The Eden Hore fashion collection could be moving to the Toitū Otago Settlers Museum for a feature exhibition.A report to the Central Otago District Council for the Wednesday 20th March meeting will discuss the proposal of the exhibition opening, tagged for April 2025, that would also feature the launch of the Eden Hore Central Otago (EHCO) collection book, and coincide with Dunedin’s iconic iD Fashion Week. The collection has also been offered for a two-year exhibition until April 27, with the display space able to fit 20-25 physical garments in climatically controlled cases, plus storylines and narratives, accessories, photography and videography. A feasibility study in 2016 acknowledged that while a traditional ‘museum’ approach to presenting the heritage collection in-region would likely be of high visual impact, it would attract limited visitation over time and come at a high relative cost. A specialist heritage collection would require ongoing and significant operation subsidies from ratepayers.Instead, a strategic coalition model was recommended, whereby ownership remained with council, but the EHCO projects may be distributed between council, Te Papa and/or other museums, and visitor attractions/destinations throughout the region. Community and engagement manager Paula Penno said in her report the EHCO team was currently developing a book that captures the visionary world of Eden Hore. “The book aims to tell and celebrate the spirit of this surprising ‘down to earth’ and ‘head in the clouds’ Naseby farmer who dared to swim against the tide, and to explore the designers, textiles importers, and social history of the time that are represented through this unique collection.”Co-authors Claire Regnault (Te Papa senior history curator and EHCO steering group member) and Dr Jane Malthus (fashion and textiles historian, steering group member and co-patron) are developing the written content. The book is being published by Te Papa Press and is scheduled for release in April 2025. Following the highly successful 2019 photoshoot, Derek Henderson is returning to the region to undertake a second and more ambitious shoot. The photoshoot, which will be undertaken in April, will include about 50 garments shot on location in striking Central Otago landscapes, as well as others in-studio. 

Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes Libraries have had their popular app reinstated about four months after it was withdrawn.The app, which allowed people to browse, renew and put books on hold - all from their phone - was shut down in December, affecting library users around the world.At the time, Central Otago District Council (CODC) group manager community experience David Scoones apologised to the community for the issue, which was out of the council’s control.He said the app was withdrawn without notice by the third-party providers.However, in an about turn, the provider has reached an agreement with their service provider, which means people who use Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes Libraries services can, once again, download the app from the Apple and Android stores.CODC libraries manager Aimee Pieterse said about 2000 people across Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes had been using the app before it was withdrawn.The library app, which is back up and running. PHOTO: The Central App“We received many positive comments about how people had been using the app to place holds and renewals. So, we are delighted it has been reinstated and our patrons can get back to browsing our catalogue and managing their accounts at their leisure.”The Maniototo Library has also spent the past few months trialing late nights on Thursdays from 6pm to 7pm.Aimee said attendance was low, averaging about one to two people within that extended hour, over an 18-week period.The library staff plan to continue the trial, but will move it to monthly, from Thursday, April 4.“The feedback we received was that a monthly late night may meet the needs of those working who couldn’t visit the library within our regular hours,” she said.“So, beginning the first week of April, we will have our monthly late-night trial start.”The library’s usual hours of Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm, remain the same.

Lloyd Smith and his loyal heading dog, Code, make a good team.The duo were in the back blocks of the Maniototo for the Patearoa Collie Club’s centennial dog trials earlier this week.Lloyd, who also competed with another of his heading dogs and two huntaways, travelled from Palmerston for the occasion, an event the club has hosted for the past 100 years.The dog trials were hosted in the hills of the Maniototo.Lloyd Smith watches his dog, Code, during competitions.While Lloyd cannot claim to have been taking part that long, his dedication to the sport spans decades.“I probably started when I was about 17 or 18 and I’m 71 now.”Over that time, Lloyd has learned many tricks of the trade, but trying to beat the clock is not one of them.Lloyd Smith and Code, working together during the competitions.While he had about 13 minutes to complete his task with Code, Lloyd’s focus was on the quality of work, rather than speed.He said the Patearoa Collie Club course had its “wee traps” and the sheep were not easy.“It doesn’t take much to make things go wrong.”However, for Lloyd competitions often go well, as his five national titles would suggest and he continues to take part whenever he can.“It’s a challenge that keeps you coming back,” he said, of his love of the sport.Patearoa Collie Club president Andrew Hore said the event, which took place over three days, from March 10-12, featured about 80 runs in the heading course and 70 in the huntaway course.Andrew credited the landowners, sponsors and volunteers for making the event happen.“It’s been awesome,” he said.Photos/video: The Central App

