Hundreds of extreme ultra marathon runners and a few larrikins descended on Naseby over the past week for the 19th Great Naseby Water Race.Known as New Zealand’s longest ultramarathon, the event included 24 runners taking on the 200-mile (320km) challenge, covering the distance over four days, starting last Wednesday (August 27) and finishing on Saturday (August 30).Other events including the 100 mile (160km), 100km, 80km, 50km, and a 60km teams relay - all set on a 10km loop through the Naseby forest.Run entirely by volunteers, a total of 253 runners took part in the event, up from 190 last year. Alexandra competitor Susan Heal entered the race for the seventh time. Initially she signed up as a pacer for a guy to help him finish the 100 mile back in 2016.“I did it in my gumboots, because I thought I was just going out to Naseby for a yarn and wine. The following year I thought I would do it properly.”After several team events, she was back as a pacer for 100 mile women’s winner Sally Nichol in 2024 - keeping her going through one of the hard nights. Susan Heal has completed seven Naseby races - participating with a team in the 60km event. Photo: SuppliedGreat Naseby Water Race organiser Jill Wolff took over the event management four years ago, and said a number of participants told her it was the best ultra event they had been to, because of the wonderful community feel.Around half of the participants had a support crew as they ventured out into overnighters to complete their circuits.Jill said they were now probably at capacity for the bigger overnighter events - to be able to keep it well managed and not have the town become too crowded.“The beauty of it is it’s a figure eight loop so every 5km you can get aid, whether it be drinks or a rest. So you’re not way out in the wilderness and you don’t have to take any gear with you.”The event raised about $10,000 for the Naseby Development Charitable Trust, which maintains the Ernslaw One forest trail and mountain bike networks.Jill said people who returned every year have now run over 2,000km since they started.“This year we just got a real step up in community support. It was just incredible.”Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

Cromwell’s Lochie Win set himself the goal of skiing the height of two Mount Everests in a single day, and he nearly conquered three, raising thousands of dollars in the process.The 11-year-old youth ambassador for the New Zealand Cancer Society completed 58 laps of the Coronet Express at Coronet Peak on Daffodil Day (Friday, August 29).Lochie skied from 8am until close to 7pm, clocking up almost 26,500 vertical metres.“It was exhausting,” he said.“But we had tons of friends there helping to support me.”Two young mates joined Lochie at points throughout the day, and staff at the ski field even delivered lunch to the chairlift.But the day wasn’t without its challenges, and around midday, Lochie hit a patch of moguls - snow bumps that form as skiers push snow downhill. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, why am I doing this?’” he said. “But then I remembered what the cause was for.”The Coronet Peak crew deliver lunch to Lochie Win to keep him on his Everest mission. Image: SuppliedLochie has been fundraising for the Cancer Society since he was six, after his mum’s cancer diagnosis. “The Cancer Society stepped in and helped my mum in so many amazing ways,” he said. “That’s why I feel a responsibility to give back.”This year’s challenge raised more than $3,000 through Lochie’s efforts alone, with the wider Conquer the Summit initiative - inspired by his past missions - pulling in nearly $10,000 nationwide, and donations are still open.Lochie’s dad Luke said one of the most moving parts of the day was hearing strangers cheer Lochie on from the chairlift and having people come up and talk about cancer, because it’s touched their families too. “It gives me goosebumps every time,” he said.What began with Lochie’s determination to say thank you via some madcap fundraising skiing adventures with his dad over the years has grown into something bigger. “That’s how Conquer the Summit was born,” Luke said.“This was the first year, and the plan is to grow it so more people can take part and fundraise.”Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

Cromwell’s water supply is getting a temporary boost: The town will borrow an ultraviolet (UV) treatment unit from Queenstown Lakes District Council to reduce the risk of protozoa contamination while its new water treatment plant is being built.  The decision at a council meeting on Wednesday (August 27) follows a report from Central Otago District Council’s three waters group manager Julie Muir, which flagged “the Cromwell water treatment plant is non-compliant for protozoa treatment”.  Protozoa are single-celled organisms – including cryptosporidium and giardia – that can survive in untreated water and cause serious stomach bugs in humans. Julie said national water regulator Taumata Arowai had made it clear councils must have “basic barriers in place” and be transparent with consumers “when their drinking water may be unsafe”. The new plant was supposed to be ready in December, but commissioning has been pushed back to May 2026. That delay creates a risk period, which council staff say requires a quick fix to avoid the possibility of a boil water notice. Julie explained the issue comes down to Cromwell’s water being drawn from bores beside Lake Dunstan that are a mix of aquifer and lake water.  “The Cromwell supply will source increased volumes of lake water when demand increases in the summer months,” she said in her report.“The risk from a potential protozoa contamination event cannot be mitigated without an ultraviolet system being in place.” Council staff arranged to borrow a containerised UV plant no longer needed in Queenstown for a lease cost of $500 per month – a fee Julie called “a good deal”. Total installation and operation costs are estimated at $360,000, to be paid for from the budget already assigned to the wider upgrade project. During the meeting, Cromwell councillor and deputy mayor Neil Gillespie emphasised the importance of acting to prevent protozoa contamination. Referencing the 2023 cryptosporidium outbreak in Queenstown and a subsequent months-long boil water notice, he said: “It happened just next door in Queenstown. Who would have thought it could happen there? This is the right thing to do and, unfortunately, this doing the right thing comes at a significant cost.” Mayor Tamah Alley cited the Havelock North water crisis to highlight the stakes. She spoke of a six-month-old baby who spent nine months in hospital with “ongoing lifelong medical conditions from drinking water that was contaminated”. Elected members also suggested the project is an example of growing cooperation between neighbouring councils. Council staff will now proceed with decommissioning, transporting, and installing the UV unit in Cromwell.  The Cromwell Water Safety Plan will be updated to reflect the temporary treatment process and re-submitted to water regulator Taumata Arowai. Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

