Hattrell (Otago) qualified for the men’s senior single sculls A final — alongside Dunstan rowers Fynn Allison, Sam Barnett, Charlie Manser and Lewis Meates — and the men’s club single sculls A final, alongside Oamaru rower Paddy Spillane. Dunstan’s Dylan Acton and Ben Thompson are in the men’s club double sculls final and then join Jed Tisdall and Jacob Harrison in the men’s club coxless quad sculls final. Amy Paterson and Lucy Clark and Katharina Hoffmann and Emer Bryant qualified for the women’s club double sculls final, and Jemma Mead and Maria-Theresia Schrems are in the women’s intermediate double sculls final. Dunstan rower Isla Westlake qualified for the women’s intermediate, club and senior single sculls. Fellow Dunstan rower Olivia Key will also line up in the senior sculls and Aiden O’docherty qualified for the men’s intermediate single sculls.

Even this could have been taken as a starting point when contemplating a kava policy at Otago. As an institution, Otago is well within its rights to adopt a kava policy for reasons it articulates in the communication. In my 15 years at Otago, kava has sporadically been used in ceremonial and social settings. The social use referred to here should not be confused with the popular understanding of the term nor the consumption of kava in kava bars and kava clubs. I urge leaders leading the kava policy proposal to facilitate a dialogue or talanoa over kava or any other non-alcoholic beverage of choice.

Members of the public had reported the man walking into the road on State Highway 1 near Waitati. Photo: Google MapsA Dunedin man wandering in the dark along the northern motorway was ‘‘clipped’’ by a truck after walking out into the open road. When asked by police what he was doing, the man told officers ‘‘he wasn't sure how he'd got there’’, Snr Sgt Dinnissen said. The man was taken to Dunedin Hospital with moderate injuries, Snr Sgt Dinnissen said. Earlier in the night, members of the public had reported the same man walking into the road on State Highway 1 near Waitati.

All outdoor fires will be banned in Central Otago from tomorrow amid "very dry" conditions. Fire and Emergency New Zealand district manager Craig Gold said the slow start to summer had been "quite deceptive". The prohibited fire season begins at 8am tomorrow, banning all outdoor fires until further notice. Central Otago was predominantly a grassland area with a lot of fuel for potentially disastrous fires that would be extremely difficult to control. "A ban on all outdoor fires will reduce the number of callouts and allow Fire and Emergency crews to manage other fires that may occur."

Fecal matter in sea spray on a home on Wellington's Esplanade. "It's residue from all that sewage that's floating up and down the coast. And how can we have the head of Wellington Water, Nick Leggett, just resign and think he's just going to walk away from this? Photo: RNZChris said he would be billing Wellington Water for his time washing the houses if the toxic sea spray continues to plague the coast. Wellington Water was still unsure what caused the Moa Point failure and how long the plant would be out of action.

Photo: SuppliedDonations have been pouring in for the family of Canterbury 10-year-old Alex Bennett. Alex was tragically killed two weeks ago after being struck by a vehicle just outside his Leeston Rd home while checking the mail. “Alex was a beautiful, clever beyond words, amazingly kind boy who shared a special bond with mine,” Batchelar said on LinkedIn. “We are grieving tremendously for the loss of his life and for the pain and devastation his family are feeling.”Community-donated groceries collected at Leeston FreshChoice for the family of Alex Bennett. Photo: SuppliedIn addition to the Givealittle fundraiser, the community has also donated a large amount of groceries, vouchers and cash through Leeston Fresh Choice.

That’s a wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Raising the OCR won’t change any of that. Just remember that mortgage rates tend to move before the OCR does. 2 years – Over the next two years, the OCR is expected to drift back to around 3%. “But I think inflation is going to be higher!”I was scrolling through the Stuff.co.nz comments (dangerous hobby, I know).

Retiring Dunedin Botanic Garden curator Marianne Groothuis walks through her favourite section at the garden on Wednesday evening. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSONI have had a lifelong career working at a job I love in the Dunedin Botanic Garden. The aviary was moved from the lower garden to the warmer north-facing slope of the upper garden. This enclosed the last part of the lower garden from busy traffic areas creating a true oasis in our city. I had the honour of attending the 2012 Camellia Conference in China to accept the International Camellia Garden of Excellence Award for Dunedin Botanic Garden.

