563 days ago

Ōtira and Springfield celebrate 100 years since tunnel opening

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

Ōtira was a bustling town with about 650 people when the Ōtira Tunnel first linked the West Coast to the rest of the South Island 100 years ago.

Communities at both ends of the tunnel are celebrating its centenary on Friday.

The rail tunnel travels 8.5km through the Southern Alps and was once the seventh longest tunnel in the world, and the longest in the British Empire.

Although the rail tunnel is now only the third longest in the country, it remains an engineering marvel.

During its construction, tunnellers contended with harsh conditions, using basic tools to drive through wet shale and rock, and with the steep track required from Ōtira to Arthur’s Pass.

A committee of Ōtira residents was set up two years ago to organise a celebration to commemorate 100 years since the tunnel opened on August 4, 1923.

Read reporter Joanne Naish's full story here (subscription required).

More messages from your neighbours
35 minutes ago

The Online Garage Sale of the Summer

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

It's time to clean out the garage (or closet or cupboard!) and make some money back on your summer goods. Get involved with the Neighbourly online garage sale on Saturday, February 22nd.

Whether it's time to let go of your spare tent, your beach umbrella or maybe clear some clothes from your wardrobe, the Neighbourly garage sale is the place to do it - it's free and it's local!

If this is your first Neighbourly garage sale, the way it works is that you list your items individually ahead of the event and members perusing the garage sale items online will contact you to buy it.

Make sure you check out the treasure trove of bargains on Saturday, February 22nd - it's well worth a look!

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4 hours ago

Kia Ora Bryndwr

Shirish Paranjape from Community Board member, Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood C.Board

Thanks to all the organisers, volunteers, community groups and community members who contributed to making an excellent Kia Ora Bryndwr - Connect with kai event.

Amidst cloudy weather, there were plenty of activities and free kai (food) for everyone! Ice-creams, muffins, fresh fruit, hummus with carrots / celery, and much more - there was something for everyone!

Sharing some photos from the event.

1 day ago

🧩 Crack the Code: Today’s Riddle Challenge! 🤔

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

I’m a three-digit number; my tens digit is five more than my ones, and my hundreds digit is eight less than my tens—what am I?

Do you think you know the answer to our riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm.

Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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