When the Blossom Festival parade made its way down Alexandra’s Centennial Avenue last month, psychology student Andrea Javier rode at the centre of it all, waving at onlookers from her pumpkin carriage.  Andrea Javier was crowned Blossom Festival Queen 2025, representing the Filipino community of Central Otago. She said that while dressing up like Cinderella was a girlhood dream come true, being able to represent her community was “a privilege”. It was a special moment for someone who, ten years earlier, had arrived in Alexandra as an 11-year-old from the Philippines - nervous, half a world away from everything familiar, and with English as a second language. “I was definitely scared at first, which I think is a normal reaction to coming from a different country,” she said. “But when I went to school, I started year seven, I kind of came to the realisation that there really wasn’t anything to be scared about. “The people were just so welcoming, and I made friends really quick.” She noticed that right away about Alexandra, “the sense of community and being there for everyone”, she said. Andrea moved straight to Central Otago from the Philippines with her parents and a younger sibling. One set of cousins were also in town with their family. “When we first came here, there were barely any Filipino people,” she said.  Now, the community has grown, and the annual Blossom Festival has a place in their calendar, but this was the first year they decided to have a run for the queen’s title. For Andrea, the week of the Blossom Festival included visits to aged care homes and community events – possible thanks to a brief, welcome lull in her university workload. She said she made “really good friends” with the other princesses and princes, and the parade day itself (despite the touch-and-go weather) had a “once-in-a-lifetime" vibe. Blossom Festival Queen Andrea Javier. Image: Facebook/Alexandra Blossom Festival Back in Dunedin, where she’s in the final year of a psychology degree at the University of Otago, Andrea often thinks of home. “I actually go home quite a lot,” she said. She describes Alexandra as "peaceful” and time spent with family as a chance to “destress” from Dunedin’s city energy.  Psychology wasn’t always her plan. After high school, Andrea took a gap year working as a dental assistant and initially studied health sciences with dentistry in mind. “I had a change of heart halfway through,” she said.  “I've always also had a knack for listening to people, and my friends always say that I’m very good at advising people. “So, I thought, why not do something that has to do with that?” She’s now planning postgraduate study and hopes to become a therapist. Andrea still speaks Tagalog and another Filipino dialect at home, although her younger siblings (one born in New Zealand) are less fluent.  “It’s really important to keep that part of our heritage,” she said. Back in the Philippines, her grandparents and extended family had a wee taste of spring, following every update of Andrea's Blossom Festival debut. “We don’t have spring in the Philippines – it's very tropical,” she said.  “They searched up all the news; they searched up all the photos. They were very excited.” Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] Central Home is proudly brought to you by Central Interiors - Design dreams made into reality

Central Otago District Council has entered negotiations with potential buyers for a large council-owned industrial block in Cromwell, after testing the market in August. The 52-hectare site on the south side of the town - largely covered in pine trees and used as an off-leash dog-exercise area and by a paintball business - was rezoned from rural to industrial several years ago. The land is an endowment property, meaning it was transferred to the council by the Crown, and has long been earmarked for development and to bring in revenue for other council projects. Council senior manager David Scones said a registrations-of-interest (ROI) process, run by Colliers Otago in August, was designed to gauge demand and help shape the subdivision. The campaign targeted businesses looking for blocks of at least two hectares. “At its meeting on 24 September, council resolved to proceed with negotiations with selected parties who responded to the ROI,” he said. Fifty-two hectares of council-owned land along Bannockburn Road rezoned for industrial development is on the market. Image: Facebook/Colliers New ZealandThe block is bordered by the Department of Conservation-managed Cromwell chafer beetle reserve, the town’s transfer station and the expanding commercial and industrial area. Approximately 19 hectares of pines will have to be harvested to allow for development, and council staff are working with the two existing lessees to manage the transition. Council is also liaising with the Department of Conservation to protect the ecological integrity of the adjoining reserve. Cromwell Community Board chair Anna Harrison, reporting to the final council meeting of the current triennium, was pleased to see progress. “This brings exciting possibilities for Cromwell, not only with the expansion of the industrial area, but with the proceeds of this endowment land much anticipated to align with the endowment land investment strategy,” she said. “How this is managed into the future has the potential to be a major boon.” Approximately 19 hectares of trees will be felled to make way for business growth. Image: The Central App The development is another step in implementing the Cromwell ‘Eye to the Future’ Masterplan, which includes a spatial plan to guide the town’s rapid growth. Colliers marketed the land as being ideally located to support businesses serving both Central Otago and the neighbouring Queenstown-Lakes district. It described the site as suited for light and heavy industrial uses including storage, manufacturing, fabrication, processing and distribution, with future lots to be delivered as freehold titles with service connections in place. Read more: Cromwell’s value still unclear as councillors back land strategy Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

