The Central App continues to thrive, with rising user engagement and new features helping keep the community connected and informed.It has become a ‘go-to platform’ for many people across the district and beyond, with a reach of 80 per cent of the Central Otago adult population, serving both residents and visitors.Owner manager Vicki McLean said aside from the growing reach, it also has more than 500,000 app and website visits each month, illustrating just how valuable the service has become with our regulars using the app daily for news and information.“Whether it’s finding out what’s happening around town or looking up local businesses, the app has become a trusted source of information. I couldn't be more proud of what the team has acheived.”She said the team behind The Central App do not just report on the community—they’re part of it. “With all members living and working in Central Otago, they bring a local perspective that helps ensure the content is relevant and meaningful. Their deep ties to the area mean they know what matters to the community, and that’s reflected in what you see on the app.”Team members from left to right: Anna Robb (Reporter) Alexia Anderson (Editor) Vicki McLean (Owner) Caitlyn Thomson (Client support) Sarah Calder (Admin) Aimee Wilson (Reporter) missing Sierra Connell (Marketing) PHOTO: The Central AppVicki said The Central App’s reach continues to grow beyond just your phone screen. Last month, Google analytics showed 21,265 people used the app over 87,000 times viewing over 570,000 pages. “It’s insane, as a remote working team we hear people say they use the app but its the figures that show us it's working for our community. Our focus has always been to provide relevant and timely news and information that is relevant for our locals. We also received over 16,000 views on our social media last month, and our newsletter now has more than 300 subscribers. Our podcast, 'The Outlet’, has seen 4062 downloads since its release. It's all part of an effort to reach users wherever they are and keep the community conversation going.” If you’d like to check out or join the community conversation…Join our newsletterFollow our Instagram Follow our Facebook Listen to ‘The Outlet’ In addition to its many features, this month The Central App launched a Community Notice Board, accessible through the news section. (See the Tab at the top)The new feature provides a space for all locals to share announcements, garage sales, lost pets, flatmates wanted - anything a typical community notice board offers. “It’s a small addition that’s already making a big difference in how the community stays informed. We are trying to keep everything free for our readers and want to remind readers to support those who support us - that's why we have ads saying, ‘because of me, your news is free’ with the local business enabling you to receive free content and news."To visit the page, click here.Vicki said as digital tools become more integral to daily life, The Central App continues to evolve, adding features that reflect the needs of its users. One of the newest events on The Central App calendar is an AI seminar, allowing clients to gain a better understanding of the concept and its features, ultimately supporting them and their business into the future. A few tickets are still available to the event taking place on August 20 at Monte Christo. Contact Us if you'd like more information.“With its strong local presence and a team that’s truly part of the community, the app looks set to remain a key player in keeping Central Otago connected.“We want to take a moment to thank everyone who has made The Central App what it is today—our readers, local businesses, and community members. Your support and engagement have been invaluable. “As we continue to grow, we’d love to hear from you. How can we improve? What features would make the app even better for you? Your feedback is crucial in helping us serve Central Otago even more effectively. Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas with us.”Click here to help us keep improving our app so it delivers what you need. Please take a couple of minutes to complete our survey.

A draft response to matters raised in letters from the Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds on the Otago Regional Council’s Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP), should be completed in the next week.Chief executive Richard Saunders told the meeting yesterday the draft response would then be brought back to an extraordinary council meeting within a fortnight.Minister Penny Simmonds wrote to the council twice over the past six weeks asking for a breakdown of costs associated with aspects of the LWRP, after concerns from the primary sector, and district councils regarding wastewater treatment disposal plans.Richard said there had been changes made since that point, which would be outlined to the minister in the letter.Staff have also indicated a willingness to meet with the minister to discuss the issues raised in the letter and provide some clarity on the content of the draft plan.But some councillors raised concerns about why they couldn’t review the letter now and add their input to it, saying council was "cutting it short.”“I’m always open to receiving emails on this,” Richard told the meeting.He said the plan remained on track to meet the notification date of October 31, but requests for additional legal advice had placed additional pressure on the programme.The council was also seeking an independent review of technical aspects of the draft plan, and regional councillors would see the first draft at a workshop on September 17.Richard highlighted the fact that the two workshops for councillors (the second being in October), were not decision-making forums.Council will make its decision on the LWRP on October 23, a week before it was due to be notified.Chair Gretchen Robertson said the LWRP development remained front of everyone’s mind. 

