Spring 2016 the First Edition Council Newsletter

Protecting the pohowera Page 9.

1 LOOKING TO THE FUTURE STEVE RURU Southland District Council Chief Executive

he best thing you can do whwhich were recognised at this year’s when you make mistakes is to LoLocal Government New Zealand Town them. ExExcellencec Awards; our project ChChanging Direction: The Way Forward Deloitte’s review report into the foforr Southland’s Roads won the award Around the Mountains Cycle Traill hhasas fforor Best Practice in Infrastructure been released, and its fi ndings werere – kknowing the Deloitte report has critical of the way Southland Districtict unundermined the public’s confi dence in Council has overseen this project sinceince us is a tough pill to swallow. What we its inception back in 2009. mumust do now is ensure the processes As an organisation we understandd we we have in place are robust enough to have to front up to what has happened.ened. mimitigate similar issues in the future. We got it wrong. We need to fi x it – and we will fi x it. Questions havee WiWinning the Excellence Award, for been asked of the processes we hadd iinn ininstance,s is recognition that despite place across our project management,ent, sosomem of the failings in the way the cycle fi nancial and governance structures.es. A trtraila has been managed, Southland number of changes have already beeneen DDistrictis Council does do a number made and there are more to come. of tthings well and to a standard rerecognisedc as being ‘best in class’. The role of the Activities Performanceance WhWhat we do need to do, however, is be Audit Committee has been broadenedned momore consistent in the way in which we to include risk management, internalnal do things and create a culture that sees audit and fi nancial management. Our us continuously challenging ourselves procurement and project management to improve. The fi ndings in the cycle processes are being refi ned and we We must trail review have been a stark reminder have developed new fi nancial and risk that we can never be complacent. We management processes. A separate must never be afraid to challenge governance committee has also been never be ourselves and ensure we are asking the formed to oversee the project. ‘ tough questions. As we implement the lessons that afraid to Asking those tough questions will have come out of the report, it is not stop future projects facing important to get things right. That’s challenge obstacles from time to time. Life is why we have pulled together a unpredictable and challenging. Projects structured programme to respond ourselves to the improvement opportunities undertaken by local government are identifi ed during the review. We no different and at times are made all will also report the progress we and ensure the more diffi cult by the very public are making to Council on a regular environment we work in. basis and I would not discount the we are What Southland District Council can possibility of a further independent do is ensure the processes we put in review of how we have gone. asking place going forward give us the ability At a time when we are doing many to proactively manage the unexpected things right – strengthening the the tough and deal with any issues that arise in a dialogue between Council and the considered way. By being committed communities it serves through our questions. to continuously improving the way we Community Conversations; our work as an organisation, we will get it innovative and collaborative approach right and be able to make a difference to Southland’s roads, the efforts of for the communities we serve.

2 Knowledge Management team leader Gillian Cavanagh is saying goodbye to 10 tons of Council property fi les.

The long-awaited digitisation of project is the biggest she has been “We’ve got very high comfort levels Southland District Council property involved in at Council. with the vendor we’ve selected and fi les has had its fi rst test run. the work that they can do,” Mrs How big? Cavanagh says. On September 9, the fi rst 1000 There are more than 26,000 individual pilot fi les were sent to Auckland She admits that, initially at least, it fi les, many of them with multiple company Power Business Services to will be strange seeing the packed be digitised. They will be returned volumes, recorded on 10 tons of shelves of documents disappear. as PDF fi les to be imported into paper, stretching 450 metres in the “I’m looking forward to it, but at the Council’s Records Manager electronic Council fi le room waiting to be same time it’s quite scary, once you archives system. converted into electronic format. start sending it away.” The pilot fi les all relate to properties in The paper records won’t return However, a big part of the digitisation and the surrounding rural area. to Council. They will be stored at project is about risk management. an Auckland records management “For a lot of the information in those If the pilot goes according to plan, it storage facility run by international fi les, that’s the only copy there is. If will take about 12 months to convert company Recall, perhaps for that’s lost then it really is lost – it’s not all the Council’s paper property fi ve years or more. Long term, retrievable.” records dating back to 1942 into Council will have to consider having digital fi les. them destroyed. From mid-November computer kiosks will be set up at Council offi ces The fi rst consignment in October will It is a legislative requirement that for members of the public wanting be of 3500 fi les. After that, 5000 fi les councils keep property records that to access them. Eventually, once risk will be sent north every two months are accessible to the public for ever, management and privacy systems are to be turned into PDFs. so Council has to have confidence in place, the fi les will also be available Knowledge Management team leader that the digital archives are safe for public viewing online through the Gillian Cavanagh says the $1.5 million and sound. Council website. 3 Mistakes made on cycle trail

The Deloitte report into the management of the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail project has been completed.

The report is critical of both the governance and management processes around the trail project and says the $8 million budget was poorly constructed and did not recognise the need for contingencies or the risks that could affect the project. “However, many of the risks that Council commissioned the review Key failures include: could have happened, such as earlier this year after it identifi ed Environment Court appeals on the the projected cost of the trail had • Lack of adequate fi nancial consent and property access issues, increased to more than $14 million. reporting have happened and the costs have • Poor project management ballooned,” Mr Tong said. practices Even before the review, Council • Shortage of the skills needed to had already recognised the need to SoRDS manage the project strengthen its in-house governance, project management and fi nancial The project to attract 10,000 • Failure to pro-actively manage the management processes. The role of people to live in Southland by project risks the Activities Performance Audit 2025 and boost the region’s Committee has been broadened to economy has moved into the Southland District Council chief include risk management, internal next phase. executive Steve Ruru said there audit and fi nancial management All nine of the Southland had been mistakes made in the and procurement and project Regional Development Strategy management of this project and management processes are being Action Teams have presented Council should have done better. worked on at present. their draft action plans to the “Council seems to have become A separate project governance Governance Group. The group so engrossed in trying to make committee has been established consolidated their proposals the cycle trail happen that it has as well. into an overall plan that was forgotten to follow some basic presented to the Mayoral Forum project management disciplines,” “Council takes responsibility for the in September. It will then be Mr Ruru said. errors made and we have learnt from presented to the new Councils them,” Mr Tong said. following the elections. Mayor Gary Tong said he believed the intentions of those concerned Staff have been asked to develop It was expected the fi nal were always to make the project a an action plan to ensure the lessons consolidated plan will be success for Southland and to keep the learnt from this review released publicly in November. costs down. are implemented.