Southland MP Joseph Mooney says recent changes to national drinking-water rules will make it easier and cheaper for small rural water suppliers to meet their obligations. Joseph visited national water regulator Taumata Arowai in Wellington to discuss the new “acceptable solutions” for private water supplies. He told The Central App water supply is “incredibly important to folk living in rural areas”, particularly in inland Otago, and the policy changes are about adopting a “pragmatic” solution. The new acceptable solutions apply to three common types of smaller drinking-water suppliers: rural schemes that supply both stock water and drinking water; drinking-water supplies that serve 500 people or fewer; and self-supplied buildings that provide drinking water to up to 500 people, such as a school or café. Joseph said the changes allow water to be treated at or near the buildings where people drink it - for example, using cartridge filters and UV light. “This presents new opportunities for a more straightforward and cost-effective way for some water suppliers to meet their responsibilities,” he said. He encouraged rural landowners and small suppliers to use the regulator’s online self-assessment tool to check whether the new pathway could work for them. Rural communities had expressed concern about the cost of preparing detailed water-safety plans under earlier rules.  Federated Farmers described earlier versions of the new drinking-water rules as "onerous”, saying the requirement to register, test, and report on all private water supplies “would have added significant cost, risk and hassle for absolutely no gain”.  The MP linked the latest policy move to the government’s wider Local Water Done Well programme, which allows councils to form joint arrangements for the delivery of water services. “Local Water Done Well is about giving councils ownership and flexibility so they can tailor solutions that best serve their communities,” he said. “Acceptable solutions are an added tool when either councils or landowners are considering how to supply water to various locations.”  Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

Red Frogs NZ’s presence in Wānaka and Queenstown over New Year’s Eve and at Alexandra’s Blossom Festival has been praised by local authorities.The volunteer organisation, which safeguards young people in alcohol-fuelled environments, has released its 2024 Aotearoa New Zealand Impact Report, confirming its more than 350 volunteers have made a meaningful contribution to safeguarding a generation and reducing alcohol-related harm.Red Frogs has had a presence in Central Otago since 2015 when it started covering New Year events and the blossom festival.National media co-ordinator Shannon Thomson said the group has recognised in recent years the patterns of behaviour in teenagers has changed, mostly through the use of social media, and they needed to be able to redeploy at short notice to respond.Tertiary students, key partners, and stakeholders - including emergency services responders were interviewed as part of the report, with some positive responses.Hato Hone St John Central Otago area operations manager David Baillie said the larger festivals saw a significant number of patients with alcohol and drug-related issues, and the assistance of the Red Frogs team was not only exemplary but essential, “enabling us to do our job and provide medical care for those who need it the most”. “I continue to be impressed with their compassion, professionalism and commitment to the welfare of vulnerable people, and it is my opinion they provide a vital service through hydration stations, chaplaincy, and safe-spaces.”Red Frogs NZ national director Ray Thomson (second from right), and national media co-ordinator Shannon Thomson (right) with volunteers at the Alexandra Blossom Festival in 2024. Photo: FileIn Wānaka over New Year’s Eve the group actively cared for 132 young people who were vulnerable, but during the blossom festival in 2024 it was much quieter, and this year the group decided to attend the Saturday in the Park event instead.NZ Police area commander Central Otago Lakes Inspector Paula Enoka said Red Frogs were integral in the planning that went into a New Year’s event.“Their proactive messaging prior to the event and what they do during the event reduces harm at the events. NZ Police truly values the services, engagement and empathy Red Frogs offers,” she said.“It is a crucial part of the interagency event. NZ Police places a high value on the partnership as we combine our efforts to achieve the outcomes that we all want, a safe and happy NYE.”Red Frogs NZ national director Ray Thomson said it was great to have confirmed what the volunteers were certain of through experience.“The report provides clear, concrete evidence of the powerful impact made by more than 350 dedicated volunteers who are working tirelessly to safeguard our vulnerable young people.”“Red Frogs often operates in the grey areas of youth culture nobody wants to take responsibility for, so it’s great to bring the unseen into the seen and share the some of the stories and impact of what our volunteers do.’’Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

