It looks like it’s going to be a bit of a mixed bag this week, but conditions should improve by Friday.On Monday, Ōamaru and coastal Waitaki will have a period of wet weather in the morning, followed by fine spells and a high of 13deg C, dropping down to 5 C at night. On Tuesday, cloud increases in the morning followed by afternoon rain with some heavy falls possible. Southerly winds will become fresh with similar temperatures to Monday.MetService forecast Graphic: Oamaru.Wednesday will start with early rain, some heavy, easing by lunchtime. Light winds with a high of 12deg C, and a low of 5 C at night.Thursday sees lingering showers clearing but cloudy skies remain with westerlies and a high of 12deg C. At this stage Friday's forecast is for sunny weather but it’ll be cooler, with a high of only 10deg C, dropping down to 2 C overnight.Up in Omarama there’s a similar pattern for the week, with northwesterlies, rain and isolated showers on Monday. Snow will be possible down to 1600m with a high of 10deg C, down to 1 C at night. Tuesday sees rain and a southerly developing in the afternoon with snow possible to 1200m, easing later. Temperatures will sit between 9deg C during the day and 1 C at night.MetService forecast Graphic: Omarama.Wednesday will be overcast with isolated showers and southwesterlies developing. Temperatures should be similar to Tuesday, but slightly colder overnight with -1deg C.Thursday will be overcast with isolated showers and southwesterlies again, but even colder with a high of 8deg C, down to -3 C. On Friday the sun should come out (hurrah!) accompanied by northwesterly winds and a high of 7 deg C.For the latest updated forecasts and real time conditions in your local area, click on the Waitaki towns below, or go to the Weather category, next to News|Sport in The Waitaki App!OamaruKakanuiHampdenPalmerstonMacraesNgaparaDuntroonKurowOtematataOmaramaLake Ohau Alpine Village

An Ōamaru business is running donation-based shuttle rides to Dunedin for cash-strapped patients struggling to get to hospital appointments, while St John examines the feasibility of providing a permanent service.Hireplus owner Trevor Goodin was already making trips to Dunedin Airport but was now taking people to medical appointments in the city 110km away, after the Ōamaru Dunedin Shuttle stopped in March.Goodin said some people had considered cancelling their appointments because they could not drive or afford other taxi services, which in some cases could cost up to $300 return."People are trying to fund that out of their food bill or power bill and I just think that's horrendous for people who are already not very well," he said."I've had people ring me in tears because they didn't know where to go if I couldn't get them there. It's a dire situation, it's almost third-world."Goodin said eligible patients could be reimbursed for transport costs, but elderly people often found the process too onerous.Waitaki District Mayor Gary Kircher said people were missing out on healthcare because of transport problems."Ratepayers here have put off appointments, or at least postponed them, some have missed them altogether just because they haven't been able to afford the cost," he said."When it comes to whether people can afford to put the heater on in winter time or go to an appointment, they're making that choice. It's terrible."A St John spokesman said it was examining the viability of establishing a health shuttle in Ōamaru, but it could take at least a year for a service to be up and running.Kircher said his council was also in talks with Otago Regional Council about a public transport shuttle between Ōamaru and Dunedin.A University of Otago study last year found mortality rates were 21 percent higher in rural areas than in urban centres, he said."It's things like these barriers that add to that statistic and anything we can do to lower that risk is obviously going to be welcomed by our community," Kircher said."We're keen to see St John get their service up and running, that would provide some real security and affordability."Door 2 Door Waitaki also offers rides to hospital appointments in Dunedin, priced from $42.50 one-way for total mobility card-holders.Owner Annabel Denize said charges varied for people depending on the trip, but a full-price ride-share service cost $160 return, with carers or support people travelling for free."We have had a few people who've said, 'Gosh, that's a lot of money,' but if they're genuinely stuck I'm going to put them in the car anyway and bring them down for whatever they can cover. We've never said no to anybody."We don't want anyone to think they can't get to the hospital."Denize encouraged people to check their eligibility for subsidies offered through the mobility card and the National Travel Assistance Scheme for patients who needed to travel long distances or frequently for specialist appointments.Ultimately, she said St John should provide a health shuttle."The sooner that happens the better for us and everyone in Ōamaru. It's just going to give that peace of mind that there is a service there. We've been filling that gap and we're very happy to continue doing that."'Really disappointing'In North Canterbury, the absence of an after-hours clinic meant people who needed urgent medical care had to travel to Christchurch Hospital's emergency department or one of the city's clinics.An after-hours centre was being built in Rangiora, but a three-year delay meant it was not expected to open until 2025.Waimakariri National MP Matt Doocey said Te Whatu Ora confirmed residents' entitlement to taxi vouchers home from hospital at a public meeting in April, so he was concerned to learn some people were still missing out.''It's really disappointing that we are constantly told by management in the hospital there are these vouchers, but I have constituents come to me time and time again saying that when they requested them, they were declined by front-line staff."Doocey said he did not want patients waiting in bus shelters in the early hours of the morning or elderly people paying unaffordable taxi fares of between $80 to $130 to get home to North Canterbury.National MP Matt Doocey sitting on Parliament's Health Select Committee Photo: Phil Smith"It's heartbreaking, some of the stories, and really concerning that people are discharged at any time of the day or night and left to their own means to get home."Te Whatu Ora said Waimakariri patients directed to the emergency department through the triage service or St John qualified for a taxi voucher home when they were discharged, if there were no other transport options available.The health agency said ED staff were regularly updated about the criteria and process for issuing vouchers and encouraged patients to talk to them if they had transport concerns.