Victim Support has been declined $10,000 in funding from the Central Otago District Council for help funding additional resources in the district.As a first-time applicant, the organisation was one of two nationally, along with the Plunket Society, that council decided it wouldn’t support through its $151,000 district wide grants scheme.Mayor Tim Cadogan said more national organisations were coming to council looking for funding, and warned “this might be our last grants round,” as it was currently carrying out a review of its policy.Victim Support funding specialist Denise Graham spoke to council yesterday and has also met with ACT MP Todd Stephenson as a result of under resourcing in the area.With offices based at police stations in Cromwell, Queenstown and Alexandra, Central Otago only has one part-time team leader and the organisation faces difficulties recruiting volunteers.The geographical distance between offices was also challenging, and the organisation wanted to employ an additional staff member.Denise said over the past 12 months Victim Support has assisted 300 people in the district, and emphasised how the organisation could be a “game changer” for those affected by crime.Just last week Victim Support was successful in gaining funding from Central Lakes Trust, but that was only 14 per cent of its operating expenses.The organisation also has a pending application with the Russell Henderson Trust, which will be decided at the end of September.Groups that were successful in the latest funding round were Sport Otago, which received $48,400, the Central Otago Heritage Trust, $44,000, Central Otago District Arts Trust, $44,000, Central Otago Health Inc, $7500, Volunteer South, $5000, and the Life Education Trust Heartland Otago Southland, $4000.

It’s that time of year here in the mountains where the weather can wreak havoc for business owners.Not through flooding and hurricane-force winds but through employee absence over a period of time, when a heavy snowfall seems to oddly coincide with a wave of illness that runs through town… So, what to do?There are a number of factors at play here – first, let’s talk about the statutory side of this – the obligations between you, the employer, and your employee.Assuming your Employment Agreement stipulates certain hours, there is an obligation on the employee to make themselves available for these hours. But of course, genuine reasons for absence such as sickness are an exception to this.You can request a medical certificate, however, if they have been sick for less than three calendar days, the business must cover the costs of obtaining it.So, whether you wish to pursue this perhaps depends on how big an issue it is and whether you suspect the employee might be taking advantage of their sick leave. Catching a False Sick DayIf you take the "sick employee’s" word but then discover that they had, in fact, been up the mountain, it could be that a conversation is necessary – an employment relationship should be one of good faith, trust, and confidence.If this trust is damaged, you can go down the path of investigating if there is a misconduct issue.However, we would suggest having an informal conversation first, hearing your employee’s side of the story, and letting them know the impact it has had on your business and what behaviour you would prefer to see in the future. Is there potential to foster more work-life balance?The other aspect of all of this is the human and work culture side.Presumably, your employee LOVES the snow – is there anything you can do to support this so that they don’t feel they need to pull a sickie? Is there flexibility in the business that if they can see a big powder day coming, that they can work those hours at a different time or swap shifts with someone else?This won’t be possible for all businesses, but we would suggest thinking carefully about it, and if there’s not, explaining the reasons to your employees.If you can figure out a way to deal with this that encourages honesty and allows your employees to enjoy those one or two powder days (yep, the reality is they don’t come by that often), then this could do wonders for their loyalty, productivity, and your reputation as an epic employer.  Need some help?If you are looking for more guidance or advice on Employment Agreements, Employment Issues, or facilitating open conversations, please reach out to our team at [email protected], and we can chat through some options with you.  

Councils need to focus on core services and “rein in the fantasies” of their spending.That was the message Prime Minister Christopher Luxon presented to councillors and mayors who gathered in Wellington for the annual Local Government NZ (LGNZ) conference, on Wednesday, last week."Ratepayers expect local government to do the basics and to do the basics brilliantly," he said, while addressing the conference."Pick up the rubbish. Fix the pipes. Fill in potholes. And more generally, maintain local assets quickly, carefully, and cost effectively."Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said that message effectively calls on councils to “just do core services in order that rates are controlled, which is an absolutely worthy ambition”.In Central the core services were what was driving the bulk of the rises, especially three waters, he said.He confirmed the Central Otago District Council (CODC) has not yet asked central government for financial support this year, and believed other councils were all doing their best and “making an effort”.As rising costs continue to hit households and businesses, Mayor Cadogan believed the drop in the OCR recently by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent was a really positive sign.  “Central has, to an extent, been insulated from the worst of the current recession and I am hopeful we have reached the bottom not as low as others and will climb back up more quickly.”Following on from the Prime Minister’s message, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown reiterated the measures being taken to ensure councils are getting back to basics, which aimed to reduce the cost of living, deliver core services and infrastructure, and improve the efficiency of decision making.“Central government is focusing on the must-haves, not the nice-to-haves. Our expectation is that local government does the same,” he said.“That’s why we are refocusing the purpose of local government to ensure councils are delivering the high-quality core services and infrastructure Kiwis expect, in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses.”

