty small footprint."That meant that New Zealand looked "quite opaque and difficult" to international investors, she said."The investment into the OECD generally from foreign money has been trending up over the years but if you look at the graph for New Zealand it's flat line, so we're missing out on a lot of capital and we're quite a capital-shallow economy."BusinessNZ believed the changes would be positive and lead to more money coming into the country, she said.It could boost jobs and the jobs tended to be higher paid, she said."Most of our big frontier firms have foreign investors sitting behind them, they don't just put money into plant and equipment and technology but they are also often a bridge into that international market to sell into."Asked whether the proposed changes would mean more infrastructure would be foreign-owned and whether that was an issue, Beard said ports that had outside investment rather than being council-owned did much better."Port of Tauranga is a great example of that, it outperforms most of the rest of the ports, so nothing to be concerned about, if councils own some of those assets they don't need to sell 100 percent of them, they can keep a controlling ownership."A lack of outside investment was part of the reason that New Zealand was "a low productivity and a low wage country", she said.Beard said the issues were things like whether a port could take big ships, expand, employ people and pay high wages rather than whether it was foreign-owned."All of those people will pay tax in New Zealand and when I look at our top companies most of them would have foreign investment."Beard said she did not agree with farm land being exempted from the proposed 15 day foreign investment decision-making saying it was a little "paranoid" given farm land could not be taken out of the country and it would not be in a foreign owner's interest for it not to be profitable."Probably a bit too much paranoia around that, but you know there are safeguards in there so if that's what's politically acceptable to free up other parts of the economy for investment then I guess that's the way it's going to go."Labour says proposed changes 'reckless'Labour says the government's overhaul of the Overseas Investment Act is a reckless fast-track for foreign investment at the expense of New Zealand interests.Currently the Overseas Investment Act states it is a privilege to control or own sensitive New Zealand assets.Listen to Morning Report here: Labour on govt's overhaul of Overseas Investment ActLabour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said the government intended to change that premise to make it more risk-based or permissive."The new starting point is that investment can proceed unless there is an identified risk to New Zealand's interests - that's a huge shift from the way the regime currently works."The new application review process would remove current protections particularly for those assets which needed to go through a full national impact assessments, she said.Edmonds agreed that overseas investment was beneficial to New Zealand but said safeguards needed to be in place.The minister's paper did not mention dedicating further resources and applying more scrutiny "particularly in terms of economic benefits and security risks to foreign investment proposals," she said.The minister's paper did not mention any way to enforce compliance to ensure any overseas investment conditions were met, she said."It's [the paper] quite light on the detail, there's no draft legislation that's been released for us to scrutinise."There was no guarantee that the new proposals would lead to more jobs and investment, she said. - RNZ

Looking through the list of finalists for the 2024 Network Waitaki Sports Awards, you might notice one surname in triplicate.But it’s not a misprint. Three Loe siblings have all been nominated in their respective sports and categories for the awards, which will take place on March 17 at the Waitaki Community Recreation Centre.Molly Loe has been nominated for Female Sportsperson of the Year, up against two Otago Spirit rugby players Cheyenne Cunningham (who also played for South Island women’s Super Rugby team Matatū) and Jamie Church.Molly has been a star all-rounder for her Otago women’s cricket team the Sparks. The Sparks won last year’s women’s domestic competition (Hallyburton Johnstone Shield), and her quality bowling has seen her attain figures such as 4/12 in the Super Smash competition.Younger brother William has been nominated for Male Sportsperson of the Year, but faces extra tough competition from 2024 Coast to Coast winner Hamish Elliot and Black Cap Nathan Smith. William played in the New Zealand Junior Curling team who competed in Finland at the end of last year, at the World B Champs. Meanwhile, the youngest Loe - Angus, who was year 13 at John McGlashan College last year, will be competing against Ned Newlands-Carter (rowing) and Kobe Narruhn (rugby) for the Male Junior Sportsperson of the Year.Angus had success at the 2024 National Secondary Schools Rowing Championships (Maadi Cup) winning gold with his partner in the U18 Double Sculls, a performance which also helped earn him a trial for the NZ Junior Rowing squad.Their mother, Nicola Loe, says while she and husband Hamish always encouraged their children to play a team sport, which they believe taught them a number of life skills, it was the children themselves who did the “hard yards” with training.All three of the children attended Weston School, before boarding at Dunedin secondary schools.They were encouraged to make the most of opportunities, which then came with rewards, she says.  “Many helped them along the way to achieve what they have - team mates, coaches, parents and mentors."They consider themselves lucky to be “in the mix” for the awards, and are looking forward to spending the night catching up, Nicola says.Some of the winners from the 2023 Network Waitaki Sports Awards. Photo: SuppliedSport Waitaki co-ordinator Sara Harding says there were some outstanding nominees for the awards this time, which made it particularly difficult for the judges to reach their final decisions.The judges are Nicki Paterson, Adair Craik, Barry Fox, Kayla Hodge, Anjelica Matapo and Sara.“Our guest speaker this year is Kees Meews, who will share insights from his remarkable rugby career as an All Black, as well as his success as a rugby coach,” Sara says.“It promises to be a fantastic evening, as we will be celebrating some incredible accomplishments. We will also be inducting two individuals into the Waitaki Sports Hall of Fame.” Tickets to the event can be bought individually or in tables of 10, through the North Otago Sports Bodies Website.The complete list of finalists is:Male Junior Sportsperson of the YearAngus Loe (rowing)Ned Newlands-Carter (rowing)Kobe Narruhn (rugby)Female Junior Sportsperson of the YearEmma Gillies (equestrian)Emma Spittle (rowing)Ruby Fox (touch)Male Sportsperson of the YearHamish Elliot (multisport)William Loe (curling)Nathan Smith (cricket)Female Sportsperson of the YearMolly Loe (cricket)Cheyenne Cunningham (rugby)Jaime Church (rugby)Team of the YearOamaru Rowing Men’s Coxed FourWaitaki Boys’ High School Year 9/10 Cricket TeamExcelsior Premier Rugby TeamMasters Athlete of the YearBelinda Hurst (tennis)Mark Esselink (multisport)Craig Brett (hockey)Coach of the YearSam Senior (basketball)Shaun Cunningham (hockey)Mark Holthusen (hockey)

