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From reporter Debbie Jamieson:
That Wānaka Tree is world famous but the shark swimming around it may elevate it to new social media heights.
No-one knows where the shark, or to be precise the shark’s fin, came from and local social media posts have divided opinion in the small town.
… View moreFrom reporter Debbie Jamieson:
That Wānaka Tree is world famous but the shark swimming around it may elevate it to new social media heights.
No-one knows where the shark, or to be precise the shark’s fin, came from and local social media posts have divided opinion in the small town.
Posting on Facebook on Monday, Joanne Young said April Fools was over and the stationary fin spoiled the lake's beauty.
“Can it be removed?” she asked.
But Jess B Clark called for the “weed tree” to be removed instead, while Kieran Kaiwai suggested someone jump in and tackle the shark.
Others suggested it would need Department of Conservation and Otago Regional Council involvement involving a lengthy report and an 80% rates rise.
Tony Vial suspected it might be the work of a random Sharks supporter, before adding his own “Go the Warriors”.
Todd Jeremy Owen said he had seen the fin in other spots, including Lake Hawea.
"That Taniwha is way older than that weedy willow,” he said.
Tracy Sarah Jones looked forward to seeing the next 20 million lonely tree shots accompanied by the great shark fin.
While Amanda Waldo had another ominous warning for regular lake users.
"If the duck itch doesn’t get you...” she wrote.
For now, the big questions are unanswered. Will the shark remain? And will it ruin the perfect shot of #thatwanakatree?
Bring out the best in your home.
Get 20% off Resene premium paints, stains, wallpapers and accessories, on now at Resene ColorShops!
Hurry Resene sale ends Tuesday 11th April.
Shop online at shop.resene.co.nz or visit your local Resene ColorShop.
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Happy Mother’s Day
Create art using Resene paint and your own breath.
Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.
We have some cute Easter bags to fill with goodies ✨ wishing our customers a fabulous Easter break ✨
This Sunday we'll be putting our clocks back for the end of daylight saving. Despite the benefits of an extra hour of sun during daylight saving, these clock changes commonly bring disruptions to our households and sleep - some feel that it should be scrapped altogether. What do you think?
… View moreThis Sunday we'll be putting our clocks back for the end of daylight saving. Despite the benefits of an extra hour of sun during daylight saving, these clock changes commonly bring disruptions to our households and sleep - some feel that it should be scrapped altogether. What do you think?
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the We Say You Say column of your local paper.
From reporter Debbie Jamieson:
A Cromwell whisky distillery and a Wānaka film studio proposal have been promised government support to help the region diversify beyond its reliance on tourism.
Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan announced a $2.9 million loan to help Scapegrace … View moreFrom reporter Debbie Jamieson:
A Cromwell whisky distillery and a Wānaka film studio proposal have been promised government support to help the region diversify beyond its reliance on tourism.
Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan announced a $2.9 million loan to help Scapegrace Distillery expand to help meet growing national and international demand.
The government will also underwrite $4.5m of the Silverlight Studios’ film studio project.
“I love what you guys are doing ... the whole aspiration for us is to support our regions to grow,” she said.
Scapegrace Distillery is a privately owned Central Otago business that produces whisky, gin and vodka, and aims to become New Zealand’s biggest distillery.
Founded by brothers-in-law Daniel McLaughlin and Mark Neal nine years ago, the company has more than 48 shareholders and exports to 35 markets.
McLaughlin said about 65% of its products are exported, but it was hoped that would increase to 80%.
The government loan would be used to help build a new distillery and temporary hospitality facility, creating 218 jobs during construction and 24 permanent roles once operational.
Ultimately, the Central Otago site will house four whisky barrel rooms, a world-class distillery and a full hospitality precinct with cellar door facilities, a bar and restaurant, and event spaces,
McLaughlin anticipated it would be completed in 2026 and would be New Zealand’s largest distillery, spanning 36 hectares of land and 4500m² of buildings.
Allan said the projected increase in capacity from 30,000 litres to 567,000 litres of product was a “game changer”.
“It’s an absolute privilege to stand alongside you as you embark on your new venture.”
