Fundraiser to help build new trail
Waimate men will swap gumboots for high heels when they strut their stuff for a fundraiser next month.
Money raised will go towards the construction of The Waimate Trail.
Miss Waimate 2025 has attracted 10 entrants, including farmers, vets, and builders.
Event organiser Jo Sutherland said the participants were from all walks of life.
"All getting dressed up for a good cause."
Mrs Sutherland said organisers wanted to hold the event before calving.
Ticket sales had proved popular with 200 tickets selling within two to three days.
Only 50 tickets remained, and Mrs Sutherland hoped the event would sell out.
"That's my goal."
Money from ticket sales was earmarked for stage one of the trail, from Waimate to Waihao Forks.
She said construction through the gorge was nearly complete and was shaping up to be a "wonderful piece of trail".
There would be stories and information boards about the old Waimate branch railway along the way, as well as interactive sculptures on fauna and flora.
Organisers had divided the trail into four sections, so work on it could take place over a staggered amount of time as funding became available.
As each of those sections were finished they would be usable, she said.
As for the bridges, they would be reusing the abutments but new bridges would be built.
Waimate Lions Club members had built one and Rotary Club of Waimate was taking charge of the other one.
"All the community are getting on board."
She said alongside the trail, organisers were developing a "Foot Steps of our Ancestors" sculpture trail that intertwined the narrative of the landscape and the history of its people, past and present.
As the trail was constructed, a lot of tidying up was being done, too.
The Miss Waimate 2025 event will be held on June 14.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
7 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Category 1 status for church ‘great news'
Kakanui church owners Anna Miles and Michael Simpson (right), and their dog Pippa (left) on the doorstep of the category 1 historic place, and the interior (centre) of the restored former community church that still houses the original piano organ from 1901. PHOTO: JULES CHIN A preservation project has paid off for the dedicated efforts of the passionate owners of the Kakanui church that is now listed as a category 1 historic place with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. The former Kakanui Presbyterian Church, a modest Carpenter Gothic building designed by renowned Scottish-born Dunedin architect Robert Arthur Lawson, has undergone a significant transformation in recent years thanks to Waimate-based couple Michael Simpson and Anna Miles. The pair are ecstatic their restoration project has reached category 1 status after working on the former church since they bought it in 2019. "We are absolutely thrilled and delighted. It's great news," Mr Simpson said. Category 1 historic places are of special or outstanding historical or cultural significance or value. Ms Miles said the church and the area surrounding meant a lot to them and the Kakanui community. "It's just a special spot ... the river, the beach, this place. "So many people came in while we were working on the church and because it was already a notable building and the community had battled to try and save it and fundraise for it when the church still owned it," Mr Simpson said. Built in 1870, and once the spiritual heart of Kakanui, the timber church had weathered decades of change before its final service in November 2019 in the seaside town. Mr Simpson and Ms Miles, who attended the last service, said it was "emotional" and embodied the deep connection the Kakanui community had to the church. Since buying the property, the couple have steadily restored the structure, replacing sub-floor bearing joists, corner studs and weatherboards, improving drainage, restoring windows and repainting the interior. Their restoration has extended to the church's outbuildings — including the bible class hall added in 1933, two small buildings acquired in 1955 for the growing Sunday school and even a brownies den. They say they have kept the budget to a minimum by working with original materials "to minimise waste" as much as possible. They have also strived to keep original details such as original boarding and the iron straps added to the building in 1884 to stop the church from "getting battered by northwest winds", Mr Simpson said. Mr Simpson, a carpenter with heritage expertise, and Ms Miles, equally hands-on, saw the church as more than just a building and have brought it back to life with community events including a night market and musical gigs, Christmas carols and even a friend's wedding. "We'd seen so much loss of heritage and we knew we could work to preserve it ... we see ourselves as stewards of the building". Mr Lawson (1833-1902), the church's architect, is well known for many of Oamaru's classical buildings including the National Bank, the Bank of New South Wales and the Star and Garter Hotel. Mr Simpson said it was "was super exciting" when they got the listing "to get a stab" at preserving the history of the church. The couple said initial meetings with Waitaki District Council building advisers and engagement with Heritage New Zealand had been "fantastic". "The building advisers were so receptive to our ideas ... and Heritage New Zealand assessment adviser Alison Brees who came up and then did a report on it, it was so comprehensive and she was learning, so much," Mr Simpson said. "She was doing all the research on the social history of Kakanui and what it was a symbol of," Ms Miles said. After various project ideas the