The mood amongst farmers has lifted dramatically, with the latest Federated Farmers survey finding confidence is at a 10-year high.The latest Farm Confidence Survey from January, found farmers' confidence in current general economic conditions has surged from a deeply negative - 66 percent in July last year] to a positive score of 2 percent.It marks the largest one-off improvement since the question was introduced in 2016.Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford said the last few years had been "bloody tough" and it was "fantastic" to hear that farmers are feeling more positive.He said it had likely been driven by falling interest rates, rising incomes and "more favourable" farming rules."We've seen the government make significant efforts to look at what's been holding farming back. You know the removal of the idea of emissions pricing, the removal of expensive and unworkable farm plans and getting on-farm inflation under control."These sorts of things give farmers confidence that they can invest in their business, they can invest in their staff and on their farm."Langford said the mood has lifted across the primary sector, with good dairy payouts and beef prices, and improving sheep and wool prices."I've definitely noticed a significant shift in the mood of rural New Zealand."These survey results paint a clear picture of a sector finally able to breathe a sigh of relief as some of that weight is lifted."'More farmers think they'll make a profit'The survey also found there had been a sharp lift in profitability, with 54 percent of farmers now reporting they were making a profit - double the number in the last survey six months ago.Langford said it was great to see farmers being able to cash in on the way the markets are beginning to respond."That is really good result because there's nothing worse than doing this job for free or potentially making a loss."Farmers being more confident about future profitability has also seen a lift in farm production expectations, as well as increased plans for spending and reducing debt.The survey found just under a quarter of farmers planned to increase spending over the next 12 months, and more than 40 percent planned to reduce their debts.Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford. Photo: RNZ/Carol StilesLangford said this was being driven by lower interest rates, improved confidence, and stronger production forecasts.More farmers spending was good for rural communities and the country, he said."Ultimately there will be more money in the bank and that will see more money being spent in rural communities, more rural debt being paid off and ultimately a great result for the New Zealand economy."Langford said it was important to note that, despite confidence being at its highest point in more than a decade, it was still only just in the positive and there were other ongoing concerns.The top issues farmers were worried about include regulation and compliance costs, followed by interest rates and banks, and input costs."Interest payments are a huge cost for most farming businesses and farmers have been under massive pressure from their banks in recent years."We want to see the Government take a much closer look at our banking system and whether farmers are getting a fair deal from their lenders."The survey found farmers' highest priorities for the Government are the economy and business environment, fiscal policy, and reducing regulatory burdens."If the Government are serious about their ambitious growth agenda and doubling exports over the next decade, this is where they need to be focusing their energy," Langford said. - RNZ

Rural and urban people across Otago are being cautioned to keep an eye on rising rivers and streams, potential road flooding, landslips and to look at safeguarding stock – with a further round of thunderstorms and localised rain expected before 9pm today (Wednesday, 19 February). Earlier today Metservice issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Dunedin, Central Otago, and North Otago, as a trough brings increasingly unstable conditions to southern and central parts of the country. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means people in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and monitor for a possible upgrade to Severe Thunderstorm Warnings. ORC Natural Hazards manager Dr Jean-Luc Payan says the thunderstorms can produce heavy localised rain anywhere and the watch was mainly for Dunedin and coastal areas, Central Otago and North Otago. “As we saw yesterday, isolated and localised rain can fall to extreme levels, of around 80mm-90mm per hour,” he says of several areas hard hit yesterday: near Millers Flat, Beaumont-Lawrence, Tuapeka Mouth and Clydevale. Metservice says the thunderstorms today are expected to generate localised heavy rain (10 to 25 mm per hour) and hail. There is a moderate risk that storms in Dunedin and coastal, Central Otago and North Otago could become “severe’’ delivering localised downpours (25 to 35 mm per hour) and large hail stones. Although there was localised flooding around properties and on roads yesterday, the Clutha River among others tracked by the ORC did not rise to flood warning levels, Dr Payan says. “With these forecast intensities, the risk is more likely for individual properties, farming activities and roads,” he said. Waterway monitoring is accessible through ORC’s website and Environmental Data Portal, while rain and thunderstorms can be tracked on Metservice’s Rain Radar. Whether rural or urban, people should be aware of the potential for creeks, streams and rivers to rise rapidly and for roads to be affected by surface flooding, prompting dangerous conditions and possible closures. Rainfall of this intensity can trigger s landslides in steep areas, both urban and rural, which people should be aware of.In rural communities, Dr Payan said farmers should be considering whether they needed to move stock and machinery away from low lying waterways, flats areas or gullies. “Check on your neighbours too,” Dr Payan suggested. Emergency Management Otago and ORC is advising people not to travel during thunderstorms and to stay away from streams and rivers. Should a thunderstorm warning be issued, Emergency Management Otago recommend:Take shelter, preferably indoors away from windows;Avoid sheltering under trees, if outside;Get back to land, if outdoors on the water;Move cars and machinery under cover or away from trees;Secure any loose objects around properties;Check drains and gutters are clear;Be ready to slow down or stop, if driving. During and after the storm, you should also:Beware of road flooding, slips and debris;Beware of fallen trees and power lines;Avoid streams and drains as people could be swept away in flash flooding.

