1

2

I n the confined spaces upstairs at Rakiura Museum, a small team of volunteers are doing work that may help piece together the story of New Zealand’s earliest colonisation.

They are cataloguing and housing a collection of ancient Māori artefacts recovered from Stewart Island in 1961 during archaeological digs led by prominent New Zealand scientist Les Lockerbie.The sites were at the tip of the peninsula known as The Neck, on the southeastern side of Paterson Inlet, and nearby Native Island.Mr Lockerbie’s 1961 expedition of Dunedin Teachers’ College students dug to a depth of about seven metres under the sandy beach surface of The Neck, each metre revealing evidence of an earlier period of occupation and with it hundreds of fascinating artefacts.Moa bones were found in the lowest layers, some of them still charred from the ovens they were cooked in. Mr Lockerbie had the earliest pieces carbon-dated in the 1960s to around 1270AD, which puts them in the age of the moa hunters.Mr Lockerbie died in 1996 but it was always his wish that the artefacts found at Rakiura should return there. The collection was stored in Dunedin by a former pupil until 15 March 2016, when they were welcomed back to Stewart Island in a ceremony led by Phillip Smith on behalf of local iwi.The collection includes many items of great historical significance, from moa, seal and kuri (native dog) bones to beautiful ornamental pounamu jewellery pieces, stone tools and fish-hooks.Once fully catalogued and researched, the Lockerbie collection will become a featured display at the new $3.6 million Rakiura Heritage Centre.Construction is scheduled to begin on 24 September, and Rakiura Heritage Centre Trust chairperson Margaret Hopkins hopes it will open to the public in early summer 2019.“We are very pleased that this project is finally under way,” Mrs Hopkins says. “It has been 18 years in the planning and is a much-needed visitor facility as well as being extremely important to Stewart Islanders for the storage and display of Rakiura’s extensive heritage collection.”Southland’s roving museums officer Jo Massey is excited by the prospect of what stories the Lockerbie collection might tell about early New Zealand history, but says there is comparatively little information available about the digs and, in fact, about Mr Lockerbie himself.

ANCIENTMYSTERIES

Chris Chilton

3Cover art Lockerbie collection/Rakiura Museum

Magazine designGloria Eno

Produced by Southland District Council communications team

This argillite adze looks impressive, but how the two pieces were found is even more remarkable.

The longer section was found by one of the Dunedin Teachers’ College students on Les Lockerbie’s archaeological dig at The Neck in March 1961.

Rakiura Heritage Centre Trust deputy chair Jo Riksem tells the story:

The student showed it to Mr Lockerbie and remarked that it was broken.

“Yes, it is,” Mr Lockerbie replied, “but it was a tool. If the tip had broken off one of your tools what would you do with it?”

The student said: “I’d throw it as far as I could.”

So he said “stand where you found this, throw, and then start looking. And they found the missing piece.”

And that’s how the two pieces of Rakiura Museum catalogue number RA.16.13.14 were reunited. It’s a textbook case of archaeological intuition and tenacity.

“These will be very interesting for researchers to look at,” she says. “They speak to the really early archaeological material.“We just wish there was more on where it was found and how it was found, the context it was found in.“That may exist. We’re still living in hope that that’s out there – that there was a diary or a record left by Mr Lockerbie.”A lot of the bones and stones in the collection still need to be identified and researched.Russell Beck, a hugely influential figure in Southland’s culture and arts, had been leading this work up until his death in February, aged 76. That work will now pass on to other researchers.Many of the artefacts in the Lockerbie find – such as adzes, and ornamental jewellery carved from bone – are

almost identical to finds in other coastal parts of New Zealand, including at Wairau Mouth in Marlborough, which were themselves similar to items from the Cook Islands and French Polynesia. This raises intriguing possibilities for historians to ponder: it could mean evidence of a network of mobile early Māori travelling by sea and settling around the New Zealand coastline, or it could be that many parts of coastal New Zealand were settled simultaneously by the first arrivals.Likewise, the moa bones bring their own mysteries. Rakiura Heritage Centre Trust deputy chair Jo Riksem says it’s assumed that moa pieces were brought to Rakiura as food – “sort of like KFC,” she laughs.“There’s no evidence that there was a [moa] population here, unless we find something else.”As Jo Massey says, “there’s a lot of work to be done”.

EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY

4

The opening of Tumu Toka Curioscape was a landmark event for a variety of reasons.The superb visitor centre at Curio Bay is the southernmost jewel

in our scenic crown and will add incalculable value to Southland’s tourism stocks.This ambitious cultural and conservation project took 16 years to come to fruition, and wouldn’t have happened without the sheer guts and determination of a wide range of people and agencies.It was my honour to officially open the visitor centre alongside the man who led the project, South Catlins Charitable Trust chair Paul Duffy, whose many other jobs include serving as deputy mayor of Southland District Council.The big audience of parliamentarians, government agencies, local government dignitaries, iwi, funders, executives, trustees, volunteers, contractors, contributing workers and well-wishers who turned out for the occasion reflected the true community-wide nature of this vast project. So many people helped to make this miracle happen.As speakers frequently alluded to during the ceremony, this is the template for the way to get things done in Southland – communities coming together with a shared vision and collective will to make big projects achievable, then working with all the agencies to make it happen. It’s certainly how Southland District Council sees its role – leading the way in working alongside our communities to help make Southland a better place to work and live.There is no doubt in my mind that the collaborative, multi-agency approach is the way of the future.Communities can do this without having the pressure of bureaucracy through being an elected member of a subcommittee of Council. The benefits come through regular communication with your community board, your councillor, Council staff or mayor while working in partnership with your wider community – not through attending a few local government-structured meetings a year.

MAYOR GARY TONG

Celebrating success at Curio Bay are (from left) Venture Southland’s group manager events tourism and community Bobbi Brown, Labour MP Dr Liz Craig, Southland District Mayor Gary Tong, Te Ao Marama kaupapa taiao manager Dean Whaanga, DOC senior works officer Shane Hatwell and South Catlins Charitable Trust chair Paul Duffy.

Working in this way assists our communities turn their great ideas into reality. Whether it’s our partnership in the Milford Opportunities project, or the walkway at Winton, or the Tokanui or Riverton skateparks, or the Te Anau Pump Track, Southland District Council wants to help our communities become proud, resilient, and connected.The vision for the next 30 years is Southland – one community offering endless opportunities, and we will do this by supporting our communities to make good decisions, from offering guidance through regulatory processes, to putting in picnic tables.When we see an opportunity we must grab it. Cheers to the South Catlins community and supporters for seeing Tumu Toka Curioscape through to completion and here’s to many more collaborative projects in a community near you.

5

Excerpts from Mayor Gary Tong’s busy schedule …

Dear Diary

I turned the first sod in

the Edendale state highway

realignment project with

NZTA’s Jim Harland. I’m

sure this project will

result in a safer and

more efficient driving

experience for everyone.

It’s always fantastic to get out to meet the next generation of Southlanders, and I was very privileged to receive an invitation to the opening of Peter Rabbit’s garden at Garston School. It was clear a lot of hard work had gone into creating a cosy environment for Peter. Great stuff kids.

Peter’s place

Getting stuck in

I was hugely impressed

with the questions put

to me when I joined

the Southland District

Youth Council at their

latest meeting. It was

great to get to chat

with representatives

from Aparima, Central

Southland and Fiordland

colleges. They’re a

formidable bunch and

I’m looking forward to

seeing what they get up

to this year.

Apparently style – not speed – is the name of the game in ploughing, but I must have missed that memo. I headed out to Thornbury for the New Zealand Ploughing Championships and was roped into competing against Gore District Mayor Tracy Hicks, Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie, and Federated Farmers Southland president Allan Baird to see who could plough the straightest line. I had a bit of a heavy foot but it was a good excuse to dust off the gumboots.

Chairing meetings is one of the many roles I undertake as mayor and leading a meeting on Mycoplasma bovis is something no mayor would ever imagine occurring. I chaired such a meeting in Winton at a time when tensions were high. I must congratulate the many supporters of our families affected by this here in Southland and further north.

6

A lot of what Southland District Council does in the community isn’t obvious to the public unless something goes wrong.

The watermain failure at Winton on 30 June was just such an occasion, and we’re very happy that our staff and contractors were able to make the repairs and start producing water again for the people of Winton on the same day that the pipe failure occurred.

Turning off water supply to an entire town to replace a burst pipe is a worst-case scenario, but it does highlight an issue that features prominently in our current Long Term Plan (LTP), which councillors adopted on 20 June.

One of the priorities we have spelled out in our Infrastructure Strategy, which forms part of the LTP, is the need to maintain and upgrade our existing roads and footpaths and stormwater, wastewater and water systems so that they continue to meet the needs of our communities as they change in the future.

Supplying clean water, treating sewage, and providing roads, footpaths and stormwater

drains to prevent flooding are essential for the health, safety, and economic wellbeing of our District. These are the services our ratepayers expect us to provide.

With this firmly at the forefront of our thinking, Council has budgeted millions of dollars for replacing and upgrading our infrastructure over the next 30 years, when a lot of the District’s ageing infrastructure is expected to need replacement.

