PHOTO: NICK BROOKLocal Legend Wendy Dewe accepted the Silver Fern Farms, Clutha Leader lamb roast this week, on behalf of her daughter Hannah. Wendy and Hannah were the brains and driving force behind producing the fundraising recipe book As Sweet as Aaliyah to help 7-year-old Aaliyah Hill and her family with costs relating to her cancer treatment. ‘‘We wanted to help, had a good think and worked pretty hard on it,’’ Wendy said of the uplifting, spiral-bound book of easy and exotic favourites. ‘‘But the generosity of all the sponsors and contributors really made it a success and so far it’s sold 700 copies and raised $14,380.’’The cookbook has inspired a second run available at Bates Pharmacy Balclutha and the Catlins gift shop, Owaka. Keep sending your nomination’s names, contact phone number and reason they’re our Local Legends to: nick.brook@cluthaleader.

The Cromwell town centre redevelopment is back on the table as work begins on the 2027 long-term plan. Central Otago Mayor Tamah Alley said the workshop was a constructive step towards shaping a town centre that reflects Cromwell’s evolving needs. ‘‘This redevelopment is about creating a thriving, accessible, and welcoming town centre that reflects Cromwell’s unique character and growing community. ‘‘It’s really important to have council and the community board working together to progress the long-awaited Cromwell town centre project. This workshop was a first step in making sure we all have the same information and common understandings of the journey so far, so we can confidently consider our next steps.’’

House of Travel consultant Jessica Thomas, manager Robbie Bell, Love Grace Alexandra co-ordinator Jeana McLeod and consultant Kate Davidson pose with posters and handbags. PHOTO: ELLA JENKINSPeople of Central Otago are encouraged to collect items for New Zealand women in need as the Love Grace handbag appeal returns for a fifth year. People were encouraged to give handbags filled with essential items to women escaping domestic violence. Alexandra co-ordinator Jeana McLeod said the six essential items were shampoo, conditioner, soap or body wash, deodorant, toothpaste and a toothbrush. Having a daughter the same age and with the same love of travel as Grace encouraged Mrs McLeod to get involved for the first time this year.

NZ First's Winston Peters fiercely defended a bill to make English an official language. The government has introduced a bill to make English an official language, to ridicule from the opposition, and a fierce defence from Winston Peters. The legislation would see English be recognised as an official language alongside Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. There is no English Act or United Kingdom Act which sets out English as an official language, but I'm pretty sure they're comfortable with the fact that it's an official language of England and the United Kingdom." The English language can be used as a weapon, and that can lead to people having violent acts committed against them," she said.

‘‘[The victim] was driving an open-top vehicle and it was a head-on collision,’’ police prosecutor Alan De Jager said. There were ‘‘things that money just can’t bring back’’, Mr Armstrong wrote in a statement. Guannan Gu had his passport returned to him by the court yesterday and plans to return to China soon. Mr Armstrong told the Otago Daily Times he had been heading to Dunedin from Moeraki, where he had lunch with other members of a car club. ‘‘It’s a big disappointment to me to see it the way it is,’’ Mr Armstrong said.

According to the findings, around 4pm on September 25, Patel, of Auckland, borrowed his neighbour’s jack and tools to change the car’s oil. He found Patel crushed under the car. After jacking the car up, he raised the alarm and began CPR on Patel until ambulance staff arrived and took over. Patel was preparing for a car race in Fielding on the day of his death, she said. In Australia, an awareness campaign was run by Consumer and Business Services and the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service to educate people on DIY car jack deaths.

PHOTO: DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATIONThe high death rate of Stewart Island whitetail 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 whitetail 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. Footage revealed on average a 75% reduction in deer detections by cameras in the deer repellent area in contrast with a 97% reduction in the wider operational area. The study concluded the deer were more likely to eat a lethal dose of 1080 bait pellets than any other deer population in the country — and adding deer repellent to the bait only slightly reduced the impact, it said.