The Roxburgh Entertainment Centre Project steering group will start engaging with the community to gather feedback on expectations of its new rebuild.The committee held its first start up meeting at the Roxburgh Service Centre last week (Monday August 25) and Alastair Monteath was appointed the steering group’s spokesperson for external stakeholders.He was excited about the project and happy to be part of the group, and said all the members were strongly committed to the rebuild.The historic building burned down on Waitangi Day, and the cause of the fire was still unknown. The group discussed the fire investigation report, and said while there may still be some public speculation about the cause of the fire, the investigation by Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) concluded the cause of the fire was undetermined.“The FENZ report confirms that the origin and cause of the fire could not be reliably identified. The focus now was to deliver a new facility to replace what was gone,” he said. Central Otago District Council has received confirmation of the approved indemnity value to be received from insurers, which will allow the project to proceed. Negotiations were ongoing regarding the final insurance settlement, and updates would be provided as progress continues. The group reviewed and signed its terms of reference and discussed the project brief and next steps in the design process for the new facility.It will reconvene in the coming months to monitor progress. In the meantime, external stakeholder members and the Teviot Valley Community Board representative will begin engaging with the community to gather feedback on expectations for the new facility.Council staff will also commence preparation of the procurement plan for the building’s design phase.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

Central Otago residents have been helped by a free mental health and wellbeing support programme which marks five years this month.The Access and Choice programme - known locally as Tōku Oranga - is delivered through general practices.Funded by Te Whatu Ora and delivered by WellSouth, the programme embeds health improvement practitioners (HIPs), health coaches and support workers into the practices, offering 20-30-minute sessions at no cost. Since it began in August 2020, the programme has delivered more than 175,000 sessions to more than 56,000 people in the Southern region.“HIPs saw people predominantly for low mood, anxiety, generalised stress, sleep and relationship issues,” a WellSouth spokesperson said. “The health coach typically supported people around their physical wellbeing, weight and healthy lifestyles as well as smoking cessation.”Access and Choice programme lead Genevieve Obbeek said the programme has “changed the way we respond to mental health and wellbeing in primary care”. “People can get support early, in the places they already trust, without long waits or unnecessary barriers. There’s no wrong reason to come and see one of our team - any door is the right door, and it’s free.”The programme has helped bridge critical gaps in the health system by offering timely, practical support for people experiencing mental distress, stress, or life challenges, Genevieve said. It has also played a key role in improving equity, with services tailored to better meet the needs of Māori, Pacific, youth, and other underserved populations.  In addition to individual sessions, Access and Choice has introduced group workshops and proactive wellbeing initiatives that help people learn practical skills, connect with others, and stay well. The programme has also been named as a finalist for the 2025 New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards.Find out more about how to access support here. LINK www.wellbeingsupport.health.nzHave a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

Each week, mayor Tamah Alley shares a one-minute snapshot of the week that was, highlighting key decisions, updates, and the issues council is tackling.Democracy works best when your voice is heard. Tap into Let's Talk for ways to connect and be heard, from surveys and drop-in sessions, to writing directly to mayor Tamah Alley.

The email arrived from overseas. It had been five weeks since I’d heard from the Recycled Boyfriend and I was starting to be concerned about his welfare.“Don’t be stupid,” people were saying. “He’s ghosted you, we’ve all been there…” But there in my inbox one Thursday morning was this email - the opening line, “hello Sweet Cheeks”, with an upside down happy emoji to convince me of his flirtation.The rest of the email was all about how busy he’d been sorting life admin in a new country, (not lying on beaches swooning around drinking cocktails with random women like I thought).  Although there could’ve been a bit of that but nobody wants to hear that right? Just as much as me filling him in with stories about Fitness Boy and our sweaty sports matches, followed by drinks and fantastic conversation.Anyway, he signed off that he was thinking of me often and xx and that was enough to convince me we’re still in the game.No mention of when he’s coming back though - we had planned a long weekend together in October but that month is still a long way off….Anything could happen in six weeks - just as anything could happen in three months.As it did. So back to Fitness Boy. We had a bet about a sports game we were playing and of course I lost, so beers were shouted and off I trotted one Saturday night to deliver them.“Just calling in to have a drink as friends,” I politely pointed out.“Do you kiss all of your friends?” he said, reminding me of our first encounter at his place, where I specifically remember him lunging at me on the couch after some banter.Guilt seeped in. Was I leading him on by allowing that to happen? He knew about the Recycled Boyfriend and so I assumed it was safe to hang out and play. But Fitness Boy was laying down some strict boundaries right there and actually I fully respected that.He wasn’t interested in getting involved with someone just for fun. He wanted to start how he intended to proceed. And I was being a bit elusive because, to be quite honest, a part of me was ‘filling in time’ until Recycled Boyfriend got back.  At the moment, I didn’t even know when that was, if at all. And if he was still interested. There could be ‘Sweet Cheeks’ all over the world for all I knew…. Time would tell.

