Dunstan High School students were out in the community last week baking Christmas cakes, washing cars, gardening, and sharing stories with the elderly.A joint initiative with Volunteer South, a total of 250 year nine and 10 students took part in the day, helping out 31 different community groups.Community connector Central Otago Southland Sue O’Brien said the idea for the student volunteer initiative originated from a Teachers’ Only Day and now it has become an annual event on the calendar.“It was a good opportunity for the young people to see what there is out there and what impact they can make.”Teacher Keri Barnett was keen to build a culture of volunteering amongst the students and wanted to explore the idea of enabling students to volunteer during their teacher only days - encouraging students to connect to their community and give back through sharing their time, energy and skills. Since then the idea has been introduced at Wakatipu High School and for the last three years Volunteer South has organised two Teacher Only Day events each year. It’s one of the biggest events on the calendar for Volunteer South, and there is a lot of organisation that goes into making the day a success.“Having a wide range of activities means that we can offer the students something that appeals to them, and their different skills and passions,” Sue said.Some of the students went to Castlewood Care Home and asked the residents about their lives - encouraging them to share stories.“It’s that intergenerational connection with the community. It was wonderful to see them finding similarities and learning about how things have changed.”Keep Alexandra Clyde Beautiful members had some help spreading schist mulch around the plants at the Alexandra garden opposite the monument.For one elderly resident, it was the first time they had chatted with a young person since moving to Alexandra, “and you could see they both really enjoyed it,” Sue said.Some of the volunteering roles have become a regular occurrence in the community, including one student who plays the piano at Ranui once a week.Keep Alexandra Clyde Beautiful members had some help spreading schist mulch around the plants at the Alexandra garden opposite the monument. Photo suppliedThe volunteer day last Thursday also co-incides with International Volunteer Day on December 5.Sue said this year’s theme, ‘Every Contribution Matters’, reminds us that volunteering takes many forms and that even small contributions can make a big difference. “Volunteers are the backbone of our region — they’re our sports coaches and managers, our conservation and beautification volunteers, our ‘big buddies’, our Light up Winter and Blossom Festival volunteers, our rest home visitors, our volunteer drivers, and so much more. “Collectively, volunteers in Aotearoa contribute an estimated 231 million hours each year, worth $6.4 billion. Volunteer South thanks every volunteer across Central Otago for their time, energy, and commitment.”

The government will push ahead with plans to cap annual council rates rises, limiting the increase per person to between two and four percent, Local Government Minister Simon Watts announced on Monday (December 1). The cap, which would apply to general rates, targeted rates and uniform annual charges but exclude water charges, is aimed at reining in steep increases some communities have faced in recent years.  It would take effect gradually from 2027, with full enforcement by 2029. The minister said the model is designed to control costs for households while ensuring councils can still fund essential services such as roads, rubbish collection, libraries and parks. But Central Otago mayor Tamah Alley, speaking to national broadcaster RNZ, said that while the community would likely welcome tighter limits on rates, the cap would come with consequences. “It will work to reduce the rates rises. Will it work to provide the best services to our communities, to meet their wants and needs? Maybe, maybe not,” she told RNZ. Tamah said councils would face tougher choices. “It will mean that we are saying no to our communities more often and it will mean that we are deferring projects that they wanted to see go ahead, but that might be okay if it means that they’ve got more money in their back pocket.” She pushed back on the idea councils were “throwing money around willy nilly”, saying that was “not an accurate depiction” for many. Tamah also pointed to the long-term risks of maintaining artificially low rates. Central Otago once had what she described as a “self-imposed rates cap” of five percent through the 2010s. She said the limit ultimately led to an 18 percent rates jump once the council was forced to address deferred work. The government said councils would be able to apply to a regulator for permission to exceed the cap in extreme circumstances, which could include catching up on infrastructure deficits. The minister said the decision to introduce a cap on rates will protect “local government’s social license for the long term”. “Rates are taking up more of household bills, and some communities have faced double-digit increases year after year. This is unsustainable and is only adding to the cost of living for many Kiwis,” he said. “Ratepayers deserve councils that live within their means, focus on the basics and are accountable to their community.”  