Significant changes to New Zealand’s Resource Management Act (RMA) now apply, increasing fines, removing insurance cover for penalties, and raising compliance expectations for businesses from August 21, 2025.The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Act 2025 aims to speed up consenting, strengthen compliance, and simplify processes across housing, infrastructure, and primary industries. It received Royal assent on August 20, 2025, and came into force the following day.Key changes that affect local operationsHigher fines: Individuals now face penalties of up to $1 million, while companies or trusts can be fined up to $10 million.Insurance limits: From August 20, 2025, RMA fines and infringement fees cannot be insured — even if the offence occurred earlier but the fine is imposed after that date.Still covered: Defence costs for legal and technical experts, and Court-ordered remediation, remain insurable under Statutory Liability policies.Court process: All RMA prosecutions are now judge-alone, and the maximum imprisonment term for individuals has reduced to 18 months.What this means for your businessThese changes raise the bar for compliance and accountability.Financial exposure is now greater because RMA fines must be paid directly by the organisation. Councils and regulators have been given stronger enforcement powers, meaning expectations around risk management and environmental performance are higher than ever.Insurance remains a vital safeguard — specialist defence and remediation costs can easily exceed the fine itself in complex cases.Recommended actionsC&R Insurance Advisors recommend businesses:Review RMA exposure across people, plant, contractors, discharges, and consents.Update response plans, including communication steps, evidence preservation, and council engagement.Check your Statutory Liability cover to ensure defence and remediation limits reflect current risks.Contact your advisor if you have an ongoing RMA matter so they can liaise with insurers and ensure alignment.In summaryThe RMA amendments bring sharper penalties but also clearer expectations. For local businesses, preparation and proactive compliance are key to avoiding costly enforcement.For independent advice or a review of your cover settings, talk to your insurance advisor.Sponsored content: This article was submitted by a contributing insurance advisor as part of The Central App’s sponsored advisor programme. All sponsored stories are reviewed to ensure they align with our community-first values of accuracy, trust, and local expertise.

This feature showcases the newest listings from Tall Poppy Real Estate, offering you a first look at the latest homes on the market.Solid Brick Charmer on the Rail Trail61 Russell Street, AlexandraDiscover the perfect blend of comfort and convenience in this solid brick home. The modernised kitchen is centrally located and featuring three generously sized bedrooms with wardrobes and an open-plan living area complete with a cozy log burner that adds both warmth and ambience. Step outside to private courtyard —ideal for entertaining or unwinding in the afternoon sun. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Stacey Waldron and Rebecca Ireland.Iconic Location. Architectural Elegance119 Wooing Tree Avenue, CromwellPositioned alongside the iconic Wooing Tree Reserve in one of Central Otago's most coveted subdivisions, 119 Wooing Tree Avenue delivers a lifestyle of distinction. This brand-new residence captures the essence of modern luxury living - a sanctuary for discerning families, professionals, or those seeking a refined holiday retreat. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Niki Lord and Keeley Anderson.Elevated, Immaculate Home with Stunning Views!9 O'neill Crescent, AlexandraLocated in a sought-after area just across the bridge in Alexandra, this elevated 3-bedroom home offers exceptional comfort and space. Enjoy sweeping views across town and out to the mountains, all from the privacy of your well-positioned property. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Stacey Waldron and Rebecca Ireland.Epic Family Living!13B Taylor Place, AlexandraWelcome to 13B Taylor Place – a showstopping, modernised family haven tucked away in one of Alexandra’s most sought-after locations. Elevated, elegant, and effortlessly stylish, this five-bedroom masterpiece offers the perfect blend of space, sophistication, and scenery. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Stacey Waldron and Rebecca Ireland.This could beeeee yours!20 Killarney Street, AlexandraThis delightful family home offers a perfect combination of comfort and convenience, ideal for those seeking some space and without sacrificing easy access to essential amenities. As you step inside, you will appreciate the layout designed for growing families.. The property features three bedrooms, plus a small office sewing room. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Stacey Waldron and Rebecca Ireland.Lifestyle, Location, and Space All in One!21 Hosking Drive, CromwellPositioned on one of Cromwell’s most popular streets, this five-bedroom home is on the market for the very first time. Vacant and ready for new owners, it offers space, comfort, and the chance to add your own personal touch. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Kate Andrew.Light, Space & Comfort - Your Perfect...1 Quail Close, AlexandraWelcome to 1 Quail Close, a stunning property nestled in the heart of the sought-after neighbourhood of Alexandra. This charming home offers an exceptional blend of style, comfort, and convenience, making it the perfect sanctuary for families and individuals alike. Tucked away in a prestigious cul de sac, known for winning the "Best Cul de Sac Award," this residence promises a peaceful lifestyle whilst being in close proximity to local amenities, schools, and recreational opportunities. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Fiona Cooper.Move in and Enjoy10A Lanes Road, AlexandraWelcome to 10A Lanes Road, an appealing home nestled in the highly sought-after Bridge Hill area. The hard works been done, with new fencing, landscaping, interior painting & flooring giving our new purchasers little to be done after moving in. The property has a perfect blend of comfort and convenience, making it an ideal retreat for first home buyers, couples, or individuals seeking a serene yet friendly neighbourhood lifestyle. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Peter Hishon and Dee Labes.Your Next Chapter Starts Here57A Wishart Crescent, CromwellSet in one of Cromwell's most popular pockets, 57A Wishart Crescent is a home that instantly feels like the right choice. Whether you're stepping onto the property ladder, looking for a smart investment, or searching for a lock-and-leave holiday base, this property delivers the perfect blend of style, comfort, and Central Otago lifestyle at a great price. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Niki Lord and Keeley Anderson.A first home buyers dream!4 Orpine Court, CromwellSituated in a peaceful Cromwell cul-de-sac, this modernised home offers space, style, and security on one of the larger fenced sections in the neighbourhood. With a generous floor plan, thoughtful updates, and the practicality of a separate single garage plus ample off-street parking, it’s a property that combines comfort with convenience in a location families and professionals love. Click here for more information or to contact the agent Niki Lord and Keeley Anderson.Want to see more? click here to view all of Tall Poppy’s current listings.

