Kawarau Station up the back of Bannockburn opened its gates this weekend to adventure racers on horseback, bike and foot for a rogaine supporting a worthy cause.Event organiser Mandy McFarlane described a rogaine as being “similar to an orienteering course…but you decide how far and fast you want to go”.The event raised funds for the region’s rescue helicopter service - a personal cause for Mandy.“I needed the rescue helicopter two years ago,” she said.“That’s motivated me to do it.”Participants could choose between a six or a three-hour course, competing as teams or individuals, across races on both Saturday and Sunday (November 15 and 16).Stations with points attached were mapped out, and it was up to those racing to choose which points to seek, all while watching the clock to get back to base - a historical woolshed - within the timeframe or face a penalty.Freya Greaves, 7, and her brother Zac, 5, at the end of their three-hour adventure race over hills out the back of Cromwell. Image: The Central AppMandy said close to 100 people took part, along with dozens of horses.Five-year-old Zac Greaves, of Wānaka, was in a team with his seven-year-old sister Freya.He said the hardest part of the race was “the prickles”, but mystery challenges dotted throughout the course made up for it.One of his favourites? Wooden rubber band shooters with cup targets to hit.Helena Ruud rides Red in Sunday’s three-hour rogaine fundraiser at Kawarau Station. Image: The Central AppHelena Ruud, a Cromwell vineyard worker from Norway, rode horse Red in Sunday’s three-hour event.She said the terrain was varied - “small rivers, steep hills, some rocky parts, mud” - and, despite being on the look out for rabbit holes, there were plenty of opportunities for the horses to have a good canter.It amazed her to see “a whole community come together to do something fun”, she said.

Lowburn’s annual fishing competition drew one of its strongest crowds in years on Sunday (November 16), with 134 anglers taking to Lake Dunstan in calm spring conditions.Organiser Phil Henderson said it was “one of the highest entry numbers we’ve ever had”, and 38 children under 12 joined the field.Anglers brought brown trout, rainbow trout, perch and a couple of elusive salmon to the weigh-in, which took place at the community hall beside the Lowburn Inlet.Phil said there was “a good mix of all of those” and “some good-sized fish too”.Fish and Game officer Mason Court and Cromwell Rotary’s Craig Lunn at the weigh-in. Image: The Central App.The Rotary-run event has been going for 31 years. Phil said about half of all entries were made on Sunday morning, with people registering from 6am. Proceeds will “all go back through to the community through grants and supporting projects,” he said.Bannockburn angler Josh Dicey weighed in a 1.48kg rainbow trout caught “right up the top of the lake”. He said he’d had a good day on the water but planned to give the trout to his boat mate’s neighbour because he prefers saltwater fish.Nine-year-old Cromwell angler George Borges recommended his Tassie Devil lure and said he realised he had a strike when his rod started to bend.“I thought it was just going very deep. Then I ran to it and reeled it in,” he said. Carter Johnston, 10, with his brother Wyatt, 7, both of Queenstown, and George Borges, 9, of Cromwell. Image: The Central App.After fishing since 6.30am, another highlight was “jumping off the wharf” once he came back in.Clyde Primary School pupil Harlan Smith, 12, arrived with a bag of fish alongside his family.He described one of the tougher fights of the day: “We had to play them a wee bit. They were pretty strong,” he said. His brother handled the net, which their dad Jeremy said was “important because a lot of them are lost at the boat trying to get it in the net”.The Smiths planned to head home and cook their rainbow trout crumbed or battered “just like the fish and chip shop,” Jeremy said.Approximately 100 fish were weighed overall. The heaviest was a 2.24kg rainbow trout, while the top brown trout weighed 2.23kg.Matai Alexander of Cromwell didn’t land a fish but left with a prize. The heaviest perch of the day, weighing just over one kilogram. Image: The Central App.At the prizegiving, organisers asked for a 12-year-old with no catch to come forward. Matai walked away with six handmade flies crafted by Cromwell flyfishing stalwart Henry Smith.

The MetService has issued an Orange heavy rain warning for the headwaters of Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea from midnight tonight (November 17) until 2pm Tuesday.A front over the Tasman Sea is moving towards New Zealand. It is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain overnight.Rainfall totals are expected to reach 100 to 140mm near the Divide and 70 to 100mm within 15km east. The freezing level is sitting high at 2800 metres.Although the risk of upgrading to a Red Warning is low, the impacts may still be significant.Streams and rivers may rise, and residents are warned to prepare for possible surface flooding, and difficult driving conditions.Closer to home, MetService shows the winds are on the way up, expect them to strengthen this afternoon and into tomorrow. Then we’re back to sunshine by Wednesday.Keep up to date with The Central App news throughout the day as conditions change, and if traveling check the Roads report before you leave home.

