Hamish MacLean

Call for ‘proper discussion’ over increasing assistance to trust

The Loan and Merc building in Harbour St, Oamaru. Photo: ODT

Call for ‘proper discussion’ over increasing assistance to trust

Without increased funding for the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust, historic Harbour St could lose its character, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher says.

Council writes off Fenz loan

The Waitaki District Council has burned a $285,145 loan to Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) off its books.

Shag viewing area proposed at wharf

The Waitaki District Council could build a viewing area for the increasing number of people...

Shag viewing area proposed at wharf

Building a viewing area on Sumpter Wharf for the growing number of visitors to Oamaru who stop for a look at one of the largest colonies of Otago shags was one of four projects to receive the go...

Touching the prize

Thrilled to get their hands on the Women's Rugby World Cup are (from left) Taliyah Mathewson (11), of Weston, Evie Wilson (11), of Weston, Dunedin-raised Black Fern Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali,...

Pipeline work to go ahead

The Waitaki District Council will go ahead with a ''private pipeline'' to ease regular flooding on a rural road south of Oamaru.

Decision about pipeline today

The fix for a regularly flooded rural road south of Oamaru will be decided by the Waitaki District Council today.

Novel event to replace Fire and Steam

Revellers enjoy last year's Fire and Steam in Harbour St. The event was dropped by Tourism...

Novel event to replace Fire and Steam

A yet-to-be-named event will replace the cancelled Fire and Steam to kick start this year's Steampunk NZ Festival weekend in Oamaru at the end of the month.

Drop in numbers top topic

The drop in numbers of yellow-eyed penguins was top of mind for the 70 people attendingt this year's Oamaru Penguin Symposium, organiser Dr Philippa Agnew says.

Plan needed to halt deaths of penguins

Moeraki's yellow-eyed penguin colony was among the hardest hit by avian malaria, which had not...

Plan needed to halt deaths of penguins

Avian malaria has killed nearly 30 of the world's rarest penguin species this year, and a plan needs to be in place to deal with the blood parasite before the next breeding season.

Young shooters set their priorities, to little avail

Paddy Henwood, of Mid Canterbury, Bryden Skinner, of Papakaio, and Mason Kinzett, of Oamaru,...

Young shooters set their priorities, to little avail

The ducks were flying a bit high in North Otago for a successful start to duck-shooting season for the young guns of Paddy Henwood (17), of Mid Canterbury, Bryden Skinner (17), of Papakaio, and...

Company to demolish main street building

Company to demolish main street building

The earthmoving company that backed Waimate’s event centre is pulling down a derelict building in Waimate’s main street to make way for a new development.

Fire and Steam event canned after pull-out

Fire and Steam event canned after pull-out

The first major event when steampunks take over Oamaru at the end of the month has been pulled.

Metal moa will soon have company

North Otago artist Matt King has begun work on a life-size found-metal Haast’s eagle that will be...

Metal moa will soon have company

At the brewery hole in Duntroon, an unsuspecting moa stands unaware of the danger that will soon appear above it.

Geopark in all but name before Unesco approval

Surveying the karst landforms of the Waitaki are (from left) Terry Baines, of Sandspit, New...

Geopark in all but name before Unesco approval

Securing Unesco status as a global geopark would be "enormously exciting" for the Waitaki district.

Roundabout could improve safety

Waitaki District Council roading manager Michael Voss said a ``small'' roundabout at the...

Roundabout could improve safety

A "small" roundabout could be a solution to increasing safety concerns at the Wansbeck St-Tyne St intersection in Oamaru's harbour area.

No significant drop in rabbits seen yet

No significant drop in rabbits seen yet

Counts to establish whether the new strain of rabbit calicivirus has taken hold will begin next week, but Otago landowners expecting to see dramatic drops in rabbit numbers could be in for a wait.

Work proceeds on pedestrian bridge

Work proceeds on pedestrian bridge

Construction of the $110k timber pedestrian bridge spanning Oamaru Creek near the penguin reserve is "almost complete" and the bridge will open this month, Waitaki District Council roading manager Michael Voss says.

Support for Lake Pukaki boat ban

Boat business supports boat ban at end of Lake Pukaki

Banning boats in the southern end of Lake Pukaki to preserve views of New Zealand's highest mountain has been endorsed by the lake's only commercial boating operation.

Penguin symposium taking wider perspective

A shearwater glides past a yellow-eyed penguin fitted with an underwater camera while it is at...

Penguin symposium taking wider perspective

Yellow-eyed penguins equipped with underwater cameras, seabirds breeding in Oamaru Harbour, protected species’ interactions with set-net fisheries, and the effects of climate change on penguins.

Avian malaria killing more penguins

Avian malaria increases penguin deaths

Another potentially serious threat to the endangered yellow-eyed penguin has resulted in increased deaths of the birds this year.

Search form

Search form

Hamish MacLean