'Better than before': District's new post-Covid motto
Photo: Wikimedia Commons“Better than before” is the Waimakariri District Council’s motto as it begins work on a Covid-19 recovery plan. The report, presented by district recovery manager Simon Hart and strategy and engagement manager Simon Markham, also proposed the established of an economic advisory group. He says the district’s earthquake recovery demonstrated the benefits of wide community consultation early on. Markham said staff planned to present a recovery planning update to the July council meeting. With New Zealand potentially moving to alert level 1 next week, the council is planning to return to holding public council and community board meetings.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 04, 2020 00:33 UTC
Jet boat driver in fatal crash was three times alcohol limit
A photo of the jet boat. Photo: Transport Accident Investigation CommissionA jet boat driver involved in a crash which killed a passenger on the Hollyford River last year had a blood alcohol level of three times the legal driving limit, an investigation has revealed. "The Commission found it was virtually certain that the accident happened because alcohol consumption impaired the driver’s ability to make good decisions and to operate the jet boat safely." The crash was the third jet boat accident in two months early last year. Nine were injured in a February 23 crash in Queenstown and Christchurch jet boat competitor Cameron Moore died during the Otago rivers jet boat race, near Luggate, two days later.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 03, 2020 23:37 UTC
Pressure mounting on Air NZ to give choice of refund or credit
Photo: Air NZA consumer watchdog says it is not reasonable for Air New Zealand to deny customers refunds and offer them credits instead. Consumer New Zealand chief executive Jon Duffy said some Air New Zealand customers affected by the coronavirus pandemic have been refunded due to international regulations. Duffy said Air New Zealand customers who have tickets in this category should be given the choice of either a refund or a credit. "It's those people who I think Air New Zealand's customers would expect Air New Zealand to at least make some sort of consideration over whether they pay a refund." Air New Zealand has said that each individual a ticket was booked for gets the credit, he said.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 03, 2020 23:37 UTC
Lotto jackpot: Woman's trip for milk bags family $7.3m
A woman's trip for milk has bagged her family a $7.3 million Lotto win. Photo: NZ HeraldA Kiwi woman's trip to a local store to pick up milk has bagged her family $7.3 million. Her family are still coming to terms with the jackpot after winning Powerball First Division last week. What she didn't know, was that the Powerball ticket she was about to hand over, would be worth more than 100,000 times more. Lotto said 22 millionaires had already been made in the first 22 weeks of the year with Lotto, Powerball and Strike – including six multi-millionaires.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 03, 2020 23:26 UTC
Boat sinking at wharf in Mount Maunganui
A boat has sunk at a wharf in Mount Maunganui as more wild weather moves across the country. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council Maritime team is dealing with a recreational vessel that started taking on water at Salisbury Wharf, SunLive reported. A bystander at the scene said the sinking boat had been at the wharf for the past week. “Before being taken to hospital they tied their boat to a post at the wharf. There were people at the wharf pulling objects out of the water, including a ladder and bottles.
Source:Stuff
June 03, 2020 23:26 UTC
Will 'micro-climate' shield Nelson from forecast housing fall?
People selling their homes could be in for a rude awakening, as asking prices continue to rise amid warnings the housing market is "teetering on a cliff's edge". She was also unsure how much house prices would fall in Nelson. Cyril Collier from Haven Realty Nelson estate agents said Nelson seemed to be in its own bubble. During the last recession, Nelson's house prices dropped less than most other places in New Zealand, and rose faster afterwards, he said. An ageing population and the region's strong primary industry kept the housing market going, Collier said.
Source:Stuff
June 03, 2020 23:15 UTC
Arbor Day: Plantings planned across the city
Photo: Newsline / CCCSchool students will be branching out across Christchurch for Arbor Day. Christchurch City Council parks staff and communities have organised plantings across the city from Friday, which is not only Arbor Day but also World Environment Day. Arbor Day promotes the preservation and planting of trees, and encourages people to protect the environment. Since 1977, New Zealand has celebrated Arbor Day on June 5, which is also World Environment Day. “In making their own effort, they enhance their own well-being as well as that of society.”Register for Arbor Day activities here to help with contact tracing.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 03, 2020 23:03 UTC
Childhood dream comes true for cartoonist
Brendon Wright’s illustrations have been included in a new publication contributed to by some well-known international comic writers. Photo: SuppliedChristchurch artist Brendon Wright never thought his childhood dream of being a cartoonist would come true. Wright drew the pictures for British comic writer Steve MacManus’ story, The Tinkling Triangles, and MacManus loved them. MacManus is well-known for being the former editor of 2000 AD, a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic magazine. An illustration by Brendon Wright included in new UK comic publication The77.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 03, 2020 22:30 UTC
Jet boat driver who died in crash was three times alcohol limit
A photo of the jet boat. Photo: Transport Accident Investigation CommissionA jet boat driver who died in a crash on the Hollyford River last year had a blood alcohol level of three times the legal driving limit, an investigation has revealed. Shane Paul Gibbons (50), a well-known farmer from the Te Anau Basin who was driving the boat, was killed in the crash. "The driver's blood alcohol concentration was about three times New Zealand's legal limit for driving a car. "The Commission found it was virtually certain that the accident happened because alcohol consumption impaired the driver’s ability to make good decisions and to operate the jet boat safely."