When indie-pop quartet Hans Pucket play Oamaru's Settler Theatre on July 14, it'll be the first gig held at the historic venue in more than two years.For the hotly-tipped Wellington band – think Prefab Sprout playing Orange Juice and you're in the right ballpark – it'll be part of a nationwide tour that capitalises on momentum built up over the last few months.Last year's No Drama album (described by Rolling Stone as capturing “all the anxiety and elation of being twenty-something and trying to make it in the big, bad world”) was nominated for the Taite Music Prize, and the band has recently returned from performing at SXSW in Austin, Texas, the international music industry's most important convention.        “The time has finally come for us to take No Drama out on the road!” The band said.“It’s become a yearly tradition to tour New Zealand during the dead of winter. Everybody’s been saying we’re fools, that most people would rather stay home and watch prestige television.“But we know our fans aren’t ‘most people’. That’s why, this July, we’re touring further than we ever have, to celebrate the greatest record we’ve ever made by putting on the rock show of our dreams!"We’ve been dreaming of an extended tour of Aotearoa for years. Not just flying to the big cities but actually getting in a van and driving up and down the country. Thirteen shows is a lot, but we’re also playing on the Interislander twice so I think that counts as 15!"The show is organised by local promoters Frances McMillan and Matt Plunkett, and Plunkett will be bringing his own band, Cuticles, to the party.“It’s good to be getting out playing shows again,” Plunkett said. “The band has been reconstituted, and with an upcoming LP and 7-inch, we have to see if we can make it work in a live setting, so we can play some shows later in support of those physical releases.“It should be a set of typically bittersweet derangements from us,” he added, accurately describing the band's frazzled DIY punk sound, which has attracted the attention of at least one cult American underground label. Hans Pucket and Cuticles play the Settler Theatre on Severn Street on July 14, at 7pm. Tickets for the all-ages show are $20, and available from Under The Radar.

Ōamaru’s Business Hive was “buzzing” with potential last night, at an inaugural event hosted by Inspire Waitaki. About 70 people attended the evening to hear three South Island business owners share their stories, and talk about creating a business ecosystem focused on sustainable, environmental innovation. Inspire Waitaki has come together to try and help foster innovative environmental entrepreneurship in the district (Group looking to inspire start-ups in Waitaki).Ōamaru’s Jane Thompson and James Porteous spoke about their businesses Moa Bakery Cakery, and Ōamaru Organics, respectively, while Central Otago-based orchardist Mike Casey spoke about his ventures Forest Lodge Orchard and New Zealand Zero.Following the talks, there was a Q&A from the room.“What an atmosphere,” said Business Hive co-owner Alex Regtien. “All sorts of conversations and connections were being made - it was buzzing.”Inspire Waitaki member and Putiputi Rau Peonies owner Gareth Boyt was MC for the event, supported by fellow member Jinene Clark of Start Up Queenstown Lakes.Creating an ecosystem was up to every single person involved, Jinene told the room at the outset, promising to share the experiences of Start Up Queenstown Lakes to help Waitaki avoid “making the same mistakes”.Each of the speakers highlighted key areas of learning and opportunity. Jane talked about sustainability, not just in her business, but in her life - reminding us that looking after our own health and capacity was essential for every business owner. James highlighted the historical and close connections between Ōamaru as a food producing district supplying Queenstown and the lakes region, noting “the opportunity is there” and that distribution doesn’t have to go via Dunedin or Christchurch.Mike took the crowd through his experience creating the world’s first 100% electric, zero-fossil fuel orchard. His numbers were impressive, clearly making the business case for horticulture and viticulture embracing electric technologies from both environmental and commercial perspectives.Mike also introduced the room to New Zealand Zero, a new movement to showcase and celebrate fossil fuel-free food production. He said zero carbon can mean planting pine trees, whereas “fossil fuel free” is clear, and legitimately commands a premium price. James also talked about the benefits of collaboration, citing his recent project with local award-winning cheesemaker, Whitestone Cheese to produce a sell-out organic blue cheese and broccoli soup.The crowd took Jinene’s encouragement to talk and connect seriously. Participants commented, “great starting content for what could/should become a significant change agent for our region”, “great turnout” and “this feels like the start of something exciting”.North Otago man Daniel Carson, fresh from Hamilton’s Fieldays, gave people the first chance to try his native ingredient-flavoured alternative to beef jerky, Mīti (Innovation offers solution to dairy calf issue), as people connected and discussed their business needs, ideas and opportunities.The organisers were thrilled with how things went.Cara Tipping Smith, fellow organiser, said this is just the beginning for Inspire Waitaki."A wonderful start and we’re keen to keep the momentum going. Watch this space."Mel Jones, Waitaki District Council's business attraction and recovery manager, and Inspire Waitaki member agreed."It was so refreshing to see new faces in the room, hearing animated conversations following the keynote speakers and seeing people make new connections. I certainly felt inspired by the people I met," she said. "I love that this initiative has been a collaborative effort and really appreciate the input from the small core team."Jane spoke for everyone when she said: “I really hope it inspires more people to think about all aspects of sustainability.” Reading the room, it did just that.Jane Thomson of Moa Bakery, Cakery, James Porteous of Ōamaru Organics and Mike Casey of Forest Lodge Orchard and New Zealand Zero.Mike Casey, Forest Lodge Orchard and New Zealand Zero.James Porteous, Ōamaru Organics.Jane Thomson, Moa Bakery, Cakery.Sarka Cibulcova and Oisīn Altena-Russell.Gareth Boyt and Helen Jansen.Daniel Hunt, Mike Casey and Tinaya Kelly.Erin and Josh Soper with Daniel Carson and his native ingredient-flavoured Mīti.Daniel Eisenhut and Fraser Lewry.

