Winter is coming and in the Maniototo it is set to be bigger and better for ice sport enthusiasts. The opening date for the outdoor ice rink is set, a more efficient refrigeration plant is in, curling, ice hockey and school holiday events are booked - now it’s just a matter of crossing fingers for a cold snap and a few frosts in May, according to Maniototo Adventure Park (MAP) manager John Grant.John, who has a marketing background - including in winter sports in Queenstown - came on board last year to establish a new charitable trust and move MAP into more of a commercially sustainable operation.He said winter numbers last season were solid, and the month of July was huge, “a real cracker”.“The facility is unique with our outdoor rink, there’s some real magic about ice sports, they’re cool, historic and skating is a good activity for some exercise and fun."John said the outdoor rink will be open for Kings Birthday weekend (May 31 - June 2) and an opening event would mark the occasion.“For the ice luge its climatic dependant, it was at the end of June last year it opened, we’re hoping for earlier.. Now our more efficient refrigeration plant is in [it was installed last season] we are more confident we can retain ice integrity.”The winter ice season usually runs until the end of August when the angle of the sun hits the ice earlier in the afternoon and warmer temperatures make it uneconomic to keep things running, John said. Ice skating is a special experience on an outdoor rink - Naseby’s is picturesque and set amongst the trees. PHOTO: Image-Central/MAP Supplied During the school holidays there would be a costume disco, followed by ice week and luge week camps giving youngsters a chance to hone their skills. In June the adventure park is holding “big weekends” including the Winter Festival, for people to experience ice sports for the first time and Matariki celebrations.The glow stick and lit up ‘Lights on Ice Dance Party’returns on June 20 from and there would be prizes for best dressed.Major curling dates for the season are; the Maniototo Adventure Park Mixed Doubles May 9 -11), Australian Nationals (May 15 -25), NZ Mixed Doubles Qualifying Competition (June 11 -25) and then NZ Curling Nationals (June 25 -29).  John said there were more curling tournaments held through the season and the sport was well supported and enjoyed by many locals and visitors, requiring “softer skill, judgment and balance.” The Erewhon Cup, the oldest ice hockey competition in New Zealand - first played in 1937 in Opawa, Christchurch - is being held in Naseby this year on July 19 -22.The event alternates between Tekapo and Naseby.John said that meant almost 30 hours of ice hockey games over the weekend. Last year's winners Wakatipu Goldrush would be looking to keep a hold of the trophy and bragging rights.Read more: Central luger returns from Europe, happy and focusedRead more: Ice season coming early due to roofHave a story to share?Contact [email protected]

A decision to fund contraceptive pill Cerazette (desogestrel) from April 1 has been welcomed by Endometriosis New Zealand, and is timely; the decision coming during Endometriosis Awareness month. Endometriosis is a common inflammatory disease estimated to affect 176million individuals worldwide in their reproductive years, and 120,000 in New Zealand. As many as one in ten New Zealand women suffer from the disease and many have struggled for years prior to being diagnosed. The Central App editor Shannon Thomson has battled the disease for more than three decades.“Endometriosis and chronic pain has dominated my life for as long as I can remember,’’ Shannon said.“It’s been more than 20 years fighting for answers, of pushing through, of days and weeks unable to function, unable to walk and just passing out because of the pain.''“I had my first surgery when I was 16 - I was lucky, endometriosis was common for women in my family so my mum and doctor were pretty proactive. I was 17 when doctors told me if I wanted to have children I would need to be thinking about my options and act now as chances were really slim.’’“In my later years the pain has been a daily constant and not limited to when I have my cycle - it's just the degree of pain that changes. The Central App editor Shannon Thomson has battled endometriosis for more than three decades.“But still, I count myself as one of the lucky ones,’’ Shannon said.“Endo is an invisible disease - so many women and girls are gaslit to think their experience is normal, that it's just “women’s problems’’ and they need to suck it up. It’s debilitating and demoralising.Anyone experiencing endometriosis symptoms, or feeling something was not right in their body should trust their instincts and continue to push for answers, Shannon said.A view from her hospital bed after surgery. PHOTO: SHANNON THOMSONThe theme of this year's Endometriosis Awareness Month is “Let’s talk Endo”; it aims to start a conversation about the disease and show sufferers they're not alone. Symptoms of endometriosis include painful periods, bowel problems (sometimes misdiagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome), painful intercourse, sub-fertility or infertility, tiredness and low energy, pain in other places such as the lower back, pain at other times e.g. with ovulation or intermittently throughout the month, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), abnormal menstrual bleeding and bladder troubles like interstitial cystitis (IC).Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium), is found in places outside of the uterus. It can be found on the pelvic ligaments, ovaries and bowel and can also be found in other places throughout the body such as in scar tissue, the belly button or lungs.Internationally, there is a diagnostic delay of eight or more years from first presentation of symptoms to a doctor with diagnosis.Learn more about Endometriosis Awareness Month hereFind information on local services on The Central App Health buttonHave a story about Endo to share?Contact [email protected] 

Journalists define news as what’s novel, startling, or conversation-starting. The media knows that bad news sells better than good news and uses it to grab attention. Primarily to attract advertisers.While news coverage serves a civic function, much of what dominates the headlines is carefully crafted to trigger emotional reactions and boost engagement.For long-term investors, this presents a challenge. How do you differentiate between genuinely important financial information and sensationalist headlines? In other words, how do you separate signal from noise?Why Headlines Rarely Predict Market PerformanceLooking at past financial headlines in hindsight provides useful insight. Below are real headlines from 2015 to 2025. Notice the dramatic wording and speculative nature of many of them:"Chinese Stock Market Turbulence" – June 2015, BBC News"Brexit Vote Shocks Markets" – June 2016, BBC News"Dow Plunges 1,175 Points in Largest Single-Day Drop" – Feb 2018, NYT"Global Markets Plummet as Coronavirus Spreads" – March 2020, BBC"Oil Prices Turn Negative for the First Time in History" – April 2020, CNBC"Tech Stocks Surge on AI Advancements" – Jan 2024, TechCrunch"Major Tech Companies Announce Mass Layoffs" – Feb 2025, WSJWhile these headlines reflected market fears at the time, the MSCI World Index still delivered an annualized return of 8.4% per year over this period.This shows that while markets fluctuate, long-term trends tend to be positive.The Investor’s Dilemma: Signal vs. NoiseTo navigate financial news without falling into emotional decision-making, consider these key points:Understand How Markets Work: Often by the time you read about an event, the markets have already moved on to something else.Understand How Media Works: Sensationalism drives clicks, engagement, and advertising revenue. News today is often dominated by speculation rather than objective reporting.Ponder on the Motivations of Journalists: Media thrives on urgency. The goal is not just to report events but to keep the audience engaged with a constant flow of news.Accept What You Can and Can’t Control: While staying informed is valuable, making impulsive investment decisions based on short-term headlines can be destructive to your wealth.Focus on What You Can Control: Like how you have cash for your short-term and emergency needs while your longer-term investments are allocated across a range of shares, bonds, property, and cash, the degree of diversification in your portfolio, what you pay in costs and taxes, and the regular rebalancing of your portfolio.Work with a Financial Planner: All of this is easier if you have a financial planner who can keep you disciplined and true to your original intentions. Because they know you, understand your risk appetite, and are aware of your goals, the story always starts with you and not with what’s in the headlines.This is not to downplay real-world events or their impact.However, taking an active interest in global affairs and securing your financial future are not mutually exclusive.Final Thoughts: Investing in Businesses, Not HeadlinesYou’re not investing in "the market"— you’re investing in businesses that aim to stay in business.Successful companies thrive by offering products and services people need. As an investor, you share in those profits.Well-run, profitable businesses endure, regardless of daily headlines.