To get the best value for the ratepayers’ dollars, though, it’s not simply a case of ripping up pipes and putting in new ones to fit a predetermined timeline. Similarly, it is not smart to rehabilitate a section of road just because the calendar says it’s theoretically due for replacement. So many variables must be taken into account.

Knowing the right time to do this work is an important part of the equation, as is having a clear view on the level of likely future demand and the changing environmental standards that will need to be met when the infrastructure needs to be replaced. Having good data on the condition of our assets figures prominently in our LTP. We acknowledge there is much work yet to be done in this space.

Coincidentally, work on renewing a large section of Winton stormwater pipes is due to begin this year. It was obvious from surface water ponding in the area during heavy rain events that there was something badly wrong with the stormwater pipes, and it took some ingenuity from Council staff and contractors to establish the root of the problem. Literally.

Using closed circuit television, ground-penetrating radar and mechanically excavated test pits, we were able to see that large tree roots had disturbed the pipes’ alignment, and there was a high degree of root intrusion into the pipes themselves.

While Council will continue to carry out our day-to-day business providing the services you want and need, we are now in an information-gathering phase which will enable us to talk with you about some big decisions that will need to be

made in the future.

We need to do a lot more work to understand the condition and performance of our assets so that we can determine the right time to replace them. But more than this, we also need to do the research to collect good-quality data on future changes in demand for that infrastructure, which could be caused, for instance, by the growth or decline in population of specific communities in the District.

Understanding the makeup of our District in the future is going to have a direct bearing on what services we provide, where we provide them and how we pay for them.Affordability is going to be a big challenge in the next 30 years, and beyond. We face a range of clearly signalled demographic, social, economic, environmental and legislative changes, all of which will impact on our ability to continue doing things the way we’ve always done them.

The reality is, that’s not an option.

Council understands this and has made a commitment to the people of Southland District that we will do the work to investigate the best way forward. When we have this information we’ll be having some critical conversations with our ratepayers.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE STEVE RURU

7

The biggest Southland roading project in many years is finally under way.Southland District Mayor Gary Tong and NZ Transport Agency director South Island regional relationships Jim Harland buried their spades into the moist Edendale earth on 4 July, marking the beginning of construction work on the 2.6km-long highway realignment.An audience of Southland dignitaries, officials and contracting representatives listened as Mr Harland described how the project would bring long-term economic benefits to Southland, improve journeys for freight,

provide better connectivity for road users and enhance road safety, especially around the Edendale Primary School and residential properties.A roundabout at the southern end of the town will allow traffic to pass behind the Fonterra plant on the western side at 100kmh, and there will be a passing lane for northbound traffic. The roundabout will connect into Edendale via Salford Street and to the Fonterra site.An underpass will reduce the number of highway crossings involving light vehicles or livestock from nearby farms.

Mayor Tong said the realignment would improve the efficiency of milk tankers heading in and out of the Fonterra plant, as well as enhancing the experience of all road users in the important Southland town.He praised the people of Edendale for their involvement in the process and for their positive attitude.Fulton Hogan has been awarded the contract to carry out the work, which will take about two years to complete.

Under way at Edendale

NZTA’s Jim Harland and Mayor Gary Tong do the spade work to start the Edendale project.

The red lines show the roundabout and path of the new State highway realignment at Edendale.

8

Even before its official opening, Tumu Toka Curioscape at Curio Bay was exceeding all

expectations as a unique showcase for this stunning coastal visitor destination.

The visitor centre at the heart of the project started trading in December 2017, in time for the peak of season, and had good numbers of people through its doors all summer long, South Catlins Charitable Trust chairman Paul Duffy said.

Councillor Duffy is Deputy Mayor of Southland District.

In March this year the Tumu Toka Curioscape project won a national award for Best Practice Integrated Planning and Investigations at the New Zealand Planning Institute Awards.

In addition to the visitor centre – which features a café, interpretation area and theatre – a new wastewater treatment plant, car park, ablution block, and penguin habitat planting were developed as part of the project, which was more than a decade in the making.

The South Catlins Charitable Trust, Southland District Council, Opus International Consultants, Department of Conservation, Venture Southland and iwi worked together to develop the project, which aims to educate the growing number of visitors to the area about

the significance of the site and its local wildlife.

Cr Duffy says “that collaboration really made the difference to the project. Each element depended on the other, and each aspect of the project relied on the other pieces of the puzzle falling into place. Without that level of collaboration the project simply would not have happened.”

Southland District Mayor Gary Tong officially opened the heritage centre at a ceremony on 19 July, capping a promising first six months.

“The first tourist season has gone very well,’’ Cr Duffy says. “We had increased numbers visiting the area and the café was busy all summer. The staff did very well to manage the influx right through the busy season.’’

Cr Duffy says the camping ground has been busy and new facilities put in the year before are being well used.

The trust’s expectations for the first year were well and truly met and they are always looking at new ways of enhancing the operation.

Inside the Curioscape building the Gateway Experience cleverly integrates the past and present with seamless visual and

Open for adventure

interactive storytelling about the area’s history, geology, flora and fauna. “We’re quite proud of it,” Cr Duffy says.

To help make it even more attractive and affordable for families a new ticket package has been introduced. A $45 family pass allows a couple entry as many times as they like over 12 months, plus their children will get in for free.

9

A major stormwater pipe renewal project is expected to start in Winton in February 2019.

The fast-failing pipes in the southern stormwater catchment have contributed to surface flooding during heavy rain in the Great North Road and De Joux Road area, from Eglinton Street south.The pipes in this area were installed in 1956, and planning to replace them was likely to have started in the next few years.Southland District Council used underground closed circuit television, ground-penetrating radar and mechanically excavated test pits and discovered that alignment of the pipes had been disturbed by large tree roots, which had also infiltrated the pipes. This is not uncommon

A potential emergency at Winton was averted when a critical watermain supplying the

town’s drinking water failed.Water supply to the Winton water tower was turned off for about six hours when a pipe ruptured, causing a powerful jet of water to burst through the road surface at a site southeast of Railway Street on the morning of Friday 30 June. This meant that the tower’s supply could not be replenished while the pipe was being repaired.Coincidentally, Fulton Hogan contractors were working on the scheduled replacement of pipes nearby in Railway Street, but it is understood their activity did not cause the pipe to burst.The pipe failed at the location of a previous repair which fractured. It had been due to be replaced within two weeks.An urgent call was made to Winton residents and businesses to conserve water as the water tower level dropped rapidly because of the leak, while

a senior Council projects engineer got to work trying to source a compatible replacement pipe. This proved difficult as the ruptured pipe was of an uncommon size. The water tower ran dry by 3.15pm. By the time parts had been sourced, repairs completed and the water treatment plant restarted by 5pm, the town had been without water for less than two hours.Southland District Council thanks the people of Winton for their calm response and co-operation during the incident. As a result, Council staff are reviewing and replenishing spare pipe stock around Southland District to lessen the impact on communities in the event of any future critical pipe failures.

Emergencyaverted

where trees are close to underground pipes.A $1.87 million replacement project has been agreed to by Council and the Winton Community Board. The board recommended to Council that some of this cost be offset by using money from local reserves to lessen the impact on ratepayers. The work will be carried out over two financial years: 2018/2019 and 2019/2020.

Stormwater upgrade

10

Youth councillorsmeet Mayor Tong

It’s not every day you get the audience with the Mayor – or the chance to put him in the hot seat.At a recent meeting the youth councillors had the chance to meet Mayor Gary Tong, who told them young people had an important part to play in shaping Southland’s future and it was crucial they engaged with local government.“I just wanted to say a big thank you for putting your hand up to get involved with our youth council. I really appreciate you standing up to represent those communities,” he said.“You can see the list of names [of former councillors] on that wall over there – your names are who we want to see up there on that wall in the next 10, 15, 20 years, or less. That’s the target.”The youth councillors then put some questions forward to Mayor Tong. They ranged far and wide, from how his interest in local government was piqued (after getting involved with Mayor Frana Cardno, who was instrumental in starting the ALIVE programme for vulnerable youth, through his previous role as manager at Borland Lodge), to what makes a good team (Communication. “Talking, not texting, not emailing, not phoning somebody – going

out and talking. Getting round a table and sorting things out is the best way to go”), to the legacy he wanted to leave Southland (strengthening partnerships with iwi and attracting 10,000 more people to the District – “that would be my number one target. If I achieve that, with the help of Southlanders, that’s going to make a big difference”).Aparima College student Ben Cleaver described the mayor as a “chill and inspiring bloke”.“He understood the questions like he studied, which means he’s a decent listener and I respect him for that because all it takes is someone to hear you out,” he says.Alexis Halder, also from Aparima College, says she appreciated the opportunity to meet the mayor as well.“He was so interesting to listen to, and I loved the fact he emphasised he had an open-door policy. He really made us feel like our opinions mattered.”Central Southland College student Gemma Marnane says hearing the mayor’s advice “motivated me to find my passion like he found his”.“To me, it was obvious he is very passionate about and grateful for his role, a genuine leader in Southland who really cares about the diversity in Southland and wants the best for our community,” she says.

