With under a week to go until Christmas, children around the country are busy deciding which toys to put on their wishlists.This year a viral toy sensation is proving to be popular for young and old, as well as a push for more 'traditional' toys after the Covid years were dominated by devices with screens.Listen to Morning Report here: Which toys are popular this Christmas?Morning Report producer and Squishmallow fan Charlotte Mulder explained this year has been an interesting one for the toy industry, with the cost-of-living crisis impacting parents' choices."Lots of families were quite budget conscious, which is quite understandable, looking for the best value in toys, ones that won't break straight away and you can keep for a long time."Mulder said Toy World's Top Ten Most Wanted Toy List was topped by a traditional favourite."We start it off strong with the Barbie Dream House, which was a personal favourite of mine growing up, and then there was the Lego Emirates Team New Zealand America's Cup Yacht, and then finally in number three we had the TikTok popular Squishmallows."According to Mulder, the popularity of Squishmallows can be traced to their fame on social media."Squishmallows are basically these soft toys that have gone viral. You can get them in big, medium, small."They went viral in 2020. They are comfy, you can put them behind your head."Mulder explained they are a 'comfort' item that people put on their couch or bed."But most importantly they are adorable. You can go for the simplistic look, people collect them, but it's not just the younger generation, that's the funny thing, it's actually the older ones as well."Squishmallow expert Lily O'Moore said the audience for Squishmallows has changed over time."The audience was initially very young girls, but as time went on, and as the lockdown impacted so many people and they became so widespread through social media and the demographic became young adult women."Outside of the top three, Mulder said toy companies are selling lots of 'traditional' toys, such as wooden toys, balance bikes and outdoor swing balls, alongside interactive family games like Monopoly and Settlers of Catan. - RNZ

By RNZ Digital Journalist Billie PrydeWith his brain running critically low on energy these days, my dear 76-year-old dad Tom is usually tired or restless to the extreme.After he showed us last December that festive gathering is something he can no longer do, none of our family will be with Tom this Christmas Day.But in late November we did get a special shared gift at the place he now lives - a care home in Dunedin for high-needs people living with dementia.On an evening visit, for about an hour, my dad was able to relax and engage with four of us as much as he ever can these days, at a properly fun and spontaneous party."They're going to bring him down here? Well, that’s nice, hopefully" - Tom improvises a pleasant phone chat at our impromptu party. Photo: Billie PrydeMy mum Margo, sister Bonnie, 10-year-old niece Willa and I had made the three-hour car journey from Queenstown to the multi-storey retirement village where Tom lives for this visit.At the reception we find something new and funny to check out on the wall - a photo series of residents' one-on-one encounters with a visiting lamb. Next to this is a good spot for our Where's Wally?-style scan of the white heads in the living/dining area for his specifically shaggy one.We eventually find Tom at the end of a hallway, standing outside the locked door of the staff room. He is foggy-faced at this late stage of the day and wearing a khaki polo shirt and brown trackies that read LEISURE from the inevitably communal menswear collection.Tom very much likes to feel that he's in charge but when he's willing to be led - as he is this time - we usher him into the Family Room, a haven that is both lockable and scent-free.Into the small sparsely furnished room this night, we bring The Beatles Chill Out, which Willa dances to, BBQ Copper Kettle Fries and Coke. In a nearby closet, we find - as if left by party angels - a set of golden toy crowns and an unplugged, old-fashioned telephone.Christmas 1991 somewhere in Southland or Otago. (Left to right - Margo, Bonnie, Billie and Tom) Photo: SuppliedRecently, when I mentioned Tom's name to him, he said: "What's she got to do with it?' But today, something happens when Bonnie hands him the heavy two-headed phone handle.Unlike his eldest daughter, our dad was always beyond keen to pick up a ringing phone and give his full attention to whoever was calling. As a lawyer, that was quite often someone with an urgent and complicated problem they wanted him to solve.On clasping the phone handle to his ear, "Tom Pryde speaking?" flows off his tongue just as it did thousands of times before cellphones. An imaginary conversation touching on a large money transfer, an interpersonal situation that needs delicate handling and the date of an important delivery then begins..Now living in a world where other people don't make sense anyway, Tom has a clever workaround for giving himself a sense of conversational control. When he's feeling chatty, what comes out of his mouth are very natural-sounding sentences about the specific yet unrelated logistical details of an unfolding situation he's in charge of sorting out.This self-scripting allows him to be part of real-time conversation and at the same time perform what seems to be his role of a lifetime. In improvised meeting-style sentences, he advocates for unity, tolerance, patience and compassion. I like to think these might be his core values.Tom's days, from what we can piece together, are mostly spent scanning words, dozing, puzzling over objects - sometimes with his gentle-faced friend Ray - and trying, in his way, to sort out some of the people and situations he comes across.When he has enough brain energy, he tries to make friendly conversation with whoever's around with a commitment to chat that is really impressive. Even the occasional grunt from a nonverbal tablemate is enough to keep him rolling: "Sorry I didn't quite hear what you said, really. Well, I sort of did but…. [on with the chat]."Tom at Invercargill Middle School in the 1950s. Photo: SuppliedIn 2021, Tom was diagnosed with a combination of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's. As hard as it is for our family watching him get sucked away by a kind of internal identity theft, for a good amount of time and in several ways the effects of dementia also brought him closer.Superdriven by his passion for sport and service - which scored him an NZ Order of Merit - my dad was often, in Margo's words, "burning to get out the door".When dementia took down his capability and confidence, he was grounded at home. Stationed at the head of the kitchen table, often with an adult colouring book or The Southland Times, he was around.The year before Tom's diagnosis - which happened to be when the world was locked down - Bonnie moved to Queenstown from Canada with Willa (then 5) and Kaay (then 10).Our dad quickly grew close to Willa who arrived just as his conversational abilities were fading and his sense of humour becoming more silly. Without the changes to Tom's daily life and relational style that dementia delivered, Bonnie thinks their playful and loving bond could not have been forged.I also feel like a side of Tom that is more tender and heart-centred was revealed by the effects of dementia on his brain. As it took out some of his Southern Man identity programming, he became more emotionally sensitive.Because I'm quite that way myself, I felt newly seen by Tom. In his last years at home, we shared many chill hours together, doing our own things in parallel and listening to music. When confusion made him distressed, '60s & and '70s folk favourites were a medicine sometimes just as effective as anything else we had on hand.This Christmas Day, although none of us will see him to confirm it, I'm going to trust Tom will feel that he's in as safe a place as any.I hope on 25 December - if he has the energy - he'll relish some kind of pudding, add a line or two to some carol-singing and maybe play the in-house piano.Last winter, the night before Tom left his own home to live in dementia care, he performed a single Beatles song in his more poignant post-dementia piano style.I think its message is worth remembering at Christmas time, especially for families with a dementia-affected person in the mix. You guessed it. Let It Be."He's funny now, he is less fussy and he eats things he didn't used to like" - Willa on her grandpa Tom's dementia. Photo: Bonnie Pryde

Four healthcare priorities for Waitaki have been identified following community feedback.Last year Te Waka Hauora o Waitaki - Waitaki Health Futures Project (a partnership between Waitaki District Council, Te Runanga o Moeraki and Health New Zealand) was launched to improve coordination and access to health and wellbeing services for the people of Waitaki.Feedback was sought from a range of people who use the district's healthcare services, including community and whānau, as well as local service providers.Health New Zealand community integration manager Aroha Metcalf says knowing how people experience health services as consumers and providers is important to balance the data and information around access, utilisation, and need."To do this, we want to know how people use these services and what they like and don't like about them," she says.A three-week survey, launched in September, garnered 2200 comments from 737 respondents, and another 278 comments were gathered through six community engagement sessions held across the district.The four priority areas identified are: making it easier for people to navigate the health system; improving access to services, increasing local workforce capacity and flexibility; and making enhancements to some services.The Waitaki Health Futures Project survey asked about people's experience with current healthcare services as well as their future requirements. Photo: SuppliedAroha says the project aims to remove some of the barriers to health services, address inequity of health outcomes that some rural communities experience, and relieve pressure on some tertiary services in the region.Possible considerations for improvement include improving communication between Oamaru Hospital Emergency Department and Aged Residential Care facilities, opening referral pathways to Timaru Hospital, expanding vaccination access for priority populations, and improving pathways for older people to transition from hospital care to at-home care.Four priority areas are improved navigation, access, workforce and service delivery. Photo: SuppliedThe project will now roll out in three phases.Phase one seeks to identify immediate actions, streamline hospital services and fast-track existing initiatives.Phase two intends to strengthen networks between health services and opportunities to combine clinical approaches and/or co-locate services.Phase three focuses on integrating primary, community and hospital services in a single-service approach across the continuum of care.Implementation of improvements is expected to begin early next year.The Waitaki Health Futures Project is intended to deliver improvements in three stages. Photo: SuppliedWaitaki District Council partnerships manager Helen Algar says community and local health leaders have worked closely with Health New Zealand to support a unified response to local community engagement. “It’s fantastic that implementation is already under way, with more planning to come,” she says.  Other key partners in the project include Oamaru Hospital; providers Te Hā o Maru and the Oamaru Pacific Island Community Group (OPICG); the WellSouth primary health network; and the Stronger Waitaki coalition.  A summary of the community engagement results can be found here:

