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Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Awards organisers pull out stops for record numbers
As a record number of contestants swarm Gore for the Gold Guitar Awards, organisers say they have systems, and added venues and vehicles, in place to handle the churn of more than 800 musical entries this year. The auditioning process for the Gold Guitars began across five venues yesterday and convener Philip Geary said their systems for handling this year's 829 entries were reasonably good, but could be better. Given the growth of the awards, Mr Geary said the awards committee was engaging a software writer to create a new program to help organise the contestants, judges' scores and the winners in each of the 31 categories. "[Something] that should just spit everything out, and all we need to do is look at it and confirm it, and that's it," he said. Having worked the awards for 30 years, this was not Mr Geary's first rodeo and he and the other organisers made sure the stage and setup were the same across the auditioning spaces to keep the competition regulated. "We're just trying to create the same environment of what they would do at the finals anyway, so that everybody's on the same level playing field," he said. Gore Country Music Club music committee convener Laurel Turnbull said due to the record number of entries they had engaged all four venues for the auditions as well as added an extra van to act as a courtesy coach between venues. The 12 judges were distributed between the Gore RSA, Gore Town & Country Club, Gore Baptist Church and Calvin Community Church for auditions, but would come together at the club for the finals on Saturday and Sunday nights. Invercargill-raised and Dunedin-based musician Holly Muirhead, 21, who said she had first entered the contest when she was 13, said the competition was massive this year. "When I was back in [the] intermediate [section] there were a lot less contestants and now it's like every class is 50 people," she said. "I don't know how the judges do it." She said the competition had been growing gradually every year and it was nice to see so many new faces in the songwriter and senior (or classic) sections. Mr Geary said the competition's growth, particularly in the younger, intermediate section, happened about 10 to 15 years ago with the rise in popularity of country rock, such as Taylor Swift. "I think it was three years ago [the intermediate section] increased by 30%, which is great, which is big," he said. Ms Muirhead said she agreed with the Taylor Swift effect and said it was the American star's crossover between country and pop which attracted new audiences. She said another of her favourites, five-time Grammy Award nominee Kelsea Ballerini, succeeded in that crossover space. The Dunedin singer/songwriter auditioned with her original song 60 Years about her grandparents' anniversary.
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Wildlife capital status gets boost from council
Dunedin's status as the wildlife capital of New Zealand is more secure thanks to $1.2 million in council backing to expand pest elimination efforts, a leader at Predator Free Dunedin says. During this week's long-term-plan deliberations, Dunedin city councillors approved 14 funding requests for the next nine years, totalling about $5.7m. Among the successful requests was Predator Free Dunedin, which will receive $150,000 a year for eight years. Project lead Rhys Millar said retaining Dunedin's status as "wildlife of capital of New Zealand" required investment and the council's backing was important. "In these quite uncertain times at the moment in the environmental sector, it provides us with a baseline confidence for the remainder of that long-term plan cycle," he said. The organisation was close to eliminating possums from the Otago Peninsula and believed there were only three of the pests left. However, "with predator control, you can't walk away really", he said. "This funding allows us to maintain those gains and to [get] ready for the next wave of expansion in the next two years." Predator Free Dunedin's coverage area would expand toward Silver Stream and Silver Peaks. Tools and technology would also be expanded, Mr Millar said. "We've got a strong focus on shifting from possums to eliminating stoats — that's quite a new work programme, which will require quite a lot of resourcing." The organisation would also use the money to leverage more funding from other sources, he said. While no funding went to the Dunedin Tunnel Trails Trust, councillors agreed to updated the existing memorandum of understanding with the trust so it could implant the next stages of the project. About $22.4m in funding for the project had been removed from the draft long-term-plan and at hearings earlier this month, trust chairman Brent Irving said the council needed to return management of the project to the community, who would "get on with the job". Dunedin-based Centre of Digital Excellence received $1.05m across seven years, Startup Dunedin received $900,000 over nine years and the Wildlife Hospital got $300,000 over three years. Funding over the nine-year period was also granted for: Dunedin Tracks Network ($50,000 annually), Tomahawk-Smaills Beach Trust ($15,000 annually, inflation adjusted), Shetland Street Community Gardens ($10,000 annually, 2% adjusted), Town Belt Kaitiaki (funding increased to $50,000 annually), Green Island Combined Sports Bodies Inc ($45,000 annually, subject to service level agreement), Sport Otago ($61,000), the Dunedin Youth Council (funding increased to $10,000 annually) and Swim Dunedin (annual funding of $45,000 adjusted to fully cover rising lane fees). The Otago Nuggets and Southern Hoiho were granted a total of $50,000 over three years, provided the teams could secure a National Basketball League contract.
