David Bruce

Blue penguins at Oamaru harbour need more protection from the tourists who visit them, an environmentalist says.

Three weeks' work is a labour of love for Bev and Les Pickworth, whose Pukeuri home has again won the general category of the Christmas lights decoration competition.

Tony and Jill Dudley had 35 people for Christmas dinner yesterday.

An Oamaru family's dream of owning their first home has turned into a nightmare - for the past four months they have been living in a tent and sleeping in a sleep-out.

Waimate wants to maximise the economic benefits from what its Mayor, John Coles, is describing as "the most significant, large-scale development project in recent times" in the district.

Road rules do not apply on the water, despite an Environment Canterbury newsletter which could create a dangerous situation for boat owners.

The Waitaki District Council has chopped a proposed rates increase of almost 15% to a 3.8% rise in its draft 2009-10 budget after three days of, at times, heated debate.

It is now merely a matter of waiting for Meridian Energy Ltd, with a final decision granting the company water from the lower Waitaki River for its proposed $900 million power scheme on the lower Waitaki River due before Christmas.

The weekly black bag rubbish collection in the Waitaki district is to go, saving ratepayers about $70,000 a year.

Thousands of holiday-makers who pour into the Waitaki lakes over summer now have some help to keep them safe on water and land.

After two days of close scrutiny, the Waitaki District Council has managed to reduce the rates increase proposed for the next financial year.