Inland Otago lakes and rivers are at risk from the potential spread of freshwater gold clam - and a surveillance programme is underway to monitor the new invasive species.The Otago Regional Council (ORC) said last week numerous freshwater systems in Otago were considered suitable for Corbicula fluminea colonisation.  But so far none have been detected in the South Island.  A report from staff to councillors outlined that the region’s lakes and rivers provided the temperature and nutrient conditions conducive to their establishment.The new-to New Zealand freshwater clam was found in the Waikato River in May 2023 and in March 2024, a second species of exotic clam at the Lake Taupō Aqua Park. “These species are considered to be highly invasive as they can spread quickly in rivers using water flows and are easily transported to new waterways via human activity,’’ the report said.“They can out-compete and displace native and taoka[treasured] species, compromise water quality, clog and damage water infrastructure, such as hydroelectricity and municipal water, and impact tourism and recreational values,” the report said.Regional council staff have proactively implemented a surveillance programme using water sampling for environmental DNA (eDNA). Locations of eDNA water sampling for freshwater clams around Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDThe report said there was also competition with and displacement of native species such as Kākahi/Freshwater Mussel (Echyridella menziesii) and exacerbation of water quality issues by reworking sediment and releasing nutrients.Dunstan ward councillor Gary Kelliher said it would be a disaster to have the clams in our waterways “as we have enough biosecurity issues currently blocking up screens for intakes, etc.”There was also the potential of spread into South Island waterways from rowing crews taking their boats away to regattas and returning them, he said.Other surveillance efforts included briefing the divers, engaged by Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) to manage invasive lagarosiphon in some of Otago’s high-risk lakes, to look out for Corbicula.Freshwater clams could produce 400 juveniles per day and up to 70,000 juveniles per year, resulting in infestations reaching extremely high densities in optimal conditions and smothering benthic habitats with shells.This has given Corbicula a reputation of one of the most prolific freshwater invaders worldwide.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

A gold mining company with a fast-tracked expansion project has a poor history complying with consent conditions, a regional council audit shows.The audit of OceanaGold's Macraes mine by Otago Regional Council, completed in October, found "continued or repeated non-compliances" with several resource consent environmental monitoring conditions between 2019 and 2024.It also found a trend of declining aquatic health in the surrounding ecosystem, but did not deem this a breach by itself.The council did not take enforcement action against the company, which said it was working proactively with the council to improve compliance.The Otago gold mine has been in operation since 1990 and an expansion project set for inclusion in the fast-track legislation, which passed its second reading in Parliament on Wednesday, will extend the life of the mine by a decade, from 2026 to 2036.Green Party environment spokesperson Lan Pham said the company's past performance was disappointing."The fact that this level of non-compliance is going on with companies that have been put through in this fast-track process will be hugely concerning to people," Pham said.She said the fast-track legislation's purpose - to facilitate the delivery of infrastructure and development projects with significant regional or national benefits - will give expert panels little choice but to approve projects.Environmental considerations are not included in the bill's purpose, although panels will be able to suggest conditions of approval.But even with stringent conditions in place, there was no guarantee these would be adhered to, or if breached, councils would take action to stop environmental harm, Pham said.Green Party MP Lan Pham Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnonOceanaGold's poor results at Macraes mine included higher than allowed chemical and algae levels in water, gaps in monitoring, non-notification of when levels were exceeded, and a lack of reported action taken when limits passed a trigger point.OceanGold also submitted most quarterly and annual reports to the council late, with one report submitted almost a year late and more than half submitted five months after they were due.OceanaGold's senior vice president of legal and public affairs Alison Paul said there were acknowledged issues with the sampling and reporting systems, which the audit highlighted. The company had been working proactively with the council to adhere to the conditions of consents, she said.The company corrected issues as they arose so it could comply with consent conditions, Paul said."Ongoing improvements to how we manage water at Macraes reflect this commitment, with the recent audit confirming a strong track record of maintaining water quality standards at Macraes."Otago Regional Council did not take any enforcement action against OceanaGold despite the repeated breaches.Council compliance manager Carlo Bell said not all non-compliance resulted in enforcement action."It depends on the type of non-compliance that has been identified, effect of the non-compliance and the seriousness of the non-compliance."The compliance levels in the quarterly reports ranged from a low level of non-compliance to a "significant" level, which is the highest level of non-compliance, where there are significant environmental consequences.An action plan was put in place to improve the company's performance, Bell said.Bell could not say if all tasks which were due to be completed had been done, but said the council was monitoring progress and meeting with the company.The council's audit said staffing issues at OceanaGold were believed to be part of the reason for late reporting. A change in management in 2023 had improved matters.Pham said the council had cut the company "a lot of slack"."This isn't just someone being away from work and there being absences. This is sustained, ongoing non-compliance and then we have these companies rubber-stamped under fast track to not only continue, but expand their activities," she said. "That's the real concern."A Flourish data visualisationHistory of consent breachesThe recent audit showed a water quality limit was breached 29 times, including a recent seven-month period where sulphate levels at one monitoring spot were higher than the allowed amount. The highest level included in the audit was more than double the limit of 1000mg/l.Non-compliance of the quarterly water quality reports ranged from a ranking of low non-compliance (five reports), moderate (eight reports) and significant (two reports). Another five reports did not have a grade assigned.The audit said the reporting showed a trend of declining aquatic ecosystem health.This was not considered a breach in of itself, though, as conditions in the consent were focused on monitoring.Ecologist Mike Joy said that was "bizarre"."Unbelievable and obviously wrong, because we should be looking at effects. The RMA is about effects, not whether you are monitoring correctly or not."Carlo Bell said the decision on what conditions should be applied to the consents was made by an independent hearing panel."The compliance and monitoring schedule for the consents says that the consent holder has to investigate and implement mitigations if the aquatic biological values degrade and council's role is to make sure that this happens in line with the wording of the condition, which has been completed through the audit process."Investigations by OceanaGold had been completed, but these could not "conclusively" attribute the decline to mining as there were other activities taking place in the area."Work on this is ongoing by the consent holder,"Bell said.The company said it was making changes to how it managed water at three locations where sampling showed declining trends in stream conditions.A Flourish data visualisation

