The Central Otago District Council (CODC) made drinking water quality a priority in its 2018 - 2028 long-term plan (LTP), says Mayor Tim Cadogan, but the costs involved mean it will be a long and costly process.Upgrades to the Lake Dunstan water supply and delivery pipelines have cost more than $10M and resulted in a noticeable difference in taste, and an absence of the limescale that has long been a problem in Alexandra and surrounds. Naseby and Omakau residents, however, are no strangers to notices instructing them to conserve or even boil water when downpours muddy their source waters or droughts leave the reservoirs worryingly low.  Ranfurly earlier this year experienced demand for water that exceeded supply, resulting in a conserve water being put in place on February 4, a water restriction on February 7, and a boil water notice for eight days from February 8 to 16. The 2018 - 2028 LTP states that treatment upgrades were planned to improve treatment standards for Cromwell, Ranfurly and Patearoa from 2021. Other projects, such as reservoir construction, changes to pipe configuration, valves and backflow prevention would improve resilience. In some cases upgrade projects would also respond to projected growth.Clean drinking water has become a national concern after an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in Queenstown, led the drinking water regulator, Taumata Arowai, to serve a compliance order on the Queensland Lakes District Council, saying the Two Mile water treatment plant was non-compliant with the Water services Act 2021. Specifically, it lacked an adequate barrier for protozoa, a parasite that causes illness in humans.Not all water treatment plants in Central Otago have protozoa barriers, including Omakau and Ophir, Patearoa, Cromwell and Ranfurly, which have varying types of source water. The council was either investigating or putting together a business plan for greater resilience at those treatment plants, CODC communications officer Mary-Jo Tohill said.The following is a summary of drinking water treatment for CODC supplies and the techniques used, provided by council water services, followed by specific details about the water treatment plants in the Maniototo.All supplies need to be chlorinated to treat bacteria, CODC water services said. The requirements to treat protozoa are more complex. This typically requires some form of filtration, and ultraviolet (UV). Membrane filters are one type of filter that do not require UV, but these are significantly more expensive to construct and operate.Surface water sources require more treatment processes to treat protozoa than groundwater sources. This is because surface water has more risks associated with it, and typically has less consistent quality than ground water. The more treatment processes, and the higher the level of filtration required, the higher the cost it is to construct and operate.Source water that is affected by turbidity is more difficult to treat. Turbidity is when there is sediment in the water, which is usually caused by rain causing runoff into the streams and rivers. When rivers and lakes are dirty due to sediment, this impacts on the ability of some treatment processes to work effectively.For these reasons investigation is required to identify the different source water options that are available. Testing of the best option is then needed over at least a 12-month period to identify how consistent the quality and quantity of the water is. This is to ensure that the treatment plant built can treat the source water under all conditions.There are different requirements in the New Zealand Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules for water supplies that serve more than 500 people, 100 to 500 people and less than 100 people.RanfurlyThe Ranfurly treatment plant consists of sand filtration and chlorination. This provides treatment for bacteria, but not protozoa.The source water for Ranfurly is from two locations on the East Eweburn River. This is a surface water source and is vulnerable to turbidity following rain. When this occurs, the plant is shut down, treated water is supplied from reservoirs and a conserve water notice is put in place.At normal water demand, Ranfurly has several days storage in the reservoir.The CODC is investigating options to provide a resilient and compliant water supply for Ranfurly. There are turbidity and quantity issues with the existing source water, which has required other sources to be investigated.A business case is being developed and the council would consider the options within the next three months. Significant investment, in the range of $20-25 million would be required to build a new Ranfurly plant with a new water source.Omakau and OphirThe Omakau Water Supply services the townships of Omakau and Ophir. The treatment plant consists of sand filtration and chlorination. This provides treatment for bacteria, but not protozoa.The source water for Omakau is from an infiltration gallery in the Manuherikia Riverbed. This is a surface water source and is vulnerable to turbidity following rain. When this occurs, the plant is shut down and a boil water notice is required. It is also vulnerable to low river flow during summer when water restrictions may be required.The council is investigating options to provide a resilient and compliant water supply for Omakau. This has involved considering other source water options. A business case has been developed and the council would consider the options within the next two months. Significant investment, in the range of $20-25 million, would be required to build the new plant.NasebyThe Naseby treatment plant consists of flocculation, sand filtration, UV and chlorination which provide treatment barriers for bacteria and protozoa under normal operating conditions.The source water for Naseby is from the Hawkdun Irrigation Race, which is a surface water source. This source is vulnerable to turbidity following rain. When this occurs, the plant is shut down, treated water is supplied from reservoirs and a conserve water notice is put in place.If the reservoir level drops to a point where untreated water is needed to refill it, then a boil water notice must be put in place until the source water clears. This typically occurs when reservoirs have about six hours storage available.The population in Naseby varies considerably between normal population and peak population. The Naseby plant has to run continuously to produce enough treated water during peak periods. This does not provide sufficient capacity to accommodate typical maintenance outages during peak periods, or changes in the source water quality.Investigation is underway to identify the options for increasing capacity, and providing resilience to weather events that affect the source water quality.PatearoaThe Patearoa water supply feeds a small urban area and multiple rural properties. The Patearoa treatment plant consists of chlorination. This provides treatment for bacteria, but not protozoa.The source water for Patearoa is from the Sowburn River. This is a surface water source and is vulnerable to turbidity following rain. When this occurs, the plant is shut down, treated water is supplied from reservoirs, and a conserve water notice is put in place.If the reservoir level drops to a point where untreated water is needed to refill it, then a boil water notice must be put in place until the source water clears.The council is investigating options to provide a resilient and compliant water supply for Patearoa. There are turbidity issues with the existing source water which has required other sources to be investigated. A business case was being developed and the council would consider the options within the next four months.

