Cromwell dog owners will lose access to two popular off-leash areas to make way for a major timber harvest, with the Central Otago District Council revealing it is investigating a solar farm as a future option for one of the sites. The Cromwell Community Board signed off on the decision on Tuesday to harvest approximately 60 hectares of council-owned pine plantation on Sandflat Road between Bannockburn and Cromwell. It follows an earlier decision approving the felling of close to 20 hectares on a separate block adjacent to Bannockburn Road. While the primary driver is the maturity of the trees and the need to clear land for an industrial subdivision on the smaller of the two sites, a report presented to the board flags a solar farm as a high- value option for the larger Sandflat Road block. Approximately 80 hectares of pines on council-owned land near Cromwell is scheduled to be felled in April. Image: CODCThe suggestion to pivot from forestry to solar generation comes just months after the controversial approval of the massive 300MW Māniatoto Plain Solar Farm near Ranfurly. Tuesday’s decision provides the green light for both the blocks to be harvested simultaneously in April. In a media statement released on Thursday (November 27), council property and facilities manager Garreth Robinson confirmed the harvest means removing the dog-walking status from both sites. "Ultimately, it’s about public safety. These plantations were never designed for recreation," Garreth said. "A potential dedicated, fenced dog-exercise area would give the community a much safer and more suitable facility into the future. In the meantime, the Alpha Street Reserve and Dustin Park in Pisa Moorings remain available for dog exercise in Cromwell." The report presented by project manager Bex Winders notes that while replanting pine is one option for the Sandflat Road block, a solar farm "may be better suited to the site’s characteristics and align with council’s sustainability and economic development goals". Pursuing this would require surrendering existing carbon credits, but the report suggests shifting focus to investments that support "innovation, resilience, and financial return" could offer greater long- term value than timber. Proceeds from the upcoming harvest are proposed to fund the investigation into these alternative uses. Cromwell Community Board chair Anna Harrison said the decision to harvest both blocks at once was the most practical and cost-effective approach. She acknowledged the loss of the “popular” dog-exercise areas will “be felt by the community”. The trees on the Sandflat Road block are more than 40 years old and delaying harvest would risk increasing maintenance costs and degrading wood quality, according to the council. A breakdown of the harvest values presented to the board suggests the trees themselves are of relatively low value compared to the land they sit on. The report estimates the 60-hectare Sandflat Road block will return approximately $141,000, while the smaller industrial site is valued at a little more than $44,000. Any surplus funds from the harvest will be used to offset costs associated with developing the Bannockburn Road site for industrial subdivision. Read more: Big Cromwell industrial block moves step closer to development 

A group of 22 Otago frontline doctors has urged the Otago Regional Council (ORC) to take stronger action on the region’s worsening winter air quality.A joint letter outlining their concerns was presented to councillors during an ORC meeting in Cromwell on Tuesday.Professor Alex McMillan and Dr Simonette Mallard briefed councillors on the significant health impacts linked to domestic fire use and vehicle emissions over winter.They said air pollution contributes to around 3300 deaths in New Zealand each year — ten times the annual road toll — and affects people inside and outside their homes.Doctors told the council that air pollution causes childhood asthma, cardiovascular and respiratory disease, including cancer, and leads to around 650 hospitalisations per year in Otago.They also highlighted the harm caused by damp, poorly ventilated homes heated with open fires, LPG heaters and stovetops, which frontline doctors say are leaving them “overwhelmed and concerned.”Clyde School pupils present their air quality project to the ORC on Tuesday. From left: Stanley Hawkins, Zofie Hammer, Korah Smith, Beau Mitchell, Sophie Crane and Sophia Hartman. Photo: The Central App WellSouth has also backed calls for the ORC to prioritise air quality funding.The letter from respiratory physicians described Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, Arrowtown and Milton as having “degraded” air quality during winter due to domestic fires.Doctors asked the ORC to continue funding education programmes such as Burn Dry, Breathe Easy, along with subsidies to help homeowners replace the “dirtiest burners.”They also encouraged councillors to advocate for stronger national standards, aligning New Zealand’s rules with World Health Organisation guidelines.“Alongside this investment, there also needs to be funding and support provided to enable low income households to heat their homes efficiently while generating less air pollution”.Clyde School pupils took the opportunity to present their own air quality research to the new council.The Kiwi Class created a model of the Alexandra–Clyde basin to demonstrate how winter smog becomes trapped in an inversion layer.They also surveyed 108 locals about their experiences with air pollution, and worked with air quality expert Dr Ian Longley to monitor the cleanliness and warmth of their classroom across several winter months.Ian said the pupils learned that keeping a heater on while ventilating properly is the best way to maintain clean indoor air without losing too much warmth.He told councillors that in his survey of 100 households, smoke “always finds its way inside.”Air filtration devices are effective, he said, but still “the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.”That didn’t stop pupil Beau Mitchell from asking councillors during question time whether “the ORC could donate air cleaners to the schools?”