Central Otago business owners and managers were treated to an Artificial Intelligence (AI) seminar hosted by Australian-based marketing strategist Kelly Slessor on Tuesday.Hosted by the Central App, the seminar offered insights on how to leverage AI to drive growth, efficiency and innovation in the workplace.Originally from the UK and the daughter of a Nigerian father, Kelly quickly learned about coding as a young woman growing up with a father who was left injured and unable to work.When her father bought a home computer to further himself with his career, Kelly quickly realised “that on the other side of every digital experience is a living breathing customer.”Eventually, after moving to Australia, she used her expertise to design digital experiences for major corporate companies, and AI was soon at the forefront of that.“The rate of change in AI is like nothing we have ever seen in history before,” she said.AI was literally going to infiltrate everything we do in business, but the key was teaching people not to be fearful of it, she said.“AI is like the ultimate calculator and we just can’t unplug this. But we do have to train it in the right way.”When AI first arrived in the world, it received one million users within the first five days. And the more people who used it, the better the apps would become, she said.Kelly was quick to point out that it would never replace humans, but by using it appropriately “was where we get the gold out of it.”She said it was important that businesses used the right apps to generate their content, video and images, and the more precise the instructions, the better the outcome.“It’s just like a child really. You can tell it something and sometimes it does something completely different.”The other thing business owners should be mindful of was being transparent to their clients about where they were using AI, whether that be on their website within the terms and conditions, she said.“We should be open and honest about when we are using AI.”To hear more from Kelly, listen to this week's edition of The Outlet podcast.

Central Otago orchardists are pleased with the new changes to the Government’s Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.Immigration Minister Erica Stanford announced last week new changes that could be delivered quickly, reduce costs and compliance for employers, and improve flexibility for the RSE workers.“Our government is committed to increasing the number of RSE workers over time in line with industry demand, while balancing the availability of New Zealanders and accommodation for workers. That’s why the cap on the number of workers is increasing by 1250 to 20,750 for the 2024/25 season.” Other changes include employers being required to pay workers an average of 30 hours a week over four weeks. The pause on accommodation cost increases will be lifted and the requirement to pay RSE workers 10 per cent above the minimum wage will only apply to experienced workers, recognising their productivity.Panmure Orchards co-owner Jeremy Hiscock said lifting the cap for the number of RSE permitted in NZ should have a beneficial flow on effect to all sectors of the economy, as it provides certainty to growers. He said changes to the RSE scheme were overdue “as growers we have had to absorb significant cost increases with record high inflation in NZ,” he said.Summerfruit NZ chair and Cromwell grower Trudi Webb said it was great to see progress on the discussion points within the programme. “It’s a positive for the RSE men and the local growers to ensure the programme is viable going forward.”Further changes are:Improved flexibility for RSE workers to move between employers and regionsWorkers’ visas will be multi-entry during a seasonRSE workers will be able to undertake training and skills development not directly related to their roleRSE workers will no longer have to be screened for HIV, aligning them with other temporary visa applicant requirementsTimor-Leste will be included in the schemeMost of these changes will be in place in early-September. Further time will be needed to set up the infrastructure and processes on the ground for Timor-Leste to participate. The cap increase fulfils a commitment from the coalition agreement between National and Act.“These changes are just the start. The next phase of our work programme will consider substantive, longer-term options to further improve the wider RSE system and worker welfare settings,” Erica said.

Poolburn School children aren’t just focused on literacy and numeracy.Each of the school’s 39 pupils have added a range of new subjects to their already busy curriculum, including video and design, ahead of their upcoming paddock golf fundraiser.It has been a busy term for the children, who have been planning the day alongside staff and a committee of organisers, including Cam Nicolson.Cam has opened his farm at Poolburn to the event, taking place on September 7, where teams of four will follow an ambrose style tournament - but not as most golfers will know it.Instead, they will have to swap well manicured greens for tufts of grass, fences, pivots, dams and water.Players will also have to chip into water troughs or a hole in the ground.Cam said a range of businesses have come on board to design different holes and 11 teams were registered so far.Poolburn School children have been fronting the camera in the lead up to their upcoming paddock golf event. VIDEO: Supplied/Poolburn School“We’re hoping to get more . . . but we’ll take what we can get.”He said the children, with the help of their teachers, have been working hard to spread the word via video and they have also been designing some of the holes, and helping with the set up.It is the first time the school has organised the event, so it was not known how much they were likely to raise.But, however big or small, it will all go back to the school to benefit the children, he said.“We’re learning as we go. There will be a few mistakes here and there, but our aim is to provide a pretty entertaining day for all those involved.”Cam said it was hoped the event would be held every second year, alternating with the Winter Feed crop competition, which raises money for various community groups.

