Westland District, Hokitika

Last chance for tickets!

Last chance for tickets!

For only $15 a ticket, you could win a fully furnished home located in stunning Taupō. Buy your tickets today!

166 days ago

Embrace adventure, we'll mow the lawns...

The Team from Ryman Healthcare

Embracing adventure is made easy with our lock-and-leave-style living. We keep your home secure and well-maintained while you take off to explore what brings you joy.

Premila and Ebbie love the freedom of their Ryman lifestyle. The pair take off on holiday whenever they want and return home to … View more
Embracing adventure is made easy with our lock-and-leave-style living. We keep your home secure and well-maintained while you take off to explore what brings you joy.

Premila and Ebbie love the freedom of their Ryman lifestyle. The pair take off on holiday whenever they want and return home to freshly mowed lawns, watered gardens, clean windows, and a safe village.

Discover more about the freedom of living in a Ryman village.
Find out more

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166 days ago

Does your pet have what it takes to melt the hearts of the nation?

NZ Pets Election

The Great NZ Pet Election has launched and we’re on the hunt for NZ’s best pet!

Pick up a copy of The Press to find out how to nominate your companion then check back every day to see if they are selected as a daily winner! All daily winners will receive a $50 pet store voucher and will … View more
The Great NZ Pet Election has launched and we’re on the hunt for NZ’s best pet!

Pick up a copy of The Press to find out how to nominate your companion then check back every day to see if they are selected as a daily winner! All daily winners will receive a $50 pet store voucher and will qualify towards the grand pet election prize of a $1,000 pet store voucher. Find out more here.

Let the great NZ Pet Election begin!

The team at The Press
Find out more

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167 days ago

NZFarmer November

The Team Reporter from NZ Farmer - North Island

Hi everyone. Keep an eye on your letterbox and emails as the November issue of NZFarmer is nearly here. Hope you enjoy it.
Sonita

168 days ago

Happy Diwali!

The Team from NZ Compare

Happy Diwali! The Festival of Lights is a significant Hindu festival celebrated with lighting lamps, cultural rituals, and the exchange of sweets, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

Let's make your festival brighter and your wallet happier! CLICK BELOW to … View more
Happy Diwali! The Festival of Lights is a significant Hindu festival celebrated with lighting lamps, cultural rituals, and the exchange of sweets, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

Let's make your festival brighter and your wallet happier! CLICK BELOW to share your power-saving tips in our "Light Up Diwali, WN $150" competition.
Don't miss out - ends 13/11, 2023. T&Cs Apply.

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169 days ago

Happy Single's Day!

The Team from NZ Compare

Happy Single's Day!
Whether you're celebrating solo or with friends, take some time today to treat yourself.
CLICK below to enter our Single's Day competition to WIN a $111 Prezzy Card!!

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169 days ago

Coast council backs locally generated hydro-electricity

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

The West Coast Regional Council is calling for the Government to back locally generated hydro-electricity as the country moves away from coal and gas.

The council has submitted on the Government's discussion documents - Advancing New … View more
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

The West Coast Regional Council is calling for the Government to back locally generated hydro-electricity as the country moves away from coal and gas.

The council has submitted on the Government's discussion documents - Advancing New Zealand's Energy Transition - on its local power needs.

The West Coast has some of the highest priced electricity in the country due to the losses of power via transmission lines through the Southern Alps.

The council described a focus on large-scale renewable energy development within the discussion document as "disappointing".

Instead, the council called for local renewable energy generation to be supported as solar and wind generation are "not viable options" for the West Coast.

Submitters for the proposed combined Te Tai o Poutini Plan also called for a more flexible approach to enable electricity generation in the region.

The submissions pointed out the proposed small-scale hydro schemes in the region - namely the Waitaha run-of-river scheme - is needed for the region to be self-sufficient and even an electricity exporter.

The region's community-owned lines company Westpower said that if the region's single biggest manufacturing site, Westland Milk Products, fully switched to electricity it would soak up the entire electricity capacity in the region.

The council said "it is disappointing" the Advancing New Zealand's Energy Transition discussion document appeared to only focus on large-scale renewable energy developments.

"The council's view is that development of local renewable energy sources needs to be supported in a national energy strategy."