A new Central Otago District Council draft bylaw would ban camping and introduce on-leash requirements for dogs on council reserves and parks, but staff acknowledge some clauses may clash with existing rules.The proposed Parks and Reserves Bylaw is the first of its kind for the district and aims to guide how council parks and reserves are used and protected. It outlines restrictions on activities such as lighting fires, setting off fireworks, bringing animals onto the public spaces, playing sports without approval, and operating vehicles or aircraft, alongside provisions for camping and dog control.Under the draft, dogs would need to be kept on a leash in all parks and reserves unless an area is specifically designated as off-leash.However, the council’s existing Dog Control Bylaw allows dogs to be off-leash in public places provided they are “under control”, meaning they can be recalled instantly and do not cause nuisance or danger.CODC parks and recreation manager Gordon Bailey said the Dog Control Bylaw would take precedence and confirmed the draft “may need further clarification to ensure consistency”.The draft bylaw also proposes a blanket prohibition on camping at parks and reserves unless the site has been clearly designated for overnight stays.Councillors previously decided not to pursue a separate freedom camping bylaw, citing low complaint numbers.Fifteen camping-related complaints were received over the 2023–24 summer and 13 the following year. Councillors instead directed staff to include camping rules within a future parks and to reserves bylaw.Gordon said the new bylaw would give council the ability to take enforcement action when people ignore the rules.He said it “will help limit behavioural issues that result in damage to council’s parks and reserves or cause a nuisance to other park users or create safety issues”.He listed damaging plants, digging holes, erecting structures, and interfering with sports approved by the council as examples of problematic behaviour.Public consultation is now open and submissions close tomorrow (Tuesday, November 18).Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

Independent commissioners will this week consider a proposal for a six-lot multi-unit residential development at Pisa Moorings.The Big Units Ltd application will be heard on Wednesday and Thursday in Cromwell by chair Gary Rae and commissioner Ros Day-Cleavin as part for the Perriam Place development.The sites sit at the northern end of the existing lake inlet and were recently rezoned Large Lot Residential under Plan Change 19.According to the Companies Register, Big Units Ltd has four shareholders: Dean and Trina Affleck and Chris and Karen Denniston.The company received 22 submissions on the proposal in 2024. The process was placed on hold until July 2025 when the applicant asked for the matter to be considered by independent commissioners.The subdivision neighbours the Marsden Lake Resort marina development, which was originally consented in 2008 by Pisa Cove Ltd. The earlier development included a constructed 1.2-hectareextension to Lake Dunstan and 23 units built over the water.Multi-unit developments are restricted discretionary activities. They require at least 250m2 of site area per residential unit and connection to a reticulated sewage system.Central Otago District Council planning consultant Duncan Whyte has recommended the proposal be granted consent, subject to urban design changes.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

The district’s outdoor pools have opened for summer, including in Roxburgh for the first time under Central Otago District Council management.Alexandra, Ranfurly and Ophir pools have also opened, and the council is reminding families to please keep a close eye on young ones.The Alexandra pool had about 3000 users of the outdoor pool in 2024, compared to 60,000 annual users of the entire facility.A decision was made to not heat the outdoor pool for the next two seasons, after the end of year financial report showed an increase in expenditure of $86,000 for pool operations - jumping from $154,000 to $240,000.Group manager - community experience David Scoones told council earlier this year that the high cost of heating the outdoor pool over summer contributed to the rise in fuel expenses, and the heat exchange system also was at the end of its life.A new system had been budgeted for in the Long Term Plan for 2027.CODC aquatics manager Carly Lipinski said the pool teams have been working hard to get everything ready for the season.One message pool staff want everyone to remember is keep watch, stay close, and be involved.Carly said they totally understand how tempting it is for parents to grab a moment for themselves while the kids are swimming.“Parents and caregivers are busy, and dropping the kids at the pool feels like some well-earned time-out; a chance to catch up on your messages, flick through a magazine or chat to your friends. But things can change in seconds around water, especially for little ones.”She said even confident swimmers, particularly kids under five, can find themselves in trouble if they get tired, panic or venture out of their depth.‘Active Supervision’ is about being engaged and ready to help if needed. It means not only having a direct line of sight on the child at all times, but being in a position to be able to provide immediate assistance.“Lifeguards are there to keep everyone safe, but they can’t replace a parent or caregiver’s eyes. “Drowning is quick and silent and can happen in less than two minutes,” she said.Supervision Rules•   Children under five years old must be within arm’s reach and under constant supervision by a responsible caregiver over the age of 16 years both in and out of the water at all times. A caregiver must not have any more than two children under five in their care at any time.•   Children under the age of 10 must be actively supervised by a responsible caregiver over the age of 16 years at all times.•   The use of mobile phones, reading, or other distractions is not acceptable while supervising children under the age of 10. Caregivers must remain alert and attentive at all times.•   Safety comes first. Pool crew will insist that parents and caregivers meet their supervision responsibilities. When supervising children under 10 years of age.To make things easier, CODC pools use bright wristbands:Orange for under-fives - to remind caregivers to remain within arm’s reach. This includes the toddler pools. Purple for ages 5–9 - to remind caregivers to keep their children in sight at all times.“Don’t ‘drop and go’ this summer,” Carly said. “Stay and play. Those poolside memories – the scent of sunscreen and sausage sizzle, laughter and splashes echoing across the water – are what kids remember most. Let’s make sure those memories are safe ones.”Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]  

