By-elections loom in Central Otago
By-elections loom in Central Otago
With the ink barely dry on the election results, Central Otago residents can look forward to more campaigning with two by-elections likely next year.
Lynda van Kempen
Water meters, charges become election issue
Water meters, charges become election issue
Water metering and charges for excess water have emerged as a Central Otago election issue, with one mayoral candidate calling for a halt to the project and another suggesting changes to how water is allocated and costs are set.
Blossom Festival back in the black
Blossom Festival back in the black
The Blossom Festival is back in the black, with between $10,000 and $15,000 profit already.
Trust says council should lead way
Trust says council should lead way
The Central Otago Heritage Trust would like to see the district council taking the lead in preserving and protecting the area's heritage.
New PHO ready to advise
New PHO ready to advise
The first meeting of the group which will advise the new Southern Primary Health Organisation on community issues was held in Alexandra this week.
Faith in police expected to hold
Faith in police expected to hold
The reputation of Central Otago police should not be tarnished by "one or two bad apples", Central Otago Mayor Malcolm Macpherson says.
Gold mining consents hearing today
Gold mining consents hearing today
The first application for consents to mine in the lower Nevis Valley since it was registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a "nationally significant" heritage area will be heard today.
'They believed I was innocent'
'They believed I was innocent'
It is hard for Shane Cribb to find the right words to express his gratitude for the efforts of Alexandra couple Steve and Denise Potter.
Museum's future site uncertain
Museum's future site uncertain
The Cromwell Museum - should it stay or should it go?
Tour springs to life
Tour springs to life
An event that literally puts the "blossom" right back into the blossom festival proved popular again this year, with the annual garden tour attracting about 600 people.
Wind farm fight call this week
Wind farm fight call this week
Project Hayes wind farm opponents Save Central will decide this week whether to pursue the case in the Court of Appeal.
Wild river image exhibition winner
Wild river image exhibition winner
The standard of entries in the Zelko Blossom Festival Art Exhibition continues to rise every year, Central Otago Art Society president Nigel Wilson says.
New owners back prosecution
New owners back prosecution
The new owners of a Bannockburn property where historic gold tailings were removed say they fully support the action of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust in prosecuting the people involved.
Mardis gras sets scene for success
Mardis gras sets scene for success
If the support shown for last night's Contact Alexandra Blossom Festival mardi gras is any indication, the scene signals a successful weekend, says the manager of the event, Martin McPherson.
Pioneer appeals recommended dam ban
Pioneer appeals recommended dam ban
Pioneer Generation has appealed to the Environment Court against a special tribunal recommendation that dams should be banned from the Nevis River.
Renewed interest in festival excites organising committee
Renewed interest in festival excites organising committee
A resurgence of interest in this year's Contact Alexandra Blossom Festival bodes well for the success of the event, after a shaky start to its 54th year, festival chairwoman Clair Higginson said yesterday.
Standing old pines to join the fallen
Standing old pines to join the fallen
The days are numbered for the remaining pines around an Oturehua home which bore the brunt of Sunday's wind storm.
Agreement signed for trail funding
Agreement signed for trail funding
Cycle trails are the "least invasive form of tourism on the planet" Clutha Gold Trail Trust chairman Rod Peirce said as he signed an agreement for $2.54 million in funding for the project yesterday.
Family flees as winds lash home
Family flees as winds lash home
An Oturehua couple fled with their five children yesterday, fearing for their lives as high winds shattered windows and blew down massive pine trees around their home.
'I don't think I'll ever forget the experience'
'I don't think I'll ever forget the experience'
Struggling to stay upright as she raced to shelter under a doorframe when the earthquake hit is one memory which will always remain with an Alexandra woman visiting Christchurch this weekend.