Dunstan ward Otago Regional councillor Michael Laws claims payments totalling $5.3 million made to iwi through its partnership with local government have been kept secret from the public.However the regional council disputes the claim saying there has been no secrecy - the payments came from a wide range of sources, including Government funding for various work carried out with iwi over the past five years. Following Official Information Act (OIA) requests, Cr Laws questioned on his The Platform show this week, why the regional council hadn’t included these payments in its annual plan or annual report.“Each year I have gone through the annual plan process for a breakdown of the funding and became increasingly concerned about the financial information to make an informed decision,’’ he said.Having been on the regional council for the past eight years, he described himself as “usually a voice in the wilderness,” but was pleased in recent months other councillors had started to support him.Otago Regional councillor Michael Laws has questioned the transparency of local government’s partnership with iwi and its payments over the past five years. FILE SHOTChief executive Richard Saunders said the $5.3 million was made up of $3.48million ‘actual’ payments, including $1.5m of grant funding from the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and Department of Conservation (DOC) with the approximate balance of $1.76m being largely proposed spending out to 2027.For the $1.5m of grant funding there was no cost to the ratepayer, “this was for Jobs for Nature/Essential Freshwater funding across two key projects,” he said.The payments weren’t visible to the public as they were part of the overall project costs across different business areas. “A number of these payments are for input to activities across the ORC’s business and coded to different projects, for example the Land and Water Regional Plan, biodiversity planning, consenting, cultural values inputs to natural hazards planning.”In a statement released this week, Cr Laws said that he had always opposed the concept of the regional council entering a “self described partnership” with local iwi – calling them a small group of Maori folk provided with especial favours and influence as a consequence.Cr Laws believed that the financial payments also suggested a clear conflict of interest relating to those iwi representatives being included on council policy-making committees.But Richard said the funding deeds between MfE and DOC was for direct services to be provided by iwi such as planting, weeding and pest management.“These deeds of funding were approved by council. We don’t provide detailed project level budgeting in our planning documents, which is why these payments aren’t visible. However they were budgeted for, and provided for as part of the overall project costs.” The Long-term Plan 2021-2031 included a service level measure ‘’Build Mana Whenua participation in Council decision making through a treaty-based partnership approach in our engagement. With a measure of work done in partnership with iwi; increase the number of outputs and groups working together on projects'’.  “We also include a summary of iwi activity in each year’s Annual Report. So while the line costs aren’t reported, we actively talk about the work we’re doing together in public and it’s not secret,” Richard said. 

Trigger Warning: This story talks about, firearms, hunting, firearms laws, mental health and suicideIf you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or out-of-sorts, here’s some numbers to connect you 24 hours a day to people trained to help:Free call or text 1737Lifeline 0800 543 354If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, please call 111New charitable trust Mental Hunts, is promoting better mental health and well-being among hunters - and their work is gaining traction.Wānaka’s Glen Thurston, together with hunting guide Sam Manson has launched a website, YouTube channel with episodes, while advocating with stakeholder groups including Te Tari Pūreke Firearm Safety Authority New Zealand, New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA), the NZ Police, local hunting groups and health organisations. Glen returns as a podcast guest today, and talks with host Brent about how he got involved in helping hunters with their mental health. LINK: add link to podcast please Back in October 2019, Glen was struggling with mental health challenges of his own. He tried to get help and had his firearms removed, which as he was farming at the time he said “made life really difficult”. This experience uncovered a significant issue within the firearms community: the fear of seeking mental health support due to the potential threat of losing one's licence.“You think if someone's got a firearms license and they're not well, we all know the suicide rate and mental health [challenges in] the farming industry [are] pretty high,’’ Glen said.“If they have that fear of losing their firearms, they're not gonna get help. “If you have every single farmer not getting help, just because they don't [want] to lose their firearms, because they need their firearms to do their job. “Long-term, I see this being a massive crisis for the country. We're doing all this good stuff about breaking the stigma and men's mental health . . . but in the background, there's this hidden barrier and no one's talking about it, no one's doing anything about it.”“I thought it was time to step up . . . I'm doing this for everyone else and it needs to change. Otherwise, people will die and it won't be the guns doing it. It'll be the fact that they haven't had the help they needed early.”Glen said he was creating resources specifically to help hunters, and he recognised hunting was almost meditative and good for people's wellbeing.“If you do have a successful hunt, the feeling of that is just incredible. The fact that you're about to go and harvest an animal, take it home and have your kids help you cut that animal up, put it on the table and cook it on the barbie."It's just a nice feeling, especially in a time like we're in now where the cost of groceries is killing people. It's literally, it's, it's out of control. So to be able to put one deer on the table, you're saving yourself [almost] a thousand bucks worth of meat for months and months. “[There] is nothing you can compare it to, it is mountain medicine. It is meditation in the hills. It's what I do for meditation. I've said it before, but I love the concept of meditation and sitting in my room and meditating, but I'm just really crap at it. My mind wanders, but you get out hunting and you are, you're in that moment.”Listen to Glen’s perspective on the stigma around mental health, the importance of getting help early, rural life and how disclosing counselling or medication for mental health can mean licence holders can keep their guns on today's episode of The Outlet.Find helplines and mental health information on The Central App’s  Health section. Hear more: Glen was interviewed about his ‘Turn the Corner’ mental health campaign. Breaking barriers and building communities, June 2023 Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