Central Otago District Council (CODC) made drinking water quality a priority in its 2018 - 2028 long-term plan, says mayor Tim Cadogan, but the costs involved mean it will be a long and costly process.Residents of Alexandra and Clyde have recently enjoyed the benefits of the first phase of those plans, with upgrades to the Lake Dunstan water supply and delivery pipelines that have cost more than $10M. These resulted in a noticeable difference in water taste and an absence of the limescale that has long been a problem in Alexandra and surrounds.Water has become a muddy topic after an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in Queenstown, led the drinking water regulator, Taumata Arowai, to serve a compliance order on the Queensland Lakes District Council, saying the Two Mile water treatment plant was non-compliant with the Water services Act 2021. Specifically, it lacked an adequate barrier for protozoa, a parasite that causes illness in humans.Not all water treatment plants in Central Otago have protozoa barriers, including Omakau and Ophir, Patearoa, Cromwell and Ranfurly, which have varying types of source water. The council was either investigating or putting together a business plan for greater resilience at those treatment plants, CODC communications officer Mary-Jo Tohill said.The following is a summary of drinking water treatment for CODC supplies and the techniques used, provided by CODC water services, followed by specific details about the water treatment plants in Roxburgh, Alexandra, Cromwell, and Pisa.Tomorrow, we will look at the water treatment plants in the Maniototo.All supplies need to be chlorinated to treat bacteria, CODC water services said. The requirements to treat protozoa are more complex. This typically requires some form of filtration, and ultraviolet (UV). Membrane filters are one type of filter that do not require UV, but these are significantly more expensive to construct and operate.Surface water sources require more treatment processes to treat protozoa than groundwater sources. This is because surface water has more risks associated with it, and typically has less consistent quality than ground water. The more treatment processes, and the higher the level of filtration required, the higher the cost it is to construct and operate.Source water that is affected by turbidity is more difficult to treat. Turbidity is when there is sediment in the water, which is usually caused by rain causing runoff into the streams and rivers. When rivers and lakes are dirty due to sediment, this impacts on the ability of some treatment processes to work effectively.For these reasons investigation is required to identify the different source water options that are available. Testing of the best option is then needed over at least a 12-month period to identify how consistent the quality and quantity of the water is. This is to ensure that the treatment plant built can treat the source water under all conditions.There are different requirements in the New Zealand Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules for water supplies that serve more than 500 people, 100 to 500 people and less than 100 people.RoxburghThe Roxburgh Water Supply services the townships of Roxburgh and Lake Roxburgh Village, and some properties between Roxburgh and Lake Roxburgh Village.The Roxburgh treatment plant consists of cartridge filtration, UV and chlorination, which provides treatment barriers for bacteria and protozoa.The source water for Roxburgh is from bores adjacent to Clutha Mata-au which draw on river water. This is considered a surface water source. There is sediment drawn through the bore which has required a larger micron filter to be used. While providing protection, the filter does not fully meet the requirements for compliance with the New Zealand Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules. The UV still provides a barrier to protozoa.Council is currently reviewing alternative bore locations to address the sediment issue.Alexandra and Clyde (Lake Dunstan Water Supply Area)The new Lake Dunstan Water Supply services the townships of Clyde and Alexandra. This is a membrane treatment plant with chlorination which provides treatment barriers for bacteria and protozoa.The source water is from bores adjacent to Lake Dunstan. These draw on lake water, which is considered to be a surface water source.CromwellThe Cromwell treatment plant supplies water to Bannockburn, Cromwell, Lowburn, Ripponvale and the southern part of Pisa Moorings.The treatment consists of chlorination. This provides treatment for bacteria, but not protozoa.The source water for Cromwell is drawn through bores from the Cromwell Terrace Aquifer. The bores are on the Clutha Mata-au arm of the lake, upstream of the Kawarau River confluence. As the bores are less than 30m deep they are not given secure aquifer status and require treatment for protozoa. The aquifer water has more consistent quality than a surface water source.Investigation has been underway for a new water treatment plant for Cromwell for the past three years. This has included 24 tests for protozoa over a 15-month period which showed no positives for protozoa.Pisa VillageThe Pisa Village Water Supply services the northern area of Pisa.The Pisa treatment plant consists of chlorination and UV which provides treatment barriers for bacteria and protozoa.The source water is from the Pisa aquifer and extracted with bores. Because the bores are less than 30m deep, they are not given secure aquifer status and require treatment for protozoa. The aquifer water has more consistent quality than a surface water source.

The convenors of the Alexandra Blossom Festival Delta Garden Tour that took place on Sunday (September 24) are grateful to all the gardeners who open their homes and grounds to visitors on the day, and the immense amount of work they do to make their gardens picture perfect.Glenda Brown has been a garden tour convenor for the past 10 years, with help from her aptly named friend Rae Garden for the past eight years. The role gets passed from hand to hand, Glenda said, with her having taken it over from another friend.There is no garden society or group from which gardens and gardeners are selected, rather it is simply individuals who are asked if they would take part.Another view of the Middlemiss garden in Roxburgh.“It sometimes falls into place very nicely and at other times it can be a very tough job,” Glenda said.“We just drive up to people’s gardens and knock on their doors and ask them to take part. Mostly, people are very generous and say yes.“This year, down in Roxburgh, they were lovely.”Views of Wendy King’s Wynyard Estate Saffron Gardens.The heavy rain Central Otago experienced late last week had Glenda concerned initially, but she said that the Roxburgh area did not get as much rain as some others and it dried out quickly. The gardeners still had to do a lot of work to have their grounds looking their best, she said.Glenda and Rae, like so many people involved with all things Blossie, are volunteers, and all profits from the garden tour go into the Blossom Festival coffers.“We are a great country for volunteers,” Glenda said. “I don’t think our country would run without volunteers.”Wynyard Estate Saffron GardensShe said she had spoken to one of the homeowners on Monday morning and the proud gardener said all those on the tour had been lovely, coming in the gate and expressing their gratitude at being welcomed into the private gardens. The convenors start planning over winter to decide which area to base the tour in each spring, but Glenda said the choices had become fewer as people put in easier care gardens or planted natives.“People aren’t gardening as they used to garden, so there are not the same choices,” she said. “Next year, who knows where we will go.”She and Rae, both avid gardeners themselves, enjoy organising the tours, despite that. “We love doing it. It can be stressful at times but, in the end, people are really appreciative.”