4 Aquaculture October 8 opportunities explored voting day

Research into the potential for diversify the south’s social and Local government elections are looming. Southland’s aquaculture industry to economic opportunities. Local elections are held every three years grow are under way. Currently Southland has a small by postal vote. Everybody eligible to vote Southland District Mayor Gary Tong but fl ourishing aquaculture should have received their voting papers said he would be keeping a close eye industry, which includes one in the mail in mid-September, with the on the development of the district’s of New Zealand’s largest postal vote set to take place on 8 October. aquaculture industry, following his salmon farms on Stewart Island. In the Southland District, elections will trip to Norway and Iceland as part Nationally, the industry was worth be held for councillors in the Stewart of an Aquaculture New Zealand $62 million in exports in 2015. Island Rakiura and Winton Wallacetown contingent. That trip looked at the wards, as well as for positions on the “It’s crucial Southland looks multi-billion-dollar Scandinavian Otautau, Winton and Stewart Island very carefully at industries that industry to see what further Rakiura community boards. opportunities existed for Southland. will increase our prosperity and economic growth. If the Long-serving councillors Rodney Dobson Researchers were now focusing science gives those fi ve sites and Lyall Bailey are stepping down their attention on fi ve marine sites the green light, that has the after 12 and 15 years, respectively. Four that had the potential to increase potential to double or even triple of Southland’s eight community board the aquaculture industry – which not Southland’s aquaculture chairs will also not seek re-election – Ann included the farming of other species exports, but the whole country’s Carran (), John “Chub” McHugh including oysters and crayfi sh, as well exports, while at the same time (Winton), Justin Lewis () and as fi nfi sh like salmon – in the region, providing us with an industry Shaun Holland (Wallacetown). he said. that is sustainable and leaves Incumbent Mayor Gary Tong will stand a much smaller environmental unopposed, after challenger Steve “At the moment there’s scientifi c footprint than many other primary Fagerlund withdrew from the race work being done in the background industries,” he said. at three locations off Stewart Island several days after nominations closed. – in Paterson Inlet, Port Adventure “That has tremendous implications and Port Pegasus – as well as in for Southland’s communities.” Preservation and Chalky inlets, to determine whether expansion in those Research at the fi ve sites is being Roading focus places is viable,” he said. led by the Nelson-based Cawthron Institute, with stakeholders Aquaculture had been identifi ed Ngai Tahu, the Department groups as an important component in the of Conservation, Ministry for Southland Regional Development Primary Industries, Ministry for Southland District Council is going out Strategy (SoRDS), a plan that intends the Environment and SoRDS on the road to talk about roads. to lay the framework to build on and also involved. An online Roading Perceptions Survey was carried out early this year. As a result, Council’s roading team is organising a series of focus groups to engage more deeply with ratepayers on roading issues that affect them. People who participated in the survey, or who gave their contact details during the Community Conversations meetings this year, and who expressed an interest in being part of follow-up focus groups will be contacted before Christmas with more details. Strategic Manager Transport Joe Bourque says Council is doing innovative work but he would like to engage with ratepayers and gather more information to help his team keep the district’s roads safe. The focus groups will be held in Fish farming in Iceland suggests an opportunity for Southland. February and March 2017. 5 Roading

The sky’s the limit

Council roading engineer James McCallum.

Southland District Council roading to do that by traditional means would drone data could be used to build engineer James McCallum is take two men days.” images exponentially more accurate capturing national attention for his Since Council bought the $2700 and detailed than traditional manual pioneering work with drone imagery drone in June 2015 Mr McCallum surveying could ever achieve, in a and digital mapping. has been fi nding new ways to do fraction of the time. He recently won the under-35 important work more effi ciently, “You don’t have to spend a lot of young presenter competition at from monitoring coastal erosion and money to get the benefi ts of a drone the Road Engineering Association reviewing wear on bridges to scoping from an engineering point of view.” of Asia and Australasia (REAAA) damaged roads and creating three- southern region conference in dimensional topographical data for The drone also provided a good way Dunedin and was a finalist in a design purposes. to get a message out for community similar national competition held It proved its value almost immediately. engagement, he said. Spectacular by the Institute of Public Works aerial photos of natural events such Engineers Australasia (IPWEA). Mr McCallum’s second day with as surface fl ooding could provide the drone yielded valuable detailed a different perspective with “wow His presentations outlined the images of the enormous landslip on factor”. Mr McCallum’s Chaslands ground-breaking work Council the Chaslands highway, over slumped slip images attracted more than 7000 is doing with UAV (unmanned terrain within thick vegetation that views and 200 shares in their fi rst aerial vehicle) technology, which is was unsafe and hard to traverse week on social media. increasing the effi ciency, safety and because of diffi cult ground conditions. accuracy of traditional geographical Contractors in Auckland, Christchurch Since gaining national attention with surveying work, and saving time and saw the video. “Not his presentations, Mr McCallum says and money. one of those three contractors had to he has fi elded calls from other local “You can start doing full site surveys go on an initial site visit because the authorities interested in learning more where you can cover over 170 acres footage was satisfactory.” about what is able to be achieved with of full topographical survey in 15 When run through relatively the technology used by Southland minutes,” Mr McCallum said. “Trying inexpensive specialised software, District Council.

6 Roading AWARD FOR COUNCIL

Strategic manager transport Joe Bourque holds the Chorus Excellence Award for Best Practice in Infrastructure Management at the Local Government New Zealand conference.

An innovative Southland District Swedish smartphone technology do as an organisation,” he said. Council roading programme has won Roadroid to measure road surface “It is also great recognition for the national acclaim. conditions, the Eyes and Ears extra value that we have been able to partnership with Fonterra, which Council’s Changing Direction: The create through the collaborative work allows its drivers to provide rapid Way Forward for Southland’s Roads we have been doing with Fonterra feedback on maintenance issues, and project won a Local Government New through the Eyes and Ears and Zealand Excellence Award at the the 80/20 principle, which prioritises Roadroid programme.’’ organisation’s conference in Dunedin. spending on the most used sections of road in the district. Members of the Fonterra Edendale The project incorporates a range team who had been a driving force of initiatives designed to change Council Chief Executive Steve Ruru behind the collaborative work joined the way Council allocates available was delighted with the award. Mr Ruru, District Mayor Gary Tong, resources and manages its strategic manager transport Joe “This is an outstanding result and 5000-kilometre roading network. Bourque and Council representatives great recognition for Southland to receive the award at the The initiatives include the use of District Council and the work that we conference dinner.

Catlins road Sealing the fi nal stretch of the sealing contracts to go out to tender Catlins road from Haldane to around Christmas, with construction Curio Bay will begin early to begin in summer 2017. next year. The sealing work will have to be done Design work on the Haldane/ over two fi nancial years because there Slope Point roads and Waipapa won’t be enough time to complete it Point lighthouse road projects is this construction season. currently being undertaken.

Southland District Council roading engineers expect the

7 From left, Tony Preston (DOC), MP Sarah Dowie, Mayor Gary Tong, charitable trust chairman Cr Paul Duffy, Community Trust of Southland trustee Margot Hishon and project manager of the DOC works Shane Hatwell. Perserverance pays off in Catlins

Fourteen years in the making, a centre itself, which will include a café, which has garnered strong support heritage project celebrating Curio Bay interpretation area and theatrette. from a number of community funders is coming to fruition. and locals alike. South Catlins Charitable Trust A Māori blessing ceremony was chairman Paul Duffy said he Southland District Mayor Gary Tong held to mark the start of work on was thrilled to see the project turned some of the fi rst sod, and developing a natural heritage centre advancing, and was confident said the tenacity of those behind the and associated facilities in the area, it would become a highlight for project would add huge value to the tourism industry in the area. an increasingly-popular visitor visitors taking in the area. destination in the Catlins. “We will watch as it fl ourishes and “This is the start of a great project. It grows,” he said. will be a magnet to a lot of visitors Before a crowd of supporters of the over the years.” planned Curio Bay Natural Heritage The project has truly been a Projections for 100,000 visitors a year Centre Tumu Toka, Te Ao Marama collaborative one, with the South to the area had materialised and that representative Dean Whaanga led the Catlins Charitable Trust, Southland was expected to top 150,000 people blessing from the start of the Living District Council and the Department during the next visitor season. Forest walkway to the future sites of of Conservation all signatories of the wastewater system and carpark, a Memorandum of Understanding On the Southern Scenic Route, Curio an ablution block with toilets, around the project. Iwi and Venture Bay is home to hoiho, Hector’s showers, a kitchen and common Southland have also had considerable dolphins, and a 180 million-year-old area for visitors, and the heritage involvement in the development, petrifi ed forest.