Asked whether it was appropriate for taxpayers’ money to be used to support the alcohol industry, she said it was part of the food and beverage industry, an area identified for development in the region.
Speaking about the support for Silverlight Studios, Allan said the screen industry employed about 16,200 New Zealanders and contributed $3.3 billion to the economy every year.
It was a key component of Central Otago’s economic diversification initiatives, she said.
“Silverlight Studios will provide new opportunities for local talent to be at the forefront of an evolving industry in the region.”
Silverlight Studios chief executive Mike Wallis said concerns had been raised that the company’s $280m Wānaka plan, which includes 10 sound studios, was too much and too fast for the area.
The company had therefore “pivoted”, and will instead bring three fast-build modular sound stages to the site with auxiliary buildings.
The sound stages, which are fully sound-proofed and include lighting rigs, will come from Belgium and are already being used by the likes of Netflix and Amazon, Wallis said.
The government underwrite of $4.5m would provide confidence for investors in this stage of the project and enable the work to be completed in 12 to 14 months, he said.
“This gives them facilities with rain cover, and it’s big enough for an international large scale production, which is really our key market anyway, but also for the local market.”
The stages will be packed down and moved as the full studio development is completed.
It will ultimately include an 11ha artificial lake, film school, screening theatre, exhibition centre and up to 10 sound stages – making it the largest studio of its kind in New Zealand.
It will also include recreations of international film locations, including an Italian village, the canals and bridges of Venice, a generic seaside Hamptons-style village, blocks of New York City and a portion of New York’s Central Park.
From reporter Hamish McNeilly:
Dunedin Hospital has been so stretched doctors have had to treat patients in corridors and work up to 90 hours a week, one doctor has told the city council.
“I don’t actually want more money, I would like to see more of my kids,” Dr Janet Rhodes told a … View moreFrom reporter Hamish McNeilly:
Dunedin Hospital has been so stretched doctors have had to treat patients in corridors and work up to 90 hours a week, one doctor has told the city council.
“I don’t actually want more money, I would like to see more of my kids,” Dr Janet Rhodes told a Dunedin City Council meeting via audiovisual link on Monday.
The Dunedin Hospital doctor was expressing her concern over the future capacity of the city’s new $1.47 billion hospital, one of the largest infrastructure builds in the country.
Listening to her were city councillors wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the words: THEY SAVE WE PAY. NO DUNEDIN HOSPITAL CUTS.
The council, led by mayor Jules Radich, is leading a campaign to halt proposed cuts to the new hospital.
Concerns over the project included a reduction in the number of beds in the inpatients’ building from 410 to 398, a reduction in operating theatres from 28 to 26, and a reduction in MRI scanners to two.
Rhodes said the current facility was old and had run at or near capacity in recent years. There was no fat in the system to trim, she said.
“We have been running down to the bone for years now.”
The current hospital was inadequate in terms of size and the new rebuild would have a similar number of beds – a major concern for those set to work in the facility.
In December, it was announced the project’s budget had been increased by $110 million after some $90m worth of savings were identified.
A report from Te Whatu Ora Southern detailed the impact of that cost-cutting in the design, about four years in the planning. “Undoing this in as many months carries significant reputational, operational and clinical risk,” it warned.
Rhodes said the current hospital contributed to “unsafe outcomes for patients”.
People deserved privacy and dignity when they went into hospital, but some patients had to wait up to 18 hours, or were examined standing up in corridors due to the lack of space.
The hospital rebuild was a “colossal amount of money”, but the cost to the health system of replicating a similar sized hospital was a cause of concern, she said.
She also highlighted staff shortages. She routinely worked about 65 hours a week, but could work up to 90 hours.
Another speaker at the public forum, Dr John Chambers, a former member of the now defunct Southern District Health Board, said he expected the $90m in savings to have all but gone by the time the building opened.
He said he was invited to a meeting in February where Whatu Ora Health New Zealand executives said Dunedin patients could get operations in Timaru in future.
Meanwhile, the opening of the new inpatient building had been pushed back 10 months and would now open in 2029. The new outpatient building was expected to open in late 2025.
