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Otago Daily Times
16 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Feedback sought on draft freedom camping bylaw
Community feedback is being sought as the Queenstown Lakes District Council finalises a draft bylaw which will allow freedom camping only under specific restrictions. It is no secret that the district is a prime spot for freedom campers, but over the last few years the number of visitors taking part in this has increased. According to the council, between 2008 and 2018 the estimated number of international visitors engaging in freedom camping in New Zealand rose from 10,000 to 123,000. As a result, the council has taken steps to draft a bylaw that allows for better management of freedom camping activities across the whole region. The Freedom Camping Act 2011 permits freedom camping by default on most council land in New Zealand. While the Act prevents councils from prohibiting freedom camping across all their land, they can create bylaws with rules to manage the activity's impacts in order to protect areas Until now the QLDC has not had a bylaw in place but a draft freedom camping bylaw has now been completed. It was informed by a robust technical assessment that identified and examined which areas of the district needed to be protected. It includes provisions to manage freedom camping on land controlled or managed by the QLDC to protect the area, access to the area, or the health and safety of visitors. In a statement, the council said freedom camping would be allowed in certain areas but would be subject to specific conditions. Limitations would include time restrictions, the use of specified parking spaces, leaving no waste, lighting no fires, and a requirement for vehicles to be certified as self-contained with a toilet and grey-water facilities. A key proposal would include banning freedom camping on most roads including any on-road vehicle parking spaces within the district's urban areas. The bylaw would allow freedom camping with restrictions in 158 carparking spaces across 15 specified areas and on most rural roads subject to restrictions such as how close to the road a freedom camper can park themselves. The draft bylaw does not propose to regulate freedom camping on any reserve land or privately owned land and camping on reserves will continue to be administered under the Reserves Act 1977. The full draft has been made public on the QLDC's Let's Talk engagement platform and those interested in the proposals are encouraged to express their thoughts. Two drop-in sessions were held on Monday and Tuesday this week in Frankton and Wānaka and an online webinar is set to take place at noon on Monday, July 28. The results of the consultation will be considered by a hearing panel made up of councillors and will help to inform any changes to the draft bylaw before it is adopted. It is expected to be finalised and in place before summer. — APL
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Rabbit control set to begin
Carrots laced with poisoned bait will be laid before a shooting operation starts to cull wild rabbit numbers on Cape Wanbrow, including areas near the penguin colony and Waterfront Rd, in Oamaru and at two sites in Hampden in late July and August. Last year, the Otago Regional Council issued a notice to reduce rabbit numbers on Cape Wanbrow. In a statement, the Waitaki District Council said this year it had decided to be "proactive in its pest control" to reduce the rabbit population again. Rabbit control work will also be carried out at the Hampden Cemetery and a forestry block to the south of Hampden, near Worcester St. The council spokesperson said there are high numbers of rabbits in these areas that cannot be controlled with night shooting alone. Council officers will also be engaging with leaseholders of council land to ensure pest control takes place elsewhere in Hampden. A spokesperson said the rabbit control programme has two main stages, first Pindone-laced carrot bait will be placed in the areas for control. The control work will involve two drops, a week apart (with a third if required), using hand-laid carrots coated with Pindone, deposited in areas where rabbits are most active. The council statement said residents and the community will be informed of dates for night-shooting well in advance. Property owners in the area will be provided with letters detailing the work to be done, and maps of where the rabbit control will take place. The council advises people and animals should not touch the baits and dogs should be kept on a leash at all times in the operation areas as Pindone is poisonous to people and animals. The rabbit control operation starts on July 28 and runs through August. — APL
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Three arrested after routine bail check
PHOTO: ODT FILES Following their noses at a bail check led to Invercargill police sniffing out three arrests, drugs, drug paraphernalia and thousands of dollars in cash. Police said in a statement yesterday that officers were conducting a routine bail check at an Invercargill address shortly after midnight, and when an occupant of the address opened the door, officers were met with a strong smell of cannabis. A warrantless search was then initiated under the Search and Surveillance Act 2012. Police located drug utensils, a knuckleduster, small quantities of cannabis and methamphetamine and about $12,000 in cash. Southland area commander Inspector Mike Bowman said this was excellent work by his staff and proved the value of routine police work like bail checks. The three men — aged 28, 29 and 45 — have been arrested on driving, weapons and drug charges. Further inquiries are continuing. — APL
Business Upturn
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Quetzal Therapeutics Debuts with Expert Leadership, High-Impact Pipeline and $50 Million of Committed Capital