After Veolia re-secured the contract for the Queenstown Shotover sewage plant in 2023, it is alleged that several senior managers had their employment unjustly terminated.It would seem the wastewater processing plant might not be the only thing that stinks. Amongst various claims the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) heard in early March 2025, it was suggested there was a “toxic culture” prevalent in the workplace at Veolia when a senior manager was dismissed from his position because his work outputs did not align with the company’s core values.A complaint of this nature is called a “personal grievance” (PG) which can be raised by an employee if they feel they have been treated unjustifiably during their employment.It’s important to understand that a PG can take 12-18 months to reach the point where you’re standing in front of someone with authority (an ERA member) who can finally tell you who is right, wrong, or otherwise. Raising PGIf your employee raises a PG claim, you as the employer must be given the opportunity to understand what the grievance is, and to address it. If you or the employee are unsatisfied with the outcome of the discussions, you are typically required to attend mediation via the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Try to resolve out of courtIf the PG can’t be resolved via discussion and/or mediation, you can file for an investigation hearing with the ERA. If this is all starting to sound expensive, that’s because it is! As an employer, you might have insurance or a pre-paid support service to fall back on, but that isn’t likely to cover the settlement costs to resolve the grievance, nor the time, lost opportunity, and stress that are involved in resolving the PG.What went wrong at VeoliaAt the heart of the claim is whether the employee aligned with the core values of his employer due to his use of “robust” language in the workplace. The employee alleges he was frustrated, under-resourced and suffering from stress. Additionally, there are claims that Senior Managers at Veolia were making unreasonable requests that triggered emotional responses, and that correct processes hadn’t been correctly followed regarding the employee’s termination.For Veolia, defending the claim of wrongful termination means an interruption to daily work plans, with senior managers and engineers out of the business. This comes at a critical time for Veolia who are already under extreme scrutiny with the Shotover Wastewater treatment plant, and more PGs alleged to be coming. Who Wins?Regardless of the outcome for this case, it’s easy to see that there are no winners, although the employee could possibly walk away with a hefty payout if the company is found to be at fault. The best way to resolve a personal grievance, is to head it off before it becomes one!How not to have a personal grievance raised against you.Know your company values – and demonstrate them on a daily basis.Have a robust suite of paperwork to detail job roles, company rules, communications, and internal processes.Communicate with your employees and listen to what they are telling you about the working conditions.Resolve or address the small issues, before they become big ones.Check with the expertsCall the team at EASI NZ for all your employment, and health and safety queries. www.easinz.co.nz

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.Secure Your Stylish New Townhouse in ClydeLot 2, 50 Sunderland Street, Clyde50 Sunderland Street, Clyde, offers a rare opportunity to secure a beautifully designed, low-maintenance home in a prime central location.Click here for more information or to contact the agent Peter Hishon and Dee Labes.Charming Fully Renovated Home in Cromwell!52 Ray Street, CromwellWelcome to 52 Ray Street, a delightful and fully renovated two-story home nestled in the heart of Cromwell. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Kate AndrewCharacter Family Home97 Centennial Avenue, AlexandraWelcome to 97 Centennial Avenue, Alexandra, a charming 1940s home that combines historic elegance with modern comforts.Click here for more information or to contact the agent Peter Hishon and Dee Labes.A Modern Delight with 4 car garaging!35 Eureka Street, AlexandraDiscover this inviting 3-bedroom home, built in 2005, featuring durable brick and plaster construction and energy-efficient double glazing.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.

