Central Otago District, Alexandra

Time to tidy that garage

Time to tidy that garage

Use Neighbourly Market to make a few bucks while you're at it

774 days ago

Ryman residents aren’t defined by dementia

Ryman Healthcare

Through Ryman’s bespoke model of dementia care, myRyman Life, our villages aim to challenge perspectives on dementia and to create inclusive communities where staff receive cutting-edge training, families can feel reassured, and residents can thrive.

At Ryman villages our focus is on … View more
Through Ryman’s bespoke model of dementia care, myRyman Life, our villages aim to challenge perspectives on dementia and to create inclusive communities where staff receive cutting-edge training, families can feel reassured, and residents can thrive.

At Ryman villages our focus is on experience-based care rather than processes, enabling residents to live in the moment and to feel kindness, love and security.

Most of all, Ryman residents living with dementia are supported to continue doing the things that bring them joy so they can live fulfilled lives.
Learn more

Image
775 days ago

Chorus is coming to Cromwell and Alexandra

Chorus

Fibre is here so come in to see the team of Chorus experts for a chat over a cup of coffee or tea when they're at The Gate Conference Centre on Tuesday 18th of October from 3pm till 6pm.

The following day they will be at The Courthouse Café from 3pm till 6pm.

If you’ve got questions … View more
Fibre is here so come in to see the team of Chorus experts for a chat over a cup of coffee or tea when they're at The Gate Conference Centre on Tuesday 18th of October from 3pm till 6pm.

The following day they will be at The Courthouse Café from 3pm till 6pm.

If you’ve got questions about installation, improving your current internet connection or livening up equipment they've already installed, they can help.

A fibre broadband service will provide you with a fast connection that you can rely on.

The great news is it’s still free to get fibre installed for most homes.

For more information visit: www.chorus.co.nz/get-connected or call 0800 222 644
Find out more

Image
777 days ago

Get decorating and $ave with Resene.

Resene

Now’s a great time to get your painting, staining and wallpapering jobs underway.

Get 25% off Resene premium paints, wood stains, primers and sealers, wallpaper, decorating accessories and cleaning products!

Discounts off the normal retail price at your local Resene owned ColorShop and … View more
Now’s a great time to get your painting, staining and wallpapering jobs underway.

Get 25% off Resene premium paints, wood stains, primers and sealers, wallpaper, decorating accessories and cleaning products!

Discounts off the normal retail price at your local Resene owned ColorShop and participating reseller until 31 October 2022. Paint offers are also available at Mitre 10 MEGA and selected Mitre 10 stores. Excludes WallPrint, decals, Crown, trade and industrial products, PaintWise levy and account sales.

Visit your local Resene ColorShop or reseller and enjoy these great savings.
Find out more

Image
778 days ago

Garden trellis

The Team from Resene ColorShop Dunedin

Mark the entrance to your special spot in the garden with Resene Lumbersider. Find out how to create your own.

Image
779 days ago

Do you have great recipes for basil and nasturtium?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Dear neighbours,

Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for nasturtium recipes and also basil recipes! Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by Oct 16, 2022. Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition… View more
Dear neighbours,

Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for nasturtium recipes and also basil recipes! Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by Oct 16, 2022. Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Vegetable Growing Made Easy.

Image
781 days ago

Get the day’s top news with Two Minutes of Stuff

Stuff

Satiate your news hunger with Two Minutes of Stuff, a bite-sized snack of the top stories and key issues of the day.

Two minutes is all you'll need to get up to speed on today's talking point, the biggest news of the day and stories you don't want to miss. A fully-curated … View more
Satiate your news hunger with Two Minutes of Stuff, a bite-sized snack of the top stories and key issues of the day.