One of Central Otago’s biggest District Plan changes has been signed off - despite wracking up 15 appeals to the Environment Court.The majority of Plan Change 19, which will eventually see infill of inner residential towns across the district, is now officially operative meaning many landowners with large sections could now start subdividing.Hearings panel chair Neil Gillespie, who led the process, said 15 appeals out of 170+ submissions was pretty good, “because it just wasn’t possible to give everyone what they wanted.”The message from some submitters was not to intensify small towns such as Bannockburn, Lowburn and Tarras, and those appealing through the Environment Court ranged from individuals to groups, in both Cromwell and Alexandra.Pisa Moorings Vineyard and Pisa Village Developments, along with North Cromwell Society were among the 15, as well as Fulton Hogan, and One Five Five Developments in Alexandra.Plan Change 19 opened up the market for a wider range of housing typologies, for developers to try different things.Central Otago deputy mayor and Cromwell ward councillor Neil Gillespie led the hearings panel for Plan Change 19 FILE SHOTCr Gillespie said it also meant people trying to get into a house of their own, or a rental, would have different choices and options available in the near future.  Enabling smaller sized sections provided more people with certainty, and with plenty of spare private land across Central Otago, the district council was just the ‘enabler’ of the plan change.The process was about making sure that the district had a plan for residential land being available for the next 30 years, he said.The council had worked hard with communities to understand where they wanted the growth to happen.“There will always be conflicting expectations from the community, but considering what we went through, the vast majority will be happy.”Preliminary discussions were already underway with the parties appealing some of the changes.Read the appeals here

In today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world, media continues to face challenges as does any business globally.Traditional revenue streams are dwindling, audiences are fragmented, and the rise of digital platforms has transformed how we consume news, use services and buy products. It is saddening to see media outlets across the country close their doors, leaving journalists out of work and stories untold.Yet, amidst this chaos, I believe there are opportunities to grow by remaining true to your values as a business be it media or any industry that is challenged by the digital age.Innovative models are emerging - like The Central App, to prioritise community connection and find innovative ways to cover the costs of operating a service to bring accurate and relevant information to our readers.I have spent more than three decades navigating the media industry both here in New Zealand and overseas, and over a decade of that focusing on revenue generation for diverse media entities. Vicki has worked globally with leaders in media over the last two decadesOne important lesson I've learned is the value of generating revenue from multiple streams and ensuring strong engagement from the targeted audience. While government support, like the funding from NZ on Air for local democracy reporting, is valued, media organisations must also work toward financial sustainability for the sake of independance. Relying on government funding is neither a preferred nor a sustainable long-term solution.Here at The Central App, our team and I have successfully transitioned from relying on funding to establishing a robust local journalism model. We currently employ a team of six which includes two journalists, a full time marketer, and a digital publisher to ensure a steady stream of accurate, reliable and balanced content for our community — a necessity in an era where trust in media is waning.I believe what sets The Central App apart from larger national networks is our commitment to blend digital innovation with community engagement.The Central App created a newsletter full of education and information for locals and Business leadersLiving in the community helps our team understand our audience on a much deeper level. In a world overwhelmed by negativity, we believe this approach is refreshing - and necessary. We don't shy away from the hard news or holding power to account, as it is important our readers are informed of what could impact them in their community, but we also seek uplifting stories of those who make our community better be it to foster resilience rather than amplify despair.The Central App serves not only as a news platform but as a community hub. It offers a diary of whats on around our district, job opportunities, and everything to similify finding information to those who live and visit, all while remaining free for readers — a feat made possible through strategic partnerships with local businesses. Our commitment to these partnerships is unwavering; it is essential to support local business to sustain the media’s viability. This symbiotic relationship ensures the app can continue to provide high-quality content while encouraging readers to support our local businesses.As media continues to evolve, my mantra remains steadfast: “Under promise and over deliver.”This commitment to exceptional service has not only garnered trust but has also built a loyal customer base that values the integrity and reliability of The Central App.By fostering an environment where both readers and advertisers feel heard and valued, we are ensuring the app’s ongoing relevance in an increasingly digital world.I believe The Central App serves as a beacon of how local media can thrive by adapting to the needs of its audience while maintaining a focus on positive, impactful storytelling. Ultimately, the media must evolve to meet the demands of a new digital age, but it must do so with a commitment to serving the public good, maintaining credibility, and fostering a well-informed citizenry.The Central App now offers readers the chance to share community news and information for freeThe future of news maybe digital, but its core mission remains timeless: to inform, educate, hold power to account and maintain trust with it's audience.Read more here - The Future of media is community. Listen to Vicki on The Outlet

