Latest news with #TheCluthaLeader
Otago Daily Times
24-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Time running out for potential candidates
Would-be candidates for Clutha District Council elections are running out of time. IMAGE: CDC ONLINE MAPS Local body elections will be held by postal vote on Saturday, October 11, but candidates for mayor, councillors, community boards and licensing trust positions have only until noon Friday, August 1 to be nominated. A candidate information handbook and pre-election report is available via the Clutha District Council website but the basic requirements include being over 18 and enrolled to vote, and payment of a $200 nomination fee. Nomination forms can be completed online, and traditional paper forms are available to collect and submit at council offices, libraries and I-sites. The council advertised for candidates in The Clutha Leader and Otago Daily Times three time since June, and a video of the candidates' information evening held in Balclutha on Wednesday, July 9 can be viewed on the council's YouTube channel. Its election processes underwent review last year, resulting in the number of councillors being reduced from 14 to nine. Councils are paid by the Remuneration Authority, which provide a pool which is shared among the elected members, which implies a higher pay rate for fewer councillors and potential to pay a more sustainable income. The authority has set a pool of $420,000 for the new council — excluding the mayor — but its breakdown for councillors is a decision for the new council to make once elected. The council's candidate report up to July 21 lists just two names, including deputy mayor Ken Payne who is nominated for mayor. A national "Rates Dashboard" released by the New Zealand Taxpayers Union shows rates have increased by 16.59% in the past year, and 39.85% over the past three years.
Otago Daily Times
10-07-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Local Legends: Food-Hub
PHOTO: NICK BROOK Silver Fern Farms and The Clutha Leader are really showing some extra leg this week with a bonus roast for Local Legend Food-Hub staff and volunteers (from left) Vivienne Fiddes, Diane Schnarr, Chris Shaw, Lee-Anne Michelle, Jessica Michelle and Sharon Grellet. The team took a moment away from their massive midwinter food drive to pose with the prize and planned on sitting down together to share the lamb leg feast after Every Can Counts concluded this week. "Silver Fern Farms do a lot to support us and the whole community, and this is lovely," Food Hub and Clutha Budget Advisory Service manager Lee-Anne Michelle said. "I think I might cook it and bring it in cold, everyone can bring in a salad or side, and we'll take an afternoon off to enjoy it."
Otago Daily Times
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Mega Matariki for Local Legends
As promised, Silver Fern Farms and The Clutha Leader delivered on a mega Matariki Local Legend special, with five prime roasts for the standout spirits of the Aotearoa's own midwinter holiday. Last week, Big River Educare buried the roast-with-the-most for their whopping 150-person hangi and lights festival. The four winners featured this week are: South Otago High School, which hosted a big breakfast in its assembly hall last Tuesday; Rosebank and Balclutha Kindergartens, which held Matariki programmes with visits from a specialist storyteller, and shared kai including a boil-up soup big enough for everybody, and practice for their big performances. The organising team for the day-long Matariki extravaganza at Te Pou Ō Mata-Au, Clutha District War Memorial and Community Centre (TPOMA), Balclutha, where dozens of schools and community groups performed waiata and kapa haka amid displays and practical workshops. "Mānawatia a Matariki (celebrate Matariki) has been a strong message for the Silver Fern Farms Finegand team," processing manager Mark Frisby said. "It is fantastic to see the public groups embracing Matariki and celebrating accordingly." More than meeting Matariki's spirit of community, co-operation and celebration makes this week's winners well worth the Local Legend label.