“Astronomical” costs associated with the proposed Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP) have now caught the eye of not one but several government ministers.A second letter from the Minister for the Environment (MFE) Penny Simmonds questioning the impacts of the Otago Regional Council’s (ORC) new plan, due to be notified in October, was sent last week.In her letter it outlined how she and her colleagues have all heard concerns from Otago ratepayers about the proposed costs associated with the achievement of Te Mana o te Wai through the notified plan.The new Government is currently working on a review and replacement of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM).“As earlier expressed, we remain concerned that notifying a plan ahead of this may lead to duplication and additional costs on ratepayers,” she said.Hon Simmonds originally sent a letter to the ORC on July 31 requesting a breakdown of the costs and was now following up again as a matter of urgency.To help the ministers understand what the impacts of the plan were, they have asked the ORC to provide an outline of any change of direction on key issues raised during consultation, and any estimate of costs that are associated with the proposals.Specifically, the request was to understand the implications the plan would have on primary industries, the costs that would be imposed on district councils, and in particular how it related to stormwater and wastewater infrastructure.NZ First list MP Mark Patterson penned his frustration with the ORC in a recent media column saying the proposals were causing “genuine angst” for farmers and those living in rural towns.ORC chair Gretchen Robertson said the ORC was working with Government toward its proposed changes to review and replace the NPS-FM.“While the likelihood of proposed changes has been well reported, we’re waiting for confirmation and the details around what the replacement legislation will be.“We will continue working closely with the minister and MFE and will be addressing the matters raised by the minister in her letter,” she said.The next ORC full council meeting will be held on August 28 where there will be more discussion on the matter.

Alexandra and Clyde can no longer be called retirement towns after latest population statistics reveal a huge increase in young families moving into the areas.A recent report to the Central Otago District Council (CODC) from Arrowtown-based economist Benje Patterson showed 30% of the Vincent ward (Alexandra and Clyde) population was in the 30-49 year-old age group.This compared to just 22% in Cromwell, Maniototo and the Teviot Valley.  Over 65s were now the lowest in the Vincent ward (20%), compared to 28% and 26% in the Teviot and Cromwell wards respectively.Population growth in Vincent (2.4% pa over the past five years) has also sat well above the national average (1.3%pa).The population of Alexandra and Clyde is significantly younger than elsewhere in Central Otago. PHOTO: SuppliedCentral Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said anecdotally he’d also heard Alexandra was “going absolutely gangbusters,” particularly in the 30-49 year old age group.“Alexandra is now not the retirement village anymore,” he said.He said he understood St Gerards Primary School has reported its highest roll ever.Principal Julie Flannery confirmed the school roll was its most significant in 20 years.“We have many new families, not only new to Alexandra but also new to New Zealand. Our expanding cultural makeup and diversity enrich our community. “Overall population growth across Central Otago remains fastest growing in Cromwell, averaging 4.9% in the past five years - more than three times the rate of population growth nationally.In 2018 Cromwell had 8310 residents and that had now jumped to 10,580. The Vincent ward increased from 10,430 to 11,720, while the Teviot increased only slightly from 1820 to 1930 and the Maniototo from 1660 to 1810.Central Otago’s population overall increased from 22,200 to 26,000 during that same time period.The economic development report from Benje will form a new 10-year economic strategy that will reflect the region’s potential for both business and community, by the CODC.The independent report highlights economic and social changes in the community at district and ward levels over the past five years since the current economic strategy was commissioned. It also includes global mega-trends that are slowly changing the broader environment for our economy and will need to be considered in the development of the new strategy.

