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Otago Daily Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Speeding towards a sign of the travel times
Are you on the left or right-hand side of the road on the contentious speed limit changes of 2022? The Tackling Unsafe Speeds Programme gradually introduced reductions, lowering many single-carriage roads from 100kmh to 80kmh as part of the Road to Zero goal. However, the present government reversed lots of these. For many, the slower speeds were long overdue — a practical measure to save lives. Reduced speeds decrease both the frequency and severity of crashes while also lowering emissions. Additional travel time lost would be minimal. Critics argued blanket speed reductions unfairly penalised responsible drivers for the actions of a few, reflecting nanny-state overreach. They contended lower speeds unnecessarily restricted personal freedom and driving enjoyment, particularly in rural areas where traffic was sparse. Longer travel times would disproportionately affect freight companies and rural commuters, while safety gains remain minimal. Support for reductions tends to be strongest among the educated, influential, and elite left and centre-left. Thirty-eight sections of state highways are being reinstated to the 100kmh limit, though none of these are in Otago and Southland. The deadline for implementation is the end of this month. Forty-nine other highway sections underwent public consultation in February and March, so "local communities could have their say". Ultimately, only six sections will retain their lower speed limits owing to strong public support (more than 50% in favour), including from the Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound. These changes are also set to take effect by the end of the month. Just as with the overuse of cones, Civis remains in the middle of the road on this issue. It's easy to become over-zealous about speed limits. After all, it's sometimes said that if we were truly determined to eliminate safety hazards, all private driving would be banned. Some highway segments, such as SH1 south of Oamaru, have had an 80kmh limit for years. Given the bends, undulations and proximity to houses and businesses near the road, this feels right. Civis also supports 80kmh for crossing the Waitaki Bridge, a matter of controversy. Traversing the bridge by bike must be daunting, as highlighted in a recent ODT letter to the editor. Waitaki Bridge residents argued the change in 2020 to 80kmh along the 2.6km strip from Glenavy to Waitaki Village should be retained. During formal consultation, of the 1200 responses, 646 strongly opposed the lower limit, while 56 slightly opposed it. Meanwhile, 480 strongly supported the 80kmh limit, with another 28 slightly supporting it. A further 26 were neutral. Tension often arises between the preferences of local residents and those from further afield. In the Waitaki consultation, of the 102 responses from the local community, 83 strongly supported the lower figure. Speed limits will, as they should, continue to be debated in the news. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ In contrast, the phasing out of Limited Speed Zones (LSZ) in the early 2000s stirred little controversy. They quietly disappeared from roadsides, becoming a matter of curiosity rather than debate. Current regulations sensibly require speed signs to display specific numerical limits, rendering older open road signs – the white disc with a black diagonal stripe — also obsolete. LSZ signs allowed too much leeway. Drivers were expected to slow down in adverse conditions but could legally travel up to 100kmh when conditions permitted. A surviving LSZ sign was recently spotted in west Wanaka — the area beyond Glendhu Bay and across the Matukituki River. You're unlikely to want to drive 100kmh on that dusty road. civis@
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Otago Daily Times
More than alcohol the issue — owner
Leith Liquorland. PHOTO: ODT FILES A North Dunedin liquor store owner says his business has been hit by students consuming less alcohol. Leith Liquorland was up before a district licensing committee yesterday for an application to renew its off-licence. The application faced objections from police, Ministry of Health delegate Anthony Whipp, and Bede Crestani, the father of University of Otago student Sophia Crestani who died at a Dunedin flat party in 2019, over its proposed trading hours. The store is licensed to sell alcohol between 9am and 10pm, seven days a week, but the objectors wanted that to be reduced to 9pm. Chris Hart. PHOTO: ODT FILES During the hearing, committee chairman Colin Weatherall said while he understood the need for the committee to focus on issues relating to alcohol harm, he felt there needed to be a wider discussion about issues such as drug-related harm. Leith Liquorland owner Chris Hart agreed. "It's a huge frustration as a retailer. "Five years ago, I didn't know what MDMA was." When the ODT later asked him to clarify his "frustration", Mr Hart said it was a frustration "that all these things get brought into the same conversation when they're totally different". Alcohol harm prevention officer Sergeant Steve Jones said the changing drug landscape was outside the remit of the committee's decision-making, but needed to be mentioned. "I think as a collective, the agencies and the licensed premises community, building awareness around the impact of drugs and providing education is the way forward." Mr Hart agreed and pointed to research that showed young people were drinking less. Asked whether the decline in young people drinking had led to a decline in sales, Mr Hart said this was the case. In his opening statement, Mr Hart told the committee he was a "safety first" retailer who cared about the community and viewed his liquor licence "as a privilege, not a right". He said he was a proactive retailer who took measures to minimise harm, such as not selling single-serve alcohol, and taking steps to remove all Nitro 1.5 litre drinks from the premises a few years ago due to health concerns. He said "75%" of alcohol at the store was sold in cans as opposed to glass bottles, while the staff had regular refresher training about their responsibilities. Asked about the potential for more harm if the store was open for longer, Mr Hart said he dealt with "more refusals" between 4pm and 7pm than he did from 9pm to 10pm. Serious incidents were dealt with, but "nine times out 10" these people did not cause much trouble after they were warned or refused entry. He did not operate every night until 10pm, he said. Mr Crestani told the committee recent emergency department data showed higher presentation numbers when off-licences were open for longer. He asked for a closing time of 9pm, but also said there needed to be a national approach to such issues, and more of a level playing field. "What I've seen in the applicant's document is that he is a good operator." Sgt Jones said there were "high levels of trust and confidence in the applicant". However, he said the area he operated in had "high vulnerability". The broader community had made it clear they had issues with broken glass, Sgt Jones said. He also focused on the proposed operating hours and hinted at the prevalence of alcohol-fuelled poor behaviour after 9pm. The committee reserved its decision.