Central Otago seniors needing a chauffeur to get to an appointment or a meal delivery, and those in need of community advice, may be quite surprised to know just who’s driving, delivering and dishing that information out.South Otago-raised farm girl Annette Meyer, South Otago’s inaugural AMP Pastoral Queen in 1968, has had lifelong holiday ties with Alexandra, and in 2013, she and her Canadian husband, Dale Meyer, moved back to New Zealand after a stint managing a retirement village in Brisbane.She’s now an active volunteer with Alexandra Community Advice Network, coordinator for local Meals on Wheels, and with other volunteers, founded the Network’s local volunteer driver programme, getting those in need to local and out-of-town appointments.Annette on yet another Meals on Wheels. Photo: SuppliedNot one to brag, few would know that Annette has interviewed and rubbed shoulders with international stars in her youth, working as a broadcasting technical assistant, presenter and sound operator for TV and radio in the late 60s and early 70s. She’s interviewed folk singer Roger Whittaker, Welsh comedian and actor Harry Secombe, and even Coronation Street’s ‘Elsie Tanner’ (Pat Phoenix).In Wellington, she worked on shows like Country Calendar and set up the mics and sound equipment at Parliament for media interviews with the Prime Minister.Just turned 77 on August 16, Annette became a technical assistant at DNTV2 in Dunedin after leaving high school, also working for WNTV1 in Wellington, as well as radio stints at Whanganui’s 2ZW, 4ZA in Invercargill and Otago Radio, with several OEs in between.“It was so much fun working in broadcasting then,” she says.Annette was a scriptwriter for radio programmes, including Otago Radio’s and Radio Central’s Sunday morning Children’s Programme, heading out to the kindergartens with her mic to interview the kids. “We had this little character called Reggie at Otago Radio who we’d take to outside broadcasts as our mascot,” she says. “I’d write the script while a guy in the newsroom recorded it in slow speed.”“When played at normal speed, it sounded really quirky.” Unfortunately, little Reggie had been naughty in the script, so Annette’s story said he had to be smacked. “There was such a big uproar with parents ringing in complaining about that,” she grins.She was also the shopping reporter at Radio Otago and did the odd night shift and weekend morning show.Left: Annette during her time as Radio Otago’s Shopping Reporter. Right: Annette, as a little South Otago farm girl – always an animal lover. Photo: SuppliedAnnette ventured overseas alone at 22, working freelance at Radio London, travelling through North America, then working as breakfast chef at Glengarry Castle Hotel in Scotland before travelling through Africa with 17 others, in an Army truck.At 25, she ventured overseas again, travelling through Europe and ending up on a kibbutz in Israel. It was while returning home to NZ via Canada, where she’d stopped to catch up with friends she’d made on an earlier trip, that she met her husband of 48 years, Dale.A very young Dale and Annette in their early dating days. Photo: SuppliedShe was helping in a friend’s restaurant one day when a couple of regular Royal Canadian Mounted Police stopped by, one being Dale. “I never made it home. I stayed in Canada and married Dale,” she says.However, Alexandra grandparents are handy to have around and by the time their first two little boys had arrived, they moved back to New Zealand, Annette pregnant with what they thought was their third child.That was actually third and fourth and the start of an extremely busy time with four kids under three!Initially, they bought a shop in Alexandra but that proved too challenging with four little ones, so they sold up and moved to Invercargill where Dale worked as a prison officer. They moved to Lochiel and it was here that Annette decided to train as a primary teacher through the Southland Outpost of Dunedin Teachers College.“We lived on a farmlet in Lochiel and as Dale was on shift work, there were times when sheep had to be shifted early morning in the winter,” she says. “Hard to do in the dark with kids to get to school and me still having to drive to College in Invercargill each day.”She was also studying her varsity papers. “Dale said, ‘You’d better give up,’ but it wasn’t going to beat me,” she grins.Next move was to Christchurch, where they ran a private hotel, then motels in Oamaru, before returning to Invercargill where Annette went back to teaching.In search of warmth, Annette and Dale spent six years managing an 83-unit retirement village in Brisbane, after spending three months touring the US in a van. They did the same through Europe after Brisbane, before managing a resort complex.Alexandra beckoned with her mum aging, but unfortunately, she passed away just as they were to move over in 2013. There was a silver lining: “We bought her house off the family estate, subdivided and built our forever home next door.”An accomplished pianist, music had always been in her since she was a little girl. “My friend did Highland Dancing and taught me the Highland Fling, but Mum said, ‘You can choose Highland Dancing or piano.’ I took piano because at least I’d still be able to play at 90 and I still love it,” she says.She did become a music teacher while in Invercargill and taught private music lessons in Alexandra also.Keen to get involved in the community, Annette joined yoga where another woman invited her to join the Alexandra Community Advice Network, which then led to becoming a Meals on Wheels volunteer and coordinator. “We started the volunteer drivers' roster which is fulfilling a real need in the community."Annette and Dale with the grandchildren. “They light up my life.” Photo: SuppliedA South Otago Women’s Hockey representative player in her younger days, Annette still keeps fit walking their beloved Maltese, ‘Dolly’, playing golf, and she even biked the Rail Trail with her eldest grandson.Bridge, and that beloved music, are also favourites. Annette is one of the organists at St Enoch’s Church and plays piano at the local retirement homes for the Anglican Church services held there monthly.That presenter is still in her too, always first to put up her hand for Christmas party shows and skits. “I just love fun. Everything I do I try to make it lighthearted and fun and enjoy every day.”

