The Maniototo Hospital is about to receive another upgrade, six years after its $7M redevelopment back in 2019.Four new rooms will soon be added onto the rest home - once the building consent is finalised - which will be built by Breen Construction.Maniototo Health Services Ltd chair Stuart Paterson said the community contributed $126,000 for naming rights on the new rooms, and in 2019 the organisation also received $1M in donations from families and community groups, using the same concept.Officially opened by Health Minister David Clark, the 2019 redevelopment included 29 new beds, as well as the transformation of existing rest home facilities into a medical centre and community services facility.The government granted $1M for the project, following a pre-election funding pledge from former Labour leader Andrew Little.Other contributions included $2M from the Maniototo Community Board, $500,000 from the Otago Community Trust, $250,000 from Lions, and $2.5M in hospital reserves.Stuart said this would be the first time they have had to borrow a bit of money for the upgrade, as well as further hospital reserves.Maniototo Health Services provides a 31 bed medical inpatient service including acute, hospital level and rest home care for the elderly, as well as respite and carer support.Stuart said the service held two contracts with Health NZ - one for rest home care and another for general medical - of which they were funded for four hospital beds.In recent years the hospital had increased its services to now include palliative care and a visiting surgeon offered regular appointments as well.Community services include meals on wheels and district nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, x-ray, well child services, orthopaedic, and general medicine clinics.  Maniototo Health Services chair Stuart Paterson has been on the board since 2010. Photo: FileStuart was the health services chair from 2010 to 2012, and stepped back as deputy before resuming his role in 2015. He said the next stage of the upgrade was to add on new serviced apartments and retirement units to the hospital.“We have quite a bit of land to put them on, for people who aren’t quite ready for a rest home.”The old hospital building was demolished two to three years ago and the heritage building was a bigger job than expected, because of the asbestos removal, he said. The new hospital also had a $200,000 kitchen upgrade a year ago.

With just nine days left before nominations close for the upcoming local government elections, a leadership vacuum looms over the Cromwell Ward with no candidates yet officially nominated for council or community board roles (as at 6pm Tuesday, July 22).Of the four current Central Otago District councillors representing Cromwell, two long-serving members - Neil Gillespie and Nigel McKinley - won’t be seeking re-election. For first-term Cromwell Community Board member Wally Sanford, who entered through a by-election triggered by a lack of candidates last election, the silence was familiar and frustrating.“By-elections are embarrassing to our democracy, expensive and avoidable,” he said.“We as an electorate need to do some serious shoulder tapping in the final week if we’re light on candidates.”Despite what many saw as a successful first term on the community board, Wally had ruled out stepping up to the councillor role. He confirmed he intended to re-stand for the community board, though he hadn’t yet filed his nomination paperwork.While it was his view he would make a capable councillor, the time and financial demands made it unworkable for now, he said.“Mortgage payments call louder than public service,” he told the Central App.“Being a good councillor would take over 20 hours a week and that time budget doesn’t fit into my job or family life.”The balance was more manageable at community board level, he said, where the time commitment could be juggled around work through a mix of flexible hours and annual leave.While voter turnout in local elections has been a growing concern nationally, the nomination shortfall highlights another layer of disengagement: the number of people willing to put their names forward in the first place.Wally said one common misconception may be deterring potential candidates.“You’re not a celebrity, there is no spotlight, you won’t be famous. The most public part of the role is the election campaign – the rest is as publicly mundane as you want it to be.”Cromwell’s rapid growth is both the ward’s biggest challenge and its greatest opportunity, Wally said - and it shaped the kind of leadership he wanted to see around the table.“Cromwell is firmly on the growth curve and probably will be for some time,” he said. “I’d like to be surrounded by people who accept the challenges and are able to seek and leverage opportunities for our ward.”He said he hoped to see aspirational, engaged candidates step forward - people willing to turn up, participate, and actively contribute to discussions.Wally wasn’t the only first-term elected member grappling with the practical realities of public service. Cromwell Ward councillor and community board member Sarah Browne, who also planned to stand again, said the personal cost of the role put many would-be candidates off.“The problem for most people is the money - they’ve got a full-time job and can’t take the time off,” she said. “If you’re a working mum, the juggle is hard.”Sarah, who had not yet submitted her nomination at the time of interview, said the $200 application fee on top of the personal cost of campaigning was a valid consideration for anyone on a budget.“It adds up,” she said. “Obviously I’m keen to do it - but we’re having to spend money just to get the job.”As for her motivation?“People ask me, ‘Why are you doing this? Why make life so hard?’ But this is what I was put here to do - leave the world a better place than you found it,” she said.One of those stepping aside was deputy mayor Neil Gillespie, who first became a district councillor in 2001 and was eyeing a move to regional council. In an interview with the Central App, he said many qualified people opted not to stand due to professional and family responsibilities, while others were put off by the sense that public service often went unappreciated.“Many potential candidates ask themselves, ‘Why would I do that bloody thankless task?’,” he said. He downplayed any talk of a “changing of the guard” following his and Nigel’s flagged departures, noting the potential for a complete refresh existed every three years at the hands of voters.Neil said the community board remained a valuable stepping stone into council and expressed disappointment that an engaged first-term member like Wally wasn’t in a position to stand.He added he would question the motivation of anyone who put their name forward at the last minute simply to fill a gap.Nominations for council and community board roles across the Central Otago District close at 12pm on Friday, August 1.At the time of writing, there were no nominations for elected members to serve on the Maniototo Community Board, while other wards had received fewer nominations than there were seats to fill, leaving gaping holes in local representation just days out from the deadline.