YOUTH COUNCIL

11

The Southland District Youth Council was among more than 150 submitters who had their say on the District’s proposed representation arrangements.Youth councillors Rileigh Lundman and Gemma Marnane spoke to the representation review hearings panel on behalf of the youth council, after it prepared a written submission on the draft initial proposal.Fiordland College representative Rileigh says she gained a better understanding of how the consultation process worked by taking part in presenting a submission.“It was a really cool opportunity to see how the process works. I also enjoyed being able to express my opinion and the respect we got from the councillors and the chairpeople on the hearings panel,” she says.Gemma, from Central Southland College, enjoyed the chance to see how the consultation process works up close too.

“Personally it was so enriching to see the dynamics of the consultation process. To experience something like this from a youth perspective was worthwhile. It wasn’t what I expected – there were deliberations, debates and complexity,” she says.“It was inspiring to acknowledge the knowledge of those around me, hear everyone’s views on the review and to represent the thoughts of the members of the youth council the best way I could.”Council’s governance and democracy manager Clare Sullivan says: “It’s really important that Council gets to hear from different parts of our community. That’s why it was great to see representatives from the youth council expressing their views. Hopefully there will be more occasions for other young people, including primary school children, get the chance to tell Council what they would like to see it doing.”

AT THE TOP TABLE

Helping connect Southland’s young people with local government will be a key focus for this year’s youth council.The youth council will soon begin work on developing a youth engagement plan, to better understand barriers preventing youth engagement among Southland’s young people as well as identifying opportunities to increase it.Communications officer Alana Dixon-Calder said the first step would be for youth councillors to meet young people at a series of workshops, to be held in conjunction with Central Southland College, Aparima College and Fiordland College.The youth council would play a vital role in working

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PLANwith their peers to highlight challenges and opportunities in connecting Southland’s young people with local government, and empower them to make a difference in their communities.

“Some of the key aspects our youth councillors will be talking to them about include what’s stopping young people from getting involved with local government now, and how we can work with them to make them feel more engaged in the future,” Ms Dixon says.

“It’s really important Southland’s young people know that they can really make a difference and their voice can be heard at the table – we just need to help them get to the table first.”

12

T he replacement of the 60-year-old Waghorn Road Bridge at Waituna

was among the topics covered when the partners involved in the Whakamana te Waituna programme toured the catchment on 21 June.The programme co-ordinates the efforts of Waituna stakeholders and aims to improve water quality and biodiversity, support cultural aspirations, protect Waituna Lagoon, and test, at a larger scale, land-use practices and systems for sustainable farming in the catchment.The partners are Southland District Council, Environment Southland, Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu, Te Rūnanga o Awarua, Department of Conservation, LivingWater and Fonterra.Southland District Council has committed $250,000 towards the programme, tagged to infrastructural upgrading of the Waghorn Road Bridge, and associated roading infrastructure, in 2021 and 2022.The amount is factored into the overall rates calculations in Council’s Long Term Plan 2018- 2028. This sum is likely to be matched by the NZ Transport Agency.During the tour, Southland District Council group manager

FOCUS ON WAITUNA

environmental services Bruce Halligan and transport strategic manager Hartley Hare talked about the bridge’s functions and what the future requirements of a new bridge were likely to be. Partners were also updated on water quality and lagoon levels, and on some of the catchment management initiatives already under way – such as native plantings around the edges of Waituna Creek.Since 2013, the Waituna Partners Group worked with the Waituna community on freshwater management and other issues relating to the Waituna catchment.

This resulted in forming a strategy and action plan, and a range of on-farm and off-farm work, much of which the partners have the community to thank for. Many of the actions and suggestions in the strategy also involve community initiatives and support.Whakamana Te Waituna Charitable Trust was established in February as a vehicle to attract more funding. About 40 people attended a public meeting at Gorge Road on 21 June to get an update on the five-year multi-agency, catchment management programme.

Find out more at www.waituna.org.nz

Whakamana te Waituna partners during their site visit to the Waiting catchment.

13

MYPLC director Judy Buckley and Mayor Gary Tong cut the ribbon on the Drive My Life vehicle lent by Southland District Council.

opportunities, as well as developing a positive attitude to road safety.Driving is a complex task and learning to use a vehicle is only part of the process. Developing a culture of safety, providing opportunities for different driving experiences and developing a trusted relationship with a mentor will support the young drivers to become safer and more responsible members of the community.Funding for Drive My Life came from the Community Trust of Southland, the ILT Foundation, Road Safety Southland, Southland District Council, the H W Richardson Group and Plunket.

A group of teenage Southland mothers are the first to benefit from a new young driver mentor programme.

Mayor Gary Tong and Murihiku Young Persons Learning Centre (MYPLC) director Judy Buckley launched the Drive My Life programme at Southland District Council’s head office in Invercargill on 10 May.

The programme was developed by Road Safety Southland safety adviser Maureen Deuchrass, New Zealand Police and ACC, and enables learner drivers between 16 and 24 to drive safely.

The 18 MYPLC students will have access to a vehicle and mentors to help them learn how to drive. The car is a Southland District Council fleet vehicle that is being lent to Road Safety Southland for a year.

The Drive My Life programme pairs learner drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 with experienced volunteers who mentor the learners and help them to become safer on our roads.

The programme was developed by Road Safety Southland, New Zealand Police and ACC to run in partnership with selected southern communities identified with particular driver development needs.

Learning to drive can be a major turning point in young people’s lives. Gaining a restricted licence often helps these young people to increase their employment

DRIVE MY LIFE

A Road Safety Southland programme for mature drivers was inundated with people wanting to sign up.

Five workshops were held over five days in June, in five locations throughout Southland. Road Safety Southland road user safety adviser Maureen Deuchrass says the level of interest was so high she could have filled the workshop places many times over.As a result she’s looking at running more workshops for those who missed out.The Staying Safe programme is designed to help improve the road safety of people over the age of 65. Based on an NZ Transport Agency programme, it’s an opportunity to update knowledge of traffic rules and learn safer driving practices. Mrs Deuchrass says that by the late 2030s it’s predicted that a quarter of New Zealand’s population will be over 65, meaning more older drivers on the roads, driving more kilometres than they do now, which is why the programme has been developed.Allan Lee was the oldest driver at the first workshop, held at Southland District Council’s head office in Invercargill on 11 June. He’s a sprightly 93 years old and when asked how long

MATURE DRIVERS he’s had his licence he laughed and said “you work it out”.He’s had his licence since he was 14 and he was born in 1924. “From my point of view if I didn’t have a car I’d be shot.”Mr Lee says he enjoyed the workshop and found it very informative.

Road Safety Southland’s Maureen Deuchrass, with Senior Sergeant Geoff Sutherland and 93-year-old Allan Lee on day one of the Staying Safe programme in SDC’s Council chambers.

14

At a meeting on 11 July Council adopted its final proposal to recommend to the Local Government Commission a structure of nine community boards, five wards, and 12 councillors.By law, Council is required to review its representation arrangements every six years.After extensive consultation throughout the District, Council drew up an Initial Proposal that recommended District-wide coverage by eight community boards, while retaining the five wards and 12 councillors.At present, about 10,000 people in a District population of just less than 30,000 do not live within a community board or community development area subcommittee boundary, and therefore don’t have the same level of local decision-making as those who do live within those boundaries. Council did not think this was fair.During public consultation, Council received 153 submissions on its Initial Proposal and as a result some changes to the Initial Proposal were made, including splitting the proposed Taramea Te Waewae Community Board into two community boards: Tuatapere Te Waewae and Oraka Aparima. It also proposes there be nine community boards in total, with new boundaries that cover the entire District. The proposed new community boards would be called:

Ardlussa

Fiordland

Northern

Oreti

Stewart Island Rakiura

Wallace Takitimu

Tuatapere Te Waewae

Oraka Aparima

Waihopai Toetoe

The proposal also recommends increasing the number of elected members on the Stewart Island Rakiura Community Board from four to six. More than 90 submitters supported the proposal that Stewart Island Rakiura remain as an island community of interest. Informal pre-consultation showed that the majority of people supported the current structure of 12 councillors elected from five wards: Mararoa Waimea,

Winton Wallacetown, Waihopai Toetoe, Waiau Aparima, and Stewart Island Rakiura.Council’s recommendation is open to a public appeals and objections process. This closes at 5pm on Wednesday 22 August 2018. The Local Government Commission will make the final decision on whether the proposed new structure will be implemented ahead of the next local elections on 12 October 2019.Council staff will be working with communities to ensure that the voices of its small communities are still heard and that they continue to have the opportunity to get projects done in their communities.Further information is available at Council offices or on our website: www.southlanddc.govt.nz

DISTRICT WIDECouncil is moving forward with a proposal to have District-wide coverage by nine community boards.

