Tuvuluan independence, culture and language were celebrated in Ōamaru earlier this month.Tuvalu Language Week and Independence Day celebrations took place between Sunday, 28 September and Saturday, 4 October, Oamaru Tuvalu Community Group spokesperson Silaati Emily Telito Fuluasou says.The week began with a combined church service, welcoming Tuvaluans of all faiths. “It was a sacred moment of unity, reminding us of our shared identity, our rich culture, and the enduring spirit of our Tuvalu nation.”The service set the tone for a week filled with joy, reflection and cultural pride, Emily says.The children and youth were at the heart of the celebrations.“They are the future of our language and heritage, and we made it a priority to uplift them.”The young people are encouraged to speak Tuvaluan, and live by the values of a Tuvaluan “son or daughter”, she says.“Their lives are shaped by Muna ote fale, which in English means ‘wisdom of the home’ - the teachings, values, and ancestral knowledge passed down within the family and household and Island community meeting house.“These lessons are not only spoken but lived, nurtured by our elders, our communities, and our faith.”In Tuvalu, a child is not raised only by their parents, but by the village, the church, and the family. This collective upbringing is the essence of the Tuvaluan identity, Emily says.During the week, an official Tuvaluan delegation from Wellington visited Ōamaru, as part of a South Island tour.Tuvalu’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, His Excellency Feue Tipu, First Secretary Niuone Eliuta, and Reverand Ioane Peleti brought “great encouragement and strengthened the bonds between our diaspora and our homeland”.Dignitaries from left to right, are Reverend Ioane Peleti, the Honourable Seve Paeniu (Tuvalu Member of Parliament), Malama Paeniu, High Commissioner of Tuvalu to NZ His Excellency Feue Tipu, and First Secretary Niuone Eliuta. Photo: SuppliedThe local group was also grateful for the presence of the Tuvalu Member of Parliament Seve Paeniu and his wife Malama, who visited during the week. “Their visit added to the spirit of connection and pride among our people,” Emily says.Waitaki deputy mayor Hana Fanene-Taiti also took part in the celebrations.On the Saturday (4 October) the Tuvaluan community celebrated 47 years of independence from the United Kingdom. While the official date of independence is 1 October, the occasion was marked at the weekend so the community could come together for the flag-raising ceremony, she says.“It was a moment of deep pride and reflection, honouring the journey of our nation and the resilience of our people.”The community showcased traditional items, cultural practices, and activities throughout the week, which were both joyful and educational, to highlight the richness of their heritage.“We emphasised the importance of knowing who you are and where you come from, because only when you understand your own roots can you truly honour and respect the cultures of others,” Emily says.She acknowledges the tangata whenua of Aotearoa New Zealand, and says they are deeply grateful to Māori, along with other communities, for providing Tuvaluans the space to celebrate their identity and culture here.“Your generosity and spirit of inclusion have enabled our people to feel at home while staying connected to our roots.“As Tuvaluans living across Aotearoa, we recognise the importance of walking with respect and humility on this land. Our celebrations are not only for ourselves, but also a way to share and uplift the diverse cultural heritage that makes this country so special.”The week’s celebrations were supported by contributions from Ministry for Pacific Peoples, and Dunedin’s Mercy Hospital. Emily is grateful to all those in the community who played a part in the celebration. “Fakafetai lasi (thank you very much) to all who stood with us in pride and unity. Your support throughout the year - especially through community fundraising - has strengthened our journey and reminded us of the beauty of unity, generosity, and shared purpose.”Peteli Tia-Menorah Tofiese takes it all in. Photo: Supplied

Newly elected Waitaki Mayor Melanie Tavendale is settling into her new position, literally and figuratively.Mel moved into the mayoral office on Monday, after a convincing win in the local body elections, where preliminary results have her more than 1500 votes ahead of her nearest opponent, David Wilson.“I was quite blown away. I think there'd been so much narrative around the elections, that I did expect a much closer margin at the end of the day. So the support has been just phenomenal and quite humbling,” she says.Mel believes she won because people wanted someone who knew what the job entailed. She had became a Waitaki District Councillor in 2013, and was deputy to her predecessor Gary Kircher from 2016 to 2022, before taking a term off. “I think people . . . wanted a bit of honesty in the communication around things, so we're in a really tough place, I think, financially, and as a community, and they wanted to know that there was some realistic expectation sitting in behind that.” Mel accepts her biggest and most immediate challenge will be helping to come up with a new plan for the Waitaki’s water services. The council’s standalone plan was rejected by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) earlier this month due to its failure to meet regulatory requirements, and a full review of the district’s water assets has been ordered.Mel has been keeping tabs on the situation and says there are “many fishhooks” with it.“For me, the narrative I've had has stayed the same, and that's been that we need to be at the table. We need to look after the interests of our community, but make sure we don't, in the process, end up with commissioners or someone else making decisions for us.“So, you do need to find a midpoint in there somewhere, and that will be tough.”Before committing to having another look at a joint model with other southern councils, which Waitaki councillors voted overwhelmingly to opt out of, there needs to be a dissection of the DIA’s response, to fully understand what it means for the district, and what the options are, she says.“The new council need an opportunity to get around the issue.After one day on the job, she is not quite sure what that looks like, but it will be a team effort.“I just think we need to be open to looking at whatever the most affordable option is.”It is reassuring for her that the majority of elected councillors - Rebecca Ryan, Courtney Linwood, Jeremy Holding, Jim Hopkins, Hana Fanene-Taiti (Ōamaru Ward), John McCone (Corriedale) and Brent Cowles (Ahuriri) - remain from the last term and already have good knowledge of the issues.“I think that having ones that have been part of that conversation the whole way through is going to bring so much to the table. But then there are a few fresh eyes with people who have quite a bit of background in that space as well.” The addition of Dan Lewis (Ōamaru Ward), Frans Schlack (Waihemo) and Sven Thelning (Corriedale), means there is a good mix of new and experienced, she says.Water issues aside, Mel is excited about bringing the team together and “working out how you get the best out of people”.“I would like to make this an enjoyable job for everyone around the council table. We've got such an awesome community, let's celebrate things and let's work together on a way forward rather than with the negativity that's too often prevalent.”The new councillors elected fill the seats left vacant by Tim Blackler, Jim Thompson and Guy Percival, meaning although some councillors stood down, none of the last term’s council was voted out.Mel says it’s indicative that she, along with a “quiet majority”, believes those who walk through the council doors are trying to make the right decisions for their district.Hub and Sprocket Cycles, the bike shop Mel runs with husband Steve, will now be Steve’s full-time responsibility, something he is looking forward to, she says.“He's been doing a lot of that in his evenings and things. So it gives us back a little bit of our life.”A self-described “council nerd at night”, Mel says it feels really good to be back, and this time leading the way and “being able to set the tone”.The Tavendale children, Josie and Declan, were briefly excited about their mother being made mayor, but have quickly moved on with life, she says.Mel’s diary is already packed, starting with “mayor school” next week at Local Government New Zealand, in Wellington, where all the new mayors meet and receive a kind of induction into the requirements of the job.On her return, she will be officially inaugurated into her role on October 22.