Two emus patrol Danielle Lane’s paddocks in the Waikerikeri Valley, towering over the chickens that like to free range under the trees and the toddlers, trailing behind their mother. Life is busy on the 11-acre block just outside Alexandra - home to 300 laying hens, a strawberry patch nearly ready for its first pick-your-own season, rows of freshly planted Christmas trees, and a soon-to-be one year old and three year old.For Danielle, it’s about building a business and creating the kind of childhood for her kids she remembers from her own upbringing.A chunk of her early years were lived on a lifestyle block in Wainui, just north of Auckland. “We went to a rural school and did ag days, hatched chicks and bottle-fed lambs,” she said. “It was just an awesome, awesome childhood, and I always wanted that for my kids as well.”Her path to Central Otago was far from direct. She was born on the island of Guernsey, and her parents moved to New Zealand when she was a baby, seeking a fresh start. Danielle learned to snowboard at Snowplanet in Auckland, which led to a season in Wānaka straight after high school. That first taste of Central Otago set her off “chasing winters” across Canada, America and Australia until she realised she loved the summers here even more.Danielle completed a teaching degree by distance through Canterbury University while living in Wānaka.An emu was always on Danielle’s wishlist - and now she has two. Image: SuppliedA mountain bike race introduced her to Cam, a born-and-bred Central Otago local, and eventually the couple settled in Alexandra. Danielle taught at Goldfields and Omakau schools - some readers will know her as “Miss Lane” - before turning her attention to raising children and chickens.The poultry business began almost accidentally, when Danielle hatched chicks in her classroom. Parents clamoured to take the birds home, and she soon realised there was strong demand for quality hens and eggs. “Lots of people wanted chickens, but no one was really doing them locally,” she said.The enterprise quickly grew, and now she runs 300 commercial layers, selling free-range eggs to cafes, families and at the farm gate, alongside pullets for backyard chicken-keepers. Last year, her eggs picked up recognition at the New Zealand Food Producer Awards.The chickens are just the start. This summer, families will be invited to pick their own strawberries at Tree Range Farm.Danielle admits she’s never successfully grown strawberries before, but saw the idea take off elsewhere and wanted to try it here. “It felt like there was a gap for young families looking for things to do,” she said.This week, she and Cam have also planted “a whole bunch of Christmas trees”, which will mature into another pick-your-own venture in three or four years. Bees, geese, ducks, sheep - and, of course, those two emus - round out the menagerie.Running it all is a family affair. With Cam busy managing his own business, Danielle juggles farm work with caring for their children, Rylee (almost one) and Cooper (three). “It’s wild. We’ve got no staff,” she said.“If I’m collecting eggs and boxing them up, or pruning trees, or planting strawberries - whatever the chores are - the kids are with me, in a backpack, in a trolley, in a pram, crawling around, digging their own holes. “You just have to make it work. It feels really busy at times, but their way of play is my chores.”The brand she’s building reflects her teaching background. She has called the business Tree Range, a play on free range that also signals her philosophy of raising animals and children in natural surroundings. Danielle is developing education programmes too, from glass-sided bee hives she can take into classrooms, to the idea of Tree Range Kids, a nature-based childcare programme she might launch one day.Despite having grown up near Auckland’s beaches, Danielle doesn’t miss life in the city. “I love everything that Central Otago has to offer - the distinct seasons, the skiing and snowboarding and mountain biking scenes, the beautiful lakes and mountains,” she said.“It feels like it’s got everything you need.”Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

As the winter ice season concludes, hockey players, curlers and figure skaters will be hanging up their gear and starting to thaw out.The outdoor rink in Naseby had its last day on Saturday (August 23), and IceInline Alexandra closed to the public last weekend as well. Final games of ice hockey were played this week - including a visit from a Toronto-based women’s team.The Leaside Wildcats made a mixed team for a social game with the Alexandra Flames.Committee member Michelle Wallis said a lot of their young girls were aspiring to play for Leaside as part of an international exchange programme set up by Ice Hockey New Zealand in 2012.The programme includes the billeting of international players seeking a training opportunity in Canada, playing regular season games in the Ontario Women’s Hockey League and possible team tournaments in the USA.Michelle said many of the young Flames players were involved in representative teams and the recent ‘It’s In The Bag’ fundraiser made $13,000 to support players.Meanwhile, the Alexandra Ice Skating Club still has several skaters involved in competitions in Dunedin and Queenstown over the next few weeks, and club president Jo Tickle qualified for the New Zealand Champs in October.The ice plant would be turned off this Sunday, with the finale of the curling competition that night. Eight clubs have been involved, from as far away as Cardrona, Arrowtown and Cambrian.IceInline chair Murray Miller said the $1.6M roof extended the season by three weeks at the beginning - opening in mid-April instead of early May.But with warmer afternoons and school bookings now finished for the season, the committee couldn’t justify leaving the rink open any later.The indoor curling rink in Alexandra would continue to take bookings until interest dwindled, he said.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