Woolworths staff have voted to strike, including some Alexandra employees, over low wage offers and unsafe staffing levels.Nearly 10,000 FIRST Union members who work at Countdown and Woolworths stores nationwide have voted to take three initial strike actions.FIRST Union noted the move comes following nine days of bargaining with their employer who is “ruling out” a living wage and is not negotiating productively with workers to address chronic understaffing issues.Connie Prins, who is a union worker at Woolworths Alexandra, said it was not a traditional “down tools strike”, but more about raising social awareness regarding staffing conditions.Connie Prins with the sticker staff will be sporting, calling for fairer wages and improved staffing conditions. PHOTO: SuppliedShe said the move also addressed the need for increased rates for working weekends and evenings.Connie is among those involved in the action who will be “proudly” wearing a sticker to raise community awareness.She was one of the 10,000 staff who were surveyed nationwide and felt the store was understaffed.FIRST Union national organiser for retail food Ross Lampert said more than 95 per cent of strike ballot respondents had voted to take three initial strike actions, with a smaller group of members across 10 key Woolworths stores nationwide also voting for an additional action. A list of the conditions FIRST Union members want Woolworths to address. IMAGE: Supplied"This is a case of one of the largest and most profitable businesses in New Zealand deciding that their workers no longer deserve a fair deal and must accept whatever they put on the table - it just doesn’t work that way."Our members are seeking a living wage, safe staffing minimum standards and fair compensation for giving up family and leisure time to work understaffed night and weekend shifts."The current Woolworths start rate is $24.93 per hour, while Costco is paying new staff $27 per hour and Foodstuffs sites like Pak’N’Save Kilbirnie have a start rate of $26 per hour.FIRST Union's recent survey of supermarket workers showed that 90.8 per cent of respondents said their stores were understaffed, either "sometimes" (36.2 per cent) "regularly" (30 per cent) or "continuously" (24.7 per cent).Woolworths New Zealand managing director Spencer Sonn said the organisation had brought a strong offer to the table in its discussions with FIRST Union.“We know we pay near the top of the market already and we offer a range of benefits to our team. We’re also investing over $45 million in making our stores safer for our team and customers.”He said the supermarket was disappointed First Union has tabled claims on behalf of its members totalling nearly $1 billion over 1 year, which was unsustainable. “Our offer includes a 6.6 per cent increase for our store team on average over two years, and we have a genuine focus on helping our team have long and meaningful careers with us.“In the current economic environment, we have to balance increasing costs and providing value for customers, but making sure our team earns more is also a key priority for us.”He said Woolworths would continue to engage with FIRST Union in good faith.

The Central Otago District Council has recognised there is a disparity with its districtisation proposal towards the Teviot Ward.At the Cromwell Community Board meeting yesterday, Mayor Tim Cadogan said there had been a change in direction from where they had originally gone with districtisation.“We have been contemplating a binary or all or nothing solution, but we have put in an option two now.”The Teviot Valley Community Board’s submission outlined that it was unfair its ratepayers would have to pay an extra $233 a year for other pools in the district, if they were all council owned.Option two was for the districtisation of property, parks, cemeteries, pools and museums but included a rating adjustment for the Teviot Valley ward to offset pool charges.For the Teviot Valley under the revised proposed districtisation option, the new $2.7 million Ida MacDonald Trust pool would continue to be owned by the community, and only supported by ratepayer funding from its own ward - as would the Millers Flat pool.It would also mean Teviot ratepayers would not have to contribute to the running costs of other pools in the district such as Alexandra, Cromwell and Ranfurly.This would mean average rates for Cromwell would change from being $52 less a year to just $35 less a year, with the cost of the new hall still spread right across the district.Formal consultation about the proposed changes with the community will start this month, with numerous town hall meeting sessions, followed by hearings and deliberations.Council planned to rate certain activities across the district rather than by ward level, as it was particularly challenging in the less populated areas to maintain services - given the fewer ratepayers in these areas to spread the cost across. In the mid 1990s roading was changed to a district rate rather than a ward rate, and in 2015 council engaged with the community to change the funding of three waters to be at the district level rather than at the ward level.A final districtisation decision will be made on September 5..

Work to bring Roxburgh’s Entertainment Centre up to standard is tracking well.The centre has been closed since June, to allow a wide range of works to take place for the overall benefit of the facility.That work is going well, helped by the fact it wasn’t weather dependent so cold, wet conditions had not affected progress.The Roxburgh Entertainment Centre will have a new lease of life in the coming months. PHOTO: SuppliedCentral Otago District Council (CODC) has confirmed the fire alarm upgrade is already complete, along with installation of high-level LED lighting.A CODC spokesperson said work to finish compliance items for fire and accessibility to meet today’s standards was still underway.Work has also started on the southern wall, which has deteriorated over the years.The work has been in the pipeline for a few years and, once completed, the building will be brought up to a required standard to help increase capacity, which is currently limited. Due to the ongoing work, the hall is not expected to be open until September or October.