Around 15–20% of the global population is neurodivergent — that’s not a niche, that’s a vast pool of untapped brilliance.Yet traditional hiring practices still favour the smooth-talking, CV-polished, handshake-perfect candidate. And in doing so, we risk missing out on some of the most focused, creative, loyal, and detail-oriented minds out there.Researchers Dana L. Ott and Miriam Moeller are leading the charge in this space. They co-authored the Autism Employment Playbook, a resource that challenges outdated recruitment norms and offers practical, inclusive strategies for employers. Their work digs deeper into how businesses and organisations can do better — by recognising neurodiversity as an invisible inequality and making inclusion more than a buzzword. Even small accommodations — like offering alternative interview formats or quiet workspaces — can make a massive difference. And when neurodivergent employees thrive, productivity follows. (SAP saved $40 million thanks to a neurodivergent team member’s technical fix. Just saying.)EASI NZ was fortunate to attend a recent HRNZ workshop where the Playbook was presented. It was a powerful reminder that 80% of autistic people in Aotearoa want to work, but only 22% are employed. That’s not a talent gap — that’s a systems gap.Breadth of NeurodivergenceNeurodivergence refers to natural variations in how people think, learn, and process the world. It includes:Autism – differences in social communication, sensory processing, and routinesADHD – challenges with attention, impulsivity, and regulation, often paired with creativity and energyDyslexia – differences in reading, writing, and language processing, often with strong visual or spatial thinkingDyspraxia – motor coordination challenges, often paired with problem-solving strengthsDyscalculia – difficulty with numbers and mathematical concepts, often alongside strong verbal or creative skillsTourette Syndrome – involuntary movements or vocalisations, often alongside high focus and resilienceMany people experience more than one neurodivergence, and each person’s profile is unique.And here’s the key: neurodivergence isn’t something that needs to be fixed. It’s something to be understood, respected, and supported — because difference is not deficiency.In Aotearoa, the Māori word for autism is takiwātanga, meaning “in his or her own time and space.” Coined by linguist Keri Opai, this term offers a mana-enhancing, non-judgmental way to describe autism. It acknowledges that individuals may experience the world differently, and honours the need for space, time, and understanding.Takiwātanga reminds us that inclusion isn’t about fitting people into systems — it’s about shaping systems to fit people.So what can we do?For starters, ditch the one-size-fits-all recruitment process. Shake up the CV obsession. Invite video applications. Better yet, flip the script — include a short video in your job ad showing what it’s actually like to work at your organisation.What’s the culture? Who are the faces? What do you value? Demystify the process. Make it human.Because here’s the thing: kindness and productivity aren’t opposites — they’re teammates. When we build people-centric workplaces that honour difference, we don’t just do the right thing. We do the smart thing.Ready to Rethink Recruitment?If you’re still doing the same-old, same-old with your hiring practices and want to see where you can make meaningful change — get in touch with EASI NZ.We train business owners and managers in what good recruitment really looks like. Recruit well to recruit less, and think more about the loyalty, creativity, and depth that can come from hiring someone with neurodivergence — alongside all the other inclusive values that make a workplace thrive.You can explore the full Autism Employment Playbook here:FINAL_Autism_Employment_Playbook-Printed.pdfand the Simple Language version:FINAL_Autism_Employment_Playbook-_Simple_Language-Printed.pdf — both designed to support understanding and action.Sponsored Content: This article has been submitted by a contributing property 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.