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.Absolute Beauty on Ventry!99 Ventry Street, AlexandraThis stunning four-bedroom split-level home has been thoughtfully transformed into a beautiful, modern haven – perfect for families seeking comfort, style, and space in the heart of Alexandra. Elevated to capture sweeping views over the town, the home features open-plan living with a contemporary kitchen, complete with a walk-in pantry. The modernised interior offers a fresh, light-filled atmosphere, ideal for both everyday living and entertaining. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Stacey Waldron and Rebecca Ireland.Perfect Starter or Investment Opportunity!3 McKellar Street, AlexandraLocated conveniently close to schools and sports facilities, this bungalow offers a fantastic opportunity to enter the property market. This home has been in the family for over 40 years and is ready for the next person to add their touch and make some memories. Compact in size but enough room for the family. Good heating with both a woodburner and heat pump, comfort is assured all year round. While some modernisation is needed, it’s perfect for a handyman or those keen to add value. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Stacey Waldron and Rebecca Ireland.Large Family Home with Private Garden in Alexandra108A Ventry Street, AlexandraWelcome to 108A Ventry Street, a 250m2 residence located in the heart of Alexandra. This beautifully refurbished two-storey home combines modern convenience with comfort, making it an ideal option for families seeking space and accessibility to the community. With four bedrooms and three bathrooms, this property caters to all your needs, ensuring both privacy and togetherness. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Peter Hishon and Dee Labes.Seriously Sharp Buying30 Waenga Drive, CromwellOffering exceptional value for money, this substantial 210m2 home on a massive 786m2 section delivers the perfect blend of space, comfort, and location - ideal for families, relocators, and holiday home buyers alike. Whether you're making a permanent move to the heart of Central Otago or seeking a generously sized holiday base for all-season adventures, 30 Waenga Drive ticks all the boxes without compromising on lifestyle or budget. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Keeley Anderson and Niki Lord.Best buy in Wooing Tree? We think so!60 Wooing Tree Avenue, CromwellWhether you're a first home buyer, investor, or looking for the perfect holiday base in Central Otago, 60 Wooing Tree Avenue is an exceptional opportunity to secure stylish, low-maintenance living in one of Cromwell’s most desirable and fast-growing neighbourhoods at an exceptional price! Located in the sought-after Wooing Tree subdivision - just steps from the iconic reserve and the famous Wooing Tree itself - this is modern living with a heart, surrounded by vineyards, mountain views, and community spirit.Click here for more information or to contact the agent Keeley Anderson and Niki Lord.Exceptional Design Meets Effortless Living!1 Fraer Street, CromwellDesigned and built with inspiration from a show home, this thoughtfully curated property showcases exceptional quality, comfort, and attention to detail throughout. Every element has been carefully considered, resulting in a home that is as functional as it is beautiful.Click here for more information or to contact the agent Kate Andrew.Appealing Bridge Hill Home with Stunning Views!39 Kamaka Crescent, Bridge HillWelcome to this well appointed residence at 39 Kamaka Crescent, nestled in the picturesque locale of Bridge Hill. This delightful property presents a wonderful opportunity for families, couples, or anyone looking for a peaceful yet vibrant community to call home. With its elevated position, stunning views, and proximity to local amenities, this home seamlessly blends comfort and convenience. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Peter Hishon and Dee Labes.Springvale Rural Charm16 Waipuna Road, SpringvaleNestled in the peaceful Springvale countryside, this charming and versatile family home offers the perfect blend of comfort, style, and rural charm. Ideal for families, lifestyle seekers, or equestrian enthusiasts, 16 Waipuna Road presents an exciting opportunity to embrace the best of Central Otago living. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Stacey Waldron and Rebecca Ireland.Want to see more? click here to view all of Tall Poppy’s current listings.

For the first time since 2019 Central Otago voters will have a say on who leads their district.A challenger has stepped forward to contest the mayoralty - a role that went uncontested at the last local elections, when former mayor Tim Cadogan was re-elected unopposed.Since late last year, the district has been led by Tamah Alley, who was selected by fellow councillors to step into the top job after Tim resigned to take up a role in Wellington with national water regulator Taumata Arowai.Tamah, a former police officer, became Central Otago’s first female mayor when appointed in October. Now, the mayoralty will be up for grabs again - and the first contender to publicly declare his candidacy is someone with a history of challenging local government.Mark Quinn founded the national organisation Challenging Councils, which was set up to advocate for greater transparency and community voice in local decision-making.In recent years, he has travelled throughout New Zealand, hosting meetings and presentations focused on what he claimed were systemic issues in council governance and spending.Mark, who moved to Roxburgh in 2016 and now runs a small almond orchard, said he was encouraged by supporters to stand and intended to campaign on restoring core council services, addressing rising rates, and strengthening public input.“I’ve been asked to stand for mayor by many over the last few months,” he wrote in a public announcement on social media. “Over the next two months I will be running meetings throughout the Central Otago district. I intend to draw your attention to issues that create havoc with our rates, not servicing our core infrastructure, and why the people’s voice is not being heard or followed as we are the owners of council.”He said he looked forward to working with the community “in turning this council around” and would soon set up a dedicated email address to hear directly from residents.Speaking to The Central App on Monday, Mark positioned himself as an alternative - not an opponent - to the current mayor, highlighting his business background as a key point of difference.A former consultant and analyst, he said he had worked with struggling businesses across New Zealand throughout his career, making strategic and often tough decisions.“For 40 years, (I was) troubleshooting companies, overseeing them, rebuilding them, closing them down wherever necessary.”For Mark, one of the most pressing issues facing Central Otago is what he sees as spiralling rates and a council culture that’s out of touch with the people it serves.“If you can't pay rates now, you won't (be able to) in two years - they're going to price you out,” he said.He argues council leadership is too focused on direction from central government, rather than listening to ratepayers - who he describes as the true owners of the council.Mark was now semi-retired, with three children and four grandchildren.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