The future of every Central Otago town’s wastewater solutions will soon be back in the hands of the community rather than stakeholders.Central Otago District Council group manager - three waters Julie Muir told council in Ranfurly yesterday that new draft waste water environmental standards released by Taumata Arowai will drastically change the consent requirements for urban discharges.The standards will take precedence over national directions and plans such as the draft Land and Water Regional Plan, and meant towns such as Omakau would have the option of a lower cost plant discharging to the Manuherikia River or the more expensive land disposal.“There is the challenge at the moment, a huge standoff where stakeholder groups want higher environmental standards - discharging to land - whereas communities are saying ‘we can’t pay for this.’”Cr Tracy Paterson, also a Matakanui farmer, asked how the new standards would interact with the Resource Management Act (RMA) for the community.Julie believed there would be an amendment made to the RMA and that was backed by group manager of planning and infrastructure Louise van der Voort who said when there was talk around scrapping the RMA altogether, it was “all a bit up in the air.”Julie admitted the process of the new standards taking precedence over a National Policy Statement was a bit unusual. But it did mean there were more opportunities for local communities to influence the solution through the local government consultation process.Cr Martin McPherson said he was concerned what that meant for Alexandra in 10 years, and Cr Paterson agreed, with regard to discharges into the Manuherikia River, “should we not be trying to avoid that?”Julie started her presentation to council saying that while she appreciated there would be strong views within the community on the environmental aspect, “we don’t feel we are qualified to make those comments on this.”She said it was a major piece of work “that is really going to get quite complicated.”“So for Omakau, we’ll go back to the drawing board because the rules have changed, the whole playing field has changed."But the good news was the consenting period would increase to 35 years, “when you are investing a lot of money into infrastructure you do want to have some certainty that what you are building will be fit for the future, and not change again in six years time,” she said.Council would be making a submission on the new draft standards on April 16 before going out for consultation before being implemented in August 2025.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Primary school athletes showed off their sporting prowess at the Central Otago Zone Athletics yesterday.Four hundred and thirty pupils from the Dunstan, Upper Clutha and Wakatipu zones converged on Alexandra to take part in the competition.Central Otago Primary School Sports Association (COPSSA) Dunstan zone representative and The Terrace School (TTS) teacher Mike Dalgliesh said kids were all good at different things and this was a chance to shine for some.“They can show their skills set, maybe break a record and [be rewarded] with CO zone ribbons and certificates.”Mike said the CO zone event (known as COs) was like a “grand finale” and featured the creme de la creme of future athletic talent. Participation in COs helped the youngsters learn how to handle nerves, anxiety and manage themselves throughout the day long competition, he said. “Then there is the enjoyment of competing with their mates and rivals… it might lead to them joining local athletics clubs too.”Sport Central physical education (PE) and play advisor Kate Guildford and sport and recreation advisor Ben Hamilton were helping with the running events with electronic timing on ipads.Sport Central advisors Ben Hamilton and Kate Guildford. PHOTO: The Central App Ben said events such as the CO zone athletics were awesome for the community.“It’s a chance for parents and grandparents to come down and support their loved ones.”“It gives kids something to strive for, if you don’t place in an event, it gives you something to work towards and train for going forward.”Ben said helping out was bringing back lots of memories for him, “of always coming fourth in the 100m”.Kate said the value for her and the spectators was seeing the children work hard and try their best.“I love getting to connect with the kids, and support the teachers and the schools.Year 5 girls 800m start line. PHOTO: The Central AppView the year five girls hurdles final. Winners were Cromwell Primary Faith Tiko (9), Wānaka Primary School Cleo Burford (9), Queenstown Primary School’s Yuzuki Muta (9). VIDEO: The Central App Pupils in Years 5 to 8 competed in sprints, hurdles, 800m, high jump, long jump, shot put, discus and team relays.  Year seven girls sprint heat at the start line. PHOTO: The Central App Have a story to share?Contact [email protected] 

A tiny Central Otago school is going into bat for its local hall.The future of Poolburn Hall - and other halls in the district - hangs in the balance, as the Central Otago District Council seeks feedback on whether to divest them.Some of the halls need repairs and/or earthquake strengthening and the district council is considering their ongoing maintenance needs and usage.Poolburn School principal Melissa Gare said the school was calling a meeting to “be positive” and show how many people care about the Poolburn Hall.The Poolburn Hall (located down the road from the school, and not on school grounds) was “worthwhile keeping” she said.Poolburn School has a roll of around 40 pupils in Year 0 to 8 and the small rural school has been working to make sure CODC knows how they feel about the hall.Melissa said one meeting had been held, and another was scheduled for people to share their views and submit feedback online during the Long Term Plan consultation period.Poolburn School principal Melissa Gare. PHOTO: File “We’re meeting at school, where there’s faster internet and we will get everyone in front of a computer to do the form.“It’s a chance to get together and show a lot of people care about the hall. We’re all on the same page, so we’re getting our submissions in… and then we know we’ve shared how we feel.”“Some year seven and eight [pupils] are also putting proposals together.”  The cost to strengthen the Poolburn Hall was given as $377,420 in the December 18 council meeting documentation.  The rural school is a high user of the hall, for school prizegiving, theatre productions, discos, talent shows and gatherings with large numbers of people. Other community groups such as the cricket club and a mums and bubs group also use it.Melissa said the 2025 school year had got off to a bit of a flyer.“We’ve been really busy with camp and summer sports, it’s been a great start.”The next meeting to brainstorm ideas about the hall, and submit feedback online is at Poolburn School on April 3, at 7pm.The CODC website described the hall as having a maximum capacity of 150 people, comprising a main hall with a stage, a supper room, kitchen, toilet facilities and meeting rooms.Central Otago District Council (CODC) is asking the community ‘what’s important?’ as a part of the 2025 -2034 Long-term Plan (LTP) process. See CODC webpage hereRead more: Maniototo halls community building could take a hit under council reviewHave a story to share?Contact [email protected] 