Roll out the red carpet - the Alexandra Bowling Club is excited to be part of the iconic WoolOn fashion event in 2024 and believes it can deliver a high-class event.The fashion show has had an interesting journey, starting at Molyneux Stadium with the annual shearing champs back in 2004, and then joining with the Alexandra Blossom Festival committee to bring a finale in Pioneer Park - one year it even had circus performers added to the mix.In 2017 WoolOn broke away from the committee to form its own governance board, and took the event to an old fruit packing warehouse in Alexandra - where the catering was just as exceptional as the designer clothing.Then in 2019 the event was cancelled just months out from taking the stage, after organisers failed to find an appropriate venue, and for the past two years it has been held at the Canyon near Bendigo.WoolOn Fashion Society Inc chair Nigel Wilson came onboard then and admitted “we may have ruffled a few feathers by taking it away from Alexandra, but there was no option really.”The Alexandra Bowling Club has since secured the rights and former events manager Paul Jerron was involved in the negotiation.He said one of the WoolOn committee members came through to check out the facility even before last year’s event, and knew it was a great working space.“It ticked all of the boxes.”Paul now worked at Domaine Thomson winery as the cellar door manager, and Alan Motion has taken over as interim events co-ordinator until they find a replacement for the Alexandra Bowling Club.“It is something that is out of left field for us and we know the committee will run it the way that they want it,” Alan said, referring to those involved in WoolOn.Demand for the bowling club had been growing over the past two years, and organisers of many large events were now starting to enquire about their space.“Many people didn’t know this space existed, but the conundrum is that we’re a bowling club,” and that meant they had to look after their own members first, before allowing other groups to use the space.As well as lawn bowls, darts, pool and pétanque also shared the grounds both inside and out and the lounge and bar facilities.The AGM for the WoolOn Creative Fashion Society Inc will be held tonight at Central Stories at 7pm for anyone interested in being involved.Nigel said they were also keen to hear from people who wanted to help out, who may not necessarily want to be on the committee.This year the show will be open to three Young Designer awards for those Under 12 (primary), Under 18 (secondary) and Under 25 (uni) students.

Members of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from Christchurch were called to Clyde yesterday to safely detonate some power gel found on the riverbank.Alexandra Police Senior Constable Graham Perkins said a member of the public was out walking their dog on Sunday when they came across the explosive material washed up along Miners Lane.The area was quickly cordoned off by the Clyde Volunteer Fire Brigade until police arrived at 3pm, and then a call was made to the NZ Defence Force, who drove down on Monday to safely detonate it.The area was under surveillance all Sunday night with security guards keeping the area safe, until the team could arrive, Graham said.The power gel was then sandbagged and given an ignition source, before it was detonated from a safe area on the Clyde Bridge, which Snr Const Perkins had the honours of doing using bluetooth technology.“We tried to keep it low profile and didn’t want to tell everyone we were going to blow something up,” Snr Cons Perkins said.The explosive power gel would’ve been contained in a box and possibly thrown in the river by someone, and then broken down, before it eventually washed up on shore after the river level was recently lowered.“It was clear it had been in the water a long time,” he said.Advice to anyone who found something similar with ‘explosive’ written on it was to, obviously, not touch it, and report it immediately.“Do not poke it with a stick or kick it,” he said.