The girls were on the tools at Whitestone Contracting Ltd earlier this week, as part of an initiative to get more females involved in the construction industry.A group of students from Waitaki Girls’ High School took part in a Girls with High-Vis day at the company's Deborah site, just south of Ōamaru, on Wednesday (June 21).Girls with Hi-Vis is a Connexis Te Pūkenga initiative that aims to encourage more women into infrastructure and trade-based roles, which they may not have considered previously. The company provides on-job training and career pathways to help people gain tertiary qualifications, without needing student loans, Connexis Te Pūkenga training advisor Kelly McEvedy said.Kelly is based in Christchurch, but works across eight regions, including North Otago, to support communities and their trainees through the company’s programmes, she said.The open days are about giving female high school students the opportunity to visit an infrastructure company with their school, get hands-on experience and hear from inspirational women in the industry.It offers them an understanding about what’s involved in the many and varied roles in infrastructure’s civil, energy, telecommunication and water industries.“It’s not an industry traditionally that girls look at, although more and more it is. So, yeah, it’s just giving them an opportunity.”Females make up 50% of the population, yet only account for 11% of infrastructure trainees, Kelly said.“At the same time, the infrastructure industries are in huge demand and have critical worker shortages. By highlighting the infrastructure industry and the careers available to women and men alike, we can tap into a wider pool of talent and broaden the job opportunities for women.”On Wednesday morning the girls were shown some of the outdoor roles possible at Whitestone Contracting by three female employees - Central Otago landscaping leading hand Tracy Bowen, Dunedin divisional manager Laila West, and Ōamaru-based driver/labourer Georgia Campbell.They got to try their hand at activities such as operating diggers, and using surveying equipment, while in the afternoon they were shown some of the more administrative roles available at the company. Whitestone Contracting chief executive Paul Bisset said there were a number of benefits for the company to take part in the day “We’re all short of staff, and we’ve got half the population that hasn’t really been involved with the industry that well, other than probably admin roles. I think there’s more opportunities in the industry rather than Stop/Go or admin roles. “As the machine operators, to me, they tend to be a little bit more gentler with the gear, rather than some blokes. “There shouldn’t be any inhibitors there, if we can get some people on board and get them involved in the industry.”“Thirty years ago I was on the dole and got involved in the industry. If you work hard, and take the opportunities, you can go places.”It was the company’s first time taking part in the day, and Paul said there were areas the company could still improve to make the workplace more female-friendly.“We are getting a lot better than we used to be. The more females we get, the better it’s going to get, and to me there shouldn’t be any blockers.“If these girls decide to give this a crack, they’ll learn that every day’s different - and some of the projects you work on can be hard work when you’re doing them, but they’re really rewarding when it’s done. And if you drive past them in 20 years time and they’re still working well, you can tell your kids about it.”He said adding females into the mix of a male-dominated industry worked well.“It’s just that different point of view, you know. You get a room of blokes together and it can be hard to get stuff out of them. Females have that different lens, and that mixes quite well - it’s quite healthy.”Kelly said people that get into the construction industry tended to love it.“And they really, most often stay. “I don’t see a lot of people leaving it. It’s just probably kind of an unseen industry, but actually infrastructure is an essential service, and so needed. We want people that love their jobs in the industry at all levels.“The cool thing about this industry is that you don’t need a qualification to get into it. So a lot of school leavers come and find their way here by accident, but they stay forever,” she said. Ōamaru-based driver/labourer Georgia Campbell instructs a student how to operate a digger. PHOTO: Ashley Smyth

Four new exhibitions have opened at the Forrester Gallery.Touring from the Ashburton Art Gallery, Elfi Spiewack’s In Splendour Moot, Adornment Re-framed is a striking exploration of jewellery as a marker of self-expression. Spiewack said nature has always been a big inspiration for her and she is interested in working with ordinary materials and elevating them - putting them into a different context. “I want to open people’s minds as to what jewellery can be, to challenge the traditional definitions of what jewellery is.”In this exhibition Spiewack reconstructs the traditional jewellery pieces worn by those of high social rank in portrait paintings from the Renaissance, Baroque and Victorian eras.Presented on painting reproductions, Spiewack’s creations have been crafted using silver, gold and pearls, juxtaposed with materials of low monetary value like animal bones, antlers and synthetic hair, to question notions of beauty.This is emphasised through an interactive mirror installation which gives visitors the opportunity to see themselves ‘wearing” Spiewack’s creations.Brooch and Bracelet, 2017, Elfi Spiewack, deer bone, antler, pearl and sterling silver on print - Portrait of a Young Man by Agnolo Bronzino, 1530.From flowing landscapes to serene lakes and coastal panoramas, the photographs in Tahu-nui-ā-Raki showcase the harmony between Papatūānuku/Earth Mother and Rakinui/the Sky Father, where nature's celestial brushstrokes paint the atmosphere with vivid streaks of green, red, and purple.Featuring astrophotography by Damien McNamara and fellow astronomers, Tahu-nui-ā-Raki (Aurora Australis) is visible most often from the southern-most parts of Aotearoa. Māori believe the Aurora Australis is lights from the campfires reflecting in the night sky, from ancestors who travelled further south beyond Aotearoa.Upstairs, complementing Tahu-nui-ā-Raki, is the interactive wonderlab exhibition Mānawatia a Matariki. Matariki is a time to gather with whānau (family), hoa (friends), and hāpori (community) to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and plan for the future. Enjoy this interactive exhibition to celebrate and connect with whānau in the spirit of Matariki.KĀKAUNUI | KAKANUI explores the landscapes, immense sky, elemental waters and townscapes of the surrounding area. This exhibition represents Alexandra photographer Eric Schusser’s photographic work from 2016 to 2022 and incorporates a variety of “scapes” to give the viewer a greater sense of place with regards to this small coastal North Otago settlement. Schusser’s photographs combine to speak of the peace, calm and rhythm of the sea and community.KĀKAUNUI | KAKANUI and Mānawatia a Matariki opened to the public last Saturday (June 17).In Splendour Moot and Tahu-nui-ā-Raki open to the public tomorrow (June 24), and are on display until August 27. Entry is free.