The results from Central Otago District Council’s latest satisfaction survey are out and they reveal residents are broadly happy with council services, although the results come from a smaller, less representative sample than in previous years.Just 195 people took part in the 2025 survey, less than half the 455 who responded in 2024 and a fraction of the district’s 24,300-plus population. The council noted the sample was also skewed, with 64 percent of respondents aged over 55.Overall satisfaction with council services rose from 79 percent last year to 82 percent this year. Libraries scored highest, with 96 percent satisfaction, followed by curbside recycling and rubbish pickups, emergency management, council reception areas, public toilets, parks and reserves, noise control, and sports grounds - all recording ratings in the 90s.Areas needing improvement included cemeteries (69 percent satisfaction), building consents (65 percent), environmental health inspections (60 percent), and resource consents, which were lowest at 41 percent satisfaction.When asked about priorities, residents ranked water supply and sewage systems top, followed by economic development. Footpaths, stormwater, and a refuse shop were tied in fourth place. The council noted ongoing community support for a reuse shop, which has remained a priority since the closure of the Wastebusters Alexandra facility in 2023.Satisfaction with elected councillors also rose, from 44 percent last year to 56 percent this year, and with community board members - from 58 percent to 69 percent. The survey was conducted using the Let’s Talk Kōrero Mai consultation platform, with respondents needing to register to participate. The survey relied on participants “self-selecting” and was promoted throughout the district through media channels, elected members and community outreach efforts, the council said.Council chief executive Peter Kelly thanked those who took part, saying:, “We look forward to hearing from more next year, especially those people with young families, first homeowners, or new to the district…We always want to keep improving. The feedback received will be carefully considered as there is always room for improvement.”The survey was promoted district-wide and open online from late May to late June. This year marks the 10th time it has been run.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

Central Otago is already booming, and a new council report suggests the growth could accelerate even further over the next decade, reaching “breaking point” without intervention and investment.The ‘Central Otago Helicopter View’ report forecasts 6,650 new dwellings by 2035, pushing the district’s population to 41,500 - a 63 percent jump from 2025.The report was presented to the mayor and councillors at a meeting on Wednesday (August 27) by Central Otago District Council (CODC) staffer and regional deals lead Dylan Rushbrook.Dylan said the figures assume “zero constraints”, meaning they don’t account for potential shortages in construction labour or materials, or macro factors like interest rates.Plus, major projects such as a proposed gold mine at Bendigo and an international airport at Tarras have not been factored in.“It is reasonable to expect both those projects would have an impact on the level of certainty of residential developments,” Dylan said.“Such growth without interventions will push social infrastructure to breaking point. It is also clear hard infrastructure delivered by council and central government will not cope with such growth without investment.”The report highlights the need for a coordinated approach between the district council, neighbouring councils, regional council, and central government. CODC mayor Tamah Alley said the approach - evident in the current regional deals negotiations - is new territory.“It is a completely new way of negotiating a future that genuinely looks at long-term outcomes well beyond election cycles,” she said.A joint committee with representatives from CODC, Otago Regional Council and Queenstown Lakes District Council is regularly meeting ahead of negotiations beginning in force with Wellington decision makers.Dylan said staff and joint committee members will keep councillors updated as any deals progress, with the council remaining the final decision-maker on any deal.“With the forecast level of growth as outlined in this report, a co-ordinated approach between OCL [Otago Central Lakes] and central government gives ourselves the best chance at best managing the impacts of exponential growth,” he said.However he managed expectations, saying, “not everything asked for” should be expected in round one.For more details, the full report is available on page 152 of the agenda from the August 27 council meeting, available on the council’s website.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

Teachers fear outdoor education will be downgraded for Central Otago secondary schools as the government overhauls NCEA.The proposed changes would split senior subjects into academic and vocational tracks, and it has been indicated outdoor education will not make the cut for the academic pathway, removing it as a subject choice for many and threatening its survival.Teacher Keri Barnett, the head of outdoor education at Dunstan High School, said that would be a mistake.For Keri, outdoor education is about far more than hiking, biking, skiing, or climbing.“It’s not only about experiencing and being in the outdoors; it’s about that personal development journey through the outdoors as well,” she said.“Self-esteem, leadership, the ability to work as a team, problem-solving skills and risk management…it all helps to build resilience.”She said those were some of the “wonderful, fundamental skills” young people need as they join the workforce and build their lives.Dunstan High School offers outdoor education as a subject choice for its students in years 11, 12 and 13, and its classes are at capacity.The subject is also a draw for international students.“Currently we have international students that come here to do outdoor education…and that number is going to continue to increase,” Keri said.Dunstan High School students tackle the ropes course as part of outdoor education - a subject under review in the government’s NCEA reforms. Image: SuppliedUp the road in Cromwell, faculty head teacher Ann-Maree Chatterton said outdoor education is a “very popular” subject for her students, with the “unique Central Otago landscape” offering a well-suited outdoor classroom.She said her students had been surveyed and told her they “enjoy gaining skills in resilience, problem solving and physical skills such as bushcraft, search and rescue, survival, navigation, weather forecast analysis and water safety” through studying the subject.“Our Outdoor Education students have gone on to study at New Zealand universities and polytechnics in sustainability, sports science, humanities and teacher education capacities,” Ann-Maree said.“Some students have moved directly into vocational pathways of study and work by becoming qualified snowsports instructors and outdoor guiding.”Principal Mason Stretch said he felt “the changes proposed would undermine outdoor education as an academic option for students”.Keri said the government had invested in recent years in developing achievement standards for the subject, and the flagged pivot in its delivery seemed out of step with that work.“We’ve got this value being put around it, and then all of a sudden it’s like, ‘We’ll just trash that’.”She said New Zealand had a world-leading delivery of the subject.“I hear that time and time again from our international students - how wonderful it is,” she said.“I was at a conference in Canada maybe two and a half years ago for outdoor educators, and they just were in awe of some of the programs we were able to run in New Zealand.”Consultation is now open on a proposal to replace NCEA with a new qualifications pathway.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