Visual artist, Paula Collier has been discovering and weaving Ōamaru’s working histories into found sculptures and site installations since starting her Crucible Artist Residency at Gillies Metaltech, Ōamaru.Originally from Christchurch, with family ties to Port Chalmers, one of her early intriguing finds was that her father was actually born in Ōamaru."He was born in what is now The Vicarage B&B, which was a maternity hospital for a bit,” she says.With that recognition came the realisation that her grandfather, a fitter-turner and boilermaker, would have been working in the town back then.Sitting in the Pattern Shop on Tyne Street, she says, “he would have worked in this area probably, and possibly even in this street”.Buildings, their histories and contexts sit at the heart of Paula’s artistic practice.Untitled # 9, newsprint and blackwrap foil, Engine Room gallery, Massey University, 2024 by Paula Collier. Photo: Supplied.Being based in the foundry, within the Heritage Precinct is a “dream”.“Personally, because I’ve worked a lot in old buildings so I’ve been shown around all the other properties that are connected to this place.”While the buildings themselves inspire her, the foundry, the people within and the evolution of their craft has captivated her.“In its heyday it had 100 or maybe 150 people working here.“It’s like this piece of history, you get a real sense of what was possible.”Untitled, drop cloth plastic and repurposed steel, final Masters show, Cuba St, 2024, Te Whanganui-a-Tara by Paula Collier. Photo: Supplied / A J Bain.She says the Gillies Metaltech team is not just interested in what the resident artists are doing but are really up for the challenge - including helping her experiment with casting paper.“When I talk to people here, there’s so much technical knowledge and science - it’s chemistry, it’s physics, it’s all those things and knowing your machinery.“But there’s also this other factor, which is sometimes environmental, how you move with the person you’re working with when you’re doing the pour, if it’s damp, if it’s cold, if you’re in a bad mood.”Close up of Untitled # 9. Photo: Supplied.She points at a tall column of paper covered in tiny print.“These are printouts from when they fire up the furnace for a pour.”At certain points they take samples from the metal and run them through a spectrometer to check they are getting “the recipe right”.“Some of the guys have worked in there for 35 years or more,” she says.“That means they’ve done their job without computers, and then they’ve transitioned so they’re sort of straddling those worlds.“Coming back to this way of working and being able to connect with people who’ve worked like that their whole lives is really special, I really respect that kind of knowledge.”She’s been collecting duds and offcuts along with spectrometer printouts from metal tests, wafer-thin flash from a blown-out mould, test bars and lengths of strapping that curl and remember their shape.Aeon # 1 drafting paper and reflective ink, 2023 by Paula Collier. Photo: Supplied.She’s also been drawing with plumbago (graphite), once used as a dry lubricant on wartime machinery.“I’m like a kid in a candy store.”About her work, Paula says she tends to use a lot of found materials.“I have a real fascination with materials that are maybe not very valuable, that are discarded, maybe from industry.“It’s more about the context of those materials, but also inherently what sculpturally happens to them if I put them in a different space or a different location.”Detailed view of Untitled, drop cloth plastic and repurposed steel, final Masters show, Cuba St, 2024, Te Whanganui-a-Tara by Paula Collier. Photo: Supplied.She treats buildings in the same way.“Like a repurposed material because they’ve got a real residue of use, in the sense of history.”“I’m often working with balance and precarity and connecting with the building that it’s in,” she says."It doesn’t exist without the building.”Untitled, newsprint, blackwrap foil and repurposed aluminium, final Masters show, Cuba St, 2024, Te Whanganui-a-Tara by Paula Collier. Photo: Supplied / A J Bain.One of those buildings is on Tees Street where Paula has been quietly exploring installation possibilities - balancing inner tubes on hooks found in situ, reconfiguring chopped metal cages, stamping an ancient wallpaper pattern with an old fireplace tile into decades-old dust on the carpet.She knows that the three-month residency won’t be enough to complete all her ideas, but what begins here will continue.“It’s going to connect to a body of work in the future.“I can always work with the foundry and they’re interested in doing that more,” she says.“They’ve worked with some artists recently, creating sculptures.”Aeon # 2 drafting paper and reflective ink, 2023 by Paula Collier. Photo: Supplied.For now, the work lives where Ōamaru’s layers meet - in the lines of graphite dust, the echo between a rubber rib and a metal stripe, the shine of a cast lath set back into a derelict stairwell, and the stories of a town that made things and still does.“Because I’m here at a residency, there’s an exhibition at the end.“I will have work, my process will get me there.”

Ōamaru’s Forrester Gallery has had another funding boost from the Otago Community Trust, while staff and volunteers continue working hard to raise even more money.In the trust’s September funding round, $51,700 has gone to Friends of the Forrester Gallery for the fitout of the Stage 2 gallery extension.The gallery, which has been operating since 1983 in an 1884 historic building, is undergoing an extension to address the practical challenges of running a modern art gallery in a heritage building.The extension focuses on collection care and accessibility, with a new accessible community education space, and improved facilities such as a lift, toilets and parking.There will be more space for exhibitions as well as climate-controlled storage for the gallery’s 2500-piece collection of New Zealand art.Friends of the Forrester Gallery chair Heather Machin says art galleries are not just “great big walls and a roof”.“There's much more that goes on inside to make a workplace and to ultimately enhance the visitor experience.”The new spaces are due to be open to the community in late April or early May next year. “‘Fitout' is an all-encompassing term, involving many more elements than just seats and lights, and the care taken with every part of the Forrester Gallery extension will be reflected in the finished project,” Heather says.The group is both “grateful and excited” for the support, she says.Meanwhile, the Waitaki community now also has the opportunity to add their name to the list of contributors, as the renovation nears the final stages.Arts, Culture and Libraries manager Chloe Searle says the building will be clad in Ōamaru stone, and people or groups can sponsor one of the 2,122 blocks being placed on the extension to match the whitestone of the original Bank of New South Wales building.A sponsor board inside the gallery will list all donors.Inside, the new stairs connecting the three floors of the gallery can also be sponsored, with names or a message.Block sponsorships are $99 and can be applied for on the Culture Waitaki webpage.Stair riser sponsorship begins at $500, rising to $650 and $800 depending on the floor location of the riser. Stairs can be seen, and applications made, to sponsor a stair here.All donations will go towards the cost of construction, fit-out or supporting gallery operations.

Day one of artist Zac Whiteside’s Crucible Artist Residency at Gillies Metaltech Foundry in Ōamaru had more drama than anticipated when his car was stolen.For an artist whose work explores the rituals of modern life through contradiction, metaphor and wordplay - there’s some irony in facing a different test of mettle on day one.Now, more than a month into his three-month residency, Zac has a clear vision for his metal casting project, but doesn't want to give too much away."There is going to be a performative element, a public event, out by the shore," he says.“Possibly heavy machinery involved, and a lot of sculptures.”Zac graduated with a first class honours from Dunedin School of Art in 2023 where he is based. He is the co-director and curator of Dunedin's Pond Gallery - an artist-run space with a focus on supporting artists early in their careers.This won’t be the first time his work comprises multiple elements or metalwork.Among the pieces Zac brought with him are some of his ‘chocolate’ Bit Coins.Bit Coins by artist Zac Whiteside. Photo: Supplied.Cast in bronze, with wrappers made of gold plated steel and silver, Zac says the coins and their distinctive bite marks “play off a few different things”.One of those things is the tradition of biting a coin to see if it was real and another is the emergence of centralised digital currencies and their signatures.“The bite mark is like the artist’s signature, that’s my dental record”, he says.“It’s funny because the wrappers are a lot more expensive to make than the coin, which is usually the bit you throw away.”Close up of one of artist Zac Whiteside's Bit Coins. Photo: SuppliedAnother of his works is a sneaker cast in glass collected from Castle Street - one of Dunedin’s famous student party zones.“It’s my Shoey shoe”, he says miming drinking from it, “so, yeah, it’s pretty grotesque”.Zac Whiteside's Shoey shoe made from glass collected in Castle Street. Photo: Supplied.Visual metaphors are a hallmark of Zac’s sculptures, usually juggled around his freelance photography and videography.He credits the artist residency programme for allowing him to put much of that work on hold and fully concentrate on art-making.“When you’re practising art within normal life, it really impacts how long things take."It's been really cool to have a space and time to dedicate 40 hours a week, especially to a new skill."The residency’s stipend isn’t the only thing making his project attainable.“This work has to be made in a foundry - it’s what makes it affordable and makes it feasible”, he says, paying credit to the foundry’s technical staff.Zac's residency might have begun in one form of drama, but it will end in a different kind - culminating with his shore-side performance on Saturday, 22 November, tied to the Crucible exhibition opening."It’ll be playful and all the public are welcome to come and view - from a safe distance."Read more about the programme and previous residents here - Latest artists announced for Crucible Residency programme.