15

photographs which are being kept in a climate-controlled room.Southland roving museums officer Jo Massey has spent a lot of time on site offering technical support. “She’s just been so great,” Mrs Dickson says. “I don’t know what we would have done without her.”The museum has been designed to have a logical internal flow, guiding visitors through areas that tell stories about specific parts of the area’s history.Understandably, the gold rush occupies some prime real estate in the museum.The Chinese workforce who lived in the era during the peak of gold mining will be acknowledged with a facsimile of a Chinese hut, not far from a big gold sluicing cannon from the old Switzers church.Other key pieces include a baker’s oven, shearing shed stand, Glenaray high country farming images presented in a big mural, and an ornate organ.There’ll be a wartime section, already resplendent in Anzac red.Panelling and floorboards from the old museum have been reinstated in their new home, and portraits of pioneering families from around the valley will adorn the walls.The bottle house theme will be evident in the new museum, with bottles being built into counter displays. Mrs Dickson has the Waikaia hotel saving bottles for her because “there are some lovely colours in them”.Shirley Walker’s husband Lindsay Walker and Crosby Grieve, now resident at Piano Flat, have done a lot of work varnishing, staining and painting. “He and Lindsay have been really great,’’ Mrs Dickson says. “They’ve saved us thousands and thousands of dollars.”The museum includes an airy room for education, research and meetings, with plenty of natural light.Mrs Dickson and her team are always on the lookout for pieces to complete sets. If anyone has Volume 3 of James Ng’s Windows On A Chinese Past they’ll be very pleased to hear from you.

After a heroic effort by a group of volunteers in Waikaia, the town’s rebuilt museum is on track for its official opening in the spring.“It’s taken a wee while,” says treasurer Shirley Walker. And that’s fine by museum committee chairperson Mairi Dickson, as the methodical pace of the reconstruction has allowed some breathing space for her team of dedicated volunteers.Mrs Walker says the total cost of the project will finish up around $1.2 million, a phenomenal effort by a small rural community.The rebuild began in February 2016, shortly after the former building was demolished on the same site in Blaydon Street, leaving the adjoining bottle house intact. The new building is mostly finished as the committee turns its attention to putting the displays in place. The interior structure has been represented in a small scale model the team is using as a reference.A lot of old materials and artefacts will find new uses in the museum.Windows formerly from the Inverlochy station woolshed are being repurposed as display windows. Even the walls of the Inverlochy shearing shed have been salvaged, still covered with the shearers’ handwritten notes and messages. They have to be frozen and treated first, though, to get rid of the borer.Mrs Dickson has kept a pile of timber from the old museum building, “which I’m saving just in case we need it. You never know.”She is organised, with an eye for function and efficiency.While the new museum will have a bigger footprint than the previous one, space is still at a premium, and the internal design cleverly incorporates useful amenities for staff, out of the sight of visitors.Mrs Dickson says there will be about twice the storage space the previous museum had, thanks in part to a purpose-designed shelving and drawer system in climate-controlled rooms. What can’t be displayed will be stored properly.There are more than 4000 pieces in the collection, including linen, paper archives and

DISTRICT WIDE

Mairi Dickson (left) and Shirley Walker at Waikaia Museum

16

response to what Southlanders have asked for.“We started with just a basic service and people have kept asking us to meet their needs in other areas that didn’t necessarily have those services available – that’s been the catalyst to our growth; we are a bit organic like that,” she says.What began as a three-times-a-week drop-in centre in Invercargill has grown exponentially. The loss and grief centre now offers five drop-in sessions a week, eight support groups a month, a community care service for people in their homes, a multitude of professional development training sessions and seminars, suicide prevention workshops, a ‘beneath the surface’ trauma workshop, a

OUR SOUTHLANDER

It doesn’t take long to see why Caroline Loo has come to mean so much, to so many Southlanders.

When you’re in the throes of grief, sometimes all you need is to stumble across a person who makes you feel like they are listening. That they care. Sometimes, finding a nurturing person in a comfortable space is all it takes for the floodbanks to burst. Given the number of people who have called upon the Invercargill-founded Loss and Grief Centre, and its rapid expansion throughout Southland in just two short years, it is not hard to draw the conclusion that this service is not only valued by the community, but is playing a crucial role in its wellbeing.Caroline, who started the centre in June 2016 and is now its director and public face, says the service has grown in

preparing for death seminar and a massive library of resources available to the public. It is involved in public events such as last December’s first remembrance service held at the Civic Theatre which drew a crowd of more than 100 people, collaborates with local funeral directors to further support their clients, collaborates with Canteen on their seasons for

CAROLINE LOOAlana Dixon-Calder

17

growth recovery programme, and will soon work in partnership with Southland rest homes to offer their services to residents … the list is long. This year the centre expanded further into Southland, with its service beginning in Winton in May and Gore in February of this year. Hailing from Lumsden, Caroline says she knows how important it is that people in Southland’s rural communities are able to access the services they need, and expanding into the District is a key focus for the centre in the next 12 months. There are plans to take the service to Lumsden, and the centre is collaborating with both the Te Anau and Queenstown communities to develop something similar. What that looks like, and the level of involvement the Invercargill-based centre plays in that, remains to be seen. Caroline has also fielded calls from throughout the country, from others keen to implement something similar in their own communities. It’s gone from Caroline, to Caroline plus four paid support workers, 12 volunteers, and now the formation of a charitable trust with six board members. H W Richardson Group was integral in providing a space for the Invercargill-based centre, and a variety of organisations have thrown their support behind the service: Southland District Council, Invercargill City Council, SBS Bank, the Community Organisation Grants Scheme, the Community Trust of Southland, the ILT Foundation, the Waihopai City Lions, the Synod of Otago and Southland, the P H Vickery Trust, NRG Invercargill, and H & J Smith. Not to mention the community groups who fundraise for the centre, or the people who bring in donations of $100 or $20, or the person who makes candles as a koha for the centre to give away.Caroline says she believes the reason for the centre’s success is simple: it is accessible for those in any stage of grief. Whether people are mourning a bereavement, the loss of a job, or a separation, they now have a space to come and express themselves. “People need to be able to access support when they need it and that’s what this place offers. That makes it really challenging for us, but it means it’s more significant for the person grieving.”Caroline knows what the people the centre connects with are going through. In 2010, Caroline’s 18-year-old daughter Sara contracted meningococcal septicaemia. “She was fit and healthy. She had just been to her school ball. But that happening started a 10-week journey where she fought for her life.”It was a fight that Sara, tragically, lost. After weeks in both Dunedin and Middlemore

hospitals, she died. The internal damage she sustained as a result of the disease was too severe.“That took us from our very comfortable, predictable life to being thrown into this very deep, erratic place of grief.”Her own search for support led to Caroline approaching Dr Vili Sotutu, a paediatrician at Southland Hospital, with a seed of an idea. That led to more meetings with professionals already working in the space, to brainstorm ways to fill in the gaps within the Southland community. Working in partnership with dedicated professionals, such as Southern District Health Board mental health promoter Andrae Gold, one of those gaps identified was the existence of a ‘hub’ – a space people could come to for support, companionship, and education on how to navigate their loss.“It’s come about not because of me, but I guess I stood up and said what’s happening, what’s out there, for people – and I was lucky enough to have people come and stand beside me. It’s about a community providing what a community needs,” she says.Often, Southlanders are as guilty as anybody as painting ourselves as stoic. Caroline doesn’t buy that. More than 35% of the people who come through the doors – they’ve ranged in age from three years old to those in their late 80s – are men. The first dedicated support group to be started was the group for men.“Maybe it’s not that we didn’t want to talk about it. Maybe it’s just that we didn’t have anywhere to talk about it,” she says.

CAROLINE LOO

If there’s one thing Caroline hopes Southlanders get from their experience with the centre, it’s that they feel listened to.“Total strangers walk in through the doors and tell us their inner-most, most personal feelings. I feel really honoured to be able to sit with them. They need to talk about it. It’s a huge part of being able to process what they’re going through. People come in with varying stages and significances of grief. It is individual, like a fingerprint. What works for me might not work for you,” she says.“It can be draining but it’s also really uplifting and really fulfilling: they’ve chosen to walk in that door. That’s a privilege, to be welcomed into someone’s life like that.”The centre has been made possible because of the support of other Southlanders, Caroline says. “I feel very privileged to have met so many awesome people in our community. At the end of the day it’s all about community; everything we do is about community.’’

To find out more about accessing the centre’s services, or about getting involved as a volunteer, visit: www.lossandgriefcentre.com

18

The faces of countless young Southland men stare impassively from yellowing black and

white photographs. Many among their ranks died in the Great War of 1914-1918, and memories of their awful sacrifice are fading like their photographs.This is where Iain Davidson and other enthusiasts like him go to work.You can’t call what Mr Davidson does in his spare time a hobby. He’s performing an invaluable public service, researching and documenting stories that are in danger of being lost forever a century after the fact. “Who’s going to do it if we don’t,’’ he asks. Mr Davidson runs the family farm at Hokonui, in central Southland. It’s been Davidson land since 1915. His great-grandfather owned it first, then around 1920 after returning from the war grandfather John “Jack” Davidson bought it.It was grandfather Jack who sparked young Iain’s passion for collecting war memorabilia. When Iain was about 13 he was given some of Jack’s wartime effects, including his medals and badges, and a lifetime of inquiry began. Most of Iain’s collection is from World War I, because his grandfather’s service sparked a lifelong interest. A rifleman, Private John Davidson 40908 was badly wounded at Passchendaele in 1917 and invalided home.Iain Davidson manages two Facebook pages, Unknown Warriors of the NZEF and Southland Soldiers and Nurses, and worked with Dr Aaron Fox on the Kia Mate Toa website, which records Southlanders’ involvement at Gallipoli, along with fellow Southland military historian Bryce Horrell.