PHOTO: NICK BROOKLocal Legend Wendy Dewe accepted the Silver Fern Farms, Clutha Leader lamb roast this week, on behalf of her daughter Hannah. Wendy and Hannah were the brains and driving force behind producing the fundraising recipe book As Sweet as Aaliyah to help 7-year-old Aaliyah Hill and her family with costs relating to her cancer treatment. ‘‘We wanted to help, had a good think and worked pretty hard on it,’’ Wendy said of the uplifting, spiral-bound book of easy and exotic favourites. ‘‘But the generosity of all the sponsors and contributors really made it a success and so far it’s sold 700 copies and raised $14,380.’’The cookbook has inspired a second run available at Bates Pharmacy Balclutha and the Catlins gift shop, Owaka. Keep sending your nomination’s names, contact phone number and reason they’re our Local Legends to: nick.brook@cluthaleader.

The Cromwell town centre redevelopment is back on the table as work begins on the 2027 long-term plan. Central Otago Mayor Tamah Alley said the workshop was a constructive step towards shaping a town centre that reflects Cromwell’s evolving needs. ‘‘This redevelopment is about creating a thriving, accessible, and welcoming town centre that reflects Cromwell’s unique character and growing community. ‘‘It’s really important to have council and the community board working together to progress the long-awaited Cromwell town centre project. This workshop was a first step in making sure we all have the same information and common understandings of the journey so far, so we can confidently consider our next steps.’’

House of Travel consultant Jessica Thomas, manager Robbie Bell, Love Grace Alexandra co-ordinator Jeana McLeod and consultant Kate Davidson pose with posters and handbags. PHOTO: ELLA JENKINSPeople of Central Otago are encouraged to collect items for New Zealand women in need as the Love Grace handbag appeal returns for a fifth year. People were encouraged to give handbags filled with essential items to women escaping domestic violence. Alexandra co-ordinator Jeana McLeod said the six essential items were shampoo, conditioner, soap or body wash, deodorant, toothpaste and a toothbrush. Having a daughter the same age and with the same love of travel as Grace encouraged Mrs McLeod to get involved for the first time this year.

NZ First's Winston Peters fiercely defended a bill to make English an official language. The government has introduced a bill to make English an official language, to ridicule from the opposition, and a fierce defence from Winston Peters. The legislation would see English be recognised as an official language alongside Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. There is no English Act or United Kingdom Act which sets out English as an official language, but I'm pretty sure they're comfortable with the fact that it's an official language of England and the United Kingdom." The English language can be used as a weapon, and that can lead to people having violent acts committed against them," she said.

‘‘[The victim] was driving an open-top vehicle and it was a head-on collision,’’ police prosecutor Alan De Jager said. There were ‘‘things that money just can’t bring back’’, Mr Armstrong wrote in a statement. Guannan Gu had his passport returned to him by the court yesterday and plans to return to China soon. Mr Armstrong told the Otago Daily Times he had been heading to Dunedin from Moeraki, where he had lunch with other members of a car club. ‘‘It’s a big disappointment to me to see it the way it is,’’ Mr Armstrong said.

According to the findings, around 4pm on September 25, Patel, of Auckland, borrowed his neighbour’s jack and tools to change the car’s oil. He found Patel crushed under the car. After jacking the car up, he raised the alarm and began CPR on Patel until ambulance staff arrived and took over. Patel was preparing for a car race in Fielding on the day of his death, she said. In Australia, an awareness campaign was run by Consumer and Business Services and the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service to educate people on DIY car jack deaths.

PHOTO: DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATIONThe high death rate of Stewart Island whitetail deer during last year’s aerial 1080 operation is not acceptable, a hunting advocate says. The Department of Conservation (Doc) said although the number of deer killed in the poison drop was higher than expected, the large majority of the Rakiura whitetail deer population was unaffected and deer would repopulate the affected area. Rakiura Whitetail Trust chairman Adam Fairmaid said a way to keep the deer safe in future 1080 bait aerial operations had to be found. Footage revealed on average a 75% reduction in deer detections by cameras in the deer repellent area in contrast with a 97% reduction in the wider operational area. The study concluded the deer were more likely to eat a lethal dose of 1080 bait pellets than any other deer population in the country — and adding deer repellent to the bait only slightly reduced the impact, it said.