Dry conditions have kept capacity at Falls Dam low, with just four per cent as of Monday.Rainfall over the past week saw capacity increase slightly, but it was now back to the minimum level, Falls Dam operations manager Roger Williams said.“The increase was very slight.”As a result, the Central Otago District Council has kept Omakau, Ophir, Naseby and Ranfurly on water restrictions to help ease the pressure.Farmers are also only able to take 25 per cent of their full allocation.Roger said that was particularly hard for people who rely on irrigation across the agricultural, horticulture and viticulture sectors.Ophir is among the towns that are on a water restriction. PHOTO: The Central AppThe situation was the worst Roger had seen it in his 35-year career, but it would be worse if it wasn’t for the Manuherekia River, he said.Minimum flows in the river are being maintained, he said.The Falls Dam company is monitoring the levels every day in the hope it doesn’t have to add any further restrictions, which could include stock restriction only.Roger said the forecast for the coming week showed no sign of a reprieve - possibly a shower or two, but nothing significant.Tips for conserving water during dry conditions:Check for leaks around stockwater and irrigation infrastructureIrrigate at times when the water is more likely to be absorbedApply irrigation so that it is retained in the pasture or crop root zoneIf you are unsure if your irrigator is applying the right amount of water, catchment advisors can help you carry out a bucket test. Email [email protected] for more informationMinimise water use on gardens and lawnsDon’t leave water running unnecessarilyAvoid washing vehicles and boatsFor more information on low flows in Otago’s monitoring sites, visit the ORC's environmental data portal page.Read more: Falls Dam close to emergency water only

Avid gardeners are proving just how hardy some plants can be in Central’s harsh climate.A competition to celebrate those gardeners and their gardens filled with plants that love dry conditions was hosted by the Central Otago District Council (CODC) over the summer months and the results are in.The winners are Bruce Hall for established rural garden category, Gavin and Cathy Dann for established urban garden, Vicki Hishon for new rural garden, Ann Paterson for new urban garden, Phanny Thomas for specialty garden and Tracey Grose for tiny garden design.CODC water services support Julie Clarke said the aim of the competition was to create public education around water conservation.“Outdoor water use accounts for the largest proportion of household consumption over summer,” she said.“Encouraging people to save water in their gardens helps CODC manage demand for our drinking water. The competition showcases beautiful ‘dry’ gardens to demonstrate that we can have our cake and eat it too when it comes to having a gorgeous garden.”A garden with a view was among those that were entered in the competition. PHOTO: SuppliedThe competition was judged by Shona Wallace and Sue Mort.Julie said of the 13 entries, there was a lot of variety of gardens, which prompted organisers to create some extra categories.“It was encouraging to see people new to gardening having a go and being creative.”She said of the several entries that did not win, it was “not for lack of enthusiasm”.Entrants were celebrated with a prize giving at the CODC last Thursday.

The Central App, a one-stop-shop for all your news, jobs, upcoming events, weather and community information, has added a newsletter to the mix.The newsletter goes directly to your inbox every fortnight and shares local news, new stories, and other community information to keep you in the know about all things important in Central Otago.Click above to register to be in the know - sent to your inbox once a fortnightLaunched last week, the newsletter provides a brief overview of what has been happening in the community over the past fortnight, showcasing recent headlines, upcoming events and easy access to The Outlet podcast.The Central App owner/director Vicki McLean said the aim was to provide another avenue where people could get reliable information, but in a way that did not take up too much of their valuable time.“Some people do prefer to read a newsletter that comes straight to them,” she said.“And, we get it - time is precious, and media has to evolve to be where the market wants them. In brief, we need to be where the people want to access their local news and information. Not everyone likes using Apps, some don't have facebook, some only like using our ipad format or go to the website. So now you can access local news and information how it best suits you and when it suits you."Anyone who spots something they want to know more about can also access more in-depth articles on The Central App or The Central App website. There is a new site being launched in a couple of weeks.Some of those articles are also brought to the fore on The Outlet, The Central App’s weekly podcast where interviewer Brent Harbour chats to someone within the community about a relevant topic.The podcast interviews are available to stream each Friday.Vicki said both the newsletter and podcast are informative snippets of news that people can access more but still encourage locals to download The Central App so you have 'Everything Central Otago' in the palm of your hand."We thank you for supporting us. With over 15,000 now reading The Central App news monthly in Central Otago and a talented team of seven, we know we've got you covered to keep you well informed and up to date on news, jobs available, whats happening and places to eat, shop and play."To join the newsletter mailing list email by clicking on the banner above. To hear more about the changes and why listen to last Fridays podcast.If you have feedback or would like to contact us go to our Contact Us button.

