Scientific breakthroughs help show where humans are going
OPINION: It has been a big year for scientific breakthroughs and discoveries, but three in particular speak to me about our growing understanding of where the human race has come from and where we are going. Older art made by humans has been recovered, but it is mainly abstract shapes and lines. These sketches point to humans trying to make sense of the world and themselves, a pivotal development in our evolution. Our ancestors were making figurative art at opposite ends of the Earth at about the same time. But it was the launch of the Parker probe that impressed me the most.
Source:Stuff
December 16, 2018 15:56 UTC
Bruce Cotterill: The year bullying was called out
OPINION: It seems that every year we look back and take in an event that has changed things forever. But it hasn't happened through a single event, but rather many occurrences with a consistent theme, which have collectively changed things forever. This is what happens when the speed of change means that our expectations in terms of behaviour move faster than most people can adapt. SUPPLIED Bruce Cotterill says the speed of change has caught out many people. - Bruce Cotterill is a former CEO and current company chairman and director.
Source:Stuff
December 16, 2018 15:56 UTC
OPINION: Gambling on Hamilton's house prices
OPINION: Some big bets are currently being placed on the future of Hamilton's land supply, which of course drives house prices. According to the district plans, this land is outside Hamilton and is in Waikato's rural zone, which means its options are limited. However, there is a memorandum between Waikato District Council and Hamilton City Council that land west of the expressway will be incorporated into Hamilton. CDL is gambling that Hamilton City Council will proceed with the infrastructure to make this happen. There is a National Policy Standard on Affordable Housing which Hamilton City Council has to comply with by 2020.
Source:Stuff
December 16, 2018 15:56 UTC
Hopes CCTV camera will curb skate park violence
The Oamaru skate park. Photo: Daniel BirchfieldA CCTV camera is up and running at the Oamaru skate park, several months after plans to install it were first considered by the Waitaki District Council, police and Safer Waitaki. The camera, installed recently, is mounted atop a pole on the State Highway 1 side of the skate park.The skate park has been the scene of several unsavoury incidents that have attracted police attention this year. Then, in October, a rock was thrown from the skate park at a passing train, which shattered the locomotive’s window and struck the driver in the face. Senior Sergeant Jason McCoy, of Oamaru, said the camera was a tool police could use to help curb violent incidents but stressed parents needed to supervise their children while at the skate park.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 16, 2018 15:56 UTC
Power to a vision of the many
The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain attracts worldwide attention, draws tourists and has invigorated a city. Perhaps the best-known example of this approach is Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, which was opened in October 1997. These days, an architectural presentation can utilise the impressive power of visual storytelling to offer a solution that seems attractive, convincing and even inevitable. If the proposal that has been presented to the city is the answer, then what is the question? Is this the only, or best possible, answer?
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 16, 2018 15:56 UTC
History of NZ wars
The Minister of Internal Affairs, in the annual report of his department, mentions that Mr James Cowan has been engaged to write the history of the New Zealand wars from 1845 to 1871. The latest hospital report shows only one admission and no deaths at that institution for the past 24 hours. The Hospital report at 2 p.m. yesterday was as follows:- Main Hospital: Dangerously ill 11, seriously ill 5, moderately ill 35, convalescent 2; total 53. Baptist Auxiliary: Moderately ill 1, convalescent 16; total 17. Knox Auxiliary: Moderately ill 6, convalescent 37; total 43.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 16, 2018 15:56 UTC
Psychology of Christmas shopping: Are you being duped by anchoring?
Anchoring is a technique that sells goods at high prices but allows people to think they are getting low prices. This was a psychology experiment and the wheel was rigged to stop at either a particular high number or a low number. Later the people who had seen the wheel stop estimated a percentage of, for example, African countries in the United Nations. Anchoring works even though people see through it. HAGEN HOPKINS Anchoring is a psychological technique that affects the prices of, say tricycles at Christmas time.
Source:Stuff
December 16, 2018 15:56 UTC
Glowworms sparkle on a Waitomo rural getaway
Liz Carlson Some of the glowworms shining brightly blue in the Waitomo Caves. Many of tourists are drawn to the caves by the immense presence of glowworms. After a long day of adventures in another world beneath the ground, you feel a great sense of wonder emerging back into the sunlight. When exploring the Waitomo Caves and the surrounding Waikato area, base yourself at the nearby town of Kihikihi. The writer was hosted in Waitomo by the Waitomo Caves.