Central Otago councillors are ''concerned'' about the region's closest neighbour’s plan to discharge up to 24,000 cubic metres of treated wastewater into the Shotover River.The impacts of the Queenstown Lake District Council decision to use emergency powers to allow the discharge was a topic of discussion at the Central Otago District Council meeting in Ranfurly today.Mayor Tamah Alley said she strongly felt the QLDC should let the public know of any downstream effects for Central Otago people. However, it was the district council’s understanding there would not be any impact on drinking water supplies downstream - as long as the discharges were meeting the required treatment standards.CODC group manager – three waters Julie Muir - who happened to be giving a presentation to the council about the water regulator Taumata Arowai’s proposed environmental performance standards for wastewater in New Zealand today - indicated QLDC may meet the proposed national standards with this system due to the dilution factor. She emphasised monitoring of the discharge quality at the outfall pipe would be critical. “It is our expectation QLDC and ORC [Otago Regional Council] will undertake this regular monitoring and release those results to us so we can be assured there will be no impacts on drinking water supplies or the usability of the Mata-Au or Lake Dunstan,” Mayor Tamah said.“This would be critical to giving everyone comfort that the treated wastewater posed no risk.”In a media announcement this morning, QLDC admitted that continuing to risk overflows from its disposal field was too much of a health risk, and discharging treated water into the river was the best outcome in the meantime, until a new disposal option could be found - a period of up to four to five years.The uncontrolled nature of the discharge from the ponding area into the surrounding delta was at times overflowing, infrastructure manager Tony Avery said.An emergency consent meant the Queenstown Lakes council could now send treated water into the Shotover which eventually met the Kawarau River before joining the Clutha River/Lake Dunstan at Cromwell and then flowing downstream.Prior to announcement a public protest condemning the move took place outside the Shotover Wastewater Plant this morning.Mayor Tamah said there was a huge volume of water in the Kawarau River each day, which was currently running at 112.5cu. “However, being downstream our community rightly have expectations around not only the quality of any discharge into the river, but communication on the details.”“Our communities’ expectations and aspirations for our environment are increasing. They want to hear directly from councils how we are meeting our obligations not just to those we serve, but those downstream from decision making.”The QLDC would be allowed to discharge 12,000 cubic metres of treated wastewater directly into the river every day within days, but said it could vary and on some days may be double that.Deputy Mayor Neil Gillespie told council that while it seemed a huge number, the dilution factor was going to be significant, and that was also backed by Julie.But Otago Regional councillor Michael Laws was concerned, not just about the potential environmental risk, but the reputational damage of the local government organisation.He believed not all of the sewage would have been through the treatment plant but had sat in the oxidation pond prior to discharge.“Until now, the ORC staff have relayed that the treatment discharges are minor in their impact. But if the ponds are effectively emptied by the QLDC then the impact will be major,’’ he said.“The ORC faces both significant environmental and reputational risk as a party to the discharge, informal or not.”Regional councillor Gary Kelliher believed the environment was not at risk with the current action, “to me it’s an outcome from the QLDC including discharge to land that was unnecessary and a massive burden on cost to the ratepayers.”LAWA currently tested water quality over the summer months at two sites on Lake Dunstan and also the Alexandra boat ramp. FILE SHOT. Land and Water Aotearoa (LAWA) currently tested water quality over the summer months weekly at two sites on Lake Dunstan and also the Alexandra boat ramp.This summer there has only been one high E.Coli level found and that was in Alexandra on January 1, 2025, following high rainfall.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Central riders gave their all on the track at the weekend.Alexandra and Cromwell BMX clubs sent a contingent of 42 riders to the 2025 BMX New Zealand National Championships in Invercargill.Both clubs were well represented across age categories from sprockets (ages four, five and six) through to the senior grades. Hosted by Southland BMX Club, the event saw more than 550 riders participate,with the top riders qualifying for the BMX World Championships in Brisbane in 2026.   Alexandra BMX Club members at 2025 BMX New Zealand National Championships in Invercargill. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDAlexandra BMX Club parent Monique Entwisle said it was a great weekend full of the highs and lows of racing.“The Alex team did themselves proud and it was a good opportunity for many of them to attend their first nationals close to home.”Alexandra riders with top eight results were; first to Ryan Entwisle (8 boys), second to Holly Oldham (17-24 female), third to Hendrix Kahukura (10 boys), fourth to Nathan Adair (30-39 male), fifth to Ali Campbell (10 girls) and Oliver Lines (30-39 male), seventh to Mahli Naylor (8 girls), and eighth to James Grubb (45-49 male). Alexandra BMX Club rider Ryan Entwisle won the eight boys, scoring the NZ1 plate. PHOTO: Supplied Cromwell BMX club had several top placed finishers including; first to Isla Reid (9 girls), third Quinn Lindsay (13 girls), fourth to Addison Stephens (9 girls), fifth to Archie Walker (8 boys), Danny McElhinney (40-44 male), Matt Waters (cruiser 45-49 male), sixth to Bobbi Stephens (9 girls), eighth to Liam King (cruiser 13-14 male) and Cooper Rushbrook (9 boys).Isla Reid topped the podium in the nine year old girls category and was unbeaten all weekend. PHOTO: Cromwell BMX FacebookCromwell club spokesperson Dylan Rushbrook said one of the great things about the sport is racing and making friends with riders from across New Zealand, sharing experiences and passion for BMX.“But the sport is also tough, only eight riders can make the final and so for many others there may be disappointment in not making that goal. It is a sport where a few hundredths of a second can make or break a rider’s event, and that only ramps up more at a major event…“It absolutely teaches kids resilience and how to respond in pressure situations, or to disappointment. Ultimately those are great lessons for them to take into life way beyond BMX.”Cromwell's plate winners were (back row, from left) Matt Waters, Liam King, Quinn Lindsay, Danny McElhinney and front row Cooper Rushbrook, Archie Walker, Isla Reid, Addison Stephens and Bobbi Stephens. PHOTO: Supplied Cromwell’s Liam King (13) was recognised as the South Island Coach of the Year in the 2024 BMX NZ Awards recently. Liam coaches the club’s youngest riders (aged seven and under), teaching the fundamentals of BMX skills, and instilling a sense of fun and good sportsmanship.Recording of the action can be viewed on BMX NZ’s YouTube channel.View Saturday’s racing here and Sunday’s action here Read more: Cromwell riders have nationals in their sightsHave a story to share?Contact [email protected]

It has taken almost 30 years but the Chinese settlement in Old Cromwell is finally close to becoming a reality.Consents have been in place prior to Christmas 2024, however hold ups with access agreements for the Cromwell & District Community Trust (CDCT) to proceed.Trust chair Ali Ballantine spoke to the Cromwell Community Board yesterday saying the delays were frustrating “and we just want to get on with it.”Despite construction plans having been obtained for a year, the trust had received conflicting advice.The Central Otago District Council had since entered an agreement with Toitū Te Whenua Land and Information New Zealand (LINZ) for access, as well as a lease with Old Cromwell Inc for use of the land.CDCT has been involved in the project to honour the Chinese living in Old Cromwell from 1866 to 1920, for several years.A Chinese gold mining hut similar to being being built in Old Cromwell SUPPLIEDThe remains of Chinatown were destroyed to make way for Lake Dunstan and the site was the best-preserved example of a New Zealand Chinese urban settlement.Located opposite the Victorian Arms Hotel, the Cromwell Chinese Settlement would form part of the proposed ‘Golden Highway’ - a world class cultural tourism experience, featuring stop-off points at the Arrowtown Chinese Camp, Alexandra’s Central Stories, the Lawrence Chinese Camp and Dunedin.The site would be levelled, a pathway and stone footings made to show the original buildings, as well as a recreation of one of their old huts.Stage three will involve technology such as QR codes people can scan to learn more about the history and the people who once lived there.Old Cromwell Inc representative Helen Scoles told the community board they had originally been involved with the project back in 1992 and then the Cromwell and Districts Promotions Group took it over in 2004.