A clear split has emerged over how quickly the proposed Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project should be assessed, with government agencies and councils pushing for a significantly longer decision-making period than the default setting under fast-track legislation.The divide follows the release of documents and video footage from a panel convener conference late last week, where attendees also challenged what they described as slow information-sharing and a lack of meaningful engagement by the mining company ahead of the application being lodged.Otago Regional Council principal consents planner Shay McDonald told the conference it would require “no less than 140 working days” to properly assess the 9,400-page application.“The application is substantial in scale and is technically complex,” Shay said.“There are likely to be a relatively large number of principal issues in contention.”Central Otago District Council also supported an extended timeframe, recommending a minimum of 120 working days.Legal counsel Jayne Macdonald said the council considered a longer timeframe was required given both the scale of the proposal and the state of engagement between the applicant and other parties.She said pre-lodgement engagement had been “limited and fragmented”, with repeated requests made for a description of the proposal, draft application and draft Assessment of Environmental Effects to help inform the council's own experts.Jayne said technical information was released progressively, but represented only a subset of the documents ultimately submitted, while some requests for expert site visits “could not be accommodated”.Representatives of DOC echoed these concerns, citing requested information from the mining company was slow to come and some site visits cancelled.In its memorandum, DOC said the scale of potential ecological effects was “potentially unprecedented”.“For example, more than 100,000 absolutely protected lizards are likely to be impacted, with the majority expected to be killed and the remainder disturbed and/or translocated,” DOC said.The department also said proposals to relocate rare plants at that scale were untested in the local environment, while Central Otago’s dry conditions posed additional challenges for water management and the mitigation of adverse effects on aquifers and aquatic ecosystems.Representing local Māori interests, Kā Rūnaka expressed “deep and immutable concern” about the breadth and longevity of the project’s effects, including long-term risks associated with hazardous substance storage."For Kā Rūnaka, effects on their cultural values or te taiao are incapable of being 'offset' or being otherwise mitigated – those effects are there, regardless of the wording which may be placed around them to make them appear less. In Kā Rūnaka’s view, the effects arising from this application are significant, and permanent," the group said.Kā Rūnaka also said the developer’s engagement to date had fallen short of consultation expectations.“Kā Rūnaka considers the approach taken by the applicant does not fulfil consultation requirements, and any efforts made are insufficient gestures taken in order to ostensibly fulfil legislative requirements, ” it said.Matakanui Gold, the applicant and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Santana Minerals, offered a different view during the conference, with legal counsel saying the company had “extensively engaged and consulted with relevant administering authorities, iwi, key stakeholders and the community, and continues to do so”.In the cases of CODC and DOC, they said regular meetings had been happening since 2017.They said prior to lodging its application the mining company had undertaken 56 community drop-in sessions and presented its plans to more than 25 local organisations and businesses.However, community group Sustainable Tarras said the newly released documents reflected its own experience of the process.“We are not at all surprised, but remain highly concerned,” a spokesperson said.The proposal is being considered under the Fast-track Consenting Act.Santana Minerals initially sought a 30-working-day decision period, later indicating it would accept 60 working days for its proposed underground and open-cast gold mine above Cromwell.Read more: Bendigo gold mine decision-making time under debateHave a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

Central Otago District Council said it was unlikely to sell individual sections in the Gair Avenue subdivision if negotiations with a preferred developer were successful.In a project update published on January 22, the council said if the sale proceeded, it would not sell sections directly and instead the successful developer would market its own house and land packages, expected to be available from the first quarter of 2026.The update followed questions from residents about progress on the long-running Cromwell project and the temporary closure of the Flora Street greenway. In a Facebook post late last week, the council said it had updated its project page to help keep the community informed about timeframes, works underway and what to expect next.It will be early 2027 before house and land packages go on the market for the next stage of the Gair Estate subdivision. Image: The Central AppCivil works for the first stages of the subdivision are almost complete, according to the council.A request for proposal process to sell and complete the development was completed in September last year, and council staff are now in negotiations with a preferred developer, it said.A proposed sale and purchase agreement, along with other sale options, is expected to go before the Cromwell Community Board and full council for consideration in March.The council also addressed stormwater works in the Flora Street Reserve, which have resulted in the greenway being temporarily closed. The design of a stormwater retention basin to be constructed in the coming weeks at the Gair Avenue subdivision (grassed banks shown in green, shallow, grassed channel in brown). Image: CODCIt said the reserve would remain fenced while stormwater infrastructure is installed, with work expected to be completed by the end of February.Earthworks between Gavan Street and Gair Avenue are for a new stormwater basin designed to provide additional capacity during heavy rainfall and reduce flood risk to nearby properties, the council said. Once completed, the basin would appear as a landscaped, grassed area and would be usable as open public space most of the time.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