Otago Regional Council (ORC) chair Gretchen Robertson has confirmed that new structures were being put in place to keep elected members and the public informed about Regional Deal discussions.Dunstan ward councillor Michael Laws congratulated her on the way she handled the recent Regional Deal meeting, following a procedurally messy second meeting of the joint committee on August 18.The Regional Deal meeting was adjourned by Gretchen, as chair, following debate over whether to move into public-excluded.Consensus was finally reached to allow all elected members from the three councils represented on the committee, to receive papers and sit in on public-excluded sessions as observers.At the ORC meeting on Wednesday (August 27) Michael said Gretchen handled what had been “difficult position” well. He asked how she intended to keep everyone informed going forward, and whether she understood the protocols involved in that.“We are putting in place structure behind it. We can only be ourselves and be local government, and we have legislation on what is right and wrong in terms of openness and transparency,” Gretchen said.Elected members would be able to access a ‘confidential’ folder that has access to recordings of workshops and papers.There would be a public interface as well, for example, through a website, where information would be uploaded, and they were also working through the right setting where councillors could ask questions, she said.Michael asked at what stage would that information need to come back around the table for sign off and the regional council taking an official position.“That’s where transparency is really important,” Gretchen said.It was also pointed out the incoming council would need to appoint a new representative to replace outgoing councillor Alexa Forbes, who is the current ORC representative on the Regional Deal committee.ORC chief executive Richard Saunders reminded councillors that any final regional deal still needed to have the approval of all three councils.The committee worked on consensus decision making where all partners around the table agreed with a course of action before decisions were made.The regional deal was intended to align local and central government on long-term priorities across Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago. Otago was one of the first regions to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the government in July, alongside Auckland and Western Bay of Plenty. Each deal will set out a 30-year vision with a 10-year strategic plan, with the government aiming to finalise the first agreements by the end of the year.Read more: Messy meeting ends with access to regional deal negotiations for councillorsHave a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

Despite geopolitical unrest, rising tariffs, and economic uncertainty, global share markets hit record highs in Q2 2025 — and the message for investors is clear: diversification and discipline still work.In this Winter Economic Update from Central Financial Planning, we explore the paradox of strong markets amidst tough headlines. From Middle East conflict to US trade upheaval, markets proved resilient, underlining the power of staying invested.Global markets defy the noiseThe Trump administration’s "Liberation Day" tariff announcements shook markets early in the quarter, but a delayed rollout gave investors time to refocus. Emerging markets and tech-led developed markets rebounded strongly, while oil prices stabilised despite tensions in the Middle East.New Zealand: Recovery with cautionGDP growth picked up earlier this year but lost momentum in the June quarter. Job ads and house prices softened, while the Reserve Bank maintained interest rates at 3.25% — with the possibility of further cuts. Still, the NZX50 saw modest gains, led by standout performers like Manawa Energy and Tourism Holdings.Timing the market? Think againData from nearly a century of US share market returns shows one timeless truth: trying to time the market rarely works. Whether the prior year was up or down, the following year's average return hovered between 11% and 13%. The takeaway? Invest early, and stay the course.The magic of managed fundsWhy do we advocate for diversified managed funds? Simple. You don’t have to pick winners — you own them by default. Over 20 years, the S&P/NZX 50 rose 327%, but the median stock in that index barely beat inflation. Managed funds give you global exposure, automatic rebalancing, and peace of mind — all at low cost.Final thought:In uncertain times, having a long-term plan and staying invested in well-diversified portfolios remains the most reliable path to building wealth. At Central Financial Planning, that’s exactly what we help our clients do — and nearly every one of them tells us, “I wish I had done this sooner.”

As the colder months settle in, so do the seasonal bugs—coughs, colds, flu, and COVID. With more time spent indoors and in close contact, workplaces become prime environments for illness to spread. And while a few sniffles might seem harmless, the impact on productivity, morale, and business continuity can be significant.  The real cost of sickness According to the latest Umbrella Wellbeing Report, illness is costing New Zealand businesses an estimated $46.6 billion annually, or around $2,000 per employee per month. That’s not just a hit to the bottom line—it’s a wake-up call for employers to take proactive steps in supporting workplace health. WorkSafe NZ also reports that work-related ill-health leads to 5,000–6,000 hospitalisations and 750–900 deaths annually, with a social cost of at least $2 billion each year.Lead by example: Stay home if you’re sick One of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of illness is also the simplest: stay home when you’re sick. Leaders set the tone—if you show up unwell, others may feel pressured to do the same. Make it clear that using sick leave is not only acceptable but encouraged. This includes caring for sick dependants. Early rest and recovery help prevent wider outbreaks and keep the team functioning smoothly. Flexibility is key Remote work has become a valuable tool in managing health-related disruptions. If feasible, allow employees to work from home while recovering or caring for someone ill. But be mindful—sometimes rest is more productive than pushing through. Consider the nature of the illness, the employee’s role, and their ability to maintain quality and output. Open communication and a flexible approach go a long way in balancing wellbeing and performance. Create a health-conscious workplace The hygiene habits we adopted during the pandemic still apply. Regular cleaning—especially in high-touch areas like shared desks, bathrooms, and kitchens—remains essential. Provide hand sanitiser and ensure handwashing facilities are stocked and accessible. Good ventilation is also key: open windows, use air purifiers, or take meetings outside when possible. If you're hosting events or meetings, think about the space.  Are you cramming too many people into a small room? Is there adequate airflow? Consider alternatives like hybrid formats or smaller group sessions to reduce risk. Encourage preventative measures Support your team in accessing flu vaccinations and other immunisations. According to the Ministry of Health, providing seasonal flu shots can significantly reduce absenteeism and protect vulnerable staff. Promote awareness around basic hygiene—covering coughs and sneezes, staying home when unwell, and respecting others’ space.