If you’ve been chatting to anyone around Central this week, you’ll know there’s a real buzz about the Reserve Bank’s decision to trim the Official Cash Rate. The .25 cut might seem small on paper, but for many locals it feels like Christmas has arrived a little early.Banks have already started passing on lower mortgage rates, and that means borrowing is set to get a bit easier for families, first-home buyers, and anyone looking to refinance. The shift is expected to steady demand across the housing market and could help lift sales activity heading into 2026. Most economists are calling it the start of a slow, steady recovery rather than a sharp upswing, with employment and consumer confidence still the big swing factors.Why it matters hereHere in Central Otago, the market has already been humming along, and this rate drop could add even more energy. Investors are back out looking, and if the pace of recent enquiry is anything to go by, 2026 is shaping up to be an interesting year. National forecasts put price growth at around 4 percent, but with the region’s growing popularity, Central could well creep into double-digit territory.We’re also seeing a lift in local confidence, with new developments rolling out across Cromwell, Clyde and Alexandra. Plenty of sections are expected to hit the market through 2026, giving buyers more choice than we’ve seen in a while.People here have a long-term view. They’re not expecting a boom, just a stable path upward - and that’s exactly what this rate cut helps support.Details• OCR cut: 0.25• Announced 27 November, flowing through banks now • Expect: Lower mortgage rates, slightly easier lending conditions, more listings over 2026• Where to watch: Major banks’ rate sheets and local real estate updatesEven with a calmer national outlook, Central Otago continues to show its resilience, supported by strong agriculture and tourism. Net migration is softening, but the fundamentals here remain solid.It’s another small reminder of why Central Otago is such a special place to call home.Sponsored Content: This article has been submitted by a contributing local property advisor as part of The Central App’s sponsored programme.

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If the Otago Regional Council still exists next year then at least there may not be any overall rates increases for 2026-2027.At its meeting in Cromwell yesterday, councillors made what Dunstan ward councillor Michael Laws described as a “radical change” to propose the overall rates increase to 0% in its Annual Plan (2026-2027).News from central government about the possible demise of regional councils was discussed earlier in the meeting - chief executive Richard Saunders said a ‘summary’ paper would come back to theORC at its next meeting on December 9, followed by a submission period.New chair Hilary Calvert said the proposed rates increase of 14% was not acceptable, and won the motion to direct the chief executive to prepare a draft annual plan work programme and budget with0% increase in rates across the region.Richard said the rating model for Otago was complex and the nature of its public transport contracts and others meant it would be difficult, if not impossible to achieve no increase for any ratepayer.“But it is achievable in terms of an overall increase.”Cr Gary Kelliher said he wanted to be satisfied that the intent of the proposal was to create a lasting new benchmark that the ORC will work from, as opposed to a short-term one off gain.Hilary assured the council it was not a “kicking the can down the road exercise.”Meanwhile, the new governance structure involving portfolios replacing some committees was decided at the meeting.Hilary introduced the new structure at its inaugural meeting on November 5 meeting, that provides for decision-making to sit solely with council, complemented by portfolio leads. Council agreed at its last meeting to also continue consulting with mana whenua on a mutually agreeable way to incorporate representation into the new portfolio structure.Michael will lead the strategy and customer portfolio with Hilary as co-chair, Matt Holyer will lead transport with Alan Somerville, Kevin Malcolm and Chanel Gardner will lead finance, Kate Wilson andNeil Gillespie will lead policy and planning, Gary and Gretchen Robertson will lead the science and resilience portfolio, while Andrew Noone and Robbie Byars will be in charge of environmentaldelivery.Neil will represent the ORC on The Otago Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group Joint Committee, while Matt will join Gretchen on the Otago Central Lakes Regional Deal NegotiationCommittee.Kate will chair the Otago Regional Transport Committee, and Kevin will co-chair the audit and risk committee with Andrew Douglas as an independent member.Michael’s notice of motion to form a working party to review the ‘Strategic Directions 2024-2034’ document, ensuring alignment with the newly elected governance team, was won 8-4.New Dunstan ward councillors Neil and Matt voted against the motion, along with Alan and former chair Gretchen.The working party will be chaired by Michael and include Kevin, Hilary and Kate - the four highest polling candidates from the election.Michael made a comment that the direction of the new council was now “fundamentally different.”