Central Otago’s tourism market is experiencing a significant surge, thanks to an influx of visitors, once again, adding New Zealand to their bucket list post Covid.Tourism Central Otago head of destination Antz Longman said visitor numbers were “starting to come back”, which had provided some normality for tourism and the hospitality sectors.A wide range of nationalities had added a welcomed boost to Central’s tourism numbers in recent times, particularly those from Australia, the US, UK, Germany and the Netherlands.“[Numbers are] starting to come back in and we’re getting a bit more, I guess, normality to the kind of numbers and trends we saw back pre that little bug that got around the world.”He said a range of highly respected global travel organisations had helped remind people that Central Otago was a place to visit.“Lonely Planet had Central Otago and the Southern Lakes, with our neighbours in Queenstown and Wanaka, as one of the top value destinations in the world to visit. So that’s great in terms of building awareness of our offering, especially our cycle trails on a global scale.“And then just last month, Booking.com released its annual Traveler Review Awards and Otago was number seven in the top 10 most welcoming regions in the world. And, that’s based off surveys completed by those using their booking platform.”Tourism Central Otago also recently commissioned a year-end December 2023 Market Perceptions report, which revealed that the district sits well above the regional benchmark and ticks all the boxes as a recommended travel destination.Tourism Central Otago head of destination Antz Longman. PHOTO: Geoff MarksThat research is specific to Central, excluding the Southern Lakes towns of Queenstown, Wanaka and Arrowtown, which are often considered part of the region.Another critical insight to how the district is tracking is the Net Promoter Score, a metric used to measure the balance between advocates and detractors.An NPS greater than +1 means there are more supporters than detractors.The higher the score, the stronger the support.“For 2023 Central Otago returned an NPS of +44 per cent, versus the national benchmark of +18 per cent for other regions of New Zealand who partake in the research,” Antz said.“This confirms that what we have thought anecdotally is true, in that our people and our place are exceptionally appealing and that this really is one of the best places in New Zealand to visit.”The research also looks at what things travellers associate with Central Otago, with wine, cycling and warm weather coming out on top.Antz said visitors are also often in search of an authentic, small community vibe with open spaces, something Central also lends itself to.He said the district’s many cycle trails enable visitors to do just that.“So, we’re definitely very, very fortunate to have the range of great rides that we have in Centro Otago.”Those trails meant visitors could get on a bike, connect with locals and move between various communities.To hear more from Antz, listen to this week’s The Outlet podcast.Read more: Otago, one of the world’s most welcoming regions 

Motorists could soon be forbidden from stopping alongside SH6, near the Kiwi Water Park.NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has put a proposal together, calling for both sides of SH6 to be a ‘no stopping’ zone around the entrance to the water park at Lowburn, near Cromwell.The proposal includes no stopping signs and covers a 1.3km stretch of the highway.Instead, people would be encouraged to use the parking available on Land Information New Zealand land nearby.NZTA has confirmed the proposal was in response to a number of crashes in the area, so it was doing all it could to make it safer.“This is essential given SH6 has a 100km/h upper speed limit so anyone pulling onto the highway is risking a serious injury crash, or worse,” NZTA team lead safety engineers Roy Johnston said.“Once we have received submissions and agreed on the best way forward, a bylaw could be set in accordance with the Land Transport Management Act 1998.”The area runs for 1.3km. IMAGE: SuppliedKiwi Water Park owner Emily Rutherford supports the proposal.She said the stretch of SH6 that would be affected sees a lot of traffic, only some of which is from Kiwi Water Park customers.However, she said there had been no problems with people parking on the roadside this season, after NZTA erected a fence that extends from before the Kiwi Water Park site to the Lowburn recreational reserve.She said the parking area for the Lowburn Reserve had ample space.“The parking area for the Lowburn Reserve can take more vehicles than we have ever seen parked there. This is used by Freedom Campers, boaties, locals and visitors, in addition to our customers,” she said.“We have signs asking people to park in the reserve car park, but have no authority to prevent people from using or parking beside the vehicle track that goes from near the boating ramp to McNulty Inlet.”A turning bay was added in late 2022.“The turning bay has made it much safer for people to pull off the road at Lowburn Reserve and we welcomed it, but always felt it was needed despite our location using the same carpark as other users of the reserve,” Emily said.  “Having to turn right, across a busy highway and against oncoming traffic, was always a hazard in a heavily used location.”Anyone wanting to make a submission to NZTA’s no-stopping proposal can email [email protected], it can be posted to: The Senior Safety Engineer, NZTA, PO Box 5245, Dunedin 9058.The deadline for input is Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