This weekly feature showcases the newest listings from Tall Poppy Real Estate, offering you a first look at the latest homes on the market and updated every Thursday.Urgent Sale – A Must View!26 Matthews Crescent, CromwellThe vendors have secured their next home and are on the move, pricing this property well below what it has cost them. Without doubt, this is the best-priced water view home in Cromwell – a genuine opportunity for buyers seeking exceptional value in a prime location. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Niki Lord and Keeley Anderson.A Smart Buy in the Heart of Cromwell18 Blyth Street, CromwellOur latest listing will fill the demand from first home buyers, investors, and those seeking a lock-and-leave holiday base, wanting to combine affordability with comfort, convenience, and a superb Cromwell location! Set in a quiet street just moments from the lake, the Heritage Precinct, cycleways, and local shops, you’ll enjoy the very best of Central Otago living right on your doorstep. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Niki Lord and Keeley Anderson.Relocation Creates Opportunity!22A Orchard Place, CromwellDiscover easy living in this solid unit, low-maintenance two-bedroom home, ideally positioned in a quiet cul-de-sac close to the park, local amenities, and Cromwell town centre.The open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area is enhanced by a heat pump and two light tunnels, filling the space with natural light and creating a warm, welcoming feel. Recent upgrades to the quality flooring, along with sunscreen blinds and venetians, further elevate the home’s presentation. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Kate Andrew.Opportunity Awaits in Central Cromwell43 Antrim Street, CromwellThis vacant Linea clad home, constructed in 2008 and relocated to its current site in 2009, offers a solid foundation for first home buyers or investors seeking potential in a desirable location. Situated just minutes from the historic Cromwell precinct, lake, cycle trail, and the soon-to-be-completed Memorial Hall, the property provides easy access to lifestyle and community amenities. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Kate Andrew.A Lifestyle Statement in Lett Gully Heights!133C Letts Gully Road, AlexandraSet in the prestigious and private Lett Gully Heights subdivision, this stunning, north-facing residence offers modern rural living at its best. Perfectly positioned on 2.2 hectares with views to the ranges, this brand-new home combines contemporary comfort with space, privacy, and style. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Stacey Waldron and Rebecca Ireland.Fresh, Modern & Moments from the Lake!62 Antrim Street, CromwellStep into this beautifully upgraded Old Cromwell home, where timeless charm meets contemporary style. Perfectly positioned just a short stroll from the Heritage Precinct and the shimmering waters of Lake Dunstan, this property offers an unbeatable lifestyle combined with low-maintenance ease - ideal for families, relocators, or those seeking a stylish holiday retreat. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Niki Lord and Keeley Anderson.Refurbished Family Home in Alexandra24 Boundary Road, AlexandraWelcome to this tidy, fully refurbished brick home located at 24 Boundary Road, Alexandra. Set on a corner section, the property combines modern conveniences with the character of a solid 1976 build. With three generously sized bedrooms, it is the perfect home for first-time buyers, families, or investors looking to expand their portfolio. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Peter Hishon and Dee Labes.Rare Bannockburn OpportunityLot 4, Hall Road, Bannockburn, CromwellPositioned in one of Central Otago’s most coveted locations, this 1,500sqm (approx.) section offers a rare opportunity to secure a slice of Bannockburn’s prized landscape. Elevated and expansive, the site boasts some of the most breathtaking views in the area - panoramas that stretch across iconic vineyards, rugged hills, and down to the Kawarau River. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Kate Andrew.Prime Industrial Location46 Boundary Road, AlexandraA great starting point in any business venture is a prime site with high traffic volumes, boundary road offers the budding entrepreneur with an affordable corner site in an established industrial site on the corner of Success and Boundary Roads.Click here for more information or to contact the agent Peter Hishon and Dee Labes.Want to see more? click here to view all of Tall Poppy’s current listings.

Aurora Energy has confirmed a fault at its Alexandra zone substation earlier this morning caused widespread power outages in Alexandra and the Fruitlands areas. General manager future network and operations Matt Settle said they were grateful to its fault crews for their quick response; by 8:30am, they were able to back-feed power to most customers, including central Alexandra.Line patrols were underway in the Fruitlands area and power would be restored in stages, once each section of the lines has been inspected.As at 9am there were just over 260 customers remaining without power and they expected restoration to be completed later this morning."We’ll continue to share updates on our website as new information becomes available. "At this stage, it’s unclear whether the fault is related to the high winds. Our immediate priority is restoring power to all affected customers and once this is complete, we’ll investigate the cause of the fault," he said.  