Health New Zealand planners admit Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes patients are undertaking roughly 60,000 travel events annually that "shouldn't be happening", as they respond to a deadline from the Health Minister to deliver a new service plan before Christmas. The admission came during a community meeting in Cromwell yesterday (Wednesday, November 26), where officials signaled a departure from standard planning models to cope with the region's unique growth. Rachel Haggerty, Health New Zealand’s national director of strategy, planning and performance, told the meeting the current reliance on Dunedin and Invercargill for routine care was placing an unsustainable burden on patients. "We've identified...about 60,000 travel events that shouldn't be happening when people are having to drive to Dunedin or Invercargill," Rachel said. She described the reality for many locals - driving hours for a 10-minute appointment or a simple diagnostic test - as a failure of localised service delivery. "10 minutes in a room, half an hour...in a waiting room, and you go, 'Why did I do that? Was that worth it?'" The urgency to fix this disparity has escalated to the Beehive, with Rachel confirming the current process is operating under strict time pressure from Health Minister Simeon Brown. She told the meeting the minister has "really leaned into this", demanding a set of options and advice be on his desk before Christmas. "He's said, 'I want to understand, I want to know what the options or the solutions are...I then want to take it away with me and think about it over that period of time,'" Rachel said. This accelerated timeline reflects growing pressure from local community leaders who have long argued the region's health infrastructure has been outpaced by population growth. The proposed solution, however, may not look like the traditional “base hospital" model many residents expect.  Instead, officials outlined a strategy focused on "ambulatory" and digital care, bringing high-frequency treatments into local communities to wipe out those 60,000 trips. Rachel pointed to chemotherapy treatments, renal dialysis, and advanced radiology (CT and MRI) as services that advances in technology and safety protocols now allow to be delivered safely in primary care settings or rural hospitals like Dunstan and Lakes District.The goal is to handle "infrequent events" (like major surgery) in Dunedin or Invercargill, but keep "high frequency" care (like cancer treatment) local. "We are moving towards a service that is closer to communities, closer to people's homes," she said. While digital appointments can solve some travel woes, officials acknowledged they cannot solve one of the region’s most emotive pinch points: maternity care. With no surgical obstetric service in the region, women requiring emergency C-sections face high-risk transfers to Dunedin or Invercargill. "One of the big issues we've identified here, of course, is obstetrics," Rachel told the meeting.  "What we know about obstetric care is things can turn on a dime...it is something that we really see as quite a stressful issue for people." While stopping short of promising a fully staffed surgical unit immediately, she noted the status quo of relying solely on midwives without local specialist backup was a key focus of the report going to the minister. Underpinning the entire plan is a significant shift in how the government counts the local population. Typically, Health NZ uses conservative ("medium") growth projections. However, Rachel confirmed they are now using "high" projections for this region - a move she noted they "would not do elsewhere in New Zealand". She debunked the myth Central Otago is simply an aging retirement hub.  Instead of the traditional "population pyramid" (lots of young people, few old) or the "inverted pyramid" of retirement zones, this region has become a "rectangle". "[Which] has meant you've got a bit of everything going on here," she said. It means the health system is being hit from both sides: a boom in maternity and pediatric demand from young families, simultaneously with high-complexity care needed for retirees. With major private infrastructure proposals on the table - including the Roa hospital project in Wānaka and discussions around the Regional Deal - questions were raised about whether Health NewZealand is negotiating directly with developers to fill gaps. Rachel was firm the planning process begins with clinical need, not with what developers are offering to build. "Clinical service planning is not about who provides it. It's about what do you need...[then] we form a view around the utility of some of those [private options] and...provide advice to the minister," shesaid. She clarified that developers do not negotiate directly with Minister Brown, who relies on Health New Zealand to assess which private proposals are clinically useful. Health New Zealand Southern chief medical officer Dr David Gow added the clinical team had been vigilant against "anchoring bias" - the risk of warping the regional health plan simply to fit around aprivate developer's pitch. "That is one of the concerns that underpinned when we set off on this process...whether or not there would be anchoring bias relating to some of the opportunities that came through," David said. He said he was "incredibly reassured" the process had remained unconstrained, focusing on patient safety and network needs rather than commercial opportunities. However, Rachel noted private investors remain free to build facilities regardless of government contracts.  "They don't need a minister...to do that. And so that's important that people have those choices." Detailed planning on the preferred options is expected to begin in 2026, following the minister’s review of the advice over the summer break.  

The Earnscleugh Hall is coming up 100 years in November 2026, and the planning is already underway for its Centenary.Officially opened in October 1926, the hall is still used regularly - including last weekend for its biannual fundraising fair.Earnscleugh Community Society chair Angela McNaughton said the centenary will be held on the weekend of November 14th and 15th, and the timing was perfect as the hall restoration should becompleted by then.She said descendants of many early Earnscleugh families continue to reside in the wider Central Otago area and they hope that they will join in the celebrations at the hall Centenary.“We are aware that there will be people of all ages who may be interested in attending one or more of a variety of events over the weekend, so there will be multiple events to try and cover different agegroups interests.”Earnscleugh fair stallholders Camille Alabaster and Jenny Knowles selling their wares at the weekend. Photo:The Central App The organising committee has been meeting with a number of older residents to explore the history of the area, which began with gold mining, then moved onto farming, horticulture and more recentlyfloriculture.“A number of differing ideas are being considered at present… and the committee is looking at the Earnscleugh Hall’s role in the community as a centre for social connection in this area over the last100 years.”Many people in the wider area of Alexandra and Clyde remember attending regular dances through the war years and up until the 1980s, and the hall was used by sports clubs such as badminton,indoor bowls, scouts and tennis.The former church located next to the hall was deconsecrated around 1990, and has been owned by the same family since then for use as a holiday home.She said beside the church is the former Earnscleugh Primary School which also operated for about 30 years from the early 1900s. The very well-known local gardening identity Gladys McArthur B.E.M. was born in Conroys Gully in 1905, attended the Earnscleugh Primary School, and returned to teach at the school in the 1920safter studying to become a teacher.

A proposed pricing structure for the new $46 million Cromwell event centre has come under fire from Cromwell Community Board member Mike Casey, who warns the facility is being undervalued before the doors even open. The community board met on Tuesday (November 25) to review a tiered fee schedule designed to ensure the new venue remains affordable for local groups while charging for businesses. The report presented to the board suggested a 70/30 split, aiming for 70 per cent community use and 30 per cent commercial, with ratepayers expected to subsidise roughly 66 per cent of the facility’s operating costs. Under the proposal, a commercial operator would pay $4,000 to hire the main auditorium for a full day, while a non-profit community group would pay just $560 for the same slot. However, Mike challenged the figures, arguing the commercial rates were set far too low for a facility of this calibre. The replacement for the Cromwell Memorial Hall is scheduled to open mid-2026. Image: The Central AppHe cautioned the board against adopting a ‘deficit mindset’ from day one. "I think that’s the wrong approach from the word go," he said. He argued by capping commercial revenue so low, the board risked anchoring the facility's financial performance to a loss, rather than testing what the market would actually pay. He pointed to the private sector, suggesting the board needed to benchmark its rates against hotels and conference venues in Queenstown and Wānaka. Mike’s concerns found immediate support with other elected members, and board chair Anna Harrison and Cromwell ward councillor Sarah Brown echoed his sentiment that the proposed commercialpricing needed further thought by council staff. However, council group manager for community experience David Scoones said staff needed some pricing guidance immediately to handle a growing list of booking enquiries. "[We have] quite a few people starting to enquire," he said. He noted community groups in particular wanted some certainty to start planning their 2026 calendars. The new Cromwell events centre is under construction on Melmore Terrace overlooking Lake Dunstan. Image: The Central AppTo balance the two needs, the board directed staff to go back and lift the bar on the commercial pricing structure, while effectively giving the green light for community bookings to proceed under the proposed lower rates. The board suggested the RSA not be charged for its use of the new facility.The meeting also tackled the thorny issue of what to call the building. Replacing the old Cromwell Memorial Hall, the new facility has faced an identity crisis: should it retain the "Cromwell memorial" title to honour the RSA legacy, or adopt a name like "Central Otago Events Centre" to reflect its regional scope? Rather than selecting a shortlist of names for the public to be consulted on, the board opted for an open mind. Sarah told The Central App after the meeting the board asked for a "short, sharp" community consultation early next year to gather ideas for an English name, which will sit alongside a te reo Māori name gifted by mana whenua. Sarah described the plan as a "member-led" process designed to avoid constraining the community with pre-selected options. A workshop on the topic is scheduled for February 4, with the public campaign to follow. The proposed price of admission: The auditorium - full day (8am-11pm) Commercial (Proposed): $4,000 (Board has directed this be increased) Community (Ticketed): $650 Community (Non-ticketed): $560 The auditorium - evening session (5hrs) Commercial (Proposed): $800 (Board has directed this be increased) Community (Ticketed): $425 Community (Non-Ticketed): $350 Large flexible space - full day Commercial (Proposed): $600 (Board has directed this be increased) Community (Ticketed): $300 Community (Non-Ticketed): $100 Medium community space - hourlyCommercial (Proposed): $90 (Board has directed this be increased) Community (Ticketed): $40Community (Non-Ticketed): $20Who fits which tier? Commercial: Businesses, profit-driven events Community 1: Local groups charging an entry fee (e.g. theatre shows) Community 2: Local groups with free/donation entry (e.g. meetings) 