Last week at the Elevate Central business breakfast, we hosted the most engaging session - a practical, future-facing kōrero about the balance between Human Intelligence (HI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).With digital tools evolving fast, we invited Sydney-based strategist Kelly Slessor to help demystify how small businesses can use AI with their people, not on them. And wow, what a session.You may remember the story we ran in January after her last visit Click hereHere’s what we learned (and why it matters for business).It Starts With Mutuality: Build With, Not ForKelly reminded us: the biggest mistake organisations make is skipping the people. When AI systems are designed in a vacuum, without input from frontline staff or customers, they often fall flat.Simple shift: Co-create your AI tools with the team who will use them. Trust builds adoption.Try this: Choose one task (like writing product descriptions). Invite two staff to design prompts. Log learnings over 2 weeks. Share what works.Culture First: Mindset Before MachinesTech anxiety is real. That’s why culture, not tools, makes or breaks AI adoption.Kelly recommends starting with confidence-building rituals, not technical manuals.Small habits = big shifts.Try this: Begin team meetings with a 3-minute share: “What AI helped me do this week.” It’s low-stakes and builds momentum.Go Slow to Go SmartDon’t automate everything all at once.Start with one customer journey, like sending follow-up emails after an abandoned cart, and keep human oversight in place until you’re confident.Try this: Draft AI-generated emails, and require manual approval for the first 50 sends. Review performance and tone.What This Means for Central Otago BusinessesHere’s what stood out most for our region:Small is smart: Start tidy. You don’t need a transformation, just a trial.People first: Confidence trumps capability when getting started.Context is king: Businesses need tools that respect our pace, connectivity, and seasonality.Measure learning: Track what your team learns, not just how fast they type.Thanks for Being ThereTo everyone who showed up, asked bold questions, and shared your fears and ideas, thank you. And a huge shoutout to Kelly Slessor for sparking such rich conversations.Want to explore this further with your team? Reach out here and we’ll send you Kelly’s four-pillar PDF model.Be informed. Be confident. Be local.Sponsored Content: This article has been submitted by a contributing 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.

This feature showcases the newest listings from Tall Poppy Real Estate, offering you a first look at the latest homes on the market.

When you’ve spent years building a career - training, qualifying, perfecting your skills - it can be confronting to discover that none of it counts in your new country.For Peace Abaroh, a qualified dental technician from eastern Nigeria, that realisation came after arriving in Alexandra last September to join his wife, Francisca. Francisca had made the move five months earlier, taking up a role at Ranui rest home through New Zealand’s skilled worker residency pathway.For Peace, education was something always valued in his family.“I am the youngest of six siblings – my mother is a retired headmistress and my father is a retired inspector of education,” he said.But Peace chose his own path early on, drawn to health sciences by a desire for a career aimed at “saving lives”.He settled on dentistry, spending four years studying towards a Higher National Diploma in Dental Technology.Following graduation and a one-year internship, Peace undertook his mandatory national youth service as a dental technician.But in New Zealand, his professional qualifications didn’t translate easily.The licensing process for dental technicians proved complex and expensive, leaving him uncertain about what to do next - and questioning whether the move to New Zealand had been the right one.While the welcome from the community has felt good - “I love it here…people are willing to help and extend friendship” - Peace acknowledges having professional direction and fulfillment will help himfeel truly settled.As a student in Nigeria, Peace gained experience helping in a family pharmaceutical business.He has an entrepreneurial streak, which he attributes to that stint working with family, as well as to his heritage - the Igbo have a reputation as an enterprising people.In 2019, back home in Nigeria, he put his growing business acumen to the test, opening his own small pharmaceutical shop while continuing work as a dental technician.Now, in Alexandra, he finds himself at a crossroads: should he retrain as a dental technician under New Zealand's system, or explore a new direction in business?The way forward arrived in the form of a business mentorship, through a partnership between Welcoming Communities, Business Mentors New Zealand and Business South.The mentoring is helping Peace reimagine his future - perhaps retraining, or drawing on his background in health and his entrepreneurial streak to build something new.“I am grateful and most appreciative for the business mentorship – it makes me feel at home away from home,” Peace said. “I feel welcomed and a part of this community.”Central Home is proudly brought to you by Central Interiors - Design dreams made into reality