This National Volunteer Week the Waitaki App spoke to Loved 4 Life Ōamaru co-ordinator Marilyn Wreakes.When Ōamaru’s Marilyn Wreakes heard about the need for somebody to start a local branch of a charity for newborn babies, she was quick to volunteer.Loved 4 Life is a not-for-profit community organisation founded in 2007, by Marcia Guest, in the small Kapiti Coast community of Te Horo, following the murder of twins Chris and Cru Kahui at 84 days old.When new mothers arrive home from the hospital after giving birth, they receive a Loved 4 Life package through their midwife home visits, Marilyn said.“They get a Loved 4 Life quilt, a cardigan or jumper, beanies, stay on socks, booties. It’s a nice little package - and then somewhere in that six-week period they also get a home-made meal.”All quilts have “Loved” on them, along with a heart and a label on the back, stating where they came from.It is a way to reach out to families after the birth of a new baby, to show that they are loved and supported, particularly with a lot of new parents living away from grandparents and extended family.There is a growing number of organisations around the country, with more than 160 volunteers, and close to 9000 families have benefited from the charity.The group began in Ōamaru last year, after former local woman Cathy Taylor, who started the Ōmokoroa group near Tauranga, came back for a visit and to gauge interest here last November, Marilyn said.“I phoned Cathy and she was really excited, and I asked her what was involved in being a leader - she made it sound very easy!“I’ve always been up for a challenge. I’m a sewer also, and I do do quilting, and I had a lot of material cut into squares.“So the interest was always there, I was a sitting duck for it.” Once word got out that Loved 4 Life had arrived in Ōamaru, people started contacting Marilyn straight away. “It was just amazing. I had a cupboard full just before Christmas, and that was only six weeks.”The first packages were taken to the midwives at Ōamaru Hospital in April, and 13 more went down a week ago.“So they’ve had 20 so far,” she said.About 20 women were knitting for Marilyn, but she was struggling to find enough bassinet quilts. “I really need quilts and I really need ladies who can cook a meal.Marilyn said there were more babies being born in Oamaru than she expected, “Our population is exploding. Ninety-six were born up to the end of June this year, and we’ve got just over 100 coming for the rest of the year,” she said.“I’m trying to get ahead of them, but I don’t think I’m going to be able to manage that.”Applying for funding is also time-consuming, as Loved 4 Life supplies all the merino wool and quilting materials to the crafters, and the cost was estimated at about $80 per baby. Marilyn has heard, via the midwives, that families are “really appreciative” of the packages they receive.As well as the Loved 4 Life volunteer role, Marilyn is responsible for her Clydesdale Drive Neighbourhood Support group, hosting morning teas and making contact with new residents, in the ever-growing Holmes Hill subdivision.“It’s a good little safety net. Most of the people here are retired, which is quite good because most of us are home most of the time.”She said her volunteer roles are rewarding.“What you give out, it actually comes back, in the way that it’s a satisfying feeling.”The women who knitted for her feel the same way.“The ladies who are knitting, they feel like they’re in a community where they feel satisfied that what they’re doing is for young babies, so it’s not just - oh, you’re just knitting and you hand it over.”People wanting to contribute to Loved 4 Life, either by quilting or cooking meals, can contact Marilyn on 0272822042 or email: [email protected]

The PPTA has called off all industrial action immediately as it has agreed on the arbitration process for its pay dispute with the Ministry of Education.The Post Primary Teachers' Association said its executive voted yesterday afternoon (June 21) to approve the arbitration process."We hope an independent arbitration panel will review the matters under dispute fairly and objectively and provide recommendations that would form the basis of a new collective agreement," PPTA Te Wehengarua acting president Chris Abercrombie said in a statement."Now that we have agreed on the arbitration process, PPTA Te Wehengarua national executive is calling off all industrial action immediately. There will be no further industrial action while the arbitration process works through to its conclusion."The action has been called off immediately, but Abercrombie said that schools may need time to implement the change.On Tuesday, the union for secondary school teachers and the Ministry of Education began drawing up terms of reference for the arbitration.Abercrombie said the three independent arbitration panel members would be announced within the next few days.The arbitration process is expected to take three weeks from the time the panel convenes, then a further two weeks for the government to respond to its recommendations and for the PPTA members to vote on a potential settlement."Paid union meetings scheduled for next week will still take place to discuss the arbitration process and the move to individual employment agreements for all members from 1 July," Abercrombie said.The teachers' industrial action had included rostering home different year groups on different days of the week, with Year 9 and 13 students off on Wednesday this week and Year 11 and 12 students off on Tuesday.

The Waitaki District Council has broadly welcomed the publication of He piki tūranga, he piki kōtuku The Future for Local Government report.The council has been working with The Future for Local Government review panel for more than two years, to help shape the recommendations in the report so they work for Waitaki  communities.The report proposes 17 recommendations to enable local government to better serve communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said he welcomed the publication of the report.“Change is needed in the way local government works and how the whole system of government works if we are going to serve communities well, take advantage of the opportunities that exist, and deal with the challenges. This report recognises this,” he said.“Local government is constrained in many ways in what it can do to further the interests of communities, and mayors and councillors up and down the country are frustrated at not being able to act fully on the things that are important to our districts and residents.”Laws and responsibilities are imposed by the Government without the funding to go with it, and the financial system of rates is no longer fit for purpose to deliver community needs, Gary said.“Too much is controlled in Wellington, when communities should be trusted to manage and deliver things themselves.”While he does not expect to agree with every recommendation in the comprehensive report, he said it represents a necessary step forward in making sure local government serves communities and the country better. He has not had time yet to fully look at a proposal to re-organise councils, and what that might mean for the Waitaki, but is prepared to keep an open mind.“With potential amalgamations we will be looking at whether this produces any benefit to the people of Waitaki and how any proposals will ensure this new system of local government is genuinely local and connected to the people and communities it is there to serve.”The council will now look at the findings and recommendations in the report and consider how the recommendations it supports can be taken forward. This will include working with other councils in Otago and Canterbury over potential changes local government can help drive forward together.