Kiwi winemakers are anxiously waiting to see if and when they'll be hit by high tariffs exporting into the US, following the election of Donald Trump.President-elect Trump campaigned on introducing tariffs of up to 20 percent on imported goods as part of his 'America First' economic policy.If he goes through with that promise, it could hit our exporters hard - and with the US market accounting for some 40 percent of New Zealand's wine exports, it could be devastating for the $800 million industry here.New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive officer Philip Gregan told Checkpoint on Friday there was "a little bit of nervousness" about the "hypothetical" hit to business."But you know, there's two months to go before the new administration is sworn in. Nobody knows if tariffs will be applied; if they are, how much [or] when - so there's very little that anybody can do at the moment other than watch and wait to see what happens."NZ winemakers worried about high tarriffs exporting to USTariffs are typically paid by importers, and the cost passed onto the consumer - hiking prices for imports versus locally produced goods.The US was an important market for Kiwi wines, Gregan said - one that had taken a long time to develop.He said exporters he had spoken to so far had not had time to even think about it.Donald Trump. Photo: CHIP SOMODEVILLA / Getty Images via AFP"It will be a decision ultimately for every individual wine business and for their distribution partners into the US as to how they will manage any tariffs if they are imposed. And that could be months away if it ever happens."He feared a trade war might happen, with other countries also putting up barriers to trade in response.Medium- to long-term Gregan said there were other potential markets New Zealand growers could look to, but it would take time."It takes a huge amount of investment and a huge amount of effort."And from a New Zealand wine perspective, we've developed the US market over the past 20 years. We've been very successful in that market and it's something that the industry is very determined to continue to grow in the years ahead."

We’ve all been there: you launch a new ad campaign, and the first thing you do is refresh the stats to see how many views, clicks, or impressions it’s racking up. It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers, especially when they’re staring you in the face. But here’s the thing—focusing solely on how many views an ad gets can lead you to miss the bigger picture.Views, clicks, and impressions matter, sure, but they aren’t the only indicators of success. Let’s talk about why it’s important to look beyond the numbers and focus on what really makes an ad campaign effective.1. The Right Audience Matters More than the Biggest AudienceSometimes a campaign with fewer views can be more effective than one with tons. Why? Because the right people saw it. Reaching a smaller, more targeted audience that’s genuinely interested in your product or service can result in higher conversions than reaching a massive audience that isn’t really aligned with what you offer.For example, an ad that gets 1,000 views but results in 50 leads is more valuable than an ad that gets 10,000 views but only brings in 10 leads. The point is, relevance and targeting are crucial—don’t let a dip in view numbers distract you from the fact that the people who are seeing your ad might be the ones who matter most.2. Brand Building Takes TimeAnother reason not to get hung up on short-term numbers? Brand building. Some ads won’t deliver immediate results, and that’s okay. Advertising is about more than quick wins; it’s about creating a lasting connection with your audience.Sure, the metrics may not show it right away, but ads help build recognition, trust, and loyalty over time. Think of brands you love—you probably didn’t make your first purchase after seeing just one ad. Studies show that customers need to see your brand at least seven times before they consider purchasing. Meaning it takes consistent exposure to shape opinions and foster long-term relationships with customers.So, don’t get discouraged if you’re not seeing instant results. Some of the campaigns with the most impact are slow burns.3. Long-Term Impact > Short-Term ResultsSometimes, ads don’t show their full impact right away. Someone might see your ad today, but not take action until weeks or months down the line. Especially in industries with longer buying cycles, immediate stats can be misleading.It’s important to consider the long game when evaluating your ad’s performance. Even if the numbers don’t jump immediately, the long-term benefits of a well-crafted ad campaign can far outweigh the quick wins.Look at your sales trends over a few months, monitor customer feedback, and see how your brand awareness evolves. Engagement often tells a much more meaningful story than sheer numbers. You want to look at the whole funnel, from first glance to final purchase, rather than just fixating on how many people saw your ad.4. Engagement Over EverythingA high number of views with no engagement can be a red flag. Are people commenting, sharing, liking, or clicking through? Engagement is where the magic happens, and it’s often a better indicator of how your ad is performing. It shows that your ad is resonating with the audience, making them stop and take notice.It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that just because an ad is seen by a lot of people, it’s successful. But passive views aren’t the goal. You want your audience to interact with your content, whether it’s through comments, shares, or taking that all-important step of clicking through to learn more.5. Creative is Just as Important as NumbersLet’s not forget the most important piece of the puzzle—your ad’s message and creativity. No amount of views will save a poorly executed ad. The creative elements—whether it’s a great story, compelling visuals, or a unique message—are what truly drive engagement and sales.Ask yourself: Is my ad clear? Is it compelling? Am I telling a story that resonates with my audience? If you can answer “yes,” then you’re on the right track. Even if the views aren’t as high as you’d like, a well-crafted message will still leave a lasting impression on those who do engage.Wrapping Up: It's About the Big PictureWhen evaluating the success of your ad campaign, it’s essential to look at the full picture.Views and impressions are only one piece of the puzzle. You also need to consider factors like audience relevance, long-term brand building, engagement, and the effectiveness of your creative message.So, next time you’re tempted to focus solely on how many people saw your ad, take a step back. Ask yourself: Is my ad reaching the right people? Are they engaging with it? Is it contributing to my brand’s long-term goals? If the answer is yes, then your ad is doing its job—whether or not the view count is through the roof.Remember, great marketing isn’t about chasing the numbers; it’s about connecting with your audience in a meaningful way that drives real results.

