The last-ever Newshub 6pm bulletin airs on Three tonight.After 34 years of bringing the news to the nation, owners Warner Brothers Discovery have axed the programme at the cost of almost 300 jobs.The world was emerging from the gloss-driven excesses of the 1980s when a bold newcomer to New Zealand's media landscape first went to air.In 1989, President George Bush (senior) was inaugurated, the Berlin Wall came down and the New Kids on the Block released "Hangin' Tough".Three News anchor Joanna Paul was one of the first wahine Māori in mainstream media. Photo: Supplied via RNZInaugural anchor Philip Sherry would only last six months before Joanna Paul-Robie - then Joanna Paul - took over.The new show's "only way to go is up" attitude allowed it to experiment with the lighter side of news, especially on the late-night Nightline show, Paul-Robie told RNZ.But the newsroom and their audience leapt to attention when disaster struck. Hilary Barry struggled to contain her emotions while covering the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.Sometimes the channel's reporters found themselves unwitting participants in the headlines of the day.Pam Corkery, at the time press secretary for the Internet MANA coalition party, famously called a reporter a "puffed-up little shit" in 2014.In the mornings, Mark Richardson on AM showed he was not above pushing the buttons of the most powerful woman in the country - asking newly elected Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern if women should tell their boss if they planned to get pregnant before starting a job."It is totally unacceptable in 2017 to say that women should have to answer that question in the workplace," Ardern said at the time.There was a constant tension between providing entertainment and serious commentary, which could sometimes lead to viewers feeling they might witness a sudden car crash - or a not-so-sudden one.Paddy Gower's 2020 election night coverage was something rarely seen on New Zealand television."I see red, I see red, the sea of red destroys National," he said.The loss of nearly 300 roles would have a big impact on the country's already shrunken media landscape, media researcher Gavin Ellis said.Newshub's work had been of a consistently high standard, with bravery and commitment common markers of its coverage."There's more to it than the bulletin that goes to air - it's all the stuff behind it. It's the editors, it's the sound people, the camera people and so on."So many people have gone to make up a worthwhile component of our media that it is so damn sad to see it go."The loss of the platform might best be summed up in Mike McRoberts' words to Hilary Barry, as she stepped down from presenting in 2016."I know I speak for everyone when I say I can't imagine what life is going to be like here without you being around. But we'll deal with that later. Right now I want to say on behalf of everyone. Thank you."Last week, McRoberts spoke to RNZ about that commitment to the job, which had seen him and his workmates facing danger in war zones across the globe."There was a sense of putting your life on the line for this company, for the coverage, for the story, for my colleagues. And to know that's coming to an end is actually really hard to accept."

Making dementia-friendly resources available is a way of keeping people connected, say Waitaki District Libraries staff.Eileen Armstrong, who works in online customer services at Ōamaru Library, has been the driving force behind the move, after noticing a growing need in the community. “We were having, usually carers or family members, coming into the library looking for assistance, and we sort of just grew it from there, seeing what we could do to help,” Eileen says.She and other library staff have consulted with experts from organisations such as Alzheimer’s Otago, Alzheimer’s New Zealand and Age Concern, in an effort to provide resources designed specially for people living with dementia.“We can't provide that with the building as such, but we've gone about setting up a collection of resources of various types that will hopefully meet those needs, and then the staff have had a lot of training and input into that as well.”The initiative began about April last year at Ōamaru Library, initially, but there are now resources available across the branches in Omarama, Otematata, Kurow, Hampden and Palmerston.“So the Ōamaru collection has been out for about six months, but we've just finalised putting the last collection out to the branches . . . which we were very determined to do, because we are Waitaki District Libraries - it's across the district,” Eileen says. “We've done a lot of consulting, trying to find where to get the resources from, and will it then meet the community needs, because every community is slightly different. “Then we've also been sourcing some funding through different grants and various things as well. Rotary have been very generous,” she says.The process has taken time, as all the work has been on top of library staff’s every day jobs and done in their spare time.The resources include a variety of books and puzzles, polaroid cameras, and music players.‘It's good to have a combination of things . . . with dementia, you know, one day they might like a book, but tomorrow they might like a puzzle, so it's all about just having that variety available," Eileen says.The books and puzzles are specially designed, and although the music players have a retro look, they have music already loaded, and users only need to push a button to make them work.“It's getting things that are quick and easy, because the carers coming in are highly stressed, and very time-poor. So we've tried to make it as stress-free and simple for them as possible - just come in, see what they like, pick it up and take it home.”The team have also created kits themed around books with a particular focus, such as cooking or gardening. These provide activities which can be useful for those visiting a family member or friend with dementia.“It's something that they can share and build new memories with,” she says.Waitaki District Libraries manager Jenny Bean says dementia can be very isolating for both the person affected, and their carers. The library resources, and even visiting the library, are ways of connecting.“It's all about connection. It's connecting people to information and to one another and to the wider community, and that really helps people with dementia, you know,” Jenny says.“Loneliness is the biggest, kind of enemy, of people with dementia and Alzheimer's. They need that connection to the community.“So that sense of isolation is very overwhelming, so anything we can do to bring back some connection.” SInce the dementia-friendly resources have been available, the difference in people has been “remarkable”, both Jenny and Eileen say. “And it's been remarkable for the staff as well,” Jenny says. “I think we've learned so much as a staff.”Waitaki District Libraries is leading the region as a dementia-friendly organisation, she says.“And the feedback that we got from Alzheimer's NZ was that it was one of the best applications they'd ever seen, because we'd really focused on looking at library services systemically.“So not just about the resources that we provide, but how we provide them - the customer service skills that are wrapped around that.” Now that the foundations have been laid, the next steps for the libraries are raising awareness and getting feedback on what else can be done.The library also have a collection of “twiddlemuffs” they give away, which is a knitted muff to keep people’s hands warm, but with things like buttons and knitted flowers attached, and using a mix of textures for fiddling with.“Especially this time of year . . . they're good if you're in the car or in an appointment, waiting. Just something that they can fiddle with,” Eileen says.She and her mother have been knitting the muffs at home, along with Altrusa members and others, while a group at Observatory Village Lifecare knit flowers to be attached.“The community, they just want to contribute but they don't know how a lot of the time. So something like this . . . It's a bit like cancer I think, everyone has been touched by it somewhere.”