If you hear fire sirens and police cars driving around the streets of Cromwell, Alexandra and Clyde tonight (3rd December), make a run for the letterbox - with a can(s) of food.The annual can drive organised by Property Brokers will see young volunteer scouts roaming the streets to collect donations from residents from 5:30pm.People are encouraged to leave bags of non-perishable items at their gate, that will be picked up by teams and assisted by local police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ).All collected canned goods and items will then make their way to both the Alexandra and Cromwell foodbanks and Plunket to distribute amongst families in need.Property Brokers Cromwell agent Dawn Turnbull has been involved with the can drive for the past five years, and she’s seen it all.Last year in Cromwell the fire siren went off just as they were about to start. The FENZ crew that was supposed to be helping with the can drive had to answer a call out.“I said to them, are you for real? Is this a joke?”Luckily it was just a quick call out to Tarras but the team were back to help 20 minutes later.This year in Cromwell there will be 23 scouts, 12 FENZ crew, two fire trucks and two police cars involved.Dawn said by the time she gets home at 10:30pm, you can guarantee there will be messages all over social media asking what the noise was about.Meanwhile, in Alexandra, the Salvation Army is looking forward to another successful can drive, to help stock up its Combined Churches food bank.The Salvation Army receives redirected food from both Woolworths and New World every week, as an ongoing partnership, but is always grateful for the community’s help as well.Captain Jonny Whybrow said unfortunately its foodbank stats show an increasing demand for services when comparing the August to October period of this year with 2024. “There has been a 6% increase in the number of food parcels we have given out to our community. Anecdotally, I suggest this is due to the rising cost of living, especially for renters.” This is the Central App notification in support of the annual Can Drive tonight reminding everyone to do their bit for those in need at Christmas.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

It’s that time of year when we all know the team enjoys the opportunity to drop the tools, gather together, and celebrate the end of another busy Central Otago season. But while the vibe might be relaxed, your responsibilities as an employer don’t disappear just because you’re off-site. What employers need to rememberTaking your staff out for a good time should seem like a simple enough task, but a staff party is still “work”. That means your obligations around safety, behaviour, and duty of care remain in place – even if the event is at a restaurant, a vineyard, or a lakeside function venue.A few years back, one company learned this the hard way. They put on a flash night out, opened an unlimited bar tab, and a handful of staff made the most of it. Things went downhill quickly, with behaviour escalating into harassment, assault, and property damage.The employer tried to move straight into disciplinary action, but the staff members challenged the decision – and they were right to. With no policy in place, and the employer footing the bill for the alcohol, it was difficult to prove what the expected standard of behaviour actually was.Why it matters for Central Otago employersHere in Central, businesses are tight-knit, and reputation travels fast. A messy staff event can affect more than just the people involved – it can impact your standing in the community, your relationships with venues, and your team culture.Having clear expectations not only protects your people, it protects your business.What you can do before the party startsSet limits on alcohol Decide what’s reasonable and communicate it clearly.Have a staff function policy Spell out acceptable behaviour, consequences for damage, and expectations at all work-related events.Know when the function officially endsMake it clear when the employer’s responsibility finishes.Plan safe transport home Shuttles, taxis, designated drivers – have a plan to keep everyone safe.If something does go wrong, you still need to run a fair and thorough investigation. But with clear policies and expectations, you’re far less likely to face a long and stressful employment dispute.A local reminderPeople want to feel safe, respected, and looked after – at the Christmas party, as well as every day at work.If you’d like advice on your HR policies or want help setting expectations for your team this festive season, the team at EASI NZ are happy to help. Call 021 665 013 or email [email protected].