Chambers said the final make-up of the new hospital was far from a “done deal”, and suggested the building’s final configuration could claw back some of the losses announced last year.
Those behind the hospital project will deliver a public update in Dunedin on Tuesday.
Neighbourhood Support members across New Zealand are invited to attend a special wellbeing webinar, 'Building Strong Communities', with Farmstrong Ambassador, Sam Whitelock, at 7:30pm on Tuesday April 4th.
For more information and to register, head to www.neighbourhoodsupport.co.nz....… View moreNeighbourhood Support members across New Zealand are invited to attend a special wellbeing webinar, 'Building Strong Communities', with Farmstrong Ambassador, Sam Whitelock, at 7:30pm on Tuesday April 4th.
For more information and to register, head to www.neighbourhoodsupport.co.nz....
Please invite those on your street and in your neighbourhood who might be interested (it's not just for rural folk, although those of you in rural communities might be particularly interested).
Save up to $69 with an NZ House & Garden subscription. Subscribe today to get NZ’s favourite lifestyle magazine delivered straight to your home every month, plus you’ll receive ManukaRx’s Pro-Aging Skin Oil worth $44.95 absolutely free!
Achieve healthy and ageless skin with the … View moreSave up to $69 with an NZ House & Garden subscription. Subscribe today to get NZ’s favourite lifestyle magazine delivered straight to your home every month, plus you’ll receive ManukaRx’s Pro-Aging Skin Oil worth $44.95 absolutely free!
Achieve healthy and ageless skin with the Pro-Aging Skin Oil. This face oil features the powerful essential oil blend of East Cape mānuka oil and rosehip oil. Offer is valid until 16 April 2023. Offer applies for 1-year and 2-year subscriptions only. For full T&Cs click here.
Wonderful collections out today as well as lots of merino tops for this cold spell.
Restore antique furniture with Resene Aquaclear.
Find out how with these easy step by step instructions.
From reporter Hamish McNeilly:
The man behind the country’s only covered stadium could only watch as booking after booking was cancelled.
In early 2020, about 500 events – ranging from community events to large concerts, some even yet to be announced – were cancelled at facilities … View moreFrom reporter Hamish McNeilly:
The man behind the country’s only covered stadium could only watch as booking after booking was cancelled.
In early 2020, about 500 events – ranging from community events to large concerts, some even yet to be announced – were cancelled at facilities managed by Dunedin Venues Management Ltd, including Forsyth Barr Stadium.
“Initially it was like, you are out of business, you are finished,” chief executive Terry Davies said.
“It has been a roller coaster, a brutal three years, and now we are into some interesting times.”
In February 2020, the stadium hosted both Elton John and Queen, attracting more than 65,000 fans. Within weeks, the global Covid-19 pandemic effectively shut down the event industry.
Davies said the company had to cut about 60% of its staff, “through no fault of their own”.
In January, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were the first international act to return to the stadium in three years, attracting 28,166 punters.
Davies said that number could have been even higher, but the concert was held before most students returned to the city for the academic year.
The concert, which included support from Post Malone, injected an estimated $10.52 million into Dunedin’s economy.
A survey found about 58% of concert goers came from outside of Dunedin – mostly from Canterbury.
The visitors stayed an average of 1.8 nights and spent about $660 per person – not including their concert ticket. Of those surveyed, 87% rated the concert experience highly, and 92% said they would attend more major events at the venue.
Major events are now returning in force. Local heroes Six60 recently played the stadium, while Rod Stewart and Cyndi Lauper are set to play on April 5. Pop star Pink’s March 2024 show had almost sold out already, Davies said.
Christchurch’s $683m Te Kaha stadium – due to be completed in April 2026 – would create a “bidding game” between the South Island’s two biggest cities for large international acts, but Dunedin was ready to compete, Davies said.
“If anyone in Christchurch thinks building a stadium will stop any content coming to Dunedin [they’re] delusional, because that is not going to happen.”
From reporter Hamish McNeilly:
Dunedin’s one way system looks likely to be retained as one of the country’s largest infrastructure project is built in the middle of it.