RCL’s 63ha development site at Homestead Bay in Queenstown. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDDevelopers of the $730million Homestead Bay housing proposal — approved yesterday — are not wasting any time in getting started, staging an open day at the site tomorrow. The boost in housing numbers in Queenstown is expected to be followed by another housing development in the resort, set to be announced in coming days. The Homestead Bay development is for 1438 standard residential lots, 22 medium-density superlots allowing for 203 future residential units and 14 high-density superlots allowing for 890 future residential units. Queenstown Lakes District Mayor John Glover said it was the first of seven fast-track consenting housing decisions around Queenstown which was part of the fast-track process.

Sandy Graham. PHOTO: ODT FILESDunedin city councillors are to be briefed about what it might mean to set up a unitary authority. The undertaking came from Dunedin City Council chief executive Sandy Graham yesterday during a meeting about reform of local and regional government. Unitary authorities combine the responsibilities of regional councils and city or district councils. ‘‘Let’s face it: the decision to create any form of unitary council will not be ours to make, even though it should be.’’Cr Lee Vandervis said the city should have decided upon creating a unitary council 10 years ago.

Emergency services personnel try to save a man who died at St Clair Beach in Dunedin yesterday. Emergency services had quickly arrived but there was not much they could do and the man died. ‘‘Sadly, he has passed.’’Police, St John and the St Kilda Fire Brigade were called to the incident about 11.50am. Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou placed a rāhui (a temporary closure) at St Clair Beach following the incident. The rāhui covers an area of St Clair and St Kilda Beaches for three days, and applies to the gathering of kaimoana/seafood and recreational activities.

The victim wrote to police, withdrawing her statement and choosing not to give evidence at the scheduled trial in October 2024. This week, the man appeared for sentencing on a charge of perverting the course of justice. ‘Write me a letter’At the time of the offending, between September 21 and October 5, 2024, the defendant and the victim were ex-partners. He was on remand for charges of threatening to kill, speaking threateningly and burglary in relation to the victim. On “numerous” occasions during that time the pair discussed what they would do to get the charges withdrawn.

RNZ asked the British High Commission in Wellington if it had sent out a media release about any of the changes. It pointed to a January 2025 media release that dealt only with the issue of introducing ETAs (Electronic Travel Authorisations) and not the new requirement for British passport holders, or certificates of entitlement. Many British migrants had asked why the passport requirement was introduced, after the UK government said it was to make borders more secure. “A number of countries insist that where their nationals are entering their ‘home’ country they must use their ‘home’ passport. For travellers embarking on a trip to the UK next week who had British parents but no visible link to the UK, she had some words of comfort.

None of the ministries Seymour proposed to merge into the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage has an Act minister. All are headed by National ministers, apart from Seniors, headed by NZ First’s Casey Costello. Since Sunday’s announcement, Seymour had been questioned about how his reform would apply to the ministries currently led by Act’s ministers, including the Ministry for Regulation, which he created and leads. He acknowledged there was an argument for Act MP Andrew Hoggard’s biosecurity and food safety portfolios to be absorbed into agriculture, which was led by National’s Todd McClay. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.

Piyush Goyal, the Indian Minister of Commerce, has described this clause as a “clawback measure if investment targets are not met”. She agreed to talk about the FTA, including the Indian Government’s perspective on what was promised regarding the private investment. Asked whether the US$20b of investment was a hard commitment by New Zealand or an aspirational goal, Bhushan said it is “something to aspire towards”. It’s a general aspiration.”To reiterate the query, the Herald again asked if the investment was not a hard commitment for New Zealand to fulfil or face consequences. It’s not a ‘good in principle’ ... It’s a hard commitment,” he said.

Tom Waterhouse of Waterhouse VC believes New Zealand could become the blueprint provided it gets the regulatory balance right. The country’s gambling market has met a similar force. A 12% Offshore Gambling Duty has applied since July 2024 to offshore operators serving New Zealand residents, excluding sports and racing betting. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) puts the global illegal betting market at up to US$1.7 trillion wagered annually. The government responded by lifting the offshore gambling duty from 12% to 16% from January 2027, with the additional 4% ring-fenced for community returns.