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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Monday nights are not usually the most exciting time to venture out in Ōamaru, but this Monday threatens to change all that, as Japanese rock'n'roll legends Guitar Wolf take to the stage at the Penguin Club.Led by irrepressible frontman Seiji for more than 30 years, Guitar Wolf have a reputation as one of the wildest live acts on the planet, mixing the music of the Ramones, Johnny Thunders, the Cramps and Joan Jett into a sound Senji calls 'Jet rock'n'roll'."I love jet plane," Seiji once told an interviewer. "I love noisy music, too. Many records are easy to listen. I hate that! So! I add jet sounds! 'Bwaaaahng!' Explosion!"Over the course of 15 albums – with titles like Kung Fu Ramone, Beast Vibrator and Missile Me!, Seiji and his leather-clad cohorts have plotted a chaotic course through rock'n'roll, bringing the kind of riotous excitement to the stage rarely seen in the age of modern, over-produced pop.As esteemed international publication Pitchfork once said: "Much as 1960s British Invasion groups bastardised the blues and sold it back to American teens, Guitar Wolf have spent the past 30-plus years making once-rebellious Stateside sounds – surf, rockabilly, Nuggets, CBGB punk – seem dangerous again."Martin "Robot Man" Horspool, who owns the Buggyrobot Gallery in Ōamaru and is one of those responsible for Guitar Wolf's presence at the Penguin Club, is excited."March 10 will go down in the history of Ōamaru," Horspool exclaims. "A tsunami of sound. A triumph of tinnitus. A plethora of perspiration. A wall of warm leather. A rampage of riffs. A sonic sensation. A sweaty bombardment of 1000% energy live on the stage of the Penguin Club never seen before!"Support will come from Ōamaru favourites Cuticles – who'll be debuting a new, five-piece line-up – and Kurow singer-songwriter Mads Harrop.The show is at the Penguin Club on Emulsion Lane (just off Harbour Street) on Monday (March 10), with doors open at 6pm.All ages are welcome with tickets for under-18s just $10, and over 18s $25. Tickets are available in advance from Under The Radar.

Independent cinemas across the country that were hit hard by Covid are seeing audience numbers picking up - but the recovery is slow.At this week's Oscars ceremony, award-winning US director Sean Baker took the opportunity to acknowledge the struggling industry during his acceptance speech for his film Anora, in an attempt to get people in seats at cinemas across the globe."Where did we fall in love with the movies? At the movie theatre. Watching a film in the theatre with an audience, is an experience."We can laugh together, cry together and scream and fight together and perhaps sit in devastated silence together and in a time in which the world can feel very divided."This is more important than ever, it's a communal experience you simply don't get at home."And right now, the theatre-going experience is under threat. Movie theatres, especially independently owned theatres, are struggling, and it's up to us to support them," Baker said.Dunedin's Metro Cinema owner John Wilson agreed and said his business was still struggling to win back audiences after Covid."The weekends pick up - Thursday, Friday and Saturdays are sort of getting close to what it used to be, but Mondays usually I'm closed, because Mondays have been a shocker," Wilson said.But Christchurch's Lumiere Cinema managing director Nick Paris said while Covid was hard, things have picked up."I've just sensed over the last 3-4 months, a bit of a paradigm shift in our fortunes in terms of attendance numbers and what not."And that's driven, I think, because the writers and actors strike has finished and there seems to be a lot more content available to us."Matakana Cinemas owner Dan Paine also said his business has improved recently and has an idea as to why that is."I think you can talk about people feeling a little bit more confident about having a bit more expendable income."People are feeling more confident coming back to cinemas in terms of sitting in a public space."The quality of films has actually improved because production was really affected by Covid, obviously."Paine said streaming websites were a real threat to the industry."Streaming will take out a certain percentage of the audience, so we probably will never see those people come back to the cinema."But I do think that that percentage is probably lower than what I might have said it was a couple of years ago and that just comes down to the macro forces of the way that the industry, from a distribution and studio perspective, are thinking about the release of their films." Paine said.Residents of a small Central Otago town were devastated after fire gutted Roxburgh's 128-year-old Town Hall and Cinema, the day after Waitangi Day.The movie theatre was first built in 1897 and had been part of a Guinness World Records claim of "longest continuously running movie theatre in the world".The Roxburgh Entertainment Centre and Improvements Committee's Curtis Crawford said the cinema and hall was a lifeline for locals, the heart of the community, and it was being missed.'We haven't been able to do anything much, unfortunately, it's a 258-seat theatre and cinema complex. It's an all-in-one basically, you could call it."At the moment the district doesn't have anything in the actual centre of Roxburgh to cater for that."Crawford said the cinema had good and bad days."It fluctuated a fair bit, some movies you had good patronage and then other ones you thought would be quite good, but you didn't, you got a dozen people which didn't quite pay the way, but was kind of lucky in how things most of my people that look after it are all volunteers."I think if you had to pay people then some of those movies would run at quite a loss."Crawford said the district is not going to give up fighting for a new cinema and town hall, and says there are even plans to show a film on the old site, if it is safe to do so, later in March. - RNZ

