logo
How a motorbike trip sparked a novel set on the Otago

How a motorbike trip sparked a novel set on the Otago

RNZ News2 days ago

Two years ago, twenty-four graves were exhumed from a property in Lawrence, including one that contained a woman and a young child. The Androssan Street cemetery had been in use since the early days of the goldrush, when Gabriel Read first discovered gold in Otago in the early 1860s. Author Kirsty Powell has imagined the story of the woman in child in a new book called The Strength of Old Shale. Many parts - and characters - in the book are real. She's woven in the stories told to her by Wally Dalziel, a friend she met on motorcycle trips in China, Peru and Turkey. Wally's ancestors worked the goldfields for years, finally buying the farm he continues to run even now. Kirsty's first novel The Strength of Eggshells won the 2020 New Zealand Booklovers Award for best adult fiction.
To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following:
See terms of use.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Students hope new prisoners' newsletter 'removes some stigma'
Students hope new prisoners' newsletter 'removes some stigma'

RNZ News

time3 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Students hope new prisoners' newsletter 'removes some stigma'

Photo: 123RF A group of journalism students at University of Canterbury has launched a newsletter for the region's prison population. The publication Prison News will be delivered to Christchurch Men's, Christchurch Women's and Rolleston Prison every two months, featuring stories about issues relevant to inmates. The project is being run in collaboration with prison reform organisation Howard League Canterbury. Student Aimee Muller, who is also the chief editor, said Howard League previously approached students about the opportunity to do a newsletter and the project took off this year. "Our first edition just came out and we've been working really hard to write stories that are interesting for inmates together. It's quite a collaborative project which has been super exciting," she said. "In the most recent addition we had a feature on a previous inmate who now has turned his life around and is working on documentaries. "We've done pieces on current legislation that is relevant to inmates, and we've also done a couple of pieces about services that are available as well, because we think it's really important to highlight services and opportunities for people who may be not be aware of these." Muller believed it was important for people not in prison to be informed as well. "People who can pick up our newsletter I think it's interesting for them to hear more about what goes on inside prison, stories from people who have been in prison and kind of what they're doing with their life now," she said. "We hope that it removes some stigma around what inmates are perceived as through the media sometimes." Muller said about 400 copies of the newsletter's first edition were printed and distributed to the libraries of the three prisons." A PO box number has been included also so that readers could send feedback on the kind of issues they would like to see covered. "Our overall dream would be to send copies to as many prisons across New Zealand as possible."

Bodies of four weasels found inside Zealandia eco-sanctuary
Bodies of four weasels found inside Zealandia eco-sanctuary

RNZ News

time4 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Bodies of four weasels found inside Zealandia eco-sanctuary

Zealandia rangers don't think the weasels were inside the fence for long. File photo. Photo: 123rf Four unwanted visitors have weaselled their way into Wellington eco-sanctuary Zealandia in the past week. The first dead weasel was found on Saturday afternoon, when a member of the public alerted the team to a fresh body in a DOC200 trap within the fence. Rangers cleared and reset the trap, and another weasel was found in the same trap the next day. A third weasel was discovered in another trap on Monday, and a fourth on Tuesday. These traps had been set after a tree fell onto the fence in May, and it was possible the weasels had got in during the storm, with these animals able to get through tiny holes only a thumb-width in diameter. General manager for conservation and restoration Jo Ledington said: "We don't know exactly how these weasels entered the valley but as they have not shown up on any of the detection devices deployed for the fence damage, the bodies were fresh and the traps had recently been checked and rebaited, we don't think they have been inside the fence for long." She said there was a "complex and layered biosecurity system in place, including motion-activated cameras, tracking tunnels, detection dogs, and a comprehensive trapping network". There was no evidence these weasels had killed any of the sanctuary's wildlife. "This is exactly what our conservation team is trained for. We're prepared for events like this, and our systems are doing their job. We will be continuing with our response until we are confident there are no further weasels in the sanctuary." Before this, the last time a weasel was found dead in a trap was August 2024, and before that was October 2023, and then back as far as 2019. Staff had since re-checked the fence to make sure it was secure, rebaited set traps to ensure the bait was fresh and attractive, and were regularly checking them. Work as ongoing to put in more trail cameras, and a mustelid dog was booked to do a search of the sanctuary as part of standard biosecurity measures. Zealandia was also in the process of fundraising for a new fence , with the old one nearing 25 years of age. But it said responding to events like this was expensive, and it could take months to be totally sure the sanctuary was safe. People could support the work by becoming a member or making a donation to the fence refurbishment project. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Survey finds support for Queenstown Lakes mayor, councillors drops to 17%
Survey finds support for Queenstown Lakes mayor, councillors drops to 17%

RNZ News

time17 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Survey finds support for Queenstown Lakes mayor, councillors drops to 17%

Just 17 percent of respondents felt the council made decisions in the district's best interest. Photo: RNZ / Katie Todd Support for the Queenstown Lakes mayor and councillors dropped to just 17 percent, down from 44 percent a year ago, according to a survey commissioned by the council. The district council's community insights survey results released on Wednesday revealed growing frustration among residents about traffic congestion, increasing tourism and infrastructure pressure. Key Research surveyed 405 people in February and March about the council's leadership, core services and communication. The lowest scoring question in the survey saw just 16 percent of respondents agree the council created long-term solutions and improvements that worked well for them. Just 17 percent of respondents felt the council made decisions in the district's best interest and just 23 percent were satisfied with core services like roading, water and waste. In a statement, the council's acting chief executive Dave Wallace said the feedback reinforced their understanding of community frustration. He said the council was trying to manage unprecedented growth. "QLDC does not hold all the levers, but we must influence and continue to plan for change. How we move forward will be key to a sustainable future," he said. The survey was carried out after the overturning of freedom camping restrictions and around a controversial decision to discharge treated wastewater into the Shotover River. Queenstown Lakes District mayor Glyn Lewers. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi In February councillors were warned that increasing tourist pressures could trigger protests and local hostility if there was not urgent intervention and investment. Residents also expressed dissatisfaction with the council's environmental efforts, with only 29 percent satisfied with efforts to reduce waste to landfill and 19 percent with preparations for climate change. Wallace said the council was trying to understand how to rebuild trust and engagement. "We have been working hard to build on these perceptions and have built our engagement through multiple forums, district-wide, including moving our workshops into the public domain," he said. The council scored well on community facilities, with 79 percent of respondents satisfied with local parks, reserves and gardens, and 85 percent happy with trails, walkways and cycleways. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store