New neighbours
Photographer Gregor Richardson captured these images of the abundant wildlife seen along the way.
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Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Retracing steps of a 19th-century rambler
Three keen walkers are exploring historic Dunedin, following in the footsteps of a 19th-century rambler and writer. Pete Strong, Chris Taylor and Kes Fairchild, all of Dunedin, are re-creating walks described by Peter "Pakeha [sic]" Thomson (1823-79) in his Otago Daily Times columns. Mr Taylor said he had been given a publication of the columns compiled by Mr Thomson's great-granddaughter, Mary Skipworth, of Auckland. They were a fascinating record of the city, although some detective work was required to replicate the walks, Mr Taylor said. Following in the footsteps of Dunedin rambler Peter Thomson (1823-79) are sales consultants (from left) Pete Strong, Chris Taylor and Kes Fairchild, with Mr Taylor's dog, Wolfred. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN He had retraced Mr Thomson's Ross Creek walk, following a path out of Dunedin described as "via the barracks". "[I] started doing some research and found out that the barracks are not army barracks, they were immigration barracks and I think were located approximately where Otago Boys' High School is now." Ms Fairchild had completed Mr Thomson's Water of Leith Walk and Mr Strong had hiked up Signal Hill. Mr Thomson detailed his walk from the Octagon to Signal Hill in an 1864 column Wanderings about Dunedin, observing how "wonderful" it was the inhabitants of North Dunedin managed to live in such "a hot-bed of fever". He skirted the edge of now-reclaimed Pelichet Bay and continued up the hill, telling his readers to pause and take in the view near the present-day lookout. "All Dunedin lies at our feet, set like a picture in a frame, by the water and the hills around it." Mr Taylor said it was a "special" feeling retracing Mr Thomson's walks and the group planned to complete more. A photo of Peter Thomson, taken about 1860, shows him dressed for one of his rambles with a sturdy stick, a plant press under his arm and a vasculum on his back for carrying delicate specimens. PHOTO: NOELINE COTTAM The trio had documented their ramblings online as part of an interest project through their workplace Taylor & Strong at Nidd Realty. "[The publication is] just such a fantastic resource for people all over Dunedin to understand what was happening back in the mid-1800s ... we'd love to share that if we can."
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Engine issues continue to affect Dunedin flights
Global engine maintenance issues affecting Air New Zealand's fleet and Dunedin travellers are not expected to be resolved until 2028, the Otago Daily Times can reveal. Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran told the ODT yesterday it was "still about two plus years away" from "getting on top" of the engine issues. He shared the news after speaking with the chief executive of international aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney earlier in the day. "It's unfortunate because we've already had about two years of it, but it's a tough problem to solve and there are many factors that are involved in it." In July 2023, Pratt & Whitney disclosed a condition affecting the maintenance plan for the geared turbofan jet engine fleet. Mr Foran previously said that, while the maintenance issue did not pose a safety issue, this had caused the airline to revise its flight schedule. Since late February, it has been using a 68-seat ATR-72 turboprop plane instead of the roomier 171-seat Airbus A320 on its morning and evening flights between Dunedin and Wellington — meaning the first flight of the day arrives in Wellington 50 minutes later than it did before. Mr Foran yesterday said the engines on about half of its Airbus fleet were bought during a period where a batch of "contaminated metal" was used. About 1200 engines were queued up waiting to be checked, which had created a backlog. "We're a bit unlucky. We just happened to purchase engines during this period. "It'll work its way through. They're safe but they need to be checked and hopefully by about 2028 we think we should be through." When asked if there could be further changes to domestic flight schedules and capacity, Mr Foran said there "probably will, but hopefully not as much as it has been as we work through these issues". He empathised with Air New Zealand's customers and the impact on them. "We're over half way. I wish it was going to be fixed by Christmas. It won't, but it will get fixed. "And as soon as those planes are available to come back, then they will." An interim report from Dunedin Airport earlier this year said domestic seat capacity remained limited due to Air New Zealand's ongoing fleet challenges, and it did not anticipate any "meaningful improvements" in the airline's capacity until late 2026. Chief executive Daniel De Bono said the engine issues affecting Air New Zealand's fleet, and many other airlines globally, were easing but remained outside of both the airport and Air Zealand's direct control. "We remain focused on working with Air New Zealand and our other airline partners to grow air capacity from Dunedin. "The aviation sector regularly faces challenges like this and the key is to work collaboratively through them." The engine-related domestic capacity constraints had reduced available seat capacity and limited the airport's ability to grow in the short term. It was a "dynamic situation" not isolated to Dunedin or New Zealand. As a global supply chain challenge, the airport had taken a conservative approach in its forward planning to account for the uncertainty, Mr De Bono said. "We also expect further changes to the domestic network as Air New Zealand navigates the [engine] issues and softer domestic demand. "Shocks like this happen in aviation, but the medium to long-term growth path generally remains steady." Business South chief executive Mike Collins said its main concern was maintaining reliable air connectivity in the region. "Flights are critical for business, tourism and freight — the reality is that ongoing constraints risk impacting local growth. "We encourage Air New Zealand to keep regional centres front of mind in any schedule changes." While the engine issues were complex and global, uncertainty around flight availability hurt businesses' confidence, Mr Collins said. Every cancelled flight or reduced service chipped away at business confidence and reliable services were key to unlocking economic opportunities for Dunedin and the South. "Businesses rely on certainty to make decisions — and right now, there's a real lack of it when it comes to regional air connectivity. "That creates challenges not just for planning travel, but for investment, growth and confidence in the region."