When asked, he also talks to service clubs about the project.A big part of Mr Davidson’s work involves identifying unnamed soldiers from old photographs. He has accumulated about 800 in his own personal collection. Many don’t have names written on the back. “They were given to somebody they knew – their wife or girlfriend, their mother or father. They didn’t write on the back because the people getting the photos already knew who they were. A hundred years on, there’s a problem.”He posts the photos on his Unknown Warriors Facebook page, which often sparks discussion among similar amateur historians and collectors around New Zealand. Occasionally that results in a positive ID. Mostly, though, it’s through his own research, countless hours spent scrolling through online databases and specialist history books, that he has managed to identify 300 individuals.

In search ofUNKNOWNSOLDIERS

Iain Davidson with a photo of his grandfather, Private John “Jack” Davidson 40908.

WHO WERE THEY? Iain Davidson’s knowledge has been a huge help to Southland District Council

staff in their work creating a memorial board dedicated to World War I servicemen from Thornbury. We would like to return the favour by publishing photos of some

19

“Not all the photos in my collection are unidentified,’’ he says. “Maybe 25% are named so I can put their stories on the Facebook pages. The rest are puzzles.

“I get many requests for photos of relatives or to try to solve unidentified soldiers and I help when I can.

“It’s for the community as well. It’s not just for myself. I want to know their story, and tell their story.

“It was a gruesome war. What these guys went through is horrendous. I’m not here to glorify war. I’m here to memorialise the blokes who went there and did it.”

Mr Davidson works alone on this mammoth project early in the morning and late at night, before committing to the day’s duties getting the kids to and from school and farm work.

The work of Mr Davidson, Mr Horrell, Dr Fox and others corresponds with the Onward Project, which aims to publish a photograph of every member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who served overseas during World War I.

Mr Davidson has invested in badges, uniforms, helmets, caps and other memorabilia over the years. His most prized display features several hundred New Zealand military badges. They’re not catalogued. He knows instantly what company or division they represent just by looking at them.

The single most valuable piece in Iain Davidson’s collection is a hat badge from the New Zealand Imperial Camel Corps, which saw action in the Sinai and Palestine campaigns of World War I. That’s a keenly sought after piece worth more than $1000 now.

of the unidentified soldiers in his collection, in the hope that somebody may recognise them and allow Mr Davidson to tell their stories for posterity. If you can help, please contact Iain Davidson on ikdavidson@ruralinzone.netOn Facebook: *Unknown Soldiers of the NZEF * Southland Soldiers and Nurses

20

Southland District Council’s community engineers team got a first-hand look at Waikaia Gold’s mining plant during a site visit.Earlier this year the 10-metre-high, 270-tonne plant was relocated down the road to a new excavation site at Freshford, in a massive logistical operation that took 12 months of planning. The move went by the book, and during the site visit Waikaia Gold Ltd general manager Noel Becker talked the SDC team through the plant’s impressive operation.More than 30 employees and contractors from Rosco Contractors work around the clock, 24 hours a day, five and a half days a week, recovering anywhere from 16,000 to 20,000 ounces of gold a year. About 1400m³ of earth is dredged and sifted to separate just a third of a bucket of gold fines but, as Mr Becker says, “the fines are our bread and butter”.In real terms, it’s a massive process to extract very small quantities of gold flake. The returns, of course, are worth it.

GO

OD

AS

GO

LD

The plant, which from the outside looks like a massive aircraft hangar, sits on a pontoon in a pond at the base of a vast excavation site that is surrounded by hills formed from dumped gravel, stone and clay. Waikaia Gold’s digger digs to about 5m below the mine bench and feeds the material through the plant at a rate of about 128m³ an hour.Inside the plant is a rotary screen which sifts out material that is less than 12mm in size. Of the dredged material, nothing bigger than 12mm makes it back to the “gold room”, close to the mining company’s site headquarters.Waikaia is historically a prolific gold-producing area. Mr Becker says there’s talk that in 1910 one million ounces, then worth the massive sum of £4 million, was mined, although he can’t confirm that. “Their records weren’t as good as ours back then,” he says.

SDC community engineer team leader Steve Manaena says it was community engineer Bruce Miller’s idea to visit Waikaia Gold’s operation, and they incorporated it with their monthly team meeting.The trip was “good value’’, Mr Manaena said.“It was something different that we don’t get to see every day and gave the team a good insight into mining and the different civil engineering aspects of the operation.”

• To watch video of the gold plant being moved to its new location, search for:

Waikaia Gold Ltd 2018 Short on Noel Becker’s YouTube page

The SDC team at Waikaia, from left, James McCallum (roading), Greg Erskine, Shaun Holland, Nick Lewis, Waikaia Gold general manager Noel Becker, Steve Manaena, Bruce Miller, Leighton Hare, Maria Cavanagh and Moira Tinnock.

COMMUNITY ENGINEERS

21

“

UP FOR THECHALLENGEComing home to Southland was an opportunity too good to pass up for Council’s new group manager services and assets Matt Russell.“I’ve received the typical warm Southland welcome and it’s been great reconnecting with familiar places and faces, as well as being able to spend more time with extended family,” he says.Mr Russell is originally from Central Otago but grew up in Invercargill, after his family moved south when he was nine. After working in various roles at Christchurch City Council, Fulton Hogan and Savills Project Management, he decided to take on the job of overseeing service and asset delivery here at Southland District Council – and it’s a case of so far, so good.“I’m really enjoying the diversity in the role, and the opportunity to get out and about into the local communities and see areas of the District that I haven’t seen in many years,” he says.A key focus of his job is to ensure consistent service and asset delivery throughout the District, as well as making sure the infrastructure available in Southland is aligned with Council’s strategic objectives in the long term.

“The different assets, activities and services that Council is involved with ensure that the role is very interesting. You’re never really sure what’s going to come up on any given day.”Some of the major projects already on the horizon include confirming and developing a wastewater discharge system in Te Anau, completing the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail, and the Catlins Alternative Coastal Route sealing project, he says.“The biggest challenge is the escalating cost of managing and maintaining an ageing infrastructure portfolio of assets. However, this is not a new challenge, or one that is unique to Southland. There are also plenty of opportunities for further focus. We have a number of areas experiencing growth within our District, which provides opportunities in itself. There are also a lot of opportunities to partner more proactively with other local and national agencies as well as a large number of active community groups and representatives who are keen to be actively involved in the development of their communities and our District. It is important to tap into this depth of resource that we are lucky enough to have here in Southland,” he says.

At the end of the day, we want ratepayers to have confidence in the quality of the services that they have available to them, while also acknowledging the importance of taking a multi-generational, sustainable approach to delivering those services.”Mr Russell replaces long-serving group manager services and assets Ian Marshall, who will retire from Southland District Council at the end of 2018.Mr Marshall has remained at Council in a strategic project management position to ensure a smooth transition process prior to his retirement. He started his career in local government in January 1970, serving the Southland District as an engineering cadet. Apart from a six-year stint at Queenstown Lakes District Council, he has been with Council ever since.

COMMUNITY ENGINEERS

Matt Russell, Southland District Council’s group manager services and assets. Photo: JAMES JUBB/STUDIO JUBB

22

WARMER

HOMES

The weather has got cooler and it’s time to crank up your fire. But it’s crucial you do your bit to ensure our neighbourhoods are free from smoke pollution.Wood is a great way to heat your home. If your chimney looks like the picture on the left, well done – you’re burning your wood efficiently.If your chimney looks more like the picture on the right, you need to do something to protect your neighbours from smoke pollution.

A recent Government report has shown the health risks from methamphetamine contamination in houses around New Zealand are much lower than originally thought.Council’s environmental health officer Veena Lal-Boon says while the findings of the report, carried out by the Prime Minister’s chief science advisor, will not have a huge impact in the Southland District, those houses that do have low-level methamphetamine contamination will no longer be considered dangerous for people to live in.“This only affects a very small number of properties in Southland but it does mean that we as a Council have had to make some minor changes to the way we respond to low-level contamination in our District.”

Council is urging farmers in the Southland District to help prevent the further spread of Mycoplasma bovis by checking their fences.Environmental health manager Michael Sarfaiti says Council often receives wandering stock complaints on the District’s roads and highways. However, with the spread of Mycoplasma bovis, Council had re-evaluated the steps it would take when wandering cattle were found.“Council wants to do everything it can to help prevent the further spread of Mycoplasma bovis in our District, and we don’t want to

Southland District Council has welcomed a multi-million-dollar commitment by the Government to help make Kiwi homes healthier.The $142 million, four-year Warmer Kiwi Homes programme was rolled out as part of the Government’s Budget this year.Council’s environmental health manager Michael Sarfaiti says a number of Southlanders will benefit from the package, which makes homes warmer, drier and healthier by providing grants for insulation and heating.“Southlanders often face cold weather conditions and many people, especially young children, the elderly and those in low-income households are particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of living in unhealthy homes,” Mr Sarfaiti says.“Cold and damp houses are a real issue right across New Zealand, including in Southland, and can lead to preventable diseases like asthma and rheumatic fever. That places a huge burden not just on those families but on our health system, so it is fantastic to see more investment being made to address these issues.”Southlanders are now able to apply for the grants. Lower-income homeowners will be able to access funding to cover two thirds of the cost of installing ceiling and underfloor insulation, Mr Sarfaiti says.Warmer Kiwi Homes will be delivered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). Grants to install heating appliances will be available from July next year. The EECA estimates 52,000 houses throughout New Zealand will be insulated or have a heating appliance installed during the four years of the programme. For more information visit www.energywise.co.nz

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

KEEP IT CLEAN

CARE WITH CATTLEwandering stock to end up infecting other cattle,” Mr Sarfaiti says.Staff would assess the situation on-site. Wandering cattle could be placed in a paddock with sheep, deer and other animals, but if other cattle were nearby Council staff would call for back-up to prevent the wandering stock from coming into contact with them, while still clearing roads to reduce danger to the public.“We are asking that Southland farmers be extremely vigilant and check all of the fences on their properties. If any aren’t secure, Council is asking that farmers make immediate repairs. The livelihood of many in Southland depends on it.”

