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Otago Daily Times
9 hours ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Little dairy intensification since changes: papers
If dairy effluent discharge permits are used as a proxy for dairy farms in Canterbury authorised prior to January 1 this year, the numbers of new conversions and dairy farm expansions are less than 1%. In the same week the government released consultation papers on changes to freshwater regulations, statistics show there has been little dairy intensification throughout Glenavy and South Canterbury over the five months since the previous government's regulations ended. The National Environmental Standards for Freshwater temporary agricultural intensification regulations controlling the conversion of land to dairy farmland expired on January 1 this year. Since then, the government introduced restrictions on plan changes that would have given effect to the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020, meaning consent was no longer needed for a change in land use to dairying. Responding to questions from the Oamaru Mail, Environment Canterbury (ECan) regulatory implementation general manager Paul Hulse said while the council no longer processed applications for "dairy conversions", since January 1, four consents had been granted to discharge dairy effluent on farms that were not previously operating as dairy farms. "If dairy effluent discharge permits are used as a proxy for dairy farms in Canterbury authorised prior to January 1, 2025, the numbers of new conversions and dairy farm expansions are less than 1%," he said. However, the council still recognised a problem in farming contributing to declining water health in the area. "As a regulator, our role is to manage the region's natural resources sustainably. "We need to follow the consenting process set by the RMA and the direction of our own plans established through public consultation. "Our science work gives us a picture of the kinds of plans, regulations and restrictions we need to put in place. "These in turn tell us the kind of consent conditions, compliance and land management work that is required," Mr Hulse said. "Our plans and regulations are shaped by long-term trends. "Currently, our science is telling us that nitrate concentrations are high and getting worse in some parts of Waitaha/Canterbury. "We know that intensive farming is contributing to this. "This is vital information for guiding our on-the-ground action now and setting new regulations." A replacement National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management now under consultation gives new national directions on managing water quality, but a spokesperson for Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard confirmed to the Oamaru Mail that the freshwater package did not include anything to replace the expired intensification regulations. "So consenting requirements for dairy conversions or dairy extensions will continue be managed by regional councils," the spokesperson said.
Otago Daily Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Rents up, fewer places available
Oamaru. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH The supply of rental properties in Oamaru has dropped and rents are up $65 a week, new data shows. Nationally, the number of rental properties available rose in April. However, the data tells a different story for Oamaru. Data supplied to the Oamaru Mail shows the average rent is $476 a week. That is up 15.7% year-on-year, while listings fell 6.7%, with just 14 new listings last month. As to be expected, there is always a region that bucks the trend. Central Otago and Lakes reported an all-time high with an average rental price of $870 per week in April, a 3.0% increase year-on-year. That places Oamaru in the same trend-bucking bracket as the Central Otago and Lakes region, which reported an all-time high with an average rental price of $870 per week in April, a 3% increase year-on year. Across the wider Otago region, rents were up just 1.2% to $528, while there was a 0.2% drop in Canterbury, where the average rent is $581. "I found it really fascinating about how much your new listings had dropped year-on-year," spokeswoman Vanessa Williams told the Oamaru Mail. "I think probably most interestingly was your year-on-year increase in terms of the average rental rate. . . . I wonder if that is because you are a lower price-bracket region." The reason for the rent increase in Oamaru was probably because regional New Zealand did not experience the same market saturation as major centres did during the Covid-19 pandemic. That market, particularly in Auckland became saturated and unsustainable, Ms Williams said.
Otago Daily Times
10-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Family reunited in graveside ceremony
A fitting tribute reunited a well-known scout leader and former Oamaru Mail worker with his departed grandfather and missing father. The family of Oamaru-born Owen James Rodgers travelled from Wellington to bury his ashes following a short graveside committal service. Mr Rodgers, who attended Oamaru North School and Waitaki Boys' High School, died in Wellington on December 13, 2020. Last month, his ashes were buried at Oamaru Old Cemetery in the grave of his grandfather, James Herbert Rodgers. Speaking to the Oamaru Mail, his son, Peter, said it had been his father's wish to be returned to Oamaru, where he began his long association with the scouting movement. He was a life member of the Scout Association of New Zealand. "He was a scout leader for a while and then he became what's called a field commissioner. So he had the whole of the South Island in his area. "He was also executive officer publications for the Scout Association and general editor and he also edited the monthly newspaper. "He wrote a centenary history called Scouting in New Zealand, Adventure Unlimited: Looking at 100 years of the Scout Movement in New Zealand, published in 2012. He was working on the second volume when he died." He said his father had a long association with Oamaru and the community, being very involved with St Paul's Presbyterian Church, where he was previously a bible class leader, caretaker, manager and elder. He also had a long career with the Oamaru Mail. "He was really attached to the town. That's where he was born. He was involved in scouts basically all his life, because even when he retired from that full-time job in scouts, he carried on doing other things, like he was involved in the reunions for the World Scout Jamboree of 1947, which he attended. "I think the last time I was in Oamaru was probably nearly 20 years ago. So, it was interesting to go back and it was good to fulfil his wishes. The burial of his father's ashes was particularly fitting, given the headstone was also a memorial for Owen's father, who disappeared without a trace after going for a walk one day when Owen was just 8. Owen Rodgers was 90, and the son of Peter James Rodgers and Elizabeth Beryl Parlane. He was married to Margaret Irvine Cook and is survived by three children: Peter, Andrew and Mark.