More small-scale private hydro power schemes have been declined by the Otago Regional Council (ORC) in recent weeks, according to councillor Gary Kelliher.Lowburn resident Jack Davis attended the public forum of the ORC’s recent Cromwell meeting to share his concerns about his water permit being declined to set up his own hydro power scheme.Cr Kelliher questioned Jack at the meeting “why did you even ask?” knowing full well his consent was tied up in red tape through the current Land and Water Regional Plan.“Since Mr Davis presented to council I have been made aware of other very similar circumstances, including one that was declined by council staff that same week,” Cr Kelliher said.He said the ORC was becoming almost “hypocritical” in its evolving stance towards those schemes.  “There has always been a very strong bias against water use and irrigators, but in these latest situations like Mr Davis', ORC now want to further the bias and red tape towards continual no for these applications, when all these people are trying to do is improve efficiency for themselves and their activities.”Jack has a permitted water take from the Stratford Creek but wanted to divert that water through a PowerSpout turbine.However, the council has informed him his existing consent does not technically allow him to take water from the creek and put it to work turning a turbine.The ORC confirmed last week there was no option under the current regional water plan to change on a consent how water is used, or to add in an additional use for the water, such as hydroelectricity.However, there was the option to swap out the existing permit for one that included hydroelectricity as a water use - but he would need to go through an application process to do so.Cr Kelliher said the new Government promised to reduce red tape but councils like the ORC were determined to add more.“The ORC are utterly determined to require resource consent for as many activities that use natural resources as it can. It has ballooned into a regulatory authority that wants control and ability to charge and set conditions against activities that often take well-meaning people by surprise, and immediately sets them at odds with council.”He said this was “totally wrong and needs to be halted.”Cr Kelliher along with Cr Michael Laws have been staunchly against the proposed Land and Water Regional Plan, that is due to be notified in October.The pair back the Government’s request for delays so a more realistic land and water plan can be established, so that Jack and others were not dragged through a bureaucratic minefield of cost and grief, with no certainty of an outcome.

Understanding your dreams and the motivations behind your hard work can offer profound insights.Why do you pour your blood, sweat, and tears into your business? What's your ultimate goal? Where do you see yourself in the future? What truly brings you joy?Reflecting on these questions can be enlightening for both you and those around you.So why dream?Often, we don't take the time to think about the future, but having personal goals and aspirations to look forward to is more important than we often realise.Envisioning your dreams is not only beneficial for you but also serves as excellent role modelling and can spark engaging conversations with colleagues.Sharing your dreams can provide others with a unique glimpse into your motivations and what drives you.Of course, you don't have to share anything you're not comfortable with. Whether your dream is medieval cosplay or something else entirely, all power to you! The positive psychological effects of pursuing goals by Dr. Patrick Keelan:We would recommend reading the article below as it highlights that goals provide purpose in everyday life, boost self-esteem, offer structure, improve time management, and help manage stress. Another additional effect of goal setting is that working toward goals can foster positive social relationships.Each of these aspects contributes to a more fulfilling and balanced life, illustrating why having dreams and striving for them can be crucial to our happiness and mental health.https://drpatrickkeelan.com/stress/the-positive-psychological-effects-of-pursuing-goals/Remembering or setting goals.Here is a quick exercise you can do right now!!Grab a pen and paper and write three headings:ExperiencesGrowthContribution Now get the timer open on your phone and set it for 90 seconds. Try to not think too hard during this exercise.Start the timer and under “Experiences” write down anything that comes to mind that on your last day alive you would want to have experienced. You could list places to visit, personal achievements, meaningful relationships, health goals. Imagine you have no obstacles or financial constraints and just go for it until the timer stops.Now, under the “Growth” heading, do the same. Think about ways you'd like to grow in intellectual pursuits, character traits, health, fitness, and spiritual growth.Finally, under the “Contribution” heading list ways to give back: volunteering, helping others, sharing knowledge, supporting causes. How can this enrich your life?Writing down your life goals makes them concrete and helps us see how they can contribute to a deeper sense of fulfilment. How Easi NZ can help.At EASI NZ we love to support small to medium businesses realise their potential. By understanding your goals and dreams it enables us to tailor our recruitment and HR services effectively, aligning strategies to achieve personal and business aspirations seamlessly.Get in touch today and see how we help get you on the right track for your business, people and clients to make those dreams become a reality! You'll find us in The Central App Easi NZ