GPs say using artificial intelligence (AI) during consultations with patients is taking a load off a severely burnt-out workforce.Hundreds have turned to AI to help manage workloads as burnout and stress hit critical levels.AI is largely unregulated within the health sector.The generative AI listens and creates notes during the consultation and provides a summary which the doctor checks, before copy and pasting it into the patient's file.The transcripts do not identify the patient and AI stores them only temporarily.Wellington GP Richard Medlicott has been using AI for nearly a year and said it has has been helping to manage workloads."Look it's not the key but anything which can help our load is helpful. For me personally partly the time but also that cognitive load. It's really an intense business being a GP, listening carefully, emoting, summarising and that kind of intense conversation you have multiple times a day, can just get mentally tiring."He said he was able to look patients in the eye while they talked and when doing a physical examination, he has to be more communicative for the software to take note.The response from patients has been so good, Dr Medlicott now uses the appointment text reminders to get consent to use the software.Co-owner of Papatoetoe Family Clinic Dr Karl Cole said the software he used, NABLA Copilot, was a gamechanger.He did extensive research under the guidance of the Medical Protection Society to ensure the software has a privacy level he was happy with."The next step is going to be it will be hooked into the health records to guide [doctors]. It will know your age, it will know what problems you've had in the past, perhaps give you prompts to what to do."At the moment I'm staying away from that because I'm very concerned it is not tested correctly."Dr Luke Bradford Photo: Supplied via RNZDr Cole said AI was having an astronomical impact on doctors' wellbeing, with some crediting it for saving them hours of work each day."When we get more tired, and you've seen 35 patients and you're just rushing and you're trying to do five things at once ... it drains you."When I first was using it I felt like I was cheating."But not everyone thinks it's such a good idea just yet.College of GPS medical director Luke Bradford understood the allure of AI."Because it is advancing so quickly, because it hasn't been built through our training and accreditation processes as yet it's really important that we get the ethics and governance in place for use."At present it's really important that we ensure that confidentiality is assured, that sovereignty is assured, that consent occurs."Dr Bradford wanted more regulation to be introduced before AI became mainstream.This comes as the government aims to expand the use of artificial intelligence in the public service, particularly in health and education.

The number of children wagging school dropped slightly in the first school term this year.Figures published on Thursday showed justified absences also fell in term one, despite a slight increase in absences due to illness.The upshot was an uptick in regular attendance from 60 percent in term one last year to 62 percent in term one this year.The figures showed regular attendance, defined as attending more than 90 percent of school time, improved in all regions except north and West Auckland where it was essentially unchanged at 67 percent.Regular attendance improved most in Hawke's Bay Tai Rāwhiti, jumping to 59 percent after dipping to just 49 percent last year due to the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle.'Schools with the highest levels of socioeconomic disadvantage had an average regular attendance rate of 42 percent and at those with the least disadvantage it was 74 percent.The figures showed that slightly more children were off sick in term one this year than in term one last year, but overall the number of justified absences was lower than in 2023.Unjustified absences also dropped due to a fall in truancy, while absences due to holidays during school time were about the same as in term one last year.Just 47 percent of Māori students were regular attenders in term one, while the figure for Asian students was 72 percent."In Term 1 2024, 47.4 percent of ākonga Māori were attending regularly, an increase of 2.5 percentage points; 50.6 percent of Pacific students were attending regularly, an increase of 3.0 percentage points; 72.0 percent of Asian students were attending regularly, an increase of 1.4 percentage points; and 64.4 percent of European/Pākehā were attending regularly, an increase of 1.6 percentage points."Considered by year level, Year 13 students had the lowest rate of regular attendance at just 50 percent."Overall, the regular attendance rate for primary students increased by 3.0 percentage points to 65.6 percent, while the overall rate for secondary students increased by 1.0 percentage point to 55.2 percent," the report said.Associate Education Minister David Seymour said the improvement was encouraging."We have a truancy crisis across the country and attendance data is a way to show people this," he said."We know that for some, there are very real challenges to regular attendance, sometimes beyond their control. The government is looking into what causes truancy with an attendance action plan to help families get students back to school."Seymour said regular attendance pre-Covid in 2019 was 72.8 percent, and the government had a target of ensuring 80 percent of students were present more than 90 percent of the time by 2030.

Irene’s long life on the water has come to an end.The 34-foot wooden boat crashed onto rocks in the Ōamaru Harbour at the weekend, after a failure in her mooring chain, North Otago Yacht and Power Boat Club commodore Kevin Murdoch, who was first on the scene on Sunday morning (June 30), says.The boat “departed the mooring” and crashed inside the breakwater some time on Saturday night, but was not noticed until the following morning.The motor and gearbox were on the outside of the boat and the bottom of the boat was gone, Kevin says.A fellow boat owner towed Irene to Normanby wharf, near Del Mar Eatery and Beach Bar, with just enough timber to keep her afloat until she could be dismantled at low tide.The boat and debris were cleared the same day and she will be disposed of.Kevin doesn’t want to identify Irene's owner, but says she was locally owned and is believed to have been built in 1921. Contamination from diesel and oil were checked for, but “nothing substantial” was found.Irene is the second boat to sink in the Ōamaru Harbour in about a year.In June last year, Black Crow, a concrete-hulled sailing yacht, also sank after she came off her mooring.