By Susan Edmunds, Money CorrespondentLong school holidays might have been important for the 19th century agricultural economy, when children were needed to work in the fields.But in the 21st century, there are warnings that all that children are managing to harvest on their holidays is a lot of stress for their parents.As school holidays start around the country, thousands of parents are trying to work out how to juggle work and school holidays, when kids get at least 12 weeks off during the year and adults only four.Ellen Ford - author and founder of the #WorkSchoolHours movement - said it was a major problem."The hours of work, roughly 40 hours a week, 9-to-5, 48-ish weeks of the year... all that was cemented more than a century ago with theHenry Ford car manufacturing era. That was amazing social progress in its time but it assumed every household had one worker and one caregiver of the children."That's just not our society today and it hasn't been for many decades. It blows my mind that we've gone to the moon, we've invented the internet, we've got AI but the construct of work genuinely hasn't changed in the last century, it's an enormous mismatch."She said it meant there were some households where it was not cost-effective for both parents to be in work, or for a single parent to work at all.That could mean someone was at home and out of the workforce, not by choice."The cost of childcare often doesn't stack up, especially if you're in a lower-paid role."Mother-of-two Sarah Campagnolo said she often managed the juggle by taking turns with her partner to work from home. But then that could mean her kids spent too many hours on screens, she said,"We encouraged them off screens, of course, but when you've got a tonne of work to do, you don't have the time to parent your kids through their boredom. You need to work and you can't have kids fighting in the background or moaning about being bored."She has spent the past year training to be a teacher. While it was not the only reason, she said the opportunity for more flexibility in the holidays was a drawcard.Ford said some people put their children into holiday programmes, even if it meant that the household was making a loss during the holidays.She said the #WorkSchoolHours movement was not saying that people should never work outside school hours, but was encouraging employers to focus more on output, not the number of hours worked."I speak at events and run workshops helping people implement this stuff and the businesses that do best are the ones that treat people like adults. They say 'we know you've got stuff you care about beyond work, we've employed you to do these tasks, we're less fussed about when, where and how you do them."She said many people just needed a bit of flexibility. "I do work a bit during the school holidays, maybe in the evening when the kids have gone to bed... flexibility is the biggest key to allowing people to deal with the things they have on beyond work. In many cases, that's the massive juggle of kids and work."It can be harder for people who do not work "laptop jobs" to have flexibility, but Ford said she had seen it work in manufacturing, farming, retail, hospitality and nursing.When people had to work during the school holidays, offering some flexibility and input into shifts made a big difference."A dairy farmer I worked with did the milking schedule around the school bus. They acknowledged people in the community will be milking cows, they have kids they need to get to the school bus and pick up after the school bus. It's incredible for staff retention."She said her research indicated that when people had "a taste" of flexibility, it was very hard to go to a job that did not offer it. "It's a massive part of a remuneration package."AUT research in 2018 showed that two-thirds of respondents said they had conflict managing school holidays. Sixty percent said the holidays made it challenging to focus on work and achieve their normal performance. Almost 70 percent said they did not feel like a good parent during the school holidays.NZCTU policy director Craig Renney said New Zealand had expensive childcare and long working hours compared to other countries."We should be looking at ways of making support for people in work easier and simple and cheaper."There was a risk of bifurcation in the market, he said, with those who could work flexibly getting the benefits that accrued with that and those who could not suffering."We know when the holiday seasons are for children, a bit of compassion probably goes a long way to help."The Ministry of Social Development offers a subsidy for holiday programmes, depending on the number of children that a family has, and household income.A family with two children earning less than $1221 a week gross can get up to $319 a week. The amount drops as income grows, when a household earns $2401 to $2578.99 a week they get just under $100. Above that, there is no subsidy available.A full day at a holiday programme can be $50 or $70.Frog Recruitment managing director Shannon Barlow said it was probably less common at the moment for employers to offer holiday flexibility."The market has changed so dramatically. Employers probably can't afford to offer extra time off and also feel they don't need to go the extra mile to attract or retain staff." -RNZ