Keeping all up-to-date with current listing - all you need to do is to click here Tall Poppy Real Estate

Light Up Central is back for its third year, offering a festive way for locals and visitors to celebrate Christmas in Central Otago.Households across the region are invited to join in by decorating their homes with festive displays.It doesn’t have to be anything extreme – even simple touches can bring plenty of Christmas cheer and help create a magical atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.The best part? It’s a free self-guided tour and The Central App will help you to find participating locations, vote for your favourite house, and explore the decorations at your own pace.Want to add your house to the tour? You can sign up anytime for and be part of the festivities! Just click on our button Light Up CentralVoting begins from the 10th of December so don’t miss the chance to showcase your creativity and spread the holiday spirit.Peter Hishon from Tall Poppy getting in the festive spirit. One of the main sponsors of Light Up Central - Image: File 2024Mike and Margaret Payne from Alexandra, always go the extra mile every year to set up Santa in his sleigh in the front yard, along with Mother Christmas and the elves, and a 2.5m tree all lavishly decorated.The extensive decorations spend 11 months of the year in the roof of their Bringan Street property, and only get dragged out on December 1 - and not a day sooner. It takes them 2 weeks to set them up.People say they can see the massive Christmas tree from the other end of the street - and it’s quite a long one.If you’d like to join in the fun and enter our Light Up Central competition, we’ve lined up some fantastic prizes to make it even sweeter:First Prize – A $1,000 Goodie Hamper from Paper Plus AlexandraSecond Prize – A $500 gift from Jaime’s JewellersThird Prize – A luxurious pamper experience at Harmony valued at $250Light up your home, share the festive spirit, and be in to win!Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

Central Otago district councillors have put off a decision on whether to investigate alternative sites for the Roxburgh Entertainment Centre rebuild, opting instead to hear directly from residents at a community meeting set for December 11. Council staff, backed by the Roxburgh Entertainment Centre Project Steering Group and the Teviot Valley Community Board, had recommended councillors approve a $20,000–$40,000 investigation into one or two possible new locations.  The work would have been funded from the $4M insurance payout following the February fire that destroyed the town’s historic hall and cinema. But after a passionate public forum plea and concerns from elected members about misinformation and community unease, councillors voted for a motion from councillor Martin McPherson to leave the decision on the table until after the December 11 public meeting. Speaking in the public forum, Teviot Valley Community Board member Gill Booth urged councillors not to commit any funding until they had heard from residents. “I think it’s important that the town does make the decision and not the council,” she said. Gill said discussion about shifting the centre had “exploded into a bit of anger and a lot of bad information”. “It has been bloody heated in town, I’m telling you,” she said.  In her view, most people she had spoken to were “vehemently opposed to spending any money looking at anything” other than rebuilding on the original site, adding that “most of Roxburgh will cling like a limpet to bringing their town hall back to where it was”. Deputy mayor Tracy Paterson asked Gill for guidance on how to move the conversation forward, acknowledging “we are inevitably going to be left with people that are happy and people that aren’t”. Teviot Valley ward councillor Curtis Pannett supported pausing the process, saying it was important to correct “misinformation…that this is a decision that’s in motion”. “I think that it’s important that we hear from the community sooner rather than later before we make a decision,” he said. He believed some residents felt decisions were being made “without consultation, and that’s the biggest issue at the minute”. Curtis said the December 11 meeting should serve both as an outlet for the community to feel heard and an opportunity for staff to outline “process and pathways” for the rebuild. Mayor Tamah Alley, joining the meeting remotely from Queenstown Airport, also wanted the community to hear from staff about the “opportunity cost” of a new location, including the additional time and money that would be needed if the rebuild moved off the existing site. She said it was important residents “understand that process, then they can give us a steer on, ‘Hey, are we happy to wait two or three years’, or ‘Actually, do we want to get cracking on this’”. When tabling his motion, Martin said the steering group and staff would be “in a far better position to give a consensus feeling” after the community meeting.  “We should be listening to that community,” he said. In her report to the council meeting, property officer Tara Bates said the project steering group thought exploring other sites was worth considering, calling the rebuild a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to create a multipurpose, future-focused hub for the Teviot Valley. Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