By RNZ Money Correspondent Susan Edmunds, Money CorrespondentIt's been a year of grim economic news - unemployment has been up, [It's been a year of grim economic news - unemployment has been up, GDP down and consumer confidence weak GDP down and consumer confidence weak.But nothing lasts forever and economists say there are a number of reasons to feel positive about the economic outlook right now.1. The official cash rate has droppedKiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr said the fact that the official cash rate had fallen to the level where it was stimulatory for the economy would be a gamechanger."People often say to me 'there's been 250 basis points of cuts, it's not working'… it's like yeah because it only took it back to a neutral setting at 3 percent. [At 2.5 percent], now we've actually gone into stimulatory territory.What's going to happen to home loan rates? Listen to No Stupid Questions with Susan Edmunds"If the theory holds, which it will, interest rates will get to a level that actually entices people again, namely investors and developers and businesses, and households with debt will feel a lot better today than they did six months ago."Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr. Photo: Supplied / Gino Demeer via RNZInfometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan agreed interest rates would be a big factor. "People can have a degree of certainty that they will remain that way throughout 2026, which should generate more confidence among households about spending."ANZ senior economist Miles Workman said the Reserve Bank had also indicated it would backstop the recovery. "They're working out what level of interest rate that's going to take but they are going to get that right eventually. I think we should have confidence there is a recovery occurring."Mike Jones, BNZ chief economist, said the Reserve Bank's apparent willingness to keep cutting if it needed to would help.2. Job ad numbers have increasedAfter a very significant fall, the number of advertised jobs increased across both July and August for the first time in more than three years."Job numbers have managed three positive months for the first time since mid-2023," Kiernan said."Noting that two of those job number increases were 0.02 percent and 0.03 percent, so are barely positive and could easily be revised negative; nevertheless it's the best sign of any emerging turnaround in the labour market we've had so far."Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King via RNZ3. Commodity prices are strongDairy, meat and horticulture prices are still at strong levels."Primary sector export returns have been stellar over the past year. While not every sector has enjoyed strong gains, the sector heavy weights have driven overall agricultural exports to $53.0 billion in the year to August 2025, some $7.5b higher than a year earlier," Jones said."That's facilitated a range of options including paying down debt and rebuilding buffers. More recently we've seen perhaps the first signs of some movement toward spending and investing."Kerr said US President Donald Trump's tariffs had not hurt. "There's no doubt there was a period of extreme volatility in markets and that might have frightened a few business owners… they simply just turned out to be a whimper… he surprised us by coming out with these massive numbers but he's negotiated all the way down to 10 percent to 15 percent anyway... it's not a big deal."The exporters I've spoken to who export into the United States, they're not worried at all. The Kiwi dollar's declined so that's taking some of the pain."We export meat, Americans love meat. I can't see them giving that up. They like our wine. We're exporting the right goods which Americans will probably happily pay 15 percent on."He said there would be more pass-through from farmers to the broader economy next year.Workman agreed the rural economy was very strong. "A lot of the moderation that we've seen in dairy prices is partly driven at least by the fact that New Zealand supply is on the rise. So that's not necessarily going to be a bad news story for overall rural incomes if the volumes are lifting to offset any minor falls in prices."Thanks to those higher commodity prices and a New Zealanders spending less money on international imports, the country's terms of trade (a measure of imports versus exports) has improved significantly."That's narrowed a lot," Workman said. "The upshot is New Zealand's a lot less vulnerable to global credit pulling the plug on us. So it's a lot more sustainable from a creditworthiness perspective and that has positive implications for our sovereign credit rating, risk premiums on interest rates when we borrow offshore, that kind of thing."ANZ senior economist Miles Workman. Photo: Supplied via RNZ4. Spending is up a bitKiernan said core retail electronic card sales had increased 1.7 percent over the past three months, with three consecutive monthly increases, which was the best result since the December quarter last year.Simplicity economist Shamubeel Eaqub and Kerr said they expected to see more government spending next year, too, because it was an election year. "Noises are building of more spending on maintenance, capital expenditure," Eaqub said.Photo: RNZ5. Every cycle turns eventuallyWe were surviving until 2025 and now we're staying in the mix until 2026... but eventually things will just get better.Eaqub said there would always be an end to every downturn. "It's easy to get trapped in negative thinking."He said it was important to remember that about a third of households still said they were better off than a year ago.While things overall were bad, there were people doing well and businesses succeeding. "Some people are getting ahead. We hear about businesses closing but the total number of businesses is higher than it's ever been."Workman said there was no underlying global crisis to interfere with New Zealand's return to economic health."If you think about the GFC (global financial crisis), it wasn't just a demand and confidence shock, it was also a bit of a credit availability shock and that's not really happening right now."If the demand is there, the credit availability is there. There are no major handbrakes on that front. Broader economic conditions are in place for a recovery." - RNZSimplicity economist Shamubeel Eaqub Photo: Supplied via RNZ

Today is Gary Kircher’s birthday. He turns 62. And by the end of today (Saturday) the district will probably have a good idea who will be following in his footsteps as Waitaki Mayor.In his 21 years of serving the Waitaki District (9 as a councillor and 12 as mayor), Gary has always been available to his community.He doesn’t shy away from the difficult topics, he always fronts up - whether to the media, on social media or in person, and he does his best to provide an honest and individual answer.He is consistently in attendance at every community event, family fun day, or official opening.Nobody can accuse this man of not doing his job. He has given his all to this region and the people who live here. In his valedictory speech given at council last week, Gary mentioned he hopes to be remembered not just for the outcomes of his tenure, but also the intent - for caring deeply and working hard - and I think nobody can argue with that.Gary kindly sat down with the Waitaki App this week to talk about his highs and lows during time as mayor, and what the future holds.Gary Kircher became an elected member of Waitaki District Council in 2001, but after nine years juggling his work as a councillor and trying to earn a living, decided he needed to go all-in and run for mayor, or move on.“I couldn't afford to keep doing it, as a committed councillor and running a business . . . because, you know, I was throwing myself at as much as I could do.”He ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2010, and thought his time with the council was up, but three years later, in 2013, he was convinced to run again, and the rest is history.Waitaki District Council in 2013. Photo: SuppliedEvery time another three-year term rolled around, he decided he had another one in him - until he got to this one.“It's partly time for a change for me, but also, I'm at an age where I can go and do something else for a while before I retire, and so that played a part in that as well.”And also, this term has taken its toll. While 2019-2022 was a challenging time, due to the complexities of Covid and reforms from the Labour government “really hitting home”, as a country we felt “fairly united”, he says.“I think the challenge in this last term has been, you know, the whole change of attitude, and that we are a divided country. Politics is far more polarised . . . It just makes it more challenging than it was before.” The lack of affordability across the country, and the pile-on effect of several issues is quite understandably making people angry and looking for easy targets, he says.“And councils are easy targets.“The Government, they've been pretty unfair, I think . . . just pointing finger and putting all councils together in a very negative group. The reality is the country's only going to really improve when it starts working together. “We all have to play our part to actually get to where we need to be in, in a much better place economically, but also socially.”Gary V Mike Mavor in Ōamaru's first Fight For Life Hospice fundraiser. Photo: Supplied/Rebecca RyanHighsSome of the highs of Gary’s time as mayor have been working with community organisations.He believes one of the council’s strengths is its role as an “enabler”, and during his time as mayor, something he has done as well as he can to work with community groups and individuals, helping them achieve their goals, which brings positives for the community. He singles out the Mayors’ Taskforce for Jobs, a nation-wide initiative, funded by the Ministry of Social Development.The programme has rural mayors connecting with rangatahi aged between 16 and 24, who are not engaged in education or employment, and helping set them onto career pathways with local businesses.Gary says the programme has been exceeding expectations since it began in the Waitaki five years ago.More than 200 young people and businesses have been paired up, often resulting in apprenticeships and long-term employment for the participants.“It's life been life changing for young people, and helps them be real positive contributors to society and have better lives.” The model has worked so well because it is about sharing the risk and not just lumping it all on the employer. “But the employers - I know a good number of them have gone the extra mile to make it work.”Seeing the success of the Alps 2 Ocean cycle trail, which was in the initial stages in Gary’s final year as a councillor and further developed during his time as mayor, is also something he’s proud of. “Just having, keeping, supporting that, seeing it happen,” he says.Storytime at an Anzac Day event. Photo: SuppliedThe construction of Observatory Village Lifecare (which currently provides 81 carebeds, 42 apartments, and 51 villas for the ageing population), has been another.Both projects are not about the “bricks and mortar”, but the benefit to the people and communities, and making the Waitaki a more appealing place for people to visit and want to live.“It's not what you build, it's what's going to result from it.” ChallengesSocial media has been a double-edged sword for Gary during his mayoralty.It’s been helpful, but also provides a platform for abuse.“It's been a good tool for me to share information. It provides a forum where I can go on and I can just provide information, or clear things up.“I know many times I'm not going to convince the person that I'm talking to when it's in a debate, but it's all of the people who read it and actually can see both sides of a discussion and make up their own mind.”He has a methodology in dealing with pages which thrive on fueling conflict. He doesn’t follow them, but does go onto them regularly when he feels in the right mindset. Nine times out of ten, he thinks he gets it right.“I apologise for those other times.”Gary says local councils have “absolutely been a victim of flip-flopping” between political parties and central government reform.“We’re heading in one direction, spending time and a hell of a lot of resource on going in that direction, only to be told, look, it's changing, and then having to invest a whole lot more money in going that new way, is not helping rates or affordability.”He knows different political parties are not going to agree on everything, but the more common ground they can find, the smaller the repercussions of change.Breaking ground before the build of the Network Waitaki Event Centre begins. Photo: SuppliedLake Ōhau Village fireOne event that has left a lasting impact on the mayor, is the Lake Ōhau fire of October 2020. Almost exactly five years ago.The fire began from a power line fault and, fanned by severe winds, swept through the Lake Ōhau Village, destroying 48 homes and buildings and damaging 5043ha of land.It took nine days for 11 helicopters and more than 100 people to extinguish - a massive event that put the area’s emergency systems to the test.The recovery has been going on for years with the level of destruction confronting for everyone involved, even those who didn't suffer major damage, he says.For the mayor, it was a challenge but a privilege to lead the district through that time, and be there for people.“Just have them know you've got their back and that you do care.” He feels like part of the Ōhau community now, he says.“I know a few people in most parts of the district, but you know, now I've got friendships.” Gary acknowledges he is “handing over the reins” during a tumultuous time for council.He was out-voted when it came to deciding how the council moves forward with costly controversial water reforms, and will not be a part of dealing with the fall-out.“I did my bit to try and get at least the water situation more stable, but the reality is we haven't had that stability for quite some time now because of all the external pressures.“Transformation has been part of that too, not putting that down, it's just that it's caused disruption, or further disruption in an already disruptive time.”Stone-sawing as part of the Victorian Heritage Celebrations. Photo: SuppliedOverall, he feels like the council has done “really good things” for the district. “People get critical about the debt situation, but we've actually got some really good improvements in our infrastructure . . . “Investments in things such as the cycle trail, and the Ōamaru Harbour and Holmes Wharf redevelopment are areas where the value will be long-lasting. “They might be seen by some as nice to haves, but equally, most of the money's gone on the core services, and there's only been a small proportion that's gone on these other things, but they are things which will add value to community and to people's lives and those are the things that make a difference as to where whether someone wants to live in a place or not. “I’ve said a number of times, there's not a lot of people that move somewhere because they've got a really nice sewerage system.”He agrees they might move away if there isn’t.To the next mayor, who will potentially not have recent council experience, he advises getting up to speed on everything going on as quickly as possible.“Gain that knowledge as quickly as possible, you know? Whether they're coming from a very low level of understanding or from a reasonable level . . . things have moved along since even three years ago.Gary pouring pints at a community event. Photo: Supplied“The more they can be on top of things, the better are the decisions that they can make and the direction they can give. There's no miracle answer . . . there's just a lot of hard work.”Now he is staring down the barrel of a lot of spare time, Gary says he can finally attend to the “to-do” list of jobs around home, his wife Kerry has had accumulating. He will be taking a bit of a break, and will continue in governance roles on the Waitaki Power Trust and at Observatory Village.He also plans to spend more time with his family who he acknowledges for their support.He is especially grateful to Kerry, who is “very reluctant about being called mayoress”, but has been incredibly important to his ability to do his job.“For being with me and, and supporting me . . . you know, I come home to her.“All of that family support's been just really critical to being able to do what I've been able to do, and being able to do it for as long as they have.”He pays tribute to the council staff members who don’t always get the thanks they deserve.“They all get a hard time. They all get bundled in together, and a lot of unfair things are said about them, but they're all there to do good things for the community.“You know, we've got some absolutely dedicated people who work long hours and very hard to deliver good things.“So yeah, just a big thank you to them for what they do. And the councillors, again, you know, none of them stand for the glory of it, or fun. There isn’t much.“It is, however, a lot of hard work to do it well, and everyone around that table is doing their best to do it well.”The 2022 Waitaki District Councillors. Photo: Supplied