It also noted a lack of focus on renewable energy "generated by and for local areas" in the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority's Regional Energy Transition Accelerator report for the West Coast.

That report, released in August, focused on replacing commercial and industrial fossil fuel with biomass and electricity in the region.

"But it does not state where the electricity will be sourced from, and it appears not to support or promote using local renewable resources to generate electricity for local communities," council said.

Instead, support for the development of local renewable energy generation should be clearly stated in the national Emissions Reduction Plan, the National Adaptation Plan, and the national Energy Strategy, council said.

The council goes on to suggest the solar and wind generation options proposed in the discussion document cannot be relied on in future dry generation years.

"Medium to large scale, land-based wind generation is not an option due to our low wind power densities," the council said.

"There is also less sunshine hours and limited flat land available on the West Coast for commercial, medium to large scale, land-based solar generation compared to Canterbury for example."

The Government needed to support "micro, small and medium-scale hydro" as the region had the water and slopes for the schemes.

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170 days ago

Emergency resilience fund ‘completely over subscribed’

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

A West Coast request for resilience funding from the national emergency agency has been partly rejected due to a lack of money.

About $500,000 was funded from a $1.4 million request, a meeting of the West Coast Emergency Management Joint Committee… View more
By local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

A West Coast request for resilience funding from the national emergency agency has been partly rejected due to a lack of money.

About $500,000 was funded from a $1.4 million request, a meeting of the West Coast Emergency Management Joint Committee heard on November 8.

The application was made to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) resilience fund, which is targeted towards civil emergency welfare measures.

Committee members heard the national fund was oversubscribed by more than $4m due to the volume of applications.

The West Coast application was to install shipping containers to hold welfare supplies at five key locations across the region, to be utilised in a major Alpine Fault earthquake (AF8) catastrophe.

The South Island is predicted to be overdue for a magnitude 8-plus quake by about 30 years.

Given the West Coast's high vulnerability to a major earthquake, its region's scattered communities have been told to expect to be self sufficient for days, if not weeks, in a major disaster.

There was to be one resilience container each for Buller, Grey and Westland and the two marae.

The scope of the container contents was based on what other regions had in their welfare containers "without overpitching it".

West Coast Emergency Management Joint Committee chairperson Jamie Cleine said it was important for the region reapply.

He noted the key role of the region's two marae at Arahura and Bruce Bay, which needed to be emergency response centres in an emergency.

In the meantime the councils had pitched in some of their own resources to help move the project forward, Cleine said.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae chairperson Francois Tumahai said the Arahura Marae was designated as an emergency activation centre.

"It seems a bit strange we're not kitted up for it. As you know, with the Kaikōura (earthquake) event, the marae were the first to kick in.

"I think it's a no-brainer to be honest."

Brown said they have been bidding to the long-term plan budget planning of the region's three territorial authorities and the West Coast Regional Council.

They were proposing an increased budget to focus on the welfare and planning aspects of emergency management regionally. They were also seeking more finance to upgrade the website, and for training.

170 days ago

Call yourself a Kiwi? Vote KIWI for Bird of the Century!

Save the Kiwi

For more than 100 years, we New Zealanders have identified ourselves as Kiwis.

The kiwi is in the name of businesses, in logos, in ads, even on the wings of our Airforce ... ironically.

We think it's time we gave the little guy some well-deserved recognition. Show your love for our … View more
For more than 100 years, we New Zealanders have identified ourselves as Kiwis.

The kiwi is in the name of businesses, in logos, in ads, even on the wings of our Airforce ... ironically.

We think it's time we gave the little guy some well-deserved recognition. Show your love for our national icon - the kiwi - by voting KIWI for Bird of the Century.
Vote Now

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170 days ago

In the pink

The Team from Resene ColorShop Timaru

Transform a full kitchen with fresh Resene paint. Find out how with these handy tips.

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170 days ago

Make money from your unused space

Hey Barn

Unlock the potential of your unused space, whether it's a shed, garage or paddock and start making it work for you. Kiwis from all over New Zealand are looking to rent affordable space for storage, a workshop or an event. Let us help you find the perfect renter for your space. Find out more

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171 days ago

Have you got a great recipe for cucumber, or a recipe for plums?

