Opinion: Great opportunity lies in 'scungy developers' issue
We know we have to go up - isn't it time Hamilton City Council plans for sufficient green space to improve quality of life, argues Nicola Martin. The conversation is so much broader and so much more important than the headline grabbing scungy developers and it's one our council should be leading. In Hamilton, the 2019 Waikato Plan housing stocktake identified a shortage of 4000 houses in the city. And as Hamilton city looks to accommodate around 21,000 more people by 2028, we will all need to be living very differently. I'm certainly not a qualified town planner but even I know the conversation is so much bigger and so much more important than getting the council building inspectors to deal to scungy developers.
Source:Stuff
February 21, 2020 15:56 UTC
Grace Millane's killing compels us to redemptive effort
EDITORIAL: Brutishness turned to barbarity as Grace Millane's killer went about a day of base gratifications and one or two complications. READ MORE:* Grace Millane murder: British backpacker's killer sentenced to life imprisonment* Grace Millane: In the wake of her murder, Kiwis need to do better* Grace Millane murder: Timeline of British backpacker's disappearance and killingInstead the judge spoke of a killer's sense of self-entitlement, and the objectification of Grace's body. To the extent, we might add, that her body became a body. The Millane family has through its anguish been gracious about the extent of support offered by New Zealanders and is trying to raise awareness of violence against women. But really it's a footnote in the Grace Millane story, which now must continue as part of an honest, diligent, simply more ardent search for ways to be a healthier society.
Source:Stuff
February 21, 2020 15:56 UTC
Let them wear pants
Why would anyone think that wanting to wear shorts rather than the official girls’ uniform meant any pupil would require counselling? What century are we in, some people asked, when girls wanting to wear shorts or trousers to school can create such a stir? It would be best not to get those old pupils started on having to wear rompers for PE. It seems odd that many schools are taking so long to allow girls to wear trousers or shorts or indeed for boys to wear skirts or kilts. Last year, we reported on St Francis Xavier School pupil Kayleigh Dryden (7) who gained permission to wear shorts in summer after writing to the school board of trustees.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 21, 2020 15:31 UTC
Motel owner sick of noisy parties, mess
Sahara Motel manager Paul Ryder has had enough of rowdy student parties near his business. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON"Out of control" student parties are causing motel guests to check out early and leave the city in droves, a frustrated Dunedin motelier says. While police have praised behaviour in the student area in recent days, Sahara Motel manager Paul Ryder said this year was the worst he had experienced in terms of noisy, messy student parties. His George St motel is next door to Union St West, which is home to several flats. A police spokeswoman said police were notified at 11.13pm of a large party on Union St West.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 21, 2020 15:31 UTC
Rally against Healthcare NZ job losses
PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONMore than 60 Dunedin Public Service Association members and supporters yesterday protested against job losses arising from a proposed restructure by one of the country’s biggest healthcare providers. Grey Power Otago president Jo Millar spoke at the rally, outside HealthCare NZ premises in Hillside Rd, and believed Grey Power would be raising the potential loss of up to 200 jobs throughout the country as a national issue. She had sent emails outlining her concerns to HealthCare NZ chief executive Vanessa Dudley last week but had not received any reply. A HealthCare NZ media officer said the number of Dunedin jobs that could be lost could not be given yesterday, because the changes were only a proposal at this stage. Healthcare NZ provides home care and support to vulnerable people for several DHBs.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 21, 2020 15:22 UTC
Southland favoured to retain trophy
Perennial division one champion Southern Lakes is heavily favoured to maintain its grip on the Rennie Trophy. The first-up ties are likely to see Southern Lakes take on Southland and North Otago challenge home team Otago. Several highly rated players will add colour to proceedings when the matches begin at the Edgar Centre this morning. Otago, shorn of talisman Ryan Eggers, will do well to repeat last season’s second-round tie win over Southern Lakes. Home-court advantage may count for something though, with all division 1 ties being played on the Edgar Centre astroturf.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 21, 2020 15:22 UTC
Blazing a trail for young women
A year later, she became the only girl in her advanced physics class and started questioning why other young women were not represented in fast-growing fields. Four years on, Miss Hilbertidou is the chief executive of her own company, has grown her network to more than 13,500 young women aged between 13 and 18, and has big plans. She was passionate about ensuring equity of access — for young women, regardless of their socioeconomic background or race — to programmes such as those her company was providing. "I’m part Samoan as well, [so] to see more Pasifika young women and Maori young women step up, take advantage of opportunities and to be equipped with the confidence, and for us to highlight role models that all young women can relate to [is important]." The focus was on fast-growing and largely male-dominated industries, and creating pathways to help young women interested in careers in them to have the confidence to do so, she said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 21, 2020 15:22 UTC