With AI and tech classroom companions, how important is it that we still have these skills?By RNZ Digital Journalist Isra'a EmhailRemember a time when doctors wrote prescriptions by hand? When journalists scribbled notes in shorthand, travellers relied on map books to get around and accountants did sums on calculators?Now, with all the tools available on our cellphone, how crucial are these skills?The introduction of tech in our classrooms and careers was viewed with trepidation at first, recalls Karen Tui Boyes, who has spent three decades teaching. But she says it's all about integration.Statisticians have mostly moved on from using offline calculators to compute their massive datasets, Stats NZ says. Photo: RNZ File image/Unsplash/Gavin AllanwoodDo we still need a calculator?Before reaching for a calculator, mastering basic numeracy is essential, says Boyes, who launched Spectrum Education — an online school focused on personalised, project-based learning, four years ago.“If we put three plus seven into the calculator and got 21, because we accidentally wrote three times, they have to be able to know that that doesn't look right.”Warwick Jordan, from Hard To Find Books in Auckland, remembers when calculators were seen as so revolutionary teachers banned them at Whakatāne District High School.Boyes says she sees the same fear of cheating resurface — now it's around AI.Spectrum Education founder Karen Tui Boyes. Photo: Supplied/Spectrum Education via RNZBut once students understand how formulas work, using calculators or AI for more complex problems isn’t an issue, she says.“Our kids, if they've got real life use for it, and they understand it, then I don't know that it matters whether they've done it online or whether they've done it in the head, as long as they have an understanding of what that means.”Stats NZ say they don't usually use offline calculators to process their massive datasets - instead managing this through computer code and apps (like Excel).The efficiency of the tools means they can more easily produce estimates, for example population or economic growth, in various outputs like graphs and tables.Is it worth knowing how to use a compass and read a map?Nature's Den co-founder Alex Sherie says kids at their programme also learn about using the sun as a navigation guide. Photo: Supplied/Nature's Den via RNZAlex Sherie, 29, co-founded the forest school Nature’s Den in Auckland. The one-day programme, running in five locations, focuses this term on survival and navigation using maps and compasses.Sherie grew up using old-school map books and believes knowing how to read one and use a compass is vital — especially in the wild.“I think it's super important having something in your hand that is not going to die in terms of battery life or rely on a signal,” he says, adding they were surprised many whānau had compasses lying around.“We talk a lot about the sun, how the sun rises up from the east, goes down towards the west... And they're like, ‘oh, Alex, I think I know where west is because I can see the sun moving’.”A Mountain Safety Council survey shows most are relying on their phones to get around while exploring outdoors. Photo: Mountain Safety Council/Caleb Smith via RNZBut the reality is mapping apps have overtaken printed maps for outdoor adventurers, according to NZ Mountain Safety Council (MSC)."We can now say with certainty that most people have shifted to using digital devices for navigation," they say, based on a recent survey.They say people also tend to use cellphones for things like taking a photo of the map, identifying landmarks in the distance, using a digital compass and taking screenshots of track descriptions and route notes.Still, MSC chief executive Mike Daisley says reading printed maps and navigating handheld compasses are an essential skill when you’re exploring.Do I need to know how to write by hand?Just like writing fluently helps lessen the load on the brain to focus on other things - the same applies to touch typing. Photo: RNZ file image/Unsplash/Getty ImagesTeacher Boyes says research shows writing by hand improves memory, creativity and critical thinking as well as fine motor skills like hand-to-eye co-ordination.Fluent handwriting lowers cognitive load, freeing up brainpower for actual thinking, she says.“The new New Zealand curriculum has a new resource… that suggests that we should be doing explicit 10 minutes a day of handwriting and that it is taught in schools.”But it doesn’t have to be cursive. One of the tests students take between Years 2 and 10 looks at how fast and legible they can copy text, she says.Touch typing is just as important, especially in modern professions — so her students begin learning around age 10 or 11, once handwriting is solid. It has the same automaticity effect as handwriting fluently, Boyes says.GPs are also implementing more tech into tasks that were traditionally done by hand like writing consultation notes, says Royal NZ College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) medical director Prabani Wood.An RNZCGP study shows 41 percent of GPs and 16 percent of rural hospital doctors had used AI already or intended to use it, with the most popular being notetaking/scribing tools.“While there are benefits to these tools such as freeing up time to focus on other tasks and seeing more patients, there are factors that need to be taken into consideration such as data and patient privacy, accuracy and how they integrate with the systems we already have in place in our practices."Do we need dictionaries or encyclopedias?Boyes says dictionaries can teach systems like alphabetical order for kids — but that’s also learnable in other ways. Photo: RNZ File image/Unsplash/Shutter SpeedNature’s Den is mostly tech-free, but students use an app to identify local plants - instead of flipping through encyclopedias or plant books.“It's a big learning tool for us teachers as well,” Sherie says. “We'll take some good guesses of what we think [the species] is, and then we'll go back and check on the app to see if we're right.”Boyes says there’s nothing wrong with using technology to enhance learning — if kids have digital literacy and fact-checking skills.“If you go and find an old encyclopedia, it's going to tell you Pluto's a planet... I think we just need to teach our kids to fact check to be able to go, ‘we know this is true, can we find three sources of this information to make sure that we are getting it right?’”Dictionaries can teach systems like alphabetical order — but that’s also learnable in other ways, like searching in a library, she says.Kids still love discovering new words, but they're far more likely to search them online, she says.Hard To Find Books store owner Warwick Jordan says dictionary sales are "dead in the water". Photo: RNZ/Nick MonroJordan argues traditional books hold a fixed, unchangeable truth that online sources can’t.“A book's knowledge is fixed. You can't modify it to suit the political climate. You can't change it.”While dictionary sales are “dead in the water”, print books will always have value because they stimulate our brains in a different way to devices, he says. - RNZ