The new Riverside Park development in downtown Alexandra, Kāmoanahaehae, has been secured with a retaining wall, and landscaping is underway.Stage one of the $3.2M project at the end of Tarbert Street was recently reprioritised to ensure better stability of the site.The parks and recreation team at Central Otago District Council told councillors last month that the $400,000 ramp from the edge of the riverbank to a floating jetty would need to be completed first.The ramp was intended to be the main feature of the design, allowing people access right down to the water’s edge.But designs had to be flood resistant and meet Geotech requirements, and it was decided nine meter poles would need to be driven into the ground to support the ramp.Until that phase was completed, contractors were not able to finish and concrete the plaza area, with the risk of vibrations cracking it.Another update from council in the last week outlined the latest developments, including the retaining wall (clad in decorative timber), and in the next week paving stones will be laid to better define the plaza area and pathways.The new plaza area in downtown Alexandra has opened up the confluence of the Manuherikia and Clutha Matau-Au rivers for the public to enjoy. In the 2021 – 31 Long Term Plan council allocated $650,000 over three years for the construction of the Kāmoanahaehae - Riverside Park, and additional funding of $723,848 was also received from Otago Community Trust ($100,000), Central Lakes Trust ($250,000), Lottery Environmental and Heritage Fund ($48,848), and MBIE TiF funding ($325,000).Construction began in September 2024 on Stage 1 which included several additional permissions, underground work and investigations required for archaeological authority. Additional work was undertaken by Otago Regional Council in the removal of the riverbank trees from the traffic bridge to Tarbert Street.The Wairoa Manuherekia Trust provided $120,000 for the removal of additional willow trees from the Manuherekia riverbank and an off-road trail was currently underway, linking the park to the Linger and Die and onto the Otago Central Rail Trail.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

Central Otago locals with a creative idea or a sports team needing help getting to competitions could be in line for funding support, with two national schemes now open for applications.Central Otago District Council (CODC) is overseeing the latest funding rounds for the Creative Communities Scheme and Sport New Zealand Rural Travel Fund, both of which support grassroots initiatives in the region.Approximately $14,000 is available through the Creative Communities Scheme, a Creative New Zealand initiative aimed at fostering local arts and cultural projects.CODC community and engagement manager Paula Penno said money would be allocated towards community artistic or cultural events and projects that encourage the promotion of arts within the district.“You can apply for support for materials for arts activities or programmes, venue or equipment hire, personnel and administrative costs for short-term projects, or promotion and publicity of arts activities,” she said.Past recipients include a weaving workshop, Alexandra Musical Society’s production of Saturday Night Fever, a Winterstellar video project, and an art exhibition in a Bannockburn woolshed.Meanwhile, nearly $20,000 is up for grabs through the Sport New Zealand Rural Travel Fund, boosted this year by a sizeable contribution from the Community Trust of Otago.“The fund is designed to subsidise travel expenses for rural sports teams participating in local competitions,” Paula said.“It focuses on junior and youth teams - ages 5 to 18 years - from rural sports clubs and schools.”Both schemes are long-running partnerships between CODC and their respective national funders.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

Five years after announcing a Wānaka to Christchurch passenger service, Sounds Air has announced the service will be cancelled at the end of September, blaming “out of control” aviation costs.Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford told Radio NZ this morning (Monday July 21) that despite “very, very good” booking numbers for the service, the airline had no choice but to cancel its Wānaka to Christchurch and Blenheim to Christchurch services.The move means the loss of “about ten staff” in Wānaka and Christchurch, he said.“Since Covid, aviation has been out of control cost-wise,” he said.“We are really faced with no choice. In the last three months we’ve had another half a million dollars of annual costs imposed on the business.“At some point you have to say ‘no more’.”Andrew said he was “really worried” about the number of people on the regional flights who fly to access healthcare.“It’s a big part of our business,” he said.“All these regional services provided connectivity, and a big part of that is health care.”Sounds Air withdrew other regional services in December 2024.“In some ways it’s a relief,” Andrew said, because “the pressure on the business, staff, and shareholders is extreme”.In addition to sky-rocketing maintenance costs, exacerbated by the low Kiwi dollar, Andrew also said it was a “serious problem” getting aircraft engineers.He said Sounds Air airfares had increased by 22 percent since Covid and they could put them up another 22 percent and “it still wouldn’t be enough”.The company will get rid of its nine-seater aircraft and concentrate on offering its original services in the Cook Strait area.The Sounds Air Wānaka to Christchurch service was announced in August 2020 and began operating in November 2020. The service will close at the end of September 2025.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