Starting university is a milestone filled with many "firsts"—new friends, newfound independence, and exciting challenges. However, it’s also a critical time to consider whether your teenager’s belongings are protected.From halls of residence to shared flats, ensuring they have the right cover provides the peace of mind needed to focus on their studies.Is Your Teenager Actually Covered?Many families assume their child is automatically covered under the existing home contents policy. This is not always the case. Understanding the nuances of student insurance early can prevent significant financial stress later.A single stolen laptop or a liquid-damaged phone can derail an entire semester. Without the right cover, the cost of replacement falls entirely on the student or the parents.What Does a Standard Policy Include?Most domestic contents policies offer limited "off-site" cover for family members in secondary or tertiary accommodation.However, the level of protection varies:Halls of Residence: Often automatically covered, but usually subject to lower sub-limits.Flatting or Boarding: Some policies extend cover here, but often with strict conditions regarding security.Off-Site Limitations: Coverage may only apply while the items are physically inside the student’s room.Example Scenario: Why the Details MatterA student spends the year in a university hall but moves into a friend’s flat for summer school. While traveling home for Christmas, their bag—containing a laptop and headphones worth thousands—is stolen. Because the flatting arrangement wasn't disclosed to the insurer, the claim is declined. The insurer considers the flat a "change in risk" that wasn't on the policy.Why You Must Keep Your Insurer in the LoopThe move to university is a major life change that insurers need to know about. Transparency is the best way to protect your claim.Address Accuracy: An incorrect address can jeopardize a claim. Policies distinguish strictly between home, halls, and private flats.Security Requirements: Many policies for flats require forced entry for a theft claim to be valid. If a flatmate leaves the front door unlocked, the insurance may not pay out.Disclosure: Any change in living situation (moving from a hall to a house) must be reported immediately.What is Usually Excluded?Even with a good policy, certain scenarios are rarely covered:Items lost or misplaced (accidental loss vs. theft).Theft without evidence of forced entry.High-value items that exceed "sub-limits" (e.g., a $5,000 gaming laptop may need to be specified individually).Unattended property in public places (e.g., leaving a bag in the library).Is Student Insurance Affordable?Contrary to popular belief, protecting a student’s gear is highly affordable. Options include:Low Monthly Premiums: Designed for student budgets.Flexible Excess: Choose a higher excess to lower your premium.Bundling: Adding a "Student Extension" to a parent’s existing policy is often the most cost-effective route.Expert Risk Management TipsPrevention is always better than a claim. Share these tips with your teenager:Digital Security: Use FaceID/Fingerprint scanners and enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on all accounts.Tracking: Set up "Find My" on all Apple or Android devices and link them to a backup email address you can access from any computer.Visual Deterrents: Never leave expensive tech near ground-floor windows or in plain view in a car.The "Cloud" Rule: Ensure OneDrive, iCloud, or Google Drive is set to Auto-Save. A laptop can be replaced; three years of research notes cannot.Smart Banking: Set spending limits on PayWave/Digital Wallets. If a card goes missing, make sure your student knows how to use the banking app to "freeze" it instantly rather than waiting to call the bank.Peace of Mind for the Year AheadInsurance isn’t about expecting the worst; it’s about making sure a mishap doesn’t upend a student's academic year.With a quick check-in with your insurance broker, you can ensure your teenager is protected for whatever the semester brings.Need advice? Talk to us at C&R Insurance, we’d love to help!Sponsored Content: This article has been submitted by a contributing local expert as part of The Central App’s sponsored advisor programme.

At the start of the new year, it’s common to make bold business and personal goals. We promise to tackle challenges differently and set our sights on ambitious targets.However, as business owners understand, a resolution without a roadmap is simply a wish.Achieving your preferred W.E.A.L.T.H™To move beyond the cycle of "just getting by," financially and with your well being, we encourage you to evaluate your success through these six vital pillars:Work: What is most important to focus on and how much time do you want to spend doing it? In 2026, market "noise" is louder than ever. Re-focus on your unique strengths and evaluate whether your current service mix truly serves your bottom line. How much cash do you want in your bank account at any given time? What activities do you want that cash available for, including both for business and personal?Enjoyment: Are you finding fulfilment in the daily grind? What do you want to do differently to enjoy yourself, in business and personal areas? What needs to shift, so you are closer to a work-life balance that allows you to switch off without worrying about things?Achievement: Reflect on 2025. What did you nail? Use those victories as a springboard for the milestones you aim to reach this year. Reward yourself, without using money to do so.Love: Are you carving out enough time for the people and places you love? Your business should be a vehicle to fund your life, not a vacuum that consumes it.Time: What is the most important use of your time? How can you manage, delegate better, within your team and also externally to your business? What are the big rocks in your personal world that are non negotiable time wise in 2026? How can you better hold boundaries ?Health: The stress of business takes a toll. Specifically when in your week can you fit in your physical and mental well being time slots? How to GROW in 2026Evidence shows that the simple act of naming your goals makes you significantly more likely to reach them.We recommend using the GROW model to navigate the months ahead:            Mastering the GROW ProcessGoals: What do you actually want? Use SMART goals ( specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timebound. For example, "I want to increase profit by 15% while reducing my work week by one day by 31 July 2026.") Consider alternatives and ensure they are in your plans.Reality: Where are you right now? Be ruthlessly honest about your current cash flow and operational capacity. Ensure the reality is in your plans and you focus to you priorities.Obstacles and Options to improve/prevent them: What road blocks do you think will arise? What are ways to improve or prevent those? Make a list. Recognising what may be difficult gets you halfway to resolving it. Consider your alternatives and the sensible sequence.Way Forward: once you have done steps 1-3, determine the specific steps to turn your goals into reality. Ensure your plan is aligned with your priorities and sequence of the steps also allow for your time and money budget.Right Now, is a great time to pivot your focus toward achieving your preferred version of W.E.A.L.T.H™ You will then be able to hit the ground running for the Apil 2026 – March 2027 income year.We’re Here to HelpIdentifying your priorities is the first step; implementation is the second. As your strategic business partner we can walk you through our GROW and W.E.A.L.T.H™ steps.Whether it’s working out the key steps of your critical path, making your cash flow more user-friendly or identifying which tax planning options are best for you, Love to Grow is here to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.If you'd like to discuss your W.E.A.L.T.H™ please reach out to us - we'd love to help! We can be a sounding board and keep you on track during the implementation steps. As an aside, your tax planning for the 2026 year also has a few changes to keep in mind, such as tax threshold shifts, new investment incentives available, likely changes to your loan structures and interest management.We can help you incrementally adapt your plans as your business changes and weave the specifics into your overall plans.Sponsored Content: This article has been submitted by a contributing local expert as part of The Central App’s sponsored advisor programme.