“Kakanui School is very chill with animals,” says 11-year-old Beth Taylor, and she’s not wrong.On a random Wednesday, there are two silkie chickens and two dogs, who have joined the resident pony and chickens.Rabbits, more dogs, lambs and occasionally cats are also not unheard of, and Beth, with her sisters Grace and Lucie, have also brought in their pet guinea pigs.Beth, and Grace - who is nine, regularly bring their silkie chickens Mabel and Tomple to school.“They’re good therapy,” Beth says.At the beginning of the year, Grace’s best friends had left school and she felt a bit nervous about returning, so her mother Elle asked the school if she could bring in Tomple for the first week.“The school agreed, which gave Grace something to look forward to and plan all of January,” Elle says.“It gave her a positive focus, and we spent time planning the different cages that we would need, a companion chicken for Tomple, and a little basket to sit in for when she was out of the cage in the classroom. “Grace is a very responsible and dedicated chicken mum.”The response in the classroom was so positive, Tomple and Mabel are now regular visitors.“Apparently the junior class wrote stories and did art work about them, and we also heard that they had helped settle other students into the new year, especially some who were new to the school,” Elle says.Tomple is a name Grace chose from the Keeper of Lost Cities books she reads.Beth chose Mabel’s name, with some help from the virtual assistant Alexa.Youngest sister Lucie, eight, didn’t get to bring one of her chickens, but maybe one day, her mum says.The three girls hand-raised six silkies from five days old. They lived in a cage in the lounge for two months under a heat lamp until they were big enough to go outside and so they are used to being handled.Taking the Kakanui School's resident pony for a ride. Photo: Supplied/Kakanui School principal Ann Roughan says having the animals there helps give the children a sense of belonging.“It stops any anxiety. It just helps them to settle.“They can go and pick them up anytime they want. It's just that sense of security.”One of the teachers brings their dog for her daughter, and the children will sit there and pat it, she says.“And sometimes my little dog comes out, but she's too naughty to stay.“We're a rural school, we’ve got a pony . . . and chickens . . . as well, so, it's just that whole sense of belonging."Although pets are welcome, it’s not a complete free for all. “They usually do run it past us and ask, otherwise we might have too many dogs and too many cats and the dogs would chase the cats…“So, no, they do. The parents are very respectful.” The girls love Kakanui School.“It’s one of the best schools,: Grace says. "Once I'm a year eight, I'm gonna be sad to leave here.”She also loves her pet chicken.“I think Tomple’s brilliant,” she says.“I think we all think our babies are brilliant,” Beth says.A pupil cuddles a visiting lamb. Photo: Supplied

By RNZ reporter Serena SolomonFour years ago, Summer Haycock reinstalled a landline in her Auckland home. It was a grey corded phone reminiscent of a bland 1990s office.The original thought behind it was safety: what if something happened at home and one of her four girls needed to call 111? Haycock's mobile phone could be out of reach or the battery dead.Now, the landline has become an alternative to giving her daughters (aged four to 11) a mobile phone. The landline, a $5 add-on to the family's mobile and internet package, allows Haycock's daughters and their friends to call each other."My daughter is almost 12 and I'm feeling like I want to hold off on getting a smartphone for as long as possible."And it turns out the things that many of us hated about landlines, kids love. They are delighted with the surprise of not knowing who is calling. They like learning how to answer it or how to call and ask if their friend can speak (some of the girls' friends also have landlines or use their parent's mobiles)."They think it is such a novelty factor, which to me is hilarious," says Haycock, who remembers her home phone as a teenager and "chatting about nothing until mum kicked you off"."It has been quite unexpected and quite fun."The conversation around kids, smartphones and the internet has shifted dramatically in the past 18 months starting with the National government's ban on mobile phones in schools at the start of 2024.Halfway through last year, the surgeon general, the US government's top doctor, called for tobacco-style warnings on social media and for kids to have more phone-free time. Research continues to show connecting poor mental and physical health to children with smartphones and social media accounts.Some parents are bringing back the home phone to avoid the pitfalls of smartphones while still providing an avenue for kids to connect with friends. To be clear, landline connections are majorly declining, according to New Zealand's telco companies, so these parents are bucking a trend. However, it shows novel ways parents are delaying giving their kids a smartphone.And it isn't the only thing Gen Z and Gen Alpha are rediscovering: physical magazines are making a comeback, polaroid and film cameras are cool and my entire wardrobe from the 1990s is on trend. Last week, my friend's kid proudly showed off his Walkman.Holly Brooker. Photo: The Crib Collective"I just really like simplifying life for our kids because giving our kids a phone adds more disruption and more distraction," said Holly Brooker, a parent of a 13 and 9-year-old. She is also an online child safety advocate.Instead of an actual landline, Brooker has a "dumb" mobile phone that sits on the kitchen bench at all times. The phone, a Samsung Safe Surfer designed for kids, can only be used for texting or phone calls, but Brooker intends to lift those restrictions gradually as her kids get older. Neither of Brooker's kids has a phone, despite a long bus ride to school."We actually have some really good chats on the phone," she added, of conversations with her son when she is out and he is at home.Brooker works in media and admits constantly having to keep her own social media and smartphone use in check, but that can lead to open conversations with her kids about the addictive nature of technology.Summer Haycock's daughter talking on the family's landline. Photo: suppliedSo far her kids have accepted they won't be getting a phone anytime soon, even though her 13-year-old is the only one in his friendship group without one."Culturally it's really hard to be the outlier and not give your kids a smartphone," said Brooker, adding that most parents give their kids a phone because they don't want them missing out on the cornerstone of a modern social life.Auckland mother Georgia had a landline installed in her home six months ago. Like Haycock, the phone's primary purpose is for emergencies. The secondary purpose is to give the kids - aged seven, four and two - a mobile phone alternative for connecting with friends as they get older. She doesn't intend to give them their own phone anytime soon."I am chronic at dumping my mobile phone around the house so my husband really likes that he can get hold of me when he needs to," said Georgia, of the landline's other benefits.An Auckland mother who is currently building a new home, says she is planning to install a home phone so her four boys can stay in touch with friends. The idea was inspired by a trip to the telephone exhibit at Auckland's Museum of Transportation and Technology."First, they didn't even know how to hold the phone. They had the receiver upside down."Her boys had such a great time calling each other that she looked into how she could get a home phone. She says she wants to keep smartphones out of her kids' hands to limit exposure to online bullying and social