“It has been a long process,” she said.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Cromwell’s new $45.8 million memorial hall will be run by the Central Otago District Council for the first three years of operation to streamline its operation.A report from the council to the Cromwell Community Board yesterday followed a workshop in February that set the ongoing process moving forward, as the facility moves toward a July 2026 opening.The report from facility experience manager Genevieve Chrystall outlined how in the first year of operation there would be a strong community focus with the aim of getting as many members of the community as possible through the doors. The potential of there being “teething issues’’ to iron out in the first year with the facility being a new build was also discussed.Council had a longer-term target of 70 per cent community usage and 30 per cent commercial usage with the aim of being a seven-day a week (360 days/year) operation, averaging 74- hour weeks with late night Thursday, Friday and Saturday.The community board had previously discussed options of operating the facility as either a fully leased facility, council run or a council-controlled organisation (CCO).Concept plans of the new Cromwell Memorial Hall. FILE SHOTGiven timing and the work needed to be done, and the benefits, the community board would like to see for the community, a council-run facility in the first three years with a review to be completed in the 2030-2040 Long Term Plan.The new hall facility would feature a 400-seat auditorium space alongside a new museum connecting to the Cromwell Heritage Precinct.Also included in the development would be a café, 40-seat cinema and community and event spaces overlooking the lake.Community board member Sarah Browne was appointed as an advisor to the project team.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Plenty of New Zealanders are working into their 70s. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is one. Chief ombudsman Peter Boshier was another, until a rule forced him to resign.Data shows significant numbers of New Zealanders are working longer, even in the industries traditionally seen as physically taxing and potentially requiring an earlier exit.Data from Stats NZ shows there are almost 200,000 New Zealanders aged 65 or older reporting they are still in the workforce.Almost 90,000 are aged over 70.Over-65s made up 10.3 percent of machinery operators and drivers, 8 percent of labourers, 7 percent of professionals and 9.1 percent of managers.Over 70, the numbers roughly halved. They were 4 percent of managers, and 3 percent of professionals, clerical and admin workers, sales workers, and 3.7 percent of labourers.Over 80, managers had the strongest showing, with 0.7 percent of the workforce in that age range.In total, there were 1257 people aged over 90 reporting that they were working.Council of Trade Unions chief economist Craig Renney said it was not clear whether the people reporting work in sectors such as labouring and machinery operation were actually undertaking physical activity, or whether they were monitoring and managing others."There's a lot of people, particularly machine operators, who are the only people who know how to use this machine. As a consequence they're the last person standing in the shop who knows how to use the non-digital lathe."He said some people turned to driving buses, taxis or Ubers as a second career, particularly if they wanted more flexible hours or a different lifestyle.He said it was possible some of the people aged over 90 were working in a volunteer capacity, or could be the owner of a company."They may not be in what we call significant amounts of labour-based employment."Renney said it used to be the case that big employers had systems that moved older workers on to lighter duties as they got older."My father worked in a coal mine and couldn't be working on the face at 60 or 65 because you were a liability, you physically couldn't hack the job so you might get moved on to light duties somewhere else or you were there to train younger workers. We've sort of lost that as we've lost the very large employers."He said it was good that there was work for older people, provided they were working because they wanted to."The real challenge here is if people are being forced to work because their incomes are inadequate but they still need to pay the rent because they've never been able to buy their house."That is a sign of a failing welfare state because the pension isn't enough, they haven't built up enough KiwiSaver, they're forced to work at a time they probably don't want to. Lots of people want to work and get great enjoyment out of it but it should be a choice."The Office for Seniors older workers action plan said a third of the New Zealand workforce was aged over 50, and 50 percent of people aged 60 to 69 were employed.But it noted that these workers could have challenges finding and staying in paid work.It noted that Retirement Commission research found a third of people over 65 were working because they had to for financial reasons."For an increasing number of people who do not own their own home or do not have significant retirement savings, continuing to work in some capacity past the age of 65 is a necessity.'Gareth Kiernan, chief forecaster at Infometrics, said it was notable that there was increasing workforce participation in the 65 to 69 year old age group."And to a lesser extent in the 70 to 74, then it drops away pretty quickly after that."He said it made sense that a high proportion of people who remained in work were managers."That's a relatively easy job from a physical point of view and experience is always useful."But he said it was interesting there was also relatively strong participation from machinery operations and drivers, as well as labourers."I can envisage older people driving buses or taxis for a bit but labourers… that genuinely did surprise me. I wonder if what's coming through there is if I'm a manager or a professional or whatever and I hit 65 I can probably pretty much choose whether I want to keep working, if I don't and I have enough money for retirement, all good. It may well be that people continuing to work in some of the lower-skilled jobs literally do not have the choice, they still need money."He noted that discussions about raising the retirement age have pointed out that it may be harder for people in physical roles to continue past 65."Do you start to have some differential recognising, yeah if you're a tradie or a labourer or whatever you physically might not be able to keep working, you've probably been harder on your body for the last 40-odd years anyway so on average you're in a less good physical state as well as in a job requiring more physical effort."In some other countries, if people choose to retire earlier, they could opt to receive a lower payment."The problem with that is for the likes of labourers or tradies or whatever, they will have been on a lower income for rest of their lives anyway so it is continuing to make them worse off by giving them a lower retirement pension going forward. It almost reinforces potential systemic problems."Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson said it would be complex to make eligibility changes to NZ Super based on job types."A better way could be changing settings such as introducing income-testing applied to selective age groups but that also adds complexities which would come at additional administration cost and could disincentivise people from working longer."We know that any change to the age of eligibility would disproportionately disadvantage manual workers, carers and those they care for, and those with poor health, due to differences in savings, wealth and ability to remain in paid work after the age of 65. Women, Māori, and Pacific peoples are overrepresented in those groups. So extra support would be needed to support some people through to a later age of eligibility which would in turn reduce fiscal savings from raising the age. Political support for a stable long-term system is crucial."New Zealand Initiative chief economist Eric Crampton said some of the over-90-year-olds claiming to be working could be giving incorrect information."I'm sure that some of those are real. But what proportion are real vs jokers?"