8 Birds in danger Stewart Island area offi ce to be relocated Southland District Council will relocate its Stewart Island area offi ce to create a combined customer support and library facility for the island’s residents. Group manager customer support Trudie Hurst said the move was part of a bid to provide more consistent service for ratepayers across the Southland District. “The purpose libraries throughout New Zealand, and all around the world, provide is changing,” she said. “They’re shifting away from merely being a place to check out books, to being part of a larger framework aimed at supporting Muriel Johnstone: Tiakina ngā tino taonga a Taramea (protecting the precious treasures the communities they serve of Taramea). through learning, digital support and providing a safe community Unleashed dogs are putting a small of the management committee and space. Southland District Council population of threatened nesting member of the local Oraka-Aparima is moving to provide combined birds in danger at Riverton. runaka, is a passionate birdwatcher. customer support and library She regularly sees evidence of the services for all Southland residents, Pohowera (banded dotterels) and damage done by dogs. including those in the Stewart Island tōrea (oystercatchers) nest in the community, to refl ect this change.” stony shellbanks above the waterline People are still able to walk freely at Taramea (Howell’s Point). The in the area, and can take dogs with The move was expected to take little birds are hard to see. Their few them as long as they are on a leash. place later this year, after IT nests are well camoufl aged and their Running loose, dogs risk disturbing systems were set up and books colour makes them blend into their nesting adults, and have been seen to were catalogued, Ms Hurst said. scatter eggs and even kill chicks. stony habitat. The changes would mean They are directly in harm’s way when The pohowera chicks are very mobile Council’s part-time customer visitors allow their dogs to run free from the day they hatch. They are support partner, committee on the shore. inquisitive and roam far, often adviser and librarian was able crossing the road on to the large grass to prioritise Council and library Taramea is a tribal property, returned and fl ax-covered areas where people service duties, she said. to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu in 1998 also let their dogs run loose, despite Council also planned to install a as part of their settlement with the rules. the Crown. No longer a reserve, it self-service issuing and returns is co-managed by Ngāi Tahu and “It’s so important that people do have machine similar to those at Southland District Council with the control of their dogs at all times.” Winton and Te Anau. In the public continuing to enjoy access to Designated dog exercise areas in future, it would give the library the popular recreational spot. Riverton are on North Beach and at the potential to provide registered the northern end of Taramea Bay. users with a 24-hour service. At peak times hundreds of people a day can visit, many walking where In the meantime, Southland District nests may be right at their feet, • Gore wildlife photographer Glenda Council was not ruling out moving to the new heritage centre and virtually un-noticed. The majority Rees has a portfolio of national hoped to continue talks with the do so responsibly, but despite signs and international award-winning Rakiura Heritage Centre Trust to posted at the entrance to the reserve images of New Zealand species. Her discuss that, Ms Hurst said. and along the shoreline there are still photograph of a nesting pohowera people fl outing the rules designed to (banded dotterel) at Taramea Council would also meet with the protect the bird population. (Howell’s Point) is featured on the Stewart Island Community Centre Muriel Johnstone, Ngāi Tahu chair cover of this copy of First Edition. Trust to go over the changes.

9 Water

DRINKING WATER IN Te Anau SOUTHLAND SAFE wastewater report due Southland District Council is advisingg its customers that community water soon supply systems in the south are unlikely to face issues similar to those Discussions on the proposed that have caused a public health crisis wastewater treatment and in Havelock North. disposal scheme in Te Anau are set to begin again soon. Thousands in the North Island town became sick after the water supply Last year Southland District system there became contaminated Council was granted consent with the bacteria campylobacter. for an upgrade of the existing wastewater scheme, which Southland District Council water and would involve changes to the waste services project and programme treatment process and subsequent manager Bevan McKenzie said it safety plans for each of their drinking disposal of treated wastewater was highly unlikely the same would supplies to ensure they were meeting to land north of Te Anau Airport happen here because, unlike in the standards.” . However, the consent Havelock North, all of the Southland was appealed and subsequently “As part of those water safety plans, District’s drinking water supply moved into mediation. systems were treated. Southland District Council has to carry out a risk assessment of Southland District Council “Southland District Council treats each catchment area, which in turn strategic manager water and all of its drinking water supplies to determines the level of treatment we waste Ian Evans said that as part ensure our communities stay safe, and carry out to make sure our water is of the mediation, all the involved a lot of background work goes into safe to drink. Some water supplies parties agreed to wait for a report making sure the treatment of each operated by Southland District that would compare Council’s particular water supply is adequate to Council are treated using a variety proposed method of irrigation protect our communities,” he said. of methods, including microfi ltration with an alternative sub-surface, or Council has 12 community drinking and UV treatment, and all of our below ground, option. water supplies. drinking water supplies are treated with chlorine to kill any bacteria that “After that report has been “Several years ago the government may be harboured within the water,” completed, experts representing introduced new drinking water he said. all parties will meet to go standards, which outlined over the parts of the report to requirements for drinking water Regular testing of the Council’s establish points of agreement safety around the country,” he said. drinking water supplies was carried and points of disagreement. out and the Ministry of Health After that, we can move into “Part of the introduction of these also required that Council provide mediation again,” he said. new standards meant operators evidence it was meeting the national of public drinking water supplies, drinking water standards every year, Mediation will resume on like councils, had to develop water Mr McKenzie said. 7 October.

10 Water

Rural water supply users reminded to take care

Southlanders are being reminded ○ Princhester some rural water supplies are for ○ Mount York stock only. ○ Ramparts Southland District Council water and waste services operations/ ○ Kakapo project engineer Matt Keil said ○ Five Rivers media coverage of problems with “What has happened in Havelock the water supply in Havelock North really illustrates how important North, which had caused a it is for people to make sure they public health crisis, was a timely aren’t consuming water from sources reminder for those further south they know aren’t safe. You could end to make sure they were not up seriously sick.” consuming water that might be unsafe to drink. Customers were also reminded that any damage to pipework or “We want to remind everybody infrastructure such as valves or tanks, some of the rural water supply which happened on public or private schemes here in Southland property within any Council-operated District may not be safe for human rural water supply, was the fi nancial consumption. The water from responsibility of the person who these schemes is non-potable, ordered that work to take place, Mr which means it isn’t safe for us to Keil said. drink, and they should be used for stock water supply only,” he said. The water and waste team asked ratepayers to let Council know before The rural water supply sites in any excavation work was carried out, Southland are: to help with locating buried utilities, ○ Matuku he said. ○ Duncraigen Customers who had questions or ○ Homestead wanted more information should contact the water and waste services ○ Takitimu department on 0800 732 732.

We are recommending this simple precaution Although the health risk is for all households, small, the Ministry of Health including those on recommends you fl ush a public and private Some plumbing mugful of water from your water supplies. fi ttings have the drinking-water tap each potential to allow morning before use to minute traces of remove any metals which metals to accumulate may have dissolved from in water standing in the plumbing fi ttings. the fi ttings for several hours.

11 Road Safety

Road safety messages part of Kidzone festivities Southland’s youngsters mixed learning with fun at the annual ILT Kidzone Festival.