Coronavirus has caused slowdown for City Forests
Grant DodsonAbout 40 people working for City Forests have had work reduced as a result of the slowdown of getting logs into China, where the effects of the novel coronavirus are still being felt. The Dunedin City Council-owned company said it was slowing down production as a result of a dramatic drop in demand for logs. China had high stocks of logs at present, Mr Dodson said. Mr Dodson said he was grateful the company managed to get a shipment away before the coronavirus really took hold in China. Despite the slow going, Mr Dodson said the company had absolutely no plans to reduce staff.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 21, 2020 15:22 UTC
No longer going with the grain
"The Oat Industry Group — you particularly were a key driver in setting up an oat industry group — which is again looking after farmers," Mr Hawkins said, pointing to Mr Hammer. The Oat Industry Group was set up to fund research on grain cultivars to give continuity to the industry, Mr Hammer said. Mr Hawkins was well aware of the pressure on him, taking the reins of a 150-year-old Dunedin company. Harraways already sells into Singapore and has "good sales there," Mr Hawkins said. They also sell into Malaysia, Hong Kong and even some minor sales into China, "which have naturally slowed up right now," Mr Hawkins said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 21, 2020 15:22 UTC
Work and Income shifting to Exchange
Movers are shifting items out of the Work and Income building on Castle St ready for the new Dunedin Hospital to be built. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSHDunedin's central Work and Income service centre is on the move. On Monday, staff will shift from their St Andrew St premises to the ground floor of John Wickliffe House, in the Exchange. The Dunedin Central service centre offered a limited service yesterday, and the new service centre would open at 11.30am on Monday. "Our 43 frontline staff, along with 45 other support and regional staff will be based in the building.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 21, 2020 15:22 UTC
Battling the clock
PHOTOS: PETER MCINTOSHA small crowd watches the University Clocktower race at lunchtime yesterday. Back for its second year after an eight-year hiatus, the event was organised by the Hill City-University athletics club as part of the University of Otago’s Orientation Week festivities. Twenty-eight runners took part. Four ran around the university’s registry building before the clock’s 12th strike, in less than 53.50 seconds.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 21, 2020 15:22 UTC
Kerr sisters excited to be playing for White Ferns together
For New Zealand sisters Jess and Amelia Kerr, this year’s Women’s Twenty20 World Cup will be extra special. In a release from the ICC, the sisters said they were thrilled to be playing together. The White Ferns have their newest sibling pair on board. New Zealand opens its tournament with a match against Sri Lanka in Perth tonight, starting at midnight. Cricket has always been the Kerr family business — parents Robbie and Jo both played for Wellington before their daughters.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 21, 2020 15:22 UTC
Cavalcades bosses keep coming back
When Chris Bayne and Sandra Cain drive around the Otago hinterland, they know what lies behind the hills. Mrs Bayne’s light wagon and riding trail will meet today at Ardgour, near Tarras, while Mrs Cain’s walking trail will start on Wednesday from Ida Valley Station. Cavalcade trail bosses Sandra Cain (left) and Chris Bayne are notching up milestones on this year’s event. Behind them is Mrs Bayne’s husband Les, driving a horse called Pippa Middleton. Mrs Bayne, however, scotched any suggestion that she might lace up her tramping boots and tackle a walking trail.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 21, 2020 15:22 UTC
Revelry mostly has been responsible
Students dance at a Leith St party on Wednesday night. Partiers donned their Hawaiian best at a Leith St party on Wednesday night. Attendees at a Leith St party appeared happy with the police presence. After a query from the Otago Daily Times about Campus Watch statistics, the post was edited yesterday morning and the numbers were removed. "The police have been working closely with flats organising events and this appears to be working well, with Campus Watch in support."
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 21, 2020 15:22 UTC
Mexican students for Central
Offering vocational training to Mexican horticultural students could help address seasonal labour shortages on Central Otago orchards and vineyards. That is, if a deal between Mexican officials and Otago Polytechnic can be struck. "With 2.2% unemployment in Central Otago that’s a dangerously low number." The Mexican delegation was so impressed by the Cromwell programme they would "send students tomorrow if they could", he said. He regularly went to Latin and South America to promote the Cromwell programme, he said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
February 21, 2020 15:22 UTC