When I was a child, I wanted to be a stock truck driver. Growing up in Oamaru it seemed like an excellent choice, and I spent a significant amount of time picking out names for a black and white collie that would join me in the cab. I had no idea who the Mayor of Waitaki was. I still don't, because Wikipedia doesn't appear to know either. Local Government looks a lot different that it did in 1989. When the Central Otago District Council was established, I was 4 years old. Now I’m fortunate to lead a council that is committed, forward-thinking and collaborative but also aware that democracy as we know it is under threat.  This may seem a strange comment from someone who has taken over a role that is usually elected under a democratic process. You may have seen the substantial slump in trust and confidence in elected members in our recent survey. We have a lot of work to do over the next 12 months. We need to be innovative with how we provide information, as our working community probably don't have time to watch online workshops or attend a 6+ hour meeting. I want our residents to feel their elected members are accessible. I want your kids and grandkids to know who their mayor is, and what a mayor does. ("Go to meetings" according to my own kids!) It would be amazing if people were talking about Local Water Done Well around the BBQ this summer, and Open Spaces Strategy aspirations at morning tea.   Central Otago District Council spends roughly $4450 for every individual in our District. What would you prioritise? A safe and secure bridge to access your grandparents house? A local pool for aqua aerobics? How about helping your community be ready and resilient in the face of an emergency? These, and many more, are functions of council. More importantly, they are the foundations of communities. There are conversations coming that ask you to consider what is most important. We will need to weigh up the cost of services we need to provide vs the value and enjoyment they add to living in this area. Watch this space! I am incredibly excited to be leading this conversation around our towns, villages and farms. It’s undoubtedly a better fit for me than driving a stock truck.

A new drinking water source for Ranfurly is under investigation.The Central Otago District Council (CODC) is carrying out exploration drilling along the Ranfurly Back Road.  The town supply currently sources its water from Eweburn Creek.A public statement released last week said the aim of the investigation was to understand the geology of the location, for a potential new drinking water source for the Ranfurly water supply.For more than a year, council has been investigating options to provide a water supply for Ranfurly that complies with the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards and improves its resilience. There were turbidity and quantity issues with the existing source water, and the community had faced two boil water notices in the past year when the existing reservoir started running low.When reservoirs were critically low, they could compromise drinking water safety, however the National Public Health Service (NPHS) had not been informed of any notifiable diseases.Medical Officer of Health Dr Michael Butchard said the NPHS team had analysed the past three months of notifications in the Southern district, and not found any notifications in Ranfurly attributed to contaminated drinking water. “During this three-month period, there has only been one enteric notification from Ranfurly, received on October 29. ‘’This person has been sent a questionnaire to complete as part of our routine investigation process.”Last summer the Ranfurly drinking water supply almost dried up and residents were put on water restrictions. FILE SHOTDuring the first two weeks of February this year, there was a water supply event on the Ranfurly water supply which resulted in a Conserve Water Notice 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.Council staff acknowledged at the time there were some shortcomings of the response, with failings by both the contractor and the CODC, when the East Ewe Burn weir intake screen hadn’t been checked for 11 days.In a statement, Fulton Hogan said they took the issue seriously and had made significant changes. The company apologised to the community for the impact of the water restrictions.Just recently in early October there was another boil water notice for residents when the reservoir was critically low.The work that was being done to upgrade Māniototo water supplies would be progressed to the point where it would be ready for inclusion in the investment programme for the 2024 Long-term Plan.A press release from council following the February event said initial rough estimates to upgrade water treatment plants were based on the expectation that simple filtration, UV treatment, and chlorination would achieve compliance. “In order for this to occur the source water quality would have to be consistently high quality.  This is not achievable for any of the water supplies in Central Otago, as water is either sourced from open water sources, or shallow bores.”

The Vincent Community Board has a new leader and deputy following Tamah Alley’s appointment as the Central Otago Mayor last week.Deputy chair Jayden Cromb has moved into the hot seat with fellow board member Dr Roger Browne stepping up into his old role.Following yesterday’s meeting, council staff held a delegations workshop to discuss with Vincent board members how they expect to proceed with districtisation of services now in place.Governance manager Wayne McEnteer and group manager - business support Saskia Righarts were speaking to each of the community boards to get their opinion before presenting at a workshop with council on November 13.The CODC will make a final decision on how the delegations process should work on December 18.Council expects that, where practical, issues related to each ward have community board input prior to being considered by the council.Community board chairs would also then have a chance to speak to the council each month.VCB member and district councillor Martin McPherson highlighted the recent issue with the museum review policy, whereby the board wasn’t consulted prior to the report coming to council.“There was some strong opposition toward the council direction and path it was taking,” he said.Cr Martin suggested not having informal workshops affecting the wards but instead a paper presented to council, so as to make a recommendation on that.Saskia said this was also the request of the Cromwell Community Board earlier this week.“It’s basically so there are no surprises,’’ Cr Martin said.‘’If anything has an impact on ratepayers there needs to be a paper trail so everyone has their arses covered basically, and a process in place that the boards know they are part of that.’’Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