After 25 years of local ownership, July 1, was the day Ōamaru Hospital once again became Government owned.A morning tea was held yesterday to mark the transfer of ownership from Waitaki District Health Services (WDHS) to Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, a process which has been months in the planning.A smooth transition has been ensured through an agreement by all staff to transfer their contracts to Health NZ, meaning no change will be noticed by hospital users, the Waitaki District Council said in a statement.  Council chief executive Alex Parmley says ensuring staff are looked after and services will not be affected is important for the community. “With the transfer today, we’ve ensured a sustainable future for the Ōamaru Hospital.”Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher says the transfer is “bittersweet”.“And it’s a good time to recognise the many, many people who served the community at Ōamaru Hospital over the last 25 years. “Thanks to them, and to the hospital staff and management who continue to provide essential services for the Waitaki District.”Particular thanks was offered to WDHS board chair and former hospital chief executive Keith Marshall, fellow board members, and hospital co-chief executives Andrea Cairns and Hugh Kettlewell, for their leadership efforts to ensure the district retained a hospital, and in supporting the transfer.Health NZ Southern Group operations director Hamish Brown says the day has been significant for staff as they move under the umbrella of the national health system.“This is a big change for everyone but I thank the staff and leadership of WDHS for working with us to make this a seamless transition for the Waitaki community.“Health NZ is also committed to working with the community, the Waitaki District Council, and other stakeholders to achieve better health service access and outcomes for the Waitaki community through the Te Waka Hauora o Waitaki Health Futures Project.”As part of council’s continuing relationship with Health NZ, Mr Parmley and councillor Tim Blacker have been appointed by the council to the Te Waka Hauora o Waitaki Health Futures project, and will be involved in developing a better health care services model for the district.

By Megan Lawton, BBCParis, a city synonymous with fashion, and this summer the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympic Games. But that's not where the overlap ends - ahead of the Games, there's an exhibition in the French capital celebrating the relationship between fashion and sport.Separately, Vogue France has dedicated a front cover to the occasion, and the magazine staged a Vogue World celebration in the city. With the labels behind uniforms raising their game for the fashion capital, we've rounded up some of the most notable team kits.1. Team Canada in lululemonThis year, Team Canada will wear one of the country's most famous brands, lululemon, for both the ceremonies and podium moments. Looking at the kit from afar, the standout theme is shades of red, but zoom a little closer and you'll start to notice the intricate print detailing. There's both flora and fauna in the print to showcase the country's vast and varied landscape. For fashion and design commentator Elizabeth Segrani, it's "the perfect kit".Team Canada in the Paris Olympic official uniform by Lulumelon. Photo: Lulumelon via RNZShe tells the BBC, "Canada's population has become increasingly diverse, and I really think lululemon thought about ways to portray that diversity, and to help the athletes feel connected to their fellow athletes."Segrani is particularly impressed by the print being used for the closing ceremony. "That was designed by an Indigenous artist (Mason Mashon, from the Saddle Creek Cree Nation), and shows the aurora borealis in this really cool, fashion-forward, meaningful way".2. Team Canada (part 2) in Left on FridayTeam Canada gets two honourable mentions here, as one of the countries choosing a start-up brand to design some of their competing uniforms. If you're not familiar with Left on Friday, you might well be by the end of the summer. The premium active swimwear brand is kitting out Canada's volleyball team.Shannon Savage designed the kit with Laura Lo Ah Key and tells the BBC that it's a dream come true to have their brand associated with, what she calls, "the most fashionable Olympics"."To have this global moment in Paris where everybody's focusing on what the athletes are wearing, not just how they're performing, is an opportunity for us as a small brand that's just mind-blowing."In terms of how they captured the spirit of Canada, Lo Ah Key says the aim was to celebrate the bold colour red and to play around with different shades.3. Team France in Stephane AshpoolWe can't talk about the 'fits of the Paris Olympics and not include the host nation. Throughout the Games, French athletes will compete in a kit designed by Stéphane Ashpool, best known as the brains behind streetwear brand Pigalle. The uniform is '90s-inspired and celebrates the colours of the French flag.In classic Parisian style, the looks were unveiled at Paris Fashion Week, where Ashpool explained his approach: "The athletes told me they wanted to be chic, elegant, bright. The result is these blended colours."Team France in Stephane Ashpool via Instagram. Photo: stephane_ashpool, Instagram via RNZThe kits have garnered a lot of praise on TikTok and across the fashion industry too. Lou Lewer is a designer who worked on the London 2012 uniforms for Team GB, and she tells the BBC she's particularly impressed with Ashpool's archery kit."It's amazing the way he has tailored the white trousers with the leather belt. He's mixing performance wear and tailoring in a way I haven't seen on the field of play before."4. Team GB in AdidasThis year marks the 40th anniversary of Adidas being Team GB's official sportswear partner, so naturally British athletes will be wearing the German brand again this summer. Having previously worked with Adidas on the London 2012 kits, Lewer knows first-hand what the priorities of Team GB athletes are.Team GB in Adidas for the Paris Olympics. Photo: Team GB/ Adidas via RNZShe tells the BBC: "It's so important the athletes feel connected to their team. This is the pinnacle of what they've been training to be for years, and they really want to be representing their country, and for it to be visible."This year, Lewer notes Adidas have kept it traditional, using the block colours of the Union Jack and featuring the flag prominently on all designs. She wonders whether the decision to play it safe is linked to last year's controversy over the England football shirts designed by Nike, which featured the St George's Cross in shades of purple and blue."People can be very protective over flags, which is why sometimes it works best to keep it traditional."5. Team USA in Ralph LaurenSince 2008, US fashion giant Ralph Lauren has designed the ceremony outfits for Team USA, and this year is no different. A statement released by the brand says the looks "embrace a patriotic spirit reflected in a signature palette of red, white and blue".Designers behind the kit have gone for completely different moods for the opening and closing ceremonies.Team USA in Ralph Lauren for the Paris Olympics. Photo: Ralph Lauren via RNZThe opening ceremony is formal, and features classic Ralph Lauren tailoring, with athletes wearing fitted blazers, knitted ties, striped shirts and denim jeans. Not everyone is a fan, with commentators saying the team look like they're dressed for a day at private school. The closing ceremony outfit is far more casual, featuring race car-style jackets with patch detailing and white jeans.6. Team Jamaica in PumaSimilarly to Team GB, the Jamaican Olympic and Paralympic team are keeping it traditional by wearing the colours of the country's flag; streaks of black, bright yellow, and electric green. Once again, the kits have been designed by Puma.Team Jamaica in Puma for the Paris Olympics. Photo: Puma via RNZAt the launch, Puma's CEO Arne Freundt said that this year's design marries "speed and fashion", and has been designed to look good while moving: "The cut lines have been strategically placed to accentuate the physique of the athletes whilst providing a showstopping visual that emphasises the beauty of an athlete in motion."Puma has sponsored Jamaica's athletes since 2001, and as a result the brand has become synonymous with record-breaking sprints and podium positions. Naturally when working with such a speedy team, every element of the fabric needs to be considered too, as Freundt explains."[We used] engineered jacquard fabric for heat reduction and breathability, with thermo-adapt technology regulating body temperature to enable optimum performance."7. Team Portugal in CariumaWhile some countries are opting for speed, others are championing sustainability. Brazilian sustainable skatewear brand Cariuma is behind the outfits for the skate teams of Portugal, Slovakia and The Netherlands.Capturing the spirit of a nation might be a little more challenging when it's not your home country but lead designer Pedro Andrade tells the BBC that it's nothing a day of research can't solve. When it came to Portugal, Andrade says he was inspired by their football culture."It's full of excitement and it's passionate, so I went with something that fit those vibes." The result is a red jersey with blocks of teal and navy.Team Portugal in Cariuma. Photo: Cariuma via RNZEverything Cariuma makes is created with sustainability in mind, and the kits for the games are no exception. The skate jerseys are made with recycled plastic bottles, which luckily for athletes, make a fast drying and ultra-breathable fabric. Important, as scorching temperatures can be common in France during the summer.8. Team Japan in AsicsOnce again, Team Japan will be wearing Asics to this year's Games. Like Cariuma, the brand is also putting sustainability at the forefront. By including the use of recycled materials and renewable energy, the company claims to have reduced the gas emissions of podium jackets and track pants by approximately 34 percent compared to the previous Games.Team Japan in Asics. Photo: Asics via RNZThe design is simple and focuses on two block shades of red, "Japan red" and "sunrise red", the latter said to express the warmth of the Paris morning sky.9. Team Netherlands in The New OriginalsAs the list of sports diversifies at each Games, so do the designers behind the kits. This year, breakdancing will make its debut. Kitting out the Netherlands dance team is the Amsterdam brand The New Originals. Founded in 2015, it makes performance clothing for creatives.Team Netherlands in The New Originals. Photo: The New Originals via RNZOn Instagram, the company says they have "collaborated closely with the dancers to design uniforms to suit each of their distinct styles". The result is an 80s-style tracksuit, playing on the colours of the Dutch flag and the iconic orange of the national football team.- [BBC https://www.bbc.com/news]