Road Safety Southland road user safety adviser Maureen Deuchrass said key road safety messages, covering topics from the importance of wearing a seatbelt to how to stay safe while cycling, were reinforced amid the festivities, which attracts thousands of Southland children and their families. “This was the fourth time Road Safety

Keep left Keep Southland has gone to Kidzone, and it is an absolutely amazing opportunity to hold face-to-face conversations with families about ways they can ensure their children stay safe on our roads,” she said. “Being able to meet Southland Southland District Council is at the Associate Transport Minister Craig families, and encourage our kids to forefront of a national campaign to keep Foss said record numbers of tourists think about road safety, is invaluable. drivers safe on New Zealand roads. were travelling to New Zealand - Being able to interact with them in 3.3 million in the year to June - and a fun and positive way to get those The national Visiting Drivers many were opting to self-drive. key messages across goes a long way Signature Project involves a range in ensuring that our kids come home “The ‘Drive on Left’ signs will of road safety initiatives pitched at safely each day.” help visitors safely negotiate busy every stage of a visitor’s holiday, driveways and intersections.” Children who visited the Road Safety from planning, booking and in-fl ight, Southland team at Kidzone were to arrival and travelling on New The latest overseas driver crash encouraged to become the “seat belt Zealand roads. statistics released by the Ministry police” for their whanau, always ensuring their family members made it A key part of the strategy is installing of Transport show overseas drivers click before setting off on their journey. signs at key locations, reminding were at fault in less than fi ve percent Meanwhile, close to 2000 people tried drivers to keep left. In Southland, of fatal and injury crashes on New Zealand roads from 2011 to 2015. the seat belt simulator – a machine that the District Council has placed signs crashes at slow speed to emphasise the at the following spots on popular “The number of overseas drivers need to wear a seatbelt correctly at all tourist roads: involved in crashes has stayed times, Mrs Deuchrass said. • Niagara-Tokanui/Chaslands relatively consistent at a time when Road Safety Southland partnered highway intersection international visitor numbers have with police to encourage safe cycling • Waikawa Curio Bay/Haldane increased by about 30 per cent,” Mr messages as well. This included being Curio intersection Foss said. “While we still have some bright on a bike by using lights and hi-vis gear, the importance of hand • Slope Point/Haldane Curio way to go, each new initiative builds signals, and staying in the correct intersection on the last to create a safer system for all road users.” positions and places when on the road. • Waipapa Otara/Otara Haldane intersection Children also had the chance to The NZ Transport Agency is have a go on the Pedal Power bike • Weir Road/Hillside Manapouri working with other organisations, and compete against others in their intersection including motels and tourism age group for the fastest time – a • Weir Road/Blackmount Redcliff operators, to install even more signs fun activity that proved especially intersection around the country. popular, Mrs Deuchrass said. 12 Rural Fire Plan properly before farm burnoff

Farmers are being urged to thoroughly manage risks Things to consider when burning during burnoffs after a company was fi ned $72,000 and ► Plan the conditions you need to burn, taking into ordered to pay reparation of $107,000 following the death account weather, topography and fuel. of an employee. ► Consider what equipment and people you will need to The employee died when he became trapped by fi re in a manage the fi re. gully during a burnoff on a 13,500-hectare high country ► Always have planned escape routes, in case things station near Cromwell on 3 September 2014. don’t go to plan. WorkSafe New Zealand’s investigation found the company ► Have adequate communication and position a person did not have an effective system for managing health and to act as a lookout. safety, and there was no documented plan in place for a ► Ensure employees have adequate training for the burnoff - considered a high-risk task. task and supervision. This incident is a tragic reminder that planning and ► Conduct a briefi ng with all involved before you the use of good information is essential for a safe and start burning. effective burnoff. ► Ensure everyone is wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. For many farmers and landowners, burnoffs are a useful and routine tool to remove rank vegetation and ► Wear natural fi bre clothing. encourage growth. ► Keep your legs and arms covered. It’s important to think about the risks and how to manage ► Wear sturdy lace-up leather boots. those risks. ► Wear heavy leather gloves if required. Southern Rural Fire will help you burn safely. ► Wear a helmet if required.

Bad winter for burnoffs This fi re is too close to Vegetation fi res don’t stop in winter. the hedge. Southern Rural fi refi ghters were kept busy attending 13 vegetation fi res in June and July. Winter started late and, although it was wet, there were many days that were relatively warm, windy or frosty. These conditions contributed to moisture evaporating from vegetation, particularly in areas which are sheltered from rain, such as under hedges, heightening the risk of vegetation fi res getting out of control. Southern Rural Fire community and education co- ordinator Sally Chesterfi eld said that even during the wettest months, regular callouts of fi refi ghters showed that stuff still burns in winter. safe. Keep in mind the worst-case scenario. Wind was a signifi cant factor in many of these callouts, ► Keep an eye on your fi re throughout burning and she said, carrying embers into dry material, such as under watch out for any changes in weather. hedges or buildings. ► Once your fi re is out go back a number of times and KEEP YOUR FIRE SAFE make sure it is out. Fires can fl are up months after they have been lit. Some guidelines to use all year round: Southern Rural Fire encourages people to burn during ► Ensure vegetation is piled at least 30 metres away winter when the fi re danger is low. However, Ms and on the downwind side of any hedges, trees, fences, Chesterfi eld said fi refi ghters had real concern for what building or other combustible material. The greater summer may hold, after so many people had diffi culty the distance the safer it is. controlling their fi res this winter. ► Check the forecast and make sure there are no strong Southern Rural Fire was always happy to come and check winds forecast for the next two days planned burnoffs, big or small, and provide free advice on ► Ensure you have enough equipment to keep your fi re how to burn safely and get the best result.

For advice call 0800 7733 63, or fi nd out more at www.southernruralfi re.org.nz 13 Labour of love at

It’s one thing to have pride in your Area subcommittee. community. It’s quite another “We come down here all the time. thing to devote hundreds of hours If we’ve got a spare hour we come of voluntary labour to making it a down,” he said. better place. He cleared the way, carving a path Ray Waghorn’s labour of love is the with tractor and chainsaw through the Gorge Road domain walkway. unkempt tangle of trees, overgrown It has been a three-year project to get scrub, convolvulus, blackberries and the walkway to the point where Ray’s gorse that had taken hold around the happy with it, and “we can see the northern and western perimeters of fi nish line now”, he said. the Gorge Road domain, levelling the ground and mulching the 79 trees he Ray and his wife Rita, who live at dropped to form planting beds. Waituna Lagoon, are passionate about the Gorge Road district. Their Ray, Rita and two fellow members of kids went to school there, and Ray the Gorge Road Garden Club, Joyce is chairman of the Gorge Road and Bell and Dorothy Smith, did most of Districts Community Development the planting. Joyce is “really driving it’’, says Ray. “She’s the backbone of this”. Ray and Rita Waghorn at the gateway to the Gorge Road walkway. She’s provided great ideas and “it must be hundreds of plants”, he said. A recent planting of more than 400 native seedlings brought the current phase to its conclusion, with about 50 metres on the southern stretch of the walkway planted out in New Zealand natives. Southland District Council community engineer Brendan Gray was there to lend a hand, digging holes just like his predecessor, Irwin Harvey, had on many occasions. “The commitment of our engineers to helping us has been a major part of the battle won,”he said. The longer northern, highway- facing stretch of the walkway is populated with brightly fl owering plants, including rhododendrons and camellias. Ray wanted to provide a colourful contrast to drivers approaching the Gorge Road Country Club corner. The Country Club has a small area of the walkway, as does Waituna Landcare Group, while the Landcare group’s chairman Gay Munro has helped Gorge Road School to plant out another section of the reserve. The job’s not over yet. Ray is already looking forward another fi ve to eight years, to when the seedlings they’ve