Members of the Alexandra Bowling Club and the Alexandra Pétanque Group breathed sighs of relief at the weekend when their respective greens and piste dried out in time for Sunday tournaments.Bowling club manager Paul 'PJ' Jerrom said the club held its Rutherford Memorial competition on Sunday, an event that has taken place since the 1980s in honour of brothers and former life members, Tom and Don Rutherford.“They were instrumental in the club rooms being moved here,” he said of the current location in Poole Road. “Tom was also the national singles champion in 1983.”Tom also ran the Blacks Hotel in Ophir, meaning he was known and well-respected throughout the community. Tom’s son Scotty, who now lives in Australia, sponsors the cup event each year and the club looks forward to being able to host him sometime soon, PJ said.The event is held during the weekend of the Alexandra Blossom Festival and is open to all, with one team coming from Outram this year, he said. Twenty-four players in eight triples teams entered.Winning team, from left, Len Lynskey, Marty Geary, and Kathryn Lynskey with the Rutherford Memorial cup.The winning team was from the Alexandra club, indicating there may have been some home advantage, although the lawn greens were a little slow after torrential rains going into the weekend.Right next door is the home piste of the Alexandra Pétanque Group and the two clubs share their clubhouse and bar. Murray McDowell of Dunedin City Pétanque, skippers his team.Club captain Bernice “Bunny” Hamilton said Sunday was the second year the group had run its Alexandra Blossom Festival Open Triples Tournament, which attracted 12 teams and 36 players. Some had come for the weekend to enjoy the blossom festival while others attended just for the tournament, she said.“The piste was totally flooded on Friday but by Sunday it was totally fine,” she said.Bunny was part of the winning team, together with her husband Roger Hamilton and talented young player Jackson Gallagher (19), of Dunedin City Pétanque.Jackson Gallagher, centre, and Roger and Bernice ‘Bunny’ Hamilton won the pétanque tournament on Sunday.

After a week of water and weather woes resulting in Queenstown issuing a boil water notice, and both Naseby and Omakau residents asked to conserve water to prevent the same, Central Otago mayor Tim Cadogan says this region has long made water quality standards a priority, but it is a long and costly process.Following an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in Queenstown, drinking water regulator Taumata Arowai served a compliance order on the Queensland Lakes District Council, saying the Two Mile water treatment plant was non-compliant with the Water services Act 2021. "The lack of a protozoa barrier at the Two Mile water treatment plant creates a serious risk to public health, demonstrated by confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis affecting consumers in the Queenstown drinking water supply distribution zone served by the Two Mile water treatment plant," Taumata Arowai head of regulatory Steve Taylor said.Not all water treatment plants in Central Otago have protozoa barriers, including Omakau and Ophir, Patearoa, Cromwell and Ranfurly, which have varying types of source water. Central Otago District Council (CODC) was either investigating or putting together a business plan for greater resilience at those treatment plants, CODC communications officer Mary-Jo Tohill said.Tim Cadogan said yesterday (Monday September 25) that the 2021 Act made the requirements for drinking standards compulsory, but before that councils could get around them citing cost constraints.“This council made drinking water quality a priority in the 2018 long-term plan in reaction to the Havelock North situation,” he said.Read more: Mayor’s column: Water woes In 2016, contaminated drinking water was the source of a campylobacteriosis outbreak in the Hawkes Bay township that resulted in thousands becoming ill, 45 people hospitalised, and possibly contributed to four deaths.CODC has spent more than $10M upgrading the Lake Dunstan water supply and has plans in place for all other plants, Tim said.“The problem is it is going to cost big money.”In Queenstown, the council expects the cost of installing a protozoa barrier at the Two Mile plant to cost at least $30M and to take at least three months.“I have a lot of sympathy for where Queenstown is at, because it could have been us,” Tim said, “it could be us tomorrow.”He said for many local councils, the ability to borrow for such massive infrastructure investments was “maxed out”, and the current government’s Three Waters plan was a response to the economic difficulties councils faced.“If you can’t borrow to do all of this work, then the people of today are paying to do the work for people of tomorrow,” Tim said.He did not agree with all that was proposed under the Three Waters proposal but said bigger entities would allow bigger borrowing.Over the coming days the Central App will provide details of drinking water treatment for all CODC supplies and the techniques used.

The Alexandra Blossom Festival weekend may be over for another year but there is still plenty blooming at Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery this week and throughout the school holidays.The Central Otago Art Society is holding its Annual Blossom Festival Art Exhibition through to Friday (September 29), with more than 160 artworks available for sale as well as to view. They cover a broad range of art, with the exception of photography, society president and noted local artist Nigel Wilson said.There are about 100 members in the society, Nigel said, but not only members are represented in the exhibition.“We got a lot of work from outside the region also.”Exhibition visitors are asked to vote for their favourite work of art, and the People’s Choice Award would be announced at 5pm on Friday, he said.The Heafey Gallery has a collection of art with the theme Bloom, and the museum also has a small exhibition of flower arrangements, operations manager Paula Stephenson said.Abby Hinson watches as her children Jaxon (9) and Mahli (7) Thompson create sand gardens. The family was visiting from Melbourne, Australia.Paula said Central stories had been “humming all weekend”, with lots of children visiting for the children’s activities. One of those was to create a sand garden, with flowers provided by Jo of Scrubby Gully, who also judged the resulting arrangements on Sunday afternoon. Prizes were donated by Jean and Russell Checketts, volunteers and supporters of Central Stories.Winners and runners-up in each category were: 7-14-year-olds - Trixie Winckles (9), Jimmie Taylor (8); Six and under - Chloe Wright (6),Toby Chalmers (3).A display of Blossom Festival tabletop floats created by Ruma Tahi Alexandra Primary School five-year-olds is also being shown, and Paula said children’s activities would continue throughout the holidays.These included making Blossom Festival masks, and two treasure hunts - one in conjunction with Central Cinema was a search for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle clues, while the other is a hunt for Blossom Festival clues throughout the museum.Eily (7) and Zara (6) Paterson of Alexandra show the blossom masks they made.It was a busy weekend across the road at Alexandra Community House too, where the Central Otago Model Society had set up its annual Blossom Festival display. Secretary Steve Hills said the society had 32 members, ranging in age from eight to over 80.Steve started making model kitsets when just a boy himself, and he is a little older than that now. “I’ve always had an interest in military subjects and when I was eight I got my first model, and I’ve never stopped.”He remembers the model precisely - a German Tiger I tank.The group came about by accident in 1999, he said, when someone saw a model kit Steve had sitting on the counter of the garage he then owned.“We got talking and he knew others who were interested in models and it started from there.”Of the 10 original members, they discovered that nine had train sets under their beds so miniature railway constructions and tableaux were added to the mix.The group meets every second Sunday of the month at Community House from 1-5pm, and every third Sunday in the Alexandra Scout Hall from 1-4pm.