Good news for skiers with heavy snow predicted for the MacKenzie Basin, Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes today.An active front, preceded by strong northwesterlies, moves eastwards across New Zealand today, bringing heavy rain to western areas and possible heavy snow to 800 metres to Central Otago and the MacKenzie Basin.Warnings and watches have been issued by the MetService for heavy rain, heavy snow, and strong winds across much of the country.A heavy snow watch is in place for Central Otago, northwest of Alexandra, including Queenstown Lakes and the MacKenzie Basin for the six hours from 9am to 3pm today (Monday, July 1). A period of heavy snow above 800 metres is predicted, where snowfall amounts may approach warning criteria.Meanwhile in the Canterbury High Country northwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places today.People are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts in case further areas are added, or watches are upgraded to warnings.

The start of July brings a raft of changes that will affect households across the country.From prescription changes to mortgage tweaks, the rules, fees and taxes will affect the way that many people spend and borrow money.Here are a few of them.Debt-to-income ratios and loan-to-value restriction tweaksNew debt-to-income rules will limit how much banks can lend to borrowers, compared to their household income.Only 20 percent of lending can go to owner-occupier buyers with a debt-to-income ratio of six, and only 20 percent of investors loans will be able to be at a debt-to-income ratio of more than seven.The debt-to-income calculation takes into account other debt, such as student loans.These rules are not expected to make a big difference initially, because not much lending is currently being done above those levels. However, they are likely to limit the extent of future house price growth.LIsten: First-home buyers hit hardest by new debt-to-income ratios duration 6′58″ from Morning Report At the same time, loan-to-value rules will be eased slightly to allow banks to give 20 percent of lending to owner-occupier borrowers with a deposit or equity of less than 20 percent, and 5 percent of lending to investors with a deposit or equity of less than 30 per cent.Previously, they could only lend 15 percent to owner-occupiers with less than 20 percent deposit and 5 percent of lending to investors with less than 35 percent.Prescription chargesA $5 charge is coming back on for prescriptions.This does not apply to people who are over 65, Community Services Card holders, people who are under 14 or people ages 14 to 17 who are dependent on a Community Services Cardholder.Auckland regional fuel tax abolishedThe Auckland Regional Fuel Tax scheme ended on 30 June.This is worth 11.5c per litre on petrol, diesel and their biovariants.Families are now able to claim childcare subsidies of up to $75 a week. Photo:123RF via RNZFamilyBoost introducedThe FamilyBoost policy takes effect from 1 July, offering a payment of 25 percent of early childhood education fees for households up to $75 a week.This is available in full to households earning up to $140,000 and reduces for those earning up to $170,000.Households should start saving their invoices from 1 July as either PDF or JPG files, Inland Revenue says.Payments will be made in three-monthly blocks, starting in October.Bright-line test reducedFrom 1 July, the bright-line test will reduce to two years, from the current 10 years, or five for new builds.The bright-line test sets a limit on how long properties, apart from someone's main home, have to be held to avoid tax on capital gains when they are sold.That means that properties sold on or after Monday now need to have been held for at least two years to avoid the automatic tax.Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand is warning there could be some confusion, though, because the new rules focus on the "disposal" date of a property rather than the acquisition date."Care needs to be taken as the dates are determined differently. The bright-line end date is determined by when the seller first enters a contract for sale, whereas the start, or acquisition date is typically determined when title transfers."He said that could mean that anyone who had entered negotiations before 1 July could still be captured under the old rule.Paid parental leave increasesEach year, the maximum amount of paid parental leave available increases.How much you get is determined by how much you were earning before you went on leave.From 1 July, the maximum is $754.87 a week before tax, compared to $712.17 previously.Gaming duty for offshore operatorsFrom 1 July, a 12 percent offshore gambling duty applies operators who are taking bets from New Zealand residents.Offshore gambling operators have to register for GST if they make more than $60,000 in a 120-month period. Those that are registered for GST must also now register for the duty.Excise tax on alcohol increasesThe annual adjustment of excise tax on alcohol takes place on 1 July. This is based on movements in the consumer price index in the year to March.