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

As December rolls around, many clients start to wonder: Will my lawyer disappear for weeks during the festive season? It’s a fair question—legal matters don’t pause just because the calendar says “holiday.”The Myth of the Month-Long BreakThere’s a common perception that lawyers shut their doors from mid-December until late January.While it’s true that the legal industry slows down over Christmas, the idea of a full month off is more myth than reality.What Actually HappensCourt Closures: Most courts operate on reduced schedules from late December to early January. This means hearings and filings may be delayed.Office Hours: Many law firms close for a week over Christmas and New Year, but rarely for an entire month. Staff often rotate holidays to ensure someone is available.Urgent Matters: Lawyers remain on call for critical issues—think bail applications, urgent family matter, or time-sensitive commercial deals.Why It Feels Like a Long BreakThe slowdown is partly cultural.Businesses often defer decisions until the new year, and clients may avoid starting new legal processes during the festive season. Combined with public holidays, this creates the impression of a long hiatus.What You Can DoPlan Ahead: If you need legal work done before January, start early.Ask About Availability: Most firms will tell you upfront who’s covering during the break.Use Technology: Many lawyers now offer virtual consultations, even during holiday periods.Bottom LineYour lawyer probably isn’t sipping cocktails on a beach for a month straight.They may take a well-earned break, but most firms ensure continuity for urgent matters. So, while the pace slows, the profession doesn’t completely stop.Checketts McKay Law closes for the Christmas period at 5pm on 23 December 2025 and re-opens on 12 January 2026. Staff are available over the closedown period – please phone 03 440 00125 for assistance.Sponsored Content: This article has been submitted by a contributing local expert as part of The Central App’s sponsored advisor programme. All sponsored stories are reviewed to align with our values of community first, accuracy, and trusted people in our community reporting.

Alcohol consumption on boats will come under the spotlight through the Otago Regional Council’s Navigation Safety Bylaw that is up for review.Harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook told regional councillors this week, that controlling alcohol use on boats was something that had to be led by Maritime NZ - but they could “potentially” write something into their own safety bylaw that could be signed off at the top.“As a group of national harbourmasters, we’ve been pushing on that door for quite some time, and will continue to do so.”Last summer, Central Otago police had to walk away from a group of intoxicated jet boaters near Luggate, who overturned their boat, tipping passengers into the water.A loophole in the law meant authorities were powerless to prosecute them - even though it was illegal and dangerous to operate a vessel under the influence of alcohol.The group refused to co-operate with police, and by the time the Wanaka waterways team got involved, they were well gone.  Police said at the time, they could only prosecute the drivers for excess breath alcohol, by waiting at the boat ramp when they came to shore. ORC harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook and the team will be out patrolling on Lake Dunstan over summer. Image: suppliedThe Otago Navigation Safety Bylaw 2020 assists with the regulation of ports, harbours, waters and maritime-related activities in the region.After a discussion led by Cr Kate Wilson, the council agreed that new provisions will be written into the draft Navigation Safety Bylaw, that helped address the issue.“Why you can’t do something in a car that you can do in a boat - it just seems, given the risks, madness,” she said.The draft bylaw will be presented back to the regional council for its next meeting on December 9, and then once signed off will be submitted to Maritime NZ as the governing body.It covers the wearing of lifejackets, notification of incidents, seaworthy vessels, vessels to be identified and a range of other matters.It will then go out for consultation in early 2026, with an aim to adopt the new bylaw in April 2026.