Three Powerball players have split the record, must-win $55 million Lotto prize on Saturday night, claiming $18.3m each."What a fantastic result," said Lotto NZ chief executive Jason Delamore. "It's great to see the Powerball jackpot being shared among a number of players."A win like this doesn't just change one life - it can transform families, friends and even entire communities."Our winners often give back in incredible ways, from helping loved ones to supporting charities. The impact of this win will reach far beyond the individual winners."Their prizes consist of $18,333,333 from Powerball first division and $55,556 from Lotto first division, totalling $18,388,889.Saturday's big winners should phone Lotto NZ's Customer Support team on 0800 695 6886 to ensure they receive the support they'll need throughout this life-changing experience.Lotto NZ will reveal the locations of the winners on Sunday."Lotto NZ exists to make a difference for Kiwi communities - that's what drives us every day," said Delmore. "One-hunded percent of our profits go back into supporting communities and every ticket sold contributes towards that, so a huge thank you to everyone who played in tonight's draw."You're helping thousands of good causes make a difference across Aotearoa."The latest payout beats the previous biggest prize of $50m offered twice in 2020. In February 2020, two winners split that amount, while in August, 10 winners took $5m each.In 2016, one winner took away the entire $44m jackpot.

Parents and educators are being urged to stop using several Kmart Magic Sand products after further samples tested positive for asbestos.The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) confirmed the recall now includes four additional coloured sand products sold by Kmart NZ, after testing revealed tremolite asbestos contamination.The new products identified are the 14-piece Sandcastle Building Set and the Blue, Green and Pink Magic Sand sets. These join two previously recalled brands: EC Rainbow Sand and Creatistics Coloured Sand.“We appreciate that the presence of asbestos in products used by children will be concerning to parents and caregivers,” MBIE spokesperson Ian Caplin said. “We urge families who have these products to stop using them immediately, secure them safely, and follow disposal instructions.”Workplaces using these products are also advised to take immediate action.“This is consistent with the advice provided following the initial recall issued on Wednesday November 12,” Caplin said. “We appreciate the urgency with which Kmart has acted.”Further testing across similar products is underway. Until complete, MBIE cannot confirm if additional products may also be affected.“Asbestos is a serious health hazard. The health risk is related to exposure over time, but households can reduce risk by following proper disposal guidelines,” Caplin said.Products now included in the recall:EC Rainbow Sand (1.3kg) – previously recalledCreatistics Coloured Sand (1kg) – previously recalledNewly recalled Kmart NZ products:14-piece Sandcastle Building Set (Batch no: 42975724)Blue Magic Sand (Batch no: 42304364)Green Magic Sand (Batch no: 432919650)Pink Magic Sand (Batch no: 42304371)Testing was carried out by Accurate Consulting.“There’s no known safe level of exposure, but the risk from a single, low-level encounter is very low,” Caplin said.For health advice, contact Healthline 0800 611 116 or visit info.health.nz. MBIE Consumer helpline: 0508 426 678Read clean-up advice on the  Product Safety New Zealand website (Asbestos in sand).The first recall notice can be found here: Educational Colours - Rainbow Sand and Creatistics - Coloured Sand - Various Colours – Product Safety New Zealand 

They might be unlikely swimming buddies, but 68-year-old Pam Adams and 10-year-old Jewel Jose share something in common – just ten weeks ago, neither was comfortable in the water.A unique swimming programme at Cromwell’s council pool brought them together, along with more than a dozen other wāhine toa. Every Wednesday, they gathered for a women’s-only swim club to face their fears and, with support from local lifeguards and instructors, take the plunge – both literally and figuratively.“I’ve been trying to swim all my life,” Pam said. “But I didn’t do enough of it to get confident. I saw this advertised and thought, ‘Better late than never’.”Pam, who lives in Clyde, said her childhood in Southland shaped her attitude toward water.“We had this inherent fear of water,” she said. Rajbir Kaur and Sandeep Kaur in the pool. Image: Supplied“We’d go to the river and Mum couldn’t swim. She would say, ‘Be careful, don’t go deep,’ because she couldn’t help us if she had to.”Jewel’s story is different, yet similar.Her life started in Kerala, India, with its long coastline and network of backwaters, but swimming wasn’t part of her early childhood.“I wanted to learn to swim,” Jewel said, recalling what drew her to the programme.The scariest part? “Jumping into the deep end.” The proudest? “Learning everyone’s names.”This week, instead of bringing their togs and towels, the group met for a celebration – sharing kai, stories, and certificates to mark how far they’d come.“It was about much more than swimming,” Pam said. “We laughed and hooted and splashed and played games. For me, it was about the connection. It’s a really valuable thing to have that connection with others.”Lifeguard Kim Townsend said she was quick to put up her hand to be involved in the programme.“You see the smiles and the confidence grow,” she said.The Women’s Wednesdays crew celebrate growing connections and confidence in the water. Image: The Central App“Just women uplifting women - it’s really powerful.”Swim instructor Karen Courtney said she kept sessions relaxed, knowing some participants had never been in a pool before, and making it a women’s-only space was important.“You didn’t have to worry about what you looked like,” she said. For Karen, the reward was huge.“Seeing them floating on their backs, floating through [fake] seaweed - it was just so cool.”Now, there are plans for a WhatsApp group to keep the friendships afloat through social swims. Jewel hopes to continue improving her technique and one day join the Cromwell Swim Club.The future of Women’s Wednesdays – a collaboration between Central Otago District Council’s Welcoming Communities, Sport Central, and the pool team – is still being discussed, but key organiser Heather Harries is determined to keep it going.“We’ve all said this needs to continue,” she said. Plans are underway for a “give-it-a-go” night at Alexandra Pool, with “no pressure, no expectations”, aimed at adults who aren’t confident in the water, and interest in a men’s only option is being gauged.Recalling watching someone master the art of floating on their back for the first time, Heather said she had goosebumps: “It was pretty amazing to witness those moments”.