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Born and bred in the stunning, arid landscapes of Central Otago’s Styx Valley, Dawn Sangster epitomises a ‘remote worker’, something this go-getter rural businesswoman’s been doing long before it was a ‘thing’.She’s sat around some recognisable rural sector business board tables, her financial and practical knowledge coming in handy. All the while Dawn’s been active on the family farm, near Patearoa, with husband David and her sister Carolyn and brother-in-law Drew Dundass, who manage the original Aitken family property in the Styx. These 2650ha properties make up Glen Ayr Ltd. They also have a 33% equity holding in Nottingham Dairy Ltd in North Otago.Dawn won the 2012 Institute of Directors Otago-Southland Aspiring Director Award and is a Chartered Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. Last year all of this was recognised with an Order of Merit in the New Year’s Honours, celebrating her 25 years of strong advocacy for women and service to governance.The third woman to ever be elected to the Alliance Group’s board in its 70-year history, Dawn made a major contribution for 12 years from 2011 serving until 2023, and despite not being surrounded by a lot of other girl power, more than held her own. “Women as shareholders of Alliance then weren’t that well recognised, but everyone was very supportive and welcoming,” she says.In that time, she inspired and supported other women into leadership and governance roles, something she’s fiercely passionate about.Dawn made it her mission to ensure female shareholders, who’d traditionally left the involvement to their husbands, were encouraged to become engaged. She introduced an innovative initiative taking groups of women shareholders through the cooperative’s meat plants as “important shareholders” and the management team was right behind her holding workshops and seminars to explain the workings behind the company.Dawn is a past member of the NZ Beef and Lamb Farmer Council and an early facilitator for Agri-Women’s Development Trust (AWDT). The trust was contracted to the Red Meat Profit Partnership to run the very successful ‘Understanding Your Farming’ business courses. “These were designed to give women technical skills and the confidence to no longer think of themselves as ‘just farmers’ wives’, but critical farming partners,” she says.She completed the trust’s inaugural Escalator Programme in 2011 – a year-long Wellington-based programme fostering leadership and governance. “When I was in that it was quite rare to see women involved in agri-business,” she says. “There were very few women on ag-sector boards in NZ.”By the time she finished Dawn felt inspired to get into governance.The trust only accepted 14 women a year into the programme. “There are now 120-plus Escalator Alumni. They’re very visible in leadership and governance positions, both regionally and nationally. It’s made a difference,” she says.Unlike some countries NZ doesn’t have a quota to increase the participation of women on boards. However, Government initiatives like the Ministry for Women and organisations such as the Institute of Directors are reinforcing the business case that diverse boards lead to better decision making and stronger organisations, Dawn says.Throughout her 30-year agricultural career it’s been Dawn’s passion and mission to support other rural women into leadership and governance.Keen to pass on her vast knowledge and experience, offering handy tips and tricks to others in, or keen to get into, governance, Dawn ran her own governance course in South Otago earlier last year. It was such a success that she was invited back to do another in November, and she’s hoping to run the course in her home patch of Maniototo this autumn.“It’s about giving people a better understanding between management and governance. We had a good mix there last year – farm consultants, agronomists, school board trustees, people from sporting organisations, not just rural, and a mix of ages, gender and experience.”Dawn may be right up there in agri-business, currently on the Farmlands’ Board, the Maniototo Irrigation Company, the governance group for the Tiaki Maniototo Freshwater Improvement Project, to name a few. She’s also a director of Glen Ayr Ltd, Lambhill Station Ltd and Nottingham Dairy Ltd. However, she still somehow makes time to give back to her beloved Central Otago community too.Home is where the heart is and Dawn was brought up on the family’s Maniototo farm at The Styx – Paerau – a farm her great grandfather bought in 1926. She loved riding, hockey and tennis – the transition to the much larger Waitaki Girls’ High from her tiny country Paerau School a big one. “I hated living in Oamaru at school. People didn’t travel much then and I didn’t see my parents for months at a time,” she says. “I used to write two letters home every week and my mother always replied. It was always a highlight to get a letter from Dad with the latest farm news. Oh, how I missed the farm.”However, as with the rest of her life she excelled, a prefect and Dux of her year, before graduating with an Agricultural Commerce degree from Lincoln in the 1980s.It was the days of Labour’s Rogernomics when she worked at MAF in Rangiora – farming had gone flat, so Dawn headed off on her OE working in London and travelling around Europe, then the US and Canada with her sister on her return.Back working on the family farm, she got stuck into community life, horse riding, hockey, local theatre, playing Rizzo in Grease, and squash, also getting involved with Beef and Lamb farm discussion groups.Romance then struck while she was on the Cavalcade and met David, her Marlborough husband of 31 years.They farmed in Marlborough for six years while raising three boys under four then returning to the Maniototo and buying the Patearoa farm with her family.Dawn, always with a bent towards governance, was quickly co-opted as local Playcentre treasurer. Later she was elected to the Maniototo Area School Board of Trustees and sat on the board of her sons’ John McGlashan College in Dunedin.Somewhere in amongst all this she’s raised angora goats for 40 years. The mohair in NZ is pooled and exported to South Africa where it’s in demand at auctions. “That was the money I used for my children’s education, a bit of an off-farm investment. My husband says we don’t count goats and it’s best not to mention them,” Dawn grins, but ‘Wheels’ the 2025 pet one, who couldn’t stand up on his own at birth, was a favourite with the ‘kids’.Those kids, now young men, all came home from the corporate world during the Covid lockdowns – some bringing girlfriends. “I loved that time. We had turns at Master Chef every night, played cards and board games,” Dawn says. “That month of lockdown was among my happiest memories, a really lovely family time, but I appreciate for many it was an extremely difficult time.”As for now, well, Dawn’s been doing the local Patearoa Golf Club accounts for 15 years, the 2025 accounts high on her ‘to do’ list.“Perhaps one day I will stop and actually play,” she grins.