People looking to declutter and downsize are finding a growing market for their cast-offs.A survey by Trade Me Marketplace estimates the second-hand market grew by half a billion dollars in last year with the sale of an estimated 81 million items.The survey of 4000 consumers indicates second-hand sales were at record highs, driving the up the size of the circular economy to $5.5b."This is Trade Me's sixth annual report and each year we continue to see an upward trend, with 89 percent of respondents having bought something second-hand in the past six months marking the highest level since we first started tracking," Trade Me's Sally Feinson said."Our latest research shows there's no slowing down the growth of New Zealand's circular economy with the average Kiwi having around $1350 worth of unwanted possessions they could sell - $50 more than last year."Clothing, shoes and accessories, home and living, and books, CDs and DVDs remained the dominant sale categories."On the sold side, 79 percent of people surveyed sold at least one of their preloved items in the last six months," she said.The main reason people sold items was to create space, followed by making extra money."It's interesting to see the driver to make a little extra cash is down 10 percent on the previous year despite the continued rising cost of living," she said.In contrast the main reason for buying second-hand was to save money."People had different motivations for shopping second-hand, with saving money (71 percent), wanting to be more environmentally friendly (25 percent) and buying quality (17 percent) the top three reasons given by respondents."The survey found women were more likely than men to buy second-hand with 91 percent having made a purchase in the last six months, compared to 85 percent of men.When looking at the regions, people in Marlborough and Southland were found to be the biggest second-hand shoppers with 97 percent buying an item in the last six months. Taranaki was third at 93 percent.The Gen Z generation (born between 1997 and 2013) were the keenest bargain hunters with 94 percent saying they had bought a second-and item in the last six months.Upcycling, restoring and repurposing"The art of taking something old or worn out and breathing new life into it can be incredibly rewarding - whether you're the one doing the upcycling, or one of the 58 percent who say buying such items allows them to own something unique," Feinson said.The survey also found New Zealanders had two items around the house they could upcycle, repurpose, or restore, with 55 percent saying the cost of living made them consider upcycling items as a means to make some extra money, with 47 percent saying upcycling gave them an opportunity to be creative.The research found Millennial women (born between 1980 and mid-1990) were the most active group of upcycle entrepreneurs with more than a quarter (26%) of respondents having sold upcycled items. - RNZ

A new medical centre opening in Ōamaru will hopefully help remedy people's problems finding a GP.Te Hā o Maru General Practice has been running for about a month now, with doctors Lily Fraser and Chuan Lai sharing the five days it is open, and also offering virtual consults.The clinic is at 23 Coquet Street, upstairs in the Work and Income New Zealand building. It is part of Te Hā o Maru’s Health and Social Services, which is wholly owned by Te Rūnaka o Moeraki.“In our hauora, which is our health service, we do have community nursing already. So we've had that for almost a year now,” Lily says.“Our workers are based in this building and then go out and see people in the community. And we've actually just started a nurse drop-in clinic on Thursdays. So that's for people that just want to talk to a nurse and see if they might be able to get things sorted quickly.”Since the GP clinic has opened, enrolments have been slow and steady.“Given that we are a very small team right now, I think that's appropriate,” Lily says.It's been a big task to start everything up from scratch. Months have been spent getting everything ready, and there is still more that needs to happen.Lily has been a GP for 16 years and is based in Dunedin. She used to be the clinical director at Te Kaika Wellbeing Hub in Dunedin, and is still one of three clinical directors at Turuki Health Care in Auckland, where she has worked since 2011.She also has a new job teaching part-time at the Otago University medical school. Chuan is Chinese-Malay. She came to New Zealand for her clinical placements, and settled here.She is also based in Dunedin, and the two have worked together before, Lily says.