media use.Young people who spend more than three hours a day on social media double their risk of depression and anxiety symptoms, according to a study quoted by Dr Vivek Murthy, the US surgeon general, when he argued for warning labels. New Zealanders spend an average of two and a half hours on social media platforms. Many young people reported spending seven or more hours on social media each day.For Brooker, a major wake-up call on the issue of kids and smartphones was a 2018 survey from New Zealand's Classification Office. It found that two-thirds of New Zealanders aged 14 to 17 had seen pornography and the vast majority of those had found it online by accident.Last year, Brooker helped launch the "Hold the Phone" campaign, encouraging parents to delay or limit their child's smartphone use. She is also advocating the government to improve national internet filters to block some sexual imagery including rape, bestiality and child pornography from New Zealand screens.The Parenting Place chief executive Dave Atkinson says that installing a landline might not be everyone's approach, but "I think it is great that parents are taking an active role in their kid's technology".The organisation's official suggestion to parents is to delay giving their child a smartphone until year nine, but "we recognise for a bunch of reasons why that might not be realistic," says Atkinson.It's one thing to limit smartphone use, but parents also need to consider what their kids are doing instead, calling it the "healthy mind platter"."Are they engaging with friends? Are they doing well with school? Are they involved in sports? Are they getting exercise? Do we have quality time with the family?"If all of those things are in place, a bit of cell phone use, a bit of online gaming is okay." - RNZ

New North Otago A&P Association secretary Catherine Gardner knows she has “huge shoes” to fill, stepping into the role after Katrina Kelly died suddenly in May last year.“At every step of the way I'm mindful of her legacy, because all the people, all the volunteers, they didn't just lose a secretary, they lost a really good friend. So there's that grief.” Catherine says.She took on the part-time position in June, but as Saturday’s (February 22) 162nd North Otago A&P Show approaches and the demands of the job have ramped up, Catherine appreciates even more the enormity of the role Katrina played. “I just want to do her proud. I didn't know her, but I feel as if I did.“That's a big thing for me, is that I want to make sure that it's good for her. Because she just had done such good work.”Previous North Otago A&P Association secretary Katrina Kelly's sudden death while on holiday last year left a huge hole in the organisation. File photo: Ashley SmythCatherine grew up in Ōamaru, but has been away for 40 years.She was a police officer in London before joining New Zealand Police for about 17 years and then changing careers to take a job at WorkSafe in Wellington.She was able to transfer to the Dunedin office after deciding to move back south to help an ailing relative, but was then made redundant.The new job has been a “huge learning curve” for Catherine.“But the thing is, I just love being back in town, and it's nice to do things at a local level. The last lot of years I was doing things at a national level.”The people of Ōamaru have been “wonderful” as she finds her way around her new job.Sponsors for the A&P Show have continued to be generous and support the show, even though times are tough. And if it wasn’t for the volunteers, none of it would happen, Catherine says.“I was just so impressed with everyone.“I watch all of these incredibly creative children bring their stuff in, and I'm just blown away. And then we've got the vendors, and then we've got the trade space, and then of course we've got the magnificent animals.”Six Clydesdale horses will come in from Canterbury exhibiting how they go about their work. They will be joined by the regular influx of other horses, sheep, cattle, goats and dogs for the chaotic terrier race.“I just think, it's that agriculture, when you watch the farmers bring in their animals, you see how much effort they put in . . . it's amazing.“I think the whole thing is quite humbling, to be honest with you, right across the board. On every level.”The ribbons up for grabs at Saturday's A&P Show. Photo: Supplied/North Otago A&P FacebookThere is a show committee of about 15, who do their best to “muck in” however they can. Then there are the stewards and the judges who arrive on the day and “just do it because they love it”, Catherine says.One thing the committee feels strongly about, is providing a variety of free activities for children, so aside from food and entry, parents shouldn’t have to be constantly forking out money.House of Bricks and Pedalmania are returning after being well-received last year. There will be a busker, highland dancing, and the increasingly popular Agrikids challenge.Catherine really hopes people come out and support the show.“If people don't come, it won't survive.“I remember vividly the A&P show as a child, and I just think it's worth fighting for. And I think at a time when farmers are struggling, to have them come and for them to be acknowledged, you know?“We've got sheep shearing demonstrations, we've got the dog trial demonstration, because, it's just vital. It's our lifeblood.”There are still a few spaces available for trade stalls. Find out more by emailing [email protected]

Education Minister Erica Stanford says David Seymour overstepped the mark when he announced a crack-down on teacher-only days.In September Seymour, who is the associate education minister, said as part of wider plans to increase attendance rates, teachers should not be able to take teacher-only days willy-nilly.On TVNZ's Q and A programme on Sunday, Stanford said it wasn't Seymour's place to say that."I think he knew at the time that he was over-stepping the mark somewhat because it is my decision, I'm the Minister of Education."And when we are rolling out a new curriculum, we have to have curriculum days and I am not in a position - because of the way that the system works with the unions - to say you must do it in holidays."Stanford told Q+A there would be four teacher-only days during term time."There are teacher-only days during term time. In fact, I've given, for this year two that I've said to schools that I am allowing you to have, and then another two that the boards can use to roll that up."The settings are such that we have to have them during term time. We're trying to keep them to an absolute minimum. But my message to parents is that during those times, those teachers are looking at the new curriculum," she told the programme.In a statement last year Seymour said it was critical schools set a good example. Photo: RNZ / Samuel RillstoneIn a statement last year Seymour said it was critical schools set a good example."It's hard to tell students it's important to show up if the school then decides to close itself on days it should be open, that's why we're enforcing the rules ... it's actually always been the rule, we're just enforcing it."I have asked the ministry to collect data on when a school is open or closed for instruction for the full day, and for each year group, during term time."He said it was critical lost teaching time was made up.Standford said Seymour had not talked to her before issuing the statement about cutting back on teacher-only days."I don't think at the time he did [run it past me], but we had a conversation afterwards and it's been sorted."She said she had since spoken to him about his statement and teacher-only days would continue during term-time. - RNZ