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 the mayor.

It’s a new term for an old strategy: emotionally distancing yourself years before you formally separate.Sunday read: 7 min readJan, a New Zealander in her 50s, is in a marriage that she left years ago. Her husband likely has no idea.When I say left, I mean she tapped out emotionally with the marriage intact on paper. They never go on holiday together or set new goals. She likes hiking, but he never comes. They don’t have a joint hobby to gather around, and the kids have grown up. Their conversations centre on household logistics and are never deep.“He’s a great guy. He really is. Got lots of good qualities. It’s just sort of, I think it’s just stagnated.”About 70 percent of divorces in New Zealand are initiated by women.There is no abuse in their relationship, physically, verbally or emotionally. Things are fine enough, and that’s the problem: the hassle and expense of a divorce outweighs the 'meh' of her marriage.Jan’s situation sounds like marriages from days of old, where partnerships were often endured rather than enjoyed, when the shame of divorce was greater than the disappointment of staying.We now have a term for it, and it’s called quiet quitting a marriage. The term was originally coined to describe employees who don’t resign from a job, but probably should. Instead, they do the bare minimum to remain gainfully employed. That term has extended to the quiet quitting of a marriage, and the current financial climate and cost of living crisis in New Zealand has made it more common, according to numerous divorce coaches and counsellors.“What I’m seeing here is absolutely people are getting stuck,” says Bridgette Jackson, an Auckland-based divorce and relationship coach.“It's the long, often unspoken phase where the emotional connection really does fade, but no one has the clarity or the stage-appropriate support and therefore obviously don’t have the courage to either repair the relationship or separate thoughtfully.”More than half of Kimberlee Sweeney’s clients have quietly quit their marriage years before they come to her for help, says the divorce and relationship coach. Often, it is an instance of infidelity that causes them to finally want to pull the pin.It’s just not feasible for people to actually separate.Kate Todd, divorce coach“I think, you know, even our parents and grandparents were in marriages that they didn't want to be in and were there just because they had no other choice. I think it's got a new name. I quite like the name.”She finds the women who are in a quiet quitting situation - and the majority of her clients are women - are likely in a traditional role of primary carer for children and homemaker. Women initiate divorce about 70 percent of the time in New Zealand’s divorces. “They are fully aware that their life is going to change immensely if they have to be financially independent again and look after themselves.”It’s something that is mirrored in Jackson’s clients. About three out of four women who come to her for help have no idea about their family’s finances.“It's not the 1950s. This is the reality in 2025. They don't know what they own. They don't know what he owns.“They may have paid a few household bills, but that's about it.”(While it is hard to say if quiet quitting is more prominent in heterosexual couples, anecdotally, Jackson has found that lesbian couples tend to be more decisive rather than languishing for years in a lacklustre partnership. One or two clients have been men in same sex marriages out of 1,200 clients in the seven years Jackson has been a divorce coach.)I'm feeling like I'm living in limbo.Jan who has quiet quit her marriage.Another ingredient in the mix of quiet quit marriages, according to relationship counsellor and divorce coach Kate Todd, is the continued unfair distribution of the mental load, the term given to the never-ending planning, organising and remembering that an efficient household requires.​Research overseas and in New Zealand reinforces that women do the majority of domestic tasks even if they are working, and men routinely overestimate how much labour they contribute to the household.There is also a level of busyness in modern lives that means a divorce can be too much admin, says Todd. Quiet quitting is an easier alternative.“That age group, sort of 40s with young children, busy lives, busy jobs, huge mortgages, big debt. It’s just not feasible for people to actually separate.”Some people choose to remain in the quiet quitting phase of divorce indefinitely, according to Jackson. When a spouse eventually decides to leave, the other half - often the man - is caught by surprise, she says.Partners are often taken by surprise when a spouse who has quiet quit a marriage years ago asks for a separation, according to divorce coaches.For Pablo, a man in his 30s living in New Zealand, it was his wife who was surprised by his desire to end their marriage, even after a stint of relationship counselling that he instigated.“It was deteriorating at a very slow pace even before we had our son. After having our son, it became harder and harder.”Their quiet quitting looked like separate sleeping arrangements so he could go to work and not be woken throughout the night by the new baby. The activities they did together that nurtured the relationship gradually dropped away.As for Jan, she might decide to leave next year. She might not.“I'm feeling like I'm living in limbo.”The people she confides in want her to leave.“I was given advice in my mid-30s to leave my husband. And they said to me that if I didn’t, in 20 or so years' time, I would think back and regret not making that decision.“And here I am - at exactly that point.”