couple opted to stick to the "essence" of the original design of the building. They have also made some interesting discoveries throughout the restoration of the 154-year-old church including Roman numerals etched into wood behind some of the boards. "Because this was kit-set, likely built off-site or pre-assembled offsite. "An intern at Heritage NZ also discovered through old photos that the bent and forked roof was actually for the rope that went up to the bell on the bell tower," Mr Simpson said. Making the commute from Waimate at any chance they get, they describe the restoration as their "hobby", but the project has taken on new meaning for them as it has progressed. "We saw it as a building project on day one, but it just keeps turning into something else — having events in the church, and restoring it as well as we can, means that it should have a life beyond us, and that's what we want." Mr Simpson said. Originally designed to seat 100 worshippers, the church was constructed in just three months during a period of ambitious development. Hopes were high that the newly built port would turn the coastal settlement into a major export hub. While those dreams faded, the church remained a part of the community's life for nearly 150 years. The couple say they have had "so much fun" restoring the former church and have been grateful not to have a set deadline to be able to enjoy the process at their own pace. Ms Miles said the wider community outreach and public submissions in support of the building to achieve a category 1 historic place had been immense. "All these people submitted saying they thought it was a great idea. They all got involved; it was amazing," she said. Mr Simpson said they were told it was a "recent record" for the number of submissions they received. The couple plan to continue restoration of the church and to celebrate its new-found heritage status with an open day event "to welcome all" in spring. "If we have a gin at the end of the day sitting in here and looking at the ceiling and thinking how lovely it is, well, what else could you want?" Mr Simpson said.
Otago Daily Times
24-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Champion year for youth service: report
A view of the Peninsula Bay subdivision looking back towards the Wanaka township. PHOTO: ARCHIVE Wānaka's top youth service had a great year in 2024, its annual report says. Kahu Youth's annual meeting was held last week and its annual report showed the organisation had a successful 21st year, bringing together more than 200 young people across a range of programmes. Operations director Anna Sutherland was happy with the progress made. Highlights included a new youth space and the Winter Wonderland Ball fundraiser. The service hosted 13 different youth development programmes, including after-school clubs, transition programmes and school holiday programmes. The opening of the new youth centre in Paetara Aspiring Central, which was two years in the making, had helped the group elevate its service. Attendance at the after-school drop-in sessions had soared, more than 30 young people using the centre each day for that programme. The annual report indicated a growing need in the region for services relating to mental health, counselling and psychology sessions. Ms Sutherland said Kahu Youth had tried to contribute to meeting this need while remaining under the umbrella of youth work. One-on-one mentoring had been a proven way to help young people overcome challenges — 22 young people had been paired with a youth worker for weekly mentoring. Feedback had been positive, many saying they had more engagement in education and were building better relationships. Funding and sponsorships meant the youth service had awarded four Kahu Youth scholarships and one sponsored by the Wānaka Rotary club. The winner of the Rotary and Kahu Youth scholarship, Oscar Waddington, said the $1500 award had made a significant difference to the cost of his education. "Receiving the scholarship was a lifesaver," he said. "Not only does it help fund my studies, but it also helps me in securing safe and reliable accommodation while I pursue my BA in Wellington." Ms Sutherland was also pleased with the outcome of the Winter Wonderland Ball which helped raise more than $60,000 for the fitout of the new youth space. The event's success was attributed to the hard work of volunteers, the Kahu youth team and the young people involved with the programmes. She added that community support was vital in allowing the service to complete extra projects as well as their youth work.
Otago Daily Times
23-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Who has the best-tasting tap water?
PHOTO: RNZ Will a sip of pure Waitaki water take the crown or will Waimate reclaim its title from 2023? That is the question for municipal water suppliers across New Zealand as they go head-to-head in Nelson next week for the best-tasting tap water title. All municipal water suppliers in New Zealand have been invited to compete in the IXOM National Water Taste Test and submit a sample of their finest drop to the Water Industry Operations Group of New Zealand. The award for New Zealand's best-tasting tap water will be decided on May 29 at the annual water industry group conference. During judging, water samples are subjected to a blind taste test and rated according to the ''Water Tasting Wheel''. The wheel outlines some of the attributes water professionals use when assessing water such as colour, clarity, odour and taste. In the ultimate showdown, the 2025 winner will go on to represent New Zealand against Australia's reigning champion in a transtasman water taste test, in July. — APL