Otago Daily Times
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
First responder to help with NSW flood relief
Michele Poole. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON Dunedin emergency responder Michele Poole will form part of a team of six specialist personnel to assist with the ongoing flood response in New South Wales. On Friday, a record flood cut through eastern Australia, caking houses in silt, washing out roads and separating 50,000 people from help. Today, Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) personnel from around the country will be deployed across the Ditch to provide on-the-ground support to people affected by the flooding after being asked for help by the New South Wales State Emergency Service. Ms Poole, a Dunedin-based community liaison officer, said being deployed overseas could "certainly be more intense" simply because the environment was less familiar. "Nobody gets into a job with Fire and Emergency without really wanting to help the community when they need us. "Our job really is to make sure that the people who have been immediately affected by this flood are getting the support that they need. "The principles of what we practise are exactly the same — you expect to work long days supporting the community." Ms Poole said the flooding in New South Wales was beyond what would be seen in New Zealand, "even when compared to the largest floods we've had". This is not the first time she has been deployed to Australia. In 2023, Ms Poole was sent to Queensland to help local communities during the bush fires. Fenz has arrangements with Australia and North America to provide mutual assistance. "We go when we're able to and when they need support, with the knowledge that one day in return, if we need international support, it's available as well."
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Otago duos in NZ squads
Otago representatives Thomas Meder and Hugh Nixon have been named in the New Zealand men's under-21 squad for the Junior World Cup in India later this year. Dunedin-based pair Sorell Shand and Nina Murphy have been selected in the New Zealand women's under-21 squad for the Junior World Cup in Chile in December.
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
The Selwyn Foundation Announces First-of-its-Kind Investment In Older Persons' Wellbeing Focused On Dementia Support
Press Release – Selwyn Foundation The new agreement, announced at the 15 May Scaling Investments into Social Impact forum co-hosted by The Selwyn Foundation, the Impact Investing Network and Forsyth Barr, deepens the relationship further and signifies Selwyns first impact investment. AUCKLAND, 15 May 2025 – The Selwyn Foundation has announced plans to make New Zealand's first impact investment in the older persons' wellbeing market, via a new agreement with Ōtepoti Dunedin-based social enterprise Elli Cares. The Foundation will provide significant funding for the business's award-winning dementia support technology. The Elli Cares app, which is active in 40 countries, provides personalised reminders, location tracking, and AI-driven tools for users with dementia and caregivers. The Selwyn Foundation was an early financial supporter, selecting Elli Cares to receive a grant following its Respectful Ageing Innovation Challenge launched in 2023. This was designed to support the development of innovative products and services that would significantly improve outcomes for older people. 'There's surprisingly little philanthropic or private sector money currently going into services and support for older adults in Aotearoa. We're setting about changing this. As part of our Social Impact & Mission Strategy, which has allocated sizeable funding for impact investing and our partnership with Elli Cares is just the start,' said Denise Cosgrove, CEO of The Selwyn Foundation. The new agreement, announced at the 15 May Scaling Investments into Social Impact forum co-hosted by The Selwyn Foundation, the Impact Investing Network and Forsyth Barr, deepens the relationship further and signifies Selwyn's first impact investment. 'This investment is instrumental in allowing us to scale both our technology and our reach. It will directly support the rollout of our Preventative Health and AI-driven engagement tools, as well as expand our presence across Aotearoa and beyond through new partnerships with not-for-profits, aged care providers, and healthcare professionals. With Selwyn's backing, we can accelerate our mission to help older adults – especially those living with dementia or cognitive challenges – maintain independence, dignity, and wellbeing.' Angela Edwards, Founder of Elli Cares said. 'Impact investing is values-aligned investing intended to create positive social or environmental impacts alongside competitive financial returns. The size of the global market is $1.571 trillion USD and is expected to grow significantly. However, locally we are yet to fully embrace the potential of this market,' Cosgrove said. 'Solving our most pressing social challenges requires innovative investment approaches, new mindsets, and new kinds of partnerships. By investing capital into scalable investment opportunities, we can deliver financial returns alongside transformative outcomes for communities – in economic participation, ageing well, health and more. We invite others to partner with us to deliver social impact at scale, so all older people may age with dignity and respect.'