Lawn bowls is enjoying a surprise surge in popularity across Central Otago, and clubs say there’s never been a better time to join.Once considered a sport for older generations, bowls is now attracting families, former athletes, and newcomers of all ages thanks to its accessibility, relaxed social atmosphere, and competitive edge.Social bowls is trending nationwide too, particularly among younger Kiwis.“It’s a real vibe… it’s a really fun sport,” broadcaster Brodie Kane told The Girls Uninterrupted podcast, recalling a Christmas bowls session that involved friendly coaching, laughs and a $10 dinner.“You’re outside, the vibes are on, and the clubroom is fantastic,” she said. “Every time I go, I’m like, why aren’t we doing this more often?”Nationwide, casual participation in bowls has surged from 51,000 in 2010 to more than 126,000 in 2024, according to Bowls New Zealand. The number of young people playing also jumped to over16,000 in the past year alone.Local clubs say the appeal here in Central Otago is just as strong, especially for those who’ve retired from higher-impact sports like rugby or netball.“Bowls gives you that competition and team spirit without hurting your knees,” one Alexandra player said. “Plus, there’s snacks and banter.”Special bowling arms also make the sport more accessible for players with injuries or limited mobility. These devices allow people to bowl without bending, and are now a common sight on local greens.While the competitive scene is thriving, club leaders say social bowls remains the heart of the sport.Twilight leagues, barefoot bowls and relaxed weekly games offer light exercise, fresh air, and instant community - no experience necessary.The Alexandra Bowling Club is preparing to launch another busy season of social bowls, starting Monday January 26 with a relaxed ‘Get the Hang of It’ evening.The seven-week season includes games at 6.00pm and 7.20pm each Monday or both if you’re keen, with snacks and prizes included.If interested, go to Alexandra Bowling Club in the Clubs section on The Central App or check out the What's On guide.

Police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a woman in the Clutha settlement of Crichton, while another person remains in a critical condition.Emergency services were called to a property on Adams Flat Road at about 6.10pm on Friday, after reports of a "serious incident".One person is dead and another seriously injured after an incident on Adams Flat Road. Photo: Google MapsDetective Sergeant Hayden Smale said a woman died at the scene, while a man was taken to hospital in a critical condition.A scene guard remains in place at the address as police conduct a scene examination.Police said there is not believed to be any risk to the public, but residents can expect an increased police presence in the Crichton area.

Central Otago and parts of the lower South Island are under a weather watch this weekend, with MetService warning further heavy rain and strong winds could bring more disruptive conditions.A heavy rain watch has been issued for Central Otago south of Alexandra, Dunedin, Clutha, and mainland Southland for 30 hours from 9am Saturday (January 24).MetService said there is a moderate chance the watch could be upgraded to a warning if conditions worsen.Further south, southwest winds may approach severe gale strength for coastal Otago, Southland and Stewart Island from Saturday night.Winds are expected to ease by 6am Sunday.The South Island outlook comes as communities elsewhere in the country continue to deal with the effects of earlier storms, with more unsettled weather forecast nationwide.In the upper North Island, strong wind watches are in place from midday Saturday for Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, parts of Waikato, Gisborne and Bay of Plenty.MetService has warned gales in storm-affected areas could topple trees in already saturated ground.Civil Defence agencies continue to urge caution in regions affected by the severe weather.Meanwhile, a scientist told national broadcaster RNZ the country could be heading for wetter summers.Climate change could “potentially enhance summer rainfall extremes”, Chris Brandolino, the principal scientist at Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA), told Summer Report on Friday.Discussing the drivers behind this week’s flooding in the northern North Island, Chris said warming seas were intensifying the influence of climate patterns such as El Niño and La Niña - the latter currently affecting New Zealand.“Put simply, there is more water vapour in the air that is the fuel for heavy rain,” he said.It was making storms more likely, more frequent and more intense, he said.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