The Employment Relations Amendment Bill has passed its second reading, with National voting alongside the opposition parties.Employers may need to be ready to face up to some uncomfortable discussions about employee pay, employment experts say.On Wednesday night, Labour MP Camilla Belich's Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Bill passed its second reading, with National voting alongside the three opposition parties.The bill would ensure that pay secrecy clauses, which prevent employees from discussing their salaries with colleagues, would no longer be enforceable, meaning employers could not take legal action, ]if an employee talked about pay.Simon Schofield, a professional teaching fellow in University of Auckland law school, said it would be a positive move."The underlying reason for the bill is to ensure that people who are discriminated against have the ability to see where they sit relative to other employees doing the same work and allows them to discuss that."He said some employers may have to deal with challenging situations, justifying why certain people were paid a certain rate compared to others."Those questions may be uncomfortable for an employer to answer, but I don't think that means an employee should be dismissed for having those discussions."If someone isn't feeling that they're getting paid well compared to their peers, they'll often just leave the employment relationship, but by ensuring that people can have these discussions, it puts the onus on employers to justify some of their decisions around pay, which sometimes… can have elements of unconscious bias involved and that feeds into the gender pay gap."Hesketh Henry partner Alison Maelzer said remuneration was slightly taboo, so people might be reluctant to talk about it anyway."It's awkward both ways," she said. "If you find out you're being paid less than the person you're talking to or if you're being paid more than the person you're talking to, either way, it opens up all kinds of a can of worms."She said, if the bill passed, salaries could become a water cooler conversation for a while."It might be prompting people to ask their colleagues a question they might not have done otherwise."Duncan Cotterill partner Alastair Espie said he saw people getting into trouble over pay disclosure "very infrequently"."It's an issue that is often difficult for employers to prove, so concerns about employees talking about their salary will often go unaddressed or be dealt with through more informal channels."Maelzer said she had been an employment lawyer for more than 20 years and had not been on either side of such a matter."Perhaps employers are reluctant to take disciplinary action, because it could open up a can of worms related to the reasons why the employee is sharing salary details."She said agreements often contained a clause that made the terms of employment confidential."The way it would be in there is not a specific clause, but when you're defining confidential information, client information, marketing strategy or whatever, you'd also include the terms of your employment in that list."She said the bill would not prevent employers doing that, but would prevent them taking action against an employee for remuneration disclosure.Schofield said action had been taken against employees who disclosed their pay."Employers are entitled to treat pay as confidential information, therefore - because there's been a breach of that confidential information - employers may think they're entitled to dismiss an employee for that disclosure."

Bespoke settings to ensure growth pays for growth are the top priority for a Central Otago and Southern Lakes delegation heading to the negotiating table with Wellington decision makers.At the inaugural meeting of the Otago Central Lakes Regional Deal Negotiation Committee on Friday (July 18), representatives from Central Otago, Queenstown Lakes and Otago Regional Councils ranked five initiatives they’re keen to progress with central government.At number one, “capturing value” - with a local visitor levy and mining royalties listed alongside bespoke settings to “ensure growth pays for growth” and to “enable a pipeline of affordable housing”.Other initiatives set to be taken to the negotiating table, in order of priority, include: “transforming transport”, "electrify Otago Central Lakes”, “private investment-public health”, and “visitors and investors”.Prior to the discussion, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) strategy and reform manager Pennie Pearce said early conversations with Department of Internal Affairs staff had made it clear the team needed a clear sense of priorities.There was little point, she said, in claiming “they’re all important” - even if that reflected local sentiment.QLDC mayor Glyn Lewers noted the priorities were “widely integrated” - for example, new affordable housing would be difficult without strong transport links.The committee also agreed to appoint an advisor to support negotiations and potentially take the role of independent negotiator.Proceedings began with the election of Otago Regional Council (ORC) chair Gretchen Robertson as committee chair, with Central Otago District (CODC) councillor Tracy Paterson as her deputy until October’s local government elections, which could change the committee’s makeup.After her appointment, Gretchen described the regional deal as both a “genuinely exciting opportunity” and “a big responsibility” for the committee.“We’ll be dealing with significant issues, and there is enormous potential here.”She stressed the importance of unity among ORC, QLDC and CODC throughout the process: “It’s not a competition, it’s a commitment.”Regional deals are a new initiative from the Beehive, designed to foster long-term partnerships between central and local government, focused on tackling regional development challenges and unlocking economic growth and potential.In early July, Otago Central Lakes was one of the first regions to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to begin negotiating a deal, alongside Auckland and Western Bay of Plenty.Each deal will be based on a 30-year vision for the respective region and be implemented through a 10-year strategic plan.The government has signalled its intent to finalise the first of the three deals by the end of the year.So, what will this region be asking for? While an update on the negotiations already underway with Wellington was reserved for discussion in the public-excluded section at the end of Friday’s committee meeting, here are the broad priorities that were made public:Capturing ValueBespoke settings to ensure growth pays for growthLocal visitor levyBespoke settings to enable a pipeline of affordable housingMining royaltiesTransform TransportRefresh transport strategy around offline MRT and sub-regional visitor, commuter and freight links Establish bespoke settings to enable offline MRT Establish alternative funding/financing/ownership/delivery mechanisms for critical public transport, roading and bridge infrastructureElectrify Otago Central LakesProvide streamlined planning and land acquisition pathway for a transmission corridorEstablish bespoke settings to allow Queenstown to be treated as part of the gridRequire Transpower to undertake additional options analysis for the new Queenstown lineLaunch the Ratepayer Assisted Scheme for rooftop solar and batteriesEstablish bespoke settings to enable innovation in alternative energy generationEstablish bespoke settings to enable increased uptake of solarPrivate Investment, Public HealthUse OCL resident and visitor numbers in funding modelAccelerate the delivery of a comprehensive health needs assessment for the regionDevelop integrated private/public healthcare modelsDeliver partnered health services based on high priority needs and private opportunitiesVisitors and InvestorsGrow highly productive sectorsIncrease total value of the visitor economyPosition OCL as New Zealand’s investment and business shopfrontPower sustainable tourism through data driven insightsHave a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