Red meat exporters failed to tip the $10 billion mark last year due to "challenging market conditions" in early 2024, but had a strong end to the year.In the year of 2021/2022, red meat exports hit $11bn for the first time.The following year in 2023, exports fell 11 percent in 2023 to $10.2bn.New Meat Industry Association statistics show exports of red meat reached $9.86bn through 2024, falling 3 percent compared to 2023.However, the year ended on a positive with exports earning $1.04bn in the month of December alone.Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said a strong December was a "positive sign" for the industry."This reflects a continued recovery in global demand and the resilience of New Zealand's red meat sector," she said.For the month of December, China remained the largest market for red meat, with exports steady at $313 million year on year, while other major markets showed significant growth.Exports to the United States surged 38 percent to $310m in December, while the UK saw a 53 percent increase to $64m, and Canada experienced growth of 116 percent to $46m.For the year, the US surpassed China as the largest market for red meat, while other markets grew.Exports to the US rose 12 percent to $2.77bn, while exports to second-largest market China fell by nearly a third, down 31 percent to $2.49bn.The value of exports to the United Kingdom increased 46 percent to $525 million, to Japan up 23 percent and to Canada up 44 percent.Weak demand in China drove a 3 percent drop in volume and value of sheepmeat exports - which was offset by record volumes going to the US, the highest volumes of sheepmeat to the UK in six years, and more to the EU too.Beef exports dipped in volume but values remained steady at $4.39bn through the year. - RNZ

In less than three weeks, public consultation on the 2025-34 Waitaki District Council Long Term Plan will close.As Mayor Gary Kircher, said in a Facebook livestream Q&A on Tuesday, February 11, "we've gone out with a 10.3% rate increase proposed for this coming year.“We don't want to finish up with that; we want something smaller, and your feedback may help target what, where those cuts might happen."We have 14,000 rateable properties in our district.Whether one (or more) of them is yours or not, you get to have a say.Submitting on WHAT exactly?There are ten topics outlined in the Consultation Document. Water. How to best manage the whole shebang and also, installing residential water meters.Decoupling Tourism Waitaki and the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony – to create a separate fully-fledged Economic Development Agency (econ dev plus – so, not just tourism) and a stand-alone tourist attraction (penguin plus with expanded attractions, science and research functions).Beach Road reinstatement (or not). How much do we want to keep one of our favourite local ocean-front drives?Also… selling off some council property or charging some others a little more?Of the millions of realisable property assets; what could we sell (Land? Community halls? Community housing?) and what should we “tax” (Airbnb-type accommodation)?Also… capital expenditure. A chance to consider future spends on projects like the stadium and public toilets.Also… council fees. Common things like dog registration and swimming pool charges, as well as things we likely never think about such as interment fees (burials - could go up to nearly $2,000) and “offensive trader” registration charges (not increasing but who knew that was a thing?!).Submitting – Why SHOULD I?We all live here and we don’t all agree on the same priorities.You’ve all heard the saying, “if you don’t vote, you can’t complain” and yet, we all know that not voting has never stopped anyone from complaining - often loudly and boringly.The council’s done a really good job at laying out the issues in as much or as little detail as most people would want.So let's look at the top reasons people have for NOT submitting...Reasons NOT to submit1. Can’t be bothered.Can’t help you with this one. But if you’ve read this far, chances are you could be bothered.2. The council won’t listen anyway.Last year’s Enhanced Annual Plan garnered 98 submissions.About 25,000 people live here.And… the last time I looked at submissions (what I call the great penguin-selling-shallow-fake of 2023), there was definitely a number of serial-submitters who had drunk the exact same Kool-Aid and regurgitated that same misinformation back in their submissions.The consultation document lays out options and asks for preferences / feedback.Ask yourself, do you want the council deciding on your water meter, your ocean-view drive, your community hall without you even having a say-so?3 (closely related to 2). The council’s already made its mind up.Yes, they have a preferred option, clearly outlined in all the information.This doesn’t mean they’ve made their mind up – it’s literally the law to provide a preferred option. They have to do it.4. I don’t feel informed enough.Read the info. Watch a Q&A session. Go to a public meeting.No, really.There’s the bite-size info, the more detailed info and even extra-curricular reading for the geeks amongst us (no extra points but there could be some smug satisfaction).There’s also in person and online Q&A sessions and heaps of information on the council’s Facebook page.5 (closely related to no. 4). I don’t have the time to understand it all / write it all.You don’t have to submit on everything!Pick the stuff that matters to you.We asked the council and they said, “people can skip through parts, or not provide an answer if they want to focus on one issue - but we encourage everyone to consider everything”.Plus, “if people register on the site they can save their submission and come back to it”.And before you go all sovereign citizen on me, all submissions have to have a name and contact details to count – them’s the rules.BUT they do redact personal contact information other than name and suburb from the public submissions booklet6. I pretty much trust the council to make the right decision.Cool.But think of it like organising a group holiday.Where does everyone want to go, how long have we got, what do we want to see, what kind of experience do we want to have?You want the group’s input, right?I mean you might nail it and everyone’s happy but…Consider submitting as a means of helping your trusted councillors have a bit more info to work with, so they can make the best holiday (future) out of all the available options.Submitting, can ANYONE do it?Submitting is open to everyone.You do not have to be a ratepayer to submit.You can submit on behalf of yourself, an organisation or a business.The council’s spokesperson stated, “we often get organisations submitting via email, which allows them to focus on a single issue. That can be about one of our topics, but also if they have an issue or project they wish council to consider.”Business owners can submit as themselves and state their business as an organisation they represent.So, if we want our council to make decisions that represent our community – more of us need to submit.It’s not rocket science.Neither is the process of making a submission.I submit, you've convinced me... now, HOW do I do it?Boy, do we have choices.Ok here’s goes;1. Online.There’s a form to fill out on council’s Let’s Talk Waitaki page. Just click on the Give your feedback button.2. On paper.Either print out your own submission form (from the consultation document) or pick one up at a council office or Waitaki District Library.You can drop off your submission there too or post it to:Long Term Plan SubmissionWaitaki District CouncilPrivate Bag 50058Ōamaru 94443. EmailSend an email to [email protected]. TalkOutline your key points in your feedback form and tick the box stating you’d like to speak to your submission.So, what are you waiting for?You’ve got until March 4 to get your stake in the sand.Go for it!

