Enduro championships to be decided this weekend near Bulls
Taupō's Wil Yeoman is one of the riders to watch out for at Santoft Forest, near Bulls, this weekend. MOTOCROSS: The New Zealand enduro championships will wrap up its abbreviated season near Bulls this weekend. "The track is looking great," said Motorcycling New Zealand enduro commissioner, Central enduro series co-ordinator and Kapi-Mana Motorcycle Club enduro co-ordinator Justin Stevenson, of Porirua. "It would probably help if there's a bit of rain there before the weekend." Others to watch include Thames rider Natasha Cairns, Eketāhuna's Charlie Richardson, Stratford's Josh Hunger, Kaikohe's Mitchell Nield, Eketāhuna's Charlie Richardson, Raglan's Brandon Given and perhaps even Taupō's rising young star Wil Yeoman.
Source:Stuff
July 08, 2020 16:30 UTC
130 years of OUSA marked
Photo: ODT fileThe Otago University Students’ Association yesterday celebrated its 130th anniversary with a tree-planting ceremony in Dunedin. University vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne and several former association presidents and other life members were among more than 30 people at the 11.30am ceremony at the University Union lawn. Association president Jack Manning welcomed participants, former president Paul Gourlie took a photo of the group, and academic John Broughton gave a Maori blessing. Retired university chaplain Rev Greg Hughson was among the many association life members attending. The gathering then moved to the nearby association rooms, where Mr Manning formally conferred life membership on Richard Good, and a birthday cake was cut.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 08, 2020 16:30 UTC
Snow to ski but roading compromise
Hugo Huntington from the lifts crew at Coronet Peak removes snow at the ski resort yesterday. Inset: Gorge Hill on State Highway 94 was white with snow at 8.30am yesterday. PHOTOS: NZSKI & STEPHEN MILNE/SOUTH ROADSA wintry blast across Otago and Southland yesterday has "exceeded expectation", a skifield operator says. Coronet Peak ski area manager Nigel Kerr said the strong southwesterlies were boosting snow on the mountain. Ranfurly also got a dusting and snow fell on parts of State Highway 94 and Dunedin's Northern Motorway.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 08, 2020 16:30 UTC
Good Samaritan effort injurious
Trying to stop someone from drink-driving earned a Good Samaritan a broken pelvis for her efforts, after she was dragged along the road by a car. The woman tried to intervene when she saw a 29-year-old intoxicated woman getting into her car in South Rd, Dunedin, about midnight on Saturday. When she tried to grab the keys from the ignition, the driver took off, dragging the woman a short distance along the road, Senior Sergeant Craig Dinnissen said. She was observed by police braking hard at the intersection of Great King St and St Andrew St, and was later stopped. A 26-year-old man was also charged with drink-driving in Middleton Rd at 12.42am on Tuesday.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 08, 2020 16:30 UTC
Shaw always keen to shore up Green vote
The Green Party is not expecting a bump in support among Dunedin voters after MP David Clark’s Covid-19 blunders, co-leader James Shaw says. Mr Shaw was one of several politicians at the University of Otago Clubs and Socs Day yesterday. Mr Shaw said he was not concerned about the current level of support, but was certainly not complacent about how many would vote Green. Green Party co-leader James Shaw mingled with students at the University of Otago’s Clubs and Socs Day yesterday. Describing Mr Walker’s actions as "incredibly unscrupulous", Mr Shaw said it was entirely appropriate for him to step down.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 08, 2020 16:30 UTC
Art competition showcases Palmerston North's best
Artist and exhibition installer Clayton Tansley hangs images from the Arts Manawatū Painting Competition ready for opening night on Thursday. Work by 69 artists from Manawatū-Whanganui is adorning the walls of Palmerston North's Square Edge waiting to be judged. Studio on the Square was unable to run classes during lockdown, but decided to run the Arts Manawatū Painting Competition, with a grand prize of $3000. READ MORE:* Manawatū talent needed for playwriting and art scheme* Gallery gets around coronavirus shutdown with virtual exhibitions* Award-winning performance poet Hideto Ambiguous to tour Palmerston NorthAll the art is on sale, for between $200 and $10,000. The prize money was donated by Urban Care, a community group founded to make Palmerston North a tidy and more beautiful place.
Source:Stuff
July 08, 2020 16:30 UTC
ORC to fund $1.2m of bus card change
PHOTO: ODT FILESA forecast $1.22million will come from Otago Regional Council coffers for the over-budget replacement of the GoCard. The Bee Card, intended to allow tag on, tag off travel as well as online top-ups, is part of a national project costing $14.6million. Otago Regional Council transport manager Garry Maloney said "we are working towards implementation of the Bee Card in Dunedin very soon, following Invercargill and Waikato. He said Bee Cards would be given out "over the next few weeks" free of charge. The next stage was to hear public submissions before putting a recommendation to the council before the Bee Card launch.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 08, 2020 16:30 UTC
Manawatū revamps junior cricket programme
Manawatū Cricket Association general manager James Lovegrove wants to create more opportunities for children to play cricket. The Manawatū Cricket Association has revamped its junior programmes as the summer code rebounds from the effects of Covid-19. “Our goal is to provide a positive experience and great opportunities for all of our young cricketers,” Manawatū Cricket Association general manager James Lovegrove said. The junior competition had 43 teams last season and there has been growth in the primary and secondary school girls’ competitions. The association is advertising a new role, a youth cricket co-ordinator, who will work with schools and children.