14 planted form a natural forest fl axes before next winter. canopy and another programme He’s appreciative of all the of planting can happen. help his small team has had Before then, though, his mission over the three years of work is to extend the walkway so far, including the Council through the rough scrub to Taskforce, councillors, and the community centre, on the CDA members Mark Hamill, southern side of the school, so George Kevern and Helen that tourists and visitors can O’Connor, who spent an walk a complete loop from the entire day shovelling and community centre, behind the raking woodchips. school, around the reserve and “It’s those helping hands that along a gravel track adjacent made it all possible. to the highway back to the community centre. “Putting the walkway in would have been a mammoth job for Ray intends to get on his tractor just the garden club. to start that job within the next few weeks. His aim is to have the “There’s been a lot of time gone foundations ready by Christmas, into this,” said Ray, with a laugh. and the complete walkway “But it’s something we’re going formed and planted out in hardy to get a lot of pride out of.” The paper used in every issue of First Edition is made up of 50% recycled fi bre, which consists of... 35% pre-consumer and 15% post-consumer recycled fi bre. 50% of the paper used is Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) and derived from renewable resources. In addition, the bleaching process for each page is chlorine and toxin free. And of course once you are fi nished with this issue why not recycle it? Next up is the rough scrub behind the school.

15 Our Southlanders...

Winton’s famed gardens eg Leach is a human dynamo are a proud landmark of of energy at 81 years young. the town. They are a living PHer lively conversations are sprinkled with colourful anecdotes tribute to the work of and sharp observations. the Winton Garden Club, which this year celebrates She’s also a fastidious note-taker. 50 years. For much of that Her records are immaculate. Scrapbooks, photo albums and time they were tended by diaries bulge with her notes and Winton’s guardian of the newspaper clippings detailing the gardens, Peg Leach, who Winton Garden Club’s involvement has passed on the flame to with the town’s lovely gardens. her protégé, Robyn Bye. They’re a potted history of the town’s development since 1966, the year the garden club was formed. Peg says she claims her successor as guardian of the Winton gardens, Robyn Bye, as her sixth daughter. The two share a passion for Winton’s ongoing beautifi cation programme, the envy of many a town. Peg was an original member of the Council to maintain them. Winton Garden Club. She’s lived in Winton since she moved there from For about the fi rst 10 years Winton Invercargill when she was 12. Garden Club members donated their time, skills and services to maintain the In the late 1960s the club started town’s gardens. It wasn’t until 1973, a letter-writing campaign to whip when the job of looking after the RSA up support for beautifying Winton and Post Offi ce plots was handed back by establishing public gardens. to the Winton Borough Council, that Members wrote to the Winton Peg became a paid, part-time employee. Borough Council, Lions, Jaycees and Rotary. The pay didn’t come close to covering her actual hours. And sometimes she Early drivers in the town’s used the money to buy more plants beautifi cation, before the garden for Winton. Her fi rst pay was spent club was formed, were Robin Pagan, replacing some annuals which had now Invercargill City Council parks been eaten by wandering sheep outside manager, his brother Mervyn and the RSA. Mervyn’s wife Elizabeth, and former mayoress Hilda Cocker. From about 1980 Peg was down to a couple of helpers looking after The fi rst Winton Beautifi cation Committee was formed in 1971, with individual flower beds and by the mandate to identify areas where 1984 she was going it alone, on the plots could be established, with help fulltime payroll. from the garden club. Winton’s gardens became a lifestyle For a start there were six gardens. for Peg and her late husband Bob. Much later there were 26. In time They bought a quarter-acre section Peg was looking after them all, with next door to their own after Bob help from members of the garden retired in 1992. Bob bowled the house, club. Some of those original gardens cleared the section of rubbish, bottles have disappeared, many replaced by and weeds, constructed 26 planting more easily maintained plots. beds and built shelves, developing the section into a remarkable nursery Now there are more than 30 where the couple grew plants for Peg’s gardens, plots and planter boxes, public garden plots. spread throughout Winton. It’s a fulltime job for Robyn, who has a In 1999, work started on constructing contract with Southland District Winton’s now famous centre median 16 PEG LEACH & ROBYN BYE

Winton, large groups of club members to see if she was up to Peg’s exacting were involved. They were the guiding standards. She passed with fl oral lights in planning improvements for colours. Peg stepped down at the the town’s new gardens, all of them end of 2006, and Robyn took over driven by a desire to see their dream the fulltime contract looking after come to fruition. Winton’s iconic gardens in 2007. The plot on the corner of Great North The two are very similar in outlook, Road and Meldrum Street, near Robyn says. “That’s why she’s my the big white shop, is the Winton Winton mum.” Garden Club’s bed, a personalised Their skills are complementary, they commemoration of the start of agree. Peg is good with the perennials Winton’s beautifi cation project. and plants, while Robyn’s forte is the Peg says that, looking back, what trees, shrubs and roses. the Winton Garden Club and a large Robyn continues Peg’s important number of enthusiastic helpers and work today, with voluntary help donors have achieved in the town is on Wednesdays from garden club quite unbelievable. member Joyce Wilson. She credits Jaycees, Lions, Rotary, She also looks after plots at Browns, Winton Area Promotions, footballers Dipton and Nightcaps. and husbands, Guide leaders, Rangers and Brownies, council workers, People still offer Robyn plants for the plots. Peg started planting them Central Southland College students, Winton gardens. “That’s really nice,” out in 2001. They could be heavy workforce groups, Gwen Boyd, Betty she says. “People don’t like throwing digging. Poor soil had been supplied McGregor, Lex Golightly, Olive plants out.” for one particular plot, and Peg Calder, Jill Soper, Yvonne McKerchar * Peg Leach, Shirley Springford recalls pounding through large, dry and now Joyce Wilson with helping to and Patricia Preston were made clay clods and taking them away brighten up the town. life members of the Winton by the tray load of her wee green For 11 years, Peg’s daughter Michele Garden Club recently. All three truck, nicknamed Kermit. “It was a also worked alongside her mum. are original members. shocker,” she says. Robyn says it is an honour to have In the early years there were no water carried on Peg’s work. “The Winton HELPING HANDS taps near Peg’s garden plots. She used gardens are so unique ... They’re for the to carry the water to them in buckets. community and it’s still got that feel.” Robyn Bye’s work in the community extends much further than her day “Peg did it hard,” says Robyn. She’s trying to keep the spirit of the job. She is also the co-ordinator “Maybe that’s why I’ve got a bad original gardens. She and Peg agree of the year-old charitable group back,” Peg adds quickly. that gardens are benefi cial to your Helping Hands. health. ”It brings a wee smile to your Winton looked quite different before face,” she says. “It’s important.” The group, which Robyn started the colourful centre plots. It was like a last September, is made up of ghost town, Robyn observes. Robyn arrived on the scene in 2006, 20 volunteers who maintain spending that year working with Peg. home gardens, mow lawns, When work began on beautifying Secretly, she was being auditioned, water tunnel houses and care for pets throughout the District when a medical issue leaves property owners unable to do that themselves for a little while. Helping Hands offers short-term support, free of charge. Robyn tries to match the volunteer to the client, to forge a personal relationship while the client recovers. ► If you or someone you know needs help, phone Robyn Bye: 0274 182 053

