Art on Tyne may have closed, but Art on Thames is just around the corner.Philina Den Dulk closed the doors on her small shop, jam-packed with New Zealand artworks, for the last time at the weekend, after nine years on Ōamaru’s Tyne Street.She is joining forces with another local artist, Matthew Wicks (aka Wicksey), and the pair are moving into a building on lower Thames Street, which had previously been occupied by Design Federation before that was moved further north.Philina will continue to run a shop at the front of the building, and Wicksey will use the more industrial space at the rear as a studio/gallery.The pair came together “sort of out of desperation, really”, Wicksey said.“I mean that in the nicest possible way . . . There’s not a lot of spaces that were jumping out at us to take on, on our own, but teaming up gives us the opportunity to take on a much bigger space in a better location, and make a go of it.”Philina feels she has outgrown her original shop, and needs a change.Wicksey has been working from two studios at home, and is slowly encroaching on the rest of the house. Working from home limited what he could do, and his ability to showcase his work, he said.Both artists think the main street holds more potential for them.“I’ve been looking for a professional space for a long time, and when Phillina brought this one up and . . . as soon as we walked through it, it’s just like, ‘yeah, this is exactly it’. “It’s sort of what I’ve been dreaming of, without sounding silly. It’s industrial, it’s got beautiful light.” Philina agreed, it was ideal for them. “It’s just perfect. It really is just the dream space.” She plans to carry on with the same sort of business, but hopes to have more stock. “Still New Zealand made, but it will mean I have more space to bring better, maybe more beautiful things.”The studio will be up and running soon, and Wicksey will have a gallery space by the end of the year.“To showcase my work. So it will only be my own work in there, but we’ve talked about the possibility of having guest artists in, you know, workshops, all sorts of things.“It’s a big space for two people, so we want to fill it with as much as we can, that’s really interesting.”Wicksey is looking forward to rediscovering his own style, after carrying out a lot of commissioned work. “For the first time in a long time, it will be my own style coming through, which to be honest, I don’t really know what it is, because I do such a wide variation of work. “So this gives me a chance to really think about what I want to do, in terms of an artist, as opposed to work for other people.”He does enjoy the commercial work as well though, it forces him to push himself out of his comfort zone.“I don’t want to pigeonhole myself, and be known for just one type of art, it’s nice to have a bit of variation. It’ll be a fine opportunity for me to express myself. Philina is also keen to get back to making art again, and thinks this might be the place to trigger her creativity.“I always visualised in my work, being in a beautiful space, and it’s about the aesthetics isn’t it. With a beautiful space, juices start flowing a bit more.“I’ve always dreamed of having big white walls, beautiful floors, high ceilings. “Hopefully, I could start painting again - it’s just no pressure. I’ll just paint when I want to paint.”The two hope to open the doors to Art on Thames in the middle of this month, and said so far they had received all positive feedback, from both friends and strangers.

Ōamaru’s Steampunk NZ Festival has not lost any of its puff since the last celebrations.The King’s Birthday Weekend event was a fantastical jumble of colour, noise and invention, with something for everyone, which left organisers and participants alike happily exhausted.One of the organisers, Lea Campbell, was “just over the moon” with how things went. She could not pick one highlight out of a weekend of continual highlights, and everything went so well, people were already telling her they couldn’t wait to come back next year, she said.“Everybody’s had a fantastic time.”While she needed a breather before contemplating next year’s festival, the theme Botanical Mechanical had already been decided on, so people could get working on their costumes. Gateway to Steampunk central - the steel gates were made by Apex Engineering, and signalled “something good is going to happen”, when they were officially opened on the Friday night, organiser Lea Campbell said.PHOTOS: Supplied by Waitaki District Council/Sonia MartinezPurple powered.Ready for anything. Just another day in Ōamaru.Happy travellers. 

A calm sunny week ahead with some cold nights forecast.Lovely settled weather is on the cards this week in the Waitaki thanks to a high pressure system overhead, but once the sun disappears it’ll get chilly so grab an extra layer if you’re heading out in the evening. On the coast and hinterland, there will be bluebird days and light winds all week with daytime highs of around 10 to 11 degrees, dropping down to between 0 and 4 degrees overnight.Metservice forecast graphic: Oamaru.Up in the Omarama area, conditions will also be sunny but cold all week with light winds. Day time temperatures will be lucky to hit fairly meagre highs of between 6 to 8 degrees, dropping down to some frosty overnight lows of -4 and -5 on Tuesday and Wednesday, and -6 on Thursday night.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!OamaruPalmerstonMacraesNgaparaOtematataLake Ohau Alpine Village

The Waitaki App would like to share an artist’s story each month. If you are an artist, or know someone clever and creative you would like to nominate, please email [email protected]. This month, we are talking to Charlene BlignautQ. Tell us a little bit about your background, and what led you to becoming an artist…I was born in Zimbabwe and grew up on a farm where we had a variety of wildlife including giraffe, zebra, kudu and impala. I have always loved animals and, from a young age, the Zimbabwean bush with its huge variety of wildlife, big and small, was what started my passion for drawing and painting. I was also fortunate enough to have very talented art teachers during my school years there as well as learning from my aunt who is also an artist. Living now in New Zealand has given me the opportunity to spend a lot more time on my art and paint native New Zealand wildlife.  Q. Tell us about your artMy favourite mediums are pencil, oils and acrylics. I just use whatever I feel would work for that particular project.Although my focus had always been on African wildlife, especially endangered animals such as leopards, elephants and African wild dogs, I now also enjoy painting New Zealand birds such as tui and fantails, as well as sheep and deer. I have also recently started doing pet portraits on a commission basis.  What has landed you here in the Waitaki?My family and I moved here to Ōamaru 21 years ago. We had relatives living in Ōamaru, so it made sense to move to be with family. However, we all moved back overseas after four years - my sisters and I all got married and lived back in Zimbabwe for a period of time, but because of the economic situation in Zimbabwe, we all eventually moved back to Ōamaru! I moved back here in 2020 with my husband and son. We enjoy the peaceful, relaxed lifestyle here. What do you love about where you live?We live just outside of Oamaru, so we love the rural lifestyle and views of the mountains. We love how small Oamaru is, making it easy to get around and no rush hour traffic! How does it inspire your work? What else inspires your work?Living back in New Zealand has made me aware of different native wildlife here that is endangered. As I love animals of any kind, this inspires me to paint endangered wildlife (in between other projects), hoping to help bring awareness of the danger some of these animals are in of becoming extinct.  What is your favourite thing to do outside of art?I love gardening, my dogs, and spending time with my family.  What aspirations do you have for your work? I hope to be able to become a full-time artist. I would love to focus on endangered animals, not just in New Zealand, but from around the world and to help people become more aware of them through art.  What have you got coming up or going on that people might be interested in?I am fortunate enough to be part of the Within Reach community art exhibition in Kurow through the Waitaki Valley Community Society. I will be exhibiting a couple of paintings for the month of September. I am also working on a selection of smaller paintings and hope to have these for sale at a local fair soon. Please feel free to have a look at my Facebook page, Fine Art by Charlene, for any upcoming work for sale. 

