The trust formed to protect the "extremely iconic and valuable" land in the Ohau, Mackenzie and Omarama basins is ready to put boots on the ground, its chairwoman says.
How it is decided whether to publicly notify a consent application in the Waitaki district will require further discussion, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher says.
The Mackenzie District Council expects a seamless switch when current planning and regulations manager Suzette van Aswegen assumes the council’s top job in November.
The Waitaki Arts Festival — three weeks of events, exhibitions and performances drawn from all over New Zealand — starts on Tuesday, the hope being it will set the stage for future festivals....
For the first time the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust will restrict access to one of its reserves during breeding season in the hope an apparent increase in bird numbers in the area will continue.