17 Emergency Management Southlanders take part in national civil defence exercise Southlanders who will play a key role in responding to an emergency put their skills to the test during a nation- wide civil defence exercise. Emergency Management Southland manager Angus McKay said around 250 Southlanders were involved in Exercise Tangaroa, a drill to refresh the knowledge of civil defence teams public from affected areas. Co- ifs’, which is exactly what we will face around the country and their plans to ordination and co-operation from all when something does happen,” he said. prepare for, respond to and recover our emergency service partners was “It’s a great opportunity for us to from a disaster. excellent,” Mr McKay said. practice the systems and processes In Māori mythology, Tangaroa is In Southland, the Tangaroa we would use in the event of a real the god of the sea, rivers, and lakes tsunami swept along much of the emergency. In the event of a tsunami – fi tting, given the exercise required region’s coastline and forced civil occurring closer to Southland civil defence teams to respond to defence teams to evacuate coastal please remember there will not be the scenario of an earthquake in the communities, set up road blocks, and time for any offi cial warning. If you Kermadec Trench, which generated a establish a welfare centre at Stadium are by the sea and feel a long or tsunami that hit New Zealand in less Southland, he said. strong earthquake you need to take than three hours. action immediately and move to “The exercise was designed to higher ground.” “The fi rst day of the exercise focused challenge everybody working on on the response to a tsunami and the response, and so replicated what Exercise Tangaroa was a three-day we very quickly implemented our could happen in a real emergency event, held over August contingency plan to evacuate the scenario. It threw up all sorts of ‘what and September.

in if an emergency struck, he said. aimed to help increase community Emergency awareness of hazards, empower “Because of Southland’s large communities to take ownership of geographical size, and the number management their readiness to minimise harmful of rural communities that make up impacts of an emergency, and our region, there is the potential plan identifi es provide a leading document partner for communities to become isolated agencies could use to inform their very quickly.” risks in Southland own emergency management Southland was particularly planning, he said. A review into Southland’s vulnerable to earthquakes, fl ooding, It was also leading a working emergency management has and tsunamis. A key focus of the plan group to look at hazards in outlined risks that the region could was on reducing the negative impact Fiordland, which recognised the face in a disaster. disasters could have on Southland’s national signifi cance of tourism in communities, Mr McKay said. Emergency Management Southland the area, as well as a manager Angus McKay said a “One of the main goals in this process initiative, Project AF8, to produce a draft Emergency Management is to maximise our community response plan for when the Alpine Group Plan had been released to engagement, and fi gure out tangible Fault ruptured. the public for submissions and ways Emergency Management “The reality is that a disaster will work was now under way to Southland can connect with different strike Southland sooner rather than produce a fi nal document. communities and the agencies within later – we cannot change that. What them, to ensure Southlanders stay One of the main fi ndings to we can do, however, is make sure safe,” he said. come out of the plan was around our communities are prepared the the isolation some Southland During the next fi ve years, best they can be for whatever comes communities could fi nd themselves Emergency Management Southland our way.”

18 Art in the heart of Otautau

An old building in the heart of “Art is good for the soul, and Otautau has been given a new lease communities need their old buildings.” on life. The gallery stocks work by high- Southland District Mayor Gary profi le New Zealand artists including Tong offi cially opened the Otautau John K Reed, Rachael Errington and Gallery, in the town’s Main Street, Kate Williamson, as well as crafts and at a ceremony attended by about collectable souvenirs. 40 people. Ms Hopkins said the pair had The gallery, which sells New Zealand- received great support from made artworks and crafts, is in the Southland District Council staff historic former Otautau Methodist including Kelly Tagg, Marcus Roy Church. It was built in 1902 from and Michael Marron while they heart rimu milled a few kilometres worked to set up the gallery. away at Fairfax. “We’ve been really blessed to have Robert McGowan, who bought the old that much attention.” church with gallery manager Pamela Hopkins, said the bones of the building were good but it had been a big job over two and a half years to restore the building to its former glory. Mayor Tong congratulated the couple for investing in Otautau, and hoped they would inspire people in other towns to follow suit. Ms Hopkins said they had chosen to start their business in Otautau because it was a cool community and they had fallen in love with the historic church. “It really pains me to see some of these old buildings lost,” she said. “We deliberately kept the building as it was in 1902. This is a celebration of Southland District Mayor Gary Tong with Otautau Gallery owners Pamela Hopkins this old girl. and Robert McGowan.

Alcohol Policy operational. sites nearby, such as schools and Southland-wide churches, and could include other Southland District Council conditions the District Licensing alcohol policy environmental health manager Committees decides to impose when Michael Sarfaiti said District Licensing granting a licence.” comes into force Committees would refer to the policy when making decisions about The policy came into effect on 30 An alcohol policy Southland District applications for alcohol licences. August, but Policy B1 (relating Council developed alongside other to trading hours) will become territorial authorities in the south has “The Local Alcohol Policy, or LAP, operational on 7 December. come into effect. includes rules around what hours businesses can operate between, to The development of the policy The Southland-wide alcohol policy make this more consistent across the followed a similar process to the is the result of three councils – region,” he said. adoption of the Local Approved Southland District, Invercargill Products Policy, where Southland’s City, and Gore District – agreeing “The LAP also means people councils combined to restrict the to a combined Local Alcohol Policy. wanting to set up a new alcohol- sale of herbal highs anywhere in Southland District Councillors earlier licensed premises will have to carry Southland excluding Invercargill’s this year voted to make the Local out consultation with sensitive central business district. 19 Preliminary plans for the redevelopment of the former Riverton Soundshell site at Taramea Bay have been accepted New reserve and signed off by the Riverton Community Board. Work has started and the digger is expected to move in to in Riverton prepare the ground for the concrete pad soon. Planting is scheduled to begin after summer when weather conditions will be more favourable.

Wyndham Museum

It’s business as usual at the Wyndham museum as a new home is sought for its impressive collection. More than 7000 pieces, not including archives, are held by the Wyndham and Districts Historical Society in its museum in Balaclava Street. The museum building is owned by Southland District Council, but it is earthquake-prone and therefore Council wants it closed to the public for the safety of both the public and volunteers by January 2018 at the latest. Society members want the museum to continue in Wyndham and are trying to prevent the collection being broken up and displayed elsewhere. Council roving museum offi cer Jo Massey and Venture Southland community development planner Tina Harvey are working with the society to fi nd the best solution. Meanwhile, the collection is being inventoried. The Wyndham and District Historical Museum is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from 2pm to 4pm, and will open on request. The Wyndham and District Historical Museum building in Balaclava Street. 20 Venture Southland New tourism strategy for Energy trial at Catlins released Southland farm hailed as a success