By RNZ longform journalist Ella Stewart, (Ngāpuhi, Te Māhurehure, Ngāti Manu), Te Ao MāoriGathered from the cold blue waters of awa up and down the west coast of the South Island, pounamu begins as a raw, hidden piece of stone.Once carved and cut into an intricate design, it can take on a deep, personal meaning for the wearer.Pounamu is a prized taonga for Māori and non-Māori alike, and increasingly gifted for significant life events and celebrations.But as interest around pounamu grows, what are the tikanga surrounding the buying, wearing and caring for it?Joel Marsters (Te Arawa, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Pikiao) has been a carver for almost 15 years. Based in Rotorua, he has been surrounded by mahi toi for much of his life."Me and my twin brother, we kind of always learnt. We grew up with our nan and sat at her side while she weaved. We didn't really think about it as art, it was more functional," he says."It was in our blood, I like to think. We come from a long pedigree line of carvers."Marsters originally wanted to be a tā moko artist, marking people's bodies with traditional Māori tattoo, "but then I slowly fell into whakairo", he says.Alongside his twin, he attended the New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute in Rotorua.There, he was chosen for the first intake into Te Takapū o Rotowhio (the National Stone and Bone Carving School), learning under the tutelage of renowned master carver Lewis Gardiner.Marsters and Gardiner now work side by side at Rākai Jade, a studio in Rotorua.Joel Marsters was among the first students to attend Te Takapū o Rotowhio, learning from master carver Lewis Gardiner. Photo: Erica Sinclair via RNZDoes pounamu always have to be a gift?Over time, Marsters says perceptions of what is tika, or right, for how to treat pounamu has changed. Now he is working to revive traditional practices."We're redefining and making our own as we go, because a lot of the stuff that we were doing was western."He says one of the biggest misconceptions around pounamu is that you cannot buy it for yourself, with some believing it might bring bad luck."I've done some research and there's no evidence of that actually in te ao Māori."That idea was a "Pākehā marketing method" used to encourage tourists visiting Aotearoa to buy pounamu for their relatives back home, rather than reflecting a traditional practice or rule, Marsters says.Although the origins of this superstition are murky, it has undoubtedly contributed to the mystique surrounding pounamu ownership.In the past, when traditional, more time-consuming methods were used to carve a pounamu, it could take a year or more to create a single taonga. As a result, the pieces were highly valued and often passed down from generation to generation - likely influencing the modern practice of gifting pounamu.Nelson-based carver Timoti Moran also agrees that it became a marketing strategy."You can definitely buy yourself one," he says."Our tīpuna traded pounamu. It was traded as a commodity, and it was the best commodity. Great warriors, great ariki, great tohunga all had pounamu."Nelson-based carver Timoti Moran (Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngāti Porou, Waikato Tainui, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Koata ki Whaingaroa, Ngāti Māhanga, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tama ki Taranaki, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Tūhoe, Ngāpui, Ngāi Tahu). Photo: Supplied / Whakaata Māori via RNZCan you repair broken pounamu?Previously a plumber and builder by trade, Moran decided to learn how to carve pounamu after he had a recurring dream calling him to work with the precious stone.He particularly enjoys educating others and, through the blog on his website, addresses commonly asked questions about pounamu.One of these is what to do if your pounamu breaks.Because pounamu was traditionally used by Māori to make tools, Moran's tīpuna were practical in their approach to broken pounamu, he says."Pounamu that was broken by our tīpuna were always repurposed, because it was the most sought-after stone. There was no such thing as throwing stuff away back then."He stresses the importance of taking care of pounamu to prevent breakage."You are dealing with a stone object, and therefore it will break [because of] our modern concrete floors, concrete tiles, laminated bathroom bench tops, which are really hard. So your care of your pounamu is very important," he says."If you need to take off your taonga, do it in a carpeted room."Pounamu is gifted by Māori and non-Māori alike nowadays. Photo: https://timoti.nz/ via RNZFellow carver Marsters says he would only repair a piece "if the structural integrity is there"."Otherwise, if it's broken, I'm like, 'he tohu tērā, pea ka hangaia tētahi taonga hou.'" (That's a sign, maybe it's time to make a new taonga.)"I try my best to replicate it or make it look like it has some little tohu (symbol, mark) acknowledging that broken taonga or tiki, so you're still carrying that mauri," Marsters says.He recommends contacting the original carver of the broken piece."You're not allowed to carve over someone else's mahi, because that's tapu whakairo.That's like killing a man twice so I won't."Like Marsters, Moran says the mauri of the old taonga is still there even when it is repurposed."It still carries the story. Regardless of whether it was a toki and is now a hei tiki, its whakapapa is still there, just like ours."To bless or not to bless?The question of whether a new pounamu taonga should be blessed is one of the most complex, Marsters says.He uses karakia in his mahi everyday to clear the tapu, so believes getting the piece blessed separately is not essential."For starters, you've made the connection with me. You've obviously come this far with me. You feel safe in my hands. I feel there's no juju, but heoi anō, I do karakia every morning before I start my day."Moran, who also uses karakia while creating his taonga, says each person has a different perspective, depending on how they were brought up."There's a lot of different beliefs within hapū, within iwi, within whānau, so kei te pai, each of their own. You don't have to go and do that [blessing]."Who can find and sell pounamu?Ngāi Tahu, the South Island's largest iwi, are the sole kaitiaki of pounamu, a taonga regarded as precious to them and their tīpuna for hundreds of years.In 1997, ownership of all naturally occurring pounamu within Ngāi Tahu's rohe was returned to the iwi as part of its Treaty settlement through the Ngāi Tahu (Pounamu Vesting) Act. This Act recognises that when the iwi sold land to the Crown in the 19th century, it never intended to give up ownership of the highly prized pounamu.Francois Tumahai is the chair of Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Waewae - the smallest hapū of Ngāi Tahu, whose whakapapa traces back to the tīpuna of Te Tai o Poutini (West Coast of the South Island). He says that part of his responsibility is ensuring pounamu is protected for future generations."From our perspective, we are pounamu."Ngāti Waewae's takiwā (area) stretches north of the Hokitika River to Kahurangi Point and inland to the Southern Alps, the area where most pounamu is found.Fossicking for pounamu is only permitted on the beaches of Te Tai o Poutini, and is limited to what an individual can carry. Pounamu found elsewhere, including rivers, cannot be taken without permission from mana whenua.The dull green of raw, uncarved pounamu gives it away among other river stones. Photo: SUPPLIED / Jason Tuhuru via RNZTumahai says some people are breaking the rules, resulting in illegal black market trading."What is happening at the moment is you've got miners [illegally mining and] selling pounamu to carvers. It's coming off mine sites in the little hours of the morning and being transported all around the country and all over the world."To combat this, Ngāi Tahu has set up an authentication scheme, which any carver can sign up to for free.The scheme allows carvers to buy authentic and ethically sourced pounamu to carve. In return, they are provided with a unique traceability code, so customers can identify the origin and whakapapa of the stone, how it was extracted, processed and who the artist that carved it was.The extraction and mining of pounamu is done sparingly, Tumahai says."We're not mining 24/7. We only take pounamu as we require."The latest pounamu boulder Ngāi Tahu found while mining weighed six tonnes, which Tumahai says will last five to six years.Joel Marsters is also concerned about the black market and overproduction of pounamu.He carves by commission only, working with people on their own bespoke pieces."Especially for pounamu, there's no place or home for mass-produced taonga. I believe that, just like tā moko, you sit down, you have the dialogue, and you make a connection that way. Every piece I make is that way."It makes each taonga he creates that much more special, he says."I try to steer each person to the appropriate taonga for them, for that point in time. A lot of people, they might get a taonga that's not quite fit for, for example, a baby. I'm quite real with them."As kaitiaki, you've got to look at the most resourceful way of doing things too. A lot of carvers, they're just pumping and pumping and pumping. It [pounamu] can't withstand it."Marsters says he has been advocating for restraint for years. "Pounamu doesn't just come up again, so we need to be careful with what we do." - RNZ

Pastry chef Caitlin Smith loves being in the business of baking.When she isn’t busy with her two-year-old son Alex, she is in the kitchen, producing a selection of treats which she takes to the Ōamaru Farmers Market, and sells at her stall as The Sweet Smith.Since training as a pastry chef seven years ago, having her own “little business” has been the dream.“It's as hard as it sounds, but I love it, and you know, I think that's really important.”When deciding on a career after she left school, it was a toss up between writing and baking. She knew baking meant early starts, so journalism won out, and after studying, she got a reporting job with TV3.“Then I ended up doing shift work and had to get up early anyway, and put makeup on. So, you know, it kind of backfired. “It was a bad time. I got a bit of a bad start to that environment, but I kind of knew. I looked around and I didn't love it as much as everyone else.She went overseas and had “an existential crisis”. “I was like, what am I doing?” She decided she wanted to be a baker, found a two-year diploma at Auckland University of Technology, and says it’s the best thing she ever did.Donuts are always popular with The Sweet Smith customers, at Ōamaru Farmers' Market every Sunday morning. Photos: Supplied“I'm really glad I went down that route, because it's hard, and it's a very overworked, underpaid industry, but so is journalism.”She graduated in 2018 and, with her husband Sye Johnson, they decided to leave the city they both grew up in, and move south.The couple spent a year in Wānaka, where Caitlin worked at the award-winning Pembroke Patisserie, in Albert Town.“I really enjoyed working there. That was the downside of leaving Wānaka, unfortunately.”Aside from Caitlin’s job, the couple did not have a great experience in Wānaka, and at the start of 2020 moved to Ōamaru. Sye began teaching at St Kevin’s College just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.“I’m glad we’re here. Obviously, that was a bad year. If we were in Wanaka . . . we probably would have gone home to Auckland.” Covid also put the brakes on Caitlin’s business plans, and The Sweet Smith didn’t really get off the ground until 2021.“I think that is when I decided, right, let's do it. And yeah, I’ve kind of been operating on and off since then.”Pregnancy with a healthy dollop of bad morning sickness on the side, made being in the kitchen less appealing for Caitlin, and she took a break until Alex was a bit older. The Sweet Smith has been officially up and running again since February last year. The selection Caitlin offers at the market varies each week, but there are donuts and always an array of slices, cakes and tarts.Also, this winter, for the first time in four years, there was a canteen at the North Otago Netball Saturday competitions, with Caitlin taking charge.She experimented with selling a few basic things, along with her handmade donuts and other baked goods.“It was great. And everyone was really happy to see it . . . I'll be doing it again next year hopefully, if they'll have me.”She also supplies Pottery Patch, the ceramic-painting cafe in the former Midori restaurant building on Ribble Street.Caitlin loves the intricacies involved in what she does. “I've always been very detail-orientated and I think that's what I love about baking, is that you can have your little recipe in front of you, and if you do it right and you know what to do, it comes out beautiful every time.”For her, it is equally important the food looks good, as well as tasting amazing.“You really have to have an eye for detail . . . you’ve got to look at how things look, and it's very much, people eat with their eyes. So if things don't look edible, you don't want to buy it.”Next year Alex turns three, and will be in care three days a week, which means Caitlin can take more orders and look at expanding the business.“I had a high tea order for a little girl's birthday this year, which was kind of an experiment because I love doing high tea, and it worked out really well, they were really happy,” she says. “I've always wanted to do more pastry items and more like high-end kind-of things but that requires a premises and chilled cabinet and all that kind of stuff. So one day.”She also has a friend in Waimate who she worked with in Auckland, and is hopeful eventually they will be able to run a business together - each working to their different strengths.“She's like the cake queen, she does all the fondant work and things like that. So she does the things I don't really like doing, and then I like to do the pastries and things like that.”Outside of baking, Caitlin enjoys other creative outlets such as embroidery, and has involved herself in the community as part of the North Otago Toy Library committee and the Good Bitches Baking group, which now has more than 20 bakers.  “I definitely keep busy, but that's what I do. I've always been like that.”A wedding cake that Caitlin baked, and her Waimate-based friend decorated. Photo: Supplied

