Tapping tourism potential
Tapping tourism potential
Tourism is one of the most exciting industries in the Waitaki district, and few know it better than outgoing Tourism Waitaki general manager Jason Gaskill.
Hamish MacLean
Claim rentals wrongly rated
Claim rentals wrongly rated
The owners of more than 200 short-term accommodation rental properties in the Mackenzie district say they were rated incorrectly this winter.
MPI cites privacy over farm
MPI cites privacy over farm
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) continues to refuse to identify the Otago farm it believes is affected by the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis.
Clues to cow disease spread
Clues to cow disease spread
The South Canterbury farmer whose property was first identified as infected with Mycoplasma bovis now fears the disease might also be present further north.
'Pandemonium' as truck and school bus collide
'Pandemonium' as truck and school bus collide
Oamaru police arrived to ''pandemonium'' moments after a truck and a slow-moving school minibus collided on State Highway 1 north of Dunedin.
Estuary plantings destroyed by ‘idiot’
Estuary plantings destroyed by ‘idiot’
Police are looking for the ‘‘idiot’’ who crashed through the Waianakarua River Estuary Swamp, knocking down native trees up to 3m tall and 8 years old.
Short films to help cultural project
Short films to help cultural project
A short-film festival at the Oamaru Opera House next month will celebrate the Waitaki's ``taonga and special stories'' and raise funds for the district's Cultural Facility Development Project.
Breakwater night closure plans unpopular
Breakwater night closure plans unpopular
Just one year after the Waitaki District Council opened the breakwater area in Oamaru Harbour for 24-hour public access, it seems likely to be closed.
Chance of zipline for next summer
Chance of zipline for next summer
A zipline across Oamaru Harbour next year remains a possibility but where it might land is yet to be decided, Oamaru Adventure Park Ltd director Greg Martin says.
Gully traps identified as factor in flooding
Gully traps identified as factor in flooding
Contamination fears rose along with floodwaters during Oamaru’s July record rainfall.
CT scans to rise sixfold under deal
CT scans to rise sixfold under deal
Six times as many CT scans will be performed at Oamaru Hospital now a new deal has been struck with the Southern District Health Board.
New plan takes broader view
New plan takes broader view
Waitaki District Health Services is touting a new plan that will change the way Oamaru Hospital does business. A "new model of care" will be implemented during the five-year funding period agreed with the Southern District Health Board in July.
Boat to be restored
Boat to be restored
The 1911 Highland Lass (front), due to be removed from Oamaru Harbour on Sunday, will be restored to its original "open boat" form by its new owner.
Deputy PM urged to embrace Otago roots
Joyce encouraged to embrace Otago roots
Barnaby Joyce's Otago cousin does not hold it against him for renouncing his New Zealand citizenship.
Celebrating Maori culture
Schoolchildren celebrate Maori culture
St Joseph’s School pupils Indeg Jones-Hogan (left) and Eva Keno perform at the Oamaru Opera House during the North Otago Kaupapa Maori Festival 2017.
Shake-up of hospital proposed
Shake-up of hospital proposed
Oamaru Hospital could be remodelled, staff roles ``redesigned'' and changes made to the way its emergency department is operated under a new plan.
Cutting folks’ hair often a highlight
Cutting folks’ hair often a highlight
When Diana McKay (70) was 8 years old, she would brush and style her grandmother Emily Townsend’s hair.
Slow start to penguin breeding
Slow start to penguin breeding
A slower start to the little blue penguin breeding season at Oamaru Creek could be due to the disturbance of nesting boxes for the Oamaru Harbour foreshore protection work that is under way.
Step up for wine regions
Step up for wine regions
Central Otago produces about 60 times more wine than the Waitaki Valley but impending intellectual property rights registration for Otago’s two wine regions has benefits for both.
Microchipping plans queried
Microchipping plans queried
The Waitaki District Council is poised to set rules for cat owners, but LGNZ has voted to lobby the Government to implement a National Cat Management Strategy. Are local bylaws dead in the water?