If you haven’t voted in the Central Lakes Trust (CLT) trustee elections yet, there are only two days left to post your ballot.Monday, November 17, is the last recommended day to mail your voting papers to make sure they reach the returning officer before voting closes at midday on Friday, November 21.After Monday, voting papers will need to be hand-delivered to the ballot box at the CLT office at 190 Waenga Drive in Cromwell.Nine candidates are vying for five available seats. Images: Supplied However, unlike with the recent local government elections, online voting is also an option.Eligible voters can head to ivote.electionz.com/e/CLT2025 to have their say, using a pin and password supplied with voter packs delivered earlier via snail mail.CLT chair Linda Robertson said it was important locals have their say.“CLT is a community asset and we’d like to encourage everyone from our funding region to have a say in who represents them on our board,” she said.Nine candidates are standing for the five community-elected trustee positions: Mark Christie, Dave Currie, Kathy Dedo, Alexa Forbes, Neil Gillespie, Tony Lepper, Chris Phoon, Michael Rewi, and Trudi Webb.The five successful candidates will join three appointed trustees in guiding how the trust’s funds are invested and how millions of dollars in community grants are distributed across Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes.The Central Lakes Trust, founded in 2000, has distributed more than $168M back into the community and manages assets totalling nearly $600M.Read more: Nine vie for five Central Lakes Trust seats

Nia Isabella Du Plessis writes her own music, sings, plays the guitar and has just published her debut poetry book. That’s quite a lot for a 20-year-old, but she’s only just getting started. The former Dunstan High School student is currently in the midst of writing and illustrating a children’s book and is excited about her debut novel - a historical fiction based on true events.“There has been a lot of learning involved - not just the writing but everything involved with making a book, a book.” she said. When she first started, Nia contacted some of her favourite authors from all over the world, Micheal Morpurgo, J.K Rowling and Sarah J Maas, to name a few; for some inspiration and advice.  Australian novelist Jackie French is the only author who responded giving Nia advice; “write the novel backwards, write your ending first,” she said. With creativity comes rebranding. Bringing all of her music and writing under one new name - Nia Isabella decided she’d have to leave out the family name as it was just getting too long.“You should see people’s faces when they ask how to search me up. Nia Isabella Du Plessis, it’s a mouthful.”  Currently she has three songs on across streaming platforms Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube. Thanks to her family connection back in South Africa who had a recording studio, she was put in touch with the talented Zander Lourens - a sound engineer and music producer.  Out on the family farm, Nia converted an old caravan into a sound studio, and now she’s actively working on promoting her music, and self-published poetry book - of which she has 150 copies hot off the press. Whispers Of A Soul is her debut collection of poems, based on love, loss and hope, - reflections on the beauty of the human spirit. “Some of the poems are from my own experiences, but many of them are for people who have gone through something and I feel inspired to write for them. It has a lot to do with empathy and stepping into the other persons shoes as much as possible.” Nia has been writing poems for many years and found an old notebook with children’s stories from when she was just seven. This sparked the beginning of her illustrated kids book series. ‘Mr & Mrs Hopkins farmyard of Hullabaloo,’ starring Bessie the cow. The Alexandra Public Library and the Poolburn Hub have been supportive of her journey and will be holding a poetry event to introduce her book in the New Year.  Alexandra Paper Plus has also decided to do a display and then she’ll work out how to build her profile nationally. It’s going to be a busy summer for Nia - not only will she be balancing her passion for writing and singing but training horses also - helping people speak horse.  “I’m working to support my passion, as creativity isn’t cheap.” she said.  Next year she might even look at doing an apprenticeship as a ‘horse whisperer,’ in the North Island. So many opportunities. So many pathways opening up. As Nia has quickly learned, it’s all about balance and determination. Connecting with the right people and not giving up. 

