Speakers:

George and then David gave the group a great run though of what Lions does for the Maniototo area. Huge support for community groups in money or manpower assistance and they have over recent years given $500,000 across the area. They have a number of fundraising events to generate this outstanding financial support and are always looking to support us where they can. New members are welcome so please contact George or David or indeed, any Lions members that you will all know.

Blue Visitor Signs:

Should be up at the start of April so brilliant news and our thanks to Aspiring Highways, Transit and the CODC

Beautification:

Update from Tania re discussions with council.

Some flowering plants and trees will be removed shortly by the CODC contractors

Janyne provided a signage update.

This has been emailed out to you all. It is also attached to these minutes.

Fantastic to see such great progress being made and our thanks to Janyne, Kristina and their Focus group members.

Mark Button then spoke about his and Nicky’s world-famous business of Waipiata Pies:

Mark and Nikki decide to move south permanently in 2015 and purchase the Waipiata Country Hotel in 2015. As they already had Tussock Lodge serving riders on the Otago Central Rail Trail, which passes right through Waipiata, they purchased the pub enabling them to offer food as well as accommodation.

Back in 2017, what started with a couple of leftover lamb shanks, which they thought would go well in pastry (“because everything’s good in pastry”), they made their first pies.

They didn't advertise them, they didn’t have to. The locals had them at the pub and the Rail Trail punters started to spread the word. The rest, as they say, is history...

Today the Waipiata Pie Co makes about 3500+ pies a week and demand keeps on growing.

They supply all over New Zealand and all the pies are hand-made right there in Waipiata with the best of local ingredients.

They're shipping pieces of local Central Otago goodness all over the place and Mark and his team are chuffed to bits about that.

Mark and Nicky also support a number of events and organisations across the district and in the 2024 year alone, contributed approximately $100,000 in goods and kind to the Maniototo which is just outstanding.

Social Media – how can you use it better?

Bea from Fantail gave us some great tips on how to best use our social media and also how to support our Business group members by sharing or commenting on their posts.

Julie Greig then showed us all a range of products from the ‘Meet the Girls’ collection, featuring artwork by Patearoa artist Julie Greig of Maniototo cows, is available from www.ashdene.com.au, also www.liltreasures.co.nz

Plus Julie also spoke to the National Annual Exhibition at Central Stories in Alexanda.