“There’s two million non-replacement calves killed at four days of age - there needs to be a solution found to that.” (7-minute read)Kakanui man Daniel Carson has a solution, and it’s mīti. Daniel grew up in Southland, studied at Otago University, and worked in sales, and business development for technology companies, before he married. His then wife’s Canterbury-based family was interested in getting into farming, and offered him the opportunity to stop travelling for work, start a family and help farm a 20ha piece of land. So that's what he did.“We started with Fresian bulls, or four-day old calves, and we were all about management through measurement. “So, because of my technology background, I just measured everything, and quickly read a lot of material . . . By the time my farming career at that point came to an end, we were farming over 2000ha and wintering 7000 stock units, and I really wanted to do something positive for an industry I was passionate about.” In 2020, when the country went into lockdown, and Daniel was facing other life changes of his own, he wrote to the Government, who had put out a call out for suggestions around “Projects of National Significance”.“I said that we needed to make a system of software and sensors to capture environmental and agricultural data, ultimately at scale, that would then allow us to use machine learning, and AI (artificial intelligence) to export our agricultural IP (intellectual property), to the world. And essentially be able to offer our know-how to countries, and create opportunities for smaller and remote Māori landholdings, through automation, that type of carry on,” he said.“They came back saying, ‘that sounds good, we encourage you to keep going, but it’s not going to be our project of national significance’. Which, you know, I expected.” It is an idea he still believes in, but couldn’t afford to follow through on - he lacked the connections and the finances - and so on to the next idea.The next concept is a value-add food product using a source he has experience with and is passionate about - dairy beef - mixed with another passion, science and data.“I’d raised a whole lot of bulls in my previous occupation, and understood, essentially, all the data for those animals is recorded from birth through to death . . . They’re regularly weighed, and they grow very fast - their feed conversion efficiency is awesome, and it’s a major issue for the dairy industry.“I just looked at it from, I suppose, a different perspective from what everyone else is doing, and from what they are traditionally used for, which is manufacturing (minced) beef - and thought well, why don’t we make a new product that doesn’t exist from it, that represents New Zealand, and what I see as the best for New Zealand and the future for New Zealand.”For a long time he had wondered why the country did not produce its own version of a dried meat product, such as a beef jerky or biltong.“I thought well, why don’t I do that - and why don’t I incorporate a whole lot of other ingredients unique to New Zealand.”The easiest way he saw was to start with a manufacturing beef base, which allows other ingredients to be mixed in.The minced beef also means the end product is easier to chew, making it more viable for a wider group of consumers - such as children and the elderly. “I looked at what exists currently, and I’ve always believed that meat was a nutrient-dense health food. I thought that there was a whole lot of science coming to support that, and I was like, ‘well, how do we enhance that story, and not essentially take away from it, by filling it with salt preservatives, like other dried meat products are’.”One prerequisite was the product needed to have shelf-life, so it wasn’t a “price taker”. Friends at Staveley, who own Southern Alps Honey in Canterbury, harvest honeydew from the black beech forests. Daniel’s research revealed honey has been used as a natural preservative for thousands of years, and so he investigated that option further. “It’s got some very unique properties, so I decided to use that as our natural preservative, but also as a prebiotic and all the natural health benefits that go with it.” And from there, he started networking. “The first thing I did - and it was really beneficial, there was a Food, Fibre and Agritech Challenge, which is actually running again at the moment. So I was in that this time last year.“You go through a series of courses around setting up a business, and you’re assigned a mentor and that was really good, but it also made me realise that the flavour of the day was plant-based meats, it was technology, it wasn’t meat foods.”After that, he applied for funding with the Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AgMardt).“They essentially supply money for agricultural ideas, innovative ideas, they do a whole lot of different fundings - and so I applied for funding for a proof of concept, just to try and do this with FoodSouth and Otago University - to see if we could get the shelf-life ultimately, and how the honey would mix with the beef.”Success with that application gave Daniel the confidence to engage with AgResearch for help around meat processing issues. It is currently inefficient to process the 12-month animal, as all the processing companies he has spoken to indicate the costs involved are similar to those for a full-sized animal.“So there was no issue at farm level. There was no issue with supply of these animals. The issue was with the meat processors - they ultimately want to charge you the same amount for half the amount of beef, which ends up making the raw material very expensive.People at AgResearch suggested Daniel apply for funding via the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) with their support.“I did that, and was fortunate to be given enough funding to take this through to commercialisation trials.”While production trials had already begun, the initial samples were very dry, and lacking in flavour. Daniel found it frustrating to deal with food scientists and academics who had maybe been “assigned” his project, but were not particularly interested in the concept, and had no vested interest in the outcome.“I found that quite difficult, early days, and as I mentioned - meat products aren’t the flavour of the day, so it was hard. “I think a lot of people thought it probably wasn’t going to go anywhere - and look, it may still not go anywhere - but I managed to engage with really good people at AgResearch - a really well-known meat scientist there, and some food-related and production people there.” Along with that, he found an experienced food technologist in Auckland who is “very enthusiastic about the product”.“She’s been really good, and has essentially super-charged the pace at which we’ve been able to go at, since.” Since then, a number of different samples have been produced, containing ingredients such as the native bush spices horopito and kawakawa, seaweed, and kanuka and manuka smoke, in an effort to perfect the recipe.Daniel is particularly keen to incorporate “functional, medicinal” native plants, which provide extra health benefits, but also make the product even more uniquely New Zealand.“So we’ve been able to incorporate a lot of what I think are future foods - easily sustainable, and also nature positive ingredients - to make this a true, high-protein, nutrient-dense meat snack.”With a goal to launch the product mid-June at Hamilton’s Fieldays - the Southern Hemisphere’s largest agricultural event - the pressure has gone on in the past few months in particular, to turn out a product Daniel is happy to present to the thousands which flood through the gates.He has settled on a prototype, and has 6,000 samples to share, provided they pass all the necessary food safety tests.“It’s not perfect - there’s a lot of science that goes into getting the process right. “From a drying/shelf-life/bacterial perspective, when you’re not using preservatives, or nitrates, or a whole lot of salt - there’s a reason why people don’t go down that track by default - it is very difficult.”Daniel measures out some nori seaweed, and horopito for his next batch of Mīti samples at the Food Innovation Network in Auckland, for Hamilton's Fieldays this month. PHOTO: Ashley SmythThe perfect shape for the snack is still undecided, with the correct equipment to deal with the meat mixture hard to come by. People who sample the product will be surveyed, among other things, for their opinions on what size and shape they would prefer to consume.“There’s still a lot of work. We’re launching at Fieldays in the Prototype Innovation category, and we’re hoping to generate a lot of public interest. And if the interest is there from industry, and also the public and farmers as a solution to this bobby calf, or non-replacement dairy calf issue, we hope to generate funding to establish a facility or get a co-packer in to perfect the process.”As well as helping to solve a problem within the dairy industry, Daniel also wants to show his two sons, Harrison, 12, and James, 9, that you can achieve something if you set your mind to it and are not afraid to work hard. And it has been hard work.“It's always hard, but it’s not supposed to be easy. If it was easy, everybody would do it. “I think the best thing about this for me, is I think I have found a bit of a calling or a passion. It’s something I believe in.”Working a full-time job, being a single dad with shared custody, and then working an extra 10 to 15 hours a week on mīti, seems like a lot. “But this was never work, it was exciting,” he said. “I felt like I could change things, and I also felt like my unique circumstances and background sort of made me a good person to be talking about this, because I had the farming background, I had the technology background, I had the sales background, and my passion and love for reading scientific things.“There’s just a whole lot of things that sort of fell into place, that made me a good proponent to push this, and now I’ve convinced myself it's the way forward.”So far, Daniel has garnered huge industry support from the likes of Dairy NZ, the Meat Industry Association, Ngāi Tahu, Rural Innovation Lab, as well as AgResearch and MPI, but he said crucial to the success of this idea, is the support of the farmers.“Because it’s going to be the farmers - and especially the dairy farmers - they currently supply 51% of all beef sold out of New Zealand.” They have a lot of power to influence what happens long term - and if other companies started creating similar products out of the same stock class, it would be a “win, win, win”. “So for example, if McDonald’s was to start purchasing 12 months of age manufacturing beef - they already buy a whole lot of bull beef that we used to rear - their ESG (environment, social, governance) goals become achievable way more easily, because dairy cattle raised for beef have significantly lower emissions per kilogramme of product they produce.  “Farmers on the ground don’t have to change a whole lot of the way they manage things. We take a whole lot of wintering out of our farming systems, which means a whole lot less nitrate to groundwater issues, and it’s a lot easier management for farmers as well.”A big part of making things come together this far, has been Daniel’s willingness to collaborate. In order to secure the significant funding he received through MPI, he had to gather letters of support from other players in the industry.He reached out to many through business social media platform LinkedIn, and made strong connections with a number of people he is yet to meet.He has also made connections locally, and sees the Waitaki District as an ideal place to base his business.He spoke on the issue of non-replacement calves at last year’s South Island Dairy Event (SIDE) held in Ōamaru, and shared his idea. The reception from that, and the resulting connection with Dairy NZ gave him encouragement to keep going.He was also hopeful a manufacturing facility could be established in Ōamaru in the future, and saw other opportunities in the Waitaki, albeit a bit further off-shore. “At the moment we’re having to use imported seaweed in our product because there is no food grade seaweed being produced in New Zealand, which is crazy. “It’s a massive opportunity - that in itself, for areas like the Waitaki and further afield, and we’ve been working with Cawthron Institute in order to get some trial work off the ground with that as well.”New Zealand already has a good reputation internationally, and mīti builds on that, Daniel said.He encourages people to look further into combinations of ingredients unique to New Zealand.“Because that’s a competitive advantage we’ve got . . . We’ll find out how those products are received, but I think it just sort of plays into the future trends of what consumers are demanding now in their foods, from a transparency, traceability, environmental sustainability, and health perspective.”