By RNZ climate change correspondent Eloise GibsonMicrosoft has unveiled its first hyperscale data centre in New Zealand, joining another colossal centre operated by the company CDC.Amazon Web Services is also due to open one soon.Their growth is partly riding on a boom in using artificial intelligence, for everything from web searches to complex modelling.Training and using AI is an energy-hungry undertaking.Listen to Morning Report here: Climate cost of AI in questionAccording to Goldman Sachs, a ChatGPT query needs nearly 10 times as much electricity to process as a Google search and data centres globally are expected to more than double their power use by 2030.Reuters recently cited Morgan Stanley research putting data centres' 2030 climate impact at about 2.5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide.Like Microsoft, many other tech giants have ambitious goals to lower or eliminate their greenhouse gas emissions.But they are also recording explosive growth in a world with finite renewable energy supplies.One investigation by the Guardian found many of the big tech companies were artificially lowering their climate impacts using products called renewable energy certificates.Other similar reports have increased the pressure for companies to show they are growing the renewable supply where they operate, enough to cover their operations and growth.Thanks to a deal with Contact Energy, Microsoft says its new data centre at Westgate in Auckland is powered entirely by renewable electricity.Data centres are on track to consume 4 percent of the world's electricity by 2026. Photo: 123rfTechnically the power comes from the national grid, but Microsoft NZ managing director Vanessa Sorenson says signing a 10-year supply deal with Contact two years ago gave the electricity company the certainty it needed to build a new unit at the Te Huka geothermal field. Microsoft also paid Contact $300 million to support building the geothermal facility.Although the deal was done before the advent of ChatGPT and the subsequent AI explosion, Sorenson says Microsoft has run the numbers 30-odd years into the future and will have plenty of renewable power to back its New Zealand growth."In terms of the expansion we have 100 percent done those numbers," she says."And [Te Huka Unit 3] is going to generate 51.4MW and we don't need anywhere near that, so we'll actually be putting energy back on the grid."Like CDC's new data centre, Microsoft's will not use water for cooling - addressing a concern with data centres overseas sucking precious water to cool their servers in regions which are already too dry.Sorenson says the Westgate centre is the most sustainable one the company has built.But while the new wave of New Zealand centres are selling their sustainability, the average person typing in a query to ChatGPT or some other cloud-based programme is probably not putting an energy load on a New Zealand-powered server - it is more likely in the United States.Like the internet itself, the impacts of that energy use are global - unless a customer, such as the New Zealand government, has specifically contracted with the likes of Microsoft to have its data stored here in New Zealand.Rebecca Mills of carbon impact consultancy the Lever Room says AI used well can slash emissions and help combat climate change.Her company uses it for tasks such as working out how much carbon is being sucked in by the ocean, figuring out energy-saving routes, and helping companies quickly measure and shrink their greenhouse emissions.She is keen to see the new developments built in the most sustainable way."For countries like New Zealand who have a good renewable energy mix then we are at a really strategic advantage here especially if we're building that into our potential [and] planning."As far as the potential to unlock and help us reduce emissions, I think that could be quite significant."Environmentalist Izzy Fenwick. Photo: Supplied/Izzy FenwickNot all tasks are quite so important as procuring a habitable climate.Environmentalist Izzy Fenwick recently got a big reaction to a post on social media asking people to "please stop using ChatGPT for tasks you could simply do yourself".She owns a software company, Futureful, helping businesspeople make more ethical decisions - and stresses she was not anti-AI, just anti-wasteful uses of it."Some of our sustainability challenges are so complex, it's more than the human brain can wade through. Great use. Not a great use is 'create an image of a half dog half lizard' or writing this 100-word email I can't be bothered doing myself," she says."One of the really interesting comments I got a lot of from that post I shared was, 'oh my god I had no idea'."She says many of her contacts were horrified to learn how much water and energy their queries were using, when those resources could go to much more critical - even life-saving - uses.But it is not always easy to avoid AI.When I typed "data centre emissions" into an ordinary Google search bar to research this story, the first result was an AI generated overview from Gemini, Google's artificial intelligence chatbot - despite the query not having asked for an AI summaryIt turns out AI is well aware of its own impact, or at least of the servers on which it runs.The summary said: "Data centres contribute to climate change by releasing greenhouse gases that cause rising temperatures, more severe weather events, and sea-level rise."User beware. - RNZ

~ Opinion ~It's mid December already, Christmas is coming fast and you're running around multitasking, head spinning and almost out of puff?! Whether you have a family with kids, are a couple or are on your own, work demands and family pressures seem to reach warp speed at this time of year making finding a moment to breathe seemingly impossible. Often, you're giving all of yourself to your work and loved ones, when in fact right now you could do with gifting yourself some self care just to survive this Silly Season madness. No time for self care? Yeah nah.This is exactly the time for self care so you don’t collapse in a heap on Christmas Eve - so exhausted that you struggle to even enjoy the big day! If you don’t look after yourself now, your care for those you love will suffer in the end as well.Christmas wasn’t meant to cause self destruction and you can make different choices.Here's my three top tips to help you find time and breathing space 😊 in the lead up to the big day.Prioritise and delegateLearn to say No! You’re human, you have limits and you’re allowed to set boundaries. Yes even you! What are your top 2 or 3 priorities and what can you share (whether to work/business colleagues or family)… it's always ok to ask for help!Refuse to let stress take centre stageSet aside any family differences – the Silly Season can bring out the worst in us and in our loved ones.Everyone is feeling it, even your kids. To avoid taking it out on the ones you love, talk it through, take a step back and try to park the small stuff before it grows into big stuff.Is it really worth spoiling your Christmas over? Pace yourselfDecide on how many pre-Christmas drinks and parties you attend…it might numb the pain but a hangover ain't gonna help!Sounds boring but staying mostly healthy with your eating and exercise will help, you’ll feel better and sleep better. Eat, drink and be merry later!Finally – be kind to yourself and othersWe’re all flat out, but still able to be kind and patient.Many around you are struggling for many reasons and often find it just too hard to smile through it.It can be a heart-breaking time for people and we don't always know other people's circumstances.So, take a breath and be kind to each other, it might be all they (and you) need - a smile or a hug or just sharing what's going on. 😊For now, make peace with your to-do list and your loved ones and when you get to the main event, you have yourself a fabulous Christmas and New Year.Remember, you deserve it...and your loved ones deserve a happy chilled you!Merry Merry…Happy Happy!Margi Bryant is a Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP) with WellSouth Oamaru. She is available 4 days a week, 8.30 - 4.30pm.Monday – Kurow Medical Tuesday - South Hill MedicalWed/Thurs - Te Kaika Oamaru

By RNZ Reporter Serena SolomonAndrew Galloway's first experience with alcohol occurred when an adult family member supplied him with a box of beer."It was consumed irresponsibly and I was horribly sick. I went on to have a bad relationship with alcohol."His experience mirrors what a large body of research-based evidence indicates. When parents introduce alcohol to their teenagers, it increases their child's chances of having an unhealthy relationship with drinking.Galloway is now the executive director of Alcohol Healthwatch, an organisation dedicated to reducing and preventing alcohol-related harm. How parents should introduce alcohol to their children is a common question that he gets and the answer is delay delay delay.As Christmas and New Year's Eve approach with all the associated parties, parents might think about pouring their 15-year-old a dribble of a stiff drink. Don't do it, say the experts.Andrew Galloway from Alcohol Healthwatch, Photo: supplied"It's a mind-altering depressant drug the harm of which is more than any other drug in New Zealand," said Galloway, who has since reined in his unhealthy drinking habits.The millions spent on alcohol marketing each year - estimated at $61 million in 2018 - does a good job of associating alcohol with career and social success. But that's not the case.Alcohol-related harm costs New Zealand about $9 billion annually. Alcohol is involved in more than 30 percent of family violence incidents. It directly contributes to one in ten cases of child abuse or child neglect. It can cause a range of diseases including heart disease and cancer.What does the research say?There is overwhelming research that indicates introducing alcohol to your teenager is not a helpful strategy, according to Sally Casswell, a professor of public health and social research at Massey University."I know that many parents will use this rationale that they're doing it so that their kids learn how to drink and it's safer for them to be given alcohol at home rather than outside. But there isn't any evidence that overall it's a good idea."Casswell pointed to an Australian study published in 2018 that followed almost 2,000 parents and teenagers for six years. It found that when parents supplied their children with alcohol it resulted in increased incidents of binge drinking, alcohol-related harm and alcohol use disorder.Professor Sally Cresswell.. Photo: supplied"You also hear parents say and believe that if they supply the alcohol, there will be less chance that the kids will get it from other people, they won't go hunting it from friends or getting it illegally and so on."The Australian study proved that theory wrong, too. If parents supply alcohol, it's likely their kids will seek more illegally, Cassell said.But what does the law say?New Zealand's laws don't line up with the research. While it is illegal for young people under the age of 18 to buy alcohol, parents can legally supply their children with it at any age in a responsible manner. Furthermore, parents or legal guardians can permit other people to supply their children with alcohol in a responsible manner.A responsible manner, according to the Ministry of Justice, could mean supplying food and non-alcoholic drinks with the alcohol and limiting the strength and amount of alcohol served.Galloway believes a drinking age of 25 is more in line with research than 18 when brains are still growing.By age 25, the area of the brain responsible for decisions, the frontal cortex, "is fully developed and people can make decisions with a good risk calculator," he said.But how do the French do it?There has been a trend in bougie parenting spaces to look to France for parenting models (who remembers the book Bringing Up Bebe, an American view of French parenting?). This includes an assumption that the French have developed a sophisticated drinking culture by introducing fine wine to their children at the family dinner table.This is an incomplete picture that glosses over alcohol harm in France, said Casswell"[France] had one in five hospital beds with somebody in it with an alcohol-related disease. They were really struggling."The nation that gives us sparkling champagne and rich Bordeaux reds began taxing alcohol heavily, reducing its availability and restricting alcohol marketing.New Zealand tried a more liberal European approach to alcohol starting in the 1980s with the goal that "New Zealand would become a sophisticated drinking nation like France..." according to the Laking Report. The rationale ignored the strong association between increased alcohol availability and increased harm.Now, some New Zealand councils are pulling back alcohol availability by reducing places where you can buy alcohol and reducing hours it can be sold, according to Galloway.So how should I approach alcohol with my teenager?When Casswell looks back at her days parenting teenagers, she stuck to a core message."I just kept saying over and over that 'I'm not saying you never drink alcohol. Later is better. Later is better. Later is better' and it worked."Parents can sometimes feel pressure from their kids to provide alcohol because that's what they think other families are doing. Take heart, that isn't the case either."One of the things that has come out of the research is that often parents perceive that other parents are supplying alcohol to a greater extent than they actually are."Alcohol is also falling out of favour with young people. Research from the University of Otago found that while binge drinking is still an issue, fewer teenagers drink alcohol than 20 years ago and they face less stigma when turning down a drink. - RNZ