Work to remove a stand of trees beside Cromwell’s yet-to-be-named events centre is expected to begin today, while separate tree maintenance is under way at Lowburn Inlet after wind damage last week. Dozens of trees along the Kawarau Arm of Lake Dunstan are scheduled to be cut down.  Members of the public were first alerted to the work when orange ‘Xs’ were spray painted on trees bordering the Lake Dunstan Trail, at a point below the new hall complex under construction on Melmore Terrace. An initial media statement from the Central Otago District Council about the works was issued and later withdrawn.  However, in a Facebook post on Friday, the council said the removal was linked to “revitalising the Cromwell waterfront” and would “open up sight lines and enhance the visual and physical link between the waterfront and community facilities”. Days are numbered for dozens of trees marked with an orange ‘X’ below the new hall complex under construction in Cromwell. Image: The Central AppThe council said landscaping would follow to create “an inviting space” in front of the new hall. The proposed work has drawn strong reaction online from residents concerned about the scale of the felling.  Some questioned whether improving views from the new facility was being prioritised over preserving shade trees. Further up the lake at Lowburn Inlet, a different set of trees was taped off mid last week after being damaged in strong winds.  Although the land appears to be public reserve, it is owned by Contact Energy. A Contact spokesperson said the company removed several dangerous branches to ensure public safety, leaving the firewood on site for people to collect. “We will carry out a full assessment of the trees on our property,” the spokesperson said. “Once we have a plan for tree removal and maintenance, we will engage with stakeholders before commencing any works.” While it was initially indicated some trees might need to be removed entirely, only damaged limbs have been taken at this stage.  The trees are valued locally for the shade they provide during summer, and Contact said it will discuss any replanting requirements with the community.  

If you’re looking for a good sort in Central, Dave Ramsay’s your man.Over four decades, Dave has dedicated himself to the region through tireless volunteer work, chasing rabbits, flipping sausages at community events, and releasing dozens of confident young drivers onto Central Otago roads.Since 1985, the Alexandra Lions stalwart and former Jaycee has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for community causes like Friends of Dunstan Hospital, Alexandra Fire Brigade and many more.“You’ll see him on the barbie at the Alexandra Blossom Festival or working the gate at the Omakau Races, it’s just what you do when you’re Dave.”He’s been a member of the Alexandra Lions for more than 30 years, joining in 1995 after a decade with the Jaycees. He served as Lions president in 2001–2002.“We provide community services with the proceeds, spreading what we raise around the community, or to individuals needing a kickstart,” he said. “But it’s all done under the radar. There’s no hoopla.”Still, hoopla found him in July this year.King’s honour for a humble man Dave has spent 40 years helping others, from rabbit control to Santa Claus duties. Photo: SuppliedDave was awarded a King’s Service Medal as part of the New Year’s Honours – an event delayed six months due to weather-related flight cancellations. He travelled to Government House in July, joined by friends and family, to finally accept the award.“It was a significant occasion hearing all the stories of those there and having that citation read out,” he said. “There might’ve even been a bit of liquid in the eyes at one stage,” he laughed. “Cindy is a neat lady. She hosted two showings of Honours recipients every day for a week.”Dave's humility remains. “I really just enjoy people and want to help where I can.”Known as ‘Rambo’, loved as SantaHe’s often called on when the job needs doing, though he’s not too keen on the nickname ‘Rambo’. Grandad to two, Dave is also a sought-after Santa Claus in the lead-up to Christmas.“I’ve got three bookings already this year and it’s still a month out,” he said, clearly chuffed.Perhaps it’s that personable nature and community spirit that also made him a trusted face during his 36-year car sales career — 26 of those years spent with Grant Ward Nissan in Alexandra.Wheels and roots: Ramsay's early yearsBorn in Invercargill in 1954, Dave grew up around cars. His dad, Wattie, sold cars at GWD Russells for 60 years, starting in 1934.“I loved it there. He’d try to get away from me, but I’d ride my bike down there,” Dave grinned.He learned to drive on his uncle’s Ettrick farm from the age of 10 or 11 and got his driver’s licence on his 15th birthday. Holidays were spent in Central Otago with his mum’s family. “I always had a desire to live up here,” he said.After one year of pharmacy school in Wellington, Dave returned south, eventually landing at Grant Ward Nissan — but not without some drama. His Invercargill home was hit by floods just as he was relocating.“I could see our home from work at GWD’s in Bay Road, but they wouldn’t let me go down to check on it, so one day I shot through there on the railway line to assess the damage and got a stern telling-off from the cops.”Giving back through generationsDave’s sons were born in Alexandra and, like him, got stuck into community life through Jaycees and Lions events.“There were a lot of dreamers out there who would’ve loved to own a $25,000 car. They had the $5,000, but not the $20,000,” he smiled, reflecting on his years in sales.“Nissan utilities were just becoming popular. You wouldn’t be on a farm without one now.”He credits the farming community for his success. “It was always a privilege dealing with farmers,” he said. “They’d budget to buy something, and if they didn’t have the cash, they’d put up with the old ute for another year.”Helping young drivers and saying goodbyeIn earlier years, Dave was passionate about the Nissan Young Driver Competition, which he ran in a central Alexandra car park, helping teenagers build road confidence.He also served on the Terrace School board, including as chair.Now retired, (from paid work at least) Dave keeps busy volunteering, particularly with Lions catering at events around the region. “I love eating, so it’s easy,” he said.Another way he’s supported the community? As a funeral celebrant. Dave has led more than 170 funerals across Central Otago and Queenstown.“It’s a particularly tough time for a lot of families, with a lot of costs involved. So not having to pay a celebrant can help. In a difficult time, it makes a big difference.”Still giving back and not slowing downAfter 40-plus years of service, Dave is still not seeking praise. But in Central Otago, people notice.“Moving to Central Otago was the best thing I ever did,” he said.