All people are welcome in the library, and now there is a sign to prove it.An approximately 9-metre-long mural painted by local artist Matthew Wicks, aka Wicksey, was unveiled at the Ōamaru Public Library on Thursday, tying in with today’s Matariki public holiday.The artwork has geological features from around Waitaki, and welcoming messages in about 30 languages, Wicksey says.Because it is in a library, he wanted the artwork to have written words, but questioned “what do we want this art to say?”.It was decided the most important message was one of welcome.“It's about welcoming people into the space - it's about saying ‘this is our space’. It's ours, it's yours, it's a space we all meet, it's a community hub. “So I thought, let's have basically the word welcome, or the equivalent, in pretty much every language we can imagine.”Wicksey’s new mural in the Ōamaru Public Library. Photo: Arrow KoehlerThe library contacted him about a year ago to do something for the space.“They've done a lot of work on the library to make it look really beautiful and they've done an amazing job.“We wanted something that was Waitaki, but nice and bright and a little bit abstract.“It's a reimagining of the Waitaki Valley - things that we're familiar with - so, the wide open plains, the rugged mountains, the snow-capped peaks, the blue sky, and the braided river channel coming down through the middle.”He says the artwork was “mostly hidden from the public” until the reveal yesterday (June 27).It is not the biggest work he has painted, but working on it in pieces was a challenge.“I needed to factor in that this piece was going to be viewed from all over the library, from the street, from a distance, so it needed to be really clear and eye-catching. But I'm working that out from a distance of about three metres, which is about as far away as I could get from it in my studio, so it was a bit of a challenge, but it was fun. And it's come together really well.”“I’m really proud of it,” he says.The work, which is yet to receive an official name, is painted with Resene paints and took about a month to complete in total.Waitaki District Libraries manager Jenny Bean says the mural represents “connecting all the people together”.“The significance is really about bringing all the community together in the library.”Mana whenua was involved in the project from the beginning, and gifted the saying “Ko Waitaki te awa kā roimata nā Aoraki i mariki”.“The mural is grounded in Aoraki,” Jenny says.The piece was unveiled during a karakia from Te Hā o Maru chief executive Adam Mani Sharplin.Wicksey holds his favourite artwork, Humpty vs Seagulls, from his newest exhibition, Liminal Déjà Vu. Photo: Arrow KoehlerNew Wicksey exhibition And not being one to twiddle his thumbs, Wicksey also opened a new exhibition celebrating Ōamaru, earlier this week.“The series is called Liminal Déjà Vu, so you've got two concepts coming together, which is liminal spaces and deja vu.”“Liminal spaces are transitional or transformative spaces and they're often associated with an atmosphere that's a bit distinct from reality.“So that's what I wanted, to take what people are familiar with and put it together in a way that's a little bit quirky and a bit strange. But at the same time, giving them a sense of déjà vu so they look at it and they go, ‘I've been there, I know that, but I can't quite make sense of it’.”The exhibition is a mash-up of Ōamaru over the past 30 years, with several references to Wicksey’s childhood, including the Majestic theatre, Humpty Dumpty and the elephant slide.“It takes familiar parts of Waitaki and brings them together in a strange way.“But I think anyone from Ōamaru is going to come in here and look at them and go, ‘Ah, I know that’.“It's sort of like Where's Wally but without Wally - it's just finding parts of the town that have been brought together.”Wicksey spent a few weeks going around the district taking photos before bringing them together.He intended to have 15 artworks but during the artistic process his ideas were condensed and changed, resulting in the final 10.Once he had the images the art made itself, he says.His favourite piece is Humpty vs Seagulls - a clear favourite amongst customers too.“There's no hidden political messages or agendas going on in any of these pieces. Some people see things that aren't there or they interpret messages, but again that's art.”The photos have been altered to look like they were taken by a retro camera - an effect achieved with about 40 or 50 treatments.“There still are these versions of them that are photorealistic and they look real, and to the point of like, the sky is blue and everything looks right. But I wanted it to be a bit surreal and a bit off, which is why I've gone with this dreamy sort of greeny hue over everything.”He has been told the artworks are reminiscent of Wes Anderson films, and though it was not intentional, he says the influence may have been subconscious.The exhibition opened on Monday (June 24) and is Wicksey’s second exhibition in his new studio space, located at the back of Art on Thames.Prints of the artworks are available online and instore.Wicksey says a few prints have already sold to people around the country, including some ex-Ōamaruvians.

Work has been completed on the flood-prone section of State Highway One near Maheno.The seven-month, $3 million project, was completed by Whitestone Contracting, on behalf of New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and the Government, as part of nationwide work to reduce the risk of natural events, such as flooding, closing key highways, a statement from NZTA says.Changing weather patterns had been increasing the frequency of the Kakanui River flooding the 350m section of highway, with it having to be closed every three to five years, for up to two days at a time.The engineering improvements made in recent months aim to keep the road open and above water level, even in a one-in-50-year-flood.Keeping communities and businesses connected during flood events is the aim, NZTA project manager Jason Forbes says.The most effective, efficient, and affordable option of those investigated to reduce the flood risk at this location, was retaining the existing highway layout, and raising the road height by slightly over a metre. NZTA modelling showed this would reduce the amount of floodwater covering the highway and result in little if any increases in water on nearby property, given concerns about flooding in this low-lying area.Jason commended the Whitestone team for its commitment to getting the project completed ahead of the winter period, while meeting all key requirements and coming in under budget.More information on the project can be found on the NZTA website.The new road layout should avoid a repeat of this 2022 flooding. Photo: supplied

