Tarted-up festival draws crowd
Tarted-up festival draws crowd
The traditional swaggers had some attractive competition yesterday at the Totara Estate's annual "Harvest Home" festival.
David Bruce
Lake Benmore studied in depth
Lake Benmore studied in depth
The water in Lake Benmore is going under the microscope in a study that will help set parameters for future irrigation and land development in the Omarama and Mackenzie basins.
Waitaha, Ngai Tahu clash over consultation
Waitaha, Ngai Tahu clash over consultation
Waitaha and Ngai Tahu are at odds over consultation with Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd about plans for a new cement plant in the Waiareka Valley, North Otago.
Amalgamation may lessen rates burden
Amalgamation may lessen rates burden
Amalgamation of the Waitaki District Council with northern local authorities may be one way to reduce the rates burden on Waitaki ratepayers, Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton has suggested.
Planning needed to avoid cement plant 'boom-bust'
Planning needed to avoid cement plant 'boom-bust'
A new cement plant near Weston will bring social and economic benefits for the Waitaki district but could also cause problems that need to be managed, the Environment Court has been told.
Scanner use turned down by WDHS
Scanner use turned down by WDHS
Waitaki District Health Services was offered a deal for North Otago people to to use the Oamaru Hospital scanner, but turned it down because it would have meant a lower level of service for patients.
Huge hike in rates 'bit of a shock'
Huge hike in rates 'bit of a shock'
Two fishing camps on the south side of the Waitaki River face massive rises in their rates following a change in policy by the Waitaki District Council.
Tidy up evidence, judge tells counsel
Tidy up evidence, judge tells counsel
Legal counsel have been asked by the Environment Court to tidy up evidence they will present at a hearing into appeals against a proposal by Holcim (New Zealand) Limited to build a cement plant near Weston.
Moratoriumon upgrades suggested
Moratoriumon upgrades suggested
Upgrading rural water supplies in the Waitaki district should not be rushed while the Government proposes to review drinking water standards, Awamoko rural water scheme chairwoman Dr Helen Brookes said.
Weston Greater plant boost claimed
Weston Greater plant boost claimed
The benefits to the Waitaki district economy of building a new cement plan near Weston would be greater now, in the present recession, than before the downturn, economist Mike Copeland told the Environment Court in Oamaru yesterday.
Plea for funds to fight power scheme
Plea for funds to fight power scheme
A trust fighting to protect the lower Waitaki River from a new hydro-electricity scheme has launched a campaign to raise funds for its appeal to the Environment Court.
Art sale to help school
Art sale to help school
More than 70 art works and other items will go under the hammer on Friday to raise funds for Fenwick School in Oamaru.
$100m expansion still planned: Nutritek CEO
$100m expansion still planned: Nutritek CEO
A $100 million expansion of the Studholme milk processing plant to add value to the milk powder it produces will still happen, even though it is on hold because of the global economic crisis.
Museum's year of the bloke
Museum's year of the bloke
Calling all blokes with a penchant for fishing and hunting - Waimate's Museum is the place to go.
FAI confirms world gliding record
FAI confirms world gliding record
Christchurch gliding pilot Jenny Wilkinson has had her first world record confirmed, set on a flight from Omarama in January.
Meeting opposed to promotion levy
Meeting opposed to promotion levy
A tourism industry levy to help pay for promotion was the hot topic at a meeting in Omarama last week to discuss the Waitaki District Council's long-term community plan.
Roads lead to profit
Roads lead to profit
North Otago roading and landscaping contractor, Whitestone Contracting Ltd, is on track for a good return to its sole shareholder, the Waitaki District Council, after the first six months of the financial year.
Support to retain, upgrade old school
Support to retain, upgrade old school
Some residents are fighting a rearguard action in a bid to preserve and redevelop part of Waitaki Valley School, which faces being demolished after Easter.
New cheaper than renovation
New cheaper than renovation
Redeveloping the existing brick junior block at the Waitaki Valley School to meet modern educational needs and standards would have cost more than replacing it with a new building, the Ministry of Education says.
Redundancy inquiries from Summit workers
Redundancy inquiries from Summit workers
"Gratifying number of inquiries" about voluntary redundancy have been received by Summit Wool Spinners Ltd as it grapples with a lack of orders that may force it to cut jobs.