Vera Bochow opened The Hungry German at 22 Tees St, at the end of November. She offers a concise menu of traditional German fare, including schnitzel, and Nuremberg and Frankfurter sausages, and of course sauerkraut.Q. Tell us a little bit about your background and family - and how you ended up in Oamaru:My family (my husband and two adult children) and I came to New Zealand from Germany 17 years ago and settled in Christchurch.After working as a nanny for different families, the opportunity to open a small takeaway shop presented itself.Kelli Williams, a family friend, from One Agency next door (on Tees Street), offered the little shop to me and thought the idea of having a new place for people to enjoy something different would be a great addition to Ōamaru. So we fitted out the shop and got the necessary approvals and now I’m commuting between Christchurch and Oamaru. Q. What is the story behind The Hungry German? What was your motivation behind opening it?I always loved cooking and especially cooking for people, so I’m doing what I love! If people enjoy my food as much as I do cooking for them, it’s a win-win. Q. When did you open? And how has it been going?I opened the doors on 23 November and had great feedback from locals so far! The Schnitzel Fries Supreme, as well as our Hungry’s Mac’n Cheese (Kaesespaetzle) are a great hit! Our pasta is homemade and it’s also a great vegetarian option. Q. What is it you love about German food? What do you think will appeal to customers who haven't tried it yet? German food is so much more than sausages and sauerkraut – although I have that on my menu too. There are many regional specialties, and I try to bring you a piece of our South German comfort food! Kaesespaetzle is very typical for the region (South West Germany) I’m from and a staple in our house, but one thing I have to recommend is definitely the sauerkraut! Not only is it incredibly healthy and good for you, it also tastes delicious.A Nuremburg sausage with sauerkraut and tomato sauce. Photo: Sarah RowlandI pan fry it with apples and onions low and slow to bring out the natural sweetness and it’s the perfect accompaniment for any of the sausages or the German meatloaf. It’s also worth mentioning that we have a lot of gluten-free options (our Frankfurters, Nurembergs, German Meatloaf, sauerkraut, potato salad and chips from Makikihi Fries). I’m also planning to serve specials from time to time so follow our Facebook page for announcements. Q. Do you have a favourite dish?Again, the Sauerkraut and Kaesespaetzle are definitely favourites with my family and myself, and the more people try it, the more they love it too! Although a good Schnitzel never goes amiss. Q. What are you enjoying about the business? What have you found the most challenging part?I love it if people enjoy eating my food and come back for more! The challenging part is getting the word out, making people aware that we exist, as well as figuring out what people love the most. It’s hard to gauge what items people will choose from the menu but this will work out over time and we just evolve and adjust. Q. What do you like to do outside of your business, in your spare time?In my spare time, I love spending time with my family (and yes, I love getting everyone together over lunch or dinner) or go for walks at the beach and I’m a real bookworm. Books with a history background especially interest me. The Hungry German is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11am until 7pm.

By RNZ reporter Isra'a EmhailThe heated US election, Olympics and the viral memes from athletes, and One Direction star Liam Payne were among the top search terms from Kiwis on Google this year.The search trends cover the period from the start of the year until about 1 December.US electionThe New York Post is displayed in the window of a newsstand inside of Trump Tower in New York City, on 6 November, 2024. Photo: DAVID DEE DELGADO/AFP via RNZThe US election was the number one most searched term in Aotearoa. It was always set to be a heated battleground as Joe Biden dropped out, when concerns about his wellbeing were raised after a disastrous televised debate with the Republicans' pick, Donald Trump, in June. In his stead, Kamala Harris took up the baton for the Democrats and went head to head with Trump in early November, but it wasn't long before it was clear he had won.ConnectionsThe New York Times word puzzle Connections, released in 2023, challenges players to find themes between words. It was the third most searched term in New Zealand.All things sportSports dominated search terms in New Zealand this year, with the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship (commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2024) coming in number two. Spain won the tournament for a record fourth time after defeating England 2-1 in the final.Australia's Rachael Gunn, left, known as Raygun, gestures next to US' Logan Edra, known as Logistx, during their battle in the breaking dance competition at the Paris Olympics. Photo: Odd Andersen/AFP via RNZThe Paris 2024 Olympics was the fourth most-searched term, with New Zealand athletes nabbing 20 medals in total to land an 11th ranking on the prize table. Sky's viewership figures show 2,819,200 people - or 57 percent of the population - watched the Games across NZ.The most searched meme was Australian breakdancer Raygun - Rachael Gunn - who gained widespread attention after receiving a score of zero while competing at the sports' Games debut. Another most searched meme from the Games was the Turkish Olympic shooter Yusuf Dikec - he was seventh on the meme list of search trends. He went viral for his calm and casual demeanour as he took aim with one hand tucked into his pocket, with other athletes also copying the nonchalant pose.Good as gold: Olympic athletes who couldn’t make the cut today are quick enough for gold decades earlierAmong the other sports in the top 10 were cricket T20 World Cup (sixth place), Australian Open (eighth place) and All Blacks v England (ninth place). The All Blacks narrowly defeated England three times this year, with the most recent being in November when they headed to one of the most daunting venues in test rugby to face a team keen for revenge.Liam PayneNiall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson of One Direction accept the Artist of the Year award onstage at the American Music Awards on 23 November, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Kevin Winter / Getty Images / AFP via RNZOn 17 October, 31-year-old British singer Liam Payne was found dead after he fell from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, triggering an outpouring of grief from fans around the world. His fellow One Direction band mates - Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson - joined Payne's family and friends for a private funeral in Buckinghamshire, north west of London.Shows, people and concertsCatherine, Princess of Wales, reacts as she speaks to members of the emergency services during a visit to Southport Community Centre in Southport, north west England on 10 October, 2024. Photo: AFP / Danny Lawson via RNZAs well as Liam Payne, the top five most-searched figures include Kate Middleton (whose absence from public duties while receiving treatment for cancer sent the rumour mill spinning), Trump, Lisa Carrington (who set a record after winning three gold medals at this year's Olympics), and Kamala Harris.The shows and films that captured our attention on Google were Amazon Prime's Saltburn, Netflix's Baby Reindeer (which took home four Emmy Awards), animation film Inside Out 2, the It Ends With Us film (based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover), and Netflix's Fool Me Once.Coldplay perform at Auckland's Eden Park on 14 November, 2024. Photo: Tom Grut via RNZConcerts that stole the show on search terms include:Coldplay (who played to sell-out crowds at Auckland's Eden Park),Travis Scott (also played to a sell-out audience at Eden Park in October),SZA (performed at Spark Arena in April),P!nk (played at Eden Park and Dunedin Stadium in March),Brooke Fraser (performed with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra for a one-night only concert at the Spark Arena in June).Why are concert tickets so expensive? - RNZ

A new piece of track which takes the Alps 2 Ocean cycle trail off the State Highway through Kurow, shows the power of community.A small group of volunteers who maintain the Kurow Hill track saw the potential to link the hill with a 600-metre section of trail formed on top of a closed water race.The race ran behind the houses for years until KDIC (Kurow Duntroon Irrigation Scheme) filled it in, Kurow woman Karen Turner says.The trail was recognised as a potential walking trail for locals as they were already walking it, "but it was overgrown and not that nice underfoot", Karen says.Along with other volunteers, Karen helps maintain the Kurow Hill track, and saw the development of the pipeline trail as an addition to what they already do.“I did not want to have to go to funders for this and thought it was something our community could build.”The work came at no cost to the community. “Everyone donated time/skills/machinery/gravel,” Karen says.The project, from idea to completion took eight months.Volunteering their time and resources were Gary Hawkins Earthmoving, Murray and Geoff Turner, Brett Green Contracting, and Road Metals.The trail runs through Awakino Station land, and KDIC, who owns the easement, gave permission for the track.Waitaki District Council officers provided support and advice on the project.