It has taken a village for Weston School to be named a Silver Enviroschool - the second in the Waitaki District. Weston’s Enviroschools lead teacher Erina Simpson thanked a number of organisations and individuals during her acceptance of the school’s Silver reflection certificate this week. Waitaki District Council Waste Minimisation officer and Enviroschool lead Chantal Barnes handed over the framed certificate, as part of the school’s Matariki celebrations on Tuesday (June 25).In the past two years, as a Bronze Enviroschool, Weston’s orchard area has been extended by 10 fruit trees thanks to a grant from the North Otago Tree Planting Association; compost bins and a recycling station have been established using council grants and with help from Chantal and her waste minimisation team-mate Lucianne White, along with Trish Hurley from the Waitaki Resource Recovery Park.Former and current school groundsmen Geoff Brown and Gus Caldwell were acknowledged for “going above and beyond” in their roles, including helping to establish new raised gardens, and keeping them watered. “We’d be lost without your help,” Erina said.Ōamaru’s Mitre 10 Mega has also been “very supportive of us as an Enviroschool”, she said, with bags of seed raising mix, containers, seeds, gardening tools and more than 50 pairs of reusable gardening gloves donated, meaning funds could be spent elsewhere.Local individuals Damian Burnett, Alton Davies, Blair Mathieson, and Linda Wilson were also thanked for contributions they made to various projects.Erina acknowledged Linda as a “true treasure”, whose knowledge, support and work on the gardens is “so very much appreciated”.Funds raised by the Weston Home and School have gone towards an additional garden shed, which will go up once junior classroom renovations are complete, and alongside this will sit a new picnic table, donated by the Waiareka Valley Lions Club, with a plaque in honour of John Thomson who recently passed away. “John lived in Weston his whole life and was educated here at the Weston School. He was the instigator behind the Lions Club picnic table project and a Waiareka Lions Club Foundation member,” Erina told the school community. Special acknowledgement also went to retired Weston teacher Jenny Kitchin, who began the school’s Envirogroup.“You had great vision Jenny, amazing drive and passion,” Erina said.“As you can see, we have a wonderful support network behind Weston School when it comes to Enviroschools. We look forward to now incorporating the kitchen classroom into our programme, with more garden-to-plate activities over the coming years,” she added.Lucianne says she and Chantal are excited to keep supporting Weston School on its sustainability journey “and see what great things they get up to next”.“We support and facilitate the Enviroschools journey for three early childhood centres and thirteen schools in Waitaki, with Maheno Kindergarten and Weston School the two centres who have now reflected at Silver,” she says.Maheno Kindergarten received its Silver status in July last year.“When centres reflect at Silver, they are looking at where they have come from, and how they have deepened their whole school approach to sustainability since they reflected at Bronze.” The Enviroschools kaupapa is about creating a healthy, peaceful, sustainable world through learning and taking action together, she says.“Each Enviroschool’s journey is different and pausing to reflect at different stages is an integral part of the learning cycle; helping to deepen sustainable practices, look backwards on where they have come from, celebrate the learnings, people and actions taken and gain clarity on where they want to go next,” Lucianne says. Photo: supplied/Enviroschools Otago Facebook

The HRT patch shortage has hit so hard that 20 percent of women have had to take time off work while others have reported thoughts of suicide.A new survey of over 2000 HRT users revealed that the mental health of 80 percent of participants had been affected, while 70 percent said their physical health had suffered.A Hawke's Bay GP launched the survey a week ago after calling around Tauranga pharmacies at 7.30pm on a Saturday to find estrogen patches for a patient."I asked myself why am I doing this and what's the bigger picture?" she told RNZ's Nine to Noon.Listen: NZ women on a mental precipice as a result of MRT shortage - survey duration 16′ 31″Due to scarce supplies of estrogen patches, GPs and other health professionals here were "really under the pump" trying to help patients manage their symptoms, Newman said."There is huge stress on doctors who need to triage patients and their reactions to alternatives to patches and on pharmacists who don't have the right tools to work with."It's like pick your poison for women at the moment, what's the worst risk?"For the last couple of years, due to the unavailability of Estradot, Dr Newman believed she had been unable to offer "gold-standard best practice" in the treatment of menopause symptoms.When HRT users were unable to access medication, there was a negative impact on not only the individuals, she said, but also their co-workers and whānau.Hawkes Bay GP Samantha Newman. Photo: Supplied via RNZ''What was really upsetting me and I was finding the hardest was women and other users of Estradot being denied medications, and me seeing the difference and what it had done for them and what it enabled them to do."Of more than 2000 HRT users who responded to the survey, 20 percent said they had had to take time off work due to the patch shortages, she said, and a number reported psychiatric admissions and even suicide attempts.A lot of New Zealanders did not understand how seriously menopause could affect the health of women, Dr Newman said, and the incredible benefits that HRT therapy could deliver when prescribed appropriately.Around 84 percent of survey respondents reported that their sleep improved after using estrogen patches, while 33 percent were able to decrease or stop using pain medication and 17 percent stopped using antidepressants.In general, New Zealanders needed more public education about the symptoms of menopause, she said, and those working in healthcare needed a better understanding of how HRT could help.She is one of the health professionals calling for better communication from Pharmac about the shortage.Even though Pharmac acknowledged in a 2022 media release that there had been supply issues with Estradot for a few years, Dr Newman said, they have not yet officially responded to the shortage."I think they need to change their processing and their approval approach … and support all individuals impacted."

