Latest news with #Gore
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
SDC votes to keep water services in-house
A Southern council has opted to keep its water services in-house following strong community feedback. Southland district councillors last week voted unanimously to run with an "adjusted status quo model" for Three Waters services which allows it to retain responsibility while meeting new requirements. It comes at a time when councils all over the country are responding to government reform on how they want to deliver drinking water, wastewater and stormwater. More than 97% of Southland respondents preferred an adjusted status quo option instead of a standalone council-controlled organisation (CCO). Reasons for the overwhelming vote included local control, accountability, affordability, cost efficiency and a feeling of "reform fatigue". If the council had opted to go down the CCO route, estimated costs of $750,000 would have been required for setup in addition to about $625,000 a year for operating. Mayor Rob Scott attended several meetings during consultation. "It was really good engagement everywhere we went, even with the smaller numbers," he said. The adjusted status quo model will form part of the council's water services delivery plan, as required under legislation. That plan needs to show how the council will be compliant in delivering a satisfactory and financially sustainable service by mid-2028, and must be submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) by September 3. The council was also involved in a DIA case study looking at how new standards would impact rural councils. Results from the study were received last week, but the staff report had already been prepared for the meeting. Community consultation in Southland ran from April 3 to May 21. In May, the Invercargill City Council also voted to keep its delivery in-house. Consultation has just ended on a proposal in which Gore would join forces with Clutha, Central Otago and Waitaki. • LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
From covering ground to covering crackers
Top Gore runner Millie McFadzien, 17, has turned her athletic advancement to food design, creating and marketing a smoked eel pate made from Southern-caught tuna. The St Peter's College student has had a successful week, pitching her pate to business experts in Invercargill and placing in the top 10 at a national cross-country competition days later. Millie finished ninth out of 120 runners in the senior girls 4000m race at the secondary schools cross-country championships in Whangarei on Saturday, with a time of 15min 29sec. Days earlier, Southland Business Chamber members were "blown away" by her pitch for the eel pate, she said. It was initially her father's idea, after seeing something similar on an episode of Country Calendar . She then engaged supplier Waituna Eel with an idea to resell its Lake Ellesmere eels on the international market, but was redirected to the idea of a pate by company chief executive Calvin Claridge. Millie then connected with Invercargill chef Ethan Flack and together they devised a recipe. "It's good on crackers and all that," she said. Her marketing company is called The Lost Larder and the agency Naked Creative has donated its time, creating the label and olive-green brand design. Millie was also fortunate to have the support of Southland signwriter Creation Signs who made her two pull-up banners, T-shirts and labelling for the pitch. Bluff fisheries company Ocean Beach also gave her some start-up funds for the project. The project is part of her school business class, as well as the national Young Enterprise scheme competition, which is a charity-funded programme that fosters and provides mentoring for business ideas of senior high school students for a year. Millie has ideas for other rare edible products under The Lost Larder, such as rabbit heart pate. She is looking to engage a food scientist to list the nutritional information on the packaged product, and potentially an industrial kitchen to seriously carry on with this venture. She has that to look forward to along with her running, as her top-10 finish meant she qualified for the NZ Secondary Schools Team that will compete on the Gold Coast, Queensland in September. Of her race on Saturday, she said it was "quite tough" as the course was steep, hilly and muddy. The following day, her Southland mixed team won the relay race, as well. Pre-orders for the eel pate can be sent to thelostlarder@
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Meet continues proud tradition
osefine Tauba was the first female home in the Gore Handicap Cross-country at Hamilton Park on Saturday. The race celebrated its 70th anniversary. PHOTO: GERRIT DOPPENBERG One of Southland's longest-running athletic meets continued a proud legacy when celebrating its 70th anniversary at the weekend. The Gore Handicap Cross-country was held at Hamilton Park on Saturday, around 60 runners lacing up for the event. All age groups were welcome with distances ranging from 2000m for the young guns to 5000m for the 18 and up category. Sunny skies and decent running conditions meant runners stayed on a good pace, pairing well with previous times and events. The race was first started in 1955 by Reg Clutterbuck after whom the winner's trophy is named. Gore Harrier president and race manager Graham Hall said Mr Clutterbuck was an early devotee of the sport, before everyone got their running shoes on. "He was a very good supporter of the harriers and athletics. He promoted the sport with the children. "All you needed was a pair of shorts and shoes and you could run and it has been carrying on strong since," he said. Clutterbuck Trophy winner Ian Densie was presented the trophy by longtime race manager and the winner of the first race, Ivan Stark, linking 70 years of cross-country excellence. PHOTO: GORE HARRIERS Mr Hall picked up the manager position from longtime harrier and first winner, Ivan Stark, who also plotted the course at Hamilton Park. This hard work in the early days, before the boom of running, is what Mr Hall said had been the key to its continued and ongoing success. "There's no other events [going for 70 years]. It's a credit to Reg and Ivan the event has carried on. "I hope the run continues on for many years yet, keeping the legacy of Reg and Ivan's efforts going," he said. Clutterbuck Trophy winner Ian Densie was presented his award by Ivan Stark. Josefine Tauba won the section for the first female home. Bobby Douglas recorded the fastest time, Grant Baker was the fastest runner in the 50 and up category and Bryce McVicar was the first Gore club runner. St Paul's Harrier & Athletic Club won the overall club prize for their efforts, while Lilian and Henry Tudor were presented an award for their services to the sport.