By RNZ reporter Jessica HopkinsEvery week at a community centre in West Auckland, a bunch of bubbly seniors can be found chatting away and working together on craft projects.Social group members at Te Manawa have found caffeine, crafting, and good mates to be the cure for loneliness.Loneliness among older New Zealanders is now at epidemic levels according to Age Concern.A study by the advocacy group last month showed 59 percent of Kiwis aged 65 and over recently felt lonely or socially isolated.Helen Brown said she joined a social group because she felt very alone after retiring."I was on my own and really depressed."My doctor said 'you have to get out of the house and do something' and then I found the knitting group."My mental health is a lot better and I've made some awesome friends."Lorraine O'Connor worried about not having any social interaction as she got older."I've got a husband, but once he's gone I will be isolated."You don't see your neighbours, nobody. The only other person I see is the girl behind the counter at the supermarket."I come to the Good Friends Group. It's great. We just sit and chat and have a laugh."Peter Paltridge attending a senior's social group at Te Manawa with his granddaughter Erica Paltridge. Photo: RNZ / Jessica Hopkins.Fern Clay, who is a widow of five years, said she made sure to stay connected to combat loneliness."You can sit there at home and mope or you can get up and do things and meet people."You have to make the effort, you have to meet people halfway I've found."Valerie Foster said she regularly checked her local library noticeboard to find out what was going on in her community."You have to make a conscious effort to get out there and do things rather than sitting at home saying poor me."I don't have relatives in New Zealand. I think friends become really important then - having someone to chat to or do things with."Auckland Council Libraries communities programming lead, Karena Walters, said since Covid-19, they had seen more lonely people arriving at community hubs."I remember a group of ladies were in tears. They were so lonely and would talk to staff for hours. But to have friendships is the most important thing."She said loneliness could be exacerbated over the summer holidays when many groups shut down."Over Christmas we know people are far more isolated. Family disappear, they go on holiday. It's a really tough time."But she said the new year is a great time to get involved in new opportunities."If you don't have family around you, if you're a retired person and you find yourself on your own, pop into community centres, houses, hubs, and libraries. There will be a lot of advertising coming out in early December for what will be starting in the new year."Have a conversation with someone in one of those places and they'll help find something that works for you."Don't sit at home. Take the step and get out there. Over Christmas please don't be lonely just reach out."Auckland Council senior advisory panel member Claire Dale encouraged people of all ages to be brave and try new things in 2025."Visit a local library, phone a friend and arrange to see a movie, volunteer for a charity."None of these activities are expensive, many are free, and all are potentially enjoyable."Dale said studies had shown lonely people ages 60 to 79 were three times more likely to develop dementia than those who were not lonely.Age Concern chief executive Karen Billings-Jensen said it was important to spread holiday cheer to those who might be feeling low."We want to make sure people check in on older people and older people can check on their neighbours when things aren't running."Having a cup of tea with someone can make a huge difference in someone's life around combating loneliness."She encouraged people to contact Age Concern if they or someone they know needed support.Age Concern provides a visiting service, support services, social activities and more. - RNZ

North Otago Police, St John and Fire Emergency New Zealand services are gathering in Ōamaru tonight for a training exercise. The groups are taking part in an exercise at Ōamaru Mitre 10 Mega between 7pm and 9pm.During this time, people may see Police in tactical uniforms carrying training firearms and there may also be some noise, but there is no cause for concern, a police statement says.Exercises like this are a vital part of making sure emergency services are able to respond to any situation.These exercises could not happen without the support of local communities, and the groups want to thank them for their support and cooperation, the statement says.

Community collaboration is the winner, after four years battling an out-of-control rabbit population in Moeraki. A successful community rabbit management programme in the coastal North Otago town is being celebrated - but co-operative vigilance remains the key to long-term success, the Otago Regional Council says.Council Environmental Implementation manager Libby Caldwell says the most recent results for residents in the Moeraki Community Rabbit Management Programme has been “outstanding”, citing well over 90% of properties in the area now complying.The coastal township and surrounding farms of Moeraki, south of Ōamaru, have historically had significant rabbit populations, at times causing widespread damage around the area.Recently, many in the community got together and utilised a combination of rabbit-netted fencing, engaged contractors for poison operations, and then followed up with thermal night shooting to knock back the rabbit population.“The Moeraki programme is a fantastic example of the success community initiatives can have, but rabbit control work is never truly finished, and we all have to remain vigilant to maintain these gains,” Libby says.While rabbit control is always ultimately the responsibility of land occupiers, be it private or public land, the efforts of Moeraki’s landowners have “really paid dividends”, she says.Moeraki residents Dugald and Alison MacTavish, who are landowners in the community programme, say the rabbits on their property were getting to the point of “eating everything” available, leaving bald patches across paddocks, affecting spring flush for several years and even ring-barking mature gorse bushes.“We’ve always had a background rabbit level, but it got worse over those four to five years, where eventually everyone had different horror stories to tell. We would shoot but it was a no-win situation as there was always a [rabbit] nest of reinfection somewhere nearby,” Dugald says.Photo: Matteo Baronti from PixabayWhile some people did not like the idea of poisoning, because of concerns over pets and wildlife, once initial numbers go down by poisoning, then communities can keep them down with two to three contractor shootings each year, with a professional using thermal imaging equipment.“So we planned a single poisoning to do just that and then switched to shooting only,” Dugald says. Mrs Caldwell says the Moeraki community tackled the problem cohesively, given rabbits are an area-wide problem, not just an individual property problem.“While there’s still work to be done in the area to maintain the great gains residents have made, that workload should be more manageable and predictable going forward due to their excellent and collaborative work,” she says.Mrs Caldwell says during the last four years, ORC inspected and visited 97 public and privately owned properties, including several properties owned by the Waitaki District Council and the Department of Conservation.  ‘’Staff have supported the community and have really enjoyed this project and seeing the great work the community has done.” As of last September, 94 properties (or 97%) inspected as part of the community management programme were compliant with the relevant rule of the Otago Regional Pest Management Plan 2019-2029. With groups of landowners in the community combining their efforts and engaging the same contractor, they were able to cost share and achieve greater gains through a coordinated approach by doing all the work required at the same time, Libby says. Dugald says the area’s large farms generally had their own control systems in place, so the group’s primary focus was the peri-urban and rural lifestyle blocks. “Within the wider area, we just asked all landowners if they would coordinate their control in the winter,” he says. Under the current RPMP rules, they believe the best way to avoid rabbit populations re-establishing, is if the group or groups agree to employ one professional contractor who is charged with maintaining numbers below the formal measure of the Modified McLean Scale.To minimise reinfestation, he thinks it would be “highly desirable” to establish a “catchment” map with natural rabbit boundaries, within which all property owners would coordinate the timing and intensity of control effort.“It’s important to be informed and be prepared to be flexible because there’s all kinds of individual concerns to be considered around shooting or using poison,” he says.BackgroundIn September 2021, the regional council initiated the Moeraki Community Rabbit Management Programme to identify which areas of Moeraki were particularly rabbit-prone and why, to provide education about roles and responsibilities related to rabbit management, and guidance on effective rabbit management approach. The Otago Regional Pest Management Plan 2019-2029 plan rule 6.4.6.1 states an occupier within the Otago region shall control feral rabbit densities on the land they occupy to at or below Level 3 on the Modified McLean Scale.