Two minutes is all you'll need to get up to speed on today's talking point, the biggest news of the day and stories you don't want to miss. A fully-curated experience, with items hand-picked by Stuff staff, sent each weekday evening. Sign up for free here.
Sign Up

Image
781 days ago

Pams Berries recalled - Check your freezer

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Foodstuffs Own Brands Ltd is recalling all batches and all dates of its six Pams brand berry products.
New Zealand has seen a surge of cases of Hepatitis A this year and 12 of those infected (including seven hospitalised) have been linked with the consumption of frozen berries.
The recall of … View more
Foodstuffs Own Brands Ltd is recalling all batches and all dates of its six Pams brand berry products.
New Zealand has seen a surge of cases of Hepatitis A this year and 12 of those infected (including seven hospitalised) have been linked with the consumption of frozen berries.
The recall of Pams products is a precaution due to this possible link of Hepatitis A associated with berries sourced from Serbia.

Here's what you need to know:
- All batches and all dates of Pams Mixed Berries, Two Berry Mix, Smoothie Berry Mix, and Raspberries have been recalled and removed from supermarkets.
- The Pams products are sold at New World, PAK’nSAVE and Four Square stores nationwide.
- Hepatitis A is a contagious virus which spreads easily. Learn more here.
- Due to the possibility that other brands of berries may be infected, New Zealand Food Safety continues to advise those eating frozen berries to wash hands before and after preparing the berries, briefly boil them before eating and ensure cooking temperatures exceed 85 degree Celsius for 1 minute.

If you have consumed any of these products and have any concerns about your health, seek medical advice.

Image
786 days ago

Future of NZ's largest inflateable water park in doubt - over a road

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Otago News

From reporter Debbie Jamieson:

The owners of a popular Central Otago water park fear they won’t open this summer after being bogged down by bureaucracy.

The Kiwi Water Park opened in 2020 and is New Zealand’s largest water park, attracting 30,000 visitors last summer.

It’s based on a… View more
From reporter Debbie Jamieson:

The owners of a popular Central Otago water park fear they won’t open this summer after being bogged down by bureaucracy.

The Kiwi Water Park opened in 2020 and is New Zealand’s largest water park, attracting 30,000 visitors last summer.

It’s based on a reserve shared by freedom campers and boaties off State Highway 8, near Cromwell.

The popularity of the area has led to a review of the entrance and a suggestion a right-turning bay is needed.

Land Information New Zealand (Linz), Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and the Central Otago District Council are all involved, but progress has come to a standstill.

Now Kiwi Water Park co-owner and marketing manager Emily Rutherford says that after six months of fruitlessly waiting for decisions, the business may not be able to open this summer.

The requirements of the water park’s licence include that any changes are made by November 4.

“In the meantime, our business planning and recruitment of staff for this season hangs in the balance. We’ve got two months till we open and we need action urgently,” she said.

The park was originally granted a six-year consent by the council to operate at the Lowburn Reserve – an area frequented by campers and boaties as well as water park users.

Last season, they shifted the park to a more sheltered area at the reserve and had to apply for a variation to their consent.

At that time, Waka Kotahi raised concerns about the number of vehicles entering the reserve, so a temporary speed reduction along the stretch of road was installed.

An agreement was made between the government departments and the business to monitor the amount of traffic using the area and concluded the majority of traffic was caused by freedom campers and boaties – and that a right turning bay was needed.

In a statement a Waka Kotahi spokesperson said the review followed a serious crash at the access to the car park used by the water park in the 2020-21 season.

All the parties agreed a right-turning bay was necessary, but there was disagreement on who would pay for it.

“If no agreement is reached on the access upgrade requirement process the consent conditions stipulate that the final decision sits with [the council] as the consent authority,” the statement said.

It was now up to the business to get a detailed design and submit it to the department, the statement said.

However, Rutherford said the cost of the right-turning bay could be prohibitive for the business, particularly without a long-term lease.

“We’ve been put in an impossible position.

“It could cost $1 million, I don’t know, but we don’t even make that in a year. How would we pay for it?”

Linz was currently renewing the lease annually. Rutherford said she would need a 20 or 30-year lease to justify the investment.

It would also take at least 18 months to design and build, so it would not be ready for this year, Rutherford said.

Even more frustrating was that the bulk of traffic was generated by freedom campers, not water park users who tended to travel in buses or family groups.