After days of torrential rain that meant organisers of the Alexandra Blossom Festival had to cancel the Fulton Hogan Mardi Gras and The News Round the Clock Race scheduled on Friday (September 22), Saturday brought some clouds in the morning but none of the forecast afternoon showers.The sun broke through, surprising many who hadn’t thought to pack sunscreen, and there was an extra buzz in the air that the festival, or Blossie as it is affectionately known, had once again run smoothly, if not quite to plan. There were fewer people lining the street for the Grand Parade than last year, but there was no shortage of energy.‘Nee Naw’, the entry from the Little Oaks Early Learning Centre.Alexandra Blossom Festival Senior Queen Jill Checketts, aka 50 Squadron (Alexandra) Air Training Corps Unit Commander, Squadron Leader Checketts, spoke for many when she said the weather was ideal, not too hot to be enjoyable, but still a lovely Central spring day..“There were so many people praying and dancing to make sure this happened today,” she said. “It couldn’t have been better.”The Dunstan Kahui Ako kapa haka group enjoyed the Grand Parade before going on stage themselves.Another woman told the Central App that because of the fierce weather that has seen states of emergency declared in neighbouring regions, the day’s fine weather and the energy of the show felt like a gift.But it was prizes rather than gifts on the minds of many, particularly supporters of the young women vying for the Alexandra Blossom Festival Queen tiara, as well as the many hands in the community that folded thousands of flowers to go on the festival floats.‘Tow Mater’, by Fulton Hogan.The Central App managing director Vicki McLean was one of the judges of the festival queen, and said before naming the runners-up and winner that all the girls were amazing.“We’ve had a fantastic week and it’s been really hard to come up with just one, two, three,” she said.Second Runner-Up was Arlia Murphy, representing Clyde Play Centre, whose float, ‘Up - Adventure Is Out There’, was judged the Best Educational Float. First Runner-Up was Tyla Davidson, representing Eat Humble Pie and Waterworks Plumbing, whose float ‘Gold Fever’ won Best Contemporary Float. The Alexandra Blossom Festival Queen was Myah Turnbull, representing Hire King, whose float, ‘Not Just Fencing and Toilets’, won the Best Small Float.Princess in waiting - Myah Turnbull on the Hire King float had no idea she would be named festival queen.Myah was clearly stunned when her name was announced and was surrounded by family, friends, and well-wishers when she made her way off the stage, if not quite back to earth. The party continued after the official announcements with a good-sized and good-natured crowd enjoying the music on the main stage, and many staying around for a fireworks show rescheduled from the cancelled Friday night Mardi Gras.The festival continues throughout the week so pick up a programme or look at the website and get out to enjoy more of the best that Alexandra has to offer.Check back with the Central App tomorrow for a full list of winners, a chat with the new queen, and another gallery of images.‘Puss in Boots’ by the Combined Lions Clubs of Alexandra & Clyde.‘Minions’ by Grans Who Can.Waiting in line: Vincent Ward Community Board member Jayden Cromb and his family (from left) Aronui, wife Summer, Tamati, and Amiria.Braving a little chill: Festival princess Hailey Petrie on the Puss in Boots float. Family fun: From left, Sandy Tak with twins Nelson and Bay Kim (3), Jiny Tak, and Julia An with Viviana (3) and Liz (5) Park enjoy the day.Admiring their peers: From left, members of the City of Christchurch Highland Pipe Band Carolyn Keddie, and Celine and Craig Gibson listen to Highland Storm on the main stage.Scots and Steampunk: From left, Anne Todd of the Queenstown Pipe Band converses with Alan Bryan and Roscoe Dangerfield, self-proclaimed Inspector of Nuisances to Her Majesty Queen Victoria III, both of Dunedin.Blossie bargains: Izzy Hamill, left, and Kathy Stanton of Alexandra are pleased with their purchases.Dragon dancers: From left, Lucy Loo (12), Hannah Hamilton (14), Erin Loo (10) and Joseph Hamilton (12) are about to return to Dunedin after taking part in the Grand Parade and appearing on stage.Piping up a storm: The band Highland Storm was a favourite with the crowd.

The new chief executive of Central Otago District Council (CODC) Peter Kelly (Ngati Toa Rangatira, Ngati Koata) has an impressive resume. Peter took over at the council after spending five years in the top role at Upper Hutt City Council, but prior to that spent 30 years in the army, rising to the rank of Major General and Chief of the New Zealand Army.In 2019, he was invested as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to the New Zealand Defence Forces, and he has filled many roles overseas, as a UN truce supervisor in Israel, Lebanon, and Syria; detachment commander with the NZSAS group force element in Kuwait; and as military attache in Washington DC, to name a few.Peter said he had been nearing the end of his five-year contract with Upper Hutt council when former CODC chief executive Sanchia Jacobs announced she was moving to another job, and said if anyone was interested in working in paradise, to let her know.“This is paradise,” he said. “My wife and I often came through here most years, and always drove through all the various valleys heading north, and I always thought it would be a great place to live.”You need a job, even in paradise, and the perfect one came up, Peter said. “I was just lucky and fortunate that I was able to get this role.”He started the new role on September 11 after a mihi whakatau, or welcome ceremony, having arrived in Central Otago the previous day. His wife is booked to cross Cook Strait on September 30, “with the dog, a camp stretcher, a chair, and the dog food,” Peter said.Their household effects and the cat would arrive the following week and they would then be settled.Being a former military family, this was their 16th house move, so something they were accustomed to, he said, and the Upper Hutt position had been his longest in one role. “The longest job I did in the army was chief of the army, and that was three years and two months. So five years is quite a long time in one role.”His contract with CODC is also for five years, and Peter said he very much looked forward to that. Central Otago District mayor Tim Cadogan said Peter was settling in really quickly and making efforts to learn about his new home.“I’ve already seen him in attendance at a number of evening community meetings as he gets to know folks,” Tim said.There were some minor adjustments to leaving the military, Peter said, but leadership was leadership and, at its core, was about relationships.“If you want to be able to influence people, you have to be able to build rapport and trust, and the only way you can build rapport and trust is to form a relationship. You have to instil the values of an organisation, up and down.“Most good military leaders are not the stereotypical ones people would think of,” he said. There would always be differences and tensions within communities because councils did have to make decisions, he said, citing wilding pines as one such issue. “There are always challenges. Even simple decisions aren’t necessarily simple decisions.”Asked if he came to the CODC with plans in place for changes he might make, Peter again talked of how he viewed leadership.“Perhaps there’s a science and an art to leadership, and I’m probably more on the art side and less on the science. When people come in with 100-day plans, 90-day plans - I think that’s a little artificial. What you have to do, first and foremost, is build up a relationship, across your council, across your community board members and across your staff.“This is a great council, it’s been doing some really great things. It’s really quite progressive in a number of areas. It’s definitely in the right direction. My job is to come in here and continue to work with our elected officials and make sure we maintain that direction.”However, these were really challenging times for local councils, he said, which provide a broad range of services for communities.“I’m not actually sure people realise the depth and breadth of what councils do. People focus on what is poor, but if councils didn’t do some of the stuff, nobody would do it, so there would be gaps in our society. Councils have picked up a lot, and some of that is in the social space.”He said Covid showed that when central government tried to develop policies to support the community, they were too removed and needed councils and community groups to be the deliverers of support services for communities during those times.“Councils have to, first of all, be able to support and serve their community but, equally, councils are a business and an organisation. They have to be prudent with the money they get. “All New Zealanders are finding the pinch pretty tough in the cost of living, and councils do have to look at that. This is going to be a tough time for this council, and all councils, with the long-term plan because they are going to have to look at how they deliver their services, the levels of service they deliver, and what is affordable going forward. There are going to be some tough discussions and some tough decisions that our elected officials will have to make.” Peter brings a cross-cultural perspective to his role, both from his career and his own history. Born to a young Māori father and Italian mother, Peter and his twin brother were adopted by an Irish father and English mother, and reconnected with their parents, by then married with other children, when Peter was a teenager.He said since their teens, he and his brother had grown up in two families, both of which were very important to him.“One can’t deny one’s whakapapa. You are who you are, and my children look like their cousins, they look like their uncles and aunties. My father is very strong in the iwi and did grow up there. I still have a strong connection with my iwi and continue to support them in my capacity. Even though it was late in the piece, it is who I am.“I’m part-Māori and I’m very proud of that.”His son is a major in the army, and his daughter has settled in Melbourne. In their leisure time, Peter and his wife planned to enjoy walking the dog and cycling, and he enjoyed skiing, he said.“We really just like being in wide open spaces, taking in the views, and relaxing, and where we can, spending time with family.”