Join us on the 1st of each month as we celebrate the remarkable individuals who make our communities special. Today we are launching our new series, profiling local heroes whose contributions, stories, and passions shape the heart and soul of our towns. We begin with Oturehua's Ken Gillespie, a man of many hats and talents.Oturehua farmer Ken Gillespie is your Type-A overachiever – rural style, a man who gets things done.Calls come in from around the district most days. They all know Ken’s unlikely to ever say, ‘no’. “You do what you can to help,” says the man who’s on multiple community committees and trusts across the Ida Valley and beyond.To Ken, 72, who’s regularly helped local ladies serve homemade soup, pea pie and ‘pud, to 250 hungry South Island bonspiel curlers all in an hour, it’s no big deal. “You can do 150 with your hands tied behind your back,” he assures.Ken and the blokes from Maniototo Lions are old hands, having catered for many local weddings. They have it down pat: “You need around 350gms of meat each for country folk and around 300gms for the ones from town,” he says.Ken, who is a life member of New Zealand Curling and Maniototo Curling International, has the Idaburn Dam on his family’s 1500ha farm, which is now mostly sold, some leased to a nephew. Ken’s frequently down on the ice, with others, ensuring it’s suitable for curling.He also spent many days assisting Irv McKnight, founder of the hugely popular Brass Monkey Motorcycle Rally which ran for 40 years on Ken’s farm.Ken down on the farm in Oturehua. PHOTO: SuppliedMost weeknights he has a committee meeting or two, or he’s off around the lower South Island helping judge merino shearing competitions.Water’s pretty important in the dry arid farmlands of the Maniototo - Ken should know after sitting on the Hawkdun Idaburn Irrigation Company for 40 years, 37 as chairman, and served on the Otago Water Resources Group for another 40, and the Manuherekia Catchment Group. He’s heavily involved in the Oturehua Winter Sports Club, chairs the Oturehua Hall committee and has been an elder of the local Presbyterian Church for 35-plus years.To Ken, it’s no big deal being this busy. “Uh, you get tied up in things,” he says.As a trustee of the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust and right in the thick of every community event, Ken’s helped put Oturehua on the map, particularly passionate about local history and showing off the neighbouring Hayes Engineering Works.A life member of the Maniototo Lions Club, he’s helped cater for many Cavalcades and when the club ran its duathlon, it was Ken up the rear sneaking rides in his truck to the ‘tail end Charlies’.When someone dies in Ida Valley Ken, the local sexton, and his mates dig the grave in the notoriously tough clay soil of the Blackstone Hill Cemetery. “I reckon those early settlers had the last laugh putting the cemetery there,” he grins. “It’s hard as the hobs of hell.”He chaired the Oturehua School Board so when the Ministry of Education changed school terms from three to four it was Ken who went in to bat in a district where the coldest winter temperature clocked in at -21 degrees Celsius in 1991. “I asked them to pay for the extra heating. A holiday in mid-July is for the birds.”Born in 1951, Maniototo farm life is all he’s known, and the cold doesn’t bother him. “You just put another layer on.”He remembers his grandmother working the butter churn, Ken separating the milk and cream as a kid.Curling tournaments meant a day off school to drag sledges carrying a hot water urn and the ‘secret coffee brew’, cheese and biscuits over the ice to the curlers. Ken’s skated on the farm ponds since he was four and curled since he was 21.Ice is to be respected, he says. But, once he took the ‘never say no’ a bit too far. “We were shifting snow, grading the rinks for curling and I took my tractor down rather than the wee community tractor. I told the boys I wasn’t totally comfortable with it and sure enough the back wheels went through the ice.” Ken in action during his team's NZ Masters Curling win. PHOTO: SuppliedKen plunged shin-deep into the icy water. “Boy, was that cold!” They needed a chainsaw to free the tractor. Rugby was big, Ken playing for Maniototo Juniors, and at Carisbrook while at Otago Boys.After a stint back on the farm from 1968, Ken did a US farmworker exchange to Kansas for 18 months, aged 19, posted to 11 properties in 12 months.Sheep sales were also prominent in the valley, resulting in a big community day, and night out at the Oturehua Pub.John Steel got a bit excited once and rode his horse into the pub.The Antarctic Angels bikie gang liked the Ida Valley Pub too, holding the publicans to ransom one night in the late 1960s. Unsurprisingly, the school PTA wasn’t keen when Ken, Irv, and John Weir sought its support to stage the first Brass Monkey Motorcycle Rally as a fundraiser. “They said, ‘Bikies?! Hell, no!’ So Irv took it to the Winter Sports Club. We had a yarn and we said, “We can handle that, I reckon.” And they did. Ken was awarded a Central Otago community service award in 2011 and New Zealander of the Year ‘Local Hero’ Award in 2020, but it’s his team’s two NZ Masters Curling golds and a silver that are “pretty special”. He’s also won bronze with the Naseby team at the NZ Senior Men’s Tournament.Every Sunday from October until April Ken cranks up the Pelton wheel at Hayes Engineering to fascinate the tourists and for nearly seven years he’s run tours, taking mostly Rail Trail visitors to Cambrian and St Bathans. “I do a couple of hundred a year. I meet a lot of good people and I love the reaction when they get to Bob Berry’s gardens.”Ken’s renowned locally for his flat whites too.As if it’s not time to kick back, Ken’s now helping with the daily mail run – 150km delivering papers, bread and milk too.“I thought I’d retired a few years ago, but too many people found out,” he grins. “You do what you can to help.”