Linz could decide to close the area to freedom campers, which would resolve the problem, she said.

Regardless, the company needed LINZ to confirm the lease would be renewed.

Linz Minister Damien O’Connor told the Rutherfords this month that the department was still considering the company’s application.

“This whole process has been incredibly frustrating,” Rutherford said.

She described the Kiwi Water Park as a Covid-19 success story, which received no public funding but phenomenal support from the local community.

“It’s now two months before we’re due to open, and we should be busy recruiting locals for another summer season and contributing to the local economy.”

Linz has been approached for comment.

Image
786 days ago

Attention all pet owners! Win your spot on the 2023 Cutest Pet Calendar.

Sunday Star Times

The Cutest Pet Competition is back by popular demand! Show off your furry friend this October to see if you’ve got the cutest pet in the country. This year’s competition is sponsored by Wishbone, giving you the chance to win your share of $10,000 worth of pet food.

From 26 September, … View more
The Cutest Pet Competition is back by popular demand! Show off your furry friend this October to see if you’ve got the cutest pet in the country. This year’s competition is sponsored by Wishbone, giving you the chance to win your share of $10,000 worth of pet food.

From 26 September, purchase a copy of your local Stuff newspaper, find our promo ad, and follow the link to submit a photo of your pet online. If your pet is selected, they’ll feature in our promotional adverts across all Stuff newspapers for a day, plus you will receive $50 worth of Wishbone pet food so you can spoil them rotten. For more information on the prizes and to view the T&Cs, click here!

The team at Stunday Star-Times
Know more

Image
787 days ago

Who is your favourite gardening superhero?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Dear neighbours, in the October issue of NZ Gardener, you'll see the five finalists for our 2022 Ryman Healthcare Gardener of the Year competition. They've all done amazing things for their communities. You can read about their wonderful work here, and then vote for your favourite.

Image
788 days ago

Join us in restoring Cromwell!

Trees That Count

Join the Lake Dunstan Charitable Trust and Te Tapu o Tāne to plant a portion of 10,000 native trees on the beautiful Lake Dunstan shoreline.

Be a part of restoring the native flora and fauna in this stunning location.
Find out more

Image
788 days ago

Have you got a great recipe for celery?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Dear neighbours,

Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for new potato recipes, so send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by Oct 3, 2022.

Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Vegetable Growing… View more
Dear neighbours,

Every month, NZ Gardener runs a series of tested reader recipes using a seasonal crop. We are now on the hunt for new potato recipes, so send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by Oct 3, 2022.

Every published recipe wins a copy of our special edition Vegetable Growing Made Easy.

Image
789 days ago

Your base weekly fee is fixed

Ryman Healthcare

Retirement is an exciting time, filled with possibilities. Our fixed fee guarantee is one of the ways we provide financial certainty. Ryman residents love it as it helps them reduce rising living costs and surprise expenses.

Enjoy the quality amenities at every Ryman village and splurge a little… View more
Retirement is an exciting time, filled with possibilities. Our fixed fee guarantee is one of the ways we provide financial certainty. Ryman residents love it as it helps them reduce rising living costs and surprise expenses.

Enjoy the quality amenities at every Ryman village and splurge a little on yourself if you feel like it! Take up that hobby you’ve dreamed of or plan a holiday somewhere warm.

It’s easy to live life your way when you have freedom to do the things you enjoy. It’s another example of how we’re pioneering retirement living.
Find out more

Image
793 days ago

For Waitangi Day

The Team from Resene ColorShop Dunedin

Simple stripes create stunning results with these great craft ideas. Brighten up some old napkins (or plain new ones) with eye-catching designs inspired by traditional patterns using Resene paint. Plus paint your own height chart and Ti rakau.

Find out how to create your own.

Image
793 days ago

Tarras Airport needs 'mass tourism' to survive, Queenstown Airport chief executive says

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Otago News

From reporter Debbie Jamieson:

A new Central Otago airport based in Tarras would be reliant on mass inbound tourism to be viable, Queenstown Airport chief executive Glen Sowry says.