In the heart of Alexandra Primary School is a beautiful new whare that incorporates a variety of learning spaces for the 210 ākonga (students) and teachers.Opened on May 13, the multi-purpose learning environment named Hinerakimārie features a school hall, library, kitchen, laundry and bathroom facilities.The school has been undergoing a complete rebuild by the Ministry of Education (MoE) over the past few years.The rebuild began with a new staff room and office block about 13 years ago, and has included four relocated classrooms for years 4,5,7 and 8, the whare and now an eight-space teaching block due to open in early 2026.The whare was designed using the Dunstan Kāhui Ako cultural narrative, and students can watch the final stage of the rebuild out of the school hall windows inside “like live television”, principal Fi Mackley said.Christchurch-based BCN Architects was involved with the design of the whare and it was built by Breen Construction, replacing the old school onsite.  Some of the old classrooms demolished were from the 1950s and 1970s.Fi has taught at Alexandra Primary School since 2010 and moved into the tumuaki (principal) role at the end of 2020.She said the whare had already been used for some very special events such as the Matariki breakfast and the Tī Kōuka classroom’s cultural celebration.“The whare is a significant part of our school now, we see it as being the ngākau - the ‘heart’ of the school,” she said.Once the temporary classroom onsite was removed near the entrance, the new whare would be much more visible to the rest of the community.It has been a long process for the school and board (including previous boards), with MoE initially pausing all of the new rebuilds two years ago.The school has had to be “super flexible” with its existing learning spaces to accommodate the junior block being removed, including the upstairs staffroom currently being used as a classroom.Fi said Breen Construction had been outstanding and supportive with the delays and it was also nice that at least three of the school dads were involved in the project - including the site manager and foreman. She said they put forward a strong case to the MoE about why they needed to build the whare first: Up until now school assemblies were held outside winter and summer, and they’d had no school library since about 2012.They have received many donations of books from families, PaperPlus, Beca and Checketts McKay, as well as boxes of reading material from the National Library.National Library facilitator Bridget Schaumann of Dunedin had been instrumental in bringing the school’s new library vision to life, Fi said.“It is an exciting time for our school and its community. Our new buildings will help to embed our school’s vision of deep learning in a safe and diverse environment where everyone belongs.”Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