“She's just a really, vibrant, caring, hard worker, and I really value the way that she works with whānau. I think she provides an excellent GP service.”Chuan is particularly passionate about older people's health, and supporting people in rest homes, while Lily’s interests lie with lifestyle medicine.“Particularly, nutrition is my big passion. And then I just really love GP work.“I love that we support people from birth to death, really, and there's never a dull day. You get to talk to so many amazing people and share pretty intimate experiences in their lives and struggles that they might be facing.”While Lily and Chuan provide the GP component to the Te Hā o Maru health services, the community offering is “much broader” than that, Lily says.“We definitely want to provide a wide range of health services, including Māori practitioners.”Rokoā is traditional Māori medicine which encompasses a range of modalities. It is the healing method Māori used pre-Pakeha arrival and has been sustained over the past 200 years.“So it can be like different types of massage (mirimiri), it can also be using different plants to drink or apply to the body. There’s definitely a large wairua or spiritual component to that type of work.” It is more visible now, and has even been recognised by ACC as a treatment option, Lily says.“So I think definitely we hear stories and see research that our Māori whānau particularly haven't always had a great experience in the health system, and so where people have had the knowledge or access, sometimes there is better trust in Rokoā Māori.”For some people, it can be all they want or need, and for others it might go hand in hand with more modern medicine, she says.“It's definitely not an and/or . . . and we're really respectful of people's choices.“You know, the people or the whānau that choose to only use that, we (as GPs) don't see them, right? It's their choice, but I think it's really important that we make it available for whānau.”Rokoā wānaka is offered once a month for koha, either in Ōamaru at Te Whare Koa Community Marae or at Te Runaka o Moeraki.So far Lily is enjoying her role at the new GP clinic.“Te Runaka o Moeraki, the whānau there, have provided, I think, just a really great foundation for the service to grow.“And the work that the other workers in Te Hā o Maru have been doing in the community has been really well received.”Te Hā o Maru was incorporated as a charitable company in October 2022. It has about 20 employees, and offers social and education services within the takiwa (district), some of which have been running for more than a year.It has established contracts with different Government organisations, such as Te Whatu Ora and the Ministry of Education, and there is also a relationship with Oranga Tamariki.“Definitely Moeraki, you know, they govern us and provide us with that direction. But we still need to have contracts to create a service,” Lily says.Lily, who whakapapas to Puketaraki Marae in Karitane, says the motivation behind running the health and education services is to offer care to the whole community, not only Māori.“I think, as tangata whenua, definitely, we see our role as welcoming everybody and caring for them with open arms.“The focus, I think, has been more on our own whānau for quite a long time, and I think there's definitely a desire to extend that manaakitanga - take the care out further into the community.“And so these are definitely services that Te Ha o Maru provides for everybody, you know, in a specifically Maori way.”There is an expectation the GP team and services will grow to accommodate need.“We can do all the fundamental GP things, but health is definitely more than a 15-minute consultation, so we're really looking forward to providing support in different ways, whether that's through ourselves or through other people that come on board.”Lily was born in Dunedin, but grew up in Auckland, and saw this job opportunity as a way to return to her whakapapa.“So it feels, you know, even though (Moeraki) is not my marae, it feels like I'm helping out our whanau up the road, which was really important for me coming home, is that I really wanted to do mahi for the iwi.” The Whakatauāki on Te Hā o Maru’s website homepage reads: “Inā tae he manuhiri ki tō whare, watua he kōrero, whākana ō manuhiri.”This translates to: “When a guest is in our house, present them with a speech of welcome. Let your guest want for nothing.”Lily says at Te Hā o Maru clinic they refer to people not as patients, but “as our manuhiri - which is a guest in our home”.The second whakatauāki says: “Tohutohu i a tātou tamariki kaua e wareware i to rātou Māoritaka. Haere i ruka i te tika i te pono pēra i o tātou kaumatua.”“This is about raising our own children to not forget their Maoritanga - and that they are raised well, like the way our ancestors were - so we’re not forgetting our traditions and values and ways of living.” Both whakatauāki are from Hastings Tipa (Ūpoko Rūnanga and rakatira nō Moeraki) recorded in 1936, and they are what Te Hā o Maru is founded on, Lily says.For people wanting to register with the Te Hā o Maru GP Clinic, forms can be found online, or they can do it in person at the clinic.