A hearing on the proposed ‘farm park’ subdivision near Tarras by the Trevathan family will be held in early April.The Clutha Plains Trust development attracted 18 submissions - five in opposition, one neutral and 12 in support, but the Central Otago District Council’s planner Kirstyn Royce has recommended it be declined.Under the District Plan a subdivision needed to have average size of no less than 8ha and a minimum lot size of no less than 2ha within the Rural Resource Area.The 133ha proposed development would involve 16 new lots for residential use, with each lot only 2000sqm - making it non-complying.Those supporting the proposal considered the lot sizes were appropriate and would provide much needed rural style housing. The submitters in opposition raised concerns regarding the adverse effects of the proposal on the rural landscape. They considered the configuration of the subdivision meant the strip of houses would be clearly visible from the Clutha River Mata Au, parts of Bowman Rd and the submitters property. The land historically was subdivided off the larger Morven Station and currently used for cattle grazing.The new lots would have shared ownership with the larger farm through a body corporate type arrangement, managed by Jonny Trevathan.The application said the purpose of “clustering” instead of dividing into 8ha parcels was to allow for the productive land to be maintained in a larger parcel suited to the existing grazing usage.While the development took up usable productive farmland, it was far less than if the development was scattered throughout the 133.1190 hectares - thereby retaining a 119ha farm amongst the subdivision. The ‘farm park’ development enabled residents to live amongst an operational farm and have access to fruit and nut trees within the covenant areas. A similar farm park had also been consented on Jolly Rd in Tarras by Douglas Developments three years ago. Hillend Station near Wanaka and Bendemeer Estate at Lake Hayes were also based on a farm park model.The hearing has been set down for April 8 in Alexandra.

A celebration of the sporting talent in the district - the Central Otago Sports Awards - is drawing near, and award nominations are now openSport Central invites coaches, managers, parents, colleagues, and community members to nominate outstanding athletes, coaches, officials and sports figures whohave excelled during the past year. Community sport advisor Jo Knight said Central Otago athletes shone on both the national and international stages, securing world titles and personal best times during the past year.“The success of athletes such as Finn Butcher, multiple snow sports athletes, cyclists and last year’s winners - Ben Campbell and Alice Robinson - has been exceptional andinspiring over the past year.”“It is hoped that nominations will flow in from the far corners of our region, and from a variety of sports.”Sport Central Sport and active recreation advisor Ben Hamilton encouraged the sporting community to celebrate the work of coaches and officials, by nominating them for either the coach or official of the year, and teams.“We are excited to honor the dedication and hard work of our athletes and look forward to a memorable evening celebrating their successes. Join us in recognising the exceptional talent within our community,” Ben said. Awards are sportswoman and sportsman of the year, junior sportswoman and sportsman of the year, team of the year, para-athlete or para-athlete team of the year, coach of the year, a supreme award, the spirit of Central junior and senior awards, official of the year, and being inducted into the hall of fame is possible.Nominations close on April 4 and nomination forms and guidelines can be found on the Sport Central websiteThe period the awards cover is from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.The awards will be held in Wānaka at the Lake Wānaka Centre on Thursday May 8.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected] 

Millers Flat locals have found a way to profile the small Teviot town as a destination - by raising $650,000 to upgrade their recreation reserve facilities.The Teviot Community Board heard about the new plans on Thursday, which did not require any funding from the Central Otago District Council.However, there would be ongoing ratepayer costs for the exterior building maintenance costs if council agreed to enter into an agreement with the Millers Flat Recreation Reserve Steering Group to use the old pavilion. The Millers Flat Primary School held an annual sports day for primary rugby and netball players attracting more than 1000 people from throughout Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes, and the reserve had become quite a community hub.The steering group has advised council they would seek a third of their funding from grants, and aim to develop new tennis courts on the old bowling green site, a pump track on the old courts, and relocate the playground at the rear of the war memorial.Through the Long-Term Plan 2025/34 council has included the clubrooms in its consultation document as a potential asset to divest. A budget of $115,000 had been allocated for its demolition.Parks recreation manager Gordon Bailey asked the community board whether they supported the continued use of the facility.The steering committee has expressed an interest to potentially utilise the clubrooms as a pavilion and storage facility. “They propose to take responsibility for the internal maintenance costs of the building and the expectation that council will undertake the exterior building maintenance work.”The report noted the clubrooms was not an essential element of the wider reserve redevelopment which would happen regardless of the clubrooms future.It has been identified in the building inspection report that the wooden window frames were compromised and needed to be replaced, but it was unknown if the deterioration exceeded into the wall framing. The report also identified the spouting above the shed had rusted out effecting the end rafter in this area. There is also historic water damage as a result of the loose roofing iron over the change room and toilet area located beside the shed.Board member Sally Feinerman said some people in the community were keen on new tennis courts but not so much on the whole upgrade of the facility.Board member Curtis Pannett said the clubrooms was an eyesore and unused, “and the community is just asking to do something with it.”