If you're spending your evenings in front of a heater, you might be keeping a wary eye on your power bill.The cost of heating your home makes up about a third of what you pay for power each month.But what's the cheapest way to do it?Here's an overview of how the various options compare.Heat pumpsThey can have a high upfront cost, but Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority lead adviser on energy efficient appliances Gareth Gretton said heat pumps were "by far and away" the most efficient form of heating.Depending on how much you're charged for electricity, it might cost you about 25-35c an hour to run your heat pump for every kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity used. A 6kw heat pump would use about 2kw of electricity at full power and so cost 50c per hour to run, if you're paying 25c per kWh.Consumer estimates that a very large heat pump might cost $1000 a year but a small one could be less than $200.But they will deliver much more heat for that cost than a standard electric heater of the same size."I think most people know now they're really magic at transforming electricity into heat. They take heat from outdoors and effectively put it indoors, they sort of upgrade the heat that exists outdoors, even when it's below 0°C, and turn it into useful, comfortable heat indoors," Gretton said.He said, for every unit of electricity that a heat pump used, it would give three or four units of heat."There's literally nothing else that can provide that efficiency other than a heat pump."He said New Zealand was unusual in that its houses tended to be relatively badly insulated."Heat pumps do get a little bit less efficient when you have colder temperatures outside but it's not a huge problem because in New Zealand what we end up doing is quite a lot of heating when it's not cold outside by international standards … say 5°C to 10. Heat pumps are really efficient in that sort of temperature range."Consumer recommends running a heat pump no higher than 21°C and turning the fan up rather than the temperature if you want to heat a room quickly.Healthy Homes standards don't require landlords to install a heat pump in rental properties, although many have. They are only required to provide a fixed, safe and efficient heating source for the main living room.Whether it's better to leave your heat pump on all the time or turn it off when it's not needed is a subject of debate. Some people argue it costs more to warm up a room than if it was kept at temperature all day. But James le Page, who has looked into the issue for Consumer, said turning it off made more sense."For the few people who have a house that is super airtight - so with no gaps around doors and windows, insulation above building code requirements, double glazing, thermal drapes and a ventilation system - they might be able to leave their heat pump on all day every day," he said."But for most of us in New Zealand, if we leave it on, we'll be wasting a lot of energy on heat that will continuously leak out, as our heat pump works hard to maintain the set temperature."Electric heatersIn general, electric heaters all cost the same to run, for the amount of heat they produce."Any form of resistance electric heating - what I mean by that is where you pass electricity through a plug-in heater and what it's doing is the device is resisting the flow of electricity - will transform electricity into heat with a ratio of one to one," Gretton said."There's ultimately no difference in the electricity to heat conversion efficiency of any type of electric resistance heater, they're all the same."But he said they could vary in effectiveness. Radiant heat could be good for a large area or a room with high ceilings, for example. "If you're within the range of the heater, you're kind of feeling that heat and you can be a little bit more comfortable at a slightly lower air temperature. It's a bit like the campfire effect. If you're outside and it's pretty cold but you're near a campfire which is tremendously hot then you feel that heat."Consumer said portable fan heaters were good option in small or occasionally used rooms, such as offices or bedrooms, even though they were relatively expensive to run. "But, with a maximum heat output of 2400W, they don't have the power to tackle anything beyond very small living areas."A 2kW heater running for five hours a day would typically cost about $2.50 a day while a 1200kW radiant heater with three bars could cost $1.50.In general, electric heaters all cost the same to run, for the amount of heat they produce. Photo: 123RFDehumidifiersYou might use a dehumidifier to take the moisture out of a room, but it could also increase the temperature by a few degrees, which might be sufficient if it's a room you're only going to sleep in."You can sort of regard a dehumidifier as being a plug-in electric heater with the advantage that it will also make your house drier," Gretton said."It's a bit of a win-win because all the electricity that goes into your dehumidifier will actually be helping to heat your house. They're a good thing in that sense."A compressor dehumidifier, which is the most common type in New Zealand, costs about 5c an hour to run.GasGretton said gas heating was not an effective option.He said people should steer well clear of unflued gas hearers anyway, because they made a house damp and emitted gases such as nitrogen oxide."There's an absolute mountain of good reasons why unflued gas heaters are a bad idea. With flued gas heaters, there's no direct health impact but you do have a bit of an efficiency loss so you're not going to be getting one unit of heat for every unit of gas you're burning."Wood burnersGretton said wood burners tended to be less efficient than gas heaters."It's quite tricky to burn wood both cleanly and efficiently. There's a trade-off between making wood burners efficient and making them clean burning in the sense of lower particulate emissions."I think a lot of people assume that wood burners are really cost effective to run, but it really depends on how much you're paying for firewood. Now, for those people that do have free firewood, that's obviously pretty hard to compete with in terms of cost to run because it's basically zero other than the amount of time you'll spend cutting and chopping wood."But if you're buying firewood, then it's not particularly cost effective, although it does vary around the country."He said, at a rough average national rate, it was still usually more expensive than a heat pump.

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.Click here to go to the mayor's website.

A retired school sports “legend” officially opened the Maniototo Area School gymnasium on Friday (July 18) after the completion of a refurbishment project.Joe Donald, who taught physical education (PE) for more than three decades at the school, was a VIP guest at the community-focused opening ceremony.“When we thought about who should open our redeveloped gym, there was no doubt - it had to be Mr D. He taught here for about 35 years and became a true MAS legend,” school deputy principal Lucia Dowling said in a speech at the event.According to Lucia, the gym “quickly became a beloved place” at the school, largely due to Mr D’s influence.Retired school teacher Joe Donald returns as a VIP guest at the opening celebrations. Photo: Nigel PaceyConstruction of the original gymnasium began in 1979, the year of the school’s centennial, commemorated with a visit from then prime minister Sir Robert Muldoon.“During that celebration, he announced the approval for a general-purpose hall, a dream that had been 53 years in the making,” Lucia said.In 2018, a project to rejuvenate the facility was launched, with the idea to incorporate some smaller teaching spaces into the main area of the gym. Construction began in 2023, coinciding with a school-wide rebuild, and finished at the beginning of term four last year, led by Stewarts Construction.“Some cold PE sessions were held outside during the build,” Lucia told The Central App.Current pupils perform at the gymnasium’s official opening ceremony. Photo: Nigel PaceyStaff and pupils are already making use of the new space.“We are most proud of the scope of the gym. As well as a large gym space we have two dedicated spaces for fitness training - a weights room and a cardio room,” Lucia said.“Thanks to our partnership with the Maniototo Rugby Club we have state of the art fitness equipment. “Not many school gyms have the equipment and resources our students have access to.”The gym is also used for prizegivings, discos, science fairs, and visiting performers.The school’s focus had shifted to the development of an artificial turf, a project that received $200,000 of community funding in the district council’s latest Long Term Plan, signed off last month.“When this is done we will be a real sport and activity hub for the community,” Lucia said.Read more: New turf backed by council grantHave a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