Approximately 130 residents packed out the Presbyterian Church in Cromwell on Tuesday night (August 26), to discuss a proposed gold mine in the Dunstan Range that opponents warn could alter the character of the region and cause irreversible environmental damage. The meeting, organised by Sustainable Tarras in collaboration with Forest & Bird and the Central Otago Environmental Society, was framed as reflecting widespread frustration at a lack of information from Santana Minerals, the company behind the proposed mine, which is seeking approval through a fast-track consenting process. Meeting facilitator Mark Sinclair said it had been left to volunteers to try to piece together the pieces of the puzzle for members of the public, and the turnout at the meeting reflected strong community interest. “There’s a significant turnout here tonight for a community the size of Cromwell…that’s because people really care about the issues we’re going to discuss tonight,” he said. Speakers challenged claims by Santana Minerals the mine would be minimally visible, with Mark highlighting chief executive Damian Spring’s remark the project would be like “a chip in your windscreen from the road”.  Visuals presented at the meeting indicated the mine would have a far greater impact on the landscape than claimed, drawing audible gasps from the audience. Rob van der Mark, a local vineyard owner speaking for Sustainable Tarras, said the mine would alter the region’s character, changing it from “100 percent pure” to “100 percent industrial gold mining”. He warned the approval of one mine could lead to "a free-for-all" that could threaten “what we know and love about Central Otago”. An image depicting the area of the proposed mine - challenged by Santana Minerals boss Damian Spring. Image: The Central AppRob also raised concerns about the proposed tailings dam - full of “chemical-laden slurry” - and its risk to local aquifers and waterways, and dust dispersal in a gully where the wind is known by locals to move through like a “freight train”.He claimed the mining company was repeatedly attempting to “fly under the radar”, not being proactive in releasing its own reports and requesting non-notified consenting processes for subsidiary activities. Matt Sole, the co-chair of the Central Otago Environmental Society, described the long-term environmental legacy of open-cast mining: “Huge opencast pits cut into the Dunstan Range…That’s not a price we should be asking our children and grandchildren to pay,” he said.  He highlighted alternative economic opportunities, including slow tourism, boutique accommodation, and the local wine and food industries, describing residents as “kaitiaki, guardians of this ‘World of Difference’.” Tourism expert Professor James Higham, who contributed via a recorded presentation, said research confirmed Central Otago residents valued “stunning open spaces...undisturbed mountains...largely untamed nature”, and these qualities were all threatened by extractive industries.  He warned of reputational risks to the region’s tourism, wine, horticulture, and creative sectors, and said mine impacts would be largely irreversible.  “Restoration measures would merely skirt around the edges. The major impacts cannot be undone ever,” he said. Rob Enright, a Wānaka-based barrister advising on the fast-track consent for Port of Tauranga’s proposed container wharf extension involving land reclamation, explained that the fast-track process is “very stacked in favour of the applicants…that’s just the nature of the beast”. He said the accelerated process compresses what, for a complex project like a gold mine, could be a three-year assessment under the Resource Management Act into roughly six months, with limited rights of appeal.  It is his view a central element of the fast-track process is demonstrating regional or national benefits, and he questioned how the cost-benefit analysis will be assessed and to what extent the applicant must prove their case.  He suggested this could be a key factor in whether the project proceeds. At the end of the meeting, a question-and-answer session allowed attendees to put their concerns direct to the panel of speakers. One resident described the fast-track process as “a stitch-up”, limiting public input, while others sought clarification on who is considered an adjacent property entitled to participate under the legislation. Others queried who would benefit economically versus who would bear the environmental costs. Audience members also raised concerns about dust and air quality, with one describing conditions in mining towns as “thick grey dust…big wafts of it…it’s just everywhere”. A former geologist in the audience, with experience in the gold-mining industry, raised concerns about tailings dams, noting, in his experience, "these things do leak”. Santana Minerals CEO respondsSpeaking to the Central App on Wednesday, Santana Minerals chief executive Damian Spring addressed concerns raised at the meeting. On community information, he said: “We’re very mindful of making sure that when we’re putting stuff out there, that we’re really robust about it, understand it, and are comfortable to share it. Those parts are still moving, but when we land on it, then we’ll push it out into that public space.”Damian said the company has completed a series of studies with landscape architects: “I can categorically say that the visualisation I saw last night looks nothing like the visualisation that these experts have created”, referring to an image of the proposed mine site as seen from across Lake Dunstan. He explained his previous “chip in the windscreen” remark was intended to give context to the scale of the Dunstan Mountains, which cover 90,000 hectares, of which roughly 600 hectares would be disturbed by the proposed mine.On the project’s cost-benefit analysis, Damian said he is confident data will show the mine’s regional and national economic impacts are commensurate with the impacts on the surrounding environment and the project provides net benefits. He also rejected claims about potential contamination of surrounding waterways from arsenic or cyanide, saying: “Our experts need to demonstrate that we are able to manage the effects with proven technology and methods…and that’s because the regulator’s experts will be expecting that. We will essentially be a zero-discharge site during operations.”Damian said he attended the meeting to hear views from the community, explaining: “Sustainable Tarras say they speak for the community, but I struggle with coming up with a definition for community because it’s so diverse. I thought it was a view from the community that was worth listening to.”Read more: Santana unveils environmental plans ahead of Cromwell mine meetingHave a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]