People power has brought a small New Zealand film to Ōamaru.A group of local music-slash-film fanatics requested the 2024 Head South movie, written and directed by Jonathan Ogilvie, and Riviera Cinema Ōamaru owners Chris and Grace Rottenberry were happy to oblige.The film will screen on Saturday at 4pm, and next Wednesday (December 11) at 8.10pm.“With the smaller New Zealand films it's quite easy, because they're independently distributed,” Chris says. “You generally just look up the film, it'll take you to their website and you can just contact them. “Unlike the bigger distributors, there's not really many steps involved there. They're just a lot more happy for you to play the film - get it out there, so that's been awesome.” Chris says they get requests all the time, and try to accommodate them where they can.“We've been really versatile since we opened. I think the other week it was, we showed 17 different films in the one week.”Requests have ranged from a French film, to Maurice and I, a documentary about two New Zealand architects - the most successful New Zealand film they’ve screened. “We played that for two months . . . not everyone wants to see the big blockbusters, so it's nice to fill in the gaps.“It's just, on two screens sometimes that can get a little bit restrictive. You just have to cram.”Head South is set in 1979 Christchurch and is said to be loosely based on Ogilvie’s life.The movie centres around teenager Angus who, with his father's support, discovers the underground post-punk music scene in Christchurch and overcomes several obstacles to perform.Chris says he was “bombarded” with emails from people wanting to see the movie.Ōamaru resident and music aficionado Fraser Lewry, one of the many who requested the film, says he was keen to see it, because he found it interesting a New Zealand film had been made about the subject and era.Photo: NZ Film Commission website“I think it’s an important part of, especially South Island history, that isn’t covered enough.” Fraser was born in New Zealand, but also lived in the United Kingdom for more than 40 years.“I think if you ask a lot of people in the UK what the South Island means to them - it’ll be Lord of the Rings and Flying Nun (Records). “I assume it’s all kind of tied together. The fact that Shayne Carter, one of the original Dunedin, Flying Nun crew, is responsible for some of the soundtrack, adds to the appeal,” Fraser says. He says it’s great their request for the movie was well-received.“It’s lovely to know that the proprietors of the Riviera are open to requests from people in town.”Chris says they’re “always happy to listen”.“As long as they don't get upset if we can't . . . because we always, we'll try where we can.“Some films are harder to get than others. And some films can incur a very big fee to try and get them in. So we have to do quite a substantial amount of admissions. So there is that risk as well.”The Rottenberrys took over the cinema at the end of June, and said the past five months have been “fantastic”.“Everyone's been really receptive. We've made quite a few little changes, and we have a few more to come. But we're just trying to settle down a little bit as it gets busier, and we'll sort of look things again in the new year.” The couple have just come off their busiest week since opening, with Moana 2 opening last week, and Wicked the week before. “Moana 2 actually had the biggest opening for an animated film in New Zealand history,” Chris says.“Which was previously held by Shrek 2. So it's been held for a very long, long time. About 20 years I think.”Despite it being summer, the holidays are the busiest period of the summer for the cinema. If people want to see a movie, it doesn’t matter the season, he says.“Mufasa, Sonic 3, and Paddington 3 all come out within a two-week span, which will be the most stacked Christmas period since part of the pandemic.“It's really exciting. I could talk to you about it all day . . . It's been a long time coming. It's been a bit of a slog the last five years. “It's good to see it all starting to catch back up again and people are coming back, which is the most important thing.”For the adults, Better Man - a Robbie Williams biopic, is out on Boxing Day. “And then we have A Real Pain coming out, which is an arthouse film, and it's already started winning awards leading up to the Oscars, so yeah, it's going to be fun to watch. And then the other one would probably be Nosferatu, which is New Year's Day, which is a horror film, and reviews are coming out for that already, and apparently it's exceptional, so, yeah, got a bit of everything.”  The cinema is closed on Christmas Day, but back open Boxing Day.

By RNZ reporter Jogai BhattTaylor Swift, Joe Rogan, and Prince Harry are amongst the people New Zealanders listened to most this year, according to this year's Spotify Wrapped results.The streaming giant's annual event assesses mountains of listening data and gives users a unique snapshot of their listening habits. It stitches together our top artists, tracks and genres, counts up the minutes we listened, and reveals all the new music we learned along the way - with some interesting genre names at times.In no great surprise, Taylor Swift has kept her crown as New Zealand's most streamed artist on Spotify, with the pop artist's record The Tortured Poets Department; The Anthology taking the number one spot as New Zealand's most-streamed album, followed by Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Soft and Sabrina Carpenter's Short n Sweet.Swift was the world's most streamed artist for the second year in a row, grabbing more than 26.6 billion streams. The Weeknd scored silver in the global stats, followed by Bad Bunny, Drake and Billie Eilish.Rising popstar, Benson Boone, made his debut on this year's Wrapped list with his song 'Beautiful Things' which went viral on TikTok this year. Boone has taken out the title of New Zealand's most-streamed track. The American is set to play at Auckland's Spark Arena on January 24 - a resceduled show after two gigs at the smaller Powerstation venue sold out.Worldwide, it was Sabrina Carpenter's 'Espresso' which was the most listened to song (1.6m streams) followed by the Boone banger and 'Birds of a Feather' by Billie Eilish.SIX60 were New Zealand's most-streamed local artist in 2024. Photo: Â© Shelley Te Haara via RNZSIX60 have taken the crown as the country's most-streamed local artist, followed by L.A.B, while the track 'Blue Eyed Māori' by Corrella took the number one place for the most-streamed local artist song.Since Spotify Wrapped's launch in 2016, SIX60 has consistently featured in New Zealand's top-streamed lists, even surpassing some of the world's biggest artists like Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber back in 2021.The Joe Rogan Experience was the most popular podcast in New Zealand this year. Photo: Alexia Russell via RNZThe Joe Rogan Experience was the most popular podcast in New Zealand this year, as well as the number one most listened to show on the platform globally. Hosted by the comedian and commentator, Joe Rogan, the podcast boasts 14.5 million followers on Spotify, with guests including Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos, and US president Donald Trump.Other popular podcasts in New Zealand this year were The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlet, The Morning Shift, Call Her Daddy, and Huberman Lab.Spare by Prince Harry claimed the title of most popular audiobook in New Zealand for 2024. Photo: AFP / Angela Weiss via RNZSpare by Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex had New Zealand listening this year, claiming the position as the most popular audiobook across the nation. Following this was It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover, which was adapted into the highly-anticipated film of the same name starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.Rounding out the top five books we listened to this year are The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass, and Atomic Habits by James Clear.What's all the fuss about Spotify Wrapped?Dr Jesse Austin-Stewart, a music lecturer at Massey University's School of Music and Screen Arts, reckons it's two fold - it's fun, but there's also some marketing genius behind it."Spotify Wrapped is this really fun thing we can use to connect with our whānau and our friends over what can be a really important and valuable part of our lives, but it's also this really undercover marketing tool they can use to support their reputation in ways that it's not supported throughout the year."Music lecturer Dr Jesse Austin-Stewart says Spotify Wrapped is a powerful marketing tool for the streaming giant. Photo: Supplied via RNZWhen Wrapped drops at the end of each year, users can find a colourful set of infographics in their Spotify app, complete with data and storytelling that's unique to each of the 640 million people that use it. In 2023, it was all about 'your dark side', where music tastes were illustrated with tarot cards. The year before that, it was 'your listening personality'. In 2024, Wrapped digs into how our music tastes can change from month-to-month, from 'vampire wave rock' to 'pink pilates princess pop'.Dr Austin-Stewart says these features make Spotify Wrapped "innately shareable"."There's the parts of it that are innately shareable with each other, either in a public setting or a private setting where you want to show your friends, 'Hey, this is what I listen to' and that ends up tying so closely to our identities and what we want to say about ourselves. And then there's that awkward thing of, 'Is this something I want to share, am I embarrassed about this?' Whether people share that or not, the conversation about it is a really easy and fun one to have."Overall, when Wrapped drops, it's a peak talking point for Spotify, and that has to be a good thing for the streaming giant."When there's so much discourse around the lack of royalties these streamers are paying artists, I guess Wrapped is a market point of difference to continue the conversation around Spotify, as opposed to other streamers, that's more positive, when the press they're getting for the rest of the year isn't."2024 Spotify Wrapped New Zealand Top ListsMost-Streamed Artists:Taylor SwiftDrakeKanye WestBillie EilishEminemTop Local Artists:SIX60L.A.BStan WalkerKatchafireLordeMost-Streamed Songs:'Beautiful Things' by Benson Boone'Lose Control' by Teddy Swims'Too Sweet' by Hozier'Million Dollar Baby' by Tommy Richman'Espresso' by Sabrina CarpenterTop Local Songs:'Blue Eyed Māori' by Corrella'In the Air' by L.A.B'Heart of a Lion' by Brutha Rodz'Don't Forget Your Roots' by SIX60'Mr Reggae' by L.A.BMost-Streamed Albums:The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology by Taylor SwiftHit Me Hard And Soft by Billie EilishShort n' Sweet by Sabrina CarpenterSOS by SZAFireworks & Rollerblades by Benson BooneTop Podcasts:The Joe Rogan ExperienceThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven BartlettThe Morning ShiftCall Her DaddyHuberman LabTop Audiobooks in Premium:Spare by Prince Harry The Duke of SussexIt Ends with Us by Colleen HooverThe Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. TolkienA Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. MaasAtomic Habits by James ClearTop Local Audiobooks in Premium:Gangland by Jared SavageMāori Made Easy by Scotty MorrisonDid I Ever Tell You This? By Sam NeillGangster's Paradise by Jared SavageKāwai by Monty Soutar - RNZ