Get your outdoor chores and activities done on Saturday if you can.Another long weekend (we love ’em!) and it’s also the first weekend of meteorological winter. Unfortunately the forecast for most of it is going to be…well, more wintery.On the Waitaki coast Friday is looking nice and fine, with westerlies and a high of 16, dropping to a nippy 4 degrees tonight. Saturday is the pick of the long weekend, fine with light winds but cooler temperature wise with a high of 12 degrees. Cloud will build in the evening, with the overnight low falling to around 5 degrees.Sunday will see occasional rain developing in the morning with northerly winds changing to fresh southwesterlies. Daytime temperatures will fall further with a high of just 10 degrees.At this stage Monday's forecast is for occasional rain, clearing in the afternoon but remaining cloudy with fresh southerlies easing later in the day.   MetService forecast graphic: OamaruEast of the divide, Omarama is looking fine and cool today with westerly winds, down to -1 tonight. Saturday looks very similar, with northwest winds developing in the evening.On Sunday, rain will build early on with snow possible to 1600 metres, lowering to 900 metres. Northwesterlies will ease later in the day to light southerlies. MetService forecast graphic: OmaramaMonday looks much the same, with overcast skies and rain developing, falling as snow to 1200 metres, lifting to 1700 metres later. Highs on Sunday and Monday will be around 7 degrees, falling to 0 overnight.For the latest updated forecasts and real time conditions in your local area, click on these Waitaki towns below, or go to the Weather category, next to News | Sport in The Waitaki App!OamaruPalmerstonDuntroonOmarama