The new owners of Ōamaru’s cinema are excited about getting to know their new community.Chris and Grace Rottenberry took over the cinema ownership on Monday (June 24), and after a quick refresh, will be re-opening 10.30am this Friday, for the long Matariki weekend.The couple is originally from Australia. Grace's working background was in the supermarket industry, while Chris has about 16 years’ experience working in cinema, “It's pretty much all I know at this point,” he says.“We moved to New Zealand just over two years ago. I was working at Reading Cinemas in Dunedin, and then we decided to sell off our house in Australia and use that money to open our own cinema in Balclutha, which was opened 10 months ago now.” In Balclutha, The Riviera Cinema is at the stage where “it’s just turning over really nicely”. Grace and Chris had heard Ōamaru Cinema was on the market, and decided it might be time to branch out.They started discussions with former owner Sam Smyth back in January.“It was only really about four weeks ago . . . they sort of came back to us and were like, ‘let's do it now’. “So it's been a bit of a mad rush, but we're up for the challenge.”The couple have a manager in place in Balclutha, and are now in the process of trying to find a home in Ōamaru, with their two children Elijah, three, and Mia, 15 months.The Ōamaru movie theatre is now called The Riviera Cinema Ōamaru. Chris believes the key to their success in Balclutha, which he hopes will translate to Ōamaru, is “always just customer service”. “As cliche as that sounds. You get a lot of businesses that say, you know, we prioritise our customer service, but a lot of the time they really don't.“A cinema is not an essential. It's not like we're a supermarket where people have to come, and especially in the times of streaming and all that sort of stuff, we have to go the extra mile to get people in . . . and yeah, that's what we're all about.”Either Chris or Grace will be at the door when a movie session finishes, he says.“You always make sure you've opened the doors and you stand at the door and greet everyone as they come out . . . It's just that little extra touch I think.”There will be a few noticeable changes, such as post-mix soft drinks (served from a machine rather than a can), handmade choc-top ice creams, food/drink combos available, and a new online booking system with allocated seating - so both seats and snacks can be prepaid online.“We're just trying to put a little bit more vibrancy into the place, if that makes sense.”Chris and Grace have also introduced an annual membership of $14.50, which includes a free ticket, and members get access to discounted tickets, and other deals.The cinema will be open seven days a week, with movies running from 10am to late most days. “You'll see us here pretty much every day, and we did that in Balclutha for about nine or ten months. Grace and I were the faces there every day.”Movie selection will be “anything and everything”.“Whatever we can get our hands on pretty much,” Chris says.“To start off with, obviously, going to the school holidays, a lot of children's products.”Eventually the pair hope to screen art-house films alongside the more mainstream, but they will need to be supported.“Our first 10 months in Balclutha we've shown everything just to feel out the market, and we will do something similar here,” he says. The Rottenberrys have employed three staff - after receiving more than 100 applications in 48 hours.“It's the first time we've hired where we interviewed people via zoom, but we've never had the problem where we couldn't narrow down the ones we wanted.”The couple also love to “event-ise” movies, such as a Ladies' Night, which might include champagne and popcorn on arrival, and hot nibbles, or a family fun day for a children’s movie, with face painting, colouring competitions, “all that sort of stuff”, Chris says.“And we've already got some ideas for Halloween.” Grace loves working in cinema, it’s a place people go to because “they really want to be here”. “The only issue you have here, is disgruntled boyfriends who don't want to go watch a rom com. So you just offer them a beer,” Chris says.

Matariki rises again.The star cluster symbolises the Māori New Year, and its return is being celebrated across the community.The Ōamaru Public Library started the celebrations yesterday (June 25) with a community waiata, and the festivities continue there until tomorrow (June 27).Tonight at 6pm, the library is holding Ngā Kōrero o Matariki me te Puaka with matua Darren Rewi. People can learn about Matariki and Puaka and enjoy waiata, hot chocolate and biscuits.Tomorrow at 6.30am, a star-gazing event is being held at Mākotukutuku (Cape Wanbrow), followed by the unveiling of a new Wicksey mural and celebratory cake back at the library.The library also has a scavenger hunt set up for children, who, on completion, are given a 3D-printed star.A Matariki 2024 Star Trail has also been set up around Ōamaru with help from Creative New Zealand funding. QR-coded posters are dotted around Ōamaru, with information about the different stars in the cluster and what they represent.The official Matariki public holiday is this Friday (June 28).Matariki 2024 Star Trail posters can be found throughout Ōamaru.

About 200 people, of all ages, rallied together on Tuesday (June 25) to protest the impending fluoridation of Ōamaru’s main water supply.Waitaki App roving reporter Arrow Koehler was there as they marched the streets and made themselves heard.Fluoride Free Waitaki spokesperson Sheryl Black addresses the crowd outside the Waitaki District Council offices with Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher looking on.A large crowd of protesters on Thames St.The mayor speaks to the protesters.Observing the scene.

Can you help?Whalan Lodge residents and staff are struggling under a Covid cloud and have sent out an SOS to the public.In a post to social media, a staff member says all the residents and half the staff members had tested positive for the virus in the last 48 hours.“This places huge pressure on the remaining staff to hold the fort,” the post says.A call has gone out for any soups, light meals and baking to be left at the door of the lodge.Whalan Lodge caregiver Sonia Pablecheque says residents are doing okay, and trying to keep their fluids up.“Some aren't eating much but doing what they can to keep their strength up.”Staff numbers are very low due to the outbreak and she has been working 12 hour days, she says. The community from Duntroon and further up the valley has been “amazing”.Otematata’s Best Dam Pub owner and Waitaki District Councillor Brent Cowles has been “amazing with donations of food”.“The Waitaki Hotel too … all the hotels have been amazing," Sonia says."The community has really pulled together to help us"Residents need very simple, easily digested food that contains protein and liquid.Ideally food is dropped at the door of the lodge in ice-cream containers so they can be frozen for use over the coming two weeks or so.“If you don’t mind coming into a covid environment, helpers for cleaning/washing would be appreciated too,” the Facebook post said.

