PHOTO: RICHARD DAVISONLocals say a major bridge in South Otago is an "accident waiting to happen", due to side barriers that are "more hole than wood". It needs proper Armco [metal] barriers put in place to allow for the type of traffic that uses it nowadays. This is a rural area, and rural vehicles need to be able to use it safely." He said local people were "fed up" with the state of the bridge, which was also used by tourists as an alternative route to Central Otago. "This is evident from tyre marks found on rail posts and the type of damage found on the bridge.

Photo: Peter McIntoshHelping move a pile of woodchips at Brockville Kindergarten are (from left) Sarah Ashby, Kadin Purvis, 8, Mason Purvis and Riana Hellyer. Head teacher Julie Baird said they put the call out to parents yesterday to see if anyone could help shift 10cu m of woodchips to the kindergarten’s playground. "It’s their children and their playground ... it takes a village." A dozen parents and a couple of older siblings helped out for the four-hour job. "Some parents gave 10 minutes, some parents gave three hours ... it’s all about what you can give, and we really appreciate it."

The Otago Community Trust has announced a new trustee, while the charitable trust’s chairman will continue for a second four-year term. Dunedin businesswoman Toni Talijancich had been appointed as a trustee from January 30, while chairman Andy Kilsby would remain for a second four-year term, the trust said in a statement. Trustees are selected for their professional or community-based experience and must live within a trust’s region. Mr Kilsby welcomed Ms Talijancich to the board, saying she "brings a wealth of knowledge". Mr Kilsby said he was honoured to continue in his capacity, while Ms Talijancich said the trust played a vital role in strengthening communities across the region.

A white-tailed deer appears on a trail camera on Stewart Island. PHOTO: DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATIONThe high death rate of Stewart Island white-tail deer during last year’s aerial 1080 operation is not acceptable, a hunting advocate says. The Department of Conservation (Doc) said although the number of deer killed in the poison drop was higher than expected, the large majority of the Rakiura white-tail deer population was unaffected and deer would repopulate the affected area. Rakiura Whitetail Trust chairman Adam Fairmaid said a way to keep the deer safe in future 1080 bait aerial operations had to be found. The large majority of the Rakiura white-tail deer population was unaffected, and deer would gradually re-enter and repopulate the operational area.

PHOTOS: JASON LARRAMANMerino bra and underwear sales are on the rise as fast-growing United States company Branwyn becomes familiar with the fine wool’s home in the Mackenzie Basin. An initial focus on outdoor women familiar with merino activewear has widened to buyers seeking garments made of natural fibres. The inner-wear is made from 17.5 micron merino wool, accredited under The New Zealand Merino Company’s (NZM) ZQ programme, by Italian seamless knitting machines. Ms Buck said seeing the pride farmers took in producing ZQ merino wool had affirmed why it was prized by Branwyn. "Merino wool is an active fibre in that it comes from an animal and it has the attributes we look for ... in our products."

Photo: Allied Media filesThe New Zealand Merino Company (NZM) is sourcing fine wool from a pool of 200 South African suppliers to keep up with strong demand from big brands. To meet customer needs, NZM has reached agreements with two South African brokers to top up its mainly New Zealand and Australian supply base. NZM now has access to merino wool from about 200 South African farmers certified with its ZQ programme to meet high animal welfare, environmental and social standards. The South Africa micron range sits within the broader end of the active-wear market as well as the sock market. Mr Hand said NZM competed with the wider market for the non-contracted South African merino, but paid a premium for it being ZQ-certified.

Cromwell Winery Cruises intends to visit three wineries on a day-long trip. Photos: suppliedDreams of lounging on a boat, cruising from winery to winery are set to become a reality in Cromwell. This week, Cromwell Winery Cruises will launch what is being touted as the only tour of its kind in the country after nearly two years of work by owner-operator Sam Taylor. A day with Cromwell Winery Cruises would begin with a tasting at Matt Connell wines, Mr Taylor said. Cromwell Winery Cruises owner and operator Sam Taylor is launching his new business this week.