Workplace wellbeing and having fun are the main motivators behind the 2025 Sport Waitaki Tri Challenge being held next Friday (October 17).An annual Dunedin-based Sport Otago initiative, this is the second year the event is happening in Ōamaru following last year's success, Sport Waitaki regional coordinator Sara Harding says.The event gives colleagues the chance to connect outside of the office, have some fun together and prioritise their physical and mental health – all with some friendly competition, she says. The event is being held in Snap Fitness Ōamaru, and teams of three will complete a 1.5km row, a 3km spin bike and a 1.5km run.High school students (Years 9–13) are also welcome to join, making it a great opportunity for rangatahi to get active alongside Waitaki’s workforce.“While there are trophies for the fastest male, female and mixed teams, the real focus is on participation – having a go, getting active, and having fun,” Sara says.With so much of our time spent at work, events like this are a valuable way to boost wellbeing, she says.“We can’t wait to see workplaces rally their colleagues and get amongst it again in 2025.”Sara is grateful to Snap Fitness Ōamaru for hosting and supporting the event again this year.Snap assistant manager Samantha Johnston says the gym is passionate about “bringing the community together through movement”.“Hosting the Tri Challenge is a fun way to encourage teamwork, support wellbeing and show that fitness is for everyone,” she says.Registrations are now open with a $30 per team entry fee, and the event is adaptable for all abilities.Teams will book a 30-minute time slot between 9am and 5pm, when they register.Any money raised will go to Sporting Chance and Able Minds, two organisations that support tamariki, rangatahi and whānau through sport and mental health initiatives.

Two rugby field-sized sheds have been barely enough to contain Allan Dippie's obsession.Allan Dippie is well known in Wānaka for not only his developments but his astonishing vintage tractor collection which has caused “chaos” of blocked roads as thousands turn up to get a peek.Dippie’s love of tractors went “out of control” from just one in 2017 to about 300 today.But he’s having trouble storing them in his two rugby field-sized sheds, so he will be selling more than 100 in an auction this weekend.Allan Dippie's addiction has taken him all over the world to bring back some of his most prized possessions. Photo: Supplied/Allan Dippie via RNZ“They're not like stamps, are they? So that storage is a bit of an issue,” he told Midday Report.“It's just chocka, chocka, chocka and it's counterproductive 'cause then you can't get the one you want to drive out easily.”He’s not sure how much the collection has cost him over the years, but it was enough for his accountant to put her foot down and forbid him from buying anymore.“So then I had to kind of find devious ways of disguising them to get them into collection.”Listen here on Midday Report: Wanaka man to auction vintage tractor collectionThe hobby has taken him all over the world, including the USA, Australia, Scotland and Ireland to collect rare ones like a Ferguson Brown prototype, R&P, and a Saunderson – the first kind the British royal family had at their farms, he says. The oldest one dates to 1916.Because he's ended up buying whole collections, some are double-ups which he hopes to get rid of during this auction.“The problem with tractors is you can't take them to a retirement village very easy. The retirement village isn't really going to accept a tractor collection turning up on its doorstep. So people have to eventually sell their tractor collections.”The oldest one in the vintage collection dates to 1916. Photo: Supplied/Allan Dippie via RNZHis machines were also a main event at the popular Wheels at Wānaka, which started in 2019 and had its last run this Easter.“We had 65,000 people turn up and it blocked all the roads in and out of Wanaka and it caused chaos really. Tractor chaos. So we've stopped doing that now.“People love coming and looking at old tractors and trucks and cars and bulldozers and things like that.”Dippie reckons New Zealand has one of the best selection of tractors in the world.“I found a lot of tractors under trees over the years and brought them back to their prime working order.“We restore them and love them. It's a very strangely satisfying occupation restoring tractors. You wouldn't believe it.”Dippie reckons he'll still be in deficit after selling about 100 at auction.  Photo: Supplied/Allan Dippie via RNZWhile most are working, some are still “project tractors”, he says, but the challenge of getting them started “is just too much fun to ignore”.“The very early tractors were really designed to kill you on startup or if not then in how they operated because there's a lot of moving parts flying around and some of them you have to start in the most unusual manner.“Some of them you have to start fires and cause explosions and there's some that you have to start with shotgun cartridges and cigarette butts and all sorts. There's all sorts of weird ways of starting vintage tractors and so it's a dangerous occupation as well.”Although he believes he might still be in deficit after the auction, he’s looking forward to having more room.“I've loved it and I'm going to keep collecting tractors.“Although it takes a pretty special tractor to join the collection now. I've got to slow down and … I've got to kind of make sure I'm a bit more discerning with the tractors I bring into the collection over the next few year.”The auction went live online two weeks ago, and the live auction will be on 11 October, where the sheds will be open for the public to take a look and place their final bids. - RNZ

Mary Duff grew up in Duntroon unknowingly surrounded by the fossils which are now the subject of her first children’s book.She began putting together A Discovery in the Rocks about six years ago on a “very, very informal commission”, she says.While she was working for a Christchurch-based retail software company, Duntroon’s Vanished World Centre was looking at the software and mentioned how hard it was to find children’s books about fossils.“So I said, ‘well, I've got this little story I wrote for my nephew, just like a little DIY homemade thing’, and they're like, ‘oh, you should finish it off’.”The self-published book is a dramatised, non-fiction, children’s picture book for ages five to nine, about a rare ancient whale fossil found near Tokarahi, in the Waitaki Valley.Mary initially wrote the story for her young nephew, who is growing up on the family farm, which her brother now runs. She remembers her father talking to visitors about the 30-million-year-old limestone outcrops on the farm.“I remember they were really proud of this fact, and they'd been there all along, but we just didn't realise the treasure that it was.”Palaeontologist Emeritus Professor Ewan Fordyce, who had a huge interest in the area, helped make the locals aware of what lay on their doorsteps.Ewan was then instrumental in the discovery of several marine fossils in the Waitaki Valley and the development of the Vanished World Centre, as well as the Vanished World Fossil Trail. The news in early 2022 that Ewan was retiring from Otago University due to illness was the “trigger to hurry up and get it presentable to share with other people”, Mary says. Ewan died in November 2023.Mary says gathering the information and the illustrations for her book has been a “ridiculously involved” process. Producing the text and technical details in the book alone has taken her four years of solid research.“I had to really fully understand the details, to be able to re-explain it in a way that little kids can understand straight away. “And then the illustrations themselves are another project.”The book is illustrated with a compilation of four donated watercolours by Duntroon artist Burns Pollock, and children from Duntroon School.Two years ago, Mary was awarded a grant from the Waitaki District Council Creative Communities Scheme to run children’s workshops for more book illustrations, which were co-ordinated by Ōamaru-based artist Sarka Cibulcova. Ōamaru-based artist Sarka Cibulcova (left) and Mary. Photo: Supplied“And then it's been a whole 12 months of a lot of work by Sarka and another graphic designer in Christchurch to get it ready for printers,” Mary says.The book is now in its final stages of being printed and perfected, and will be officially launched in Duntroon on October 25. There will be further launches at Tūranga Library in Christchurch, Otago Museum, and Mary is planning to speak at Ōamaru Library, with a date still to be confirmed.Mary says producing the book has been “a really steep learning curve”, but she thinks she’s now addicted.“I've got all these words swirling around with me and I can't wait to get rid of this one to work on the next one.”While the next book won’t necessarily be for children, she is keen on non-fiction. The majority of Mary’s career has been as a food technologist working in food manufacturing.“But deep down I've realised that actually I'm a creative person, and I just love science. So I'm just blending those two together to create accessible science.” While she has some ideas in mind for the next project, she is reluctant to share more details, to avoid people asking for the next five years, ‘how’s your book going?’, she says.A Discovery in the Rocks will be available in major bookstores, but pre-orders are open now, which is helpful when deciding how many copies to print, she says.One dollar from each book sold will go to Otago Rural Support Trust, in memory of the owner of the farm where the main fossil was found in 1994, who taught Mary and her brother small-bore target shooting when they were teenagers.