The Central Otago District Council’s Open Spaces and Recreation Strategy opened for public consultation yesterday.Council is giving people one month to give their input into the strategic approach for the provision, protection and enhancement of the Central Otago District public open space network, and how this will meet the district’s future growth predictions, for the next 30 years.This carries on from the pre-consultation to help inform the development of the strategy, which began through a community survey in 2022 and a follow-up survey in November 2023. The draft strategy provides the opportunity to do a final check in with the community to make any changes or additions while the document is still in its draft form. Council manages 162ha of parks and recreation land - 492ha of which is available to the public - with the remainder leased for specific purposes. A total of 260ha is actively maintained parks is managed by the Council.Thirty-four playgrounds are provided, however many of these provide poor play experiences for users. The draft strategy will set out a vision, objectives and key methods for managing the open space network including development of park types, minimum walking distance from open space to residential areas (500m), design guidance for the configuration of reserves, the types of facilities to be found on the different park types and provision guidelines for greenfield developments. It aims to address open space provision in residential growth areas and for the increase in visitor numbers predicted over the life of the strategy. New subdivisions and intensification of existing urban areas requires a qualitative approach to be taken by the strategy. What Council knows from the pre-consultation From the surveys, some respondents provided feedback on activities that have been traditionally outside Council’s capacity to cater for, such as horse trails, mountain bike trails and mixed-use trails. Other landowners and agencies have typically provided for these. It was noted that physical wellbeing (93 per cent) and mental wellbeing (85 per cent) are the key reasons that respondents get out and use public spaces, followed closely by social wellbeing. Respondents predominantly travelled by car to get to public spaces they use. Some walk, run or bike. When looking at the future, many respondents wanted the Council to focus on walking and cycling tracks, linkages and greenways.The provision of sports facilities also ranked highly and results showed many felt Council should be exploring ways to encourage more physical activity, including considering a wide range of new and innovative sports and activities that are offered elsewhere. To foster wellbeing Council was encouraged to maintain existing facilities, but also partner to support community activities and provide additional seating for picnics, events and green spaces. When looking ahead 30 years, respondents wanted to see a continued focus on protecting open spaces and increase native plantings where appropriate. Barriers to visiting parks and open spaces by foot or bike included inadequate trails and cycleways connecting those spaces, as well as living rurally although more than half of respondents reported satisfaction with the off-road connections to greenways in their area. Survey feedback provided important insights into the priorities of Central Otago and its open spaces for the future. To read the report and give feedback to the draft strategy, go to Let’s TalkFeedback closes 9 December.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

You may have read in the media over recent months about the case taken against Uber, where four Uber drivers who were engaged as independent contractors were held by the courts to be employees. Uber's appeal was dismissed. [More details on this case here].This decision has provided further clarity on how the courts will assess whether a contractor is, in all but name, in fact, an employee.To create more clarity on this matter, the government is proposing a new "gateway test" through an amendment to the Employment Relations Act.This test would be used by the Employment Relations Authority when a worker claims that they are an employee, not a contractor.A worker may wish to raise such a claim if they believe they are, in all but name, an employee and have missed out on minimum employment rights, such as minimum wage, annual leave, and other benefits afforded to employees.If the new test is adopted, it would mean that if a contractor challenges the true nature of the working relationship, you'd need to show:A written contract or independent contractor agreement is in place.The worker is not restricted from working for others.The contractor is not restricted to working set times, days, or for a minimum period, OR they can subcontract the work.The business cannot terminate the contract if the worker does not accept additional tasks.If any of these tests are not met, the Employment Relations Authority would apply the existing “real nature of the employment relationship” test found in section 6 of the Employment Relations Act, which would also take into account existing case law, such as the Uber case.This is still at the proposal stage, but it's worth noting if you currently engage contractors.At present, there are a number of industries where engaging contractors is the norm, however, it would be unlikely that a challenge would stand up to either the current test OR the proposed new gateway test.The possibility of such a challenge poses a very real financial risk for businesses. They could be liable for payments related to annual leave, shortfalls in minimum wage, unpaid taxes to the IRD, and any awards for actions (e.g., dismissal) that do not meet employment law standards.Additionally, there would be costs associated with legal advice, time lost from the business, and stress. Claiming "everyone else does it" would have no mitigating effect.If that sounded complicated, you're not alone!For practical and professional advice on how to apply the rules to your business, contact the team at EASI NZ. With our experience and expertise, we can help you find a tailored solution to meet your business needs, reduce your liabilities, and comply with employment law.So, perhaps it’s time to reflect—are your contractors really contractors?

Tarras residents want more engagement with local representatives, the Cromwell Community Board heard yesterday.In front of a packed public gallery, Tarras residents Rob van der Mark of Sustainable Tarras, and Tarras Rural Women member Billie Marsh spoke of their concerns for the future.Both raised concerns regarding the proposed Santana gold mine and the impact on the district.Rob said the big question on the cultural direction of the district was whether it wanted to be recognised for industrial gold mining, or continued like the last 30 years with tourism and environment.“This is a massive undertaking to keep on top of . . . and there seems to be a lack of awareness of this as a community board,” Rob said.Dialogue between the board and the Tarras community “was a bit wanting,” and he would like to see it stronger.Chairwoman Anna Harrison pointed out the community board didn’t have any great affinity to influence the outcome of the proposed gold mine.Community connection was important but it was more the Mayor, chief executive and councillors that would be tasked with a response to the proposal, she said.Board member Neil Gillespie said some of Rob’s points were very relevant and wondered whether a report from council to the community board on how things were shaping up would be helpful.“If we as a board can get this we can make sure our community is informed.”It was understood through the Fast Track process for the gold mine, some parties - including the Cromwell Community Board- may be stopped from making submissions.At the previous Cromwell Community Board meeting a Santana representative said it expected to lodge consent for the mine in February.Billie said the community wanted control over its own destiny, and this was reflected through the community plan discussions in 2023.“We want more engagement with council and elected members, and not to feel, “out of sight, out of mind’’, she said.The community wanted to feel heard on matters important to them, and Billie highlighted that under the Fast Track process, council only had 20 days to respond“So I hope they (council) will work with us on that.”Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

