Firms may face steep fee rise
Firms may face steep fee rise
An increase of up to 82% in environmental health fees is proposed for Waitaki businesses.
Rebecca Ryan
Fountain options to be studied
Fountain options to be studied
Water may start flowing again from the historic Craig Fountain in the Oamaru Gardens, but first a project to take the fountain apart and investigate options to strengthen, restore and reassemble it will have to be approved.
Home sought for WW1 letter
Home sought for WW1 letter
An Oamaru woman wants to see a letter from an Australian soldier in World War 1 find its way back to his family.
Development body chooses board
Development body chooses board
Stand-alone economic development body Venture Waitaki was officially launched last week.
Wall to be transformed
Wall to be transformed
The proposed mural designed to transform Countdown supermarket's large, white wall on Oamaru's main street has been approved.
Iona home to open dementia unit
Iona home to open dementia unit
Oamaru Presbyterian Support Otago has announced plans to open a secure dementia unit at its Iona care home in August, in response to an increasing demand in North Otago.
Upbeat about tourism
Upbeat about tourism
Tourism Waitaki general manager Jason Gaskill is optimistic about the future of the district, after 12% growth in visitor bed night numbers last year.
Tracking gives clues to penguins' behaviour
Tracking gives clues to penguins' behaviour
A three-year study of the foraging behaviour of little blue penguins off the coast of Oamaru using GPS and depth-recording technology is giving the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony a greater understanding of the small sea bird. Rebecca Ryan talks to scientist Philippa Agnew about her findings.
Forest walks open
Forest walks open
North Otago residents are being encouraged to discover some of the Herbert Forest walking tracks this weekend, when the North Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club holds its open day.
Competitive ploughing spirit the lure
Competitive ploughing spirit the lure
A ploughing match challenge against the Macrae's Young Farmers Club in 1965 sparked a life-long interest in the sport for East Otago farmer Noel Sheat. Rebecca Ryan and Bill Campbell talked to the former New Zealand champion ahead of the 60th New Zealand Ploughing Championships.
Tour, talk at gallery to explain redevelopment plan
Tour, talk at gallery to explain redevelopment plan
Ryana tour and talk will be held at the Forrester Gallery to explain in more detail the proposed cultural facility redevelopment project to have the gallery, North Otago Museum and Waitaki District Archive all on the same site.
2.71% rate rise proposed
2.71% rate rise proposed
The Waimate District Council has proposed a rate increase of 2.71%.
A bumpy ride
A bumpy ride
The uneven surface of State Highway 1 at the railway crossing north of Maheno is expected to be temporarily fixed within 10 days.
Full programme of musicals
Full programme of musicals
Musical Theatre Oamaru is getting ready for two big years.
Brave Allysa shaves her head for cancer
Brave Allysa shaves her head for cancer
Allysa Curry has always wanted to shave her head in a bid to help people diagnosed with cancer.
Home is where the art is
Home is where the art is
The tide of migration has turned in Otago. Data shows more people are returning, or arriving for the first time, to settle permanently in the South. North Otago is no exception. Rebecca Ryan finds out more.
Hearings facility reopening
Hearings facility reopening
Court sittings will return to the Oamaru Hearings Facility next week, after air-quality tests showed the facility is safe and chemical readings are well within acceptable levels.
Life still a ball on couple's 65th anniversary
Life still a ball on couple's 65th anniversary
Jim Calder met Bettina Little for the first time at a ball in Invercargill about 67 years ago.
Sea, sun and snags big lure
Sea, sun and snags big lure
Hundreds of people loaded the car, slapped on some sunscreen and enjoyed a day of surfing, music and other activities at the Kakanui Big Beach Day on Saturday.
Jazz and blues draw big crowds for festival
Jazz and blues draw big crowds for festival
A dazzling line-up of jazz and blues artists from around the country brought live music to the streets of Oamaru over the weekend.