It was standing room only in the Opera House Inkbox last night for the second Otago mayoral debate, this time between the seven candidates seeking the Waitaki mayoralty, who faced voters at a good-humoured forum.
Having seven candidates standing for the Waitaki mayoralty gives voters varied choices they can learn more about tonight at the second Otago Mayoral Debate.
Alcohol, speed and not wearing safety belts are believed to have contributed to the deaths of two people in a car crash on State Highway 82 at Waihao Downs, 17km south of Waimate, late on Saturday night or early yesterday.
Water quality is now the focus for a community committee overseeing freshwater management in coastal North Otago and South Canterbury.
Alliance Group and the Ministry of Primary Industries are both working hard to end an impasse over exporting meat to China from the Pukeuri plant which has put 240 workers out of their jobs.
A watersports park is on target to open this summer at an irrigation pond on the Waitaki plains near Pukeuri and work is soon to start on an equipment shed to house yachts and kayaks, which are now being ordered.
The Waitaki District Council is to take a look at inequalities in its rating system arising from revaluations, but not in time to offset the impact on some farming properties this year.
Waitaki people are believed to be leading New Zealand in recycling unwanted televisions, but have less than two weeks to cash in before they have to pay full price to get rid of them.
A pre-election report by the Waitaki District Council, described by Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton as a ''waste of time'', has now been released, well before October's election.
Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust chairman Marcus Brown welcomed the Government's changes to the policy of strengthening earthquake-prone buildings announced yesterday, but felt they did not go far enough.
The slogan ''Chalk Like an Egyptian'' may have been catchy but it was aimed at delivering a serious message to Egypt's leaders - stop the bashing, rapes, murders and discrimination against women in the current unrest.
The North Otago Museum is working through a backlog of acquisitions in the hope of eventually ending a three-year moratorium on accepting new items.
They took 135 years to grow but only two days to cut down - landmark 25m-high Norfolk pines at St Luke's Church in Oamaru were removed for safety reasons and the threat they posed to the building.
The long-term future of the coastal road from Oamaru through Kakanui to Waianakarua remains uncertain after more than a decade, but the Waitaki District Council is trying to keep it open as long as possible.
Two new companies could be set up by the Waitaki District Council to own and operate a multimillion-dollar retirement village proposed for Hospital Hill in Oamaru.
Heavy trucks may be banned from parking in residential areas in the Waitaki district, after a complaint by an Oamaru resident about the effect they have on amenity values.
A pre-election report prepared by the Waitaki District Council because of a Government requirement has been described as ''a waste of time'' by Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton.
The Waitaki District Council could get $615,000 if it sells land it owns in Oamaru on ''Hospital Hill'' to its own company, Waitaki District Health Services Ltd, for a retirement village.
Waitaki deputy mayor Jim Hopkins is seeking to alter his position on the Waitaki District Council, announcing yesterday he would be standing for the mayoralty in October's local body elections.
The popular Cape Wanbrow recreational area, which also provides access to gun emplacements which used to protect Oamaru, has temporarily been closed for safety reasons.