Ōamaru’s Mariner Suites has been recognised for being the gold standard in New Zealand motel accommodation.The 22-unit complex opened in January 2021, and is only one of four motels in New Zealand to be awarded a Qualmark 5-Star Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award.Owners Ross and Debbie Ward gained a 5-Star Silver award in their first Qualmark assessment in 2023 and have been working towards achieving the Gold since then. They are proud to have earned the award, and to be one of only four (all from the South Island) makes it so much more special, Debbie says.“It highlights our dedication to guest satisfaction and quality accommodation and it’s nice to receive recognition for all of our hard work.“We have a dedicated and loyal team helping us too, so this is a real testament to their hard work and passion as well,” she says.The Gold Sustainable Tourism Award recognises the best sustainable tourism businesses in New Zealand, with the delivery of exceptional customer experiences an integral part of everything they do. It identifies those businesses leading the way in making the New Zealand tourism industry a world-class sustainable visitor destination. Debbie says to earn and maintain their 5-star rating, they have to consistently represent “best practice” in the exterior of the complex (buildings and gardens), public areas, guest bedrooms, guest bathrooms and services.Their Qualmark assessor commented that the Wards had gone to “huge lengths” to achieve architectural and colour harmony with Ōamaru’s Victorian Heritage precinct, "with the judicious use of lines, height, pigments, and Oamaru stone on your one-acre high profile site”.“I remain very impressed by your complex and the thought behind its design and architecture,” they say.“The complex has been built to maximise natural sunlight angles with over-spec insulation and high-spec double glazing.”The assessor also comments on the Ōamaru family’s community-minded approach and their support of an “impressive array” of local charities and initiatives.“Your complex still appears as new, and is very high-spec in fittings, chattels, beds and appliances. Your guest lounge and quality meeting room are a welcome feature. "The views and location are superb. It is well-presented with superb standards of cleanliness, maintenance and gardening evident in every corner and surface,” the assessor said.

Ōamaru’s Becky Dennison is always looking for the next opportunity, but the business owner doesn’t sit around and wait for it to come to her.The 30-year-old, who will have been running women’s fashion store Hyde Boutique for five years in December, is on the cusp of her next venture - launching her own clothing label.Clementine has come to fruition from Becky seeing a gap in the market for accessibly-priced designer pieces that are fun.“Because there's a lot of sexy, there's a lot of corporate, there's a lot of really casual fun stuff, but having things that are a little bit fun, a little bit different, but still like really easy to style and wear. So that's sort of where we are going with it.”When she says “we” she mostly means she, but Becky’s accountant partner Kris Rush is a details man, and helps make the dreams a reality, she says.Clementine will launch in November, and be sold through Hyde and other New Zealand retailers. The designs are nostalgiac and inspired by “the little glimmers in life”.“Making the small things special . . . it's quite wholesome but also a little playful,” she says.She is co-designing with a contracted designer, starting small with about five styles, and taking her time to find the right factories to work with.“I was like, start smart, start small. I don't wanna bite off too much.“The dream would be, like, if we do grow, an in-house designer. But yeah, I have no design skills apart from knowing what I want - I can't even draw.”Becky, whose relatable videos of try-ons and pieces to camera have brought her business an Instagram following of more than 28,000 people, says creating her own label has been a dream for a few years.Last summer she decided to stop putting it off.“You kind of think it’s not the right time for it, but the time will never be right. The time is now. So then at New Year's, I was like, ‘right, I'm gonna get it into it’.”It will be a separate business from Hyde that she foresees will be easier to manage further down the track, alongside other things, such as starting a family.The name Clementine came to Becky from a Hyde customer order. “I saw her name written and I was like, ‘oh, Clementine’ . . . it’s a really beautiful name. It's pretty, feminine, but it like, it still has a bit of a nod to like the past, but also it's fun.”It embodies what she is aiming for with the brand, and little clementines have made their way into some of the illustrations on the clothing.“So then we started working with a graphic designer in Australia doing all our branding and we really wanted to do it properly. “We were like, let's not just come up with the name and do a logo, Let's do all our brand colours and our fonts and our everything. So it's been quite a process.”The pieces will be easy to wear - tops and “a little bit of denim” - with a focus on good quality, well-fitting essentials.She says it’s nice to have a bit of “creative excitement” away from retail. A first glimpse at the Clementine swing tag. Image: Supplied Becky wants to launch her label “properly”. She has photoshoots with professional models planned, and is involving a public relations company.“I keep saying that - ‘properly’ - because Hyde is pretty grassroots, and just, we are how we are, but we want it to be quite separate from Hyde . . . and we also want it to be not reliant on, like, it won't be my face on it.”But there will still be a local in-store celebration to launch Clementine, and a long lunch involving “all the florals and cutesy things”, she says.Five years in the retail game hasn't all been plain sailing, and Becky has taken risks which have provided learning opportunities.She opened another Hyde Boutique in Ashburton in 2022, which has since closed, and also took over Lynn Woods in Merivale, Christchurch, which closed in August.Becky has learned the importance of making hard decisions, and not to worry how those decisions might look to other people. “It's obviously emotional, but you can't let your emotions dictate your business decisions.”Those decisions were “bittersweet”, because although things hadn't turned out the way she hoped. they meant she could put all her resources back into her main focus, Hyde.For Becky, the key to her success in business is to be herself, and not try to fit a mold of what everyone else is doing, thinking or saying.“That's your superpower actually, just being yourself. It means that you don’t have to turn on and turn off.”She sometimes spends up to eight hours a day, recording try-ons of new clothing, and posting to social media. “If you're always just consistently you, you don't have to try and it's not hard, and also that's what makes you stand out sometimes. People like working with and interacting with real people.”Sales for Hyde are almost evenly split between online and in-store, although the online portion is now more than 50% and growing monthly. The business ships across the country, and regularly to Australia.Becky plans to continue growing Hyde, and have it remain “very much true blue, authentic”, while she sees Clementine becoming a business that stands on its own as a name in New Zealand fashion, maybe Australia, “then ideally Europe and America”.“But we’ll just work with one first. We’ll see how we go here,” she says.The first samples of the designs are due to arrive in the next few weeks, which is both exciting and nerve-wracking.The samples will be the regular size 8 of most samples, and also Becky’s size 12, so she can “fit-test and wear-test” them.“Wear it around, what does it wash like? Is it durable? Is the fit right, is the shouldering in the right places? Is it too wide? Is it too long? . . . It's kind of scary, but it's kind of like, if not now, then when, you know?”

Nine Waitaki residents have been recognised at this year’s Waitaki Citizens Awards held at the Ōamaru Opera House.The annual ceremony, led by Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher in his 12th and final ceremony, celebrates people who have given outstanding service to their community.Each recipient had a citation read by a Waitaki District Councillor before receiving their award, then offering brief remarks.Gary says one of the most important tasks he has had is valuing and recognising the community's volunteers."Councillors and I are honoured to do that each year with the Citizens Awards.""Every volunteer gives their time and skills to help our community in a broad range of ways, making Waitaki a better place to be."2025 Citizens Award recipientsMaria Buldain – Community Affairs – Waitaki Multicultural, ŌamaruDebbie Melton and Susie Sinclair – Community Affairs – Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Group / Ronnie Gardner Method Group, ŌamaruEdie Pont – Community Affairs – Community organising and public health, KurowBarry Gamble – Community Service – New Zealand Remembrance Army, ŌamaruRosemary Bentley – Community Affairs – Oamaru Foodbank, ŌamaruMaurice Gray – Voluntary Service – Alps 2 Ocean, WestonCraig Alter – Recreational Activities – Mountainbike trails, PalmerstonDavid Blair – Cultural Affairs – Musical Theatre Oamaru, Oamaru Repertory Theatre, ŌamaruFull citation details are available on the Waitaki District Council website.

