Oral history in jeopardy
Oral history in jeopardy
An oral history project which has been going for at least five years and records the memories of North Otago residents is in jeopardy, with the Waitaki District Council proposing to withdraw funding.
David Bruce
Potions from the past
Potions from the past
The North Otago Museum curator Ian Wards is promising a slightly disturbing visitor experience for people viewing the museum's new display, "The Potions Emporium in the Time Ma-shed".
Holcim land held sacred by Waitaha
Holcim land held sacred by Waitaha
A cement plant and quarries in the Waiaraeka Valley should not be built because of the significant adverse effects on Waitaha's relationship with the area, the Environment Court was told yesterday.
Extra cement production not needed, hearing told
Extra cement production not needed, hearing told
A Waiareka Valley family is funding more than 50% of the costs faced by the Waiareka Valley Preservation Society in its fight against a cement plant being built there.
Pukeuri site for cement plant urged
Pukeuri site for cement plant urged
A new cement plant would be better sited at Pukeuri than being built in the Waiareka Valley, near Weston, planner David Whitney told the Environment Court yesterday.
Tourism tax plan divides
Tourism tax plan divides
A tourism tax to pay some of the cost of promoting the industry in the Waitaki district has been described in terms ranging from "unfair" to "just a laugh" in submissions to the Waitaki District Council.
Anger at proposed rates rise
Anger at proposed rates rise
Businesses and individuals are angry about changes the Waitaki District Council wants to make to its rating system.
Flare still a mystery
Flare still a mystery
A flare spotted off the coast south of Palmerston on Saturday remains a mystery, despite a coastal search by helicopter.
Holcim appeals resume tomorrow
Holcim appeals resume tomorrow
The Environment Court will tomorrow resume sitting in Oamaru to finish hearing appeals against a proposal by Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd to build a $400 million cement plant in the Waiareka Valley near Weston.
Late arrivals hog contest's top prize
Late arrivals hog contest's top prize
A pig shot in Mid Canterbury and weighed in just before the deadline won the annual North Otago pig-hunting competition yesterday.
Meridian opponent drops tunnel appeal
Meridian opponent drops tunnel appeal
One of the major opponents of a new hydro-electricity scheme on the lower Waitaki River has reached an agreement with Meridian Energy Ltd and will withdraw its appeal to the Environment Court against the proposed project.
Group 'on target' with its appeal
Group 'on target' with its appeal
The Lower Waitaki River Management Society is "all go and on target" with its Environment Court appeal against a $900 million power scheme Meridian Energy proposes to build on the lower Waitaki River.
Decision awaited on Cape Wanbrow
Decision awaited on Cape Wanbrow
The Waitaki District Council has "its fingers crossed" a proposal to create a residential subdivision on Cape Wanbrow in Oamaru will survive Parliament's select committee process, council chief executive Michael Ross says.
Tourists flock to colony
Tourists flock to colony
Visitor numbers at the Oamaru Blue Penguin colony are holding up during the recession.
Shortened season likely to continue
Shortened season likely to continue
The shortened salmon-fishing season on the Waitaki and other central South Island rivers is likely to continue next season, despite demands by some anglers to reinstate the April 30 closing day.
Rubbish problem worsens
Rubbish problem worsens
Hampden residents have had enough of finding rubbish littering the beach between their town and one of North Otago's major tourist attractions, the Moeraki Boulders.
Support for harbour development
Support for harbour development
Some ratepayers are happy for money to be spent developing Oamaru Harbour, while they strongly oppose the Waitaki District Council spending it in other areas.
Damage costing ratepayers thousands of dollars
Damage costing ratepayers thousands of dollars
Sign vandalism is costing Waitaki ratepayers tens of thousands of dollars a year.
Coastal shipping study suggested
Coastal shipping study suggested
The commercial use of Oamaru Harbour - perhaps bringing back a coastal shipping service - will be explored in a port business development plan, if the Waitaki District Council decides to contribute up to $10,000 for a study.
Tours to stop overnight in town, despite robbery
Tours to stop overnight in town, despite robbery
The robbery at gunpoint of a Japanese tourist in Oamaru in March has had a silver lining for tourism in the Waitaki district.