Central Otago District Council (CODC) has started publicly reporting on the major risks it faces - from the future of three waters to financial pressures - as part of a new approach designed to give the community more visibility of how risks are managed. Until recently, risk reporting was presented to both the Audit and Risk Committee and the full council, but the discussions were held behind closed doors due to the sensitive nature of some issues, suchas cybersecurity. Now, a public version of the council’s key risk register is being tabled at full council meetings. Mayor Tamah Alley said the shift was about giving the community a clearer view of how the council identifies and manages risk. “We want to reassure our community that, yes, we actively consider risk, not only from a health and safety perspective, but also strategic risk, business continuity risk, and our overall risk appetite,”Tamah said.A page of the latestpublic CODC risk report. Image: CODC/reportThe term “risk appetite” refers to the level of risk an organisation is willing to accept to meet its objectives and deliver services.  Tamah used the example of running a swimming pool - a setting that can never be made entirely risk-free. “If we had zero risk tolerance, we’d need a one-to-one lifeguard ratio and a lot of bubble wrap, which would make running a pool prohibitively expensive,” she said.  The latest quarterly report, presented at the council’s October meeting – the first for the newly-elected council - lists 16 key risks ranging from “very high” to “low”.  The two highest relate to the management of three waters infrastructure and the challenge of balancing affordability with long-term financial sustainability.  “These two risks are strongly linked,” the report said, reflecting the pressure councils face in maintaining core services while keeping rates in check. Other risks identified in the register include infrastructure resilience, compliance obligations, and workforce retention.  Two risks - failure to meet iwi obligations and staff fraud - were assessed as low.  Tamah said the new reporting format had already proved valuable for elected members. “It provides a clear, structured view of where our key risks lie and how they are being managed. Having this visibility helps us make informed decisions and ensures governance isn’t just reactive butproactive.” She said all organisations carried some level of risk, and part of council’s role as a governing body was to set its risk appetite, monitor risks, and ensure the organisation remained fit for purpose. “We now bring our public version of the risk register to the council meeting, to ensure challenges for our operations remain front of mind and any changes are picked up promptly.” Council staff will continue to monitor and update the risk register quarterly, with the next report due in December.  Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

Central Otago orchardists are predicting a strong cherry and berry season despite October’s cold snap, with picking expected to start later this month.The Labour Weekend storm that swept through the South Island arrived almost exactly a year after last season’s cold front, but growers say warm weather since then has helped crops recover.Leaning Rock Cherries owner Pete Bennie said the season was shaping up well, with early varieties ready for picking from November 25 on the Alexandra orchard.Cromwell grower Michael Jones said cooler weather had delayed fruit development slightly, but Burlatt cherries would be available at local stalls by early December.“It generally ramps up mid-December which meets the Christmas demand,” he said.Michael added that an early export variety would likely be harvested in the first week of December.Gourmet Summerfruit manager Matt Tyrrell, who oversees 32ha of cherry blocks in Roxburgh East and 16ha of blueberries, said recent warm days had boosted fruit growth.“The crop looks amazing,” Matt said.He explained that while heavy winds and cold weather affected flowering earlier in the season, additional beehives were brought in to improve pollination. The orchard is now in the “shed” period, whentrees naturally drop excess fruit.“We’ll start to apply plenty of fertiliser and work hard to keep the crop healthy and minimise stress on the trees,” he said.Despite setbacks, the season has bounced back quickly following the October 28 snowstorm. Warm weather since has helped restore growth rates, bringing harvest timelines back in line with last year.Gourmet Summerfruit expects to begin harvesting its later cherry varieties in early January, with blueberries ready for picking from around December 18. Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