Visitors and residents of Ōamaru are being offered a colourful and inclusive welcome at the steps of the Waitaki District Council. Temporary rainbow-coloured vinyl stickers with the word ‘welcome’ in different languages have been installed on the risers of the steps as part of the Kaupapa Kanorau – Project of Diversity initiated by the Waitaki District Youth Council. This is a public display of inclusion and recognition of the diversity of the Waitaki population.Mady Rawson, who was deputy chairperson of the Youth Council when the project was proposed, said many cities and districts across Aotearoa, New Zealand and the world offer public displays of diversity. “This is a great opportunity for Waitaki to show-off what we have to offer and follow-suit.”In December 2021 an idea to add colour to the Ouse Street roundabout was voted against by council due to concerns around roading distractions and a lack of community consultation. Feedback from elected members was taken on board by the Youth Council and work was done on consulting with the community, adapting the project, and proposing a range of options.Stickers of Diversity was suggested as an option, inspired by the Forrester Gallery’s promotion of its Burns Exhibition using stickers placed on the steps of the gallery. As the stickers do not have to be permanent, this was thought to be a good option, and it has been fully funded out of the existing Youth Council allocated budget.Councillor Rebecca Ryan said the intent of Kaupapa Kanorau – Project of Diversity is toacknowledge the diversity that exists in Waitaki, showing support, in particular, for our rainbow (LGBTQIA+) community. “I hope this initiative will help foster a real sense of acceptance, acknowledgment and identity for members of our rainbow community - and will help portray Waitaki as a place where everyone feels welcome, valued, and, most importantly, safe. “I’m really proud of our Youth Council for leading the project and being so confident and passionate about what they believe in,” Rebecca said.Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said he is very supportive of the initiative to acknowledgethe importance of celebrating the cultural make-up of the district, and the district’sminority groups who may feel like they are not properly represented. “This week is Samoan Language Week in New Zealand and next week is International Languages Week, so the timing for getting the multiple languages on council's steps is excellent!”Previous Youth Council chairperson and current Labour candidate for the Waitaki electorate, Ethan Reille, has worked on bringing the Project of Diversity to fruition over the last two years. “This project is for Waitaki, led by Waitaki. “The Youth Council appreciated and took into consideration all feedback offered by Council and have worked hard to ensure our project is culturally appropriate and inclusive for all.“At the end of the day, it is just a design, which poses no physical conflict to the public.“Young people have been doing it tough the past few years, everyone has. So this is anice way to celebrate our sense of community we have upheld during these challengingtimes.” The project signals the district’s support for the diversity, minority and cultural groups it has, he said.A small unveiling event was held in front of Council HQ on Wednesday (May 31) and was attended by the mayor, councillors, Waitaki Multicultural Council representatives andcommunity members.

Waitaki deputy mayor Hana Halalele was honoured in Wellington yesterday (May 31), with the Queen’s Service Medal for services to Pasifika health.Hana was named a recipient in the New Year’s Honours List, and received the medal from Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro at a ceremony held at Government House.Hana is the first Pasifika councillor at the Waitaki District Council, and is the Oamaru Pacific Island Community Group (OPICG) manager. She supported the Pasifika community from the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, creating a frontline team to share information and guidelines.  She advocated for support from the Southern District Health Board and Well South to run a vaccination clinic, and led her team to create its own community outreach vaccination workforce and provide a Covid-19 welfare response. The deputy mayor was also the establishment chair for Talanga ‘a Waitaki, an initiative for Pasifika parents to deliver the Talanoa Ako education programme.