A large section of the Kiwi Water Park broke loose during setup on Lake Dunstan on Wednesday, drifting almost 1.5 kilometres from its site in strong winds.The inflatable equipment, which is being installed at a bay in Lowburn ahead of the summer operating season, ended up on the shoreline near the Lake Dunstan Boat Club at McNulty Inlet.Kiwi Water Park co-owner Emily Rutherford confirmed the incident occurred while her crew was “in the midst of setup”.Emily said the equipment was dragged to shore by a boat and that “it’s all sorted”.She confirmed there were no injuries and the equipment sustained no damage.“Once we are set up and everything is rigged there is zero chance of anything coming loose,” Emily said. It is unclear how long the inflatable section was adrift, and Emily did not confirm if the incident had been reported to any authorities - marine or otherwise.Setup was scheduled to continue early Thursday morning (November 27).However, challenging conditions may persist. Following the strong gusts and whitecaps seen on the lake on Wednesday, the Windy app was last night forecasting wind gusts of up to 80km/h for the area on Thursday afternoon.The park is set to open to groups on Monday (December 1), while members of the general public will need to wait a few more days, with the official opening for the park's sixth season scheduled for thefollowing Saturday (December 6).

The Glenoir LP subdivision along Alexandra’s Dunstan Road has been approved, but developers are still waiting on the outcome of the Environment Court appeal regarding the zoning.Developers Shanon Garden, Shaun O’Docherty and George Collier, will be addressing the Central Otago District Council today (Wednesday November 26), about their concerns with Plan Change 19.The CODC hearings panel signed off PC19 last year as part of the new District Plan, which allowed the 31-lot subdivision to move from ‘Rural Residential’ to the new ‘Large Lot Residential’ zoning on the 4.1ha site.But the developers' appeal seeks to rezone the site further for ‘Low Density Residential’- which would enable a range of smaller lot sizes, other than just the 840m2 to 2,030m2 that has been approved.Independent commissioners Louise Taylor, Rosalind Day-Cleavin and Wendy Baker approved the subdivision on November 17, following a hearing in Alexandra last month.One of the lots will also be vested as a public recreation reserve and the developers intend to develop the park with a landscaping plan and park furniture. Additionally, the development includes a walking/cycling and service connection to existing tracks in the area.Shanon said in his submission, that as developers they value diversity of lot size, and consequently housing product, within neighbourhoods. “We seek to avoid what can be a bland uniformity of housing where all lots are the same size. We want to enable different family groups to share in the neighbourhood we create. We want to be able to bring properties to the market at different price points.”Glenoir LP applied for resource consent in September 2023, and reduced its application from 40 lots to just 30 lots a year later.The proposal was then withdrawn and the current one lodged in its place - but in September it was reduced further to 27 lots and included a 1400sqm park to be vested to the council.The design of the subdivision and the lot density was made under the Comprehensive Residential Development (CRD) framework introduced into the District Plan.The developers are also planning a second development along Dunstan Road for a 54-lot subdivision, next to the consented Molyneux Lifestyle development currently underway.

