We welcome 'The Week That Was' in Central; highlighting some of the more interesting things that have happened in our district over the last week.

What’s Hot

Queenstown becoming the Super Rugby destination of New Zealand, with a proposal by Rugby New Zealand to base its six teams there to play and train until the Omicron spike is over.

However, getting a sneak peak of the games for locals would be off the cards unless you’re part of the 300 personnel involved in training, playing or maintenance of the venues.

Under the Red traffic light system, events are only able to host 100 people, but at least housing the teams and hosting the New Zealand home games in Queenstown means less risk of spreading Covid-19 throughout their close contacts, and the rest of the country.

Smart move NZ Rugby and great news if it can be pulled off, with a much needed accommodation boost for the resort town as well.

What’s Not

Our social calendars - as the red light forces the cancellation of hundreds of concerts and community events around the country, including Central Otago’s iconic A&P Show at Omakau.

I guess we should all be just happy right now not to be back in lockdown….

Things We Can Still Do

Go tramping and socialise in DOC back country huts.

Attend online concerts and have a good old fashioned boogie from the safety of your own lounge.

Check out the many bike trails right here on our doorstep and further afield.

Go to the Central Cinema and watch a movie - Take the kids to see Clifford the big red dog or the girlfriend to see Spencer.

For more local things to do, check out Things to do or for what you can do this week, go to our What's On Guide

It’s Been A Good Week For

The Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch City Missions, after a Cromwell Cherry Orchard (Cheeki Cherries) donated 400kg of the Central Otago fruit to help vulnerable people.

A one-off charity picking day was held and 10kg of cherries, along with 10kg of apricots were packed up and sent away.

It’s Been A Bad Week For

Road workers assaulted in Cromwell and two burglaries in Alexandra. Our hearts go out to the owners of Thrive who have been targeted twice - once at their home and again at their business.

The Alexandra Out of School Care (AOOSC) also had to speak to some youths that were being abusive on the Alexandra Primary School grounds where they are based over the school holidays.

This followed a spate of burglaries on the property where rocks were thrown through windows, as well as equipment and a bike stolen.

What is happening to our so called 'safe community'?

You Said It

“The food budget is elastic - other things like rent, and power come first and what’s left goes on food. If there’s not a lot left over that means people will be unable to make healthy choices - instead they’ll go for high energy, processed food, the same things again and again. That might end up being pasta with nothing on it. Where is the dignity in that?”

This from Dr Sally Mackay - Health Coalition Aotearoa in response to inflation growing six percent in the past 12 months, and at its highest since 1990.

If you have some news or interesting updates for our readers you'd like us to share Contact Us or a photo you have that we could use for one of our weekly editions email with your picture and a caption.

Photo credit: Janyne Fletcher Photographer www.janynefletchershop.co.nz 

Enjoy the week ahead and continue to ask yourself...