CHICAGO, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quetzal Therapeutics, a newly formed biopharmaceutical company, announced its official launch today with $50 million of committed capital. Founded to address urgent unmet needs in rare and life-threatening diseases, Quetzal brings together a team of seasoned executives, scientific pioneers, and biotech & pharmaceutical veterans committed to delivering transformative therapies to patients around the world. At the core of Quetzal's mission is a belief that cutting-edge science, guided by proven leadership, can redefine what's possible in treatment for conditions like Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia ('APL') and invasive infections. The company has formed around a multi-asset pipeline, initially including: QTX-2101: A novel oral arsenic trioxide therapy for the treatment of APL expected to enter Phase III clinical trials by late 2025, supported by encouraging comparative pharmacokinetic data from a Phase 1b trial sponsored by Syros Pharmaceuticals, Inc. QTX-2102, a next-generation antifungal and antiparasitic therapy in preclinical development, designed to improve efficacy while minimizing toxicity. Built on Leadership Excellence Quetzal is led by an executive team with deep expertise in drug development, clinical strategy, and operational execution. 'Our team was brought together by a shared conviction: that patients with rare diseases deserve the same urgency and innovation as those with more common conditions,' said Usman Ahmed, CEO. 'Quetzal Therapeutics is built to deliver on that promise with the right science, the right strategy, and the right people.' Usman Ahmed, CEO & Chairman – A proven leader with over two decades of leadership in pharmaceuticals and start-up innovation. During his tenure at Nexus Pharmaceuticals, Usman led the execution of complex transactions, spearheaded operational improvements, and championed cost efficiencies in the highly specialized and challenging field of specialty and generic injectables. Dr. Sridhar Desikan, Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer – An industry veteran with 28 years of experience in NCE and generics development. Sridhar began his career at Novartis Pharmaceuticals and subsequently worked at DuPont Pharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dr. Reddy's, and most recently at Nexus Pharmaceuticals as Chief Scientific Officer. Sridhar holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and has accreditations from Harvard Medical School's HMX Pro program. Sara Mathews, Vice President Program Leadership – With nearly 15 years of experience in the biotech industry, Sara is a seasoned asset leader with a proven track record of bringing cross-functional teams together and leading novel oncology therapeutics through global clinical programs from IND filing through late-stage development, filing preparation, and commercial launch planning. Christina Liwski, General Counsel & CHRO – With over a decade of diverse and sophisticated legal experience, Christina brings deep legal acumen to the team. Christina's experience spans multiple practice areas, including transactions and litigation. She most recently served as Assistant General Counsel at Nexus Pharmaceuticals, LLC and is admitted to practice in Illinois, Massachusetts, and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Guided by an Accomplished Board of Directors The company's Board of Directors features industry leaders with a track record of building, funding, and guiding successful companies: Aman Ahmed – With nearly a decade of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Aman brings deep expertise in sales operations, DEA and FDA regulatory compliance, international sales, and therapeutic portfolio management. Dr. Jonathan Cheng – Dr. Jonathan Cheng is a physician-scientist and oncology drug development expert with a distinguished career across both industry and academia. As Chief Medical Officer at Systimmune, he leads the clinical development of a diverse pipeline of novel therapeutics, including innovative antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and the company's first-in-class EGFR-HER3 bispecific ADC currently in Phase 3 trials. Todd Chermak, Ph.D – Todd Chermak is a life sciences executive with 30 years of experience spanning the biopharmaceutical, diagnostics, and nutrition industries. He currently serves as Senior Vice President and Global Business Head of Immunology and Proteomics at CellCarta. Mike Warmuth – Mike Warmuth is currently working on various Boards: for profit, academic, and not-for-profit. From 2018 to 2023 Mr. Warmuth worked for EW Healthcare as an Operating Partner in their New York office. Prior to EW, Mr. Warmuth spent 30 years at Abbott in various senior executive capacities, where he led multiple divisions and business units. Strategic Talent Acquisition Partnership Quetzal Therapeutics proudly acknowledges the role of Heidrick & Struggles, a premier global leadership advisory firm, in identifying and recruiting Dr. Jonathan Cheng to the company's Board of Directors. Their expertise and commitment to excellence were instrumental in securing a highly respected thought leader whose insight will help shape Quetzal's long-term scientific and clinical strategy. For more information, please visit: Media Contact: [email protected] Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Marine pest found in harbour
Pest species Mediterranean fanworm has been spotted in Bluff Harbour. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Environment Southland is investigating the discovery of a possible single Mediterranean fanworm () in Bluff Harbour during routine surveillance earlier this month. The worm, which was 59cm long, was found under the town wharf at a depth of 5m. The specimen was collected and sent for formal identification. Environment Southland integrated catchment management acting general manager David Adamson said while no further specimens were detected during follow-up dives, the wharf's extensive structure meant further surveillance was required to determine the extent of the spread. "We're unclear if the marine pest is more widespread in Bluff waters, so we're planning further surveys to confirm its spread as a part of response planning." Divers experienced in identifying Mediterranean fanworm will be brought in from outside the region. Environment Southland is receiving support from Biosecurity New Zealand. The Mediterranean fanworm is a segmented marine worm that forms dense colonies, displacing native species and threatening fisheries. It attaches to solid structures such as wharf pilings and aquaculture equipment, potentially increasing harvesting and fuel costs. It competes with mussels and oysters for food, affecting their growth and viability. The worm has a long, leathery tube that is pale brown with a muddy appearance and extends a spiral fan of yellow-orange filaments to collect food such as plankton. Environment Southland was asking the public and marine industry to keep an eye out and report any suspected sightings. — APL
