Latest news with #Wānaka-based
Otago Daily Times
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Flip-flop over standing for QLDC
Niki Gladding. PHOTO: ODT FILES Having decided to pull the pin on the Queenstown Lakes District Council to seek an Otago Regional Council seat, outspoken former Glenorchy councillor Niki Gladding left it until just three days out to reaffirm she is re-standing — for a seat on the district council. The now Wānaka-based district councillor only realised she would have to spend a lot of time in Dunedin, where the regional council is based, after chatting with outgoing Queenstown-based regional councillor Alexa Forbes. In May, Ms Gladding announced she would not seek re-election for the QLDC, citing feelings of burnout, a breakdown in her relationship with council staff and concerns about serving alongside current mayor Glyn Lewers if he is re-elected in October. Ironically, Ms Gladding would have likely secured re-election had she stood in the Queenstown-Wakatipu ward, where she is well known. However, in the Wānaka ward — where she has a lower profile — she faces tougher odds. She will need to unseat one of four incumbents, all of whom are standing again, along with one new challenger so far. Nominations close at noon today.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Career pivot a winning choice
Mandy Myles of online retailer Bookety Book Books has won the Titlepage Bookselling Trailblazer of the year, at the Aotearoa New Zealand Book Industry 2025 awards. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Mandy Myles, of Wānaka-based online retailer Bookety Book Books, has won the Titlepage Bookselling Trailblazer of the year, at the Aotearoa New Zealand Book Industry 2025 awards. The judges said Ms Myles' initiative, smart thinking and sheer hard work saw her stand out from the other very worthy contenders. "Mandy has made some bold business decisions that have paid off. She has consciously and self-reflectively learned to work smarter, not harder, as a crucial lesson for long-term success. She has skilfully procured sponsorship and strategically beneficial partnerships, and her marketing and programming skills are among the best in the industry." Ms Myles said she was honoured to receive the award. "[I'm] absolutely blown away. It's such an honour to be recognised in an industry packed to the brim with legends." Ms Myles had the idea for an online store during the Covid lockdown. Her pivot was completely out of the blue — she had studied fashion and worked in lingerie and fashion retail, including at 47 Frocks in Wānaka. "I wanted to bring the feeling of community that independent bookstores create directly into people's homes in an effort to make reading feel fun and accessible for everyone." During lockdown she posted some book recommendations on social media, which sparked questions about where to get them. Ms Myles was inspired to provide an alternative to major online booksellers, and in August 2020, she launched a curated, sustainably packaged online book range. She believed reading could be very social. "Books spark such rich conversation, which inherently creates connection, whether you loved a book or not, there's always something to unpack with someone else who's read it. Being able to discuss stories with others is one of the true joys of reading."
Otago Daily Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Over $1m owed: liquidators
A Wānaka-based cleaning business owes creditors more than $1.75 million, the first liquidator's report shows. The Cleaners Wānaka Ltd was placed in liquidation on June 5 in the High Court at Dunedin on the application of the Inland Revenue department. The cause appeared to be failure to account for taxation, the report said. The liquidator had not established contact with the company director and a statement of affairs had not been received. The liquidator was conducting searches and investigations to locate any further asset interests that were of benefit for creditors. An overdrawn current account was estimated at more than $347,000. The Companies Office website showed the company was incorporated in 2013 and its shareholders and directors were Valkiria Domingues and Fabio Teles Domingues.
