Hunter Valley newsletter
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Hi there,
I'm writing a story on what's it like to live with a loud voice. Are you someone who gets high-pitched whenever you are excited? Does your family constantly nag you to dial down your voice? Or are you someone who's annoyed by your loved ones' loud talking?
If you… View moreHi there,
I'm writing a story on what's it like to live with a loud voice. Are you someone who gets high-pitched whenever you are excited? Does your family constantly nag you to dial down your voice? Or are you someone who's annoyed by your loved ones' loud talking?
If you can relate to any such scenario, I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment or you can email me at sanda.arambepola@stuff.co.nz
Please put 'NFP' (not for publication) in your comment if you don't want it or your name to appear in the article.
Thank you for taking the time to share your stories.
We're a Rugby MAD nation!
Which team are you supporting? How do they compare against the rest in this Rugby World Cup?
Share why you rate your team and you could WIN Sky Sport Now for 3 months (valued at $135)!
CLICK below to enter! Act fast, the entry deadline is October 12, 2023.
… View moreWe're a Rugby MAD nation!
Which team are you supporting? How do they compare against the rest in this Rugby World Cup?
Share why you rate your team and you could WIN Sky Sport Now for 3 months (valued at $135)!
CLICK below to enter! Act fast, the entry deadline is October 12, 2023.
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Our research funding is all about saving lives in New Zealand ❤️ This year, we were thrilled to announce $3.7m of funding for heart research and specialist overseas training for New Zealand cardiologists. Huge thanks to our donors and supporters for their generosity and for making this … View moreOur research funding is all about saving lives in New Zealand ❤️ This year, we were thrilled to announce $3.7m of funding for heart research and specialist overseas training for New Zealand cardiologists. Huge thanks to our donors and supporters for their generosity and for making this investment in heart health possible.
Click the link to find out more about the transformative research projects.
If you are blind, partially blind, or have a physical disability that means you cannot mark your voting paper without help, you can use the telephone dictation voting service.
You can use the telephone dictation voting service both from within New Zealand and if you’re overseas.
You do … View moreIf you are blind, partially blind, or have a physical disability that means you cannot mark your voting paper without help, you can use the telephone dictation voting service.
You can use the telephone dictation voting service both from within New Zealand and if you’re overseas.
You do need to register to use this service though, before noon (NZ time) on Saturday 14 October.
You can find more information on our website here: vote.nz...
By reporter Debbie Jamieson:
An AI-generated future for Queenstown including skyscrapers and a container ship is dividing opinion in the tourist town.
According to the vision, the golf course at Kelvin Heights will be covered in development and linked by a bridge to Queenstown Gardens, which … View moreBy reporter Debbie Jamieson:
An AI-generated future for Queenstown including skyscrapers and a container ship is dividing opinion in the tourist town.
According to the vision, the golf course at Kelvin Heights will be covered in development and linked by a bridge to Queenstown Gardens, which hosts a line of glass-covered buildings.
Spread out skyscrapers sit in the central business district and on the popular lake front, while Shotover St has become an eight-lane highway.
Local André Chalmers took the photo of Queenstown and created the image with Photoshop Generative AI Fill to see what the town would look like with increased building heights.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council is consulting on plans to allow higher density development in the district, as directed under central Government’s National Policy Statement.
Queenstown, Frankton, Arrowtown, Wānaka and Lake Hāwea all face potential changes with buildings in the Queenstown town centre potentially reaching heights of 24m – or up to seven storeys.
They are currently restricted to 15.5m.
Of course, the skyscrapers in Chalmers’ image are much taller than 24m, but then the possibility of getting container ships and an oil tanker into Lake Wakatipu is also absurd – let alone considering where they might be going.
One commentator has suggested the ships could provide workers' accommodation.
Other social media followers have referred to the image as The Rio of the South, Queenscity, and Queenscoast.
Some have expressed concern that the image was an over-exaggeration and being used to spread misinformation and confusion.
Others are concerned there’s no snow on the Remarkables, no queue at Fergburger and no more car parking spots.
Plans to increase urban areas around the district have caused concern in communities such as Arrowtown, where a public meeting was held last month to understand the proposals.
High density residential areas could increase to 16.5m in Queenstown and 12m in Wānaka (from 10m) with medium density across much of the district to increase to 11m and low density increasing 1m to 8m.
The removal of setbacks in some zones will allow for more buildings and residential units to be constructed within a site than at present.
Minimum lot sizes in new developments are smaller and there is a reduction in car parking for developments close to public transport.
In its analysis of the proposal Todd and Walker Law said more development upwards and outwards would be permitted.
“We expect that new buildings constructed to the maximum height limits will disrupt existing views and amenity values for some landowners.
“The increase in townhouse and apartment complexes may also change the nature of existing suburbs.”
Submissions on the Proposed Urban Intensification Variation should be made by October 5.