“Do the communities of Queenstown Lakes District and Central Otago want that level of mass inbound tourism … View more
From reporter Debbie Jamieson:

A new Central Otago airport based in Tarras would be reliant on mass inbound tourism to be viable, Queenstown Airport chief executive Glen Sowry says.

“Do the communities of Queenstown Lakes District and Central Otago want that level of mass inbound tourism that is required to justify that airport?” he asked.

“Every conversation I’ve been part of and privy to, the answer to that is ‘no’.”

Sowry was talking as Queenstown Airport Corporation prepared to publicly launch its first 10-year plan.

The plan recognises that Christchurch International Airport Limited (CIAL) is investigating the feasibility and establishment of an international airport at Tarras but assumes it will not be developed before 2032

Sowry said travellers saw enormous value in being able to fly in and out of Queenstown.

“It is close and convenient. The location and amenity Queenstown Airport offers are very attractive.”

Despite the recent resignation of CIAL chief executive Malcolm Johns, CIAL chairperson Catherine Drayton said the organisation would focus on growth including “intergenerational projects such as the Central Otago airport project”.

CIAL project director Michael Singleton said demand to and from Central Otago would continue to grow.

“Central Otago’s need for new airport infrastructure has been talked about for decades – and not just by us.

“Covid-19 has not taken away the limits on the area’s airport capacity – it’s just changed the timeframe on when they will be reached,” he said.

The 10-year Queenstown plan precedes the preparation of a 30-year masterplan, which will provide more specifics on how the airport will achieve its goals.

The masterplan process will include public input and would replace a 2018 plan, which resulted in a huge backlash from the public that owns three-quarters of the airport via the Queenstown Lakes District Council.

The corporation has since pulled back on contentious issues within the 2018 plan.

It’s intention to introduce more flights to Wānaka Airport was quashed when a High Court Judicial Review found the corporation’s 100-year lease of Wānaka report was unlawful.

The plan to increase noise levels and more than double the number of passenger movements at the airport to over five million by 2031 was so unpopular it was dumped by Sowry soon after he started in the role.

The slow-down in international tourism from Covid-19 has reduced pressure on Queenstown Airport, and the 10-year plan shows capacity to continue growing within current noise boundaries.

Air New Zealand flight NZ1209 from Auckland lands in Queenstown, welcomed by Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult, Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker, and Queenstown Airport Corporation chief executive Colin Keel.

In 2018 and using pre-Covid-19 growth rates, previous airport chief executive Colin Keel estimated the airport would reach capacity in its noise boundaries around 2022.

However, the number of passenger movements peaked in the year ended June 2019 when there was 2.3m passenger movements (or 1.15m arriving) passengers.

That dipped to 1.1 million in the last year. Forecasts now project 3.2 million passenger movements in the financial year ending June 2032.

The plan anticipates these numbers will be achievable within the current noise boundaries.

Airlines use of “new engine option” (neo) planes could increase capacity at the airport by another 25%, Sowry said.

Air New Zealand and Qantas are already including the planes in their fleets. They use 15% less fuel, are quieter and carry more passengers.

Sowry said the 10-year plan was written to reflect the “sensitivities and concerns” of the community, but also apply a responsible view of the biggest economic asset the region owns.

Increasingly that was about delivering those principles in an environmentally sensitive manner, he said.

The plan includes an intention to achieve carbon neutrality in the coming year, and net-zero by 2040, within the airport.

With the bulk of carbon emissions coming from aircraft, the airport would look to support the “highly motivated” airlines and aircraft manufacturers looking to run electric aircraft and those operated by alternative fuels.

It also contains an intention to develop airport owned land to diversify revenue, including moving the general aviation hub and creating commercial and industrial developments around Queenstown Airport.

The corporation also owned 148.5 hectares of land surrounding Wānaka Airport, which was leased for farming activities and to NASA for their superpressure balloon launches.

There were no plans to further develop that land.

Image
Top