Traditionally, many people head away over the Christmas break, leaving houses unoccupied and neighbourhoods a little quieter than usual. So here are a few prevention tips to consider when preparing for a time away.Newspapers and mailGet a neighbour to collect your mail and ensure your newspaper delivery is stopped. Remind neighbours to collect the Oamaru Mail from your house on a Friday, as stacked up mail is a sure indicator that no one is there.Spare keysGive a trusted neighbour or relative a key to your house. This is preferable to having a key hidden outside and especially not in those common places of under a mat, pot or in an empty shoe. Something like an annoying beeping smoke alarm may need attention while you are away and it’s simple if your neighbour can just pop in and sort it. If you are away for a while, it’s great to have someone going in weekly, as many people have returned home to a flood caused by a broken pipe that went unnoticed for weeks.Don't give obvious signals that you're awayMake the house look like someone is still home. Do not close the curtains, (even in holiday home), and it would be great if someone could mow your lawns or hang out some washing on your line.Hide the Christmas packagingBe aware of leaving packaging from Christmas presents in a visible place. The box from the new TV might make it tempting for someone to break in.Untidy your houseDon’t leave the house too tidy. If a would-be thief is looking in your windows, an immaculate house looks like no one is there. Leave a few coffee cups out and the paper strewn open, to make the house looked lived in.Don't tell the world that you're awayPosting pictures of your whole family on Facebook or Instagram is an open invitation. Still take all the holiday pics but post them once you are home stating that you HAD a wonderful holiday, not that you are currently HAVING one. Talk to your teenagers about this, as it may well be them who are inadvertently advertising your empty house.Store valuables carefullyStore valuables in a safe place. It’s not smart to leave jewellery in an easily seen jewellery box. Find a more obscure location for your precious things. Plus, if you have a safe, use it, and ensure the actual safe is away, out of sight.Lock your shedsIf by some miracle, farmers manage to get off the farm, please lock all sheds and don’t leave petrol where it can be stolen.Wishing you a peaceful and happy Christmas.Christine DorseyWaitaki Neighbourhood Support | 0272410589

By RNZ reporters Pretoria Gordon and Mary ArgueChanges to a critical science fund are short-sighted and will have negative effects on universities' ability to carry out research in both humanities and social sciences, a senior academic at Victoria University says.But a business group said the changes to the Marsden Fund were the right move - and would boost productivity, living standards and economic growth.Science, Innovation and Technology minister Judith Collins on Wednesday announced changes to the fund, which is administered by the Royal Society and provides grants for scientific research. Collins said humanities and social sciences would no longer be supported, and the independent panels that made funding decisions would be disbanded by next year, as part of a "more strategic approach to science funding across the board".Every application for funding must now describe its potential to generate economic, environmental, or health benefits for New Zealand, and 50 percent of grants from the Marsden Fund each year must have the potential for economic benefit.Association of Scientists co-president Dr Troy Baisden told Morning Report the move was a "very dangeous problem" that all scientists were worried about."This is just ill-informed."If we undermine the foundation of everything that we do, the things that everyone wants from science fall down with the foundations, and this is a change that undermines the norms that underly these sort of fundamental research systems throughout the world."Baisden said New Zealand had an odd system for funding reasearch and the amounts awarded were only enough to get started, not completely fund things.Listen on Morning Report here: Association of Scientists on cuts to humanities funding"This government has a mandate to rebuild the economy and it is critical that we spend taxpayers money on research that can generate real benefit to New Zealand," the minister told RNZ."It is also important to note that only 50 percent of funding needs to show economic benefit, the Marsden Fund will continue to support blue-skies research that advances new ideas, innovation and creativity and where the benefit may not be immediately apparent."Otago University palaeogenetics laboratory director Professor Nic Rawlence told Morning Report his field wasn't affected by the decision, but colleagues he collaborates with were, and that concerned him."They do vitally important research we think."Many of the projects were very collaborative, he said.He pointed to work on the New Zealand wars, or investigating the barriers to vaccine uptake, or climate mitigation."The archaeology example, we are looking at how Māori and Pakeha lived in New Zealand, how their societies functioned and if we don't learn from history were doomed to repeat it, which will have big economic impacts."Without the Marsden Fund there were no other funding options, Rawlence said.Victoria University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Margaret Hyland says social sciences and humanities research is necessary for the well-being of society, and the funding changes are a mistake. Photo: Supplied/ Zealandia"The danger here is with humanities and social sciences funding being scrapped... that could result in a brain drain with people going overseas."In 2024, the amount of Marsden funding available was approximately $77.7 million.Listen to Morning Report here: Govt makes cuts to the Marsden Fund research grantThe Royal Society, which has administered investment of the Marsden Fund on behalf of the New Zealand Government for 30 years, said it would be assessing the broader implications of these changes.President Dame Jane Harding said it would continue to work to support the social sciences and humanities through a range of mechanisms in addition to funding."Increasingly it is understood that research needed to generate benefits for our country will need to be interdisciplinary, integrating knowledge from experts in the social sciences and humanities with science, engineering, and technology.Surprise and concernAn email sent to all Victoria University staff from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Margaret Hyland said it had taken the whole sector by surprise."We have fundamental concerns about the changes, which we believe are short-sighted and will have significant negative effects on all universities' ability to carry out valuable and critical research in humanities and social sciences."She said all universities in New Zealand were united in their condemnation of the changes."We know that humanities and social sciences research is hugely valuable to us as a university, and necessary for the well-being of society in general."We'll be doing everything in our power to ensure such valuable research is supported."Hyland told RNZ she stood by her statement."It was our response to learning about the changes and we wanted our people to know of our level of concern and unwavering support for our researchers."A statement from Universities New Zealand said the announcement was very concerning.While investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines were important for shorter-term economic benefit, it said, longer-term transformation of innovation and the lifting of productivity required social and culture change also."We know that government funding is tight, and we know that government has to be able to defend where taxpayer money is going. But the answer is not to cut out the humanities and social sciences from the Marsden Fund."'The right move'BusinessNZ welcomed the change, with advocacy director Catherine Beard calling it "the right move"."New Zealand continues to languish in the productivity space," she said."It's a problem that can be partly solved through innovation."Directing the Marsden Fund to focus more narrowly on research that will help to support high-tech, high-productivity, high-value businesses and jobs is the right move."New Zealand's research and development expenditure is growing, but is still well behind the OECD average, Beard added."Setting clear expectations by funding research that can boost New Zealand's economy and living standards is a welcome step toward a better tomorrow."Labour's research, science and innovation spokesperson Dr Deborah Russell said New Zealand only spent half the OECD average for science, research, and development."It's time the government saw research as a priority," Russell said."We want to keep talented people here, who contribute to the growth of New Zealand's knowledge base and economy. These cuts leave academics and researchers with fewer options ... making them more likely to join the thousands of people leaving the country to pursue opportunities elsewhere."Critical thinkers are essential to advancing our economy, protecting our environment, and building our cultural identity."However, ACT said the changes would help the funding deliver long-term benefits for New Zealanders."Politicians shouldn't decide which specific research projects are funded, but we have a duty to ensure taxpayer money is focused on research that delivers tangible benefits for society and the economy," science, innovation, and technology spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar said.She said some projects were hard to justify to taxpayers who were struggling to afford the basics."Every dollar spent on these grants is a dollar that is not supporting research in the hard sciences, or for that matter, life-saving medicines, essential infrastructure, or tax relief for struggling households."