Has your barbecue been languishing unused all winter? Here's how to restore it to its former glory.By RNZ reporter Graham SmithMy old Weber BBQ has been sitting out on the deck all winter.It's been uncovered, unloved, untethered from a gas bottle and a safe winter refuge for all manner of critters.So, with spring in the air and the prospect of summer BBQs beckoning, it's a good time for some restorative attention.In the eight years I've had it, it's never had a deep clean. Apparently, putting the lid down and blasting the heat on full doesn't count.So, the good people at Supercare sent Troy Morrell to walk me through a Weber resurrection.Morrell manages teams of specialist cleaners handling jobs in data centres and hospitals and all manner of commercial premises here and in Australia, but he kindly agreed to get back on the tools and show me how to bring my sad BBQ up to scratch.First up was the big reveal, as the lid went up, so did my shame level.Morrell generously said it wasn't the worst he'd seen.Troy Morrell. Photo: RNZHow to clean your barbecueThe first step is prep. Disconnect the gas, remove components: grill plates, grill drips, trays and other removables. Oh, and don't forget those rubber gloves.Now for the grill grates. We soaked the grill and hot plate in soapy water, just regular old dishwashing liquid. Hot water works best. Leave those soaking while you crack on with the interior.Scrape off as much loose build-up of gunk and grime as you can using a plastic scraper or a putty knife. Leave in the catch tray and it'll collect all the carbonised matter tumbling down.Gently brush the gas pod with a wire brush, from side to side, not along the length of the burner, so as not to push debris into the wee jet thingies.Morrell decided that my caked interior needed more than elbow grease, so the chemical cavalry was deployed. On went the oven cleaner, keeping a cloth over the gas burners to protect them.While that was doing its worst, it was time to check on those soaking grills.As the main grill was scrubbed with steel wool, the water turned a particularly unpleasant shade of brown, as years of neglect was sloughed off. A wire brush was also deployed at this point to get into the fiddly bits and remove the seriously stubborn build-up.The hot plate, the bit that gets the most punishment in my BBQ, was in a sorry state. This needed steel wool, wire brush and finally a gentle work over with a chisel to get it coming up shiny (ish) and new.Then it was back to the mothership for an interior scrub with warm soapy water and wire wool, that was all hosed down, with the drip tray removed the gunky, greasy water drained off onto the lawn.After an exterior clean, it was all put back together, left to dry before being fired up - it started first time.The Webber has had a glow-up and is ready for sizzling. Photo: RNZHow to keep your barbie in good conditionNow, if you don't fancy an almost two-hour mission to rejuvenate your barbie, don't be like me, be like Troy.After every cook give the plates a quick scrub while they are still warm and wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth.This will prevent build-up, Morrell said, and regular maintenance will save on future elbow grease.Give it a good, deep clean every two months.You don't need expensive chemicals (apart from oven cleaners in my case) baking soda, vinegar and dishwashing soap will do the trick.Don't leave it uncovered on the deck all winter, if you can, wheel it into the garage; if not, invest in a good-quality cover.Follow these simple steps and you'll have many happy seasons sizzling sausies in the sun. - RNZ

Ōamaru residents will soon have the chance to learn practical skills for self-protection at a free community course being offered at Te Whare Koa Marae.The course, led by Ōamaruvian Mark Mak isn't your traditional self-defence programme.It's based on what he calls "conflict resilience" and is designed for anyone of any age or ability.Mark isn't your typical self-defence instructor, describing himself as "a little guy" at about 165cm and 65kg."Not very intimidating. Hardly your caricature of an alpha male. And I'm 68."Growing up he realised that bigger kids assumed they could crush him."But I got good at being agile and slippery," he says.After leaving school he joined the New Zealand Army and later served with the Special Air Service."Their unarmed combat training was based on karate and I was a disaster in set-piece situations.""But in the field I was considerably more successful because I could capitalise on my physical and psychological assets," he says.Mark argues many traditional self-defence programmes miss the point, focusing on techniques for a fight that has already started.He gives an example: "If they grab you by the upper left lapel, this is the technique you use".Mark points out real life is far messier than the dojo or rec centre floor and it takes years to master all the variables.“This is not Fight Club.""This is Escape Club."The goal is to get out of trouble with the least physical and mental damage,” Mark says.He argues that many traditional programmes are geared towards stranger-danger scenarios, which are rare."Real-world risks lie in our homes and schools, at work, in the supermarket car park, with bad bosses, road ragers, bag snatchers and phone filchers, bullies, drunks, and nincompoops we know."Static, slowed down teaching methods fail to prepare people for real-world melee confusion."Our goal should be to escape confrontation without surrendering our integrity, not to win a fight."Later, Mark spent nine years as a social worker in a boys home for criminal adolescents and learned a few key lessons.Despite training in various martial arts and eventually earning a black belt, he realised the techniques weren't useful in that environment, where spontaneous attacks were rare.Instead he observed how confrontations truly began."All the fights I saw escalated from some trivial perceived insult which at numerous intersections could have been deescalated".This led him to the foundation of his current teaching."Our first line of self-defence should be about situational awareness, how to keep cool when the aggression heat dials up, deploying de-escalation skills, and escape-planning", he says.Now with a lifetime of experience and years of physiological and psychological studies under his belt, he offers a new type of self-protection."It's designed for normal people - short and tall, fat and thin, fast and slow, old and wrinkly."“We will discover that every body-type and personality-type has advantages in conflict, and that we have natural defensive and aggressive reflexes built into us."All we have to do is refine those reflexes,” he says.Te Whare Koa secretary, Sophia Leon de le Barra says, “this is a fantastic opportunity for members of our community to learn skills in self-protection and gain confidence”.Te Whare Koa Marae was established in 1981 on France Street as a place for people to gather, learn, share and connect with Te Ao Māori.Enrolments and contactThe programme will run on Mondays and Thursdays at 5:30pm for ten weeks in term 4 - October 6 to December 11.To enrol in the self-defence course, contact Mark Mak by email at [email protected] or phone 0210 222 6437.(Additional reporting Zara Murphy)

The Oamaru Pacific Island Trust (OPIT) is hosting a Moana Lei Pink Event this Saturday (27 September), offering women the chance to come together for important health checks, information and support.September is Cervical Screening Awareness Month and it will be a key focus, with on-the-spot registration and screening available along with information on breast and bowel screening, blood pressure and other women's health issues that affect many Pacific women but are often not talked about.“This time around, we wanted to focus on building health awareness on cancer, cardiovascular risks and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS),” says OPIT CEO Mata’aga Hana Fanene-Taiti.As of September 2025, only around 61% of Pacific women are up to date on screening and 13% have never been screened.Figure 1: NCSP cervical screening data for Otago and Southland women as at 10 September, 2025“Our women are less likely to be screened on time, or screened at all, compared to other ethnicities, leading to higher rates of cervical cancer, but also bowel and breast cancer", Hana says."With our large Pacific population in Oamaru, we need to make these simple and quick checks more accessible.”OPIT Community Practitioner Lead and event organiser Mafa Alaloto says "we know that these events make a difference"."Not only do women enjoy the time to listen and talk with each other, but the space is culturally appropriate and safe for many of our women, and being on the weekend in the afternoon, it is more accessible.”Key speaker on the day, WellSouth Senior Clinical Advisor, Pasifika and GP Dr Letava Tafuna’i. Photo: Supplied. Guest speaker Dr Letava Tafuna’i, a GP and WellSouth’s Senior Clinical Advisor, Pasifika, will speak on PCOS and cardiovascular health.OPIT nurse Robyn Cleverley and staff from Te Whatu Ora’s National Cervical Screening Programme will provide cervical screening on the day.Other OPIT staff members will support with education, sharing health information and encouraging registration and booking appointments for cervical, bowel and breast screening. Once again, OPIT is sharing the opportunity with the wider Waitaki community with a focus on women who are overdue, due or never screened."Non Pacific are welcome to register to attend the event, especially given the topic Dr Letava will talk about", says Hana.Due to venue constraints, women are asked to register via email or in person at the OPIT Learning Hub in Ribble Street.Alongside the serious focus, the dress code is pink and the afternoon will include a heart-healthy buffet, prizes, and Pure Fiji pamper pack giveaways.The Moana Lei Pink Event is free to attend this Saturday, 10-2pm at 22 Ribble Street, Ōamaru.Visit the OPIT Learning Hub, email [email protected] or [email protected] to register.