"Industrial-grade hypocrisy'' is how Dunstan ward Otago Regional councillor Michael Laws sums up claims by the Labour party that localism has been denied, with regard to the Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP).Cr Laws drew attention to the previous interventions from the previous Government on the regional council, including how the former chair Marion Hobbs back in 2022 asked Labour to sack the ORC and appoint commissioners if she lost the council vote.Four councillors - including the current chair Gretchen Robertson - wrote to Labour Minister David Parker seeking intervention when they lost the policy vote around the table.“And Labour have the hypocrisy to claim that elected councillors contacting government ministers is destabilising and an affront to local democracy,” he said.Other interventions by the previous Government included the appointment of Professor Peter Skelton to inquire into the regional council’s consent process, and two directives from Minister Parker to meet strict deadlines on the draft LWRP, including providing quarterly reports to the government.Dunstan ward councillor Alexa Forbes of Queenstown - one of the seven councillors in support of notifying the plan that was recently halted by the Government - said the Regional Council had been prevented from playing its part in democracy and its future.She believed the Government had made it loud and clear when it intervened, that if regional councils around New Zealand didn’t do as the Government recommended, they would suffer the consequences, But when prompted further on Cr Laws' latest allegations of hypocrisy she declined to comment.“I’ve got too much on to waste time on arguing with Michael.”In response to Cr Laws’ criticism, Labour’s environment spokeswoman, Dunedin MP Rachel Brooking said the two examples were very different, as one was following existing law to intervene, and the other was asking the regional council to stop work because the Government planned to change it.Meanwhile, an offer for the regional council to play a role in the review of the national direction for freshwater management remained on the table, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop said last week.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Every year, thousands of people apply to the Employment Relations Authority to have it hear their employment disputes.In 2023, there were 2117 applications received, up from 1970 in 2022 but about the same number as in 2021. There were 1352 matters referred or directed to mediation.Five key reasons drove the majority of employment disputes, the authority noted in its annual report.They were:Personal grievancesThere were more than twice as many applications involving personal grievance than any other type of complaint.Within that, complaints of unjustifiable dismissal were most common, followed by complaints that an employer's actions had resulted in an unjustified disadvantage to an employee.In one recent case, a person was employed by a kitchen company until, he said, he was dismissed when he tried to return to work after taking leave.He said he was unjustifiably dismissed and wanted remedies to compensate him for lost income and injury to feelings.The employer argued he was not unjustifiably dismissed and had abandoned his employment by taking leave.The authority said the employer had not provided him with a written employment agreement that could have laid out what would constitute abandonment.It could not demonstrate its actions were justified and there was little or no evidence the employer had investigated its concerns about its leave, it said.The employee had not had the concerns put to him in a way that he could fairly respond to, and he was not given a chance to comment on whether dismissal was fair and reasonable."These were not minor deficiencies and they have resulted in [the employee] being treated unfairly - he was not provided a fair opportunity to understand [the employer's] concerns or provide comment. Even if [he] had taken leave as [the employer] describes - with two days' notice and in the face of objection - its actions cannot meet the statutory justifiability test."The former employee was awarded $23,100 in lost wages and $16,000 in compensation as well as $1848 in holiday pay.ArrearsArrears were the next most common reason for complaints.In one case, a man sought an order requiring his former employer to pay him arrears of wages. He said he was short paid when he worked as acting duty manager in an East Auckland bar and eatery.His employment agreement said he agreed to work a minimum of 40 hours a week.When he worked fewer hours he was not paid for 40. He said there had been a shortfall of 64.75 hours over a 25-week period.He said he was owed $1726.The employer argued the 40 hours were not promised.The authority said the employment terms meant the employee had agreed to reserve at least 40 hours a week for the business and required it to pay him for at least that number of hours."While there was some disagreement about whether he had been available to work all the hours referred to, the evidence was not sufficient to establish he had failed to be ready, willing and able to work the agreed minimum of 40 hours on days and times rostered."The authority said he was entitled to the shortfall.Breach of legislationThe third most common reason for the authority being asked to rule was an alleged breach of legislation.In a recent case, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's labour inspector took food companies to the authority over alleged breaches of minimum entitlements and standards. A worker was not consistently paid or given minimum entitlements under the Minimum, Wage Act, Holidays Act or Employment Relations Act.The authority said the employer had to pay $53,940 within 10 working days, including $18,124 in minimum wage arrears and $35,591 in annual holiday arrears, to be given to the worker.Breach of good faithA midwife who lost her position after being alleged to have misled Te Whatu Ora about an interaction with another midwife, and comments about the other midwife's role, argued she had been subject to a breach of good faith.She was one of about 500 applicants that made claims of that type.She said her employer had breached good faith by failing to advise her of a complaint and not giving her the opportunity to provide feedback on a finding that she was reluctant to work with another midwife, who felt intimidated.The authority said the employer had breached the duty of good faith but it said it was not satisfied it was at the level for which a penalty should be imposed.But the midwife received an award for payment of lost wages and compensation for other aspects of her complaint.Breach of employment agreementIn one case heard by the authority, a woman claimed her former employer had breached her employment agreement wen it failed to give her a healthy and safe working agreement.This carries a maximum penalty of $20,000.The authority said the breach continued even after she brought it to the attention of the management team. "To that extent I find the breach was intentional, it caused [her] ongoing stress and lead to her physical, emotional and financial suffering because [the employer] failed to take any steps to address or remedy it."

