David Bruce

A public rally has been called in Christchurch to tell the Government management of Canterbury's water must remain in local hands.

Calling all Toyota MR2 owners - Waimate wants you to gather in the town next weekend, to beat the North Island.

A new electoral officer has been appointed for for the Waitaki District Council.

Retaining existing businesses and industries in the Waitaki district and determining what impediments there are to expansion is the subject of a survey being undertaken by the Waitaki Development Board.

Federated Farmers is concerned having two competing electricity generators operating power stations on the Waitaki River could affect irrigation in North Otago and South Canterbury.

Environment Canterbury (ECan) has had a chance to put its case to retain its elected regional council to the Minister for the Environment Nick Smith and the Minister for Local Government Rodney Hide.

Extremely dry conditions have resulted in the Waitaki rural fire authority imposing a prohibited fire season in the district.

A pine plantation on a farm near Palmerston has been handed back to the farm's owner, who will now keep a watch in case a fire, which broke out on Saturday, starts again.

A complaint by two community groups against the Otago Regional Council over minimum flows it set for the Waianakarua River and Trotters Creek is being examined by Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright.

Receivers are working to establish the debt level of the New Zealand Malt Whisky Company, but yesterday revealed it was "a substantial sum".

About 12ha of mature pine trees on the Glen Eden and Glen Warren reserves in Oamaru will be harvested by the Waitaki District Council, as the council cashes in on rising timber prices.

Didymo is spreading in the upper Waitaki canals, used by Meridian Energy to feed water to its power stations.

Race Relations Day is to be celebrated in Oamaru this year with a concert at the Opera House, organised by the Waitaki Multicultural Council.