There’s a lot to share - and when Minister Patterson said we’d be “running around with our pants on fire by Christmas,” he wasn’t kidding. Here’s the rundown of what’s landed:Local Government ReformThe Government has released a proposal that would abolish the governance arm of Regional Councils (the councillors) and ask all Otago mayors to jointly govern the ORC. We’d then have two years to propose how regional functions like environmental management, public transport, pollution control and pest management would look in future.You don’t need to read between the lines — the proposal specifically signals a pathway toward unitary councils (where one organisation does both district and regional functions). We already see this in places like Nelson, Tasman and Gisborne.The “alternative” to mayors governing locally? Crown Commissioners. Personally, I’d rather see Otago people making Otago decisions — with public accountability and a real understanding of our unique landscapes and communities.This proposal is open for public feedback until February, and I strongly encourage people to have their say. You can find the details at the link below. Resource Management Act ReformA big missing piece in the puzzle is what the RMA reform will look like. This will fundamentally shape how councils operate and how we deliver services.We’ve had little detail so far — other than Minister Grigg assuring us it will “change your life.” I’m absolutely supportive of reducing unnecessary red tape, hopefully not at the cost of our environment or the wellbeing of future generations. More detail is due in the coming weeks. National Wastewater StandardsYesterday the Government released new national environmental performance standards for wastewater. These relate to everything from treatment ponds and discharges to land/water, through to overflow management.Consenting wastewater is expensive and complex for councils — balancing essential services with environmental protection. Some standardisation across the country makes sense, especially with a risk-based approach that reduces duplication and excessive technical paperwork. The Government estimates up to $830 million in savings nationally over 35 years through streamlined processes. The Bigger PictureLocal government has been calling for reform for years. The system is under real pressure — growth, ageing infrastructure, rising costs, and rising expectations all colliding at once.We’re ready for the hard conversations.The Government has now put a proposal on the table. Our job is to test it, improve it, and make sure any new model is workable and fair for the people of Central Otago and the wider Otago region.Never a dull day in local government!