One of the best ways to do this is to only burn dry wood. You can either buy your wood that way, or store it well before the winter months to ensure it is dried out properly before using it.For more information check out www.breatheeasysouthland.co.nz

Council’s response would be as follows – ○ For any notification relating to the use

of methamphetamine (not manufacture), showing contamination levels below 15ug/100cm² – no action will be taken and no tags will be placed on the property file.

○ For properties notified to Council (historical) with supporting evidence that shows the contamination level was not from a police notification and the level of contamination was below 15ug/100cm² – the tag will be removed from the property file.

○ No change to Council’s process after receiving a police notification (or having historically received) relating to a clandestine drug laboratory (P-Lab) at a property. The New Zealand Standard (NZS) will be followed.

○ No change to Council’s process for any notifications received where the supporting evidence shows levels of contamination above 15ug/100cm². The NZS will be followed.

MOVEMENT ON METH

23

VENTURE SOUTHLAND

BUSINESSES POSITIVEVenture Southland’s annual

business survey shows growing regional confidence and positive employment trends, while energy and fuel costs are becoming increasingly challenging for more Southland businesses.Since 2014 Venture Southland has carried out an annual business survey to determine the challenges, pressures and opportunities in the Southland business environment.This year 350 businesses completed the survey that ran from April 10 to May 10.Venture Southland business services manager Alistair Adam says businesses were surveyed on a wide range of topics to determine overall business confidence levels in the region.

The survey revealed 74% of businesses are positive about the Southland economy and business environment, and 84% are positive about their own business.For the first time since the Southland Business Survey began Southland businesses were reporting employing more people than in the previous year.Mr Adam says the establishment of Venture Southland’s labour market team, and the ongoing work of Southland Youth Futures, has significantly contributed to this.“For the third year in a row, more businesses are adapting their employment practices to recruit young people, women and working to retain older people in the workforce,” Mr Adam says.

A Dark Sky Sanctuary on Stewart Island/Rakiura is one step

closer to reality. The application, being prepared by an independent consultant in conjunction with Venture Southland and the Stewart Island Promotion Association, will be considered by the International

LUMSDEN FUNDING

While the survey showed business confidence remaining strong, it was also able to identify the challenges continuing to face Southland businesses. Increased energy and fuel costs are affecting more and more businesses each year and are considered a significant challenge in Southland alongside red tape/compliance costs, exchange rate and global commodity prices.The findings of the survey guide the direction of Venture Southland services, particularly in regards to labour market initiatives and advocating for improved digital connectivity in the region.* More detailed information on the findings of the survey can be found online at www.venturesouthlandco.nz

Dark Sky Association this year. If successful, Stewart Island/Rakiura will become the fifth Dark Sky sanctuary in the world – putting the Island on the map as one of the best locations to view the famous Aurora Australis.

EYES ON THE SKY

The Lumsden Heritage Trust has been granted $62,252 by the

Lottery Grants Board to restore and preserve the town’s heritage carriage. The funding application, prepared by Venture Southland, alongside John Titter and Rob Scott of the Lumsden Heritage Trust, will allow the development of a purpose-built canopy to protect the town’s A class 1896 railway carriage. Venture Southland community development planner Susan Mackenzie says the restored carriage has the potential to become an iconic feature of Lumsden. The restoration project is part of the wider work being carried out to upgrade the Lumsden town centre. Southland District Council received central government funding to assist in sealing and marking the car park, modernising the facility and upgrading and increasing the number of toilets.

Aurora Australis Oreti River - VIDEOCOPTER

24

AREA AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBERInvercargill Office car park

Wednesday 1st11.30 – 12 noon

None Wednesday 3rd11.30 – 12 noon

Lumsden Railway Station

None Wednesday 5th11.30– 12 noon

None

Otautau Office (at rear)

Thursday 2nd11.30 –12 noon

None Thursday 4th11.30– 12 noon

Riverton Office None Tuesday 4th11.30 – 12 noon

None

Te Anau Office (at rear)

None Thursday 6th11.30am – 12pm

None

Wyndham Office (at rear)

Tuesday 7th 2pm – 2.30pm

None Tuesday 9th2 – 2.30pm

Winton Opposite SDC Office

Thursday 9th 11.30am – 12pm

None Thursday 11th 11.30am – 12pm

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL DOGS MUST BE CURRENTLY REGISTERED WITH SDC AND WEARING THEIR TAGS TO BE MICROCHIPPED.ALL dogs must be registered by 3 months of ageM

ICRO

CHIP

PIN

G

TIM

ETA

BLE

Warning signs displayed at properties throughout

Southland do not prevent owners being held liable in the event of a dog attack, Council says.

Environmental health manager Michael Sarfaiti says it is important dog owners in the District understood that, even if they displayed signs with messages such as ‘beware of the dog’ or ‘enter at your own risk’, they could still be considered legally liable if their dog attacked a person or animal that came onto their property.

ANIMAL CONTROL

DOG OWNERS BEWARE

Important points for dog owners to remember include:

• People can lawfully enter private property, unless they are told by the occupants to leave• Dog owners are required to contain dogs on their property so they cannot escape and/or roam• A dog warning sign on a fence or gate does not protect the owner from liability, if a person lawfully enters their property and is attacked by a dog. If a dog owner thinks a caution warning is needed for their dog or dogs, they should take other steps to protect lawful visitors – for instance, by keeping the dog in a contained area, so that visitors can access the front door without being confronted by a dog.

25

DOG OWNERS MUST:• Register all dogs by the age of three months

• Promptly notify Council of any change of ownership or address of your dog

• Provide your dog with proper care, exercise and attention, and supply proper and sufficient food, water and shelter

• Keep your dog under control at all times and ensure it does not cause a nuisance or endanger any person, animal, or property.

Dog registration in the Southland District

Please check all information on your registration forms is correct and signed. Incomplete forms will be returned to you. You can post to Southland District Council, P O Box 903, Invercargill 9840.

Visit any Southland District Council office.

ONLINE:

PUPPIESAll dogs must be registered before they are three months old. The fee you must pay will depend on the month your puppy becomes three months old.

– WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOWHave you registered your dog yet? One of your responsibilities as an owner is to ensure you register your dog by 1 July every year. Here are some handy tips for registering your dog.

WHAT DOES IT COST TO REGISTER MY DOG?The registration fee for non-working dogs is $90, but you can apply for discounts that were introduced to encourage responsible ownership (such as spaying or neutering your dog). Dogs registered after 1 August will incur a late registration penalty – 50% of the total registration fee. You can find out more at www.southlanddc.govt.nz

HOW DO I PAY?

The easiest way to re-register your dog is online. Go to www.southlanddc.govt.nz and select ‘Pay It’ on the home page.

IN PERSON:

BY POST:

26

For the past year Southland District Libraries have been helping to bridge the ‘digital divide’ – the gap between

people who haven’t had the opportunity to learn more about computers and those who have.Free digital literacy classes are held every week in Lumsden, Te Anau, Winton and Otautau.Another contributor to the divide is economic: not all families can afford a wifi connection. In partnership

Low-cost wifi available

Te Anau librarian Jo Mann – ‘Mrs Library’ to some – was the

2017/2018 recipient of the Helen Zwartz Scholarship. It provides funding for a two-week internship at the National Library of New Zealand in Wellington for those working in a public library in a smaller New Zealand community. The late Helen Zwartz, originally from Nelson, joined the National Library on Waitangi Day 1956. She went on to gain her library qualification in London and rejoined the National Library in the mid-1960s. She later worked in the library at Victoria University and then the Commission (later Ministry) for the Environment. Her husband David Zwartz funded the scholarship to give other librarians the same professional opportunities Helen enjoyed.Let’s see what Jo had to say about her experience.Why did you apply for the scholarship?It was a unique opportunity to gain knowledge and skills that I could use in my everyday work here in Southland and share with my library colleagues. What was the experience like?After discussing my particular library interests, senior staff at the National Library organised a programme for me which included special meetings with specialist staff, observations, visits to other libraries and participation in

LIBRARY SERVICES

events such as exhibition openings and public programmes. My two weeks were intense, but exciting and really inspiring.What area(s) did your work there cover? I spent time with almost every department! However, my focus areas included learning more about reference services and digital services provided by the National Library and services to schools. I learned about services that can be accessed remotely that could be of real benefit to our library users.What did you gain from the experience?Inspiration, great connections and renewed enthusiasm for my work in libraries. Do you have a highlight from your time at the National Library?There were many! If I had to pick one it would probably be the opportunity to go behind the scenes with some of the library curators and public programme developers to see how exhibitions and events are conceived, constructed and delivered. I saw precious, historic artefacts, was privileged to be invited to the opening of a beautiful photography exhibition, got a sneak preview of the Topp Twins touring exhibition, and joined public programme delivery staff on tours of the He Tohu exhibition.What will your time at the National Library allow you to bring back to Southland’s communities?Even more passion for libraries and the variety of special services they provide! In particular I’m keen to connect people to the amazing digital resources that I’ve discovered are available through our National Library. We do not have to live in Wellington to access many of its services and collections.

