Latest news with #Clutha
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Funding boost from govt for 19 southern events
The South has been awarded just under $400,000 to help fund 19 different events, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston announced last week. The government is driving economic growth in the regions by investing $2.6 million in 152 regional events across New Zealand. Mrs Upston said she was thrilled with the variety of exciting events on offer, encouraging more New Zealanders to enjoy and explore New Zealand beyond the main centres. Events to get money in the South include Warbirds Over Wanaka, which received $50,000, the Steampunk NZ Festival which got $10,000 while $39,750 had been given to the Challenge Wānaka Festival of Triathlon 2026. Challenge Wānaka was under pressure to hold its event this year because of a lack of entries but managed to go ahead. It received a boost earlier this month when the event in February would also double as the New Zealand middle distance triathlon championship, making it an official qualifying event for the 2026 World triathlon multisport championships. Mrs Upston said investing in these events had a direct impact, with visitors spending money in local cafes, businesses and accommodation providers, driving economic activity in communities. "By growing regional tourism, our remote and rural communities can benefit from the economic opportunities it brings,'' she said. Events were excellent drawcards to get more visitors into the regions, particularly in quieter parts of the year. "New Zealand is open for business, and we encourage both Kiwis and international visitors alike to explore and enjoy what New Zealand has to offer." Funding comes from the $5m Regional Events Promotion Fund, which has so far invested in 284 regional events. Funding recipients Clutha $10,000 to The Magnificent Adventure Race Enterprise Dunedin $8643 to 2025 Port Chalmers Seafood Festival $40,000 to 2026 New Zealand Masters Games $10,000 to Emersons Dunedin Marathon $30,000 to The Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival $25,000 to Wild Dunedin — NZ Festival of Nature Great South $16,000 to Burt Munro Challenge 2026 $20,000 to NZ Premier Motorsport Summer Series, Next Gen Round 4 $5000 to Rakiura Rhyme Machine Festival 2025 $22,000 to The Shepherdess Muster 2026 $30,000 to Tussock Country – NZ Country Music Festival 2026 Lake Wanaka Tourism $15,000 to Aspiring Conversations 2026 $39,750 to Challenge Wanaka Festival of Triathlon 2026 $15,000 to Merino Muster Ski Marathon $10,000 to NZ Mountain Film and Book festival $50,000 to Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow Tourism Central Otago $8643 to Alexandra Blossom Festival $14,000 to The 70th New Zealand GrandPrix — round 5 Tourism Waitaki $10,000 to Steampunk NZ Festival — APL
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Farmer, student awarded scholarship
Zoe McElrea a Young Farmer of the Year, plans on a future combining political study with real world experience. PHOTO: NICK BROOK A young Clutha student is on a path to represent New Zealand farmers at an international level, with the help of an industry scholarship. Zoe McElrea, 20, who is in her second year of study focused on politics, economics and international trade at the University of Otago, was one of five students to receive a $5000 scholarship from the Meat Industry Association (MIA). "I would like to work at a high level ... as a trade negotiator in the industry or with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade," the fourth-generation Milton farm girl said. The MIA provides annual scholarships to selected tertiary students in study relevant to a career in the the red meat industry sector beyond the paddocks. The Tokomairiro High School and Columba College graduate has passed through leadership and achievement programmes including Youth Parliament and in 2023 won the Otago Southland Junior Young Farmers of the Year for the third year running with her brother Millar. "I love being involved with everything on the farm ... I was so lucky to have that and be so connected with the land," she said. "I saw the scholarship on a poster at uni and it just leapt out for me ... The financial support will be great but the connections to the industry, mentoring and meeting people in the wider sector is an amazing opportunity." She had always been very interested in communication and how society made decisions and created policy, particularly at an international level. "There's not a lot of rural representation in Wellington and in the policy making spaces. "So it's really important we do get people from rural communities, and that policymakers reach out to farmers and ask: 'we're trying to make policy about you guys, how can we make sure it works, and what are you guys doing in that area?' ... So we're getting regulations and policies that are positive for the environment that are still workable and functional." MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said MIA scholars were "highly motivated and focused on subjects of great value in future careers in the sector". "In order to grow the sector, we need to continue to recruit ambitious and highly skilled people. "All of our MIA scholars have the potential to become future leaders in the industry. "Congratulations to Zoe and to all of our new scholars."