Young and first-time duck hunters across Otago will have special access to prime hunting locations for the 2025 season opening through a dedicated ballot system."Introducing the next generation to waterfowl hunting remains one of our key priorities," Otago Fish & Game officer Steve Dixon said."We offer this special ballot to provide junior and novice hunters exclusive access to select wetlands during the first nine days of the waterfowl hunting season."The initiative covers hunting stands and ponds across six Fish & Game managed wetlands in Otago.Successful applicants will receive access permits valid from May 3-11."The hunting tradition is typically passed down through family connections or mentors," Steve said."While pursuing game for harvest, young hunters also develop a deeper appreciation for our wetland ecosystems. These shared experiences in nature strengthen relationships and create lasting memories."Participants must possess current game bird and firearms licences.Applications close on Wednesday (March 26) with the ballot draw scheduled for the following day.To enter, visit the Fish & Game website.Licences for the 2025 game bird season are now on sale.“The outlook for this duck season is, as always, hopeful as our region is blessed with great game-bird resources and hunting opportunities for all skill levels,” Steve said.“After prolonged wet conditions during the breeding period, we’ve had reports anecdotally of strong brood numbers around the region, which is a good sign for the upcoming season.”After the first nine days of the season, limited permits for the managed wetlands will become available to other adult hunters.A percentage of every gamebird hunting licence sold directly supports habitat restoration initiatives.PHOTO: Scott Weatherall

Netflix streaming came to New Zealand 10 years ago this month and how we watch television has never quite been the same.Ten years ago, streaming video broke like a tidal wave over New Zealand.Global giant Netflix introduced its streaming service to Aotearoa in March 2015, and how we watch what we used to call just plain old "TV" has never quite been the same.Netflix wasn't the first streamer to hit NZ - Spark's long-gone Lightbox launched in 2014, and Sky TV's Neon in February 2015 - but it proved the tipping point for watching everything from Squid Gameto Country Calendar on our phones, laptops and smart TVs.Bojack Horseman was one of the earliest streaming hits.Diana Wichtel is the queen of New Zealand television criticism, with a run as the Listener magazine's television critic from 1989 to 2020. She says claims television is “dying” are nothing new.Diana WichtelIn her recent memoir looking back on her career, Unreel: A Life In Review,she wrote she is still "strangely upbeat about the future of television"."I hope those who announced television's imminent death years ago have been eating their words along with their viewing snacks as they watched Succession, Fleabag, The Handmaid's Tale, Slow Horses, our own After the Party,” she said."I'm sticking to my mantra: the golden age of television is always right now and the best is yet to come."Back in 2015, the first NZ Netflix customers soaked up shows including Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and BoJack Horseman.Wichtel says her first few streaming addictions included "House of Cards, from memory, and Orange Is The New Black.""These were early Netflix original series, but I probably saw them on Lightbox. Hilarious, shocking, heartbreaking, bingeable - both marked a shift to a very high gear for television drama."How we're watchingTen years later, Disney, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Neon and others all battle for our free time. Old-school TV channels like TVNZ, Whakaata Māori and Three now offer their own comprehensive streaming libraries.Mark Stewart, a lecturer in media and creative technologies at the University of Waikato, notes when we watch used to be at the mercy of linear TV schedules."I think the move away from broadcast TV schedules has been a big change for a lot of people," he said."Time shifting of content (outside of news and sports) has become more and more common, although there are still a significant number of people who watch television at time of broadcast."If anything, the problem is too much to watch."We have access to more content than we have ever been able to access before," Stewart said."However, we have also seen significant market fragmentation, so that now to be sure that you have access to anything you might want to watch, you probably need to be subscribed to four or five premium providers, minimum."Belinda Plunkett of Auckland started the Facebook group NZ Streaming Shows in 2024 as a way of helping people sort through the content flood. She said streaming offers far more variety than linear TV once did."Usually TV channels just repeat the same shows over again."There's not much recommendations on shows on NZ streaming sites," she said. "There's nothing worse than wanting to watch something but not being able to find where to watch it."And of course there's the perpetual dilemma - to binge or not to binge?"I'm definitely a binger," Plunkett said. "Bingeing is the better way as it's easier to follow the story.""We are all bingeing all the time," Wichtel agreed."The downside is that there's no time to process one episode and eagerly anticipate the next. It can feel like eating too many Tim Tams."Where we're watchingThe 2024 Where Are The Audiences report by NZ On Air shows just how much things have changed. Global video sharing platforms reach the largest audience, 64 percent of New Zealanders daily, with subscription streaming at 56 percent. TikTok and YouTube have rapidly eclipsed Netflix’s dominance for many.Back in NZ On Air's 2016 report, linear TV was still the biggest weekly reach at 86 percent.TVNZ's own free streaming platform TVNZ+ is our most popular, while according to the 2024 survey Netflix reaches 38 percent of New Zealanders each day - but that's down from 42 percent in 2023.Netflix is secretive about precise figures on viewership, and did not respond to requests for comment. However, a Roy Morgan survey from 2022 found 2.2 million people watched Netflix in an average four weeks.When it first kicked off, a Netflix subscription was $9.99 a month, but today plans range anywhere from $14.99 for the bare basics to $27.99 for all the bells and whistles.Who we're watchingWith everything from Korean comedy to Scandinavian noir available at the push of a button, does that mean New Zealand's own stories get lost in the mix?"I do worry about how we will keep telling our stories, particularly in a time when a dreary, back-to-basics mentality undervalues creative endeavour of all kinds," Wichtel says."Though you don't want to get too nostalgic. The Topp Twins and Billy T James were groundbreakers and Country Calendar remains a national treasure. But these days we also have access to an incredible range of stories from across cultures."Stewart says that shared cultural experiences have receded due to audience fragmentation."I also think we are running a real risk of losing some of our cultural identity by not making enough cultural projects that speak to the experiences of living in Aotearoa New Zealand."Netflix might produce some content here, because we make it economically inviting, but the content they produce does not have anything to say about the lived experiences of those who live here."NZ On Air, Creative NZ, and Te Māngai Pāho work really hard to fund content, but they each have their own requirements, and are also desperately underfunded."But despite it all, Wichtel says, you can still find distinctive Aotearoa content out there in the streaming universe."Local television is a social good and needs to be well funded."A heartening thing is that, on what remains of television as we used to know it, we hear te reo and events like Matariki and Te Matatini get mainstream coverage."Culture cuts its own channels. There is no stopping it."