Three semi-circles.That is all it takes to scrawl a simple set of male genitalia.A recent unfortunate incident involving a penis etched into a woman’s car windscreen raised the question around the office: "What is the obsession with phallic graffiti?" So we asked some experts.Local artist Matthew Wicks, aka Wicksey, suggests a penis and testicles are easy to draw, something you would draw as a child, and can be found in any boy’s (older than about eight) school book .“Funnily enough, phallic symbols are some of the earliest forms of painting, going back hundreds of thousands of years, since the dawn of man,” he says.“So maybe it's deeply rooted in our psyche that we want to draw willies on walls.”Wicksey does not have to resist the urge to draw penises on walls.“Have I drawn willies in the past? Yes, I think I still do. I think if I go past a mate's car and there's a dirty screen on the back, I'll draw a willy on the back of his car.“But never in a place of hate.“You’ve just got to be mindful of where you're doing it and when, and who's gonna be seeing it. But no, I don't make a habit of drawing penises on walls.”Wicksey does not think phallic images are hateful, “just silly”.He began his street art in the United Kingdom, where he did a painting of a boat at the pub he was working at.He really liked working at a larger scale and continued creating murals when he returned to Ōamaru, but he finds people struggle to understand the difference between street art and graffiti.“They instantly think of graffiti - negative messages and horrible things sprayed hurriedly on a wall - and we - me and other artists in the area - have worked really hard to say ‘no, it's not that’.”Wicksey says vandalism and graffiti can have a negative impact on people.“It's great that people want to express their creativity, but I think if it's done in a way that's distasteful, hurtful, or vandalism, that's just bad. It's not cool, because it's going to affect someone physically, mentally. “Someone has to clean it up, basically. What you're doing is not wanted, and it's going to affect someone else's life in a negative way.”He suspects many people use graffiti as a way to “yell something”.Wicksey had a mural he had collaborated on with other artists graffitied, but did not feel that was from a place of hostility.“I don't think that came from a place of hate. I think they were just a bit confused and did a silly thing and definitely regretted it.”Many towns and cities have street art, and the art is not often graffitied over, however many people will “tag” over top of each other, he says.He suspects there is “a sort of respect” for the artworks.A “big creative space in town” which is regulated and policed, could be a way for people to practise their skills, without doing it illegally, he says.Wicksey suspects people carrying out graffiti are “not in a great headspace” and do not think about the consequences.However, he thinks the most hateful words are no longer written on physical walls, but on Facebook walls.A montage of graffiti from around Ōamaru, including at Cape Wanbrow, under the Thames St bridge, and on store fronts. Photos: Arrow KoehlerŌamaru Police Constable Jay Morriss agrees with Wicksey's theory, that penises are one of the simplest things to draw. They are quick, recognisable, appeal to “simplistic humour” and get high shock value for minimal effort.Jay says the most common graffiti in Ōamaru is tagging - people “making their mark”.“For the 10 years I've been here, we've been fairly lucky,” he says.However, there have been some higher profile graffiti cases in Ōamaru, including a “305 Otara” tag in the Garden of Memories in 2019 and a 1080 protest message on the Ōamaru sign in 2018.He says the appendage scratched into the car windscreen is “the worst” he has seen.“Just in terms of, you know, they've gone to the extent of actually scratching in a window. She had to replace the window.”Jay says graffiti is most common “anywhere they won’t get caught”, including places with low lighting, minimal foot traffic, alleyways or in the dark. But graffiti in more public places is treated as a “badge of honour”.Scratching things into windows, spray painting and using marker pens are common for tagging.Another common vandalism in Ōamaru is damaging public toilets - lighting things on fire inside cubicles, covering them in toilet paper and ripping the fixtures of the walls.It is mostly kids doing it, he says.“Where youth tend to congregate sees more than its fair share.“It's the sort of thing most people grow out of.”Graffiti can also be subjective and some people may take greater offence than others.Carving names into limestone buildings, spraying weed killer into someone else's grass and doing donuts in public parks is all wilful damage.“The reality is it costs. It's a cost to someone.”Graffiti has its own charges, under the umbrella of wilful damage - which covers breaking things and causing damage with intent.For anyone considering graffiti, Jay suggests getting a whiteboard, trying out calligraphy or finding another creative outlet.He believes Ōamaru’s worst graffiti is done by those in cars - “boy racers and bogans leaving tyre marks”.It is dangerous to do and costly to remove.He suggests people interested in showing off their cars can attend drag races, where they can be with like-minded car enthusiasts.

It’s soup sipping time.The Waitaki Souper Soup Sipper returns next weekend, running from July 6 to 28.The Waitaki District Council initiative first ran in September last year, with 18 participating cafes around Ōamaru.Recognising soup is best when it’s cold, this year’s Souper Soup Sipper is running in the depths of winter, and goes beyond Ōamaru to the wider Waitaki District.This year, 21 cafés and restaurants have submitted their creations for the three-week celebration of the little bowls of comfort.New entrants outside of Ōamaru include Moeraki Boulders Café, The Fort Enfield, Otematata’s Best Dam Pub and The Flying Pig in Duntroon, while newcomers in Ōamaru include The Roost Café, Fat Sally’s and Columbus Café.Almost all eateries in Ōamaru are taking part, but just to make sure, keep an eye out for the orange Waitaki Souper Soup Stickers in the windows of participating cafés and restaurants next month.Council placemaking lead Cyndi Christensen says she is happy to see the event returning and to have more businesses across the district taking part.“Waitaki is well known for its high-quality, locally-grown produce and I’m sure locals and visitors will enjoy sampling the new recipes on offer.”The introduction of the Taste of the Waitaki passport this year, with vouchers to be won for those who sup on soup at five or more outlets over the three weeks, adds another incentive to customers.“We are hoping this will encourage more people to explore the district and discover new places,” Cyndi says.Criterion Hotel co-owner Katrina McLarin says it is great to see a variety of hospitality venues working together with a common goal of generating more business, especially during the “leaner” winter months.“The bonus is the community gets to benefit from trying all these wonderful flavour combinations at different venues and locations around Waitaki.”Fat Sally’s owner Kristin Murdoch says as relatively new business owners, having taken over 18 months ago, it is important to them to be active in the community.“When I noticed that the Waitaki Souper Soup Sipper was returning, we wanted to get involved,” she says.You can find your E-Passport to collect “stamps” for the Taste of the Waitaki in the Waitaki App next week.If you try five or more of the soups on offer, you can go into the draw for a $30 voucher donated by each of the Souper Soup Sipper participating businesses.There are 21 vouchers, with a total value of $630.00 to be won. The more stamps you collect, the more vouchers you can win.Participants are also encouraged to grab a #soupselfie and tag Waitaki Souper Soup Sipper on Facebook, where you can find out more about the soups and their stories there too.