Otago Daily Times News Feed

Presbyterian Support Otago social work team leader Jollene Warrington (right) and community relations adviser Joy Davis stand in the Family Works Foodbank, where a number of shelves are empty, as the organisation gears up for the Octacan collection next Thursday, June 19, in the Octagon. Photo: Brenda Harwood The Presbyterian Support Otago Family Works Foodbank is running low on a slew of staple items, as it gears up for the vital Octacan collection day next week.

The combined capital value of these two recently-sold residential properties, adjoining Boundary St, is $6.31m. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Two neighbouring residential properties close to Queenstown’s CBD have sold for mega-bucks in a sign development sections are becoming attractive again.

Queenstowner Marley King Smith was part of the winning University of Washington heavyweight coxed four at the recent US intercollegiate university champs. PHOTO: SHARRON BENNETT PHOTOGRAPHY A Queenstown rower who’s competed for New Zealand in under-19 world champs for the past two years is now also a United States national university champion.

The Rydges Lakeside Queenstown Hotel will soon be converted into the QT Queenstown. PHOTO: SUPPLIED QT Queenstown is about to expand.

Misfits Workshop founders Jonty, left, and Max Norton. PHOTO: CONOR DOLMAN A co-working space for "doers and dreamers" has opened in Frankton.

The Altitude Brewing team including, from left, Rob Garrett, Eliott Menzies and Dan Jaffe, has come up with an ant-astic new beer garnish. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A Queenstown brewer is, quite literally, upping the ant-e.

From cooking in a retirement village kitchen to successfully strutting the catwalk in a beauty pageant. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED A Queenstowner is off to China at year’s end to represent New Zealand at the Mrs United Nations International pageant.

The Arts Hole owners Tom Roberts and Chani Caulfield with their son, Denali. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A Queenstown couple believe their art gallery at Frankton’s Country Lane is the only one in New Zealand with works by English street artist Banksy on the walls.

Minister for the South Island James Meager. PHOTO: PHILIP CHANDLER The National-led government’s South Island minister believes lifting the foreign buyer ban for $5million-plus Queenstown residential properties makes sense.

PHOTO: ODT FILES Queenstown skydiving operator NZONE could move south to Kingston.

The Oamaru courthouse in Thames St. PHOTO: ANDREW ASHTON Despite the government’s recent announcement that new initiatives to reduce court delays are showing progress, for some in Oamaru, getting their day in court is still hampered by a "flawed" system and "very stressful" delays.

Chris Brown. PHOTO: ODT FILES In the Zonta spirit of empowering girls and women worldwide, the annual changeover of the Zonta Club of Oamaru president and committee members took place at the Brydone Hotel recently.

Georgia Campbell with the Women in Contracting award. PHOTO: ANDREW ASHTON Oamaru’s Georgia Campbell has continued her rise in the ranks of the male-dominated contracting industry.

Dellwyn Moylan is rallying the knitting troops in a community scarf-making project to honour and remember war veterans.

Y Drive team members (from left) Sharyn Kake, Liz Law, Ange Rattray, Jacinta (Jax) O’Connell-Shanks and Dave Blaikie, show the ‘‘The Y that Catches the Eye’’ award. Absent: Driving Instructors Kate Williams and Via Kaufana. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Following the Y NZ conference held in Wellington recently, The Y Central South Island’s CSI Y-Drive team were recognised for their outstanding Driver Licence Support work across Oamaru, Timaru and Ashburton over the past 12 months.

A direct bus connection between Oamaru and Dunedin is at least three years away. PHOTO: ODT FILES Oamaru commuters wanting to catch a bus to Dunedin will have to wait at least three more years, under draft regional transport plans but politicians here want funding for even more transport services.

Mayoral candidate David Wilson. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A Waitaki district mayoral candidate hopes a candidate information night will be the push needed for like-minded residents to take the leap into local politics and join his campaign.

From June 23 rates payments will no longer be accepted at the Waitaki District Council’s Thames St HQ. PHOTO: BERNARD MANANGKIL People wanting to pay rates bills in person in Oamaru will have to do so at the town’s library later this month.

The IHC Celebrity debate South Island team (from left) Dan Lewis, Jim Hopkins and Alice Hore work on their lines at the Oamaru Opera House. PHOTO: JULES CHIN The IHC Celebrity debate is back again and this year’s hot topic is "The Mainland is the Brain Land".

Gearing up for the 50th anniversary of the Whitestone Rodders club are members (from left) Geoff and Jan Omnet, and their 12-week-old puppy, Indie, next to their 1932 Ford Sports Coupe 509 V8, Hank and Nola Robertson, and Leigh Fellows with his 1946 Ford Sedan. PHOTO: JULES CHIN Get your motors running, the Whitestone Rodders will hold their 50th anniversary in Oamaru next weekend.