There was a celebratory and, at times, emotional atmosphere at the Waitaki Whitestone Global Geopark Unesco designation ceremony yesterday (4-minute read).On May 25, it was announced that Waitaki Whitestone Geopark was officially designated as New Zealand's first and Australasia’s only United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) Global Geopark.Te Rūnaka o Moeraki upoko David Higgins welcomed a crowd of about 200 invited guests to the Ōamaru Opera House yesterday (May 31). All had played a part in making the Whitestone Waitaki Global Geopark dream a reality.Speeches were made by Geopark Trust chair Helen Jansen, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher, Tourism Minister Peeni Henare, and New Zealand National Commission for Unesco chairperson Liz Longworth. The group then headed for lunch at the Brydone Hotel, before going on a choice of two guided bus tours, either inland or coastal, to take in different sites of significance.The official application was made to Unesco in 2019, but the work started long before then.David Higgins, who was also one of the initial Geopark Trust members, said everybody involved in the Geopark journey should give themselves a “pat on the back”.“We should be greatly proud as a community.” This was a sentiment that was echoed throughout the morning. Tourism minister Peeni Henare said there are two reasons people come to New Zealand - to see nature, and to share the culture.“And what we . . . are celebrating here today on this momentous occasion . . . captures both of those things.“It gives us a glimpse into how our world was formed but, more importantly, lights a pathway to what our future holds for us.”He congratulated Helen and “her team”.“Just like the Waitaki River, it was never a straight line. It was always going to have bends, it was always going to come up against obstacles, and sometimes you just have to forge your way through.” He described the official Unesco designation as a special gift to this country, and was proud to support the journey and see where it would lead.He also announced an application made to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, through the Innovation Programme for tourism recovery, was successful, and $25,000 would be provided to support the initiative.Liz Longworth said she was delighted to attend the day’s events with five other Unesco New Zealand commission members - “the full commission of Unesco New Zealand”. She offered “a massive congratulations”.Unesco was formed in 1946, “in response to the horrors of World War II”, she said.“The idea was that through education, through the sciences, through culture, through communication maybe we could work on the solutions together and have a much better peaceful co-existence going forward. “So that’s the base value that underpins something like a geopark.”She acknowledged the “crucial, collaboration and generosity” of the Kāi Tahu Whānui whanau - especially Te Rūnaka o Moeraki and Kati Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki (near Karitane).“In terms of the trust and respect that’s been forged, I want to acknowledge the gift, the gift of your understanding and guidance along what was sometimes a difficult road. The collaborative relationship that has ensued typifies the legacy of a successful geopark, and this is a story that needs to be told.” Waitkai Whitestone can now use the registered Unesco Geopark brand as an internationally recognised mark of quality. It has become part of a global network that will help promote the Waitaki region to a domestic and international audience, and will provide access to an international support network that can further the growth of the park.“This achievement is a result of vision, passion, patience and sheer hard work. The room today is full of people who have put their heart and soul into making this happen.”Gary Kircher said this was “truly a memorable moment for Waitaki and New Zealand”.“The significance to our district is great. The Geopark is the way we can best tell our many stories and how we can share our wonderful Waitaki with the whole world.”The Waitaki has an abundance of attractions, in particular, the natural history and wildlife - the penguins, shags, seals and more; the “built heritage” with the Victorian buildings; the natural scenery “as beautiful and diverse as anywhere in the country”; and the human history.“But most of all, the many stories of our manawhenua . . . these are the amazing gems we have to share,” he said. The Waitaki Whitestone Global Geopark provides an “umbrella for all those attractions” and stories. “The Unesco Global Geopark is a marketing tool - it’s a brand, but it’s also a way to view our special place in the world.“It’s about the land and it’s about the way the land has shaped the people, and the people have shaped the land. It’s about education, it’s about promotion, it’s about preservation of our environment and it’s about acknowledging the people who have come before us,” Gary said.He was grateful to the “many, many people” who had contributed to this achievement.The history behind the GeoparkUnesco defines a Global Geopark as “a single, unified geographical area, where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development”, Geopark Trust chair Helen Jansen said.Helen, who has been Geopark Trust chairperson since 2019 with a brief reprieve in 2021, was at times emotional when she spoke.She explained how the idea of having a Geopark in the Waitaki developed because of Otago University Emeritus Professor Ewan Fordyce’s studies of the limestone in the district, which he carried out from the 1980s until recently.“He knew that for 10 million years it had been an ancient underwater world, teeming with extraordinary marine animals - ancestors of sharks, dolphins, whales, penguins, turtles and myriads of smaller creatures the remains of which are in the rock beneath our farmland,” Helen said.In 2000, Prof. Fordyce, together with members of the community, opened the Vanished World Centre in Duntroon, and formed the Vanished World Trail around North Otago, showing where the fossils were buried.In 2013, he applied, unsuccessfully, for the community-led initiative to join the then Global Geopark network. That was two years before Unesco introduced its Global Geopark designation, Helen said.In 2017, “keeping the dream alive”, Duntroon residents Mike Gray and Faye Ormandy introduced the Vanished World to then Waitaki District Council chief executive Fergus Power and mayor Gary Kircher, and the support was encouraging.They picked it up, and with the help of GNS Science expanded the concept, she said. “Here was an opportunity to promote the district, tell the stories of the land, life, and culture, while stimulating economic development by encouraging visitors through the Waitaki District on their way to and from Queenstown.” The Waitaki Whitestone Geopark Trust was established in 2018, in partnership with the manawhenua Te Rūnaka o Moeraki.The first three trustees were Mike Gray, Gary Kircher, and David Higgins.The Unesco application was led by then council economic development manager Gerard Quin and it arrived in Paris in 2019. The number of trustees increased in 2019, and the partnership with the Rūnaka deepened significantly in 2020 when Trevor McGlinchey was appointed as a council nomination on the trust, and artist Ross Hemera was brought on board to assist with the development of the new logo.Lisa Heinz replaced Gerard in October 2021, after he moved to Christchurch. “She has her finger on the complicated pulse of collaboration, promotion, project development, event management and support of the board of trustees,” Helen said. “I know that her swan-like serenity hides tremendously vigorous paddling.”Helen thanked Global Geopark Network president Nickolas Zouros and Anchel Belmonte Ribas who visited in July last year.While they had suggestions for improvements, they were also impressed, particularly with the partnership with the manawhenua and wider community, the internationally significant geology, and the work that had already been done. “As chair of the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark trust - I am humbled to stand on the shoulders of all of those who dreamt, worked and contributed in some way to bring this marvellous vision to life.”

Long-time Ōmarama Search and Rescue member and fire fighter Maurice Cowie received his Queen’s Service Medal from Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro at Government House, Wellington yesterday (May 30).Maurice was one of six Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) volunteers and staff from across the country, named in the New Year's Honours list, to receive their awards yesterday.Fenz board chair Rebecca Keoghan said it was “a pleasure to see their efforts recognised”."These six worthy recipients have dedicated years to helping their communities become stronger, safer, and more resilient both through their roles as volunteer firefighters for Fire and Emergency, and through all their other community contributions.“On behalf of Fire and Emergency and the people of Aotearoa New Zealand, thank you for your outstanding service - your communities are richer for your work."Maurice has been a member of Ōmarama Search and Rescue since 1998 and played a key role in revitalising the organisation from a membership of two, by recruiting new members, organising sponsorship and contributing to regular trainings.His roles in the organisation have included field member, team leader and incident management team leader. His wealth of experience makes Maurice the first point of contact for police in the event of a search and rescue operation in his area.Maurice was part of the Ōmarama Search and Rescue group that received the LandSAR Supreme Award in 2012 for a significant operation that located a tramper who had been missing for 14 days. He has also volunteered to assist in searches across other regions, including Owaka, Lawrence and Dunedin.Maurice donated his time and materials to help with the renovation of the Ōmarama Search and Rescue base. He also constructed a stretcher trailer that can be towed behind an ATV to aid with rescues made difficult by the lengthy Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail.Maurice is a member of the local work group that stands in for Civil Defence in Ōmarama in case of a natural disaster. Along with his many years with Ōmarama Search and Rescue, Maurice has also been involved with rural and urban fire brigades for more than 50 years.