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 03, 2020 22:22 UTC
Trans-Tasman flights could launch in July
How possible is a trans-Tasman bubble? The Australian business community hopes to trial a new service between Canberra and Wellington to prove that a trans-Tasman bubble is safe, The Australian reported. ACCI tourism chair John Hart told the publication that businesses wanted to fast-track the trans-Tasman bubble to keep themselves afloat. The ACCI proposal is separate from the blueprint the Trans-Tasman Safe Border Group has been working on to re-start passenger flights between Australia and New Zealand. The Trans-Tasman Safe Border Group will also recommend ways in which the trans-Tasman blueprint could be applied to other countries with which New Zealand may wish to have a travel bubble in future.
Source:Stuff
June 03, 2020 22:05 UTC
Crusaders star joins fight against racism
Photo: Getty ImagesA Crusaders and All Blacks star joined those around the world in taking a public stand against racism amidst ongoing rioting in the United States. Taylor wanted to use his standing as an All Blacks to raise awareness about racism, which he said was everywhere. Taylor and Ioane were the latest among a raft of athletes making public statements of solidarity with the black community. Some major teams had also made their support public, including EPL football clubs Liverpool and Chelsea. "Players have an individual right to express the way they feel on social media platforms but as a team we just want to focus on playing good rugby.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 03, 2020 21:45 UTC
Unconsented Bay of Plenty barn causing headache for neighbours
A unconsented barn is causing angst in the Bay of Plenty town of Opotiki. Five people living in an unconsented, old barn in a Bay of Plenty town are worrying neighbours who say the accommodation is unsafe and unsanitary. After the council initially visited, the barn owner started to remove internal plumbing but then seemed to decide to put it all back up again. “We are working with the owner to resolve the issues and the owner has committed to either remove any unconsented building works or submit an application to rectify the breaches,” he said. When staff visited the site last week there appeared to be no one around and no building work happening.
Source:Stuff
June 03, 2020 21:33 UTC
Concerns over reluctance to use govt contact tracing system
Ten DHBs across New Zealand, including the CDHB, are not using the National Contact Tracing Solution (NCTS), including Auckland and Wellington as well as Northland. Effective contact tracing is critical to keep on top of the disease as the country moves rapidly towards level 1 controls. Contact tracing experts told RNZ, on condition of remaining anonymous, there were compelling reasons why every public health unit should use the same software solution. "PHUs have well established existing systems and processes in place for contact tracing that they continue to use. Therefore, their contact tracing capability is not impacted by whether the individual PHU is using the NCTS.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 03, 2020 21:22 UTC
Person taken to hospital after inhaling chemicals
The Spark building on the corner of Colombo and Hereford Sts. Photo: Newsline / CCCA person was taken to hospital after potentially inhaling chemicals at a Cathedral Square business last night. An ambulance attended the scene at the new Spark building about 7.51pm on Wednesday. "We treated one patient and transported them to Christchurch Hospital," she said. "WorkSafe was notified of an incident at the Christchurch Spark building last night.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 03, 2020 21:11 UTC
TransTasman bubble in July?
Calls are increasing for a travel bubble between the two countries. Photo: GettyAustralians will be able to register their interest for flights to New Zealand in July, according to reports from across the Tasman. The Australian reports the business community would like to see a Canberra-Wellington route used as a guinea pig to test whether the bubble is safe. Air travel between the countries would offer a huge boost to the ailing tourism industry in New Zealand. With both countries doing a good job of controlling the spread of Covid-19, the calls are becoming more intense for a travel bubble between the two countries.
Source:Otago Daily Times
June 03, 2020 21:11 UTC