After years of teaching English in both Chile and New Zealand, Fernanda Silva Garriga has begun offering free IELTS preparation sessions at the Cromwell Library, alongside her weekly language conversation classes and private lessons. IELTS is the English-language test accepted by Immigration New Zealand, as well as universities and employers, as proof of English proficiency. The score someone achieves can make or break their hopes of working, studying or settling here. English teaching wasn’t always Fernanda’s plan. She trained as a translator and interpreter in Chile, having grown up surrounded by teachers and academics.  But while studying and later working in Valparaíso, she often found herself tutoring English on the side.  After moving to New Zealand in 2017, she earned her TESOL qualification and taught at a Queenstown language school before launching her own business in Cromwell earlier this year. Her teaching style is shaped by her own experience of finding school challenging. “When I was in high school, it wasn’t so easy for me - because my brain works differently, and it took me a bit longer to understand certain things,” she said.  “I always felt the education system wasn’t built for the way I learn.” Over the years she adapted her lessons to suit individual students, something they often comment on. “They really appreciate that the way that I teach is different for each one of them,” she said. For her, the reward is seeing people reach the point where something finally clicks.  She believes anyone can learn at their own pace, “as long as they have someone to support them”. Cromwell’s diverse and fast-growing community has only strengthened her sense of purpose.  She sees language as central to building a life in a new place - whether that’s making friends, finding a job or simply feeling confident enough to participate.  “Language is the channel that connects you with pretty much everything,” she said. That belief is partly why she approached the Cromwell Library to offer the free classes.  Having once worked in a library in Chile, she sees the space as more than a building full of books.  It’s a social hub, she said, and one that can help newcomers feel welcome.  “I just want to bring people in to know each other,” she said. Fernanda grew up on Chile’s long Pacific coastline, but Cromwell now feels like home too. She and her French partner endured a long period apart during the Covid-19 border closures before eventually returning to New Zealand to secure residency.  At that point, Fernanda could have moved anywhere, but she chose the town with the Big Fruit. “I don’t see myself in another place right now,” she said. “This is the place that life wanted us, where everything worked out.” Still, she accepts her heart remains divided.“Part of me is in Chile and the other part of me is here,” she said.

The Central Otago District Council (CODC) confirmed candidates have until 12pm on Monday, December 22, to put their names forward for the vacant seat.The by-election follows the resignation of Dave McKenzie, who was elected to the Vincent Ward in October but withdrew days after the election. Dave cited the toll of "online destructive misinformation" on his family following the release of a council report detailing invoice tampering involving his company.Despite coming before he was even sworn in, the resignation after the election meant his seat was left vacant, necessitating a fresh election process.Electoral Officer Anthony Morton said nomination papers were now available for those wishing to stand."To be eligible to stand for election, a candidate must be a New Zealand citizen and a parliamentary elector," the notice said. "Candidates must be nominated by two people who are registered on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll within the Vincent Ward."Each nomination must be accompanied by a deposit of $200.If more than one nomination is received by the December deadline, a postal ballot will be held early next year using the First Past the Post system.Voting papers would be delivered to eligible electors starting Friday, January 30, with voting closing at 12pm on Tuesday, March 3.There has been an early indication of Interest in the vacancy, with the highest-polling unsuccessful candidate from October confirming she will stand.Louise van der Voort, who missed out on the fourth Vincent Ward seat by a narrow 33-vote margin, has indicated she will contest the by-election.Louise is a familiar face in local governance, having previously served in a senior leadership position at the council for many years. She secured 1,575 votes in the recent election, placing her next in line behind Dave.Meanwhile, another high-profile candidate has ruled himself out of the race to avoid triggering further costs for ratepayers.Jayden Cromb, who also ran for council in October, was successfully elected to the Vincent Community Board and sworn in as its chair.Jayden confirmed he would not stand for the council vacancy as he wanted to avoid sparking a second by-election for the district, opting instead to focus on his community board leadership role.Nomination forms are available on the CODC website or from the council’s service centre in Alexandra.Read more: Next-in-line candidate to contest Vincent by-election and Councillor withdraws, citing ‘online hatred’