Two weeks into her new job as placemaking lead at the Waitaki District Council, Cyndi Christensen is looking forward to sinking her teeth into the role.Cyndi has moved from Porirua, where she worked for Hutt City Council for the past 10 years, working with businesses on city centre revitalisation.She is originally from Vermont, a small US state on the Canadian border, perhaps best known as the home of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.Before moving to New Zealand 15 years ago, Cyndi and her husband, Steffan, lived in a small town called Waterbury, which is surrounded by ski resorts, but was not itself home to a ski resort. It was here she had her first experience of town revitalisation. “I think there were 160 homes in the village, and everybody knew everybody, you know. You banded together. You worked together. “Our main street was very tired . . . there was a programme that Vermont was offering, the application process would take a year, and I was part of a group of people who worked for a year to apply. It was successful, and so the state would fund the town infrastructure funding, and from that we could do beautification.‘It was all to bring more people into the town.” Cyndi’s role in the Waitaki is for a fixed term of two years, and has been created by the council as part of the new Economic Development Strategy. It is paid for by the Government’s Better Off funding.Her focus is going to be on Ōamaru’s central business district and north end, Otematata and Ōmarama.“All of those places already have the spatial plan done, so there are guidelines and structure, and things that have already been communicated, with the community engaged on, that need to be addressed.“So, certainly that will be the starting point, to see what is in those - potentially going back to the community, and seeing, are there still things in here that need to be addressed? What are the priorities? What are the most important to start with? And then, you know, what are those low-hanging fruits - if we can kind of get some easy wins, ” she said.Cyndi’s first two weeks have been spent getting to know the people she is working with, what their jobs are and how it will relate to the work she is doing. Next steps are getting out and talking to the business and wider community.“There’s community groups and community boards, that I need to, you know, sit down and chat with to, just again, understand the community,” she said.“I am new to Oamaru, but certainly have grown up in a small town, so understand how connected people are to where they live, and their fellow neighbour.”She anticipated she would be faced with a variety of different attitudes and people, which happened no matter the size of the town.“You know, you’ll have those people that are really excited and want to get involved, and you will have people who are like, ‘we’ve tried this once already, it didn’t work’.” Although Lower Hutt and Ōamaru were quite different places, Cyndi said “absolutely” there will be similarities between this and her previous job.“Coming out of Covid, I think, all places are looking at a different way of supporting their business community, of activating and revitalising their town centres and their city streets, and yeah, so I think that the ED Strategy’s a response to that.“What was successful there, can be successful for Ōamaru.” Although new to the Waitaki, placemaking has been happening all over the world for many, many, many years, Cyndi said.“But you do have to make it local and it’s only successful if it really comes from the community.”Placemaking is quite different in New Zealand, in that it has a tendency to be instigated from "top down versus from the grassroots up", she said.“Take for example Build a Better Block was started in Dallas, Texas, and that was started because a group of people who lived on a street were unhappy, and couldn't get the council to, kind of, do things around that street to make it safer. So they just took it into their own hands, and they closed the street off, and they did a festival, and they just did all these other changes, and the council came through and said, ‘wow this is a really good idea’ and then supported them.“So, I think New Zealand has a great opportunity, because you’ve got it coming from the top down, the important part will be that partnership between the community and then those funding agents, you know.”Although it was the job that drew Cyndi to Ōamaru, she is looking forward to having a community connection again, after working in one town and living in another for the past 15 years.“Because we were so connected in Waterbury, I just took it for granted," she said.“And I love the fact that I don’t have to drive to work. I actually get about an hour and a half back in my day from not driving.” Steffan will be moving south once their house is ready for sale. His job is with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and he will work remotely. The couple have two dogs - an ex-racing greyhound and a saluki, and will probably do a lot of dog walking in their newly discovered spare time, Cyndi said. “We like to garden, and certainly getting out and taking the opportunity with the move, to probably try some new stuff. Gaining almost two hours back in your day can give you more time for other activities.” She is excited about a lot of things in her new job.“Certainly, it’s being in a small community, it’s really feeling connected to the people in the community. “Everyone I’ve met so far has been really lovely, and open. And it’s a new job, so it’s definitely sinking my teeth into it, and really getting that opportunity to kind of take the learnings I had in my last job, but doing it in a way here that’s really more with the community instead of for.“I think it will be a really busy two years.”

After a fairly mild weekend on the Waitaki coast, the week ahead looks like more of the same. Mostly northerly winds will keep daytime temperatures in the mid to upper teens, and overnight lows between 3 and 8 degrees. Some high cloud and a few spots of rain here and there may spoil some mostly fine days. On Thursday a northwest flow over the Alps will bring unseasonably warm temperatures to Otago and Canterbury for the first day of Winter, until rain develops late with a fresh southerly change. Friday will become fine, with showers developing later in the day and northerlies turning westerly.Metservice forecast graphic: OamaruUp the mighty Waitaki Valley at Omarama, things aren’t looking quite as benign with Tuesday’s forecast being scattered afternoon rain clearing in the evening, with strong to severe gale northwesterlies at higher elevations. Wednesday sees possible showers, with strong to gale northwesterlies at higher elevations and rain falling as snow above 1300 metres at first. Rain will spread from the divide later in the day on Thursday, with snow to 2200 metres and northwesterlies rising to severe gale.Metservice forecast graphic: OmaramaFriday will bring occasional showers with snow lowering to 900 metres, easing later in the day. Severe gale northwesterlies will turn gale southwest early on. Daytime temperatures for the week will sit in the low to mid teens, dropping to lows of between 3 to -1 degrees.See the latest updated forecasts and real time conditions for the towns below.OamaruMoerakiKurowOmarama

Ōamaru Police are seeking information following an aggravated burglary at Deborah on Sunday night (May 28).Police were called to a residential address on Bulleid Road, at around 9pm, after two offenders had entered the address and taken an unknown quantity of goods, Constable Cory Anderson said.While fleeing the scene, the offenders rammed their vehicle into another vehicle.As part of the investigation, police are now working to locate the offending vehicle, a dark-coloured Mazda Atenza which will have significant damage to one side, Const Anderson said.Anyone who sees a vehicle matching this description, or has information that can assist police with their enquiries, are asked to call 105 or visit https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 ‘Update Report’, and use reference file number 230529/4646.

Dairy farmers across Otago are being reminded to undertake best practices to safeguard water quality and transport safety when the annual stock Moving Day begins on Thursday.Moving Day starts from June 1 and continues for several weeks. It’s a tradition where dairy cow herds and farmers move between farm properties, mostly by stock truck.Otago Regional Council compliance manager Tami Sargeant said effluent from stock trucks can put road users and adjacent waterways at risk, and farmers are asked to stand off their animals for at least four to twelve hours, prior to transporting them.“The emphasis is on farmers’ standing their stock the day before moving, and for the trucking companies to make use of the roadside effluent disposal sites.”Effluent can get onto roads, become a safety hazard for other drivers, and can run off into roadside drains or pollute adjacent waterways, she said.The ORC and several local authorities now operate nine roadside effluent disposal sites across Otago, with six disposal sites on State Highway 1 between Pukeuri and Clinton, and three on inland highways, at Raes Junction, Brassknocker Rd and Tarras.Farmers walking their herd along a road should keep them away from roadside drains, and avoid disturbed soil, to stop effluent entering waterways.Roadside effluent disposal sites across Otago. GRAPHIC: SuppliedStanding off green feed Cows should be stood off green feed for at least four hours, but no more than 12 hours, before they are loaded onto trucks, which helps reduce the amount of effluent on trucks.For welfare reasons, DairyNZ also recommends that a grazed-out paddock or stand-off pad are better options for standing stock, than a concrete surface, as the latter can contribute to tender feet and are not good for stock to lie down on.For general enquiries, contact the ORC Environmental Implementation Team Catchment Advisors on 0800 474 082, or email them at [email protected] report stock truck effluent spills into waterways to the ORC’s Pollution Hotline on 0800 800 033You can find out more at the Otago Regional Council and Dairy NZ websites.