When someone arrived at Teviot Valley Community Board member Gill Booth’s house with a t-shirt saying “miss-information”, she knew she’d hit home.She was now getting used to having it thrown at her, like an accusation, that she supported Voices For Freedom, “but all I wanted was freedom,” she told a public webinar organised by the group on Thursday night (July 17).A resident in the district for the past 40 years, Gill might have got the lowest votes out of all the community board members at the last election, but she got her foot in the door.And she said people started to listen. She put out fliers around the community sharing her opposition to what she described as the theft of the country’s water (3 Waters).The webinar was organised by Voices For Freedom founder Claire Deeks, and Gill said those supporting the group at the last election were “depicted as rats chewing our way through the ballot box”.There were cartoons of the group in the media mocking them, which according to Claire got worse the further south you went.But the group said there was no “big scandal” from their end - just a platform for people to have a voice - no political or obvious affiliation to anything, except “freedom”.Voices for Freedom was founded in December 2020, according to the group’s website, as "a non-political organisation focused on protecting New Zealanders' fundamental human rights with a particular focus on freedom of speech, health/medical freedom and all freedoms under attack from an overzealous and oppressive Covid-19 response".Gill warned anyone intending on standing in the Local Elections 2025, if they didn’t have a thick skin, to find a way of supporting someone else who was campaigning, “because they need all the support they can get”. She said there was a place for everybody.Gill was supported on the webinar by Southland District councillor Jaspreet Boparai, who also felt the community through the media treated her like “a crazy United Nations nut bar”.Jaspreet told the group that her time as an elected member had been a steep learning curve.“I have never read so much in my life,” she said, referring to the speed with which the legislation changed, between the Labour and National parties.Gill added that after the lockdowns it was time for elected members to walk the talk, and she said “representing the community, all of a sudden things got a whole lot harder”.Both women agreed that standing on your own to have a voice was empowering, but hard when making decisions.Gill felt that her time on the community board and answering to Central Otago District Council was difficult, saying they were always making the final decisions, “and a lot was hidden from you - a lot of background current”.Using ‘districtisation’ as an example, both Teviot and Cromwell community boards were against it, “but then the council stormed ahead with it anyway”, she said. Both women encouraged potential candidates to just do their best and remember who they were representing, “because you just don’t want to let people down”, Jaspreet said.For more on our election coverage, go to the Central App button.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

Hunters are being urged to have their voices heard on the future management of highly valued game animal herds in New Zealand.The government is currently consulting on a change to the Game Animal Council Act 2013 through the Game Animal Council (Herds of Special Interest) Amendment Bill. If passed, the bill would make it clear that the minister for hunting and fishing can establish a Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) in a national park.“If the bill is passed, it will enable sustainable management of highly valued game animal herds in national parks, benefitting both hunting and conservation,” Game Animal Council (GAC) chair Grant Dodson said. “.. we encourage you to make the most of this opportunity, to submit, and to help enable sustainable, hunter-led game animal management in New Zealand, including national parks.”GAC chief executive Corina Jordan said hunters are passionate, boots-on-the-ground conservationists who contribute significant efforts to environmental initiatives.“Not only that, but hunting benefits physical and mental wellbeing, gets kids outside and off devices learning practical skills, while providing free-range meat for whānau and communities,” she saidCorina said when HOSI is “fully implemented, it will empower hunter-led management of valued introduced game animal herds in a way that recognises and protects their values at the same time as achieving conservation outcomes”.Grant said the current law for national parks focuses on exterminating game animals as far as possible to achieve a ‘natural state’ - but he says this isn’t feasible.“Since the law was put in place almost 50 years ago, we have learnt that the dream of exterminating valued introduced species from national parks is not practically or financially feasible, and that hunters play an important role in protecting biodiversity and responsibly managing game animals, including in national parks.”He said the bill is a great opportunity for hunters.“This bill is a significant opportunity for hunters to have their voices heard by the Environment Select Committee, and shape New Zealand’s future legislative framework for the benefits of hunting and conservation”.“Have your voice heard,” he said. “Submit on the bill before July 24.”Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

Police are now in a position to release the name of the man who died after a crash on State Highway 8 on 4 July.He was Yung Oon Chong, 31, from Singapore.Police offer our condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