Otago Daily Times
01-05-2025
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Over 100 gather to discuss penguins
Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony science and environmental manager Dr Philippa Agnew welcomed 113 attendees to the Oamaru Penguin Symposium. PHOTO: Oamaru Mail/Otago Daily Times Penguins took centre stage in Oamaru yesterday as the largest-ever Oamaru Penguin Symposium kicked off, drawing 113 experts and enthusiasts from around New Zealand to the Oamaru Opera House. The two-day event, now in its 14th edition, brings together scientists, researchers, students and Department of Conservation staff to share their work and passion for penguins. It began in the late 1990s as a small gathering focused solely on little penguins, but has since grown to include all penguin species — and even the occasional non-penguin seabird topic. Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony science and environmental manager Dr Philippa Agnew said the symposium was about more than just presentations — it was a chance to share ideas and engage in discussions about how to better protect our penguins. "It's really cool hearing about the different ideas that people have and the projects that they're working on." The symposium offers a rare opportunity for people working in the field to connect face-to-face. "I just really look forward to catching up with people that I haven't seen for a while." One highlight came from the penguin colony's staff member Beth Tremlett, who presented early findings from a project launched six months ago. The study involved attaching miniature video loggers to penguins to observe their behaviour at sea — a world that remains largely mysterious. "There's lots going on out there that we simply don't know about," Dr Agnew said. "It's just another tool that helps us understand more about the penguins' lives." She noted the importance of studying environmental impacts such as turbidity and storm events. Such data could help shed light on how seasonal changes affected penguin survival. After a day of talks, attendees were treated to a viewing of the blue penguins returning home at dusk — a first for many. "It's great to share that with them," Dr Agnew said. The symposium continues today with more presentations and opportunities to collaborate on protecting one of the world's most beloved seabirds.
Otago Daily Times
27-04-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Review of staff numbers inevitable as budget honed
Alex Parmley. Photo: ODT files A review of Waitaki District Council staffing is inevitable as it finalises a budget for the next few years. The council held a workshop on April 15 to begin honing department budgets for the proposed 2025-26 long-term plan (LTP). The discussions followed a revision of all council departments under "transformation" from July last year. Departments were cut from four to five with the respective managers now termed as "directors". Chief executive Alex Parmley told councillors last month new department "teams" under transformation — which he emphatically said is not a restructure — were yet to fully be "stood up". The consequent department costings were also not ready in time for the formal LTP public consultation period from February 4. Earlier this month, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said a governance briefing on April 15 was "the first opportunity for quite sometime" to get a clearer picture. A closed workshop to begin fleshing out individual department budgets was scheduled that afternoon. Mr Kircher said the potential impact was "about people's jobs". But getting a handle on comparable department costs was complex by "the transformation" with previous headings disappearing in the new structure. "Some of the roles, the funding itself, is now made up of components more than it was before." The council announced a 9% reduction of its 211 fulltime equivalent roles last July. Most staff were to reapply for redefined positions, with some choosing to leave. In February councillors were told staff costs would be over budget by $1.4 million by the end of the current financial year. The budget for the first six months was $8.93m but the spend was $9.6m. On February 25, Mr Parmley said the 9% staff reduction had not yet been finalised, but he expected a cost reduction down the line. "We've got other costs going up associated with staff though. "The 9% reduction isn't all going to come in straight away. "I would expect we'll be looking at a reduced personnel cost." Mr Kircher told the Oamaru Mail "transformation" was never about cutting budgets. "One of the outcomes is we will be delivering [services] better, whether its for the same money, or more for less." As of last week he believed "quite a number" of vacancies remained at the council after some staff chose to leave. Acting chief executive Lisa Baillie said one FTE position at the council prior to transformation is now being filled by an external contractor "on a temporary basis". Recruitment for that position in support services area was under way.