New Zealand-designed chambers to measure the amount of methane produced by sheep are now being rolled out in other countries.Scientists here have been breeding low emission sheep since 2008 when they discovered that the amount of methane a sheep emits was a heritable trait.In order to figure out the low emitters from the rest, sheep were placed in chambers which measure their burps.Other countries have now started adopting the tech with the chambers in use in Norway, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.Rob Hodgkins, a sheep farmer in Hertfordshire, just north of London, was the first to use them in England.He recently tested some of his 2500 New Zealand romneys."It was really neat, it was like putting a sheep in a washing machine, you load them in and it only takes 15 minutes, they were really chill. We could tell they weren't stressed because they weren't respirating heavily."We measured their methane, carbon dioxide and oxygen levels and we should get the results in a couple of weeks."Hodgkins said he was interested to see the results as his flock were from New Zealand genetics."My dad has been importing rams from New Zealand since 2000 and I started importing sheep from the South Island in 2016, so the flock might already have the better genetics."I don't want to blow too much smoke up New Zealand's backside but we're big fans of what you're doing there, you're probably five to ten years ahead of the UK when it comes to emission reduction technology."The chambers were brought to the area by Scottish Rural University College, with funding help from the UK government.Hodgkins said that with farmers from different countries using the same technology to measure methane a global body of data was being created.He found social media posts with photos of the sheep being tested on Twitter had got mixed reactions from his fellow farmers."It created an awful lot of discussion and dialog. I think about half were fully in favour of measuring methane, they understand if the government and our customers are going to be demanding low methane sheep then we better start breeding them."The other half are dead against it saying we're creating a false agenda as methane produced by livestock is part of a complete looped system. So yeah, it's been interesting reading peoples' thoughts."AgResearch senior scientist Suzanne Rowe, and a picture of the testing chamber. Photo: AgResearchAgResearch senior scientist Suzanne Rowe was part of the team that made the methane heritable trait breakthrough, and said it was great to see the chambers being used internationally."It's really exciting but it's also a little scary as we let our technology go and we wait with bated breath to hear the results. And so far in every country the results are very similar in terms of heritability or genetic component of what we're measuring is similar in differentcountries and different breeds."So it's a really clear scientific validation, that what we've got is working and it's working well."Rowe said the measuring chambers were now widely used in New Zealand, with about 10,000 sheep being tested annually.She said the number of sheep being tested was expected to continue to grow, as would the number of countries using the tech."We're in talks with France and Australia about sending the measuring chambers there."

Taking up squash last year is paying dividends for Ōamaru woman Emma Paton, who is now in the running for Otago Para Athlete of the Year.The 31-year-old, who works in administration support at Milligans Food Group, was born profoundly deaf, but went undiagnosed until she was three.“It was a challenge to get a diagnosis. My parents took me to several audiologists," she said. “Hearing aids didn’t help me much, so at almost 10 years old I got my first cochlear implant and 10 years later I got a second implant in my other ear.”She also uses sound processors. “Cochlear implants have been life changing for me,” she said. “[It’s] amazing technology.”As a newcomer to the sport of squash in 2022, Emma was happy to place at the first few tournaments she entered, and it encouraged her to continue.She was forced to have a four-month break due to a rotator cuff injury, but this year, in her first competition back, placed third in the E Grade at the Queenstown Easter Tournament, and won her grade at the Pirates Black Pearl 2 Tournament in Dunedin a few weeks ago, she said.Her placings at tournaments last year, and playing against hearing competitors, earned her the Athlete with a Disability Award at the Waitaki Sports Awards, in March.“So that put me through as a nomination for the Otago awards, and then the judges selected me as one of the three finalists. “I have won the Waitaki Sports Athlete with a Disability Award before, but that was for table tennis,” she said.Emma belongs to Excelsior, Papakaio and Ōamaru squash clubs, which means she gets to play against a variety of players each week, which helps to improve her game and prepare for tournaments.She is coached by Wayne Collett, who she said is “really supportive” and has helped develop her playing skills.“I’m playing two pennant nights each week, plus practice matches. “Wayne and I try to have regular coaching sessions to work on my techniques and fitness. Also I do my own solo training. With being new to squash, I have lots to learn.”Emma’s deafness does have an effect on her squash. She only wears one sound processor, and uses a “snugfit” to stop it falling off during a match.“Most squash courts are echoey and very difficult for me to hear the referee call the score, lets or strokes. Often I have to ask the referee to repeat the call. “Not hearing the ball means I have to watch the ball extra carefully. Some squash clubs have got a screen above the court with the live score, this makes it so much easier for me. Before a game Emma always lets the organiser and referee know she is deaf and may not hear the calls.Outside of squash and work, Emma is interested in photography, gardening and cooking. Before Covid, she had also enjoyed overseas travel.Being deaf means communication can be really challenging for her, and "clear, accurate and timely" communication is important, she said“Sometimes I need signed support or a writer to take notes for me.“Social situations can be hard, but the people who smile, say hello, take the time to chat, make sure I know what’s happening and are supportive and welcoming make it so much easier. “Being included is important to me and others who are deaf. It’s actually not that hard to be inclusive,” she said.Winners of the Otago Sports Awards will be announced at the awards evening next Friday (June 9).