‘MRS LIBRARY’ TAKES WELLINGTON

with the 20/20 Communications Trust and the Spark Foundation, Southland District Libraries is now involved in the Spark Jump programme, offering 30GB of data for a low rate and no contract. A modem is supplied for free. You do need to meet some criteria – a family is defined as home that includes a child under 18 for all or part of the week, and homes must not have a wifi contract already in place. To find out more phone 0800 732 542.

Jo Mann with David Zwartz, husband of the late Helen Zwartz, in whose memory the scholarship was established. Photos: MARK BEATTY/NATIONAL LIBRARY

Jo Mann with members of the Zwartz family and National Library staff.

27

Mobile Library TimetableJan - May 2018

Aug - Nov 2018Athol Shop Noon-1pm Tues 7-Aug 4-Sep 2-Oct 30-Oct 27-NovBalfour Tavern 4.30-6.30pm Tues 21-Aug 18-Sep 16-Oct 13-Nov Tavern 1.30-3.00pm Thurs 9-Aug 6-Sep 4-Oct 1-Nov 29-NovBlackmount Wairaki Station 11.30am-12.15pm Mon 6-Aug 3-Sep 1-Oct 29-Oct 26-NovDacre Hall 9-10am Fri 24-Aug 21-Sep 19-Oct 16-NovDipton School 11-Noon Tues 21-Aug 18-Sep 16-Oct 13-NovDrummond School 10.30-Noon Wed 22-Aug 19-Sep 17-Oct 14-NovEdendale Car park 1-4pm Fri 10-Aug 7-Sep 5-Oct 2-Nov 30-Nov School 10.30-Noon Fri 24-Aug 21-Sep 19-Oct 16-NovFortrose Picnic Area 3-4pm Fri 24-Aug 21-Sep 19-Oct 16-NovGarston School 1.30-2.30pm Tues 7-Aug 4-Sep 2-Oct 30-Oct 27-Nov Village 2.30-3.30pm Tues 7-Aug 4-Sep 2-Oct 30-Oct 27-NovGlenham School 1-2pm Fri 24-Aug 21-Sep 19-Oct 16-NovGorge Rd Hall 11am-12.30pm Tues 31-Aug 28-Sep 26-Oct 23-NovHauroko Valley School 1.00-1.30pm Mon 6-Aug 3-Sep 1-Oct 29-Oct 26-NovHeddon Bush School 1.30-2.30pm Wed 22-Aug 19-Sep 17-Oct 14-NovHedgehope School 11am-12.30pm Fri 17-Aug 14-Sep 12-Oct 9-NovHillside School School 11am-12.30pm Thurs 16-Aug 13-Sep 11-Oct 8-NovInvercargill SDC Office 9.30-11.30am Thurs 2-Aug 30-Aug 27-Sep 25-Oct 22-NovIsla Bank School 9-10am Wed 22-Aug 19-Sep 17-Oct 14-NovLimehills School 9.15am-10.30am Thurs 16-Aug 13-Sep 11-Oct 8-Nov

Longbush Kindergarten 9-10am Fri 10-Aug 7-Sep 5-Oct 2-NovMossburn RSA 9.30-10.30am Tues 7-Aug 4-Sep 2-Oct 30-Oct 27-Nov School 1.30-3.30pm Tues 21-Aug 18-Sep 16-Oct 13-NovNightcaps Johnston Rd 9.30-10.30am Mon 6-Aug 3-Sep 1-Oct 29-Oct 26-Nov

Ohai Com Centre 2-4pm Thurs 16-Aug 13-Sep 11-Oct 8-NovOrepuki Main St 3-4pm Mon 6-Aug 3-Sep 1-Oct 29-Oct 26-NovOtara Hall 2.30-4pm Wed 1-Aug 29-Aug 26-Sep 24-Oct 21-NovPukerau School 9.30-11.30am Wed 8-Aug 5-Sep 3-Oct 31-Oct 28-NovRimu School 10.30-11.30am Fri 10-Aug 7-Sep 5-Oct 2-Nov 30-NovRiversdale Com Centre 11am-12.30pm Thurs 9-Aug 6-Sep 4-Oct 1-Nov 29-Nov Com Centre 2-4.30pm Thurs 23-Aug 20-Sep 18-Oct 15-NovRiverton BUPA Village 2-4pm Thurs 2-Aug 30-Aug 27-Sep 25-Oct 22-NovRoslyn Bush Playcentre 9.15-10am Tues 31-Jul 28-Aug 25-Sep 23-Oct 20-NovRyal Bush Com Centre 2.30-4pm Fri 17-Aug 14-Sep 12-Oct 9-NovTe Tipua School 9.30-10.30am Fri 17-Aug 14-Sep 12-Oct 9-NovThornbury Hall 3-4pm Wed 15-Aug 12-Sep 10-Oct 7-NovTokanui Main St 1.30-4pm Fri 3-Aug 31-Aug 28-Sep 26-Oct 23-Nov School 9.30-11am Mon 20-Aug 17-Sep 15-Oct 12-NovWaianiwa Hall 1-2pm Wed 15-Aug 12-Sep 10-Oct 7-NovWaikaia School 9-10.30am Thurs 9-Aug 6-Sep 4-Oct 1-Nov 29-Nov Com Centre 10.15-11.30am Thurs 23-Aug 20-Sep 18-Oct 15-NovWaikaka Com Centre 2-4pm Wed 8-Aug 5-Sep 3-Oct 31-Oct 28-NovWaikawa Hall 10am-Noon Fri 3-Aug 31-Aug 28-Sep 26-Oct 23-NovWaimahaka Hall 11.30am-1pm Wed 1-Aug 29-Aug 26-Sep 24-Oct 21-NovWallacetown Com Centre 9am-Noon Wed 15-Aug 12-Sep 10-Oct 7-NovWendon Hall Noon-12.30pm Thurs 23-Aug 20-Sep 18-Oct 15-NovWendonside Hall 9.30-10am Thurs 23-Aug 20-Sep 18-Oct 15-NovWoodlands Shop 2-4pm Tues 31-Jul 28-Aug 25-Sep 23-Oct 20-Nov

School 2-4pm Mon 20-Aug 17-Sep 15-Oct 12-Nov

Southland District Libraries Ph: 0800 732 542 Email: winton.library@southlanddc.govt.nz

28

Ron Sage honouredWaikaia resident Ron Sage’s decades of service to the town were recognised at an award presentation in May. Mr Sage has been mowing the town’s grass verges for 45 years, and at “nearly 90” he was Southland District Council’s oldest employee at the time of his reluctant retirement. Councillor Brian Dillon said: “I know you don’t want to retire, Ron, but that time comes for all of us and your community thanks you for your service.’’

Catlins coastal roadThe Catlins alternative coastal route improvements project is well advanced at the end of the road construction season. The 5.5km length of Slope Point Road has been fully reconstructed and sealed, with a new car park nearly finished. All but about 1km of the unsealed 13.3km section of the main route – Otara to Curio Bay – has been sealed. Work is also well advanced on the final stage, Waipapa Point Road. It is expected the entire project will be finished around December 2018. All three roads will remain open, with temporary traffic management and speed limits in place, so please drive with care.

New grandstand Riverton’s new grandstand was officially opened in May. The G B Robertson Stand is named after prominent Riverton sporting identity Graeme Robertson, who is a life member of the Southland Rowing Association, Southland Legion of Rowers, Riverton Regatta Society and the Riverton rugby, rowing, trotting and golf clubs. The Riverton/Aparima Community Board paid for the stand at the recreation reserve, which is the headquarters of the rugby club and is also used for athletics, wood chopping and school sports.

New citizensTwenty-two new New Zealanders were welcomed to the District by Mayor Gary Tong at a citizenship ceremony on 6 June. A good crowd gathered in the Winton Memorial Hall to witness the 22 take their oaths of allegiance. They originate from the Philippines, Great Britain, Tonga, Thailand, South Africa and Vietnam.

SHORTSTUFF

Ron Sage with his Southland District Council Long Service Award. Photo: RACHAEL KELLY/STUFF

29

New grandstand

Milford Opportunities The Milford Opportunities Project was set up to manage growing visitor numbers in Milford/Piopiotahi, while ensuring that all visitors have a quality experience. The initiative aims to uphold conservation values, reflect the unique nature of the place and increase revenue for the region. It looks at the broader Milford experience (not just the activities in Milford Sound) to create opportunities for Te Anau, Southland and New Zealand. The project is managed by a governance group which includes representatives from the local tourism industry, Ngāi Tahu, Southland District Council, Queenstown Lakes District Council, the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, the New Zealand Transport Agency and the Department of Conservation. The project is in the process of collecting as much information as it can about Milford and its surrounds, and also commissioning further research where there are gaps. It plans to have a conceptual masterplan by late next year.