A trial to turn milking shed waste into energy has proven a success, with a methane recovery unit recently commissioned on a Southland dairy farm. The trial was a collaboration between Venture Southland, Glenarlea Farms Ltd, dairy engineering consultancy fi rm Dairy Green Ltd, and the Energy Effi ciency and Conservation Authority. The farm, owned by Glenarlea, now had an effl uent pond that had been covered to collect the methane gas Plans to grow tourism in the The projected tourism boom for the produced from its waste when it was Catlins have been outlined in a new past 10 years had happened, and it broken down by microbes. The gas is strategy document. was important to develop products compressed and used to fuel a generator that complemented what was The Catlins Coast Community that is expected to produce 50 kilowatts available to visitors for free, she said. Tourism Strategy 2016-26 follows on of electricity each year – enough to from an original strategy put in place “It’s also important to manage and power 10 standard households. in 2004 and sets out a framework to monitor visitors as effectively as Venture Southland enterprise and guide the development of the tourism possible. The new strategy notes the strategic projects group manager industry in the area. importance of continued stakeholder Steve Canny said while it was not understanding and collaboration, Catlins Coast Inc chairperson Robyn the fi rst methane recovery setup in which is the key factor responsible for Shanks said she was delighted a New Zealand, the unit was signifi cant the success the area has experienced revised strategy had been completed. because it was thought the all- in the past 10 years,” she said. important microbes that break down The group had worked steadily Six goals were developed as part of the the biomass may not have generated during the past 10 years with a strategy, which also looked at projects enough methane effectively because variety of groups in the area, she said. related to infrastructure, product of the colder southern climate. “The unifi cation of the community development, environment and That the Southland trial had worked through community projects has heritage and promotion and marketing. was encouraging for a number of been pivotal in the development of The goals were: reasons, he said. tourism in the Catlins. Community groups have maintained a strong • To protect and preserve the “The beauty is that the project is level of communication and support community and environment using the pond that every dairy farm regardless of the relative isolation from the negative impacts of has, to generate energy and limit and small population base, due to the tourism greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. passion and dedication of committed • To ensure effi cient collaboration “This farm has more than 900 cows, volunteers in the area,” she said. between all stakeholders but there’s no reason why methane The next stage of the strategy was to associated with tourism could not be recovered from any develop a clear implementation plan sized operation and utilised in a • To create economic social for the community, which Venture similar fashion. We encourage dairy and cultural returns on tourism Southland was supporting, she said. unit owners to consider undertaking investment a similar conversion.” Venture Southland’s group manager • To improve knowledge and community development, tourism As well as supplying around 75 understanding of tourism and events Bobbi Brown said the percent of the farm’s electricity needs, Catlins was a natural treasure. The • To improve tourism infrastructure water heated using the generator strategy highlighted this and would was used to clean the dairy shed – • To effectively market and promote be key to advancing economic removing the need to use detergents the area to potential visitors that accompany cold water washes. opportunities in the area without compromising the community or The strategy is available to download The system is expected to pay for environment, she said. at venturesouthland.co.nz itself in six years.

21 Animal Control Young Southlanders learn dog safety skills

A programme that teaches young children dog safety skills has made its way to Southland’s classrooms. Southland District Council animal control offi cer Julie Gillan said the DogSmart programme was rolled out to primary schools in the south this winter, with Milly the golden retriever proving popular with are chanting ‘if a dog’s on its own, to approach a dog, what dog owners Southland youngsters. leave it alone’ like they’ve known it need to do to look after their pet, and for years,” she said. what to do to stay safe if children The programme had a proven track encountered a threatening dog, she record, having been successfully run “As soon as it begins they’re engaged said. by Christchurch City Council for and eager to answer questions and several years, and so far Southland share stories of their own. It’s fantastic “It is absolutely critical children audiences had given it a warm to see the enthusiasm coming from are aware of how to behave around reception, she said. them,” she said. dogs from a really young age. The DogSmart programme gives them the “The programme is really interactive Each session, which run from 45 skills they need to be safer.” and fun for the children, as it’s minutes to an hour depending on the designed to be at their level, but it has age of the children, involved dogs If your school is interested in taking really strong key messages within it. taught by qualifi ed trainers. Key part, contact the Animal Control team By the end of the session the children messages it covered included how on 0800 732 732.

22 Animal Control

New dog “We want to make it as easy as possible for dog owners here in the Southland District to remember where control signage they can and can’t take their pet. With the new signs, we can educate people in Southland and make them aware of the rules in their area,” she said. Hundreds of new signs reminding “Introducing the new bylaw was a Southlanders of changes to dog good opportunity to replace quite a control have started sprouting up in lot of the signage around the place, as the District. some of it was quite old and needed a refresh.” Animal control offi cer Julie Gillan said dog control rules in some parts The signs advised people if the area of the District had changed after they were in was a dog exercise area, a new animal control bylaw was a dogs prohibited area, or a dogs on approved in 2015. leads allowed area, she said.

Youth Council Skatepark shelter close to opening

College, said she was thrilled to see the project’s progress. “It’s so cool to see it almost done,” she said. The shelter would not have been able to go ahead if it had not been for other groups backing the idea she and Kataraina had together, she said. The project had turned into a real community effort, drawing funding from Council, the Riverton Community Board, and several community groups. “It’s been awesome how much support we’ve had from people in the community. We appreciate it From left, Riverton Community Board chairman Blair Stewart, Marinecraft and so much.” Fibreglass owner Cory Ward and Southland District Youth Councillor Chloe Gorton at Riverton Community Board chairman Mr Ward’s workshop, where the shelter is taking shape. Blair Stewart said the shelter would Two Riverton teenagers who came initiative last year. be a great addition to the town. up with the idea to build a skatepark LeadLab Southland paired young “It’s a really cool initiative led by two shelter for the town’s young people people from across the district with young people here in Riverton, and are thrilled the fi nish line is in sight. Council staffers, who mentored the it’s going to look great,” he said. Southland District Youth Councillor young people in their quest to “The youth of the area are our future Chloe Gorton and her cousin carry out community projects of and it’s just great to see them coming Kataraina Harris – herself a former their choosing. up with a project like this, for other youth councillor – submitted young people in the town. The design The skatepark shelter will be offi cially their plan to install a shelter at looks really good and it will defi nitely opened soon. Riverton’s skatepark as part of the enhance Riverton. They should be youth council’s LeadLab Southland Chloe, who is head girl at Aparima very proud of themselves,” he said. 23 Hundreds of Southland children had a ILT Kidzone Festival ball at the ILT Kidzone Festival during the school holidays. The festival runs for six days and is wildly popular, attracting children of all ages and their families.

Photos Tim Bright, Venture Southland

First Rate winner

Congratulations to Rachel and Craig Reed, who won 1000 Fly Buys points when they signed up to pay their Southland District Council rates by direct debit. Rachel and Craig were presented with their prize by BNZ senior partner Luke MacPherson. Thanks to BNZ for the prize. We offer you lots of ways to pay your rates. For more information, check out the Rates options under My Property on southlanddc.govt.nz

24 New citizens Fifteen new Southlanders can now offi cially call the district home. The newly-minted Kiwis, who originally hailed from the Ukraine, Great Britain, the Philippines, South Africa and the Netherlands, took part in a citizenship ceremony at Southland District Council. Mayor Gary Tong told them he hoped they would continue to make the Southland District their home, and he encouraged them to become active members of their communities.

Te Anau bike trail A fl ock of keen cyclists gathered to try out a new bike trail starting in Te Anau. After several years in the pipeline, Fiordland Trails Trust opened the fi rst stage of the trail, which will eventually connect Te Anau and Manapouri. The 10-kilometre fi rst leg of the trail runs from the Department of Conservation visitor centre to Queens Reach.

Photos Rachel Cockburn

25 Libraries World of newspaper and magazine titles available

Newspaper and magazine junkies will fi nd plenty on offer at Southland District Libraries.