There were squeals of joy and laughter at Central Cinema last weekend even before the movie began, when a special advance screening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was held for Central Otago families.Cinema board co-chair Tracy Blackwell said the invitation-only screening for families who partnered with Uruuruwhenua Health was the first such event held at the cinema post-Covid. The movie opens to the general public on Monday (September 25).“As a community cinema, part of our brief is to give back to the community and the event was really centred around families,” she said. “We wanted them to come and have a wonderful experience.”Children were encouraged to dress up, green balloons were adorned with ribbons as masks to represent the ninja turtles, and Tracy and the other two members of the cinema’s marketing team wore costumes themselves. The cinema is fully run by volunteers, many of whom, like Tracy, perform more than one role.“It went really, really well,” she said. “There were lots of squeals and laughter in the foyer, where there were spot prizes, lucky dips and random ticket draws for prizes and vouchers.”Following such a successful event, the cinema would “absolutely” host more of the same, and looked forward to doing so taking forward the lessons learned from the event, Tracy said.

It was a day for firefighters and their families as the Ranfurly Fire Brigade held an open day on Saturday (September 16) to celebrate its 75th Jubilee.Station officer William Dowling said about 100 people attended over the course of the day, experiencing a demonstration of rural fire equipment, portable pumps and portable dams, a simulated motor vehicle accident where firefighters showed how someone would be cut out if need be, and a great favourite with big and small kids, using the fire hoses. The brigade, whose members are all volunteers, also marked 50 years of service for senior firefighter Ewan Mason, and the unveiling of a new honours board.William has two brothers in the rural brigade, and his sons Fletcher and Emmett have followed in his footsteps to become volunteer firefighters.“In the Maniototo there are about 50 operational firefighters,” he said. Volunteer firefighter Fletcher Dowling assists Mackenzie Scott (10) to knock down a target.William’s wife, Michelle, said the firefighting community was a family too.“We’re a wee bit isolated from elsewhere so when something happens, we all pull together,” she said. Taking young children through the station could also remove any fear that young children might feel at hearing sirens, Michelle said.“Now that they are first responders as well, the siren is not just for fires. If you’ve got grandma and she’s not well, they often come to assist.”Ranfurly Chief Fire Officer James Hazlett said becoming first responders 30 years ago was one of many changes he had seen in his 38 years of volunteering.The biggest change had been in the use of technology, with firefighters being sent alerts to incidents on their cell phones so they could go straight there rather than marshalling first at the station. “Our communities can’t exist without volunteers,” he said.That was no news to Michelle, who said her sons were always going to follow their father as volunteers.“We have always taught the kids to give back to the community,” she said.

For newly minted New Zealand citizens Martin Sayer and Mel Hall, good things truly have taken time.New Zealand citizenship has been a long time coming for Martin, who was originally to move to New Zealand in 1969. He and Mel were two of 16 new citizenships conferred by Central Otago district mayor Tim Cadogan on Friday (September 15).Martin’s father and grandfather were both engineers, as is Martin, and his grandfather moved to New Zealand in 1969, with Martin’s immediate family to follow.“My grandfather liked New Zealand and he decided he would move on over first. He came over, bought a house, and set up a business that my dad was going to run with him.“We lived in Kent and we sold the house. We went down to Southampton and literally got to the boat to get on the boat and my sister started screaming in pain.”She was rushed to hospital in London, where she spent the next year as one of her legs was not growing properly.“We ended up moving to the Isle of Wight where we stayed with my other grandmother and grandfather,” he said. “My granddad had to come back because he was on his own then.”The family did not know he had suffered a minor heart attack while in New Zealand, and a few weeks after arriving back in the United Kingdom, he had a major heart attack and died.Martin married and had children but the marriage did not last, and Mel’s relationship story was similar, with children and a relationship breakdown.That was until one day when Martin was visiting his mother, who Mel lived opposite. The two, both in their 40s by now, had been nodding acquaintances but never really spoken.Mel was in her garage and he stopped to talk with her, “and we got chatting and that was it really”, Martin said.Mel had also lived on the Isle of Wight at the same time as Martin and the two worked out that in their entire lives, they had never lived more than seven miles apart.“It was like it was meant to be,” Martin said.The couple both made their citizenship affirmations in te reo Maori after the mayor read out their stories, and they said tikanga and te reo Maori were important to them.“We both love the Maori language, the culture, the beliefs,” Martin said. “Ninety percent of our friends in the North Island were Maori or Pasifika. We were made welcome in their whānau, in their traditions.”When they first arrived in Tauranga, they were welcomed into the home of a Maori woman, who they said was amazing.“Arrangements were made to stay with a lady - we had never met her,” Martin said. “She opened her door to us, everything she had was ours.“We were walking in the water one evening and we saw a stingray come in, and then we saw three stingrays. There’s a Maori legend about three stingrays and she said it meant we would stay.”“We knew then,” Mel said. “She printed the story off for us and we have had it on our fridge ever since.”They first moved to Greymouth and their weekends would often involve driving to Central to tramp or climb.“We love the mountains, the tranquility, we are really into nature,” Mel said.“And we find the people are friendlier down here,” Martin added. “We’ll go tramping and end up sitting down having a coffee with someone.”