Motorists using State Highway 6 through the Kawarau Gorge will face overnight delays for a few weeks longer than expected as crews continue stabilisation work on a slumping section of the highway. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) had hoped to wrap up the work by October 24 but now expects it to continue until November 7. The project targets a narrow stretch of the gorge where the road surface has started to crack and slump due to gradual movement in the retaining walls beneath the highway, which is hemmed in by a rock face on one side and drops steeply to the Kawarau River on the other. NZTA spokesperson Jarrod Booker said crews had encountered unforeseen ground conditions, and an alternative plan of attack was required at the site. “We are now using steel casing for some of the rock bolts and micro-piles, which is taking more time but allows us to meet the required specifications.” The stabilisation work requires overnight closures between 9 pm and 6 am, with traffic let through in one direction at a time on the hour, which means some travellers face delays of up to an hour.  The fix-it plan for roading crews on State Highway 6 out of Cromwell has adjusted to ‘unforeseen ground conditions’. Image: Supplied/NZTAJarrod said the traffic management had been working smoothly so far and will continue until the work is finished. The Kawarau Gorge project is one of several affecting state highways in the wider region this spring, including north of Cromwell, heading toward the Lindis Pass on State Highway 8, where work continues on the Bendigo Terrace road reconstruction.  NZTA this week reminded motorists to plan for delays and check for roadworks before they travel, with crews taking advantage of the longer daylight hours and milder weather to also get seasonal maintenance and repair done.Stay up to date in The Central App Roads sectionHave a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

Central Otago orchardists say there is always work for young enthusiastic people coming into the horticulture industry.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s comments earlier this week about the industry crying out for workers was taken out of context, according to those spoken to locally, who reminded people that fruit growing was largely seasonal.3 Kings Cherries managing director Tim Paulin said the horticulture industry was always looking for decent staff, but often it was only at certain times of year.He has strong numbers of people wanting to pick this summer, and will be looking to train several to operate tractors and other machinery.“But we don’t thin so we don’t need a lot of workers until picking starts,” Tim said.“The number we need also reflects the amount of fruit we have, but it’s hard to judge right now how big the crop is.”From next November, the government will means-test 18 or 19-year-olds before they can access a Jobseeker benefit, and the prime minister is encouraging young people to look for work in horticulture.But some North Island growers spoken to by media this week said they didn’t need any staff.Tim said horticulture has always been a training ground for young people willing to come and learn new skills - particularly kiwis with a good attitude.CAJ Apples Earnscleugh manager Murray Booth with some of his RSE crew. Photo: FileAnother orchardist spoken to in Earnscleugh said there was a definite shortage in upskilled staff, but when growers were investing big dollars into new machinery they had to be cautious.“For those committed to the industry and to a workplace, those jobs are there. But they have to be compatible with the local workforce and be work ready.“Everybody I know needs supervisory staff and machinery operators, but we’re not all using $8,000 Massey Ferguson’s anymore, and you have to have the right operators or you could wreck your business.”CAJ Apples Earnscleugh manager Murray Booth said he has several vacancies for fulltime staff, for supervisors and tractor operators.“We’re always looking for people to take a step up, and it’s just not that easy to find staff. There seems to be a shortage all over Otago.”Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

A two-year-long project to plant a “beautiful” native garden at Cromwell Primary School is now complete.A group of hardworking students and teachers have created a walkway to represent the school’s four houses: Bendigo, Molyneux, Nevis, and Carrick.Bordering the path along the Monaghan Street fence are newly planted kōwhai, hebe, and native grasses.Year five student Juana Escaray said the plants were chosen as they are native to Cromwell.Her classmate, Florence Wilden, described the walkway as “beautiful”.“It has decorated rocks, trees with flowers and colour,” she said.Isla Kelly, Frankie Powe, Catalina Vollweiler and Georgia Browne-Cole making kale chips in the school’s cooking classroom using produce they’ve grown. The school curriculum is busy, but with the help of Central Otago Enviroschools coordinator Lucy Francke there has been a multi-year focus on cultivating gardens on the school grounds, which have become places for learning. Clover Salmon is one of a group of students who have helped out in the vegetable garden.“We have grown a whole bunch of strawberries, fruit, vegetables, and flowers,” she said.“Then we pick them to eat, cook with, and collect seeds.”One of the brightly painted rocks in the native garden, linking the walkway to the school’s four houses. Nothing goes to waste.“Instead we put our food and garden scraps into a big compost bin and we spread the compost around our fruit trees, vegetables and flowers, so they are healthy,” Clover said.Year five student Juliet Eagles said “little worms” also munch away at leftovers.“The worms have a big role in helping us with growing our delicious fruits and vegetables. They help with the composting from our leftovers so they don’t go to waste.”The school works with Garden to Table, which provides kitchen resources so the young people cook - and eat - all the produce they grow. “Our cooking is very important to us because it reminds us how hard we’ve worked to make our school a better place to live in without any waste,” Juliet said.The students at the school hope to inspire people in Cromwell, Central Otago and the whole world.“Although we are small people, we still have big hearts when making our environment a better place for kids to live and learn,” Year 5 student Elsie Banks said.“You can help our environment too by making compost, growing extraordinary native plants and yummy foods.”Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] Images: The Central App