It’s been five years between major shows, but Musical Theatre Ōamaru (MTO) is back with a bang, bringing family favourite School of Rock to the stage.The Covid pandemic has meant a major musical has not been put on by the group since Mamamia in 2018, MTO president and School of Rock production manager Melissa Yockney said. “We try to do one every two or three years, it just got too hard, basically, trying to deal with Covid. I mean, we’re still trying to deal with it now, but on a slightly different scale.“Obviously School of Rock is a great show for the kids, but also the adults who have been crying out for a major production.”The musical is based on the hit movie starring Jack Black, and follows Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star who decides to earn an extra bit of cash by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. He turns a class of straight-A pupils into a rock band, and attempts to get them to Battle of the Bands without their parents and the school finding out.Auditions were held in March, and rehearsals for the cast of 14 children and 19 adults “kicked off” properly in April school holidays.“Obviously a lot of background goes on months and months prior,” Melissa said.School of Rock was chosen, after members of MTO saw it performed in Queenstown last year.“We thought that was a really neat one to incorporate the kids - particularly our youth theatre, which we’ve had going for 10 years now - bring them in to do a major production.”  Timaru director Alice Sollis has been travelling south regularly to attend rehearsals. Originally from Otematata and Twizel, she spent her high school years boarding at Teschemakers, and her late parents retired to Oamaru from Twizel in 1985. "So Oamaru is like a second home town to me," she said.Alice was first on stage as a dancer with the South Canterbury Drama League in the 1980s, directed her first show in the late 90s, and has more than 70 major musical productions under her belt."This is my first time directing for MTO, and they have been so supportive and professional, understanding the demands and challenges of putting together a major musical," she said.Playing the part of Dewey Finn, is Waitaki Boys’ High School performing arts teacher Uatesoni Felikitonga. Uatesoni trained at Wellington’s Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama school, Melissa said.“So we’re really excited to have him on board.” There is other “fantastic local talent” who have been involved before, plus a lot of new faces, including children.“So this is the first time we’ve had proper auditions for the children, so for youth theatre previously, they haven’t auditioned per se, but this was an open callout for auditions, and we’ve got some great new kids we haven’t met before, which is wonderful.”Melissa said the children were doing “brilliantly”.“It has been intense, I think . . . We’re in a good place, rehearsal-wise, which is fantastic. They’ve put in a lot of work.”Regular rehearsals at the Opera House allowed everybody to get used to the space, and meant everything could run more smoothly come opening night.“It’s still exciting, yes, but that intense excitement has already happened, because they’re already used to the space, and it also means when it comes to doing our dress rehearsals and things like that, they’ll know how long it’s going to take them to get from their changing room to the stage and all that sort of thing. “So, it’s been really wonderful of the Opera House to give us this opportunity to have access.”Ticket sales have been steady, and Melissa encouraged people to get in quickly to secure good seats and avoid missing out.“We’re happy with how sales are going. It’s important for locals to support the locals doing this, because it’s a lot of hard work - a lot of time, hours, blood, sweat, tears.”There are still finishing touches to be added to the set, and Melissa said if there were people who wanted to help volunteer backstage, they were always on the look out.“It’s a small group of people doing a lot of stuff.”  The band is made up of seven local musicians, many who had been involved in previous musicals, and are “brilliant”, she said.The show promised “high energy, great rock music, but some beautiful poignant moments as well”.“Great fun for the whole family - kids and adults alike. The children are definitely the stars of the show, but it’s not a kids’ show.”School of Rock is on at the Ōamaru Opera House from July 5 to July 8. Tickets are available from the Ōamaru Opera House website.

Ōamaru’s Forrester Gallery has secured major funding for the next stage in its ambitious upgrade project.The gallery has received a grant of $400,000 from the Lottery Environment and Heritage Fund, and $60,000 from the John Westwood Christie Trust.Stage two of the project is the final phase of the cultural facilities development project, which has also included improvements to the Waitaki Museum and Archive.Cultural facilities director Chloe Searle said the project represents a significant milestone in the evolution of the Forrester Gallery, allowing it to expand its exhibition, education and storage spaces and improve accessibility with an extension to the historic Ōamaru building.The gallery’s application to the Lottery Environment and Heritage Fund had to successfully demonstrate the project’s alignment with the fund’s purpose to protect, conserve and promote New Zealand’s natural, cultural and physical heritage.Chloe noted the fund committee received 89 requests this round, seeking $28.1m, with only $5.8m available to distribute. “The fact that the gallery stage two project secured 6.89% of the total funds available across New Zealand, is recognition of the value this national organisation places on this important project.”She was grateful to the project team, which included gallery staff and council property and finance departments, who worked on preparing supporting information, as well as the external organisations that supplied letters of support for the application.It was hard work and dedication from the Friends of the Forrester Gallery that landed the John Westwood Christie Trust grant, Chloe said.“The friends are an amazing group of supporters and advocates for the arts who have been tirelessly working on fundraising efforts to contribute to the Stage 2 Gallery project. “This additional funding will bolster the project’s resources towards helping the Forrester Gallery realise its full potential and solidifying its status as a vibrant cultural hub for the community.”The trust supports local charitable organisations involved in education; health; and arts, culture and heritage, and has supported the Friends of the Forrester in the past for stage one of the project, and with acquiring artworks for the collection.Chloe said they were extremely grateful to both groups for their support.“These grants will help bring us a step closer to our vision of an exceptional gallery space that enriches the cultural landscape of our town and district.“We look forward to one day welcoming visitors to our enhanced facility and providing them with an unforgettable artistic experience.”

Contributor: Ben O'Sullivan, Waitaki Boys' High School head boy, and Waitaki Youth Council member.The youth voice is just as important as any other in our community, but is often drowned out or overlooked. Each month, the Waitaki App will provide a platform for a member of the Waitaki Youth Council to speak on the issues that are affecting them. This month Ben O'Sullivan, head boy at Waitaki Boys' High School, writes about the detrimental effect the secondary school teacher strikes are having on students. Students are frustrated by this nightmare of a school year as teacher strikes continue to disrupt our education.However, it is important to remember that both my peers and I are supportive of our teachers’ rights to a fair income and conditions. I have been blessed to have some amazing teachers over my school years and it is vital that these same kinds of teachers are encouraged to enter the profession in the future.Nevertheless, from a student’s perspective, these strikes are just proving to be a massive distraction from our teaching and learning time. As a year 13 student, this is my fourth year of schooling disruptions following the on-going effects of the Covid pandemic.While these generational issues have built a resilient cohort, our resilience is stretching to breaking point and our education is seriously suffering.This issue is normalising truancy of our students. While our Government is currently spending millions to combat student absenteeism, would it not be prudent for the Government to first consider the two days off school students are having each week? As a head student in the Waitaki region, I see the direct effects of these strikes on students’ mindsets each day.Unfortunately, a day off school is no longer considered unconventional, and is normalised. This relaxed attitude is only stoking the fire that is our country’s chronic issue with truancy.Students are also coming under increasing pressure to complete the same workload with reduced teaching time. Students are stressed out and missing teaching time. I know some schools are delaying assessments, while others are cutting out parts of the curriculum. For some students, this could be the difference between passing and failing. It is also worth considering the effect this is having on our students’ wellbeing. I see firsthand the increased levels of anxiety and decreases in performance as students worry about the impact of these strikes on their grades and prospects.Student’s education should not suffer in the teachers’ action for a better package from the Government. We cannot continue to be used as a pawn in this ongoing dispute. It is becoming harder to be sympathetic when we are kept at home with no end in sight. The disruptions we have had to endure are staggering. Students’ wellbeing and grades are suffering, and we are creating a culture of truancy, which may take generations to undo. When will the government and PPTA realise that the education of this country’s children cannot be jeopardised any longer?

