Schedule busy for annual meeting
Schedule busy for annual meeting
After two years of planning, Oamaru will host 97 railway enthusiasts and their partners for the Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand's annual conference this weekend.
David Bruce
Quake exercise to be held
Quake exercise to be held
Waitaki Bridge residents will get a taste of what it could be like to be in a major earthquake during a South Island-wide civil defence exercise tomorrow.
Family recovering after swim from sinking boat
Family recovering after swim from sinking boat
The right safety equipment, life jackets and swimming lessons for the children contributed to the survival of a Papakaio family after the cabin cruiser they had not long bought sank at Lake Benmore on Sunday.
92.5kg winning pig one of biggest
92.5kg winning pig one of biggest
A ''team effort'' bagged the heaviest pig weighed in yesterday at the North Otago pig-hunting competition, but the team was tight-lipped about where they got it.
Cautious support for high country deal
Cautious support for high country deal
Enthusiasm tinged with notes of caution greeted the announcement yesterday of the ''Mackenzie Agreement'', aimed at bringing opponents together over future development of the high-country region.
Strategy of development
Strategy of development
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton wants to ''roll out the red carpet, not the red tape'' to investors in the Waitaki district.
Road's future in doubt
Road's future in doubt
The long-term future of the scenic coastal road from Oamaru through Kakanui to Waianakarua remains in doubt as the Waitaki District Council ponders how much it will cost to keep open as the sea eats into it.
Mayor confirms third term bid in local body elections
Mayor confirms third term bid in local body elections
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton is seeking a third term in local body elections in October, yesterday confirming to the Otago Daily Times he has decided to stand again.
Ceremony marks start on bridges
Ceremony marks start on bridges
The politicians and the people agree - a traditional ceremony yesterday to mark the start of construction of two new concrete bridges worth $18.5 million across the Waitaki River was historic, significant, momentous and eagerly anticipated.
Court 'counter day' transition
Court 'counter day' transition
After at least 130 years, Oamaru no longer has a permanent court office - and one Oamaru lawyer believes that is an injustice.
Census options baffle some
Census options baffle some
Some people in Oamaru, particularly the elderly, are still confused as to what they should do regarding the census, and the Waitaki Concerned Citizens and Ratepayers group believes options have not been adequately publicised.
Council at odds with quake measures
Council at odds with quake measures
''Inflexible, unworkable and unaffordable'' is how the Waitaki District Council is describing proposed Government changes to rules and regulations governing earthquake-prone buildings.
Planned 3.5% rates rise success, mayor says
Planned 3.5% rates rise success, mayor says
A rates rise of 3.5% - less than the Waitaki District Council predicted - is being proposed next financial year.
Airfield doing well
Airfield doing well
Omarama Airfield Ltd is having a good financial year so far, but its former chairman Hugh Cameron has warned extra maintenance still to be done could affect the final result.
Pile driving set to begin
Pile driving set to begin
The next major step in building two bridges across the Waitaki River at Kurow starts on Monday with the driving of the first pile.
Extra quota gained for TV recycling
Extra quota gained for TV recycling
Handing back old television sets for recycling has been so popular in the Waitaki district that extra quota has been needed to cope.
Alphabetical order likely to stay
Alphabetical order likely to stay
It appears the Waitaki District Council will stick with postal voting and listing candidates in alphabetical order for the council and Oamaru Licensing Trust elections in October.
Goodwill key to Mackenzie future
Goodwill key to Mackenzie future
A new approach to managing development in the Mackenzie, Ohau and Omarama Basins will be announced in Twizel tomorrow. David Bruce looks at the background leading to the ''Mackenzie Plan''.
Trust agreement shared development approach
Trust agreement shared development approach
A new approach to development in the Mackenzie, Omarama and Ohau basins will be launched at Twizel on Sunday after three years' work by a trust made up of groups with diverse and divergent interests.
'Modest' rise still concerns some
'Modest' rise still concerns some
A ''fairly modest increase'' in community housing rentals still caused some consternation about the effect it could have on some tenants when details about the rises were put before the Waitaki District Council's committee of the whole yesterday.