This year’s major Musical Theatre Ōamaru production hopes to leave the crowd wanting more.After taking a year off to recover from 2023's double-header of School of Rock and That Bloody Woman, Musical Theatre Oamaru (MTO) is bringing the universally loved Oliver! to the stage.The musical is based on Charles Dickens's 1838 novel Oliver Twist. Lionel Bart transformed the tale into a stage show, which debuted in southwest London in 1960 before opening for a record-breaking stint in the West End.MTO production manager Melissa Yockney says the group is looking forward to putting on the show, and an information evening is being run on Monday (March 3) for people interested in being part of it.“We’re really excited about bringing this classic musical to life, and giving our juniors the opportunity to join us again at the Opera House,” she says.“We’re looking for a big cast of youth, aged seven-plus, as the ideal scenario will be to have two casts of youngsters who can alternate performances, and with a large list of characters there are plenty of adult roles too for all ages, be they leads or general ensemble.”The information night is being held at the Ōamaru Opera House Ink Box, at 6.30pm, with auditions the following weekend. The show will be performed from July 10-19.Oliver! will be directed by Helen Horsnell, who has been involved with theatre for 50 years, and has directed more than 25 productions including Mamma Mia! and Chicago.Helen has recently moved from Dunedin to Waimate.Musical director Samuel Leaper is coming to MTO fresh from winning the Best Musical Director at the Otago-Southland Theatre Awards for the Taieri Musical Society’s 2024 production of Footloose.He has worked as a musical director in both New Zealand and Australia, has toured the country with a number of bands, and was even one of the inaugural recipients of the band Six60’s musical scholarship, living at 660 Castle Street, in Dunedin while he studied a Bachelor or Music at Otago University.The vocal coach is Sonya Creedy, and choreographer will be Anna Stuart, assisted by Shannon Bond.More information on the show and the creative team can be found at the Musical Theatre Ōamaru website.Melissa says while some junior performers might be involved in the Waitaki Girls’ and Boys’ High School production, and Ōamaru Repertory, they are still encouraged to come along to the information night, if they are keen to be involved.

Local bands are coming together this weekend to thank Scotts Brewing Co and the community for the ongoing support.Nine local acts are performing at the brewery this Saturday (March 1) from 1pm, to showcase their talent, and also show their gratitude, says Jay Morriss, who plays guitar for The Reveal and Deluxe, who will both be playing.Jay says the Live and Local event was the idea of one of the drummers, Toni Natapu.“It was actually put together as a thank you to Scotts and the community for the support that we've had for musicians having somewhere to play and perform.”Over the summer, Scotts has had local bands playing Sunday Sessions, in the afternoons. “Everyone's really appreciated having the Sundays especially because I don't think anyone's doing that in town.“It's quite a low-key welcoming environment for families, and usually that music emanates beyond the boundaries of Scotts itself, and you can hear it down at Friendly Bay, down Harbour Street, and in all honesty, probably the houses within a 1km radius,” Jay says.Having the support of local venues in general is great for people to experience live music, he says.“And hopefully be encouraged to maybe, well obviously continue listening, but maybe even take up an instrument themselves.”Dee May & the Saints. Photo: SuppliedBands will play until about 11pm, and there will be two stages.“So, as soon as one band ends, another will begin on the other stage.”  The event will happen regardless of the weather, but the forecast is looking fine, Jay says. People should be familiar with most of the musicians, having seen them play locally, but it would be the first time performing in public for a few, Jay says.He is particularly grateful to Scotts general manager Brooke Kofoed who he says has been instrumental in ensuring the success of the Sunday Sessions.“And the staff have been great as well. It's just a really welcoming environment.”The bands playing on Saturday are Dee May & the Saints, Whitestone City Rockers, $1 Ice Cream Band, Te Band, Southern Rust, Deluxe, The Reveal, The Bonny T120s, and Same Same Different.

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.