You can find all the information you need about where, when and how to vote at vote.nz....
If you were enrolled at your current address by September 10, you will have been sent an EasyVote pack in the mail with an EasyVote card which will make voting easier.
However if yours hasn't … View moreYou can find all the information you need about where, when and how to vote at vote.nz....
If you were enrolled at your current address by September 10, you will have been sent an EasyVote pack in the mail with an EasyVote card which will make voting easier.
However if yours hasn't arrived yet you can vote without it! Find your nearest voting place here:
map.vote.nz...
Happy Grandparents Day to our fantastic neighbours!
We wish you a day filled with celebration for your poppa, nan, koro, grandma or g'dad, while also remembering those who are no longer with us.
May your day be brimming with joy and treasured memories!
We extend our heartfelt … View moreHappy Grandparents Day to our fantastic neighbours!
We wish you a day filled with celebration for your poppa, nan, koro, grandma or g'dad, while also remembering those who are no longer with us.
May your day be brimming with joy and treasured memories!
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone for their amazing nominations! Your stories have touched our hearts deeply. And the winner is... Koko Grant, nominated by Khalei-Marley Taylor-Karaitiana! Congratulations!
What an incredible turnout! Over 1360 Household Heroes were nominated by all of you for a chance to win a fabulous $350!
We know our nation is full of amazing Kiwis who keep things running at home, and you're all heroes!
But the real question is, did you win? Find out who's walking … View moreWhat an incredible turnout! Over 1360 Household Heroes were nominated by all of you for a chance to win a fabulous $350!
We know our nation is full of amazing Kiwis who keep things running at home, and you're all heroes!
But the real question is, did you win? Find out who's walking away with $350 towards their Broadband and Power bill!
Stay connected with NZ Compare for the latest broadband and power deals and exciting competitions. We're all about making it easy for you to compare and save money! CLICK HERE to learn more: www.nzcompare.com...
Whip up this heart smart spring chicken stir-fry for World Heart Day. Packed with fresh veggies, tender chicken, and a zesty stir-fry sauce, this dish is both flavourful and nutritious.
Subscribe to NZ Gardener this month and receive a Free Earths Botanics Gardeners Hand Cream worth $24 thanks to Matakana Botanicals. It’s hand cream made by gardeners, for gardeners. This offer is only available until October 1, so get in quick. T&Cs apply.
Every issue of NZ Gardener is … View moreSubscribe to NZ Gardener this month and receive a Free Earths Botanics Gardeners Hand Cream worth $24 thanks to Matakana Botanicals. It’s hand cream made by gardeners, for gardeners. This offer is only available until October 1, so get in quick. T&Cs apply.
Every issue of NZ Gardener is packed with amazing New Zealand stories, plus subscribers save money every month!
Happy Gardening,
The team at NZ Gardener
Have a poppa, nan, koro, grandma or g'dad who rocks the digital world?
Nominate them to WIN a $150 Prezzy® card! Nominate them now and tell us why they deserve to WIN.
Compare broadband and power bills with NZ Compare to save big and stay connected in the digital world.
*Entries … View moreHave a poppa, nan, koro, grandma or g'dad who rocks the digital world?
Nominate them to WIN a $150 Prezzy® card! Nominate them now and tell us why they deserve to WIN.
Compare broadband and power bills with NZ Compare to save big and stay connected in the digital world.
*Entries close 2 Oct 2023.
A heart-healthy diet doesn't have to mean you give up dessert entirely. Our chocolate brownie is deliciously rich, easy to make and sure to be a hit for the entire whānau. Try it for yourself today!
Hi there,
We're compiling a travel piece on great honesty boxes and roadside stalls around NZ, and would love to hear your favourites. Is there somewhere you enjoy stopping off at for fresh fruit and vegetables, free-range eggs, flowers, or something else? It would be great if you could … View moreHi there,
We're compiling a travel piece on great honesty boxes and roadside stalls around NZ, and would love to hear your favourites. Is there somewhere you enjoy stopping off at for fresh fruit and vegetables, free-range eggs, flowers, or something else? It would be great if you could share it's location and what makes it a standout. Please put 'NFP' (not for publication) in your comment if you don't want it or your name to appear in the article. You're also very welcome to email me at lorna.thornber@stuff.co.nz
Thank you for taking the time to share.
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Large slips on surrounding hillsides loom over central Queenstown after a state of emergency was declared on Friday morning.
Queenstown Lakes District mayor Glyn Lewers made the declaration at 6.30am on Friday after heavy rain overnight brought down slips and more than 100 people were evacuated … View moreLarge slips on surrounding hillsides loom over central Queenstown after a state of emergency was declared on Friday morning.
Queenstown Lakes District mayor Glyn Lewers made the declaration at 6.30am on Friday after heavy rain overnight brought down slips and more than 100 people were evacuated from their homes.
