Latest news with #Waimate
Otago Daily Times
23-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Who has the best-tasting tap water?
PHOTO: RNZ Will a sip of pure Waitaki water take the crown or will Waimate reclaim its title from 2023? That is the question for municipal water suppliers across New Zealand as they go head-to-head in Nelson next week for the best-tasting tap water title. All municipal water suppliers in New Zealand have been invited to compete in the IXOM National Water Taste Test and submit a sample of their finest drop to the Water Industry Operations Group of New Zealand. The award for New Zealand's best-tasting tap water will be decided on May 29 at the annual water industry group conference. During judging, water samples are subjected to a blind taste test and rated according to the ''Water Tasting Wheel''. The wheel outlines some of the attributes water professionals use when assessing water such as colour, clarity, odour and taste. In the ultimate showdown, the 2025 winner will go on to represent New Zealand against Australia's reigning champion in a transtasman water taste test, in July. — APL
Otago Daily Times
15-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Fundraiser to help build new trail
Celebrating the good beginnings on the Waimate Trail are organisers (from left) Peter Patterson, Rob Smith, Peter Collins, Clare Saunders-Tack, Glenda Begg, and Jo Sutherland. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Waimate men will swap gumboots for high heels when they strut their stuff for a fundraiser next month. Money raised will go towards the construction of The Waimate Trail. Miss Waimate 2025 has attracted 10 entrants, including farmers, vets, and builders. Event organiser Jo Sutherland said the participants were from all walks of life. "All getting dressed up for a good cause." Mrs Sutherland said organisers wanted to hold the event before calving. Ticket sales had proved popular with 200 tickets selling within two to three days. Only 50 tickets remained, and Mrs Sutherland hoped the event would sell out. "That's my goal." Money from ticket sales was earmarked for stage one of the trail, from Waimate to Waihao Forks. She said construction through the gorge was nearly complete and was shaping up to be a "wonderful piece of trail". There would be stories and information boards about the old Waimate branch railway along the way, as well as interactive sculptures on fauna and flora. Organisers had divided the trail into four sections, so work on it could take place over a staggered amount of time as funding became available. As each of those sections were finished they would be usable, she said. As for the bridges, they would be reusing the abutments but new bridges would be built. Waimate Lions Club members had built one and Rotary Club of Waimate was taking charge of the other one. "All the community are getting on board." She said alongside the trail, organisers were developing a "Foot Steps of our Ancestors" sculpture trail that intertwined the narrative of the landscape and the history of its people, past and present. As the trail was constructed, a lot of tidying up was being done, too. The Miss Waimate 2025 event will be held on June 14.
Otago Daily Times
03-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Vehicle allegedly attacked with axe
An Oamaru man who allegedly attacked a vehicle with an axe — as a person sat inside — faces serious charges. Police were called to the incident in Thames St on Thursday last week. Staff used a Taser to subdue and arrest the alleged offender. Sergeant Blair Wilkinson said police received a report of a person inside a vehicle which was being attacked by a man. "To resolve the issue safely police deployed a Taser. "That allowed police to take the man safely into custody," Sgt Wilkinson said. The 35-year-old alleged attacker was charged with possession of an offensive weapon and wilful damage. He also faced a charge of assault using a blunt instrument and three charges of assaulting police following the incident, Sgt Wilkinson said. The man was remanded on bail to appear again in the Oamaru District Court on May 21 after an initial court appearance in Dunedin last Friday. A 17-year-old Waimate youth arrested for drink-driving last Friday blew 462mcg after being stopped in Balmoral St, Oamaru at 11.30pm. He received police attention for driving without headlights on. The alcohol limit for an under-20 driver is zero and the 17-year-old was later referred to police youth aid. A random breath test in Oamaru caught out a 41-year-old Omakau man this week. He returned a breath-alcohol test of 560mcg — more than twice the legal limit — just after 10pm on Tuesday. He is due to appear in the Oamaru District Court on May 21. A community reserve at Kakanui ruined by burnouts over Easter will now be shut for the winter. Kakanui Ratepayers and Improvement Society co-chairman John Laing said on Tuesday the vandalism of the reserve above Campbells Bay was discussed at the society's meeting on Monday. It had resolved to look at ways to stop the type of reckless behaviour that had ruined it for others. "We're going to chain the area off and regrass, and look at placing some deterrents in there to stop people doing it again," he said. — Jules Chin, Nic Duff, Brendon McMahon