Mei Leng Wong Reporter from NZ Gardener & Get Growing

Dear neighbours, looking ahead to summer (we can't wait!) and the glut of crops, we're looking for recipes for either plum or cucumber dishes, to feature in the magazine. Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by December 3, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the … View moreDear neighbours, looking ahead to summer (we can't wait!) and the glut of crops, we're looking for recipes for either plum or cucumber dishes, to feature in the magazine. Send your best ones to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz by December 3, 2023. Every published recipe wins a copy of the December issue of NZ Gardener.

174 days ago

Poll: Have you had a parcel stolen?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Christmas is on its way and for those of us with family across the country this means posting gifts from afar. Unfortunately, with the rise of mail theft in our communities, this can be risky business. Have you had a parcel stolen in your neighbourhood? Vote in our poll and share below whether this… View moreChristmas is on its way and for those of us with family across the country this means posting gifts from afar. Unfortunately, with the rise of mail theft in our communities, this can be risky business. Have you had a parcel stolen in your neighbourhood? Vote in our poll and share below whether this influences how you're gifting nowadays.

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the We Say You Say column of your local paper.

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Have you had a parcel stolen?
  • 25.2% Yes I have
    25.2% Complete
  • 74.8% No, never
    74.8% Complete
1319 votes
172 days ago

Black Friday's Almost Here!

The Team from NZ Compare

Hold on a sec, mind-blowing deals are on the way! But before you rush in, take a moment to read our latest article for shopping tips that'll help you save hundreds of dollars this Black Friday.

Also, don't miss our Black Friday deals on broadband and power plans, plus PriceMe to … View more
Hold on a sec, mind-blowing deals are on the way! But before you rush in, take a moment to read our latest article for shopping tips that'll help you save hundreds of dollars this Black Friday.

Also, don't miss our Black Friday deals on broadband and power plans, plus PriceMe to compare retailers like The Warehouse, Noel Leeming, Farmers, and more!

Let's make this Black Friday the best one yet!
Get Tips Now

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172 days ago

Arthur's Pass road closure 'frustrating' for businesses

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

Hi neighbours, tourism operators are frustrated at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s decision to close the Arthur’s Pass route for much of the day for two weeks.

State Highway 73, linking the West Coast and Canterbury, will close on weekdays for resurfacing between Otira and Arthur’s Pass … View more
Hi neighbours, tourism operators are frustrated at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s decision to close the Arthur’s Pass route for much of the day for two weeks.

State Highway 73, linking the West Coast and Canterbury, will close on weekdays for resurfacing between Otira and Arthur’s Pass from 10am to 6pm between December 4 and December 15.

Arthur’s Pass cafe and store owner Sean Moran said the closure would severely affect his business.

But Waka Kotahi Canterbury/West Coast system manager Mark Pinner said the fortnight before the Christmas holidays "has the least impact overall, compared to later options".

Read the full story by reporter Joanne Naish here.

Photo: SH73 Peg Leg Creek resurfacing, also in the Otira Gorge closer to the top of the pass, completed in 2021.

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173 days ago

Become an SPCA Foster Hero!

The Team from SPCA Hokitika - Op Shop

This little momma and her babies here to ask you a question... can you give him some love? Literally! ❤️ With the number of animals needing SPCA’s help on the rise, and the number of foster homes due to go down in the upcoming holiday season, we need foster homes now more than ever.

Over … View more
This little momma and her babies here to ask you a question... can you give him some love? Literally! ❤️ With the number of animals needing SPCA’s help on the rise, and the number of foster homes due to go down in the upcoming holiday season, we need foster homes now more than ever.

Over the next six months, around 10,000 cats and kittens will require temporary care to heal, learn and grow. Not only felines, but dogs, small animals and farm animals can all need foster care, and we’re desperately seeking new foster homes around the country.

No matter your circumstances, we are keen to hear from you. Whether you have kids, pets, work full time or can only commit for a couple of weeks, you can make a HUGE difference in the little life of an animal in need ?

We cover training and all costs. All you need to provide is your time and love ? Keen to know more?

Get involved today and get started on the most rewarding journey.

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