Producing calm and docile bees for New Zealand beekeepers is the goal for a Mosgiel-based honeybee breeding programme. Betta Bees Research, based in the Invermay Agricultural Centre, were selecting the best of the best queen bees for artificial insemination to provide New Zealand beekeepers with gentle, quiet bees to work with. Co-owner Robert Waddell said it was estimated that 30% to 35% of commercially kept bees across New Zealand were influenced by their breeding programme. The purpose of the programme was to produce bees that beekeepers would not be hesitant to work with. "A gentle hive is a healthier hive."

Contractors work on the site of the new Dunedin hospital yesterday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHA new contract-sharing arrangement between the government and Australian construction giant CPB for the new Dunedin hospital had boffins at the Treasury worried about the risks. Treasury also suggested the then-newly appointed Crown manager for the new Dunedin hospital project would help lead to more "responsive project management". Prof Gauld said it was crucial Treasury still viewed the new Dunedin hospital as a "high-profile, high-risk" project that required monthly monitoring. Meanwhile, the "shared risk" model probably amounted to more cash needed for contingencies by the government, and "some more flexibility on behalf of the contractor".

Residents in the Outram areas have had their mornings and evenings inconvenienced with a trio of rolling power cuts caused by a perfect storm of preparation for upgrades and damaged equipment. In a press release, Aurora said Monday’s first outage was caused by a cracked insulator, and the outage later that evening was to replace it. Usually in that case Aurora would be able to provide a back-up power supply. However, due to planned upgrades to the network, two of the three main lines were switched off. The planned upgrades would be to the Waipori Line, which runs from Berwick to Halfway Bush.

Photo: PGG WrightsonA thriving rural economy has helped PGG Wrightson (PGW) lift its half-year profit 8% to $17.3 million. The rural business company expects further strong trading in the second half. A spending boost is expected from an average $300,000 one-off payment to dairy farmers from Fonterra’s sale of its consumer business. PGW was seeing dairy farmers already investing in their businesses from the coming one-off Fonterra payment. "We have sold some properties to farmers as they look to expand their footprint and some are looking for rural residential property as well.

Two new cases of measles have been detected and both have been linked to international travel. Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora said locations of interest included Auckland International Airport and Waitakere Hospital's emergency department. Health officials were attempting to contact people on flight SQ281 from Singapore. Medical officer of health Dr Richard Vipond said anyone with symptoms should phone healthcare providers before turning up in-person to prevent the spread and the best protection was the MMR vaccine. The measles outbreak which began in September officially ended this month, but officials warned the risk remained.

Templeton sent what was the first of several incriminating videos that day, telling an associate he was off to the pub and might be intoxicated later. During the journey Mr Stephens recorded a video, yelling "we’re running from the cops" as Templeton could be seen crossing the centre line. A couple of kilometres later, Templeton approached a right-hand bend, with a 75kmh speed advisory, at up to 127kmh. Templeton was ejected and ended up unconscious in a ditch, while Mr Stephens landed face down in the field. Members of the public applied first aid until emergency services arrived but Mr Stephens died at the scene.

A former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) teacher at a Georgia training centre told congressional Democrats yesterday new agents are trained to run roughshod over constitutional rights, including the right against a home invasion, and that the federal agency is "broken". Ryan Schwank, who resigned from Ice on February 13, told the forum Ice is training new agents to violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure. "Ice made the programme shorter, and they removed so many essential parts that what remains is a dangerous husk," Schwank said. "Despite false claims from the media and sanctuary politicians, no training hours have been cut,"‘ Bis said yesterday. But the records in the memo suggest Ice trainees are still working "nine-hour days".

PHOTO: GERRIT DOPPENBERGFor one Southland family, steam engines are much more than a novelty — they are their transport, their hobbies, their assets and even their kitchen. The Scandrett clan headed out to Mandeville with a 1925 Marshall Compound Traction Engine to take part in the Mandeville Fly In & Steam Festival. John Scandrett, a Southern Steam Engine Club stalwart, takes it to every get-together the family can get to. Mrs Sanderson said it was easy to see the appeal of the steam engine, but the purpose went further than just the aesthetic. "He proposed on the traction engine, on February 21, so this holds a special place in our heart."