In the run-up to the general election on October 14, the Central App is introducing you to all those running in Central Otago, whether for the Southland, Waitaki or Te Tai Tonga electorates.We asked each candidate to comment on some issues of concern to Central Otago residents and elsewhere: housing and the cost of renting; the cost of living; the future of tourism; Christchurch International Airport’s plans to develop an international airport at Tarras; and one other issue they wished to address.Today we hear from the Hon Rino Tirikatene, Labour Party candidate for the Māori seat of Te Tai Tonga (which he currently holds), the Minister for Courts, and Minister of State for Trade and Export Growth. Rino Tirikatene says the past 12 months have been tough going for many whānau, but under Grant Robertson’s steady hand and Chris Hipkins’ leadership the economy was turning a corner. “Inflation is down, our cost of living payment put more money in people’s back pockets, the Winter Energy payments saw thousands of families through winter, and boosts to Working for Families and superannuation are helping whānau get ahead,” he said. “At this election we’re proposing to build on this by taking GST off fresh fruit and veggies, making dental care free for under 30s, and increasing and extending subsidies for childcare. The cost of living can bite particularly hard in Central, where the cost of freight and food is often higher, so we see GST-removal as a particularly important policy to take the bite off that supermarket receipt.” Regarding housing, Rino said he is proud the Labour government built more state homes than any other government since the 1950s. “That’s huge for whānau across the motu helping take pressure off the private rental market,” he said.“I’m also proud of our policies unlocking development. Under the Medium Density Residential Standards we’ve made it easier for developers to build up as well as out. For whānau Māori, we’ve also allocated more than $350M for papakāinga with these developments taking place from Bluff to Christchurch and in between. The aim is to deliver more than 1,000 homes specifically for whānau.” Tourism in Central Otago demanded a delicate balance, Rino said. “On the one hand, tourism creates thousands of jobs across nature, adventure, hospitality, hotels, and more. But on the other hand, ever-increasing tourism numbers place enormous pressure on infrastructure, housing, and amenities. Under Labour’s tourism strategy, we’re aiming to unlock investment in sustainable tourism funding initiatives that focus on high value products and higher spending tourists who stay longer rather than low spending tourists who quickly cycle through a destination. We’re mindful, too, of partnering with tourism operators - including Ngāi Tahu in Queenstown - to steer this work.”He said he was closely following Christchurch International Airport’s plan to develop a new international airport at Tarras. “First, I’ve heard significant local opposition from people in Tarras and Cromwell,” Rino said. “Second, I’m mindful of the climate change implications. Third, I’d like to see a region-wide needs assessment. Can Queenstown and Dunedin handle the forecast increase in visitor numbers? And do we need millions more visitors to Central in the first place? “My advice as a former commercial manager for Ngāi Tahu is to be guided by local needs and wants on this issue. An international airport is an enormous 100-year investment, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Rino chose Māori issues as his optional topic, and said one of the highlights of his year was the Matariki celebrations. “Cities and towns across the South marked the Māori new year. It was an awesome demonstration of how, as a country and people, we’re united. I’m proud, too, that these celebrations were made possible by our government’s decision to make Matariki a public holiday. This is part of our commitment to Māori and to New Zealanders. But we’re also committed to material gains putting more investment into Mana in Mahi, a jobs and training scheme for young people, more investment into housing including papakāinga, and more investment into education including Māori trades training.” 

The Cromwell Community Board was quick to approve one community and two promotions grants at its meeting on Wednesday (September 13), with a second request for a community grant being the subject of much discussion on whose purview it was.The board had $49,925 to distribute for community grants in both this initial round of funding and a second round scheduled for the first half of 2024. It had $11,224 remaining in the promotions grant to distribute for this round and the second round.Speaking in the public forum at the start of the meeting, Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust executive Janeen Wood requested $10,686 to cover an unexpected invoice from Central Otago District Council (CODC) for a peer review in the resource consent process for the proposed Kawarau Gorge Trail. The trust had made a joint resource consent application to CODC and Queenstown Lakes District Council to simplify the process.Janeen said the amount was more than the trust spent on its resource consent application. The trust had offered to pay $3,000 towards the cost but was told by council staff they were unable to adjust the fee and advised to approach the Cromwell Community Board for a grant.“The trail is economically sustainable and our community is benefiting from this through financial and, more importantly, well-being benefits,” she said.Board chair Anna Harrison told Janeen the board had no function in consenting.“We are a small town and we are a community board for small funding to do these things,” Anna said.When the request came up during the grants funding, adjusted to $7,686 to take into account the $3,000 offered by the trust, the board was sympathetic that the trust had felt blindsided by the invoice, but felt it was not a Cromwell responsibility.“It’s a tricky one for us because as a community board, at this level, we have no function in consenting at all,” Anna said.CODC mayor Tim Cadogan said council did not have appropriate grants, despite, in his view, the trails serving the whole of the community and bringing money to the whole of the community.“We have other ways we can pay it,” Tim said. “It’s council’s problem, you should tell council that.”The board declined the application, referring the matter back to CODC, and noting that further investigation would be done to ensure the charge was appropriate.The second community funding application was for $10,000 toward the upgrade of the existing kitchen at the Bannockburn Bowling Club. The club had raised the remaining $120,000 itself, a feat the board found astounding.Deputy chair Bob Scott said it was amazing the club had managed to raise that amount with only 30 members.The board approved the grant.It also approved promotions grants of $1,500 for Arts Central towards its 2024 exhibition; and of $4,000 to Dare to Sweat Events for its Spirited Women Event 2023.In a separate funding request, the board considered a request from the Cromwell Golf Club for $10,000 from the Cromwell Golf Club fund to assist with the cost of a new greens mower.The former Cromwell Borough Council established fund accounts for the clubs that leased council reserve land, with each club fund account funded by the annual rentals that the clubs paid for the land. The money requested would come from the golf club’s fund account.As president of the club, Bob excused himself from the discussion.“It’s very straightforward, they have money set aside,” Anna said.The board approved the funding. 

