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OpinionJune 29

Story of courage in mourning should never be forgotten

Last Wednesday cricketer Bob Blair died on his 94th birthday and we lost a link with the most moving cricket story of all time.
Story of courage in mourning should never be forgotten
Story of courage in mourning should never be forgotten
Central OtagoJune 25

Foul language one way to lose me

Massey University runs a Quote of the Year contest and last year’s winner tended to confirm that bad language is now becoming acceptable.
Foul language one way to lose me
Foul language one way to lose me
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OpinionJune 8

Let’s hear it for the 80-year-olds - a premier generation

What a great job the octogenarians are doing.
Let’s hear it for the 80-year-olds - a premier generation
Let’s hear it for the 80-year-olds - a premier generation
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OpinionMay 18

Among the poets and poplars during a Central Otago autumn

Ah, what pleasures come with autumn! It’s a season for all men.
Among the poets and poplars during a Central Otago autumn
Among the poets and poplars during a Central Otago autumn
Central OtagoMay 14

Comedy and tragedy of Manders

Let us, thankfully, ignore our boring MPs and tell of a far more entertaining MP from the past — Henry Manders.
Comedy and tragedy of Manders
Comedy and tragedy of Manders
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OpinionApril 27

A peek at the past of a country pub looking to its future

As anyone in Patearoa will tell you losing your pub is a big blow in a small township.
A peek at the past of a country pub looking to its future
A peek at the past of a country pub looking to its future
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OpinionApril 13

Presidential library is a coup for small Otago township

President Trump’s advisers, fearing a backlash during the mid-term elections, have urged him to scale back his gargantuan and ostentatious presidential library in Florida and that’s good news for the tiny Central Otago township of Patearoa.
Presidential library is a coup for small Otago township
Presidential library is a coup for small Otago township
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OpinionApril 6

Speight’s is 150 years old and I’ll definitely drink to that

On Saturday I drank a toast to Speight’s. 
Speight’s is 150 years old and I’ll definitely drink to that
Speight’s is 150 years old and I’ll definitely drink to that
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OpinionMarch 30

Writer reaching out for support in condemning reaching out

Today is dentist day. Deep in dread I’m girding the gums for an onslaught of needles and drills, cowering under a cloud of cowardice and lamenting my mistreatment of the molars for so many years.
Writer reaching out for support in condemning reaching out
Writer reaching out for support in condemning reaching out
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OpinionMarch 23

There is evil on the internet and we all need to be wary

I am not much into computers although I have a laptop which I treat as a fancy typewriter able to send messages.
There is evil on the internet and we all need to be wary
There is evil on the internet and we all need to be wary
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OpinionMarch 16

Intrepid tales of a rebel bikie and his troubles with the law

Our caring government, never afraid to tackle the big issues, has legalised kids under 12 riding bicycles on the footpath, but for me this seismic shift in the legal landscape has come too late.
Intrepid tales of a rebel bikie and his troubles with the law
Intrepid tales of a rebel bikie and his troubles with the law
OpinionMarch 9

The Thing is just the thing, but just what is The Thing?

The find has the place in an uproar.
The Thing is just the thing, but just what is The Thing?
The Thing is just the thing, but just what is The Thing?
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OpinionMarch 2

Funds needed to shore up Butler’s Wall at Arrowtown

There's a race on to preserve part of Arrowtown’s heritage.
Funds needed to shore up Butler’s Wall at Arrowtown
Funds needed to shore up Butler’s Wall at Arrowtown
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OpinionNovember 24

Print, radio or on screen, the Man Of Steel still the hero

They tell me there’s yet another Superman movie doing the rounds. Probably called Superman XXII in what seems to be an eternal series.
Print, radio or on screen, the Man Of Steel still the hero
Print, radio or on screen, the Man Of Steel still the hero
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OpinionOctober 13

The saga of the trees which proved someone is listening

So, you have a new-look council.
The saga of the trees which proved someone is listening
The saga of the trees which proved someone is listening
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OpinionSeptember 1

The Yank on the Spit - an entrepreneur at Waikouaiti

They treasure their past in Waikouaiti.
The Yank on the Spit - an entrepreneur at Waikouaiti
The Yank on the Spit - an entrepreneur at Waikouaiti
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OpinionAugust 4

The pub you have when you don’t actually have a pub

What has this National government (forget the hangers on) done for the rural communities, who for seven decades have returned them to power more often than not?
The pub you have when you don’t actually have a pub
The pub you have when you don’t actually have a pub
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OpinionJune 23

No book is entirely useless — let’s support all of them

When Rudyard Kipling wrote "a man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition" he probably had me in mind — apart from the ammunition, of course.
No book is entirely useless — let’s support all of them
No book is entirely useless — let’s support all of them
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OpinionMay 19

Let’s hear it for Hampden, where it’s all happening

Twice lately there have been headlines about happenings in Hampden.
Let’s hear it for Hampden, where it’s all happening
Let’s hear it for Hampden, where it’s all happening
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OpinionMay 5

The kind of alchemy a Patearoa writer happily endorses

Years ago, when family trees were all the rage, genealogists would painstakingly produce family trees which resembled an impenetrable forest of little use to those outside the family. 
The kind of alchemy a Patearoa writer happily endorses
The kind of alchemy a Patearoa writer happily endorses
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OpinionMarch 24

Perhaps the govt could pay old-timers to learn new lingo

I did languages and I’m glad I did.
Perhaps the govt could pay old-timers to learn new lingo
Perhaps the govt could pay old-timers to learn new lingo
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OpinionMarch 17

Hall’s history proves its worth as a useful community asset

The Central Otago District Council is in the process of divesting itself of assets and on the list of threatened buildings is the Patearoa Hall.
Hall’s history proves its worth as a useful community asset
Hall’s history proves its worth as a useful community asset
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OpinionMarch 10

Make mine a paper bag and a hearty Marmite sandwich

Welcome to "Luxon’s Larder".
Make mine a paper bag and a hearty Marmite sandwich
Make mine a paper bag and a hearty Marmite sandwich
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OpinionFebruary 3

Just how lucky we are, give or take some unlucky bits

In your head you can hear them now. 
Just how lucky we are, give or take some unlucky bits
Just how lucky we are, give or take some unlucky bits
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OpinionNovember 18

Exciting invitation for a paper boy to deliver a paper

Great news! I have been invited to deliver a paper.
Exciting invitation for a paper boy to deliver a paper
Exciting invitation for a paper boy to deliver a paper