Latest news with #KeillerMacDuff
RNZ News
30-07-2025
- RNZ News
Gloriavale leader pleads guilty to indecent assault
The 85-year-old leader of the remote West Coast Christian sect Gloriavale has pleaded guilty to a dozen charges of sexual assault, indecent acts and common assault. Reporter Keiller MacDuff spoke to Charlotte Cook.
RNZ News
29-07-2025
- RNZ News
Gloriavale leader assault trial enters third day
Three former Gloriavale members have told a court they were touched, grabbed and groped by the Overseeing Shepherd Howard Temple, on the second day of his trial in Greymouth. Mr Temple has pleaded not guilty to 24 charges of sexual assault and doing an indecent act. Keiller MacDuff was in court in Greymouth and spoke to Lisa Owen. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
02-07-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Tasman residents voice frustration at flood response
Residents voiced their frustration at the official response to last week's flooding at public meetings held in the Tasman district today, as the region preps for more heavy rain due to start falling overnight. Many felt the council could have done more to keep rivers and culverts clear, and decried the ongoing telecommunications blackouts in some areas. It meant some residents took matters into their own hands. Keiller MacDuff reports. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Otago Daily Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Canterbury A&P Show 'back on track'
By Keiller MacDuff of RNZ The Canterbury A&P Show is back on track after a last-minute resurrection in 2024 saved it from cancellation amid financial troubles, staff upheavals and board bickering, organisers say. The show - which has a 160-year history - was cancelled in April last year after the A&P Association claimed it was not financially viable. After a $5 million injection from the Christchurch City Council and an almost complete overhaul of the board, a downscaled format was announced in conjunction with events management company Event Hire. Updating councillors at a meeting on Tuesday, Canterbury A&P Association chair Sir David Carter and general manager Peter Engel said last year's show had been a huge success, especially given the three month timeframe between the men coming on board and the show. Halving ticket prices had helped bring in strong crowd numbers, to the point that organisers were close to shutting the gates due to numbers at one point, Engel told the council. About 275 exhibitors took part, down on the usual 500, but Engel told the council some were influenced by the publicity surrounding the cancellation, and a tumultuous period in which the board was almost entirely replaced. Many larger agri-businesses did not feature as they did not budget for the show after it was initially cancelled, he said. Engel expected they would return in future shows. The downscaled show shifted from the traditional Wednesday to Friday, to being held from Thursday to Saturday, which Engel said had been well received. A "strong appetite for town meets country" saw farmyard animals, wood chopping and shearing exhibitions among the most popular attractions, he said. The city council's $5m bail out required the Association to use $1m to repay an existing council loan, while the remaining $4m bought out the remaining 95 years of the lease for Canterbury Agricultural Park, five hectares of council land on Wigram Road. The money was tagged to a new charitable investment trust, the revenue from which would be used to help cover the cost of running future shows. Former board member Steve Barry was paid $75,000 for his role in landing the deal, it later emerged. In September, the council gave the association another $125,000 without consulting councillors beforehand.
Otago Daily Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Canterbury A&P Show back on track
By Keiller MacDuff of RNZ The Canterbury A&P Show is back on track after a last-minute resurrection in 2024 saved it from cancellation amid financial troubles, staff upheavals and board bickering, organisers say. The show - which has a 160-year history - was cancelled in April last year after the A&P Association claimed it was not financially viable. After a $5 million injection from the Christchurch City Council and an almost complete overhaul of the board, a downscaled format was announced in conjunction with events management company Event Hire. Updating councillors at a meeting on Tuesday, Canterbury A&P Association chair Sir David Carter and general manager Peter Engel said last year's show had been a huge success, especially given the three month timeframe between the men coming on board and the show. Halving ticket prices had helped bring in strong crowd numbers, to the point that organisers were close to shutting the gates due to numbers at one point, Engel told the council. About 275 exhibitors took part, down on the usual 500, but Engel told the council some were influenced by the publicity surrounding the cancellation, and a tumultuous period in which the board was almost entirely replaced. Many larger agri-businesses did not feature as they did not budget for the show after it was initially cancelled, he said. Engel expected they would return in future shows. The downscaled show shifted from the traditional Wednesday to Friday, to being held from Thursday to Saturday, which Engel said had been well received. A "strong appetite for town meets country" saw farmyard animals, wood chopping and shearing exhibitions among the most popular attractions, he said. The city council's $5m bail out required the Association to use $1m to repay an existing council loan, while the remaining $4m bought out the remaining 95 years of the lease for Canterbury Agricultural Park, five hectares of council land on Wigram Road. The money was tagged to a new charitable investment trust, the revenue from which would be used to help cover the cost of running future shows. Former board member Steve Barry was paid $75,000 for his role in landing the deal, it later emerged. In September, the council gave the association another $125,000 without consulting councillors beforehand.