It’s been good to see some light rain falling in Ōamaru, after a pretty dry May (24.2ml) and June (2-3ml up until yesterday). Metservice Soil Moisture Graphic: June 19.A front remains stationary off the east coast of Aotearoa for the next few days. Consequently on the coast, Mondays (June 19) forecast is for occasional rain and northeasterlies, with a high of 12deg C and a low of 9deg C at night.Tuesday brings cloudy skies and northeasterlies with light rain persisting until around lunchtime and a temperature range of between 13 and 6deg C. Wednesday has clearing conditions and light winds, becoming fine by the evening and slightly cooler overnight at 3deg C.Thursday sees cloudy periods return, with drizzle possible by the evening and light northeasterlies. Temperatures will be similar to the previous few days.Friday will likely bring more persistent rain and light winds. Metservice forecast graphic: Oamaru.Up in the Mackenzie Basin and Omarama area, Monday will see northeasterlies and rain at times with snow possible to 1800m, easing to showers later and down to 2deg C tonight.Tuesday looks partly cloudy with northeasterlies and temperatures between 8 and 1deg C. Wednesday's forecast is similar to Tuesdays, but the mercury will dip down to -1 C overnight.Thursday is looking similar again, but with isolated showers developing late.Friday will bring rain and southwesterly winds.Metservice forecast graphic: Omarama.For the latest updated forecasts and real time conditions in your local area, click on the Waitaki towns below, or go to the Weather category, next to News|Sport in The Waitaki App!OamaruKakanuiHampdenPalmerstonMacraesNgaparaDuntroonKurowOtematataOmaramaLake Ohau Alpine Village

“Doing stuff with people for people,” is what sparks joy for Jo Hay.The Herbert-based sheep and beef farmer, and mother of three, has just joined the board of directors for Meat the Need, a relatively new charity she is “stoked” to be a part of.Meat the Need was founded in 2020, during the Covid-19 lockdown, by two farmers, Siobhan O’Malley and Wayne Langford, who were wanting to help feed families struggling to put food on the table.“Farmers have a product and grow a product and they can see a need for families and people out there that can’t, for whatever reason, access good quality protein, and this was a way for them to work on that issue - to solve that,” Jo said.New Zealand farmers are coming on board to donate stock or milk to the charity, which then supplies more than 100 food banks and city missions around the country.“So whether they choose to donate a cull cow, whether they choose to donate a lamb or a mutton, maybe they choose to donate milk, it’s not a whole lot to give but it makes a big difference to somebody else.”Jo, who already has her plate quite full as a North Otago Irrigation Company (NOIC) board member, a North Otago Sustainable Land Management Trust (Noslam) steering committee member, as part of the Beef and Lamb Farming Council, and as founder of rural womens’ group Lipgloss and Gumboots, said Meat the Need was a cause she was willing to stretch herself that bit further for. “The whole charity just spins my wheels. It’s something I’m really passionate about, and so to be able to have an opportunity to be on the board is just something that really excites me,” she said. “The times right now are tough for everybody, but - me personally, as a farmer - the one thing I don’t have to worry about is being able to access food.“I can access food myself, we grow our own food. Other people don’t necessarily have that control over their circumstances. “I don’t think anybody who receives food parcels wants to - it’s a big deal to ask for help, no matter who you are - and it’s a simple way for us to help.”Having thriving communities is something Jo sees as incredibly important, and ensuring people feel a sense of belonging is vital to creating that, she said. “I think if we can all look after each other a little bit better, then those feelings of belonging come, and then we get people who are going to contribute to society.”With her teaching background, she has seen first-hand how much need there is for children to be able to access good-quality, nutritious food to help them learn and grow.Meat the Need has eight board members dotted around the country, and while it is off to a great start, the impetus now is on building on that, and future-proofing it, she said.“You want to make sure that this charity continues to do what it does, and potentially can give more.”While some North Otago farmers already donate, there is always room for more. In the three years since the charity began there has been a huge change in the cost of living, and the need is only growing, Jo said.“So while we have some amazing farmers that donate product, we would never say no to more.”But Meat the Need is not just for farmers. There is now a way for members of the public to donate, and they can choose to contribute financially, pay for a virtual animal (sheep or cow), or help with running costs. One lamb provides 96 meals.People going hungry in New Zealand is something that does not sit well with Jo, or other farmers.“I guess for me, as a farmer, it’s something that sits there - how does this look to other people, because we don’t send all our product overseas, but the bulk of it goes overseas, but we have a situation in New Zealand where there’s food poverty and we produce so much food. There shouldn’t be.“It’s not the farmers that want that. We’ve all got businesses to run, but I mean wouldn’t it be great if we could have a food system where nobody was left behind, and this is a way that farmers can help address that,” she said.“We’ve all got some parts to play.”  