Some Central Otago orchardists have been hit by snow twice in one month this Spring, but the fruit appears relatively unscathed.Early predictions for the 2024/25 season have shown a strong crop across much of the summer fruit, and many orchardists are cautiously optimistic.Both 2017 and 2018 was the last time Central Otago experienced bumper crops with record volumes of apricots, in particular, and an early harvest.Last season was short and sharp for cherries, with orchardists experiencing everything from rain, hail, strong winds and eventually drought.Last month’s heavy rain event across Otago resulted in flooding along the coast, and did have some impact on inland orchards - Gourmet Summerfruit orchard in Roxburgh East experienced ‘blossom blight’ on some of the later flowering blocks.But manager Matt Tyrrell said the Teviot Valley completely missed the snow which dumped further north around Earnscleugh and Alexandra.Cromwell was largely unaffected as well.The Teviot tended to flower early but with cooler weather in October than the rest of Central Otago, resulting in a later season overall.Panmure Orchards in Earnscleugh was one of the orchards affected by the double whammy of snow that hit in October.Co-owner Jeremy Hiscock said other than a few broken wires on blocks that had started pulling nets out, there had been no immediate losses of fruit, with just some possible marking.He said temperatures stayed above zero in the last snow event, “and we were very lucky again not to have had severe frost.”“It was bloody scary though while it was happening,” he said.Cromwell grower Simon Webb said the two recent snow events certainly had them on edge, despite the white stuff not actually settling in and around the town.“We were really really lucky with just a few minor frosts out of it. But when you have got all of that snow on the mountains, you definitely get a bit nervous, and expect to get some rip roaring frosts…”This year Chinese New Year was early on January 29, 2025, which made it favourable for cherry growers right across the district.Have a story to share?Contact [email protected]

Teviot Valley Community Board’s oldest serving member Russell Read has resigned.The 87-year-old first came onto the board for a term in 2015, and then again in 2022.He was currently a counsellor for the Cancer Society, a trustee of the Central Otago Arts Trust, and a committee member of the Central Otago Art Society.Russell Read swearing in as a Community Board member in 2022. He resigned from the board yesterday. PHOTO: CENTRAL OTAGO DISTRICT COUNCILChairman Norman Dalley acknowledged Russell’s service at yesterday’s meeting, saying he had decided to resign because he didn’t believe the community board could perform the same as it had done in the past.He believed the board’s powers of decision making had been significantly reduced over time, “and he deserves to be able to retire,” Norman said.The board agreed to fill the position rather than leave it vacant and put forward a motion that was approved, to have Curtis Pannett nominated to the role.Curtis wasn’t at the meeting but it was understood he came from a farming background and would bring new skills to the board table.In other board matters, Norman addressed two issues that related to board member Gill Booth.The first was the fact she still hadn’t filled in the members’ declaration of interest register.Gill said she had nothing to declare, no business interests in the area, although admitted she did have property.“If you can’t complete the declaration of interest I can’t be assured you have no conflicts of interest in any area of business we discuss,” Norman said.“We all have to do it, it has to be kept up to date, that’s all," he said. “There’s no point putting us at risk."Gill has been a member of Voices for Freedom since 2020 and one of a small number in the group nationally who successfully stood for office. In his chair’s report, Norman also addressed Gill’s negative comments towards the former Mayor Tim Cadogan, following the announcement of his resignation.Referring to her “good riddance” comment on the Teviot Valley Facebook page, he said there had actually been a lot of positive feedback on that page as well.New Mayor Tamah Alley attended the board meeting and said she was “looking forward to getting out in the traps a bit more to some of the more unique places.”Norman also thanked Tim Cadogan for his dedication to the job, and noted his support during the 2017 floods, when he said, “he was pretty much here 24 hours like everyone else.”

Central Otago has a new leader. Tamah Alley, of Alexandra, was elected by Central Otago District councillors at a full council meeting this morning, to fill the role left vacant by now former mayor Tim Cadogan, who resigned on Saturday.Tamah was nominated by deputy Mayor Neil Gillespie, and is the district's first female mayor.The 39-year-old wife and mother of three comes to the role as a district councillor and now former chair of the Vincent Community Board.Central Otago mayor Tamah Alley wearing the mayoral chains after being sworn in. PHOTO: THE CENTRAL APPEarlier this year she was appointed Zone 6 chair of Local Government New Zealand, when she replaced Clutha district Mayor Bryan Cadogan.Presented with the Mayoral chains by Linda Cadogan, Tamah thanked former Mayor Tim for leading the district, which she said was ‘’outstanding’’.Mayor Tamah said being in the “hot seat” was a very special thing, and the challenges they faced as a council were substantial.“We do have our work cut out for us… we do need to do the basics brilliantly,” she said. Some members of the public gallery weren’t impressed, wielding protest signs. PHOTO: THE CENTRAL APPA small protest in the public gallery wielded ‘Sham’ signs as Mayor Tamah was being sworn in.Also a former police officer, earlier this year she said it was "much easier to get things done in the world if you’re a collaborator rather than a bulldozer''.Her proven capabilities in high stress situations and managing big ego’s has already come in handy in the world of local politics, after mixing with many different personalities at Local Government New Zealand - including Mayors from Waitaki down to Invercargill and through to Queenstown.