A lot has changed in education in the last few decades, leaving some parents wondering how the system works. Hundreds of senior students around Central Otago are gearing up for evidence exam week (results from evidence exams are used as final grades if students cannot attend the end of year exams for any reason). All secondary schools across New Zealand take part in these exams, but evidence exams occur at different times in term three depending on the school.  The Central App sees exam week as a good time to explain NCEA so the community can commiserate with stressed-out students.  NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) - introduced between 2002-2004 - is a system of educational assessment used in New Zealand. NCEA is designed to assess and recognise the achievements of secondary school students. Here's how NCEA works: It is divided into three main levels, corresponding to different years of secondary education. Level 1 is typically taken in Year 11; Level 2 is typically taken in Year 12; and level 3 is typically taken in Year 13.The NCEA system is credit-based. To earn an NCEA certificate at each level, students need to accumulate a specific number of credits. In level 1, this is 80 credits with 10 coming from numeracy and 10 coming from literacy. In levels 2 and 3, this number decreases to 60.  Credits are awarded for achieving specific learning outcomes or standards.Students who excel in a specific subject area can earn subject endorsements by achieving a set number of credits in that subject at a particular level. These endorsements demonstrate a high level of achievement in a specific subject.In addition to subject endorsements, students can also earn course endorsements by achieving a certain number of credits at Excellence or Merit level across all their subjects.There is a separate set of requirements for entrance to university. Students taking level 3 must gain 14 credits in three university-approved subjects. These subjects range from English and Biology to French and Design. This is the first year since 2020 seemingly unaffected by Covid-19.“I am feeling confident this year but at the same time I’m a bit stressed as I have to pass exams to get into university,” one student told the Central App.End of year exams start on November 13th for all NCEA students. 

Alexandra police are reminding car owners to take extra care after a recent spate of cars being broken into and valuables taken. Acting Sergeant Graham Perkins said there had been up to six incidents in a fortnight in the Killarney Street - Simmonds Street area.“Being Alexandra, this doesn’t usually happen,” he said. “It’s someone new who has come to town.”Police are following up on leads but he reminded residents to make sure their vehicles were secured and parked under lights, and that all valuables were removed from the vehicle.Driving at speed was still a constant issue, with a driver stopped after doing 120km/h in a 50km/h zone on Tarbert Street over the weekend. That resulted in the vehicle being impounded and the driver’s licence taken. A vehicle was also clocked at 150km/h at Fruitlands in a 100km/h zone. The driver was also driving erratically, and the car was stopped in Roxburgh where it was safe to do so. The driver was transferred to Dunedin for further assessment.With the general election looming and hoardings sprouting around the city, Graham said the signs had been vandalised frequently. “It happens every time there is an election,” he said. “Just leave them alone.”The 66th Alexandra Blossom Festival is scheduled for next weekend (September 22-24) and Graham said police would maintain a presence, particularly with a group of car enthusiasts who drive through from Gore for the event.“Last year, it was good,” Graham said. “As long as we’re friendly with them, they’re generally good and law-abiding.”Police would also be present at Pioneer Park during the festival, although it was a well-run event with little for them to do, he said.“We will be conducting breath testing in the area.”Other road issues of concern were the removal or relocation of road cones from roadworks, and drivers exceeding speed restrictions that changed in Clyde, Earnscleugh Road, and Dunstan Road last year.“The locals asked for these and it’s mainly the locals exceeding them,” Graham said. “The period for warnings finished a long time ago and people can expect an infringement notice if caught.”Livestock were also an issue in the Cromwell Gorge and Ida Valley with spring bringing with it a new generation of goats and pigs, and drivers were advised to take extra care on those roads.There may also be new faces on the force soon, with a constable’s position being advertised in Alexandra, and a sergeant’s position to take over the rural side of policing, supporting sole charge officers in Ranfurly, Omakau and Roxburgh.

The proof is in the pudding, says Otago trails marketing executive Geoff Marks of the group being named a finalist in the annual Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) awards. The group is up for a TIA Industry Collaboration Award, which recognises a group of businesses or organisations that have aligned or partnered to successfully maximise their tourism industry impact and results. Geoff said in the last year Destination Queenstown and Queenstown Trails had joined the group, with a memorandum of understanding extended to 2025.  The Otago Trails Marketing Group is made up of the regional tourism organisations of Central Otago, Dunedin, Queenstown and Clutha, an operators’ group, and five of New Zealand’s Ngā Haerenga Great Rides. These are the Otago Central Rail Trail, Roxburgh Gorge Trail, Clutha Gold Trail, Lake Dunstan Trail, and Queenstown Trails.  Watch video hereGeoff, who is part of the Tourism Central Otago team at Central Otago District Council, said that by joining forces, the group could market its rides more successfully. “Our focus is to be entirely collaborative in the marketing and promotion of the Otago cycle trail network, leveraging economies of scale and avoiding duplication.“Increasingly, activity has evolved to support destination management, trail safety campaigns, product development and enhancing operator capability.”  Shayne O’Connor, trails manager for the Lake Dunstan Trail, Roxburgh Gorge Trail and Clutha Gold Trail, said the nomination is affirmation that the project had been a resounding success, showing the value of true collaboration.    “The collaborative approach has been an incredible success, not only in driving demand for our cycle trails from visitors, but also in seeing operators and trails supporting one another. “In previous years they may have seen each other as competition, but now everyone is understanding that by working together and sharing knowledge the entire region wins by visitors having an exceptional experience and returning to take on a different trail.”  The latest member to join the group, Destination Queenstown, is also seeing benefits, its marketing and communications director Sarah O’Donnell said.  “We were delighted to be invited to collaborate as the objectives of the group strongly aligned with our regenerative tourism focus, and biking represents a low impact/slow travel activity that supports our region’s decarbonisation goal.” The winners will be announced at an awards dinner in Wellington on November 7, 2023.    