It looks like the next few days will be a bit more variable in the Waitaki district, with more cloud and a bit of precipitation in the forecast.After a crisp start on the coast this morning the temperature will get to a high of 11 C. Cloud should clear in the east this afternoon to a fine evening with northerlies and a night time low of 1 degree C.Saturday will dawn partly cloudy with some isolated frost patches and light winds, reaching a high of 12 C. Cloud increases in the afternoon with a few spots of evening rain possible, dropping to an overnight low of 6 C. Sunday will be mostly cloudy with a few showers possible and northerlies. It’ll be slightly warmer though with a high of 13 C, only dropping down to a positively balmy 8 C overnight.Looking ahead to Monday we’ll likely see a cloudy day with occasional rain and fresh northwesterlies developing and similar temperatures to Sunday.MetService forecast graphic: Oamaru.Up the valley around Omarama, you can look forward to a fine day and a high of 7 C, dropping to a frosty -4 C tonight. Saturday will be mostly cloudy with isolated showers developing later, reaching a high of 7 C, dropping to -1CMetService forecast graphic: Oamarama.Sunday will bring fresh easterlies and similar temperatures to Saturday. Monday's forecast is for showers to ease early, with northeasterlies and possible snow showers down to 1800 metres at first, clearing away earlyFor the latest updated forecasts and real time conditions in your local area, click on the Waitaki towns below, or go to the Weather category, next to News | Sport in The Waitaki App!OamaruHampdenPalmerstonMacraesNgaparaKurowOmaramaLake Ohau Alpine Village

Blayde Forbes’ first high-heeled steps into cross-dressing were tentative, but now the teen is hitting his stride.The 16-year-old has no preference when it comes to pronouns and considers himself “very fluid”.“It doesn’t bother me, I can go by anything. If someone was to come up to me, I would be happy with ‘he’. It doesn’t affect me. Some people, it needs to be one specific thing.”Blayde became aware he was different at a young age, watching classic movies.“I would look at the outfits girls were wearing, and I always thought it was really extravagant, and I wanted to dress like that.“Then I got to about 12, and I realised that’s exactly how I wanted to dress, but I didn’t know how to start dressing like that,” he said.“So I used to sit in my bedroom, and one of my friends gave me this bright, hot pink lipstick and I used to sit in my room and put it on, and then anytime I left my room, I would wipe it off, but it stained. So I would think I was hiding it, but then I had this big pink stain around my lips.“Then I slowly started to wear more and more things, and then at one point I started wearing heels out and about, and then I slowly progressed.”Blayde takes great care when getting ready in the morning, spending two to three hours perfecting hair, make-up and outfit, except when it’s a school day, and he has to wear the Waitaki Boys' High School uniform.“I’ve had many people say that anytime I’m wearing the uniform I look very depressed.“When I first started (at high school), we weren’t allowed to wear earrings and we had to have our hair tied up, but they’ve relaxed a little bit.”He doesn’t mind school, and said the teachers are “incredible”.“They’re really, really supportive and caring about everyone.“The students can be, not the best, but they’re not horrible enough that you can’t get through it.”Blayde is gay, and when he came out to his mother one Christmas, at about age 14, she told him she had known since he was three. She was “very chill” about it, he said.“My stepdad was a little bit different. It took him a while to come around, but he’s dealing with that in his own way.”Blayde was born and has lived in Ōamaru his whole life. When not at school, he works at the Harbour Street Collective Cafe.He has friends who have struggled living in the town, but finds most people to be accepting. “Especially where I work, we get a lot of different kinds of people that come in . . . and they don’t care - as long as you give them coffee, they don’t care.”There is an elaborate process involved in getting ready in the morning, and Blayde said some days it is one of the only things that keeps him going.Setting his hair in vintage hot rollers has taken some practice, but he has found a style which he has now perfected, and it brings him “so much joy”.He buys most of his clothes from second hand stores, and has a favourite in the Victorian precinct, called Mockingbird Lane.“I’m very lucky. There’s this woman who is, she’s very special to me, she’s not my mother but I call her Mum . . . and it’s where I get all my clothes from.”He said the hardest part of cross-dressing was beginning.“I used to walk around my bedroom in high heels and a little bit of lipstick . . . and then slowly, down the hallway, and then into the lounge, and then one day, one of my friends was throwing a birthday party, and it was a shopping trip to Dunedin, and I just thought, ‘you know what? I don’t know anyone there, I’m just going to wear some high heels’.“I started walking around, and then it was like, ‘why not just start wearing them around Ōamaru?’, and then it just slowly progressed."Blayde considers himself “incredibly lucky” to have found the “most caring and supportive and funny” friends.He has no feelings about negative comments towards LGBTQIA+ on public forums, such as Facebook, and said he finds them entertaining.He also has no message for people who feel the need to make them.“I honestly don’t care enough, I have bigger things to worry about. You’re allowed your personal views, it doesn’t bother me.”That’s not to say he doesn’t have bad moments.“I think we all have down days - sometimes when someone will make a comment and it will actually get to me, and I think, ‘why do I do this? This is so much’. I must look insane walking down the street in a vintage dress, and high heels, and I must look incredibly bizarre to other people’. “Then I think about it again, and I think, well it makes me happy - and I think that’s the most important thing, to be happy and be around people that make me happy.”Plans for the future are loose, Blayde is waiting to see what happens.Transitioning to a female is not something he is considering at the moment. He is comfortable as he is, “being what some would probably consider a drag queen, even though I’m a real person”.“I don’t know. I’m very eccentric, but I don’t feel the need to. I’m happy at the moment.”Blayde watches friends struggle with their mental health, and said it is hard not being able to do anything. He finds it helpful talking through things with his school counsellor, but knows that might not be for everyone, and is, of course, only available to those at school.“I’m lucky I don’t struggle with it, but there’s just not that much help, mentally, for young people. I hope that changes.”