Scientists have reacted with frustration to a report by the World Meteorological Organisation saying climate change reached new heights in 2024, with some of the consequences being irreversible over hundreds if not thousands of years.The organisation's State of the Global Climate Report confirmed that 2024 was likely the first calendar year to be more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial era, the warmest year in the 175-year observational record.The report confirms the planet is closer than ever to missing countries' goal of keeping the planet less than 1.5C-2C hotter than before people started burning coal, petrol, diesel and fossil (sometimes called natural) gas.Each of the past eight years had set a new record for ocean heat, and ice cover was shrinking to new lows on both land and sea, it said.Photo: AFP PHOTO / NASA / HANDOUTScientists are frustrated.Dr Linden Ashcroft, a lecturer in climate science and science communication at the University of Melbourne, said she'd been providing comments like these for her entire career and wondered if she should try screaming the findings from the tops of buildings or saying them while dancing on TikTok.Others pointed to the recent drop in Antarctic sea ice as holding particular risks for New Zealand.In its annual round-up the WMO said record greenhouse gas concentrations combined with El Niño and other factors were combining to drive 2024's record heat.Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide were now at the highest levels in the last 800,000 years, it said.The 18 lowest Arctic sea-ice measurements on record were all in the past 18 years, the WMO said, while in Antarctica - where sea ice had previously stayed relatively stable - the three lowest ice extents were all in the past three years.The largest three-year loss of glacier ice also occurred in the past three years, it said, while the rate of sea level rise had doubled since satellite measurements began."While a single year above 1.5C of warming does not indicate that the long-term temperature goals of the Paris Agreement are out of reach, it is a wake-up call that we are increasing the risks to our lives, economies and to the planet," WMO secretary-general Celeste Saulo said in an accompanying statement.Speaking to the Australian Science Media Centre, Ashcroft called the WMO report the world's most trusted climate report card and said it was frightening to see the climate report looking so dire "yet again"."However, I'm not sure what researchers can say to this latest update that we haven't said a thousand times before," she said."Yes, we have now crossed even more devastating and globally significant thresholds. Yes, these records are breaking because of human-induced climate change. No, there is no other way to explain it. Yes, we can avoid the worst impacts of climate change but we all have to act, and we have to act right now. Yes, we are scared too."I've been providing comments like these for my entire career, and honestly, I'm not quite sure what to do next," she said."Scream these findings from the tops of buildings? Write my comments in capitals? Saying all this while dancing on TikTok? I don't know. But unless we see real climate leadership from governments and businesses, I will save this response and send it through again next year."The report estimated long-term global warming was currently between 1.34C and 1.41C compared to the 1850-1900 baseline, noting that a team was examining the differences between different tracking methods with a view to shrinking the range of uncertainty.It said regardless of the method used, every fraction of a degree of warming mattered and increased risks and costs to society.Although the WMO said record global temperatures seen in 2023 and 2024 were mainly due to the ongoing rise in greenhouse gas emissions and an El Niño event, other factors may have contributed including changes in the solar cycle, a massive volcanic eruption and a decrease in cooling aerosols."Data for 2024 show that our oceans continued to warm, and sea levels continued to rise. The frozen parts of Earth's surface, known as the cryosphere, are melting at an alarming rate: glaciers continue to retreat, and Antarctic sea ice reached its second-lowest extent ever recorded. Meanwhile, extreme weather continues to have devastating consequences around the world," Saulo said.A man walks in a street covered in mud in a flooded area in Picanya, near Valencia, eastern Spain, on October 30, 2024. Photo: AFP / JOSE JORDANOnly half of countries had adequate early warning systems for extreme weather and climate events.The WMO said tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, and other hazards in 2024 led to the highest number of new displacements recorded for the past 16 years, contributed to worsening food crises, and caused massive economic losses.'Extremely worrying' - Kiwi scientistNew Zealand climate scientist Dr James Renwick, a professor at Victoria University of Wellington, said the report told a now-familiar story of record warming, record ocean heat content, melting ice and accelerating sea level rise, and many extreme weather events globally."All extremely worrying, yet apparently of little concern to the world's policy-makers, since there is no sign the world is living up to the Paris Agreement to limit warming to 1.5-2C," he said."Greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change just keep increasing, regardless of the bad news. Perhaps our busy lifestyles and the churn of the 24-hour news cycle means climate change just doesn't have time to register," he said."But let's pause for a moment. This latest report is saying global temperatures are higher than they have been for at least 175 years - and yet 2024 will be one of the coldest years this century, as we keep adding warming gases to the atmosphere. Sea level rise is speeding up and will be irreversible for hundreds of years as will glacier ice melt. Reversing ice sheet melt would take thousands of years," Renwick said."As sea levels rise, we are changing global coastlines and the map of the world essentially forever. I would hope that information causes policy-makers everywhere to lift their eyes, to take notice and to take action." Radlwimmer (left) and Chris Pooley preparing a sea ice core for transport to the University of Otago Physics Antarctic Ice Lab. Photo: Inga SmithSeveral scientists picked out the retreat of Antarctic sea ice as a particularly worrying trend for New Zealand, while acknowledging gaps remained in knowledge about how Antarctica's oceans behave."For many years, one hold-out in this picture has been Antarctic sea ice extent," Renwick said."It kept increasing through the 1990s and 2000s, even though the world was warming. But no longer. The warming of the oceans has finally started to materialise over the surface of the southern oceans and sea ice is paying the price."There will be plenty of ups and downs over coming years, but the trend will very likely be down from here."Dr Alexandra Gossart, a research fellow in regional climate modelling at Victoria University's Antarctic Research Centre, said a warming atmosphere and ocean, along with declining sea ice, was allowing more heat to reach the land-based ice sheet, contributing to ice loss and, ultimately, global sea level rise."Although there might have been moments of relative stability in the past, recent years have shown a steady increase in climate records being broken. A young person coming of age today has only ever known a world with rising CO₂ levels, global warming air and oceans, increasing sea levels, shrinking ice sheets and glaciers, and declining sea ice cover," she said.University of Otago Associate Professor Inga Smith, co-director of the university's Climate Change Research Network said: "Antarctic sea-ice extent had been relatively stable between 1979 and 2016, so the recent changes have alarmed many people."The abrupt drops in sea-ice extent at a time when the sea ice should still be growing in winter has been suggested [as what] might be a regime shift."The consequences of less sea ice in the Antarctic winter have been reported to include increased storminess in the Southern Ocean, which is already very stormy," Smith said."Aotearoa New Zealand is a country directly impacted by what happens in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, so the sea ice issues and consequences raised in this report should be very concerning to all New Zealanders."