Cromwell youngsters will soon have a much-loved flying fox back, with Central Otago District Council confirming a replacement is due to be installed at Anderson Park Playground by Waitangi Day.The flying fox was removed from the playground beside the police station in early December after safety issues were identified, leaving young park users disappointed over the summer period.Matai Alexander said it felt like the flying fox had been gone for “forever” and described its absence as “terrible”.“It was the whole thing that made everyone go to the park,” he said.“I definitely want it to come back - three trillion per cent.”There's no flying fox at the 'flying fox park'. Image: The Central AppFor Fin Cowan, the playground has never been known by its official name.“I call it the Flying Fox Playground,” he said.Fin said one of the best parts was how the ride ended with a bump strong enough to send him back up the wire.“It was really fun to go down,” he said.Like Matai, Fin was eagerly waiting for the equipment to return.“Because no other playgrounds in Cromwell really have a flying fox,” he said.CODC is set to replace Cromwell's beloved flying fox in time for Waitangi weekend. Image: The Central AppCODC’s parks manager said the flying fox was expected to be reinstalled by February 6.He said the structure was removed after staff identified damage to key components, including the trolley and cable.“Staff noted the cable beginning to fray at the bottom of the flying fox and so had it removed to prevent further damage and any potential injury,” he said.The damaged equipment was disposed of and a replacement ordered, however Christmas delivery times meant there was “a few weeks’ lead time”.The replacement will be funded through existing council budget allocated for playground equipment upgrades and repairs.While no formal complaints were received following the removal, the council did receive enquiries.“Council received a couple of enquiries from members of the public asking why it was removed and when it would reopen,” the parks manager said.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

Picture it: It was 2021, and Anne Kirsch was in a mandatory two-week hotel quarantine in Auckland with an eight-month-old, a two-and-a-half-year-old, and her Kiwi husband, Tom. There was the pressure of parenting babies in isolation, in a new country, with no clear sense of what came next. Then Tom threw her a curveball. “Tom just one night in quarantine said, ‘I just bought some grapes. We’re going to make our own wine’,” Anne said. "I was like, ‘Really? That’s your concern right now?’"  She agreed to invest, and that moment became the seed for 15 Minute Bottles, a low-intervention wine label run by four friends, split between Central Otago and Christchurch. Anne was born in 1985 in East Berlin, a detail that shaped her family’s outlook.  Her parents, both diplomats, wanted something freer for their children.  When Anne was three, they moved to Vienna, just as talk of the Berlin Wall coming down gathered momentum. “My spirit home is Vienna,” Anne said. She grew up surrounded by international classmates, spent a high school year in Montana, and at 18 became a flight attendant - a job she held for 15 years.  Home became hotels and airports, but Vienna remained the base.  While still flying, Anne began studying winemaking, and she met her future husband, Kiwi winemaker Tom, in Austria, working the harvest at a winery outside Vienna.  They fell in love quickly, married in Austria in 2018, and started a family. Anne’s first experience of New Zealand came earlier, during a 2016 harvest in Cromwell.  She liked it - the seasons, the landscape, the familiarity of countryside that reminded her of Austria - but she wasn’t swept away. “I wasn’t in love with New Zealand,” she said.  “I was in love with Tom.” Upon moving here, it took time, she said, to stop comparing the two countries.  “When I stopped that, I started to fall in love with New Zealand. It definitely wasn’t love at first sight.” At 15 Minute Bottles, Anne and Tom work with another couple - David and Lana - friends with ties back to Berlin and Austria.  The name comes from blind tastings and an offhand comment from a colleague: a wine so “smashable” it’s gone in 15 minutes. “You don’t necessarily think too much about it,” Anne said.  “It’s delicious, juicy - gone in 15 minutes.” The label’s test-pot design reflects the same idea: trial, opinion, conversation. Wine without reverence. Something shared as much as saved. Anne Kirsch at work in Central Otago. Image: SuppliedAlongside 15 Minute Bottles, Anne works at Cromwell winery Quartz Reef while building her own photography business. “I was always that annoying one with the camera,” she said, recalling friends surprising her with her first “good camera” for her 30th birthday.  Still, it took years to give herself permission to treat photography as work. Moving to New Zealand helped. Away from family expectations, Anne began learning by doing - watching tutorials, listening to podcasts, and taking small jobs.  “I’m doing this for me,” she said.  “And I love doing it.” Her focus is on outdoor family sessions and weddings. What she enjoys most is the anticipation - driving to meet people she hasn’t met before - and then the surprise that comes later, while editing, when unnoticed moments emerge.  “That’s magic,” she said. Last year, Anne and Tom bought a house in Cromwell, but the commitment hasn’t erased the tension she feels between city and country.  She still feels drawn to urban life and sometimes worries about raising her daughters somewhere quiet. There’s also the weight that comes with building a life far from family.  “There’s always guilt,” she said.  “And the older you get, the harder it is.” For now, though, Central Otago feels safe - especially, she said, with everything happening elsewhere in the world.  “Home is where we are,” she said.  “As long as the four of us are together.”Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

One person is dead and another is in a critical condition after what police are calling a "serious incident" in the Clutha suburb of Crichton.Detective Sergeant Hayden Smale says at 6.10pm police were called to Adams Flat Road.The circumstances of the incident are not yet clear and Smale says police enquiries are ongoing.One person is dead and another seriously injured after an incident on Adams Flat Road. Photo: Google MapsA scene examination is taking place and a guard remains at the property.