Pink Ribbon BreakfastCouncil got right behind Pink Ribbon Day, raising more than $1000 for life-saving research into breast cancer. At Winton Library’s Pink Ribbon Breakfast, breast cancer survivor Trish Burden spoke about the power of positive thinking and 10-year-old Danielle Aitken won the bra decoration competition. A total of $360 was raised. In the Invercargill office chief executive Steve Ruru and Mayor Gary Tong judged entries in a pink ribbon-themed baking competition. Invercargill staff raised more than $750.

SDC honours boardSouthland District Council resource management team leader Marcus Roy has been made a full member of the New Zealand Planning Institute. Environmental services group manager Bruce Halligan said: “This is the culmination of a long professional journey and a great deal of hard work for Marcus since he joined SDC nearly 10 years ago as a recent uni graduate. During that time he has worked super-hard to achieve his Masters degree extramurally and fulfil the academic and professional requirements necessary to achieve full membership.’’

• Building solutions team members Alan Wild and Leslie Ladbrook have both earned their National Diploma in Building Control Surveying. They could have completed a Level 5 diploma but both opted to aim higher and attained the Level 6 qualification.

• Council business solutions manager Mark Day was a finalist in the leadership scholarship section of the SOLGM (New Zealand Society of Local Government Managers) Excellence Awards.

Left: Dianne Williams and Mayor Gary Tong at the Invercargill breakfast. Right: Raewyn Patton and Carmel Casey with some decorated bras at Winton.

Marcus Roy Alan Wild Leslie Ladbrook Mark Day

30

What do changes to earthquake-prone building standards mean for our communities?We’ve had the first in a series of meetings in Southland District, aimed at working with communities on what changes to earthquake-prone building standards mean for them.We met with people from the Fiordland area to talk with them about changes introduced by central government in July last year. The meeting was an important way of increasing their awareness and understanding of the changes and a good way to get their feedback on what shape these changes might take in their communities. Te Anau, Manapouri, Milford and the surrounding areas were identified as the first communities Council needed to engage with on this issue because they are closest to the Alpine Fault.It’s vitally important that Southland’s communities are fully informed about the changes, largely

because their help is needed to identify high-risk or particularly important buildings. The best people to tell us about what impact the changes might have on a community are the people living there.Changes to earthquake-prone building standards were introduced in response to the Canterbury earthquakes, to reduce loss of life and improve our resilience in the event of a natural disaster. The structural integrity of buildings – especially those with unreinforced masonry – was a major factor in many building failures, deaths and serious injuries in the Christchurch earthquake in 2011. The new standards introduced timeframes building owners have to carry out strengthening work (or demolition) of their properties, as well as the concept of priority buildings. These buildings are determined by a range of factors like their seismic risk, the type of construction used, and what the building is actually used for.More meetings will be held around the District in the months ahead. We’ll keep you posted.• Michael Marron is Southland District Council’s team leader, building solutions

to codeUpwith Michael Marron

The second funding round for grants supporting concerts, festivals, plays, exhibitions and workshops in Southland this year is now open.Creative New Zealand provides funding to city and district councils for distribution in their area, with the Creative Communities scheme supporting more than 1,800 artistic projects nationwide every year.Chair of the Southland District Creative Communities committee Cr Julie Keast says the fund helps to support local communities in engaging with, and participating in, artistic and cultural endeavours running the gamut from dancing to carving to choirs or writing. “The fund is a fantastic opportunity to allow anybody with an idea to share their artistic flair or passion with other Southlanders,” she says.“Having the opportunity to engage or participate in a wide range of art is an important part of creating a well-rounded, vibrant community and we are pleased to be able to help Southlanders connect with the arts.”Applications – which can be made by either individuals or groups – are administered by a committee of Southland arts practitioners, who meet twice a year at the closing of each funding round. Hopeful applicants can contact either Angela Newell or Bronwyn Affleck at Venture Southland for more information on the fund.The next round of funding will close on 30 September.

Could your arts project be eligible?

Does your project – • Encourage participation in the arts• Support diversity • Enable young people • Benefit communities in the Southland District

Your project must –• Take place in the district where your application is made• Be completed within 12 months of funding approval• Not have started or finished before funding approval• Not have already been funded through one of Creative New Zealand’s other arts funding programmesIf you want to find out more on whether or not you are eligible for the Creative Communities Scheme, visit www.creativenz.govt.nz

Support for artistic endeavours available

Booking a building inspection

All inspections are booked by our customer support team, who pass your details on to the building solutions team.We need at least 48 hours’ notice – it’s even better if you can book your inspection by 12pm two days before you require it. Inspections will be carried out within 72 hours of receiving your request. To book a building inspection, call Council on 0800 732 732.

31

Southland District Council has a range of scholarships and grants available for residents of Southland district.

Full details, criteria and application forms are available on our website:

southlanddc.govt.nz > My Council > Funding & Grants

For more information on any of these funds and scholarships, call Bronwyn Affleck at Venture Southland 03 2111 426

SDC GRANT FUNDING

Contact usDistrict Libraries: 0800 732 542 All offices: 0800 732 732

Rural Fire Permits: 0800 773 363@

0800 732 329sdc@southlanddc.govt.nz

southlanddc.govt.nz

District Heritage FundAvailable to support the conservation of heritage collections and encourage the development and application of professional museum standards. Applications close 31 March and 30 September.

SDC SCHOLARSHIPS/BURSARIESValmai Robertson Arts ScholarshipContestable fund of up to $2,500 annually. Applications close 20 December.

Stewart Island/Rakiura Visitor Levy Fund Available to support activities and facilities for the benefit of visitors to Stewart Island; and activities and facilities that mitigate the adverse effects of visitors on the environment. Applications close 31 March each year.

Northern Southland Development FundAvailable for the development of initiatives which benefit the residents of the Northern Southland Development Fund area (represented by the Southland District Council Five Rivers ward and the Dipton Community Levy area). Applications close 31 March and 30 September.

Sport NZ – Rural Travel Fund Available to assist with transport expenses associated with participating in regular local competitions. Ages 5-19.

Applications close 31 March and 30 September.

Community Initiatives Fund

Available for community facilities or amenities. Applications close 31 March and 30 September.

Community HousingSouthland District Council has community housing in Edendale, Lumsden, Otautau, Ohai, Nightcaps, Riversdale, Riverton, Tuatapere, Winton and Wyndham.

While priority is given to senior citizens, you may still be eligible.

To find out more or to make an application, visit any Southland District Council office or call 0800 732 732.

Creative CommunitiesAvailable for arts and cultural projects and initiatives which stimulate and strengthen local arts activity and participation.Applications close 31 March and 30 September.

Ohai Railway Fund

Available for residents of the former Ohai Railway Board area, for the development of community facilities, programmes and other activities, tertiary education and employment training.

Applications close 31 March and 30 September.

SDC Eric Hawkes Memorial Outward Bound ScholarshipTwo scholarships in this category: one for 18 to 26 years and one for 27 years and over. Applications close 20 December.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Centennial Bursary Two scholarships valued at $2,000 each, awarded annually. Applications close 20 December.

32

The title was one of several handed out to those in local government by

the New Zealand Society of Local Government Managers (SOLGM) at an awards gala in Auckland. The Brookfields Emerging Leader of the Year Award is presented to an individual with a proven track record of delivering innovative and successful programmes or projects. Judges praised Mr Keil’s strong leadership attitude, technical expertise, and commitment to engagement.Mr Keil says he is extremely humbled to have received the award, and is appreciative of the

opportunity to see how the rest of the world operates

within local government when he attends the conference in Baltimore in September.“These sorts of things are always reflective of a team effort, not just an individual one,” he says.“I’ve been fortunate to have worked under some well-regarded industry mentors over the years. I’ve always been well supported at Council to undertake training and development, and to professionally challenge myself,” he says.“I would also like to

acknowledge the role my grandparents and

matriarchs of my whānau, Lesley and Pik Rewi, have played in helping

me attain this honour. They have supported and challenged me from day one of my own journey, both professionally and personally, and without them I would not have achieved what I have.”Sponsored by Brookfields Lawyers, the award includes a fully paid trip to attend the ICMA Annual Conference in the United States, the largest annual event in the world for those in local government.

“Matt stands out through his commitment to making the council water industry accessible and understandable.”

“He has led some significant infrastructure projects and has demonstrated a strong commitment to professional development.”SOLGM’s chief executive Karen Thomas says the awards gala is a special event for the local government sector. “It recognises the outstanding contribution and commitment to communities. Throughout New Zealand local government professionals are working on inspiring and collaborative projects and investing in their professional development. We are proud to acknowledge and celebrate this, and the important impact that local government professionals have on the communities we all serve,” she says.

- Fiona Purchas, SOLGM’s manager of professional development

Southland District Council’s senior project engineer water and waste services, Matt Keil, is this year’s recipient of the prestigious Brookfields Emerging Leader of the Year award.

LEADING THE WAY

Council’s senior project engineer water and waste services Matt Keil with the Brookfields Emerging Leader of the Year award. SUPPLIED