Otago Daily Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Clutha demolishes Heriot at Club Day
Clutha has well and truly put an exclamation mark on their season in front of a huge crowd at their Club Day in Balclutha. Clutha has beaten Heriot 81-12 in the most one-sided match of the season so far. The first half was a true blur as Clutha ran out to a 34-0 lead midway through the first half with Heriot seemingly left in the changing rooms. Once the visitors managed to make their tackles, hold on to the ball and get through some phases, they scored just before the break to go into halftime 34-5 down. The second half saw Heriot score early before Clutha grew an extra limb and rolled over the top of a tiring and unenthusiastic Heriot side. Clutha winger Junior Meafua helped himself to four tries. Fullback Dallas Kupa-Pickering scored a hat-trick and hit four conversions for a personal tally of 23 points. Toko has held on to their second place position with a dusty 31-27 win over Lawrence at Lawrence. The visitors started the match strongly with some early points before their poor discipline allowed Lawrence back into the match. Toko led 21-12 at halftime but fell away in the second half as the home side piled on the pressure. Lawrence was the better team in the second half, but their goal kicking left a lot to be desired and ultimately that was the difference on the day. Toko scored four tries and converted all of them. Lawrence scored five tries but could only manage to convert one. West Taieri has turned around a halftime deficit to beat Owaka 45-21 in their match played at Outram. Owaka piled the pressure on a West Taieri side who threatened to crumble in the first half. The home side treasured what little possession they had in the first half with two tries but allowed Owaka to lead throughout through poor discipline and a lack of intensity. Owaka led the match 16-14 at halftime. West Taieri started the second half better with two early tries. This gave them confidence and with some calculated substitutions, they finished far better and deserved their win. Owaka could only manage to field 20 players and suffered some early injuries in what was a huge display of ticker from them. Crescent has hammered Clutha Valley 56-28 to lock away the John Cross Cup in their match played at Clydevale. Crescent started well yet again and had two tries chalked up inside the first ten minutes of the match. A first half double by midfield Ethan Edwards and some hard running by centre Jonathan Muagututia saw Crescent lead 36-11 at halftime. The home side started the second half better and opened the scoring before Crescent once again took control. Their bench made a sizable impact and kept the score ticking over as they cruised their way to victory. Fullback Kairus Booth had a huge impact in the match with some fantastic territorial kicking as well as some strong line breaks. By Francis Parker
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Chasing pack battle to be Clutha's main challenger
Things are getting tight at the top of the Southern Region Rugby ladder as round two is well and truly under way. Clutha has a substantial lead on the chasing pack, but positions second to fifth are only separated by seven points. Clutha host Heriot on their Club Day this weekend in what is a battle between the two in-form teams of the competition. Clutha is unbeaten still, and showing off all the weapons in their arsenal. They have shown that they can win well, but last weekend they showed that they can win scrappy too, with a tight victory at Swamp Hen Park. Heriot has won three matches on the trot and are coming off a strong win over Lawrence last weekend in their 140th jubilee main event. Heriot's forwards are setting a platform and their backs are performing extremely well on the front foot. Toko sit in second place and have their home semifinal aspirations in their own hands. They saw off a spirited Clutha Valley side last weekend at Milton, despite performing well below their best. Toko head to Lawrence this weekend in what will be another battle of attrition. Lawrence are yet to win a match this season, but are coming off an improved performance against Heriot in the weekend. Lawrence is usually quite difficult to tip up at home, so the Toko boys will need to front up if they want to stay ahead of the chasing pack. West Taieri sit in third position on the ladder, right in the middle of the action. The Pigs are coming off perhaps their worst performance in recent years last weekend at Kaitangata, which saw them lose touch with the leaders. West Taieri is back at home this weekend and will be determined to find their groove against an Owaka side who nearly got the job done against Clutha last weekend. Owaka are playing some fantastic rugby at times this season, but accuracy has let them down in recent weeks. Crescent solidified their top four credentials last weekend with a strong win over West Taieri that was built not only on exciting attack, but also hardened defence, especially in the second half. Crescent sit two points behind West Taieri in third, but also only two points ahead of Heriot in fifth. Crescent travel to Clutha Valley this weekend in a battle of two potentially depleted lineups, with injury and absence a major concern for both sides.
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Views heard at ‘southern water' meeting
Bryan Cadogan. Photo: Richard Davison Residents and officials alike voiced their frustration with the "untenable" financial pressures expected to arise from the government's Local Water Done Well programme, at a public meeting in Balclutha last night. The Clutha District Council is holding three meetings across the district this week as part of public consultation on the National government's replacement for Three Waters. The meetings — in Milton on Monday, Balclutha yesterday and tonight in Tapanui — are taking place against the backdrop of Clutha's proposal to join Central Otago, Gore and Waitaki in a new "Southern Water Done Well" group. Consultation documents show the four councils collectively accruing $598 million of water infrastructure debt by 2034, as they spend $760 million on providing improved water services in line with more stringent government regulations. Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan said the proposal to join forces with neighbouring councils was the "least bad" solution, that could lead to modest efficiencies and savings for ratepayers. "Going alone consigns communities to further financial hardship. The almost decade-long chops and changes to these reforms have only weakened councils and cost ratepayers. It's imperative that this matter is brought to a head," he said. Audience members questioned both whether the level of anticipated debt was necessary or possibly underestimated. Mr Cadogan said the projected debt had been reduced recently, due to government changes to wastewater requirements, but remained necessary as it spread the rates burden for residents. Some expressed doubt whether joining forces with other councils would in fact reduce rates, citing the Auckland "supercity" amalgamation, which they said had failed to do so. Council staff said the proposal was expected to lead to reductions in bureaucracy, and existing debt would be ring-fenced within any new entity. These measures should lead to cost savings, and no unanticipated debt increase. The group's preferred option is to form a jointly-owned council controlled organisation (CCO). Other options include a stand-alone CCO, or an in-house business unit. Mr Cadogan warned these options could consign Clutha to insolvency during the next decade, due to mounting infrastructure debt. Submissions close on June 6, followed by hearings in Balclutha on June 18. The government will assess the council's resulting Water Services Delivery Plan and provide feedback from December. If approved, a jointly-owned CCO would begin operation in July, 2027. A final public meeting takes place at the West Otago Community Centre, Tapanui, at 6.30pm today.