Bannockburn is set to gain increased water storage and delivery capacity, with Central Otago District Council moving ahead with two major infrastructure upgrades scheduled to begin.CODC has awarded contracts for a new water main and a second reservoir, projects designed to improve reliability and support future growth in the Bannockburn area.The work includes installing a larger-capacity water main between the northern side of Bannockburn Bridge and the Hall Road reservoir site.The contract for the water main upgrade has been awarded to South Roads.A second project will see a new 500 cubic metre bolted steel reservoir built at the Hall Road site.Once complete, the new reservoir will operate alongside the existing one, effectively doubling water storage capacity and improving system efficiency.The reservoir construction contract has been awarded to Reliant Solutions.CODC capital project programme manager Patrick Keenan said the upgrades are an important step for the community."This is a proactive investment that secures Bannockburn’s water future," he said."By expanding both our storage and delivery capacity, we are ensuring a reliable water supply for the community as it continues to grow."Construction is scheduled to start this month, with both projects expected to be completed by mid-2026.Council warned some temporary disruption is likely during construction, including traffic management and potential service impacts.Residents will be kept informed as work progresses, with advance notice provided where possible.The upgrades form part of council’s wider programme of water infrastructure investment across Central Otago.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

A Dunstan High School rock band is heading to Auckland this year to record its own music after success at the Smokefree Rockquest last year.The Stolen Rings was place second in the regional event in 2025, and later in the year impressed judges at the Central Sound Waves event in Queenstown.The band’s original music gained them an 8-hour professional studio recording session at The Recording Room in Queenstown.They have also had the opportunity to record more of their original songs at one of New Zealand's top recording studios in Auckland later this year. The talented group of 16-year-olds competed against 17 other bands in the rock quest in their first ever performance, where they had to perform two fully original songs that they wrote themselves. “The band invested countless hours writing lyrics and composing music, proving their dedication and originality,” Jay-t’s mother Tracey Mcfadyen said.She said the boys were driven by a genuine passion for music, and dedicated themselves to practicing 2–3 times a week outside of school, continually pushing their creativity and performance skills.They also played several local gigs during 2025 and will continue to raise their profile again this year. Tracey said the trip to Auckland to record their own music marks an exciting step forward in their musical journey as they work towards sharing their sound with a wider audience. Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

Bruce Davidson said he has always been a petrol head, and despite selling up shop and retiring at the end of January, there will be no slowing him down. Davidson Honda in Alexandra will change hands to Ewan Allan Honda on February 1, and Bruce already has his next project lined up.He’s getting back into club level car racing and enjoys building his own vehicles. There’s been a fair bit of jet boating and car racing over the years and a few national championship titles as well.The motorbiking slowed down a few years ago while he and wife Jo concentrated on the Honda shop, but Bruce has always been passionate about bikes.Ever since he was kid growing up on a farm in Gore, he was involved with dirt bike competitions and eventually raced at national level - winning New Zealand titles, including an NZ Enduro title back in the mid-1980s.But it was time to move on from the motorbike shop after 37 years - and 50 in total with Honda New Zealand. Starting with just two staff, Davidson Honda now employs a team of 13.“I have to get out while I still enjoy it.”Bruce Davidson is a self-confessed petrol head. Image: The Central AppIt was fitting that Ewan Allan Honda was buying his business, handing over the business to someone that shared his southern roots.Bruce started working at a motorbike shop after school part-time when he was a teenager, and then he went on to do his apprenticeship.At just 25 there was an opportunity to manage a bike shop in Balclutha after the owners were involved in a tragic accident, so Bruce relocated and took on the challenge.In 1989, he moved to Alexandra and bought the existing Honda shop in Tarbert Street, where the Salvation Army is now, before he and Jo built their own purpose-built one on the prominent Centennial Ave site in 2000.He had to move the old house off site and donated it to the Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade for a controlled burn - the land was still zoned residential back then.Bruce has seen many changes to the motorbike industry over the years. In the late 1980s, there were just two-wheelers on the market - then along came three-wheelers, four-wheelers and now they have ‘side by side’ mini trucks.It is the rural industry that makes up the majority of his business, but walking into his ‘toy’ shop, it’s hard to not be impressed by the range of off-road and adventure bikes as well.And that’s what Bruce loves about the industry - motorbikes are generally made for ‘young-minded’ people who like to have a bit of fun, he said.Surprisingly, there has been a new trend with those in their 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s coming in to purchase adventure bikes - who used to ride in their younger days.Bruce can remember well the late 1970s and early 80s when there was a global peak on motorcycles - before imported cars were a thing.People were buying them for transport and for weekend fun, and that trend was starting to repeat again.Ewan Allan Honda also has branches in Gore, Balclutha and Mosgiel and when it takes over Alexandra, all of the existing staff will stay with the business.Bruce said one of the biggest challenges of the industry, more so in recent years, has been finding and retaining qualified staff, and the lack of affordable housing didn’t help either.He and Jo have been known to help out staff with deposits to ensure housing and job security, and going that extra mile with the team has paid off. Glen Clark their longest serving staff member has been with Davidson Honda for 25 years.Bruce and Jo have made many friends over the years in the motorbike industry, and hopefully some of them will pop in before January 31 and wish them farewell.Honda NZ management is coming south that day to give Bruce the send off he deserves after 50 years commitment to the brand.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