The Teviot Valley Community Board (TVCB) has joined Cromwell in submitting against districtisation, but the Vincent Community Board is in support, while nothing has been said from the Maniototo.The Central Otago District Council (CODC) agreed today to carry out formal consultation about the proposed changes with the community during August, followed by hearings and deliberations.In a report to council from staff, it was noted that over the past 20 years council has engaged in consultation to the community to rate certain activities across the district rather than by ward level. This was because it was particularly challenging in the less populated wards to maintain services given the fewer ratepayers in these areas to spread the cost across. In the mid 1990s roading was changed to a district rate rather than a ward rate, and in 2015 council engaged with the community to change the funding of three waters to be at the district level rather than at the ward level. The report said any decision to further districtise services will not impact level of services in each ward, these would remain the same levels as they are now until there was a decision by council to alter those.The Cromwell Community Board has expressed several concerns about the proposal, and chair Anna Harrison also spoke at the meeting.The submission stated they were concerned that ‘wealthier’ wards such as Cromwell will subsidise the rest of the district, which will result in potential perceived loss for Cromwell ratepayers.Teviot board members' concerns included an example using the recently completed Punawai Ora pool project, where $2.7 million was raised to ensure the community had a safe place to swim.“The Ida MacDonald Trust Pool is just one of the many recreational facilities the Teviot Valley is proud of. How could TVCB support CODC taking ownership of the pool to capitalise on the depreciation of the asset and spread the financial benefits across the district, and then charge the very people who worked to build it an extra $233 per year in rates for the privilege?” the submission from Teviot Valley Community Board members stated.The Vincent board supports the proposal and notes the challenges of the current economic climate and the challenges of the current rating system.“The board is, however, concerned that there is a risk that the importance of community boards is diminished,” Vincent Community Board members stated. However, they did stress that council and community boards will need to work in partnership to meet the needs of the community, so they do not become a voiceless advisory group.The final decision will be made at the council meeting on September 25.

A collaboration of many minds has brought Kāmoanahaehae - the meeting place of the two rivers in Alexandra to be celebrated through the Riverside Park project.The Vincent Community Board was treated to a presentation from members of the Alexandra Riverside Park Trust, the designer involved in the staged project and Aukaha - representing mana whenua.Led by local businessman Rory McLellan, the trust along with the Central Otago District Council has managed to secure $1.275 million for the $1.46 million project, which is still on track to be completed this summer.“It was a big undertaking with meetings every fortnight. No stone has been unturned,” he told the board yesterday.Anderson Fencing and Earthworks together with their landscape architect Neville Stewart Landscaping as construction partner won the council’s open tender to design and complete the work.Starting with the removal of the willows between the lower end of Tarbert St and the Alexandra Bridge, a new plaza area will feature seating, shade trees, and a river access pathway leading off a viewing platform overlooking the confluence of the Manuherekia and Clutha Mata-Au rivers.Kāmoanahaehae - the Alexandra Riverside Park is a joint effort with council, community business leaders and iwi. IMAGE: SuppliedA 6m high sculpture or pou whenua will be commissioned to welcome visitors to the area and drawing their attention to Kopuwai on the Old Man Range.A resin product etched into the path woven in traditional Maori design will light the pathway at night, and it was hoped the plaza space would attract food trucks and open performances.Aukaha representative Kitty Brown said bringing people to the water was important “so we can be closer to the environment.”It was also a special privilege for iwi to be able to place a ‘marker’ on an area of such cultural significance as Kāmoanahaehae.Read more: Funding confirmed for first stage of Riverside Park Plaza project

Maniototo residents are on a mission to beautify Ranfurly.The town is the focus of a project to ensure its main street and other areas are given the attention they deserve, including the introduction of plants.Maniototo Business Group members discussed the next stage of the project during their recent evening meeting, which included confirmation Tiaki Maniototo would supply 200 plants to the Ranfurly wide project.Business group members Tania Murray Haigh and Russ Haigh, of Lohi, have also been in contact with a group of men, who want to help with the project.The group called Southern Dash, is made up of members from around the South Island, who will be in the area for a curling tournament as part of their annual road trip.After hearing about the beautification project, they reached out asking what the group of 36 could do to help.Keen to make the most of the offer, the beautification committee have welcomed the group’s offer of one and half hours’ labour before they head to Naseby.“It’s an amazing opportunity,” Tania said.However, Southern Dash members will be doing more than just offering their labour during their whirlwind visit.They have also got jackets to give to children at St John’s School and backpacks for Maniototo Area School to be used during camps.Southern Dash members will be in the area on Friday, September 20, from 9.20am and members of the public are welcome to come along on the day to also lend a hand.The beautification committee welcomes more donations of plants, or funding to help make sure the project gives Ranfurly the appearance it deserves.