A North Otago artist has generously offered up three of his artworks to raise funds for the Far North District communities recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle.Ken Laraman’s oil on canvas artworks Plastic Sea III, Plastic Sea IV and Touch Lightly this Earth are part of a collection of atmospheric seascapes that celebrate the beauty of nature, while exploring environmental themes.The artworks are for sale through a silent auction on the Waitaki District Council website. Ken said he welcomed the opportunity to show solidarity and compassion for communities facing adversity.“There’re a lot of people suffering all around the world, and in our own country. New Zealand’s whole population is the size of a European city and we’re all neighbours really, even if we might have different opinions. “We never know when we’ll be in the same boat and needing support from other people.”The nationwide Adopt a Community initiative was launched to connect districts impacted by the cyclone with those unaffected, to encourage community to community support. Waitaki District Council was paired with the Far North District Council through this scheme.A variety show fundraising initiative put on by council members earlier in the year raised more than $10,000, and further donations have been made at the council offices, to assist with the recovery.All funds raised from this auction, coordinated by the Forrester Gallery and the council, will go to the Far North District Council Mayoral Relief Fund to support their continued recovery efforts. The fund is used to assist in rebuilding infrastructure, providing aid to affected families, and facilitating the restoration of the region's social and economic vitality.Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said he was grateful to Ken for his generosity.“Now I challenge our community to get in behind the initiative and raise as much money as possible.“When you get a quality piece of art in exchange, it really is a win for both the Far North district and the successful bidders. We’re hoping to get some generous bidsfrom art lovers who want to contribute to this important cause.”People can view the displayed artworks in the shop front, next door to the Caroline Eve store (53 Thames Street, Ōamaru), or on the council website.The auction closes July 14 and winning bidders will be notified.Touch Lightly This Earth by Ken Laraman.

A new chief executive has been appointed to the Otago Community Trust.Jemma Adams fills the vacancy left by former chief executive Barbara Bridger who resigned at the beginning of the year.  Jemma is the general manager of Dunedin City Holdings Ltd, which provides leadership and oversight of a diverse portfolio of subsidiary and associate companies owned by the Dunedin City Council. Otago Community Trust chairman Andy Kilsby said the trustees are excited to welcome Jemma at a time when it has a “refreshed strategic focus and a commitment to building stronger relevant community connections”. Jemma brings a wealth of experience in strategic planning, stakeholder relationship building and astute management of community assets and investments, along with a real passion to drive change, Andy said. “We are excited by the fresh leadership style Jemma will bring to the trust, she brings to the role experience across a range of sectors, and a reputation as a very thoughtful and successful leader who builds strong partnerships to those she works alongside.” Jemma held senior managerial roles in Price Waterhouse Coopers, and Parliament and Ministerial Services before taking up her current role at Dunedin City Holdings in 2018.She is well-known in the performing arts and theatre sector in Dunedin as president of the Dunedin Repertory Society and for her work in the city’s discussion about performing arts infrastructure. Jemma is excited to take up her new position.  “It is a real privilege to be just the third chief executive of this amazing organisation since it was founded in 1988. “I have observed in a personal capacity the incredible support the trust provides to the not-for-profit sector around Otago and I’m looking forward to continuing this great work,” she said. “Otago Community Trust plays a distinctive role as a funding organisation in Otago. I am eager to see the Trust continue to challenge and test itself on how it can best invest in the community.” Jemma will start her role in early September. Otago Community Trust has an endowment of over $287 million and provides grants to provincial Otago communities, such as North Otago, Central Otago, South Otago, Greater Dunedin and the Wānaka ward of the Queenstown Lakes district.

Scott Mayhew loves his job.The Waitaki Boys’ High School director of boarding said he is passionate about helping children become the best they can be.“So whatever they’re going to do . . . it’s my job at Waitaki to make sure when they do that, they are ready to take on the world.”Scott was recently asked to join the New Zealand Boarding Schools Association executive committee, a small group of boarding hostel directors from around the country who offer support to school hostels.“To make sure they are operating at their best, I guess, pass on our thoughts and opinions and experiences, give them advice, things like that,” he said. He had just been to the boarding schools conference the week before King’s Birthday Weekend, which is when his selection to the executive was announced.“We sat at the front of about 50 or 60 people, and they just fired questions at us the whole time about hostel life, or anything really. So that was pretty cool.”Co-ordinator of the committee rung me up and offered me a spot, and I said yes. I did try to get on it a few years back and missed out. And I just let it go, and didn’t think about it anymore, and then I was offered this spot.Scott has managed boarding hostels for close to 18 years. His eldest daughter Lily, 17, was born on a Tuesday, and with wife Kylie, they moved into their first hostel on a Sunday, he said.He had been at Rotorua Boys’ High School, before moving to Ōamaru and Waitaki Boys' in May 2021. Over the 18 years, the biggest change and challenge has been the arrival of social media, he said.“That’s the huge difference that we didn’t have 18 years ago . . . the kids are so exposed to so many different things now, it’s difficult to try and maintain that balance for them.”The main way he approaches the issue is through education.“We talk to the boys daily, about how to be better, make sure they’re safe on the internet, things like that. For my junior boys they register their devices with us 8.45pm each night - the year 9s and 10s - so it teaches them good sleep habits, good discipline, good structure and good routines.“Year 11s, 12s, 13s, they’re allowed to keep theirs, but if we see anything that is making them unsafe or not be at their best during the school day, then we treat them the same as the juniors. “The main thing is education, talk to the kids, have a good conversation with them about keeping safe, and how to be safe.” Scott’s role on the New Zealand Boarding Schools committee is an ongoing one, and he is happy to share what he has learned over the years. “From policies and procedures to how to deal with the students, to building a good hostel, ‘cos a lot of new directors come in and, so they should, have hopes and dreams for what they want their hostel to look like.”The Mayhew family, now joined by Bella, 13, and Noah, 11, continue to live onsite. “It’s all they’ve known,” Scott said.Kylie was not involved officially in the day to day running, but is “100% into the hostel life", he said. "She loves it." Outside of hostel work, Scott also taught physical education at the school for 10 hours a week, which he loved.He had “retired” from boxing and bodybuilding, but had made a return to rugby this year for Valley, he said.He is excited and feeling positive about the direction the Waitaki Boys' hostel is heading.“I’ve really got my feet under the desk, and it feels really good at the moment . . . It’s a really good place, we’ve got good stuff going on, we’ve got new roofs, new bathrooms, a new bark area, we’re heading in the right direction.”Waitaki Boys’ rector Darryl Paterson said in the two years Scott and his family had been back in Oamaru, he had done “a fantastic job” at the hostel. “He has a huge personal work ethic and incredibly high standards which he holds the boys accountable to. “He leads a staff team in Don House that I believe is unmatched in the boarding schools that I know of,” Darryl said.“Our boys are so fortunate to have Scott as their role model and mentor. In my opinion his election to the executive . . . is fully deserved.”