The proof is in the pudding, says Otago trails marketing executive Geoff Marks of the group being named a finalist in the annual Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) awards. The group is up for a TIA Industry Collaboration Award, which recognises a group of businesses or organisations that have aligned or partnered to successfully maximise their tourism industry impact and results. Geoff said in the last year Destination Queenstown and Queenstown Trails had joined the group, with a memorandum of understanding extended to 2025.  The Otago Trails Marketing Group is made up of the regional tourism organisations of Central Otago, Dunedin, Queenstown and Clutha, an operators’ group, and five of New Zealand’s Ngā Haerenga Great Rides. These are the Otago Central Rail Trail, Roxburgh Gorge Trail, Clutha Gold Trail, Lake Dunstan Trail, and Queenstown Trails.  Watch video hereGeoff, who is part of the Tourism Central Otago team at Central Otago District Council, said that by joining forces, the group could market its rides more successfully. “Our focus is to be entirely collaborative in the marketing and promotion of the Otago cycle trail network, leveraging economies of scale and avoiding duplication.“Increasingly, activity has evolved to support destination management, trail safety campaigns, product development and enhancing operator capability.”  Shayne O’Connor, trails manager for the Lake Dunstan Trail, Roxburgh Gorge Trail and Clutha Gold Trail, said the nomination is affirmation that the project had been a resounding success, showing the value of true collaboration.    “The collaborative approach has been an incredible success, not only in driving demand for our cycle trails from visitors, but also in seeing operators and trails supporting one another. “In previous years they may have seen each other as competition, but now everyone is understanding that by working together and sharing knowledge the entire region wins by visitors having an exceptional experience and returning to take on a different trail.”  The latest member to join the group, Destination Queenstown, is also seeing benefits, its marketing and communications director Sarah O’Donnell said.  “We were delighted to be invited to collaborate as the objectives of the group strongly aligned with our regenerative tourism focus, and biking represents a low impact/slow travel activity that supports our region’s decarbonisation goal.” The winners will be announced at an awards dinner in Wellington on November 7, 2023.    

They won’t be hosting a national tournament this season, and the streaker who bared all at last year’s event may not turn up again, but the Alexandra Bowling Club looks forward to a busy season once it resumes play outdoors on Sunday, September 17.The club got unexpected publicity nation-wide in February when a streaker was a first for the club, a sign they were joining mainstream sports, manager Paul (PJ) Jerrom said at the time.The opening day is set to be a more sedate affair, with 92-year-old club member Andy Benington placing the first jack, and Southland member of parliament Joseph Mooney rolling the first bowl to officially open the season.The following Sunday, during Blossie Weekend, the club will host its annual Don and Tom Rutherford Memorial Triples. Don and Tom were very well respected members of the local community, especially in Alexandra and Omakau, PJ said. The competition is open to all bowlers, including any visiting Alexandra for the Blossom FestivalOne of the initiatives the club has started this season is a competitive league for women bowlers across Central Otago.New club president Mike Harris said it gave the women the opportunity to play at a competitive level.“There was nothing weekend-based for competitive women bowlers so we thought we would start something,” he said.Players from Queenstown, Arrowtown, Hāwea, Wānaka, and Cromwell would test their skills against the Alexandra players.The club is again running the social bowls on Monday nights in October and November, which proved popular last season and brought some new and younger members to join as members. Called Bowls, Brews and BBQs, the event is for amateurs and those who have never played before, with coaching offered each Monday for half an hour before the social competition begins. The format is triples, or teams of three, but the team does not need to have the same players each week.“It’s great for after work, music playing, and you can play with your mates or work friends and have a good time,” PJ said.Local business Fulton Hogan Central, a long-time sponsor of the club, will take over the greens on Thursday evenings in October and November for its own inter-departmental challenge.The club is also seeking to attract new bowlers of any age.“To entice new bowlers, we’re setting up an induction programme with an introduction to bowling and the chance to meet members of the club,” Mike said.The bowling club and sister organisation, the Alexandra Petanque Club, will also host two classes from Dunstan High School for three sessions during the season.“It’s part of their NCEA requirements,” PJ said. “They have to learn the skills and rules of a non-mainstream sport.”

They won’t be hosting a national tournament this season, and the streaker who bared all at last year’s event may not turn up again, but the Alexandra Bowling Club looks forward to a busy season once it resumes play outdoors on Sunday, September 17.The club got unexpected publicity nation-wide in February when a streaker was a first for the club, a sign they were joining mainstream sports, manager Paul (PJ) Jerrom said at the time.The opening day is set to be a more sedate affair, with 92-year-old club member Andy Benington placing the first jack, and Southland member of parliament Joseph Mooney rolling the first bowl to officially open the season.The following Sunday, during Blossie Weekend, the club will host its annual Don and Tom Rutherford Memorial Triples. Don and Tom were very well respected members of the local community, especially in Alexandra and Omakau, PJ said. The competition is open to all bowlers, including any visiting Alexandra for the Blossom FestivalOne of the initiatives the club has started this season is a competitive league for women bowlers across Central Otago.New club president Mike Harris said it gave the women the opportunity to play at a competitive level.“There was nothing weekend-based for competitive women bowlers so we thought we would start something,” he said.Players from Queenstown, Arrowtown, Hāwea, Wānaka, and Cromwell would test their skills against the Alexandra players.The club is again running the social bowls on Monday nights in October and November, which proved popular last season and brought some new and younger members to join as members. Called Bowls, Brews and BBQs, the event is for amateurs and those who have never played before, with coaching offered each Monday for half an hour before the social competition begins. The format is triples, or teams of three, but the team does not need to have the same players each week.“It’s great for after work, music playing, and you can play with your mates or work friends and have a good time,” PJ said.Local business Fulton Hogan Central, a long-time sponsor of the club, will take over the greens on Thursday evenings in October and November for its own inter-departmental challenge.The club is also seeking to attract new bowlers of any age.“To entice new bowlers, we’re setting up an induction programme with an introduction to bowling and the chance to meet members of the club,” Mike said.The bowling club and sister organisation, the Alexandra Petanque Club, will also host two classes from Dunstan High School for three sessions during the season.“It’s part of their NCEA requirements,” PJ said. “They have to learn the skills and rules of a non-mainstream sport.”