Close to 300 people have had their say on a controversial council plan to convert land at the Cromwell Racecourse into sports fields.Central Otago District Council (CODC) asked for feedback from members of the public on its vision for the 93-hectare reserve, as it seeks to develop a management plan for the public space.CODC parks and recreation manager Gordon Bailey said 291 submissions were received in response to the council’s draft plan, after the submission period closed on Monday (July 14).Twenty-eight of the submissions were prepared by young people, who were given the option to complete a targeted response form provided by the council.Three public drop-in sessions on the options were held during the consultation period.“We had a good level of community engagement and attendance at the sessions,” Gordon said.It was now over to the Cromwell Community Board to chew over the submissions and make some recommendations.“Community feedback will be taken into consideration and a revised plan will be submitted for council approval,” the council staffer said.Cromwell community board member and ward councillor Sarah Browne admitted elected members had a job ahead of them to balance the needs of different groups.Sarah said almost as many people had submitted on the future of the Cromwell Racecourse as they had on Southern Water Done Well, and that showed how invested some people were in plans for the public space.However, she cautioned submissions were often “skewed towards the people that don't like what you're doing”, when it came to any council consultation. “The silence is overwhelming from a lot of people, and they're the ones that either don't care or are happy.”She said the job now for elected members was to “focus on doing what is best for the town and the best that we can do for everyone, not at anyone’s expense”.“We will be listening. We are here to work with the people and for the people, not against them.”The racecourse reserve is largely used by the local equestrian community, who had voiced concern that horses, horse riding and crowds of people coming to play and watch team sports weren’t a safe mix.There was fear they stood to be the biggest losers if sections of the reserve land were carved up for sports fields.Meanwhile, some team sports representatives worried a future focus on revamping the racecourse, located on the far side of State Highway Six, could undermine the traditional homes for various codes right in the heart of Cromwell, close to schools and the bulk of the town’s residential neighbourhoods.As part of its draft plan, the council included proposed layout maps tweaking green spaces at Alpha Street and Anderson Park, used by football, rugby and cricket clubs for practices and games throughout the year.Sarah said the council was obliged to have reserve management plans that were up to date, but it was working to future proof them too.“We're being proactive and saying, ‘What is going to happen to Cromwell in the future?’. “We’ll need sports grounds, so let's get ahead of ourselves.”Gordon Bailey confirmed AI would be used to help analyse and report on submissions, after the successful utilisation of Dashlet during the Long Term Plan process earlier in the year, when it took just four days for staff to work through more than 1,200 submissions rather than the expected two to three weeks.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

The government has signalled a shift in priorities for local councils, introducing legislation this week aimed at tightening focus on core services and restoring ratepayer confidence.The Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill was introduced to Parliament on Tuesday (July 15), and proposes removing the four ‘well-beings’ - social, economic, environmental, and cultural - from council mandates.In a statement, Local Government Minister Simon Watts said the bill aimed to restore discipline, transparency and performance across the sector, for the benefit of ratepayers.“Kiwis are frustrated with rising rates, expanding bureaucracy, and poor value for money,” he said. “This bill puts councils back to work on the basics - their core services - so ratepayers see real results for what they pay.”The minister said councils had “drifted” from essential responsibilities like roading, water, rubbish, and infrastructure, and that the government was drawing a line.“This refocusing of our councils will help to deliver better value for money, and ultimately help with addressing the number one issue people are dealing with right now, which is cost of living.”The minister also ruled out supporting new taxes or revenue tools for local authorities, saying there was still room for greater efficiency. A model for a potential rates cap was in the works, and he planned to provide an update later in the year.On Tuesday, Central Otago District mayor Tamah Alley told The Central App more than 80 percent of last year’s average 18.3 percent rate rise for the district was attributable to “core services”, with water services soaking up a chunk of community funds.She was cautious about the growing calls to cap rates, warning there would be "devils hidden in the details” of any government policy.She pointed to the example of a Sydney council subject to a cap, which applied for an exemption to raise its rates by 87 percent.“This indicates the scale of just how far behind councils are getting with providing the services communities expect,” she said.Meanwhile, coalition partners appeared unconvinced a cap was a silver bullet.On Thursday, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters told media his party preferred not to interfere with local government."It's a case of doctor, heal thyself" he told RNZ reporter Lillian Hanly."We can't be preaching to them when we haven't got our own spending under control ourselves."For ACT leader David Seymour, the priority was to “cut non-essential spending” and not “worry about the ‘four wellbeings’”.In a social media post, he also stressed the need for cooperation between central and local government.“Finger-pointing has not worked to ease pressure on ratepayers. So, let’s work together,” he said.Read more: Mayor defends rate hikes amid national scrutinyHave a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

Cromwell’s Light Up Winter event - delivered by the Cromwell & Districts Promotion Group - will return next month (Saturday August 2).This year’s event will feature two food courts, and entertainment including a roving magician, illuminated performers, live music, glowing fairies, fire dancers, face painting, and the return of Thomas the Train on the Greenway Express. “We’re thrilled to bring even more flavour and festivity to Light Up Winter this year,” organiser Anthea Lawrence said. “With fantastic food, dazzling decorations, and an amazing community spirit, it’s an evening not to be missed.”Andrea said attendees should expect some “surprising elements” revealed only on the night.Cromwell MenzShed members have been crafting props to help transform Anderson Park into a winter wonderland.“We love getting behind community projects like this,” MenzShed’s Dennis Booth said. “It’s a great way to put our hands to good use and be part of something that brings the town together. Plus, we’re having a bit of fun with it too.”Attendees are encouraged to register for the Light Up Your Hat competition, which has a new corporate category.Andrea said one of the night’s most anticipated moments is the mass lantern release. The lanterns are strictly limited, she said. They are only available online, and must be purchased in advance. The biodegradable lanterns will be collected by volunteers the next morning, and passed to Central Wormworx Ltd to be processed into vermicast (a nutrient rich fertiliser) by tiger worms.Cromwell & Districts Promotion Group chair Caitlin Dykes said Light Up Cromwell continues to grow “while staying true to its local heart”.“It’s family fun for all ages and generations, and the perfect night out on a cold Central Otago evening. The event has evolved each year, now attracting visitors from near and far. It’s amazing to see it continue to grow.”The organisers thanked the funders and sponsors. Find more information, including lantern purchases and hat registrations, here. Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]