Three new trustees have been elected to the Central Lakes Trust board following the confirmation of the 2025 election results on Monday (November 24).Central Lakes Trust (CLT) has confirmed Dave Currie CNZM, Dr Chris Phoon, and Neil Gillespie will join the board this term. They sit alongside re-elected trustees Kathy Dedo and Trudi Webb, as well as appointed trustees Linda Robertson, Kathy Grant, and Simon Flood.“We’re excited to welcome our new trustees to the board,” CLT chair Linda Robertson said.“Their fresh perspectives, combined with the experience of our re-elected and appointed trustees, will strengthen our ability to deliver on CLT’s mission. Together, we have a fantastic team committed to supporting vibrant, resilient communities across our funding region.”Dave brings extensive governance and leadership experience, including as Chef de Mission for New Zealand Olympic and Paralympic teams and manager of the Black Caps. He has also served as executive director of the Halberg Trust.Dr Chris Phoon has contributed to national and international surgical committees and is a founding member of the Mahu Whenua Traverse. He is an active supporter of initiatives that promote community wellbeing.Neil Gillespie brings more than 27 years of local government experience, including 15 years as Central Otago’s deputy mayor. He was recently elected to the Otago Regional Council.Re-elected trustee Kathy Dedo returns for her third term. She is the board’s deputy chair and chairs the Audit and Risk Committee. Kathy was recently elected to the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board, where she serves as deputy chairperson.Trudi Webb begins her second term on the board. She has more than 25 years of local governance experience and holds positions with MG Ltd, Summerfruit NZ, and the MG Charitable Trust.Four candidates were not elected: Mark Christie, Alexa Forbes, Tony Lepper, and Michael Rewi.Voter return for the election was 20.45 per cent, with 9,695 votes cast. Of those, 28.32 per cent were submitted online and 71.68 per cent were returned by post.CLT operates as a charitable trust that offers financial support for charitable initiatives.Its board oversees how the trust invests and distributes its funds across the region.Since its establishment in 2000, the trust has returned more than $168M to the community and manages assets totalling nearly $600M.

A small group of Central Otago "hoopers” that usually meets in the Oturehua Hall took their spins outdoors at the weekend, joined in person for the first time by their Dunedin-based instructor. The group has been following pre-recorded tutorials screened via the hall projector, but on Saturday (November 22) “Hoopblast” teacher Rebecca Jones made the trip north so everyone could hula hoop together on the grass at the Oturehua Domain. Dorothy Boyd, who instigated the local group, said the meet ups grew out of a gap she felt after shifting from Dunedin to Central Otago. “It was something that I missed,” she said of her hula-hooping sessions. Go to The Central App You Tube channel to watch - click on the link below‘Hoopers’ in action. Video: The Central AppShe remembered the remote lessons her teacher recorded and shared online during the Covid-19 lockdowns and wondered if she could get something going locally.  A community notice did the trick, and three people turned up on the first day. “It sounded different, it sounded fun, it’s good for your core and your brain,” she said. Sessions at the hall follow a simple formula: music, a warm-up, then a routine that gets everyone shifting around the room with a hoop in motion.  Anyone walking in mid-session would hear upbeat music and see people stepping side-to-side, sometimes adding arm work or trickier moves while keeping the hoop spinning.  The group sticks with each tutorial video for four weeks before switching to the next. “Just as you’re getting to know the routine there’s a change, which is what keeps it fun and stimulating,” Dorothy said.  “The great thing about it is just how fun it is.” Visitors shouldn’t expect the feather-light plastic rings from childhood. Rebecca said her “hoopers” - two carloads of whom made the trip from Dunedin to Oturehua - use larger, weighted hoops. “The weight of it is really good for core strengthening, and because of the movement, after a class, it seems to make your endorphins go crazy - everyone seems so happy. “It’s fun exercise, but you don't even really know you're exercising.” She said hula hooping appeals to a wide range of people. “In our Dunedin group, we have people from about 25-ish up to 72.” Dorothy hopes the Oturehua group encourages other newcomers to rural areas to start the things they miss. “There are lots of things on in Central Otago rurally - you just have to find them. But then, if you can't find something, you kind of have to make it happen.”  

Drivers should expect to see Police anytime, anywhere and in any weather this summer, as roads across the South grow busier.Southern District Police are reminding locals and visitors to make safe choices on the roads as the holiday season approaches.Over the weekend, officers carried out more than 5000 breath tests during 13 alcohol checkpoints in Alexandra, Roxburgh, Wānaka and Queenstown.More than 200 drivers had consumed alcohol. Twenty-two were found to be over the legal limit and will face charges, and three had their licences suspended due to very high breath alcohol levels.Southern District Road Policing Manager Inspector Sarah Thorn said Police would be highly visible in coming weeks to keep communities safe.“Summer is a busy time on the roads and in people’s calendars,” she said.“There are lots of people moving about the district, and plenty of events where alcohol is present.“We need people to remember the four main things you can do to keep yourself safe on the roads.“Make sure everyone’s buckled up, put distractions away, keep your speed in check, and please – if you are impaired by alcohol, drugs or fatigue – don’t get behind the wheel.“It’s that simple. Arrange another way home and go and collect your vehicle the next day. A minor inconvenience is a far better option than being involved in a serious crash.”Inspector Thorn said motorists should expect to be breath tested at any time they are stopped, as well as at checkpoints.“Every drink-driver we take off the road reduces the potential for that driver to create a situation where someone’s loved one dies or receives serious injuries on our roads,” she said.“We all need to do better and stop accepting that people dying on our roads is just what happens.“Let’s make it a summer to remember for all the right reasons.”

Nearly 30,000 Central Otago workers have completed Workplace First Aid Training since the Dunedin company expanded into the district in 2013.The private company, led by founder Phil Hudson, won the Excellence in Service award at the Business South Awards last weekend.Established in 2004, Workplace First Aid Training now completes most of its work in Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes. Phil said in the early years he drove through into the district to deliver every course himself, “and those trips built the foundation for everything the business has become.”Many long-standing clients have become genuine friends. Phil said some businesses didn’t just ring to book a course. They were also checking if he was bringing cheese so they could supply crackers and chutney. “I absolutely love that,” he said.The company now employs an instructor in Central Otago, with support from Dunedin, to make training more accessible.Workplace First Aid Training has been a finalist in the Excellence in Service category twice before.“They say third time’s a charm — and I’m holding onto that,” Phil said.Looking ahead, the company is developing new training options to support its clients locally and across the country. It works with nearly 10,000 organisations nationwide and plans to expand further. New initiatives include a mental health training course and an upgraded e-learning platform.