Multiple offers have been received for the sale of Matangi Station, and the vendors are currently working through the tenders with the agent.PGG Wrightson rural sales manager Brent Irving said there were a range of offers put forward, but declined to say whether they had come from within New Zealand or abroad.Matangi Station has been owned by the Sanders family for more than 100 years and there have been concerns within the wider mountainbike community that the Matangi MTB park might be lost in the sale.Mountain Bikers of Alexandra (MOA) had 700 pledges of financial support to buy a public access easement at Matangi Station following a public meeting last month.It could cost up to $1.6 million to buy an easement to ensure future public access to 140 km of trails for walking, cycling and running trails.  The current recreational permit doesn’t guarantee access and will expire in 2035. “At the end of the day, the majority of people understand the benefits that the bike park brings to the town and tourism, and the vendors are well aware of that, and it’s part of the consideration,” Brent said.Even if the vendors negotiated a deal the leasehold property had to be signed off by the Crown Commissioner, and so the sale couldn’t progress until then - which could take up to 12 months, he said.Matangi was originally part of Galloway Station, one of Central Otago’s pioneer runs, which was first established by Scottish brothers Watson and Alexander Shennan in 1858, and divided up in 1916.John Sanders’ grandfather acquired the Crown pastoral lease for the 11,400 hectare station in September 1923.Jack Sanders established the Matangi stud in 1940 when he bought half the stock from the dispersal of the Puketoi stud, first registered by pioneer Watson Shennan.Read more: Hundreds pledge to support Mountain Bikers of Alexandra

Omakau School has a new classroom - a tunnel house to be exact.The 14m x 6m structure was officially opened during a ceremony on Tuesday, a milestone for the people who made it happen and those who watched from the sidelines as it took shape.Principal Adelle Banks praised Anna Gillespie who had the vision, sourced the funding and could see the potential it would bring to the school, along with Ben Gillespie and Andrew Kerr who brought it to life.Ministry for the Environment provided funding for the structure and the Otago Regional Council paid for the equipment needed to set it up.The tunnel house is already being put to good use by children who are growing plants from seeds, which will eventually be added to the Thomsons Catchment Project they help monitor.As part of the project, the school’s senior pupils test the water once a month at about seven sites, and have also planted native plants around the wetland.Omakau School children have been transplanting native seedlings into bigger pots. They transplanted 488 plants, including 18 kōwhai, 106 ribbonwood, 102 mānuka, 62 carrex, 84 cabbage trees, 51 harakeke and 65 toi toi. PHOTO: SuppliedSome of the seedlings they grow in the tunnel house will also be available to purchase, Adelle said.“It’s an absolutely amazing asset for our school, and hopefully one that will span generations.”Each of the school’s classes are growing vegetables in the tunnel house, which the children will eventually be able to cook and eat, while learning about the process of paddock - or in this case - tunnel house to plate.Read more: Omakau School supports local environment

Vandalism to Alexandra’s public toilets over the past year has amounted to $57,000 worth of damage, and police say security cameras will make their job a lot easier.The Central Otago District Council’s property team was also called out to Pioneer Park on Saturday morning, to clean up broken glass from beer bottles, including in the children’s play area, toilets and steps behind Central Stories.Industrial vacuums have had to be used to make the area safe again, and Senior Constable Graham Perkins said extra patrols of the area didn’t find any offenders.“We really need security cameras in there,” he said.This has been reiterated by other police officers also in recent weeks, as they continue to struggle to find any leads for damage around the town without substantial proof.Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said council has discussed security cameras in the past, but they unfortunately were not high on the priority list, “which is extremely truncated at the moment due to the long list of cost increases that we have no choice over.”He agreed it was a “phenomenally annoying and needlessly expensive problem” caused by a very small number of people.Read more: Police report: Wilful damage, domestic incidents, more rodeos