~ Opinion ~The end of the school year is quickly approaching. Local career development specialist, Jenny Bean has written an open letter to young people as they think about their future careers, these school holidays.Your Future is a Adventure, Not a Straight LineWhen you’re young, it can feel like the world is waiting for you to have all the answers. People ask, “What do you want to be?” or “Where are you headed?” as though there’s only one right response. But here’s the truth: life doesn’t move in a straight line. It twists, turns, surprises you, and sometimes knocks you down. And that’s not failure - that’s life.Your career isn’t a destination. It’s an adventure. And along the way, there are lessons and discoveries that matter far more than ticking off a checklist of job titles.Discover Who You AreSchool is not just about learning facts and passing exams. It’s a time to understand yourself. Who are you? Where do you come from? What values do you hold close? Your story - your family, culture, and experiences - can be the compass that guides you.Sometimes we don’t see our own strengths clearly. That’s why feedback matters. Ask others what they notice about you. Maybe you’re braver, kinder, or more creative than you realise. When you know your strengths and own your mistakes, you build the foundation of true confidence.Step Forward with CourageResilience is about picking yourself up after setbacks. Perseverance is about throwing yourself forward into the unknown. Both are essential.There will be times you won’t know what comes next. That’s okay. Take the next step, however small. Action sparks clarity. One step leads to another, and before long, you’ll look back and realise how far you’ve come.Protect Your WellbeingYour mind is your most powerful tool, but it needs care. Prioritise sleep, eat well, move your body, and get outside into nature. Build a bank of happy memories you can draw on when things feel tough.Stress will always be part of life, but it doesn’t have to control you. Learn ways to calm yourself - breathing slowly, pausing before reacting, or taking a walk. Protecting your wellbeing isn’t weakness; it’s strength.Build Your Support CrewNobody succeeds alone. We all need people who cheer us on, guide us when we’re lost, and remind us of our worth when we forget it.Look around - your mentors, teachers, whānau, friends, and even community connections can be part of your support crew. They don’t just help you in hard times; they also open doors to opportunities you may never have found on your own.Redefine FailureToo often, failure feels like the end of the road: the failed exam, the job you didn’t get, the course you dropped. But failure isn’t the opposite of success - it’s the foundation of it.Think of every setback as part of your training. It builds resilience, courage, and self-compassion. Some of the most successful people you admire have stories filled with failure. What sets them apart is not that they never failed, but that they never stopped moving forward.And remember, sometimes “failure” is not about you at all. Life throws obstacles - unfair systems, financial struggles, missed chances. These do not define your worth. What matters is how you respond, how you adapt, and how you continue to believe in yourself.Embrace the Adventure AheadThe world is changing quickly, and with that change comes opportunity. Focus not just on what jobs exist today, but on the challenges that excite you. Do you want to solve problems, create beauty, build connections, or protect the planet? Your career is less about job titles and more about making a difference in ways that matter to you.And don’t shy away from the tools of the future. Artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and new technologies are not here to replace you - they’re here to help you. Be curious. Experiment. Learn how to use these tools to open doors you never thought possible.The truth is this: your career journey will be full of surprises. You won’t always get it right, and you don’t need to. What you do need is courage, resilience, and the willingness to learn from every step. Surround yourself with good people, protect your wellbeing, and remember that failure is not the end.The path ahead is not fixed. It’s yours to shape - step by step, choice by choice. And with every turn, you’ll discover more of who you are, and more of what you’re capable of.Your future isn’t waiting for you to “have it all figured out.” It’s waiting for you to begin.Jenny Bean is a professional member of the Career Development Association of NZ (CDANZ). If you are looking for career development support (personal or organisational), contact her at CareerBeanz.

Spring is in the air, and with spring comes some updates to the Ōamaru business scene.Firstly, we have a handful of businesses that have been recognised both regionally and nationally for being at the top of their game.The Whitestone Cheese Co team is thrilled with their latest achievement, a Qualmark Gold Sustainable Tourism Award. The award caps off what managing director Simon Berry is calling a “golden year” after the family business also celebrated a Champion of Champions title and received a string of gold medals at the New Zealand Champions of Cheese Awards, earlier this year.“This latest award goes hand in hand with winning the National Champion with our Monte Cristo Cheese,” he says.“It’s quite humbling to think about how far we’ve come.”The Whitestone Diner and Deli welcomes thousands of tourists through its doors over a year, and the company also offers factory tours to enhance the visitor experience, which has helped it land the Gold Award recognition. Another favourite Ōamaru eatery, Cucina, is also among the country's best, having maintained its "Hat" in the Cuisine Good Food Awards four years in a row.Yanina and Pablo Tacchini’s restaurant was awarded the Hat last month, and Cucina is one of close to 100 Hatted restaurants around New Zealand.Cuisine describe Cucina as "a testament to clever flavours and the blending of cultures".Meanwhile, Ōamaru bird and pet food company Topflite has been named one of New Zealand’s Best Places to Work 2025.The family-run business has been named as a finalist in the Spotlight Awards category for Community and Regional Impact. “While we don’t need an award to tell us that our workplace is a healthy, happy one, we are chuffed to be recognised,” say owners Greg and Carolyn Webster, and Peter and Sandra Mitchell.We wrote about Topflite making the shortlist last month, and now to find out they've made the finals is even more exciting. We are looking forward to the winners being announced in Auckland at the end of October.Another Ōamaru-based company, Mīti, has been chosen as a finalist in the New Zealand Food Awards, Primary Product Sector, for its Smokey Kanuka and Honey Beef Bites.Founder Daniel Carson says he’s proud his fledgling product, which finds a use for surplus dairy calves, has earned a finals spot alongside bigger names such as Aoraki Salmon and Airborne Honey. The winners will be announced in Palmerston North next month.Meanwhile, three Waitaki businesses have been named finalists in The Grand Business South Awards.Inc Design owners Helen Riley-Duddin and Michael Duddin. Photo: Supplied/InstagramInc Design is being recognised for Excellence in Retail, Riverstone Kitchen for Excellence in Hospitality, and Whitestone Contracting Ltd for Excellence in Workplace Injury Prevention.Business South Waitaki navigator Rebecca Finlay says she is delighted to see such a range of businesses from the region represented at the awards.“This truly represents how diverse an economy we have in the Waitaki, from a small business supporting niche New Zealand creatives, to hospitality establishments supporting the best of New Zealand-grown produce and gourmet cuisine, and a large engineering business prioritising its community wellbeing,” she says. The winners will be announced in Dunedin, in November.New businessesMeanwhile, opening soon on Tees Street, is a new burger joint, courtesy of Liz Tui Morris and Dion SymeAll going to plan, Burger, baby! is set to open this Friday (September 20).Since both Liz and Dion have day jobs that keep them busy, they will initially be open three nights a week.“Basically, we have always talked about a gap in the market in Ōamaru for a dedicated burger joint at night - fresh homemade, more gourmet-style than your typical fish and chip sloppy joe,” Liz says.“I work next door at one agency so my office is connected to Burger, baby! which makes it easy for me to prep and be organised while working both jobs.”Both Liz and Dion are qualified chefs with experience in running their own eateries, and have always worked in customer service roles.Everything is coming up burgers for Dion Syme and Liz Morris, who are opening their new business Burger, baby! this Friday (20 September). Photo: Supplied“We both saw the opportunity and didn’t want to miss out! Life will be busy, but we have energy plus passion and have thoroughly enjoyed the process so far!”With a maximum emphasis on atmosphere, the couple aims to offer their customers an experience that will complement their good food. There will be vegetarian/vegan and gluten-free options available.A little bit further north, at 34 Thames Street, is Rust Atelier, which quietly opened a few months ago.The premises, which most recently housed Art on Thames, is now a treasure trove for lovers of linen, run by Sally Vendetti. It stocks New Zealand-made clothing, accessories and homeware. It’s worth popping in if you’re looking for a gift for somebody special, or to treat yourself.Meanwhile out the North End, Saxon Morgan has opened his own barber shop on 5 Tern Street, called Saxon Blendz.Saxon worked with the team at The Don, on Thames Street, for 18 months, and has now taken the brave leap to go out on his own. Also out the North End, and only open Friday to Sunday, is Venerable Vintage at 409 Thames Highway. For those who love hunting for a rare treasure, the store stocks retro and vintage items, such as Crown Lynn, Temuka Pottery, Tupperware, and restored furniture - and all the favourites from your childhood (for those whose childhood was pre-2000s!).Change of ownershipMeanwhile, the Heritage Precinct’s flagship building, the Criterion Hotel, is now under new ownership.Sahil Lohan has been living in New Zealand for the past six years and has been working in hospitality throughout that time. “It’s an industry I really enjoy, especially because it allows me to connect with people and be part of the community.” Last year he started running a pub in Fairlie, with his brother Sachin, and they where we were “truly humbled” by the warm welcome and support from the locals.Sachin (left) and Sahil Lohan have been enjoying the community support since taking over the Criterion Hotel. Photo: Supplied.“We’re looking forward to the same here in Oamaru, and it’s been wonderful to already feel that support from the community around the Criterion.”Sahil says he was drawn to The Criterion, not only because it’s a stunning historic building, but also due to the stories and heritage surrounding it, and its importance to the town. “There’s a real sense of character here, and I want to see it thriving again as a place where locals feel at home, just like it used to be in the past.”The brothers have already reopened the accommodation, which has been really well received, Sahil says.They are also planning to extend the opening days from five to seven days a week. “Looking ahead, our goal is to create a lively, welcoming hub for both locals and visitors - somewhere that celebrates the Criterion’s history while giving it fresh energy for the future.”If you have a new business opening, changing hands, or winning awards, please let us know at [email protected].