While opposition parties agree more needs to be done to make local government work better for everybody, they say the government's proposals to scrap regional councils could remove a layer of community voice and expertise.Under the proposals revealed on Tuesday, district and city mayors would take on the regional councils' roles, forming Combined Territories Boards.Those boards would then be tasked with coming up with plans to reorganise how their councils are structured long-term.How those plans look is up to the boards, but they would be assessed against criteria like whether they are realistic, are financially responsible, provide fair and effective representation for communities of interest, and whether they support national priorities, strategies, and goals, are financially responsible.They would have to be given the final sign-off by the Minister of Local Government.The government has also stressed it would be "highly unlikely" the status quo is maintained, with Resource Management Act Reform Minister Chris Bishop saying it would be a "fair summation" that they ended up being unitary authorities."The status quo can't remain locked in formaldehyde forever," Bishop said.Deon Swiggs is chair of Environment Canterbury, as well as chair of Local Government New Zealand's regional sector.He also recognised that the current model was "unsustainable," but said it was important that accountability, localism, and local voice was transferred to whatever happened in the future."We all want to see our economy thrive. We all want to see things get done. And reorganising local government may not achieve those outcomes. It might achieve efficiencies in some areas, but it might not achieve the outcomes that the government wants to see."Wiggs was also a Christchurch City Councillor from 2016 to 2019, and said while there were tensions between district and regional councils, it was constructive."It's never been 'oh, the regional council's stopping us from doing this' or 'the district council's stopping us from doing that.' It's about outcomes," he said."The regional council has a different focus, and the city council has a different focus. They want to drive down costs, and the regional council wants to drive environmental outcomes. Those constructivetensions shouldn't be looked at as a failure of the system. They should be looked at as actually getting the best outcomes that have longevity in our system."Central Otago mayor Tamah Alley said it was a "dramatic shift," and while mayors put their hands up to represent their communities, "sometimes that asks more of us than we thought at the beginning"."It will be a challenge for local government, already under the pump with so much reform on our plates to pick up the additional workload. If that's the direction that comes from this consultation," she said.Alley, who is a Local Government New Zealand national council mayor, said local government had been talking about how to do things in a more efficient and economic way for a while, and the proposals had "pushed the conversation".Central Otago mayor Tamah AlleySelwyn mayor Lydia Gliddon said while she could see the intention to streamline decision making, it raised big questions.She said any new model must not be a restructure for the sake of it."These are not small responsibilities. If those functions are reorganised or absorbed, we need absolute clarity that oversight won't be weakened."Nelson is one of the councils that currently operates under a unitary authority model, along with Tasman, Marlborough, Auckland, Chatham Islands, and Gisborne.Mayor Nick Smith said the proposed changes would make councils "simpler, less costly and will help deliver better services".He said the unitary model had meant the Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough councils had worked "much better," and it was a "no brainer" to merge Nelson and Tasman.The Northland Mayoral Forum, which comprises the region's three district mayors and regional council chair, agreed it was time to review the way local government was structured.Far North mayor Moko Tepania said all four forum members were unanimous that whatever the outcome of reform, "we want to make sure it's in the best interests of Northland as a whole. We do not need a 'one size fits all' solution imposed by Wellington".Whangārei mayor Ken Couper said the priority was "ensuring that any changes deliver real benefits for our communities and our region," while Kaipara mayor Jonathan Larsen said he looked forward to working with the other Northland councils to get the best possible outcome for ratepayers.With just under three months of consultation before a final draft, the legislation is not expected to be introduced to Parliament until the middle of next year.Bishop said what the government had put forward was its preferred model, but it was open to "sensible changes" all the way through the process.The government would seek to pass it in 2027, lining up with the phasing in of the resource management reforms.It means, with an election in 2026, a change in government could mean the legislation is dropped.But Labour's local government spokesperson Tangi Utikere said Labour would need to look at the implications of the proposal first."We are open to looking at how we can make local government work better for everyone, and I think even people within the sector would accept that as well, how we simplify things. That's where the focus needs to be on right now."Simon Watts & Chris Bishop. Photo: RNZ/Mark PapaliiThe Minister of Local Government Simon Watts said the proposals were "absolutely" consistent with National's advocacy for localism.But Utikere disagreed."The government talks a lot about the need to empower local communities, but they're looking to strip away what is a key layer of that."Utikere said with such long-lasting implications he was disappointed a bipartisan approach was not taken."What we want here is a real look at what works for communities, that local voice is part of that conversation, and also that those key sort of areas of environmental protection, public transport, waste,minimisation and management are taken care of."Bishop said consultation was open to everybody, and as Labour was part of the "ecosystem" it would get a chance to have its say.The Green Party's local government spokesperson, and former Wellington mayor, Celia Wade-Brown believed mayors had a different skill set to regional councils when it came to public transport,environmental protection, harbour management, and monitoring rivers."There is a complete disregard for the expertise for both officers and staff and elected members in these proposals. I think most of us think that there needs to be consideration of reform, but this hasjumped to the end game of getting rid of regional councils," she said.Wade-Brown acknowledged there was a need for new funding models, and a conversation about planned reorganisation, but starting with getting rid of regional councils was not an inviting way to start."This is Christopher Luxon talking about localism and doing the opposite."The Combined Territories Boards' plans would still need to uphold Treaty of Waitangi settlement commitment, but there was no requirement for iwi representation.Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said there were "great relationship agreements" between iwi and regional councils, and she did not want that to change."It'll be really important that it doesn't sideline the Treaty, and sideline the progress that Māori iwi and communities have achieved within these spaces," she said.She also agreed there needed to be a more efficient and effective way to manage the layers of bureaucracy, but said abolishing regional councils was a "direct assault" on Treaty settlements."We have to make sure that they're not removing Māori and iwi from decision making, that they're not removing environmental protection. And when you centralise power to Cabinet ministers, there's apolitical imperative that takes over everything else.""It'll be really important that it doesn't sideline the Treaty, and sideline the progress that Māori iwi and communities have achieved within these spaces."Meanwhile ACT's local government spokesperson Cameron Luxton called it a "good day for local democracy," and it would remove overlap."For too long we have had territorial councils, regional councils, mayors, local MPs, area ministers and Cabinet all overlapping. People are left wondering who is responsible for what. Voters look at theirpapers for regional council and see a list of names they do not recognise and shrug their shoulders," he said."Ratepayers don't know who their regional chair is, but they do know who their mayor is. Under these reforms, they'll know who to hold to account. By removing a layer of governance, we are making itclearer where responsibility sits."The Taxpayers' Union wanted to see rates relief alongside the announcement.Spokesperson Tory Relf said the government's proposals were a "real chance" to cut back bureaucracy and reduce the costs to ratepayers, but would only work if the changes were genuine."That can't mean shifting the same responsibilities and the same staff into district councils and pretending that's reform. And it certainly can't mean creating new roles or bodies in a manner that isn'tdemocratically accountable. Ratepayers need less bureaucracy, not a reshuffle from one layer to another," she said.Watts is still expected to bring a policy proposal around rates capping to Cabinet before the end of the year.