Source:Stuff
July 08, 2020 09:33 UTC
Award-winning Canterbury architecture includes the 'unpretentious'
There’s plenty to love about the latest crop of award-winning architecture projects in the Canterbury and West Coast regions. Awards jury covenor, Christchurch architect Huia Reriti said Canterbury housing, in particular, is in good design health. “It references the rural vernacular of DOC huts, resulting in an architecture that is unpretentious, functional and uplifting. Hawthorne Street House in Strowan, by Sheppard & Rout Architects, is “a simple formal response to complex site constraints,” the jury said. “A palette of robust materials creates a cosy and relaxed atmosphere, and beautifully detailed joinery articulates but does not dominate interior spaces.”anthony turnham Hawthorne Street House in Strowan, by Sheppard & Rout Architects.
Source:Stuff
July 08, 2020 06:00 UTC
Engineering firm scrap together for art fundraiser
An engineering company in Marlborough is auctioning off scrap metal art to raise money for community groups in the region. Staff at Gregory Engineering made the one-off pieces, including a 15-kilogram praying mantis and a medieval-looking “PPE” mask, as they wanted to “make a difference” post-Covid. Other items on the TradeMe auction, which closes on Friday, include a bird-feeder, bar leaner and an outdoor fireplace. Gregory Engineering co-owner Pauline Gregory said the only rule was staff had to only use recyclable or waste material found in her workshop to build their design. James Price said he spent about four hours building his design, a bar leaner.
Source:Stuff
July 08, 2020 05:26 UTC
Delayed South Canterbury musical opens to sold out season
The South Canterbury Drama League's sell-out season of Curtains will open on Wednesday night. It was almost curtains for the South Canterbury Drama League’s first production of the year, but on Wednesday night it will open to a sold-out season. “The kids have worked really hard and deserve to have full houses,” league junior section co-chair Tamara Hogg said. READ MORE:* Transforming amateur thespians into colourful characters* New young director for South Canterbury Drama League juniors* Troubled Timaru show goes 'beautifully' on opening nightAt last, with the country settled into Level 1, the show must go on. When the announcement came, we got everyone together for a celebration and to ask if they could continue with the season.
Source:Stuff
July 08, 2020 04:18 UTC
Dark web drug smuggler narrowly avoids jail
Timothy Fearn was sentenced at the Christchurch District Court for his role in a dark web drug smuggling operation. Photo: NZHThe leader of a dark web underground drug smuggling ring has narrowly avoided a stint behind bars. A judge sentenced him to 11 months' home detention on Wednesday, after he also admitted other dishonesty and driving charges, saying he had come "within a whisker" of going to jail. The summary of facts says the drug parcels in this case were similar to imports encountered in previous drug operations where the drugs had been ordered over the internet using dark web underground websites. Parcels intercepted at the International Mail Centre which contained a total of 27g of methamphetamine and 3.6g of ecstasy were sent to various Christchurch addresses.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 08, 2020 04:18 UTC
Coronavirus: World Health Organisation praises NZ's Covid-19 response
The World Health Organisation has praised New Zealand’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. As coronavirus cases continue to surge in large numbers around the world, New Zealand is on the opposite end of the spectrum. The country's only active cases of Covid-19 are people who are new arrivals and are in managed isolation facilities. Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organisation, shared the video. Testing, contact tracing and clear communication to the public are hallmarks of the country’s “successful response”.
Source:Stuff
July 08, 2020 04:18 UTC
Covid 19: Retracing infected man's missing 70 minutes
After the man's positive test this morning the Countdown supermarket was closed for a further "deep clean". Security charged with guarding those in managed isolation tried to follow him but lost him. Had he walked directly along Albert St to the Countdown store 450m away, it would have taken just six minutes. The Auckland Regional Public Health authority has also launched an investigation after the second breach of someone in managed isolation in four days. Eighteen Countdown staff were now self-isolating and would be paid for the duration of their time off work, she said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
July 08, 2020 03:45 UTC
New SC women's fund ambassador to speak at event
The Aoraki Foundation Women’s Fund, run by women to support women’s causes in South Canterbury, is hosting its second event on Thursday, introducing its ambassador Anah Aikman. “The Women’s Fund resonated with my personal philosophy of empowering women to enable positive change in our communities,” Aikman said. (File photo)Stacey Scott, who has been supporting the not-for-profit and charitable sector in South Canterbury for more than 17 years, will also speak. She owns the Scott Family Endowment Fund, which is managed by the Aoraki Foundation, and describes working with the Foundation as “easy” and “richly rewarding”. Find our more on the groups Facebook page, Women’s Fund Discussion Group.
Source:Stuff
July 08, 2020 03:33 UTC