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
St Kevin's and Meads Cup successes hard to top
Jacob Coghlan. PHOTO: ODT FILES 1. Favourite rugby memory? Winning a couple of Blood Matches with St Kevin's in 2013 and 2014. It would be a toss-up between those and winning the Meads Cup with the Old Golds in 2019. 2. Hardest opponent? Jesse Lusty-Winter, who played for Waitaki Boys'. Absolute grub, ha ha. Also one of my best mates and he is going to be in our wedding party. 3. Which rugby player do you admire and why? Morgan Mitchell. He's just one of the best blokes you will ever meet. Workhorse, scrummaging powerhouse, puts in shots. 4. What do you do to relax? I like to read a book. And I'm a bit obsessed with my fire and collecting firewood. I know it sounds weird but the best part of my day is getting home and lighting the fire, ha ha. 5. If Jacob Coghlan is cooking, what are we eating? Lamb roast.
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Hunting contest to support St John's
Joy Campbell. PHOTO: ODT FILES About 170 hunters from across New Zealand will gather in Cromwell for a hunting competition, with proceeds from entries going to thank Cromwell St John's for their hard work. Cromwell Hunting Competition organiser Joy Campbell said this was the first time she organised such a contest. "I got involved because my kids are into hunting and it's also a great way to raise money for the emergency services" Entries from the competition, as well as contributions from the Cromwell Town and Country Club and Coffee and Equipment Cromwell, would go towards a top-of-the-line coffee machine for Cromwell St John's after the hard few months the first responders had been through, she said. The organisation was close to her heart, as she was a volunteer for St John's herself. The competition would begin at 5am on Thursday with categories for adults, juniors 13-16 years old and 12 and under, she said. Adults could enter deer and pigs, as well other animals in the miscellaneous section. The top adult prize was $1000 from Flat Line Concrete for best pig jaw. The junior age bracket could also enter deer and pigs as well as goats, the top prizes being $500. The 12 and under bracket would be able to enter possums, rats, rabbits and hares for judging, with three prizes of $200 for the heaviest possum, rabbit or rat, she said. The hunt would end at the weigh-in which would begin at 12pm on Sunday, held at the Cromwell Town and Country Club. The weigh-in was expected to be a lively event, with a live band on hand to provide entertainment, Mr Whippy, a coffee cart and lots of prizes. One of the spot prizes available for the adults was a thermal monocular, she said.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Otago returns to top 200 in world university rankings
PHOTO: ODT FILES The University of Otago has returned to the top 200 in the QS World University Ranking for the first time since 2022. Otago rose to 197th in the rankings, following last year's placing of 214th, finishing with an overall score of 55.8. It was one of four New Zealand universities to improve its ranking. More than 1500 institutions in 106 countries are ranked, based on measures including a survey of academic reputation, staff to student ratios and citations of lecturers' research. The University of Auckland was New Zealand's highest-ranked institution in 65th place, with the other seven universities ranked between 197 and 410. Massey, Victoria and AUT also improved their rankings. Considered as a university system, New Zealand's universities performed well, the ranking said. "Among countries and territories with at least eight institutions featured in this year's rankings, New Zealand's overall average score of 51 puts the country fifth in the world for the overall quality of its higher education," it said. Only Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland had better-performing university systems. The ranking placed Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) first for the 14th consecutive year followed by Imperial College London and Stanford University. Other ranking systems last year placed New Zealand universities lower in their league tables. In the THE ranking they ranged from 152nd to a band of 501-600th place, while in the Academic Ranking of World Universities they ranged from a top placing in the 201-300 band to a bottom placing of 801-900. - APL/RNZ