Otago Polytechnic has pivoted to a workplace-based model to keep cookery training alive in Central Otago, securing a high school facility to replace the commercial kitchens set to be lost in its campus sell-off.The institution announced it would deliver its Level 4 Cookery programme through a new Work Integrated Learning (WIL) model starting in February.The move serves as a workaround for the polytechnic’s recent decision to sell its Cromwell town campus on Molyneux Avenue, which housed its training kitchens, citing financial viability.Otago Polytechnic deputy executive director of operations Max Sims said the new pathway was designed to support learners already working within the hospitality industry."The flexible one-year, fulltime programme allows learners to remain in paid employment and is ideal for emerging chefs who want to formalise their skills and kitchen staff looking to step into more skilled positions," Max said."It also suits employers wanting to develop committed, motivated team members without removing them from the workplace."To bridge the gap left by the lack of campus facilities, trainees, who must be employed for at least 20 hours a week, will attend specialist masterclasses in a professional kitchen at Dunstan High School. This will be combined with weekly one-on-one meetings with polytechnic staff."We’ve already had positive interest from across the local sector and have begun conversations with some of Central Otago’s largest hospitality employers," Max said.In addition to the cookery qualification, the polytechnic is also pursuing approval to deliver a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy via a similar "Work Augmented Learning" pathway.Max said the team had hosted a positive site accreditation visit from the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand and hoped to welcome the first local intake mid next year."Creating a pool of therapists who are already local and have trained in the context of their own community has the potential to better meet the growing demand on health resources being experienced in the region," Max said.The course announcements follow a turbulent period for the polytechnic in the region.Earlier this year, the institution moved to discontinue courses in outdoor adventure education, stonemasonry, and brewing, as well as cookery, as part of a wider restructuring to ensure financial sustainability.Read more: Community trust eyes former polytechnic site for local use and Programmes may be discontinued at Central Campus

The Prime Minister spent Thursday mingling with Central Otago farmers and orchardists as part of a two-day visit to the south.Christopher Luxon made a guest appearance at Cromwell’s Suncrest Orchard, owned by the Jones family, and popped into the packing shed to have a catch up with local growers.Organised by Summerfruit NZ board chair Trudi Webb, the prime minister sat down amongst orchardists and talked about the upcoming RMA reforms, and asked them what the big industry issues were.“You guys do a critical job growing a world class product,” he said.Regarding the RMA reforms that would have its first reading in Parliament in two weeks, the Prime Minister said “we haven’t got time to muck around anymore.” The ‘Rural Nats’ have been holding a series of meetings around the country which started in September and finishes in February 2026, touching on policy issues that they can take back to their caucus.Associate Minister of Horticulture Nicola Grigg and Waitaki MP Miles Anderson were in attendance, along with Central Otago Mayor Tamah Alley, and many horticulture industry representatives.“Trust me when I tell you, that it’s going to change your life,” Nicola said about the RMA reform.The Prime Minister chats informally with Central Otago fruit growers. The Central App photoTeviot Valley fruit grower Stephen Darling questioned the Prime Minister about the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, which he described as “virtually unworkable, and almost unaffordable.”Last season the Government capped the number of RSE workers at 20,750 for the 2024-205 season - up from 19,000, but growers have historically advocated for its removal to meet significant growth.The Prime Minister said he was interested in growers’ views on local domestic workers solving the country’s unemployment rate, which many agreed was also a big part of their workforce - along withbackpackers during the harvest season.Housing affordability came into the discussions with the Prime Minister saying the issues were all about supply, “we have tripped ourselves up in red tape.”Christopher also attended a public meeting in Tarras in the morning, where wildfire risk and invasive pests and weeds was the topic of conversation. The day before he toured a Queenstown film studio, andattended a National Party social event.After Suncrest Orchard, he was whisked away by security to head back through the Kawarau Gorge, ready to catch a plane for another event in Auckland last night.

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

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