We were treated to an absolutely spectacular sunrise in the Waitaki this morning!Social media was running hot with some beautiful images of it taken from all around the district. In New Zealand, because weather systems often move from west to east, the ‘red sky in the morning, shepherds warning’ saying often holds true. A red sky sunrise indicates that an area of high pressure and associated fine weather containing trapped dust and other particles, has moved out to the east. At sunrise and sunset, light must travel further through the atmosphere to reach us, and as it does it is scattered, especially when there is dust, smoke and other particles present. This scattering affects blue light the most, so more of the red and yellow parts of the spectrum remain visible.At sunset, a red sky means that the worst of the weather has passed, with higher pressure and improving weather conditions approaching us from the west, hence ‘red sky at night, shepherds delight’.So after a lovely sunny week with mild temperatures on the coast, it's not looking that great for later today with high cloud building, and some rain this evening. A northwesterly will keep temperatures mild though, with a high of 17 degrees, dropping to 8 tonight.There is also a strong wind watch for North Otago, Dunedin, and Clutha through to 9pm tonight with northwest winds possibly approaching severe gale in exposed places. Saturday sees conditions improve again with high cloud breaking up later in the day and light winds, and Sunday’s forecast is similar with northerly winds and mild temperatures.Metservice forecast graphic: Oamaru                Up the Waitaki valley, Omarama and surrounding areas in the Mackenzie basin will be a bit worse for wear with both a heavy rain and a strong wind warning through to Saturday morning. Metservice weather warning.Widespread rain will set in by Friday evening, with strong to severe gale northwesterlies. Rain turns to heavy scattered falls on Saturday morning, with gale northwesterlies easing. Sunday will be mostly cloudy with isolated showers, while northerly winds become strong during the day. Metservice forecast graphic: OmaramaFor updated forecasts and the latest real time conditions for local areas, click on the towns below.OamaruPalmerstonOtematataLake Ohau Alpine Village

Weston School pupils are on new turf, literally.The school recently had some sand-based artificial turf installed between its junior and senior playgrounds, using funding from the Education Ministry, principal Deidre Senior said.The money was part of the School Investments Package (SIPS), which was introduced as an opportunity for schools to bring forward their discretionary projects and enhance their facilities for students now.“So pre-Covid, the ministry gave every school so much funding to do something that you normally wouldn’t be able to afford to do.”Installation of the turf was delayed while three new classrooms were installed on the former concrete court area, and then a new hard court was laid, Deidre said.Now it is in, it is “very cool”.“In the winter we don’t have a lot of hard court space for the kids when the grounds get too wet, so it means that more than two classes can be out doing activities in the winter.”It is also used as an extra teaching space outside, and allows the school’s hockey players to practise on the same surface they have to play on, she said. “So they’re getting used to being able to control the ball, and things, on that, so it’s not a surprise when they have to go out and play hockey.”The Weston Home and School will also pay for fencing, portable hockey goals, basketball and netball hoops, she said. 

“I burst into tears . . . I think it’s that relief that the wait is finally over.” Waitaki Whitestone Geopark Trust chair Helen Jansen is ecstatic at the news that more than 7,200 sq km of the Waitaki has been rubber-stamped as an official United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organisation (Unesco) accredited Global Geopark.A Global Geopark is defined by the organisation as: “a single, unified geographical area where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development.” The Waitaki Whitestone Geopark Trust submitted its application to Unesco in November 2019. After a two-year wait due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Unesco assessors Nickolas Zouros, of Greece, and Anchel Belmonte Ribas, of Spain, visited the district for a three-day evaluation last July.The Unesco Global Geopark Council recommended the application made by Waitaki Whitestone be accepted by the Unesco executive board in September last year.It was one of 18 nominations presented to the board for its endorsement during their session this week.“We were told, assured, that it was all fine, but until you have had that official sign off, you cannot [know] for sure. Oh, the relief, the joy,” Helen said. “Absolute joy!”Whitestone Waitaki is Australasia’s first and only Unesco accredited Geopark, and New Zealand is one of only 48 countries globally to have received the recognition. The accolade highlights the importance of the region's unique geological and cultural heritage. “This is big-deal stuff,” Helen said.“We’ve joined a very elite group of Geoparks with the highest designation - because there are about 1000 Geoparks around the world, but only 195 have got that ultimate UNESCO Global certification.”Geopark manager Lisa Heinz said the desire to create a Geopark in the Waitaki started with the establishment of the Vanished World Trail, and the Vanished World Centre, in Duntroon. “[It] would not have been possible without the enormous contribution that the volunteer members of the Vanished World Incorporated Society have made,” she said. “It is humbling to see how more and more communities have become an active part of the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark over the years.” Te Kaihinaki (Moeraki Boulders). PHOTO: Supplied/Whitestone Waitaki GeoparkA celebration weekend is being planned for the end of October, when the weather is warmer, with a variety of events and activities on offer, Lisa said. The trust hopes this will allow everybody to celebrate the milestone, learn more about the area, and feel part of a global network of Geoparks that care for its environment and people, she said.Now accreditation has been received, the next step is “knocking on doors” for funding.“Which we’ve been trying to do for the last couple of years, and been told ‘come back when you have the stamp’. “So now’s the time to see whether that actually comes true - with corporates, with Government, with other grants . . . so it will help us in that process of gaining the funds for the things we have to do - for community engagement, events, education, sustainable tourism initiatives.” A Unesco Global Geopark is re-evaluated every four years, Lisa said.“So it’s a constant improvement concept.”The main projects recommended by Unesco are mainly around improving visibility, and encouraging more Geopark products and experiences.“So these are sort of the two main bits that we will be working on. And of course continuing our community engagement, education programme,” she said.“It’s such a collaborative endeavour. While we are the Geopark Trust, this is for the whole district and everyone in it.” The designation will benefit the Waitaki District and New Zealand as a whole, by boosting tourism and providing opportunities for local businesses and communities to develop sustainable tourism initiatives, Lisa said.It will also provide opportunities for students and researchers to study the area's geology and cultural heritage, Helen said“We are making a significant contribution to the global understanding of the land and its cultures.” The partnership with Mana Whenua has been key to the success of the Geopark application, providing a significant means of telling the story of the people of the land.Te Rūnanga o Moeraki Upoko David Higgins welcomed the announcement and saw the support from Unesco, as recognition of the Waitaki’s “ancestral landscape and cultural sites and their significance to Kāi Tahu whānui”. “We see this as a positive step forward to support our aspirations to protect these sites for visitors and future generations to enjoy.”  Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said the certification had been a long time coming, and was thanks to the work of many volunteers.“The opportunities this creates for us now need to be built on, to make Waitaki the best Global Geopark in the Southern Hemisphere, sharing our stories with the world.” Unesco’s New Zealand National Commission chairperson Liz Longworth offered her congratulations on the achievement. “As a designated Unesco Global Geopark, Waitaki Whitestone Geopark is no longer a single entity, but part of a network that raises awareness of our geological heritage on a global scale. A network that will help promote and enhance sustainable geotourism in the Waitaki region to a domestic and international audience.”  The Waitaki River. PHOTO: Supplied/Whitestone Waitaki Geopark