On Thursday last week, Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa spoke at Ōnuku Marae in Akaroa, where Prime Minister Christopher Luxon chose to spend his Waitangi Day.Justin, who is also Kaiwhakahaere (chairperson) of Te Rūnanga o Moeraki, was elected to his Ngāi Tahu role at the end of 2023.A copy of his speech has kindly been provided to the Waitaki App, and is below in full. There is also a video if you prefer to watch. For every New Zealander, no matter which race, it is worth putting the time aside:  It’s great to be here today.I must say, this has been one of the most anticipated Waitangi Commemorations I can remember.If there’s one thing we can say, it’s that - for better or worse -Te Tiriti o Waitangi remains very much alive in the public consciousness of New Zealand.It's significant that we’re joined by the Governor General, the Prime Minister, and other senior ministers.Since the news went out that you (Prime Minister Luxon) were going to be here, there’s been a lot of speculation about why you’re in Te Waipounamu rather than Waitangi.I’m not going to join in on the speculation about your motivations, but I will indulge in a bit of speculation about the symbolic significance of our convergence on Ōnuku today.First and foremost – Ōnuku is a long way from Waitangi.And in terms of geography, Te Waipounamu is renowned for its ruggedness.Bone-chilling cold, scorching heat, howling winds, torrential rain, parching dryness - we’ve got it all.And closer to us here at Ōnuku, the unique geography of Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū, Banks Peninsula - taking its name from our great ancestor Rākaihautū - evokes themes of daring exploration, purposeful vision, adaption, and transformation.So, perhaps you’ve been drawn to Te Waipounamu today.Perhaps by a subconscious recognition that our Treaty politics is in need of a wilderness experience - a period of deep reflection, elemental cleansing, and transformation.An experience that requires the symbolic backdrop that only Te Waipounamu can provide.Perhaps another factor is that the Ngāi Tahu experience of colonisation is a unique example of exactly why the Treaty is an essential part of our nation.Following first contact, and by the 1830s, our Ngāi Tahu tīpuna had established thriving trade relationships with Pākehā across Te Waipounamu, Te Ika a Māui, and Australia.Ngāi Tahu, as a tribe, willingly participated in the new economies available to us.Te Tiriti o Waitangi was then signed in 1840, setting the stage for large-scale, Crown-backed land purchases.As the settler population grew rapidly, Te Tiriti was intended to provide essential protections for Ngāi Tahu in our dealings with Pākehā, particularly over land.Yet, by the late 19th century, Ngāi Tahu had become essentially landless, severely impoverished, and all but forgotten in Te Waipounamu.This story was laid bare for all to see during Te Kerēme - the Ngāi Tahu Claim.And it was here at Ōnuku that former Prime Minister and National Party Leader Dame Jenny Shipley delivered the Crown’s apology - now enshrined in law in the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act - for its unconscionable treatment of Ngāi Tahu, its failure to act in utmost good faith, and its neglect in upholding the honour of the Crown.The Ngāi Tahu story is instructive for us as a country, because it’s a vivid reminder that the unchecked momentum of blind political, economic, and social forces can lead us to forget our obligations to one another, and our honour.So perhaps all the speculation about your motivations for being here rather than Waitangi are missing the point.Whatever the reasons - personal, political, or providential - your presence adds to the significance of our commemoration today, and I want to acknowledge that.The past couple of years have witnessed a dramatic shift in the cultural and political landscape of our country.The 2023 election consummated this shift, and as a result, we’ve seen a clear deterioration in the Treaty relationship in the past 18 months.We’re living through a critical juncture in our history, where the machinations of modern party politics threaten to corrupt the dignity of our nation’s complex and contingent identity.One thing I want to say upfront, and which I’ll repeat throughout, is: ‘We are not the radicals’As our politics has become more polarised, I’ve become increasingly aware of how the ‘radical’ label is used to undermine the constitutional identities of iwi Māori and cast iwi corporate entities as inherently nefarious.I take issue with that narrative.‘We are not the radicals’A nation is not a blank canvas!It’s an inheritance.It’s our inheritance - all New Zealanders.It’s a real place, home to real people living real lives, whose collective experiences have shaped a real and defined history.For the nation of New Zealand, that history begins with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.Te Tiriti is not just words on a page.Real people stood across from each other. Each with their own understandings and intentions. Each with their own mana and mandate. And each making the decision to intertwine their fates, mō ake tonu atu.Here at Ōnuku, it was Iwikau and Tīkao who signed Te Tiriti.Many of their descendants are among the Ōnuku and Ngāi Tahu whānau looking after us today.That’s why, as Ngāi Tahu, we return each year to the sites where Te Tiriti was signed in our Takiwā.To remember that Te Tiriti o Waitangi is not merely a relic of a long-forgotten and distant past.It is - both literally and figuratively - part of the ground on which our nation stands.I think that’s one of the things that has annoyed me most about public discourse on Treaty matters over the last 18 months.Too much of the conversation has been focused on abstract philosophical debates about the nature of sovereignty and the true meaning of liberalism.Rather than helping us to deepen and refine our understanding of modern New Zealand as it actually exists, these abstract philosophical debates have been used as smokescreens to advance shallow ideological agendas and play party politics.True political leadership is about meeting people where they are and synthesizing the interests of various strands of society into a workable whole.It’s a complex and messy task, but it’s important.Because when there’s an absence of this type of leadership, voices that represent comparatively simpler and shallower viewpoints, begin to shine through.Not because of the strength of their position or mandate, but because they’ve got a simple philosophy that provides simple answers to the complex questions we are inevitably confronted with.This is why our political debates - particularly those concerning the Treaty - have come to be dominated by minor parties.Because our major parties are struggling to articulate a political vision that builds on the distinct character of the New Zealand nation - one that people can embrace with confidence and commitment.So instead, we get an ACT party neoliberal thought experiment, posing as a source of moral principle and national unity.And we’ve seen what that’s doing to our social fabric!Prime Minister, it was heartening today to hear you reflect favourably on the historical relationship between the National Party and Ngāi Tahu.I share those sentiments and that respect.Ngāi Tahu and the National Party haven’t always seen eye to eye on every policy, but there is a tradition of pragmatic and principled engagement between us.A tradition of reckoning with the history and raw material of our nation to pave a pathway forward.A tradition I encourage you to fully embrace and to enact in your own generation.Because a National Party that fails to take leadership on matters of fundamental importance to the identity of our nation is not worthy of its own name.I agreed wholeheartedly with a large part of your kōrero today, and in your recent State of the Nation address.We do need growth. We do need investment. We should be ambitious.Ngāi Tahu wants those things too.But simply going for growth and liberalizing the economy isn’t going to cut it.A nation is not a blank canvas.If our country continues to divide and fragment, we will lose the trust and stability—we will lose the fundamental good faith—that makes economic growth and prosperity possible in the first place.I don’t have all the answers; but on the Treaty Question, I think it starts by getting back to basics and putting a stake in the ground.Photo: Supplied‘Sincerity, justice, and good faith.’These were the instructions Captain William Hobson received in 1839 from Colonial Secretary, Lord Normanby.The Articles of the Treaty are also clear:Right to GovernProtection of Tino Rangatiratanga.Same Rights and Duties.That’s our starting point.So, when Iwikau and Tikao signed Te Tiriti here at Ōnuku, they committed to a constitutional monarchy where the right to govern rests on the protection