Source:Stuff
December 16, 2018 15:56 UTC
Kiwi clothing brand signs deal with retail giant Oakley
Fast forward 16 years, he has patented a camouflage print and inked a deal with retail giant Oakley. We have two brands: Hunters Element which is the much bigger side of the business and Riverworks which is fly fishing. How has your business changed in the past 16 years? So far, we've removed 59,000 plastic bags which is a pretty significant amount of plastic bags. The deal isn't worth a huge amount as they bought the film - it's more a cool win than a big dollar win.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 16, 2018 15:56 UTC
Genetic expert loves being back on farm
Jo Scott enjoys spending time on the family farm on the outskirts of Oamaru. Ms Scott (27) is technical services manager for the New Zealand arm of global animal health company Zoetis. Three years ago, Ms Scott did the Kellogg rural leadership course. Growing up, Ms Scott said she toyed with a few different ideas but she always came back to her roots — the land. A new artificial insemination programme had just been started at Seaview and Ms Scott enjoyed "throwing in some ideas".
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 16, 2018 15:33 UTC
Millions for South in road safety plan
The Government will pump up to $50 million into making southern state highways safer in an effort to curb road deaths and injuries nationally. State Highway 88, between Port Chalmers and Dunedin, and State Highway 1 will be major beneficiaries of the injection in the South. The programme will include $600 million to $700 million of state highway safety improvements and $700 million to $800 million of local road safety improvements. "This year, far too many New Zealanders have lost their lives or been seriously injured in crashes that could have been prevented by road safety upgrades." "Annual road deaths in New Zealand increased from 253 just a few years ago, in 2013, to 378 last year.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 16, 2018 15:33 UTC
One person critically injured in Mosgiel crash
A two-car crash in Mosgiel left one person with critical injuries on Saturday afternoon. One person trapped in a vehicle was being freed by Fire and Emergency NZ staff and transported to Dunedin Hospital in a critical condition. • Earlier that day, a person sustained minor injuries when a car rolled following a crash on Three Mile Hill Rd in Dunedin. Emergency services were called to the two-car crash, near the Taieri Plains lookout, about 2.10pm. A St John spokesman said one person was taken to Dunedin Hospital with minor injuries.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 16, 2018 15:33 UTC
Visavadiya joins Hawke Cup 200 club
Harsh Visavadiya became just the fourth Southlander to score a double hundred in a Hawke Cup game on Saturday. Visavadiya became just the fourth Southland batsman to score a double hundred in a Hawke Cup game, when he produced a remarkable 223 against North Otago in Invercargill at the weekend. The innings came 10 months after Visavadiya came agonisingly short of joining the 200 club when he was dismissed on 199 in a Hawke Cup fixture against South Canterbury in Invercargill. He joins Robert ‘‘Jumbo’’ Anderson, who scored an astonishing three Hawke Cup double hundreds during his career, including Southland’s highest-ever Hawke Cup score of 255, against Ashburton County in 1977, in Invercargill. Earlier on Saturday, Jason Osborne starred with the ball, after North Otago won the toss and opted to bat first.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 16, 2018 15:33 UTC
Peak performance
Chris Bisley kicks back after completing an epic 17 circuits of the Bethunes Gully-Mt Cargill track in the 24-hour Crush the Cargill event, having climbed a distance higher than Mt Everest. Photos: Gerard O'BrienA Dunedin man knocked off Mt Everest at the weekend, all without leaving the city. Taking part in the Crush the Cargill 24-hour mountain race, which ran from 10am on Saturday to 10am yesterday, Chris Bisley completed an epic 17 circuits of the Bethunes Gully to Mt Cargill track. Still standing after completing seven circuits of the Bethunes Gully-Mt Cargill track is Scruffy the dog. Emerging from the fog as they descend Mt Cargill are Phil Petersen (left) and Harjinder Chandra.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 16, 2018 15:33 UTC
Queenstown sides and Albion winners
Queenstown Ballarat, Queenstown Wakatipu and Albion all had wins in the Vincent Senior Koford Cup T20 competition on Saturday. Blacks Hill travelled to Queenstown and batted first against the Queenstown Ballarat side and got through to 115 for three, after winning the toss. Queenstown Wakatipu travelled to Ranfurly and got through to 129 for eight wickets, helped by a 59-run opening partnership between Gabe White (43) and Jordan Gibbons (23) that provided a solid foundation. Alex Gunson took three for 12 while Mark Knox, S. Singh and Regan Hucklebridge, all took two wickets each. Fin Ross took three for 18 for the winner.
Source:Otago Daily Times
December 16, 2018 15:33 UTC