Mayors of city and district councils would take over the duties of regional councils, in a coalition proposal pitched as the biggest shake-up of local government in three decades.The mayors would form 11 Combined Territories Boards (CTBs), which would meet regularly and - on top of handling the business of regional councils - would be tasked with coming up with a "RegionalReorganisation Plan" for reorganising how their councils are structured in the long term.The CTBs would also have responsibility under the government's Resource Managment Act (RMA) reforms for developing the region-wide spatial plan chapter, and a national environment plan chapter, to be included in combined regional plans.The changes are now out for consultation, which remains open until 20 February, with the resulting legislation expected to be introduced mid-next year and passed in 2027.Local Government Minister Simon Watts and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop announced the moves on Tuesday, releasing the details at 5pm to avoid spooking the markets due to regional councils'ownership of port companies around the country."Local government is meant to serve communities, not confuse them, but right now the system is tangled in duplication, disagreements and decisions that defy common sense," Bishop said.He said he expected the changes would put "downward pressure" on rates."The government's belief is that local government has lost the social license and that New Zealanders have lost faith in local government - this is borne out by the fact that over half don't bother to votein local elections."He said it was clear to many the current structure was no longer fit for purpose, and the "status quo is not an option".RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop Photo: RNZ/Mark PapaliiBishop said he could not guarantee the current elected regional councillors would stay in those roles for their full three-year term, only saying "it's an option"."I think most New Zealanders, fair minded people, look at our current local government system and say we need change," he said.The government's impending replacement of the Resource Management Act would mean a reduced role for regional councils, he said, with fewer plans and fewer consents - and presented a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to "reset" the structure of local government."Change is hard, and actually this government was elected to make tough decisions."Mayors would likely have a set number of votes on these boards based on population, but adjusted to ensure smaller communities still had a voice - although this was one of multiple options proposed.A discussion document released alongside the decision gave three options for filling out the Combined Territories Boards with Crown Commissioners, to ensure the system "works in practice" by givingthe government a stronger role.These included:Observer only - the Crown Commissioner has no voteVeto power - the Crown Commissioner can override CTB decisionsMajority vote - the Crown Commissioner has more than half the votes on the CTB with the remaining votes distributed among mayorsWatts said a "fair and balanced voting system" would ensure both regional and urban interests were represented in decisions about land and water.The change would mean more efficient services, greater accountability, and smarter use of ratepayer funds, he said."This is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It is a framework for regions to design what works best for them with clear expectations that the outcome must be better than what exists today... crucially, it isalso not about centralising power. This is about empowering local leaders to lead their own reform.""It's not a power grab," Bishop said. "This is about making local government fit for purpose."As well as taking on the roles of Regional Councils, the boards would have two years from establishment to produce their Regional Reorganisation Plans (RRPs) which would then be assessed against"clear national criteria" before approval by the Local Government Minister."Importantly, ministerial approval does not bypass community input," the discussion document said. "Public consultation by the CTB is required before any plan is finalised."The document said the alternative would be to hold a referendum which were "costly and slow" and typically had low voter turnout and a tendency to favour the status quo.Local Government Minister, Simon Watts. Photo: RNZ/Mark PapaliiNew Zealand has 11 regional councils tasked with resource management including flood protection and air quality, public transport, pest control, civil defence and more.They were set up as part of the 1989 local government reforms to replace more than 700 local boards and the roles of the former county councils.The regional councils are separate from the 67 "territorial" authorities - city and district councils - which handle roads, water services, waste and recycling collection, parks and libraries, public safetybylaws.New Zealand also has six unitary authorities which combine the powers and responsibilities of both a regional council and a territorial authority.Bishop said the reorganisation plans may end up leading to more unitary authorities. He said there was a "strong lobby" for having more unitary authorities, and many in the local government sector hadbeen calling for local mayors to simply be given the responsibilities of regional councils.Watts said the changes were "absolutely" consistent with National's rhetoric around localism and devolution, as the different layers of local governments were often in competition with each other and itwould instead mean more streamlined services and more accountability.Treaty of Waitangi settlement obligations would be carried over.Existing unitary authorities would have the opportunity to also produce Reorganisation Plans, but would not be required to.Regional and district boundaries would remain unchanged, at least until further decisions were made under the RRPs.However, some districts like Rotorua and Taupō have populations in more than one region - so the government proposes two options:to either have those areas "adopted" into a neighbouring district, with an option to have those districts able to vote on which neighbouring mayor would represent themgive these districts a voting share in each of the regional groups they are covered by, with proportionate votes and possibly with local ward councillors to represent them instead of the mayorThe discussion document also noted regional constituencies "including Māori constituencies and general constituencies, would no longer exist"."This is because regional councillors themselves would be replaced by the mayors in the region ... the mayor of the city or district council would represent voters from the Māori and general rolls."