He expected the state of emergency would last for seven days. It gave police the power to call people off the roads, he said.
Schools, roads and ski fields were closed while much of the town centre was covered in mud and debris that had poured down from forestry work on Bob’s Peak, under the Skyline gondola.
Niwa said Queenstown recorded 87mm of rain in 24 hours, its wettest day in 24 years.
It has been a horror week for business in the town, which learnt a day earlier they could be under a boil water notice for months due to a cryptosporidium outbreak, with 23 confirmed cases as of Friday morning.
Surveying the damage in central Queenstown on Friday, Southland MP Joseph Mooney said there was a bit of work ahead of the community to fix all the issues.
“We're a resilient bunch, we will get through this,” he said.
In addition to the Bob’s Peak landslide, there were slips at the top of Reavers Lane, and at Wilson’s Bay.
Skyline chief executive Geoff McDonald said the slip that ran down Bob’s Peak and carried mud and forestry debris into central Queenstown started on a forestry access road.
The rain pooled on the top forestry track last night and when it let go it created a water fall and landslide that carried logs stacked on the access road for removal, down towards town.
The majority of the material that ran down the hillside was mud and forestry debris carried by the logs.
”It’s not slash per-se,” he said.
The company had been clearing wilding pines on the hillside for about two years to create a safety barrier around the gondola and provide a fire break on the hillside that sits in Queenstown’s Red Zone – a high risk area for wildfires.
The most serious risk considered when the project was planned was the fire risk, he said.
“I don’t think anyone would have imagined we would have faced a weather event like this.”
All the gondola infrastructure had been assessed and unaffected by the storm and slip.
He hoped they would reopen for business on Saturday, but that depended on the council clearing and opening Brecon St.
Johnny Stevenson, of Coronet Property Management, was in Queenstown from 4am assessing the effects on his company’s properties.
“The town looked like 180 cows had been wintering on the chou. It was just sticks and mud,” he said.
The worst damage was the Mountaineer Building where water had entered the Quicksilver, Kathmandu and Night and Day stores.
Some stock was damaged, but all stores were open by about 11am, he said.
It was the second time the building had been hit by floodwaters since the town centre redesign had happened and grates had become blocked.
“I really think it’s because they did away with the curb and channel,” he said.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council has commissioned reports into the redesign and flooding but has refused to release them to Stuff.
The cuncil released a statement at 6.15pm on Friday saying officials had been working closely with geotechnical engineers to determine a safe approach to clearing debris on Upper Brecon St.
“The situation has evolved over the course of the day. The team is continuing to evaluate the weather forecast and expert advice to recommend an appropriate approach to allowing affected businesses at the top of Brecon St to reopen safely.
“The current cordon at the intersection of Brecon and Isle streets will remain in place overnight for safety reasons.”
Emergency operations centre controller and community services general manager Ken Bailey acknowledged many would be concerned about potential damage to their loved ones’ graves in Queenstown Cemetery.
“Parts of the cemetery have been affected by slips caused by heavy rain since yesterday. There is currently no public access for safety reasons while inspections continue. The emergency management and QLDC Parks and Reserves teams are liaising closely with religious groups and iwi,” he said.
“We appreciate the distress this is likely to be causing to those friends and family members affected and we will provide further updates to the community as soon as we possibly can.”
The focus on Saturday would be to clear debris from one side of Brecon St (adjacent to Kingpin and neighbouring businesses) to provide safe pedestrian access, he said.
In the case of further heavy rain, the cordon at the Isle/Brecon street intersection would be reinstated.
In relation to flooding at the Reavers Ln area, good progress had been made to divert water to a manhole, but further work was required to clear a blocked culvert at the base of the catchment, Bailey said.
Council staff contacted remaining affected properties directly. Access to all remaining properties had been reinstated.
Nearby Coronet Peak closed for the season after two days of wet weather hammering the snowpack.
However, The Remarkables and Cardrona expected to remain open during the school holidays after closures on Friday. Fresh snow landed on Friday afternoon.
Several roads were closed on the outskirts of Queenstown including the Glenorchy Rd, between Fernhill and Sunshine Bay.
Several schools and kindergartens closed on Friday – the last day of the school term – including Wakatipu High School.
Principal Oded Nathan said the school closed due to the state of emergency, the limited amount of drinkable water and the request to limit travel.
A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesperson said they received 91 weather-related calls from Thursday to 9am Friday across the lower South Island up to Queenstown.
The Alexandra Blossom Festival committee cancelled the Mardi Gras and Round the Clock Race planned for Friday due to the weather, but the Grand Parade and Saturday in the Park would still take place on Saturday.
Roads around Wānaka, Cromwell and Alexandra were closed for most of the day due to floodwaters, while snow and ice closed Danseys Pass Rd and affected much of the Maniototo area.
Meanwhile, conserve water notices had been issued for Omakau and Naseby in Central Otago.
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