of rangatiratanga; and to a society where their people and descendants would enjoy the same rights as the settler population.They did not commit to a constitutional republic where the rights of the majority consistently override those of the minority, and in which the rangatiratanga - the distinct rights and authority of iwi Māori - would be erased entirely.A nation is not a blank canvas!It’s not radical to assert that Iwi Māori hold unique corporate identities within our nation’s constitutional framework.These identities reflect New Zealand’s development as a constitutional monarchy and democratic nation, shaped by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and our history as a British colony.We should not abandon the unique elements of our national inheritance in favour of the ever-shifting political moods that dominate our social media feeds.Whatever path we take forward from here should be built on the real and dignified authority of our shared past, rather than on the vague and amorphous ambitions of those who would rather impose their own ‘tyranny of the present’.And I’m not saying there isn’t room to disagree about what it means to give effect to Te Tiriti and Treaty principles.Of course there is.The previous Government was going in one direction, we had an election, and the verdict came in.That’s legitimate. That’s part of living in democratic New Zealand.Disagreement is possible.But what I’m saying is that we’ve got to have these disagreements in good faith - without making a mockery of the complex and contingent nation we’ve inherited. I think we’re failing at that at the moment.And its not just the Treaty Principles Bill, it’s a general attitude of some in this country that is dismissive and disrespectful of the unique constitutional identities of Iwi Māori.‘We are not the radicals’As a country, we need to learn to talk about Rangatiratanga not Race.So much of the Treaty Principles debate has been confused by the conflation of Article 2 and Article 3 rights.In fact, I’m sure some people - definitely David Seymour - deliberately conflate them for that purpose.There’s a fundamental difference between the Article 2 rights of iwi Māori - which are concerned with particular sets of collective rights and the ability of iwi to exercise authority over those rights - and Article 3 rights - which are concerned with equal social and legal rights for individuals in a free and democratic society.It’s simply not true that the rangatiratanga rights of iwi Māori are incompatible with the idea of ‘equal rights for all’ or democracy.Rangatiratanga - guaranteed in Article 2 of the Treaty - isn’t about establishing additional social or legal rights for individual Māori citizens, over and above those of the rest of the population.It’s also not about challenging the Crown’s right to govern.Ngāi Tahu does not seek national sovereignty; we assert our rangatiratanga in our Takiwā.Equality when it comes to rangatiratanga is about ensuring equal treatment in how the particular rights of iwi Māori are upheld and protected under the law.Outside of the collective rights of Iwi Māori, we would never accept that an individual’s or collective’s particular rights should be subject to the principle of equal distribution across all members of society.We would rightly call that confiscation.Nevertheless, determining how rangatiratanga interacts with the Crown’s right to govern on any given issue is not always obvious, and sometimes, disputes arise.We’ve got an example of exactly that set to begin next week in the Christchurch High Court.We’ve taken legal action against the Crown, seeking declarations that the Government has a duty to acknowledge our rangatiratanga rights and engage with Ngāi Tahu to design a better system for managing freshwater in our Takiwā.And I’m sure next week we’ll start hearing politicians and various other commentators whipping up a frenzy about radical greedy Ngāi Tahu trying to own water, and how it’s a threat to our democracy and the rights of all New Zealanders.And, once again, they’ll be wrong. On purpose.Because distorting the truth and framing us as greedy radicals is more convenient to their political fancies than reckoning with our legitimate rights under Te Tiriti.So I’ll be clear today.Our claim is not about owning water.It’s also not about challenging the Crown’s right to govern, or about legislated Treaty Principles, or whatever else people might claim.It’s about acknowledging that Ngāi Tahu - as an iwi and a collective legal identity - holds specific rights regarding freshwater in our Takiwā, including the entitlement - and the obligation - to exercise authority over its responsible management.Our rangatiratanga has been ignored for decades, and the state of freshwater in our Takiwā has gotten worse and worse.It’s not good enough. And we’re doing something about it.So, we’re going to court on that one. That’s the rule of law - another central plank of our constitutional monarchy.And on the other side of the trial, our hope is that we’ll be able to develop a solution that ensures we’re getting the highest and best use of our freshwater resources, for the benefit of all New Zealanders.Which, to be clear, is not what is happening under the current system.We’re committed to that because we’re committed to our communities.We live in them, we own land and businesses in them, and we have every reason to want to see them prosper.‘We are not the radicals’So, it’s not always easy to determine how rangatiratanga rights interact with the Crown’s right to govern on any given issue.That doesn’t mean we should retreat into our political echo chambers and hatch plans to do away with the other side.We’ve got to work at it.In good faith.If we focused more on reasonable refinement rather than radical revision, I truly believe we could build real momentum toward productive and lasting reform in our country.As an iwi - as Ngāi Tahu - that’s what we want.And we see the exercise of rangatiratanga as being an integral part of that.But we’ve got to get the basics right.We won’t get anywhere if we keep debating which abstract, party-political philosophy to apply to a blank canvas instead of making reasonable refinements to a nation that actually exists.So in closing, E te Pirimia, e ngā Minita, as you venture back to Te Ika a Māui and Te Whare Mīere, I hope you take something away from your wilderness experience here in Te Waipounamu.Know that there is a principled and pragmatic path that can be followed on these issues.But it starts with the basics and with a stake in the ground.A Nation is not a blank canvas.Rangatiratanga is not going anywhere.Rangatiratanga is our opportunity to build and sustain our communities in accordance with our tikanga, and to have a genuine stake in the success and prosperity of this nation we have all inherited.We are not the radicals.

There is no more perfect place to celebrate National Lamb Day than Totara Estate, where the first frozen shipment to leave New Zealand for London in 1882, was processed.This Saturday, February 15, is the exact date, 143 years ago, when the ship Dunedin left Port Chalmers with about 5000 sheep and lamb carcasses, for the three-month voyage.The moment was a significant one for the New Zealand economy, marking the beginning of a multi-billion-dollar industry.Totara Estate property lead Jacqui Allison says the day, which runs from 10am to 3pm, will be full of festivities and suitable for all ages.“We will have demonstrations, live music, learned lectures, games and more,” she says.“Visitors can enjoy watching a blade shearer at work, try their hand at weaving or felting and step up for the challenge of tug-o-war.”Local vendors will be there to offer woollen goods such as hand-dyed yarn and dog beds, along with the regular goodies available from the Totara Estate retail store.To fuel the fun, there will be food and drinks for sale, with lamb most definitely on the menu, thanks to That Food Guy, Jacqui says.Even the sheep are excited about National Lamb Day. Photo: Supplied/Jo HayHerbert sheep farmer and National Lamb Day Lambassador Jo Hay says February 15 is a "milestone in New Zealand’s history", and is a reminder to celebrate food producers."To take the time to appreciate and celebrate all of our New Zealand food producers – from farm to fork," she says.With the weather looking good for Saturday, Jo encourages Kiwis to fire up their barbecues on National Lamb Day, and"And raise a chop in salute of our food champions."National Lamb Day used to be held in May to coincide with the day the meat shipment arrived in London, but last year it was changed to February (the day it left New Zealand) when the weather is much more conducive to popping some chops on the barbie, Jo says.Entry at Totara Estate is $10 for adults, $5 for Heritage New Zealand members and children (under-18) are free.The Totara Estate National Lamb Day programme.