Old or forgotten farm chemicals stored in sheds across Central Otago could pose a hidden risk to people, animals and the environment, prompting a new regional push to get them safely off properties. Central Otago District Council’s (CODC) waste team says it is likely dangerous substances are still sitting in farm sheds and storage areas - and many can be difficult to dispose of responsibly. “As we are largely an agricultural and horticultural district, our history with chemical use is a long one,” CODC said in response to questions from The Central App on a new on-farm pick up service onoffer. “It is normal to expect that there are chemicals sitting in sheds that this chemical recovery scheme can offer an effective and safe disposal method for.“They are known to have a high toxicity, and they remain intact for a very long time and are toxic to both humans and wildlife.”To help clear out these unwanted agrichemicals – including fertilisers, herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides - Agrecovery is running an on-site collection service in Central Otago this December. The initiative, supported and partly subsidised by CODC and Otago Regional Council, allows farmers and growers to register their unwanted products for pick-up.  For most modern, registered products disposal is free thanks to a product stewardship model, as the cost is already built into the purchase price. Older or unregistered chemicals may incur a disposal fee, but CODC said subsidies will help keep costs down. “The full cost for the disposal of these is not yet known, as it will depend on the types of chemicals that get registered,” a council spokesperson said.This will be the first time CODC has supported an on-site collection, although the council has helped fund agrichemical return events in the past. The council emphasises this initiative targets rural users. Householders can still dispose of small quantities of hazardous chemicals through Alexandra and Cromwell transfer stations, although chargesapply.“This collection option coming up in December with Agrecovery is an efficient way for people with quantities to be collected on-farm,” the spokesperson said. “It helps support our aim to make Central Otago a low-waste district.” Collected substances will be handled and identified by qualified staff, then categorised according to type and required disposal method. “Agrichemicals are disposed, as appropriate, according to New Zealand regulations. Depending on the class of agrichemical, these are either disposed of in New Zealand or in France in specialisedhigh temperature incineration plants,” the spokesperson said.In an earlier statement, Agrecovery chief executive Tony Wilson said those taking advantage of the scheme could be assured that personal or identifying information would not be shared outside of thecollection programme. “We aim to keep the process simple and hassle-free, while giving farmers confidence that their unwanted chemicals will be disposed of safely. It’s about protecting people, land and waterways, andmaking it easier for farmers to do the right thing.” Farmers, growers, and vineyard operators have until Saturday (November 15) to sign up for the collection at agrecovery.co.nz or by emailing [email protected]. Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

An aurora lit up skies at the southern end of the country overnight (12th November).Stargazers took to social media to post their photographs from places like Dunedin, Waihola Lake, Roxburgh, Cromwell and Mount Cook.Shot from Middlemarch, about 11pm. Photo: Ian Griffin, Tūhura Otago Museum / suppliedUnedited photo taken at McCracken’s Rest by Edwin Mabonga. Photo: Edwin Mabonga / suppliedŌreti Beach Southland, taken just after midnight. Photo: Kade Duncan / suppliedTe Whatu Stardome astronomer Josh Aoraki in October told RNZ aurora could often be caught on camera, even when they were not visible to the naked eye."We're currently in a pretty high activity period with our sun, and the aurora is a direct result of solar activity interacting with the Earth's magnetic field."Taieri Plains, Otago, taken on a smartphone and unedited. Photo: Jennifer Gould / suppliedUnedited photo of Clifden Bridge, taken about midnight last night in Otautau. Photo: Edwin Mabonga / suppliedThe further south you went - place like Twizel, Southland and Otago - the better the view. Spots with less light pollution worked best.Photo: Supplied / Ian GriffinPhoto: Supplied / Ian GriffinHe said aurora were notoriously hard to predict in terms of how bright they would be, but people could keep an eye on the space weather forecast on the NOAA website.Meanwhile, Transpower has lifted the grid emergency that was issued on Wednesday afternoon now the G4 geomagnetic storm - the force behind the aurora - had reduced in severity.It said in a statement the South Island electricity transmission lines, taken offline as a precaution to prevent damage to equipment, had now been returned to service.There was no impact on consumers' electricity as a result of the storm.Taken at Woodlands, Southland. Photo: Kelly Gladwin / suppliedTranspower said this kind of action was standard when space weather reached a particular level. A plan had been developed over several years through work with the University of Otago, international space agencies and others in the electricity industry.Although New Zealand was well prepared for geomagnetic storms, Transpower said, it was a timely reminder to Kiwis that they should be prepared for a natural disaster or other major event that could interrupt their power supply and damage other infrastructure.Aurora as seen at Blackhead, Dunedin, between 10.40 and 11.15pm. Photo: Debbie RutherfordLast week, the National Emergency Management Agency and other affected agencies ran through a test scenario of a solar storm response in the Beehive's bunker, to make sure they are adequatelyprepared.