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Quiz raises $11k for museum exhibition
An AI rendition of what the suite of Jo Ogier's suite of art pieces — "He Wai Apakura — Te Ara Pounamu" may look like at the new museum. PHOTO: SUPPLIED BY EASTERN SOUTHLAND GALLERY After raising $11,000 at a fundraiser, the Eastern Southland Gallery has the dream of buying Jo Ogier's art of the Mataura River in sight. More than 120 people were invited to Croydon Lodge for a quiz night, testing their skills of deduction and memory. A special portion was dedicated to identifying doors around Gore, which stumped a fair few of even the most well-travelled in the crowd. Following this, an auction was held with donated goods including art pieces, tickets to events, and an a history book collection. The organisers were hoping to raise $10,000, and they walked away with $11,000 to help buy Jo Ogier's suite of art pieces — "He Wai Apakura — Te Ara Pounamu / The River's Lament — A Pathway of Treasures". The suite details the flora and fauna of the historical Mataura River, and will hopefully feature heavily in the new Māruawai Centre museum facility. Jo Ogier with some of her paintings displayed at the Eastern Southland Gallery last year. PHOTO: ENSIGN FILES The planned exhibition, "He Hikoi a Te Awaawa Mataura — A Journey Through the Mataura River", will enable visitors to learn all about the histories, food gathering sites and the flora and fauna of the region. The art pieces will be digitalised and preserved, allowing for their permanent display in the facility. Gallery programmes officer Marcella Geddes said it was an excellent night with everyone getting on board. "We're absolutely thrilled with the support. It's an indication of just how much we do have out there for our programmes and events." The goal of having Ogier's art continue to educate and inspire others with a historical look at our local river was just around the corner, she said. "This is going to get us very, very close to our final goal."
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Vegetable soup with Jamie Mackay
Once a week [my wife] Audrey and I make a big pot of vegetable soup which is our lunch-time staple and lasts us for the week. We have always grown our own vegetables — usually the main varieties are carrots, parsnips, cabbages, cauliflowers, lettuce. We put up with the challenges from white butterfly, aphids, beating the frosts in the spring and autumn and sometimes a rabbit coming in that scratches out some newly planted seeds. I often wonder about the economics of keeping a garden when there are so many things working against the system. The tomatoes are usually safe in the tunnel house but there's a bit work and timing involved to get a decent crop. Growers are renowned for a bit of banter about who grows the best. One of the upsides of the vegetable garden is if you have a surplus, someone is usually grateful for a cabbage or a few carrots from your abundance. But on these cold winter days we tuck into our lunch of a big bowl of hot vegetable soup and a couple of cheese rolls which make a very satisfying lunchtime meal. The conversation at lunchtime is limited because it is almost compulsory for farmers to listen to The Country, hosted by Jamie Mackay, as it takes precedence. There is no need for me to spell out the success of his radio show. Starting from Gore in 1994 he has used his entrepreneurial skills, seized opportunities to expand his company to now giving nationwide coverage and has become the voice of rural New Zealand. He has been made an Officer of New Zealand Order of Merit for services to broadcasting and rural community which also recognises some of his charity work. He has received other national awards as well. Jamie engages a wide range of people in science, marketing, economics experts in their field who give up-to-date information which helps listeners form an educated opinion. He knows his audience well and most take an interest in rugby to varying degrees and as he is an avid student of the game delights in reliving some historical moments of the sport. Then there is politics and he accommodates all the main parties and enjoys "playing the devil's advocate" which is part of his game. It is noticeable that when it is a party leader's turn they always show up as they know the size of his radio audience, and it is not all rural. I wonder what's next for Jamie's country radio world. He will have to write a book, too.