Otago Daily Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Polytech shuts down cookery course
The lack of a commercial kitchen is a driver in the closure of one of the courses at the Otago Polytechnic Central Campus. Deputy executive director academic delivery Chris Williamson and deputy executive director industry training and innovation Mark Cartwright said in a joint statement three programmes — one each in Cromwell and Wānaka and one in Dunedin — were under review. Otago Polytechnic has a campus in Cromwell town and one in Bannockburn. Late last year it was announced the brewing and stonemasonry courses run at Cromwell would be discontinued from this year. At that meeting Otago Polytechnic executive director Megan Potiki said Otago Polytechnic was in debt and costs would have to be reduced to get it standing back on its own feet. There was a risk it could be forced into a federation of polytechnics and that was not wanted, she said. The Otago secondary-tertiary college certificate in cookery, which has operated out of dedicated kitchen in the town campus, will also come to an end after the facility is sold and all Central Otago programmes are consolidated at the Bannockburn campus. The programme, which involved 16 students attending two days a week, will cease as the polytechnic has been unable to secure an alternative commercial kitchen. The closure will result in the loss of 0.61 fulltime-equivalent positions, affecting a lecturer and a technician. Central campus director John Christie confirmed the cookery course would end, but emphasised that trades training in beauty, hospitality and carpentry would continue at the Bannockburn site. Around 200 students from Alexandra, Wānaka and Queenstown attend these programmes at present. If a suitable commercial kitchen could be found, closing the cookery course could be reconsidered, Mr Christie said. The Wānaka-based level 4 New Zealand certificate in outdoor and adventure education was not financially sustainable due to low numbers of students. It was proposed to stop the programme from the end of the year. One staff role would go immediately and the other at the end of the year, when the current students had completed their studies. Efforts to increase enrolments had not worked and the course was financially unsustainable, the statement said. The third course to face the chop is the Dunedin-based New Zealand certificate in plumbing, gas fitting and drain laying (level 3). The course was not viable and an announcement by the Tertiary Education Commission that it would not fund more than one year of the one-semester programme led to its demise and the loss of one fulltime position, the statement said. Yesterday's statement said staff had been consulted about the proposed changes. "We have met with the kaimahi [staff] concerned to explain the proposed changes for these three programmes and outlined the process for providing feedback," it said. "We will carefully consider all the feedback we receive before making any final decisions, and will also ensure kaimahi are offered support during this consultation process."
Otago Daily Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Cookery course being discontinued
The lack of a commercial kitchen is a driver in the closure of one of the courses at the Otago Polytechnic Central Campus. Deputy executive director academic delivery Chris Williamson and deputy executive director industry training and innovation Mark Cartwright said in a joint statement three programmes — one each in Cromwell and Wānaka and one in Dunedin — were under review. Otago Polytechnic has a campus in Cromwell town and one in Bannockburn. Late last year it was announced the brewing and stonemasonry courses run at Cromwell would be discontinued from this year. At that meeting Otago Polytechnic executive director Megan Potiki said Otago Polytechnic was in debt and costs would have to be reduced to get it standing back on its own feet. There was a risk it could be forced into a federation of polytechnics and that was not wanted, she said. The Otago secondary-tertiary college certificate in cookery, which has operated out of dedicated kitchen in the town campus, will also come to an end after the facility is sold and all Central Otago programmes are consolidated at the Bannockburn campus. The programme, which involved 16 students attending two days a week, will cease as the polytechnic has been unable to secure an alternative commercial kitchen. The closure will result in the loss of 0.61 fulltime-equivalent positions, affecting a lecturer and a technician. Central campus director John Christie confirmed the cookery course would end, but emphasised that trades training in beauty, hospitality and carpentry would continue at the Bannockburn site. Around 200 students from Alexandra, Wānaka and Queenstown attend these programmes at present. If a suitable commercial kitchen could be found, closing the cookery course could be reconsidered, Mr Christie said. The Wānaka-based level 4 New Zealand certificate in outdoor and adventure education was not financially sustainable due to low numbers of students. It was proposed to stop the programme from the end of the year. One staff role would go immediately and the other at the end of the year, when the current students had completed their studies. Efforts to increase enrolments had not worked and the course was financially unsustainable, the statement said. The third course to face the chop is the Dunedin-based New Zealand certificate in plumbing, gas fitting and drain laying (level 3). The course was not viable and an announcement by the Tertiary Education Commission that it would not fund more than one year of the one-semester programme led to its demise and the loss of one fulltime position, the statement said. Yesterday's statement said staff had been consulted about the proposed changes. "We have met with the kaimahi [staff] concerned to explain the proposed changes for these three programmes and outlined the process for providing feedback," it said. "We will carefully consider all the feedback we receive before making any final decisions, and will also ensure kaimahi are offered support during this consultation process."