District libraries manager Lynda Hodge said a new service called Press Reader had just been installed and was ready and waiting for keen readers. Press Reader gave library users access Southland District Council customer support partner Tania Allen checks out the new Press Reader service. to newspapers from around the world – titles from 70 countries, available in Users could access the service on their Southland District Library card and 37 languages – as well as an extensive smartphones, tablets, or their own a PIN number. For help or more range of international and home- computers as well as in their local information on accessing the service, grown magazine titles. library – all they needed was a current talk to the library team. Multicultural resources available for library users

Southland District Libraries are keen For those new to Southland, their to transcend cultural differences and local library also has plenty to offer. offer resources to support the region’s growing diversity. Available throughout the district are resources to translate English phrases As well as extensive resources in Te and common words, as well as early Reo Māori, Southland District Libraries readers that anybody could borrow has a burgeoning collection of items and audio books to aid listening in available in Tagalog, including picture English. All of the public computers books, as well as resources showcasing at Southland District Libraries can be the Filipino culture, history, language, set to display in a range of languages myths and legends. and access is free.

26 Mobile Library Timetable September – December 2016

* Denotes a public holiday Athol Shop Noon-1pm Tues 6-Sep 4-Oct 1-Nov 29-Nov Balfour Tavern 4.30-6.30pm Tues 20-Sep 18-Oct 15-Nov 13-Dec School 1.30-3.00pm Thurs 8-Sep 6-Oct 3-Nov 1-Dec Blackmount School 10-11am Mon 5-Sep 3-Oct 31-Oct 28-Nov Dacre Hall 9-10am Fri 23-Sep 21-Oct 18-Nov 16-Dec Dipton School 11-Noon Tues 20-Sep 18-Oct 15-Nov 13-Dec Drummond School 10.30-Noon Wed 21-Sep 19-Oct 16-Nov 14-Dec Edendale Car Park 1-4pm Fri 9-Sep 7-Oct 4-Nov 2-Dec School 10.30-Noon Fri 23-Sep 21-Oct 18-Nov 16-Dec Fortrose Picnic Area 3-4pm Fri 23-Sep 21-Oct 18-Nov 16-Dec Garston School 1.30-2.30pm Tues 6-Sep 4-Oct 1-Nov 29-Nov Village 2.30-3.30pm Tues 6-Sep 4-Oct 1-Nov 29-Nov Glenham School 1-2pm Fri 23-Sep 21-Oct 18-Nov 16-Dec Gorge Rd Hall 11am-12.30pm Tues 27-Sep 25-Oct 22-Nov 17-Jan Hauroko Valley School 1-2pm Mon 5-Sep 3-Oct 31-Oct 28-Nov Heddon Bush School 1.30-2.30pm Wed 21-Sep 19-Oct 16-Nov 14-Dec Hedgehope Hall 11am-12.30pm Fri 16-Sep 14-Oct 11-Nov 9-Dec Isla Bank School 9-10am Wed 21-Sep 19-Oct 16-Nov 14-Dec Limehills School 9.15am-10.30am Thurs 15-Sep 13-Oct 10-Nov 8-Dec Longbush Kindergarten 9-10am Fri 9-Sep 7-Oct 4-Nov 2-Dec RSA 9.30-10.30am Tues 6-Sep 4-Oct 1-Nov 29-Nov School 1.30-3.30pm Tues 20-Sep 18-Oct 15-Nov 13-Dec Community Centre 2-4pm Thurs 15-Sep 13-Oct 10-Nov 8-Dec Main Street 3-4pm Mon 5-Sep 3-Oct 31-Oct 28-Nov Otara Hall 2.30-4pm Wed 28-Sep 26-Oct 23-Nov 18-Jan Pukerau School 9.30-11.30am Wed 7-Sep 5-Oct 2-Nov 30-Nov Rimu School 10.30-11.30am Fri 9-Sep 7-Oct 4-Nov 2-Dec Riversdale School 11am-12.30pm Thurs 8-Sep 6-Oct 3-Nov 1-Dec Community Centre 2-4.30pm Thurs 22-Sep 20-Oct 17-Nov 15-Dec Playcentre 9.15-10am Tues 27-Sep 25-Oct 22-Nov 17-Jan Ryal Bush Community Centre 2.30-4pm Fri 16-Sep 14-Oct 11-Nov 9-Dec School 9.30-10.30am Fri 16-Sep 14-Oct 11-Nov 9-Dec Thornbury Hall 3-4pm Wed 14-Sep 12-Oct 9-Nov 7-Dec Tokanui Main Street 1.30-4pm Fri 2-Sep 30-Sep 28-Oct 25-Nov School 9.30-11am Mon 19-Sep 17-Oct 14-Nov 12-Dec Hall 1-2pm Wed 14-Sep 12-Oct 9-Nov 7-Dec School 9-10.30am Thurs 8-Sep 6-Oct 3-Nov 1-Dec Community Centre 10.15-11.30am Thurs 22-Sep 20-Oct 17-Nov 15-Dec Waikaka Main Street 2-4pm Wed 7-Sep 5-Oct 2-Nov 30-Nov Waikawa Hall 10am-Noon Fri 2-Sep 30-Sep 28-Oct 25-Nov School 11.30am-1pm Wed 28-Sep 26-Oct 23-Nov 18-Jan Waituna PlayCentre 9.30-10.30am Wed 28-Sep 26-Oct 23-Nov 18-Jan Wallacetown Community Centre 9am-Noon Wed 14-Sep 12-Oct 9-Nov 7-Dec Wendon Hall Noon-12.30pm Thurs 22-Sep 20-Oct 17-Nov 15-Dec Wendonside Hall 9.30-10am Thurs 22-Sep 20-Oct 17-Nov 15-Dec Willowbank School 12.30-1.30pm Wed 7-Sep 5-Oct 2-Nov 30-Nov Woodlands Shop 2-4pm Tues 27-Sep 25-Oct 22-Nov 17-Jan School 2-4pm Mon 19-Sep 17-Oct 14-Nov 12-Dec Any queries, requests or renewals: please telephone the Winton Library 0800 732 542. Note: the following areas have fortnightly visits: Balfour, Riversdale, Waikaia, Mossburn, Edendale, Tokanui, Woodlands. Renewals can be made by email to: [email protected] 27 Otautau honours its heroes

People of all ages gathered at the Otautau War Memorial as Southland District Mayor Gary Tong opened the town’s new World War II commemorative kiosk. The second of two gun shelters at the memorial in Otautau’s Main Street tells the stories of the 18 Otautau men who died in World War II. A similar kiosk featuring the town’s 53 World War I casualties was opened in 2015. Both kiosks are built around the town’s pair of historic German-made fi eld guns captured by Allied forces in World War I. Otautau School pupils man the German fi eld gun after the opening of the World War II In a sombre ceremony attended by memorial kiosk. about 40 people, young and old, Association president Brian Mr Drummond paid tribute to the Otautau honoured the sacrifi ce of its Drummond, who led the ceremony, people who had contributed to the soldiers and paid tribute to the work said the site was an asset to the town, information panels, including Cathy of the volunteers who had seen the giving locals and visitors a place to Onellion, who researched the soldiers’ project through to fruition. stop and remember the past. stories, Peter Gutsell and Andre Bekhuis, who built the shelter, Donna The New Zealand and Australian The second shelter bears a plaque Hawkins from Southland District fl ags were fl own side by side in acknowledging the late Graeme Council who designed the panels, and honour of the Anzac tradition. Froude, an early instigator of the guns’ Tom Dahlenburg, who maintains the Otautau Returned Services restoration and building of the shelters. war memorial site.

CONTACT DETAILS

All Offi ces & Inquiries....0800 732 732

Fax ...... 0800 732 329

District Libraries ...... 0800 732 542

Rural Fire Permits ...... 0800 773 363 Email ...... [email protected]

Website ...... www.southlanddc.govt.nz

15 Forth Street, PO Box 903, Invercargill 9840

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