By RNZ reporter Felix WaltonNew Zealand is backsliding on much of its social progress, as food and housing become increasingly difficult to afford, says the Salvation Army.The charity's latest State of the Nation report highlights a cost of living crisis forcing families onto the benefit in record numbers."It's increasingly difficult for people to achieve those basics, to achieve food security, have enough kai to feed the family sustainably, to have an affordable house... Those things have got tougher in the last year," the charity's social policy director, Bonnie Robinson, said."Food insecurity has gone up in the last year, for about a quarter of all households they're going without food 'sometimes' or 'often'. For Pasifika families that's even worse, at about half of Pasifika families reporting they go without food regularly."It was harder than ever for the Salvation Army to respond to those needs, she said."Government funding has been reduced and people are finding it more difficult to contribute to charitable organisations," Robinson said.Listen on Morning Report: Number on benefits the highest since the 1990s: ReportAn increasing number of New Zealanders were turning to the benefit, with more than 400,000 people reporting a need for welfare support in December last year.That is a higher number than the previous peak in 1998, though adjusted for the current population remains lower at 12 percent compared to 16 percent of the working population in 1998."It is the highest we've had for a very long time, and we know that with basic benefits it's very hard to meet your essential needs," Robinson said."When we've got more people needing welfare support because they've lost their jobs and the job market is very tight, that places more families and more children at risk of living in material hardship."The report also found that violence against children had risen, with the number of children hospitalised from assault and neglect at its highest since 2014."There's never an excuse for violence against children but we do know what some of the drivers are," she said."For people whose lives are extremely stressful due to deprivation, due to their own previous trauma, alcohol and drug abuse... These can be drivers of harm to children, so we certainly have to do much better."It also found that 32 percent of New Zealanders had been victims of crime."It is a big percentage but there is some good news in our crime statistics... Violent crime has been increasing but youth crime has actually been decreasing in the past decade," Robinson said."We need to look at how we support people to step away from crime and to deal with the things that drive people into crime and our recidivism rate."Rent was another stress factor, becoming increasingly unaffordable compared to wages."In four in every 10 communities rental prices are pretty unaffordable, that means they're over 30 percent of the median income... If you're paying that much rent you don't have the money to provide all the other things you need to," Robinson explained."We're not seeing private rental prices coming down, and that is a major cause of hardship and poverty."Robinson said it was vital that the government prioritise New Zealanders' basic needs.Lieutenant Ian Hutson told Morning Report the mostly negative statistics and outcomes from the report were more than disappointing."What we are concerned about is that we as a nation and people need to really make sure that we all have the basic needs of life."When you see these statistics, you realise that we must do something to turn some of them around."Hutson said he believed one of the most concerning findings was the "significant increase" in children going without food."One in four children reported going without food sometimes or often - and for Pacifika it's one in two."Hutson said the use of foodbanks had also decline and believed it was partly because of the lack of funding."There's not the same resources to meet the needs that come to our doors."He said he was concerned about what was happening around benefits and housing."[Families] are very often on inadequate levels of income and they have to pay the rent or whatever, and at the same time that is happening - if you look at the report in the housing section - rental affordability, particularly in the low income areas, is becoming less affordable and the price of rent has gone up more than the income has."We need to build more state houses... but it looks like the government is not going to invest in housing to the same extent [as last year]," he said. - RNZ

The Crucible Artist Residency pilot programme moved into its second phase this week with new artists John Ward Knox and Motoko Kikkawa beginning their 16-week residencies on Monday.Motoko and John follow on from the first artist residents, Sian Quennell Torrington and Karen Aitken.All four were selected as the inaugural participants of the programme, which was launched by the Hynds Foundation and Gillies MetalTech foundry, at the foundry, last year.Motoko Kikkawa was born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1968. After obtaining a degree in philosophy at Nihon University, she moved to Dunedin more than 20 years ago.She graduated from the Dunedin School of Art in 2010, and has been a vibrant part of the local and national art scene from the outset, as her myriad solo or collective shows, residencies, and violin performances up and down the country attest, in both public and private spaces, Hynds Foundation programme director Leanne Gibson says.A prolific visual artist primarily creating highly detailed works on paper, Motoko is also unafraid to test boundaries, genres, and new materials (including video, kirigami from old wallpaper, kelp, clay, and mushroom spore tests). She is a talented violinist who regularly plays with various formations and her music-making reflects her approach to art: she listens intently, picks up moods and keys, finding harmonies and atonal notes that suggest new pathways to explore.Motoko Kikkawa.John Ward Knox is an artist living and working from Karitane, near Dunedin.Working within a broad range of mediums and techniques, Ward Knox’s work expresses material lightness and conceptual depth.John is represented in numerous public collections including Chartwell Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki; Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Plymouth, and Hocken Collections Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago."The Hynds Foundation and Gillies MetalTech are excited to welcome John and Motoko to Ōamaru," Leanne says."The residency location in Ōamaru’s heritage precinct provides a unique context for the artists that is both industrially and historically immersive."John Ward Knox.The repurposed foundry pattern shop has been developed for the artists to offer private studio spaces, and also have opportunities to build connections locally and with visitors enjoying the heritage precinct.Karen Aitken’s time in the residency saw her bring focus to the microscopic, beautiful world of Ōamaru diatoms, and their anthropological and geological place in the Waitaki District.Sian Quennell Torrington’s body of work was inspired by foundry processes as a metaphor for transformational experiences.An exhibition of John and Motoko’s works will be held toward the end of their residency period, culminating at King’s Birthday weekend.