A vagabond sheep that grew a Shrek-like fleece is looking for a new home after being rescued from the Central Otago wilderness.Four SPCA staff took about three hours to catch the 80 kilogram ewe, who is now called Millie, after a member of the public spotted her near Millers Flat in late September.Animal welfare inspector Alana Cowper said Millie was roaming in a scrub patch near the Clutha River, having likely separated from her mob."Because of how woolly she was, if she got anywhere near that water, it was going to be a big problem so our plan was sort of to get behind her as much as possible to push up towards the fence line," she said.That was made difficult by Millie's big flight zone - the distance from which she could get spooked - and her knowledge of the local area, Cowper said."She'd been on that piece of land for so long she had created all these little pathways through the scrub and there were definitely a few points where I think she she outsmarted us," she said.Millie after she had been shorn. Photo: Supplied / SPCAOnce Millie eventually ran out of energy and let SPCA staff escort her to a trailer, she turned out to be in surprisingly good condition, Cowper said."We could feel, when we caught her, that she was really muscly and had a lot of fat covering, so she was eating really well while she was on that property," she said.Cowper said Millie had been health-checked and shorn, transforming her into a much leaner, faster version of herself.Millie's shorn fleece. Photo: Supplied / SPCAThe inspectors estimated the ewe was about four years old."Now we're just waiting for somebody to make contact to offer her a good home. She's ready to make some friends. I think she's had her life on her own, and she's been an independent woman, but they're social animals, so she needs a mob she can integrate into," Cowper said.The SPCA put Millie up for adoption by donation at its centre in Dunedin, describing her as a "quiet lawn mower" with a gentle soul and a story of survival.

The proposal for a lifestyle block residential subdivision along Alexandra’s Dunstan Road will be heard by an independent hearings panel on October 23.Zoning for the Glenoir development is still held up in the Environment Court, which will determine if it can proceed under a new ‘Large Lot Residential’ area through the new Plan Change 19 (PC19), or ‘Low Density Residential’ - which the developers are hoping for.Glenoir LP is a land development entity (comprising owners Shanon Garden, George Collier and Shaun O’Docherty) owning 4.1ha opposite the Dunstan Park subdivision.The Glenoir development attracted 32 submissions and only five were opposed.The company amended its application just last month from 30 lots to 27 and included a 1,400sqm park to be vested to Central Otago District Council. The high density sections have since been removed from the application.Under Low Density Residential zoning, the majority of the development would be complying (Lots 5-30 ranged from 900sqm to 1880sqm). But as PC19 is still under appeal, it has to be considered under its former zoning as a Rural Resource area of the District Plan, making the application a non-complying activity.Glenoir’s application states the design of the subdivision and the allotment density was developed under the Comprehensive Residential Development (CRD) framework introduced into the District Plan.The CRD framework allows for lots to be created below the 1,500sqm minimum, provided the threshold for minimum development area is achieved as an average across the total or gross site area; the site also has to be at least 2ha.Glenoir LP applied for resource consent in September 2023, and revised its application down from 40 lots to just 30 lots a year later. The proposal was then withdrawn and the current proposal lodged in its place - but last month it was reduced further to 27 lots.The October 23 hearing at Alexandra Community House will be heard by independent Commissioners Louise Taylor (chairperson), Rosalind Day-Cleavin, and Wendy Baker.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