Voters in the Vincent ward will head to the polls following the resignation of newly elected councillor Dave McKenzie in October.The by-election will determine a new representative on the district council, with three candidates standing for this role.As part of our election coverage, we have put four questions to each candidate, covering key issues facing the ward and the wider district.All candidates were given the same questions, a 200-word word limit for each response, and the same deadline.Their answers will be published over the next two weeks, in their own words, to allow voters to compare the candidates’ positions directly.The series begins today with a question focused on trust in local government.Following the recent councillor resignation in this ward, integrity is top of mind for many voters. Why should the community trust you to represent them, and what does 'transparency' look like to you in practice?Andrew DowlingYou can’t turn integrity on and off when it suits. If I make a mistake then I own it, that means a lot to me. When we know where something went wrong, it is easier to fix. Lying, bending the truth, or just forgetting to mention things ends up leaving people wonder which, if any parts, are believable. I’ve got a great wife, kids and good friends who help keep my feet firmly on the ground! I have to earn people’s trust, and as they get to know me better I hope I do.  You can’t hide in this digital age. It is so easy to get information but this doesn’t mean that everything is true, or in context. Good process makes sure everyone gets to respond and then the court of information, and not the loudest or richest voice, decides. This is where good journalism is so valuable, being eyes and ears for the bits we missed.Transparency means answering concisely, making intentions clear, good communication and telling the truth.Nat JamiesonPeople should trust me because I’m coming into this role with fresh ideas, genuine passion, and no hidden agenda. I’m not a career politician - I’m someone who lives here, cares about our community, and wants to make a real difference. I believe in listening to people, being transparent in every decision, and working hard to get results that improve everyday life for our residents. As a first-time candidate, I bring a new perspective and a strong commitment to serving, not just leading.Louise van der VoortIntegrity is fundamental to good local government. Our community deserves to know that elected members, staff, and council contractors are acting with honesty and consistently upholding the highest ethical standards. That’s the foundation of public trust.For me, transparency means being open, clear, and willing to share information - including acknowledging what I know, what I’m still working to understand, and how decisions are made. In practice, this means holding council meetings and workshops in public whenever possible, with only legitimate exceptions such as commercially sensitive matters. It also means ensuring that reports, decisions, and key information are easily accessible through the council’s website and communication channels.Accountability is equally important. Elected members and staff must stand behind their decisions, and when mistakes occur, as they inevitably will, they should be acknowledged, explained, and corrected. Any concerns or allegations of improper conduct should be investigated with appropriate independence and rigour, with outcomes reported to the Council’s Audit and Risk Committee, which is chaired independently.My commitment is to uphold these principles every day. That’s how trust is earned, and how the community can have confidence that their interests are being represented with integrity.Important dates for the Vincent by-election: Voting opens: Voting papers will be sent to eligible voters from Friday January 30 Voting closes: Midday on Tuesday March 3  Next instalment: Part two will be published on Tuesday, focusing on ward versus district prioritiesHave a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

A striking aurora australis lit up night skies late on Tuesday (January 20), triggered by a severe solar storm. People around Central Otago shared images of green glows and shifting light bands, with some describing pulses of colour stretching across the southern horizon. The lights, commonly known as the southern lights, were reportedly seen as far north as Auckland. However, some of the clearest views were in Central Otago and Southland. Cromwell resident Tanya Dennis said she decided to take a chance on seeing the aurora after finishing work late, heading down to the lake at the Cromwell Heritage Precinct.“It wasn’t planned, but I knew there was a chance of something magical,” she said.“I watched the aurora dance across the sky...It was a private, humbling show, that left me in awe.”The southern lights at the Cromwell Heritage Precinct on Tuesday, January 20, 2025. Image: Tanya DennisA short distance away in Lowburn, Lance Weatherall spotted the lights shortly after 11pm.He said faint green bands were visible to the naked eye, along with “what looked like dust with sun shining on it” that “seemed to pulse”.“It was bigger than I’d seen before, but not as pretty,” he said.Across social media, other stargazers shared images showing vivid pink and purple hues captured on camera, with some reporting shimmering curtains of light visible without photographic equipment.One Queenstown photographer said the strongest glow appeared between 1am and 3am.According to the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the display was driven by an “S4” severe solar radiation storm, the largest of its kind in more than 20 years.The storm was caused by a coronal mass ejection - a massive burst of solar material and magnetic fields - that left the sun on Sunday and reached Earth’s magnetic field early on Tuesday.Geomagnetic activity reached a Kp8 level on a scale of nine.Space weather forecasters said the storm was now weakening, meaning the window for further aurora sightings is closing.By Thursday night, geomagnetic activity is expected to drop to a Kp3 level, making naked-eye aurora sightings unlikely in Central Otago.Photographers with specialised equipment may still capture a faint glow on the southern horizon if conditions are clear.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]