Members of the Sustainable Tarras group opposed to the now shelved Tarras International Airport have been quietly celebrating their win.Last week they had a toast with a bottle of Maori Point Gold Digger, “but it’ll be drunk with a healthy dose of scepticism as Christchurch Airport remains our neighbour,” their Facebook page said.The group thanked the community for all of its support leading up to last week’s major decision by Christchurch Holdings Limited (CCHL) to park up its airport project in Central Otago.Sustainable Tarras has been fighting the proposal for the past three years, including researching material and sending it to the Christchurch City Council (CCC).“We’ve been doing a lot of work behind the scenes to understand the industry and get a sense of the landscape where it’s operating in,” group member Suze Keith said.Investing in a major project like this in the current cost of living crisis was a folly, Suze said, and the group knew the financial situation made it extremely unlikely to happen.In a letter to airport bosses CCHL last week, the CCC finance and performance committee said it was concerned that resources were being expended in developing this project, “which we estimate to have a very low chance of being implemented in the next decade or longer.”CCC made it clear it would not be able to provide equity or debt funding to the CCHL group, and said engagement had “fallen short” of its expectations regarding consultation with them.Sustainable Tarras was made up of just eight members, with support from people all over New Zealand, who meet fortnightly to discuss their research and keep up with CCC agendas and papers related to the airport.Suze said from what they had discovered recently, it appeared basically CCHL had “built their own sandpit to play in because the others won’t let them play in theirs.”But, the last say must come from former Air New New Zealand sustainability advisor Sr Jonathon Porritt who told Carbon News last week that the idea of a new airport at Tarras was “completely bonkers,” from a commercial point of view.

Hundreds of submissions have been lodged for the new Hawkeswood Resources mining application at Millers Flat.Alexandra-based owner Simon Johnstone said he was overwhelmed at the amount of support from not just the local Central Otago community, but also those who supply services to their gold mining operations.“The local community is right behind it. I didn’t realise how far reaching this gold mining proposal will be. We’ve actually had submissions from all over Otago and Southland."The company had been involved in gold mining at Olrig Station and has now applied for a 10-year resource consent using a gold dredge on the banks of the Clutha River - 1km from the Millers Flat township.A total of 470 submissions were received for the 10-year mining application, which he said was expected to create around 30 jobs and help revive the Teviot community.Five submissions were opposed to the proposal, including several landowners and iwi, whom Simon said he was currently in discussions with.A separate water and discharge consent was also needed through the Otago Regional Council, and independent commissioners would be appointed for a hearing shortly.Hawkeswood has also obtained a Crown Minerals mining permit that was valid until April 2033, and is aiming for a six-day operation.It is expected to move 12 million cubic metres of earthworks on the 68ha site in four stages, and talks have already been had with the Clutha Gold Charitable Trust on diverting the track.The new Government is progressing changes to resource management laws as part of its 100 Day Action Plan, and a new fast-track consenting process will be released this week.Simon said he was excited to see what this meant for his proposal - Santana Minerals' new ‘Rise and Shine’ gold mining proposal at Bendigo was expected to be on the list of projects being fast tracked.

Dozens of people paid a visit to the Teviot Valley Rest Home last weekend, keen to see what it had to offer.Forty people visited the 14-bed facility on Sunday as part of an open day, which was designed to gauge enough interest to fill its six vacant beds.One has been filled since the open day, leaving five still available to people in need.Manager Robyn Niederer said the open day, which was a first since her time as manager, had gained lots of interest within the community.“It was really good. People came and had afternoon tea,” she said.“There were lots of people from the community and a couple of people from [outside] the community.”She had a range of people dress the rooms up for the occasion, which was turned into a competition, allowing people to vote for their favourite.A raffle also proved popular, Robyn said.The home is also in the process of getting a new garden at the front of the premises, so the day was an opportunity for people to see the plans for that too, she said.The rest home has also been giving away some of its arm chairs, which were surplus to requirements.About half a dozen went to new homes during the open day and more were still available to people who wanted them.

Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) attended a fire in Springvale Road on Sunday night, after a discarded cigarette butt caused the deck to become alight.Constable Graham Perkins said emergency services were called to the property around 6:15pm after the occupants noticed smoke coming from underneath the house.One of the occupants had been having a cigarette on the deck, “and with those winds it has picked up the embers,” he said.  Fire officers had to cut into the deck before they could extinguish the fire.Alexandra Police were called to assist officers in Cromwell at an address after a search warrant was executed following a suspicion of cannabis growing.Four large cannabis plants were found inside a glass house over six feet tall, as well as an unsecured firearm, ammunition and utensils for methamphetamine.In a separate incident, investigations are underway into the ownership of nine large cannabis plants found in a glasshouse at a Cromwell Air B n B, by the guests staying for the weekend.Const Perkins said they described the glasshouse as having a “rainforest” feel about it.Police also caught an Australian tourist travelling 127km/hr through the Cromwell Gorge, who was tucked in behind an ambulance called out to an emergency with its lights and siren going.On a positive note, Cromwell Police were pleased to be able to donate some unclaimed bikes to Upcycles Charitable Trust, to prevent them going to landfill.Senior Constable Darren Kidd, of Cromwell, has also been promoted to Sergeant and will be starting in his new position in Alexandra in a few weeks' time.Alexandra Police has a number of staff vacancies with four officers leaving or changing to new departments - one is heading to Invercargill, two to Australia and two moving into rural and roading.

Further funding for the Riverside Park Trust stage one plaza has been confirmed, with Central Lakes Trust (CLT) committing $250,000 to the project.The trust confirmed this week that its CLT grant had been approved and they could push on with plans for the new plaza downtown area, at the lower end of Tarbert St.The plaza will include public toilets, bike racks, seating and shade trees, and the river access pathway will lead off a viewing platform overlooking the confluence of the Manuherikia and Clutha Mata-Au rivers.Work should be completed by the end of December for stage one, which was estimated to cost $1.4 million, and the Central Otago District Council has also committed $650,000 through the 2021-2031 Long Term Plan.In December 2022, all necessary resource consents for the project were granted and the concept plan that was consulted on with the public in 2022 developed into a new design. The Tourism Infrastructure Fund of $325,000 has also been approved through council, and other applications include Lotteries – Otago/Southland Regional Community grant $50,000 and the Otago Community Trust $185,000.Stage two of the project will involve ongoing enhancements at a cost of $1.36 million, carried out between 2025-2028, once the original infrastructure is in place.

A fire in a roof, a vegetation fire and a medical event have been keeping some Central Otago fire crews busy this weekend.Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) received a call to a vegetation fire at Moa Creek at about 11.15am today, which a crew from Dunstan and Omakau attended.A FENZ spokesperson said a motox event was taking place at the location at the time.The crew also received another callout while enroute to the same location following a medical event.The spokesperson said event organisers had almost extinguished the fire themselves and a medical team were also on site to assist the person in need of medical care.“We went out to assist the people at the site there and then there was a medical event, but they had backup.”He praised the event’s organisers for having emergency procedures in place.At 11.20am a crew from Alexandra attended a roof fire at a Bridge Hill address.“Our crews got to work with some equipment to extinguish the fire [which was] suppressed within about 15 minutes.”Although there has been some rain in parts of Central Otago in the past 48 hours, the district remains in a prohibited fire season, which means a total ban on open-air fires, and all previously granted fire permits are suspended.The district is also under a strong wind watch.MetService has issued a warning, stating northwest winds could approach severe gale in exposed places from 10pm tonight (Sunday) until 5am tomorrow.Read more: Central now in prohibited fire seasonTo hear more about Central’s fire risk listen to The Outlet podcast. For more weather information click on The Central App’s weather button.