Work is well underway on the new Abbeyfield Alexandra senior persons' housing project.An innovative secure rental model, the Alexandra development has been on the cards for a few years, with the local Abbeyfield committee working with a landowner to secure the section at the end of Clutha Street.Committee chair Carole Gillions is leading the project, and in June Central Otago District Council agreed to transfer a 600 sqm strip of land that was being used to access water supply treatment.To secure the deposit for the land so the committee can enter into a formal agreement with the developer, the members have begun a series of community fundraising events.The first was the Christmas Winter gala, and at the end of October will be a food and fashion day, starting with a ‘preloved to reloved’ sale, and ending in style with a fashion show and high tea at Orchard Garden.The committee will then approach major funders such as Central Lakes Trust and government agencies to look for financial assistance to complete the purchase of the land, and start on the concept design for the 14-room house.The house is estimated at $4.2M, and the committee aims to begin building in late 2026 or early 2027. Rent will be affordable for those living on superannuation; it will include meals, power, rates, and overheads — with no capital entry fee or licence to occupy.Abbeyfield has more than a dozen communal houses across New Zealand, including one in Frankton, and more planned in Wānaka, Waimakariri, Greymouth, Hawkes Bay, and Western Bay of Plenty.Carole Gillions looks over plans for the proposed Abbeyfield development in Alexandra. Photo: The Central AppAn innovative housing model for older people wanting to retain their independence but enjoy the company of others, the idea followed two community hui. The first, in 2018, identified a strong need for more elderly persons’ housing in the town.Alexandra Council of Social Services (ACSS) carried out a survey for over 65s in Alexandra in 2023 which showed 60 out of the more than 300 people were interested in shared housing.Carole Gillions introduced the Abbeyfield concept to the ACSS in 2023 and a steering committee was formed that now has charitable trust status.The steering committee is made up of Marie Roxburgh, Helen Adair, Dr Bill Kaye-Blake, Brenda Griffin, and Cathy Wagstaff.Find more about the fundraising events coming up on our ‘What’s on’ section. Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

Deep fried cheese rolls anyone?  Night ’n Day food stores around the country have embraced a new menu item, and the Clyde store is finally allowed to be part of it, after waiting nine months for consent to crank up its deep fryer.The store was the only one of 54 nationwide that (until the end of July this year) wasn’t allowed to sell fried food, after hitting a road block with Central Otago District Council (CODC).The national Night ‘n Day manager headed south in early July to convince independent commissioners of the store’s case, and the panel’s decision agreed it was reasonable to let the store owners extend their opening hours and sell fried food.NDN Advertising had to apply for a separate consent to open from 6am through until 11pm, in line with others around the country (except those open 24/7), to offer fried food available in a bain-marie.The historic Four Square supermarket, which had been on the site since 1908, had been open 8am-8pm before closing its doors and selling to the new franchisees.Night ’n Day Foodstores national manager Matthew Lane said there was an expectation in the community that the store sold deep fried food, like other stores around the country.By not being able to do so from January to July this year the business was not living up to its brand of being open to customers morning and night.Last week Night ’n Day Foodstores started advertising deep fried cheese rolls for $5.90, prompting some interesting comments on its Facebook page.The post read: “I was told that this post won't make sense to 1/2 of the country but that's literally not my problem because it can be a learning experience for the North Island… anyway, we now sell deep fried cheese rolls, available nationwide & this is not a drill.”The humble cheese roll (dubbed ‘Southland sushi’) post attracted 365 comments and reached 1.2k people.Central Otago residents and travellers alike were obviously keen supporters of Night ‘n Day’s fried food offerings - Cromwell is currently ranked second in New Zealand for fast food purchases, while Alexandra is fifth.CODC told the owners of the Clyde Night ‘n Day in January they were operating beyond the scope of their consent - both in terms of trading hours and the shift in character to a hybrid convenience and takeaway food model.But the hearings panel agreed with the owners and national manager that the proposed extended trading hours would result in a range of practical, community-focused benefits, enabling local residents to meet their evening needs without inconvenience or extended travel.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]

A body has been located during a search for a missing hunter near Lake Manapouri.A search was launched on Monday evening after the man failed to return from a solo hunting trip off Supply Bay Road.He had intended to return by 2pm that day. When he did not, Police were notified and a coordinated search began.At approximately 6.15pm on Monday, a body believed to be the missing hunter was found by Search and Rescue teams in the Manapouri area.The death has been referred to the Coroner.“Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time,” Police said in a statement. Support is being offered to the family.Police have also acknowledged the efforts of Fiordland Land Search and Rescue and local members of the public who assisted in the search.

Conserve water notices issued for Naseby, Omakau and Ranfurly after the weekend’s heavy rain were still in place on Monday evening (October 6), with a Central Otago District Council (CODC) contractor working to fix the issues.The notices were first issued for Naseby and Omakau on Sunday afternoon, and extended to Ranfurly on Monday morning, after sediment-laden water from swollen waterways made it difficult for treatment plants to produce clean drinking water.  By Monday afternoon, CODC said water quality was beginning to improve and its contractor was “working hard to restore normal operations”.  Residents were urged to reduce water use as much as possible to preserve stored supplies, with CODC stressing “every drop helps”.CODC water services operations manager Andrew Watson said rainfall events often stirred up sediment in surface water sources, increasing turbidity.“This can overwhelm existing treatment systems, making it difficult to produce clean water that meets drinking water standards,” he said.“To protect public health and maintain supply, council may need to rely on stored water and issue ‘Conserve Water Notices’ to help extend those reserves while treatment systems recover.”Andrew said a programme of infrastructure upgrades is under way to improve resilience.For Omakau, reservoir capacity is being tripled, with 12 new tanks due to be commissioned soon, and planning is underway for a future treatment plant upgrade.Down the road in Ranfurly and Patearoa, a $4.2M treatment plant upgrade to include cartridge filtration and UV barriers has been budgeted for to better handle dirty water during high-sediment events.“It’s important to note that while these improvements will significantly enhance water safety, they won’t eliminate all water quality issues,” Andrew said.“During severe weather events, council may still need to issue ‘Conserve Water Notices’ or ‘Boil Water Notices’ as a precaution.”Meanwhile in Naseby, the town’s supply already has UV and chlorine treatment in place but remains prone to high turbidity.“Council has carried out significant investigations into alternative water sources for all Maniototo supplies,” Andrew said. “The current focus is on optimising the operational performance of the treatment plant to ensure it is functioning as effectively as possible.” Water Notices – Updated Here on The Central AppHave a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected] 