Central Otago’s former mayor Tim Cadogan swapped public service for a prime-time quiz show on Monday night (November 25), giving a strong performance on The Chase New Zealand alongside host Paul Henry. Tim was part of a mixed-bag team featuring Reagan, a 34-year-old podcast host from Auckland; Raiha, a 46-year-old stay-at-home mum from the Far North; and Laura, a 28-year-old Wellington lawyer.  Taskmaster for the episode was Anne Hegerty - better known to viewers as The Governess.Tim held his own in the cash-builder, banking $16,000 thanks to a string of quick-fire answers.He was on the money with ‘dot your i's and cross your t’s’, knew exactly which decade the Street Fighter arcade game arrived, and immediately clocked Timaru’s famous statue of Phar Lap.He also nailed which New Zealand Prime Minister died in office and showed bush-knowledge with a question on the huhu grub - though a Lorde song title tripped him up.In his introduction, Paul accidentally upgraded Tim to ex-mayor of “Otago”, prompting a fast Central Otago correction from Tim.In one of the episode’s funnier detours, Paul quizzed Tim about his “theatrical endeavours”, with Tim admitting to appearing in The Full Monty, joking it was “a few years and a few kilos ago”, and giving a shout-out to the Alexandra Musical Society.After banking his $16,000, Tim was coaxed into a celebratory dance. Paul’s verdict? “It’s terrible.” It was a full house heading into the final round, with all four contestants in play and $44,000 on the table. Whether they managed to outrun The Governess is something viewers will have to check out for themselves, with the episode available to watch on TVNZ in demand.It was the second showing for Central Otago in as many weeks, with Cromwell truck driver and former "world champion axeman" Brad Pako competing last Monday (November 17).

Residents who have noticed construction underway along the Lake Dunstan cycle trail at Lowburn now know who is behind the work: Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) hasconfirmed it is installing the fences and bollards to improve safety around the Kiwi Water Park ahead of the busy summer season. Two fences are being added. One is going near the car park and another extends an existing fence on the Cromwell side of the site. Approximately 60 metres of bollards are also being installed to separate trail users from vehicles more clearly.“This proactive work follows observations from our team that the cycle area wasn’t well defined, creating the potential for conflict,” LINZ leader land and waterways Lee Farnhill said. The project, costing just under $15,000, is being delivered by a local contractor.  LINZ said there are no plans for any other additional fencing around the lake this summer. Kiwi Water Park has consents in place to operate on Lake Dunstan each summer.This week a crew has been at the site - a sheltered bay adjacent to the Lowburn boatramp and freedom camping area - setting up its inflatable playground.Co-owner Emily Rutherford has said there will be new attractions for the coming season, including a large inflatable slide on the beach that will shoot people into the lake, as well as more food trucksonsite. LINZ manages Crown land and waterways, including the lakebed and shorelines of Lake Dunstan.

The Otago Regional Council is holding its next meeting in Cromwell this week, and the public is encouraged to come along.With a new chair - Hilary Calvert, from Dunedin, and two new Dunstan ward councillors - Neil Gillespie and Matt Holyer, there will also be a strong public forum, including University of Otago staff talkingabout health issues arising from air quality in the region.Later in the presentation Clyde School will be presenting findings from their studies of Clyde township air quality.The council is looking at a review of the Otago Navigation Safety Bylaw (2020) which assists with the regulation of ports, harbours, waters and maritime-related activities across the region.The meeting will also see councillors appointed to the new portfolio governance structure, and various committees, such as the Otago Central Lakes Regional Deal Negotiation Committee.Matt, who resides in Queenstown, has been nominated as a new representative on that committee, along with Gretchen Robertson as former chair of both the ORC and Regional Deal committee.The council will also decide on representatives for the Otago Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group Joint Committee and the Otago Regional Transport Committee.A notice of motion has been put forward by Cr Michael Laws on the establishment of a working party to review the ORC’s ‘Strategic Directions 2024-2034’ document, to ensure alignment with the focusof the newly elected governance team.The proposed working party will be made up of Michael as chair, Kevin Malcolm, Hilary and Kate Wilson.The ORC’s Strategic Directions 2024–2034 has been developed to look at redefine the vision for Otago, including:Effects of the changing climate on the region’s indigenous biodiversity, the ability to grow food, and the intensity and frequency of storm and flood events;Environmental degradation, decreasing access to freshwater and other pressures on natural resources, which is set to increase;Inflation driven by geopolitical instability, overseas conflicts, rising energy prices, a tight labour market and the ongoing effects of Covid-19;Effects on the region’s businesses through changing consumer preferences;Opportunities provided through technological innovation, increased digital connectivity, and changes to the way we work;Benefits from strengthening our partnership with mana whenua;A change in government, RMA reform, water services reform, and other changes from central government.On Thursday, councillors will be making several site-visits to organisations and projects around the district, including Falls Dam near Naseby, the lookout at Blacks Hill, the Little Valley Bridge inAlexandra that is being upgrade in January 2026, along with the Wai Wānaka Alpine Lakes Forum. The Cromwell meeting is at The Gate starting at 10am, running until about 2pm. The agenda is now available on-line at orc.govt.nz, under Your Council/Council meetings and Agendas and the meeting will be available live on ORC’s YouTube channel.