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Air NZ's engine issues to persist
Greg Foran. File photo: Tracey Roxburgh lobal engine maintenance issues affecting Air New Zealand's fleet and Dunedin travellers are not expected to be resolved until 2028, the Otago Daily Times can reveal. Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran told the ODT yesterday it was "still about two plus years away" from "getting on top" of the engine issues. He shared the news after speaking with the chief executive of international aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney earlier in the day. "It's unfortunate because we've already had about two years of it, but it's a tough problem to solve and there are many factors that are involved in it." In July 2023, Pratt & Whitney disclosed a condition affecting the maintenance plan for the geared turbofan jet engine fleet. Mr Foran previously said that, while the maintenance issue did not pose a safety issue, this had caused the airline to revise its flight schedule. Since late February, it has been using a 68-seat ATR-72 turboprop plane instead of the roomier 171-seat Airbus A320 on its morning and evening flights between Dunedin and Wellington — meaning the first flight of the day arrives in Wellington 50 minutes later than it did before. Mr Foran yesterday said the engines on about half of its Airbus fleet were bought during a period where a batch of "contaminated metal" was used. About 1200 engines were queued up waiting to be checked, which had created a backlog. "We're a bit unlucky. We just happened to purchase engines during this period. "It'll work its way through. They're safe but they need to be checked and hopefully by about 2028 we think we should be through." When asked if there could be further changes to domestic flight schedules and capacity, Mr Foran said there "probably will, but hopefully not as much as it has been as we work through these issues". He empathised with Air New Zealand's customers and the impact on them. "We're over half way. I wish it was going to be fixed by Christmas. It won't, but it will get fixed. "And as soon as those planes are available to come back, then they will." An interim report from Dunedin Airport earlier this year said domestic seat capacity remained limited due to Air New Zealand's ongoing fleet challenges, and it did not anticipate any "meaningful improvements" in the airline's capacity until late 2026. Chief executive Daniel De Bono said the engine issues affecting Air New Zealand's fleet, and many other airlines globally, were easing but remained outside of both the airport and Air Zealand's direct control. "We remain focused on working with Air New Zealand and our other airline partners to grow air capacity from Dunedin. "The aviation sector regularly faces challenges like this and the key is to work collaboratively through them." The engine-related domestic capacity constraints had reduced available seat capacity and limited the airport's ability to grow in the short term. It was a "dynamic situation" not isolated to Dunedin or New Zealand. As a global supply chain challenge, the airport had taken a conservative approach in its forward planning to account for the uncertainty, Mr De Bono said. "We also expect further changes to the domestic network as Air New Zealand navigates the [engine] issues and softer domestic demand. "Shocks like this happen in aviation, but the medium to long-term growth path generally remains steady." Business South chief executive Mike Collins said its main concern was maintaining reliable air connectivity in the region. "Flights are critical for business, tourism and freight — the reality is that ongoing constraints risk impacting local growth. "We encourage Air New Zealand to keep regional centres front of mind in any schedule changes." While the engine issues were complex and global, uncertainty around flight availability hurt businesses' confidence, Mr Collins said. Every cancelled flight or reduced service chipped away at business confidence and reliable services were key to unlocking economic opportunities for Dunedin and the South. "Businesses rely on certainty to make decisions — and right now, there's a real lack of it when it comes to regional air connectivity. "That creates challenges not just for planning travel, but for investment, growth and confidence in the region."