* This story has been updated to clarify details of the charges faced.A Wānaka woman accused of being part of a million-dollar fraud through false cancer claims is now also facing a charge of sexual assault.The Crown said Sepiuta Vave, 38, and her husband Andrew Jones, 28, were facing more than a dozen deception charges relating to six complainants.Some of the charges related to allegedly defrauding people by claiming the money was for cancer treatment that was not needed.The pair appeared by audio-visual link at the Christchurch District Court on Thursday, where it was revealed Vave was facing a new charge of unlawful sexual connection.They have entered not guilty pleas and remain in custody.A trial date has been set for September 2026.

International stars helped launch the At the World’s Edge (AWE) chamber music festival over the weekend.The launch, held in Wānaka for the first time, featured two programmes of both contemporary and older chamber music at the picturesque Rippon Hall.New Zealand artists including violinists Benjamin Baker and Justine Cormack and cellist James Bush were joined by musicians from all over the world, among them violinist Anthony Marwood (UK), violist Yura Lee (Korea), and Jordan Brooks (South Africa).Composer-in-residence John Psathas introduced the world premiere of his new composition, The Jagged Stone, a double cello string quartet.Justine, who is AWE’s festival director as well as a violinist, said she was thrilled with the turnout and the audience’s response to the opening weekend.“After hours of rehearsals, not to mention the months of planning, it’s always a thrill to hear the first notes of the festival played,” she said.John’s new piece was met with “rapturous applause and a long standing ovation”, Justine said.Another highlight of the weekend was the inclusion of Erin Helyard (Australia) on the harpsichord - a rarely heard instrument in Wānaka - who featured in much of Sunday’s baroque-inspired programme.“For many of our overseas artists, this is their first time to Aotearoa and there really is no better time or place to welcome them to our country than springtime in the Southern Lakes,” Justine said.“Performing in such intimate venues creates a wonderful connection between the artists and the audiences and we’re so grateful to everyone who joined us this weekend for making them feel so welcome.” This week AWE heads down the valley to Cromwell and Bannockburn and over to the Whakatipu for three programmes at Te Atamira. Next week AWE ventures further into the region during its school programme when festival artists will get to perform for and work alongside the region’s budding young musicians from primary school age up. PHOTO: Supplied

The Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds is being accused of staying silent on fast-track projects which affect the environment.The Fast-Track Approvals Act, which is intended to speed up development and infrastructure projects, requires the Environment Minister to be invited to comment on all referred projects, and all substantive applications.National's Simmonds has commented on only eight of the 43 fast track projects she has been sent invites for.Green MP Lan Pham believes Simmonds is neglecting her duties as the Minister for the Environment by choosing not to comment on all."Fast track bulldozes its way through any existing environmental protection that you would have considered a protection prior to the bill," she said.The Fast-track Approvals Act is touted as a one-stop-shop, which allows projects to gain approval under many acts, such as the Wildlife and Conservation Act as well as the Resource Management Act.The process allows for limiting who is invited to provide information on applications, meaning community members and environmental NGOs could be sidelined."It's absolutely critical that the Minister for the Environment is using her voice to bring up environmental issues, to advocate for environmental concerns that are at risk and threatened by these fast track projects," said Pham."The fact that she isn't using her voice is absolutely disappointing. I think she's neglecting her duties as minister."However, Simmonds said there is no expectation or obligation for her to comment on each application. She said expert panels assessing applications can set conditions related to environmental impacts.She believed her priority as minister is to protect the environment, "so it can continue to underpin New Zealand's economic and social wellbeing".Simmonds said she was proud of the government's "strong track record of improving environmental management", which she said delivered policies that allowed sustainable growth and development while safeguarding the environment.Barrister Dr Mai Chen said the Minister for Infrastructure, National's Chris Bishop, is the decision maker under the Fast-Track Act and the Minister for the Environment is consulted.In her view Simmonds should only comment when there was something additional, or new to say beyond what advice the Ministry for the Environment had already provided."You've got to see the Minister for the Environment's contribution in the light of that statutory schema," Chen said.The equivalent of five full-time staff from the Ministry for the Environment spend 60 percent of their time dedicated to advising Simmonds on whether to respond to invitations to comment on fast track applications.Lan Pham. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnonFormer Environment Minister Marian Hobbs said the public expect the minister to be the voice for the environment.She said the minister needs to take a proactive approach and be satisfied she is getting the best information from staff at the Ministry for the Environment."It's a question of trust, is she pushing her ministry? Rather than the ministry giving you what you want to hear, which is the real danger, if you push back and say, what if? That's when I would get suspicious I wasn't always being given the full picture. I had no problem picking up the phone to a university, or to a specialist in the area to ask them."When asked if she would have commented on more than eight of 43 applications, Hobbs' response was: "Hell yes.""She is the only spokesperson for the environment in in those decision making bodies and her voice should be heard, or otherwise it won't be heard at all"Among the projects Simmonds chose not to provide comment on is a gold mining project in Waihi, which aims to tunnel under Coromandel conservation land. The area is home to the threatened Archey's frog.Simmonds said she chose to not provide comments on OceanaGold's application because she was satisfied information provided by the mining company was comprehensive and completed by expert hired by the company.She said expert panels considering each fast-tracked application were best placed to address concerns with the application.The Archey's frog does not have ears. Photo: Supplied / Amanda HaighThe Department of Conservation (DOC) made a 43 page submission to OceanaGold's application which expressed concern about the potential for irreversible harm."DOC concludes that without significant improvements to mitigation measures, clearer performance standards and stronger legal protections for offset areas, the Project risks causing irreversible harm to high-value conservation areas and species. DOC recommends that the Panel adopt a precautionary approach and ensure that any approvals are subject to stringent, enforceable conditions," it said.The project has also faced opposition from groups such as Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki, who are concerned about the impact on endangered frogs and fresh water quality in the publicconservation land. This group was invited to comment on the application, and engaged with a range of experts.Spokesperson Catherine Delahuntey, a former Green MP, was disappointed the Minister for the Environment chose not to comment."This is one of the supposed checks and balances isn't it? That the minister is engaged. Well obviously they're not."Comments made to date Comments by Environment MinisterComments are published on the Fast-track website as part of each application.Those submitted by Simmonds include recommendations for detailed assessments of adverse effects to be required when referred projects submit substantive applications to be reviewed by expert panels. In one declined referral which related to a high density housing and activity precinct close to Queenstown, she expressed concerns about the visual impact."I note in particular the very high-profile location on the slopes around Lake Wakatipu. The proposal areas would likely be visible from lakeside areas of Queenstown and to recreational users of the lake and surrounding outdoor areas."Simmonds recently came under fire for writing to the Horizon's Regional Council regarding delayed irrigation consents for a group of farmers, including a farm owned Rangitīkei MP, National's Suze Redmayne. Pham called this a misuse of power. Simmonds said it was appropriate for her to engage, and the Prime Minister's Office indicated there was no breach of the Cabinet Manual, which sets out what constitutes a conflict of interest.

Owners of a cherry orchard and large rural residential development in Cromwell, Shannon Farm, want to develop their 160-lot lifestyle subdivision further.A hearing on October 14 at Central Otago District Council will consider NZ Cherry Corp’s application for a further nine lots and land use consent on its Ripponvale Road location.Wānaka-based Infinity Developments is also a 50 percent partner - as half owner of Cherry Corp.The company was successful in the Environment Court in 2022, winning an appeal to rezone 142ha of land under a privately-initiated Plan Change 14, for its rural lifestyle development within a masterplanned site.The approved framework introduced a structure plan identifying six Rural Lifestyle Areas (RLAs) with varying density controls, along with an integrated circulation plan and planting schedule. Under Plan Change (PC) 14, the 160 residential allotments were spread across the RLAs, subject to compliance with specified density, landscape, and servicing provisions.The structure and zoning framework concentrated lifestyle allotments within lower-lying and less visually sensitive parts of the site, while maintaining productive orchard areas and protecting the more prominent upper slopes, including those within the Outstanding Natural Landscape (ONL), from built development. Central Otago District Council declined the consent in 2021, and after the appeal was won, the company agreed to hold two ‘parent’ lots for future development - since they were subject to geotechnical constraints.These two lots are being considered for further subdivision under the current consent application.Consultant planner Oli Monthule-McIntosh has recommended the new consent be granted, but noted that any proposal to exceed 160 lots across the site was likely to require significant roading upgrades.The proposed lots complied with the minimum lot size of 1,500sqm and only marginally falls short of the average lot size requirement of 2,000sqm.“The subdivision advances the intended development pattern for the site and can be appropriately integrated with the existing consented stages,” his report said.Variations to the original consent were approved in September and December 2024, for realignment of staging boundaries, and an additional six lots within the rural productive lifestyle area.A separate consent for a mountain bike trail network through the development within the ONL to the west of the subdivision was also granted in September 2023.Have a story to share or comment to make? Contact [email protected]