The Dunedin City Council will debate options for State Highway 1 through the city when councillors meet on Monday.
… View moreFrom reporter Hamish McNeilly:
Dunedin’s one way system looks likely to be retained as one of the country’s largest infrastructure project is built in the middle of it.
The Dunedin City Council will debate options for State Highway 1 through the city when councillors meet on Monday.
Two options are to be considered: retaining the existing one-way system – with enhancements – or creating a two-way option. A report to councillors recommends they endorse the former.
As work ramps up on the new $1.4 billion Dunedin Hospital project, the council was working alongside the likes of Waka Kotahi and the Otago Regional Council to manage the disruption to traffic.
Late last year, Waka Kotahi supported retaining the existing one-way network, while making safety and amenity improvements, but the city council supported the two-way option.
Both the council and the agency agreed to undertake more work looking at both options.
The council’s report noted there was an opportunity to improve the amenity of the existing one-way option by reducing parking and changing the width of the existing cycleways.
The two-way option would allow for significantly improved amenities, including tree planting and garden beds on the existing northbound one-way, and reduced parking. However, no amenity improvements could be made on the existing southbound route.
The two-way option would result in increased travel times, with modelling indicating that there was only capacity for about 85% of expected vehicle demand by 2028, which would possibly drive motorists onto other roads.
While both options were similar in terms of affordability and safety, the two-way option scored better for liveability, travel choice, connectivity and carbon zero goals.
Waka Kotahi would continue to own, operate, and maintain both the north and southbound lanes of the state highway network, but that would not be the case if Cumberland St became a local road.
Council staff requested flexibility in the design so the configuration of the state highway could be reconsidered in the future.
A report noted the northbound one-way lanes had 15,600 vehicle movements each day, of which 600 were trucks, while the southbound one-way lanes had 14,200 vehicle movements daily, including 500 trucks.
Retaining the one-way system was a key part of last year’s election campaign by mayor Jules Radich and his Team Dunedin ticket.
From reporter Debbie Jamieson:
Queenstown ratepayers are facing more leaky homes claims but none as large as those behind a proposed average 13.6% rate rise this year.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council – which covers Queenstown and Wānaka and surrounding areas – settled last year … View moreFrom reporter Debbie Jamieson:
Queenstown ratepayers are facing more leaky homes claims but none as large as those behind a proposed average 13.6% rate rise this year.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council – which covers Queenstown and Wānaka and surrounding areas – settled last year with the body corporate of the Oaks Shore apartments, which claimed $163 million for leaky building repairs.
The exact settlement figure was confidential, but the council was taking out a loan to pay the claim.
It was covering other claims also, including one for the neighbouring property Oaks Club Resort, thought to be about $50m.
The impact of the interest costs meant the claims contributed to nearly a third of the massive rates increase for the coming financial year, documents show.
If the claim was paid in a single year the rates increase would be “horrendous” and in the “hundreds of percents”, council finance manager Stewart Burns said during a council meeting on Thursday.
Councillor Esther Whitehead asked what assurances the council could provide that ratepayers would not face another increase due to leaky home claims.
Burns said the council was currently facing three or four claims, but none were on the scale of the two Oaks properties.
Properties caught in the leaky home legislation were built between 15 and 20 years ago.
Claims had to be made within 10 years of a property’s completion.
The council was reaching the end of that period, he said.
Council standards for building inspections and consents have improved in the last 20 years.
The building inspection and consent processes at the time of the construction of the affected buildings was also a contributing factor, he said.
“The standard we have to meet these days compared to 20 years ago is quite different, and we are audited regularly on those services.
“We certainly have got a lot of confidence that the way we operate now is appropriate.”
Draft annual plan documents show how increases in interest rates, depreciation expenses and record-high inflation have also contributed to the region’s rates increase.
To lessen the rates rise, the council is planning to defer $106.7m in projects, including a Wānaka water treatment plant, a new reservoir at Quail Rise, and a Queenstown water treatment plant at Two Mile.
Increases in some user fees such as building consents, animal registration, and sport and recreational services are also proposed.
The council is undertaking public consultation on the draft annual plan.
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