Latest news with #MattWoods
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Tourist season extending
Wānaka's shoulder season is shrinking, as visitor numbers hold steady 12 months a year, according to visitor data. The region's rapid tourism growth is undeniable and, in addition to its growth, Wānaka is experiencing a gradual shift in its peak days too. Many outside the region regard the town as a winter destination, but operators say summer has risen in popularity and visitors are now making the most of off-peak seasons as well. Destination Queenstown chief executive Matt Woods said Wānaka had been seeing steady tourism from about mid-June through till mid-April, making the shoulder season next to non-existent. Last year and this year, the twilight zone was between December and March, during which there were about 94,000 to 140,000 commercial guest stays. The rest of last year had stable numbers ranging from about 53,000 to 70,000 guests per month, except for May and June with just over 35,000 guests each. Hospitality businesses in Wānaka have felt the impact of this shift. Te Wānaka Lodge co-owner Mandy Enoka said in the 17 years she had been in the industry, summer was a busy season, but it had grown over the years. "We've had a really busy market. I think summer has extended slowly," she said. " ... So we're now busy from November through until, like, the first of May." Before Covid-19, the summer season would run from mid-December to mid-March, she estimated. As the very peak of the summer season was at Christmas and New Year, some visitors were pushing their check-in dates in order to skip the high prices, Ms Enoka said. However, the winter season was not experiencing the same visitor increase that the summer was. While occupancy rates for the lodge used to be roughly 85% during the July school holidays, they were now sitting at 60%, and one of the most significant contributors was the late snowfall, she said. "I think they're not necessarily wanting to commit to travelling to Wānaka when potentially the snow isn't as good." Archway Motels and Chalets manager Mark Hamilton also said the summer had been a busy time, particularly with events such as Warbirds over Wānaka and Wheels at Wānaka. The high number of visitors made Mr Hamilton feel the town could not handle the tourism industry it had been bolstering. "Summer is definitely crazy. I mean, Wānaka has always been popular and now we have the R&A concert in the valley, which adds to the nightmare. "It's like, Wānaka's really struggling, capacity-wise, which pushes your prices up, of course ... The shoulder season really hasn't eventuated," he said. The winter saw fewer visitors who stayed longer, whereas the summer had more people coming for shorter periods. Deputy mayor Quentin Smith said the growing peak seasons had become something to seriously consider when looking at future development. "It's really hard to manage the infrastructure for the peaks, depending on who's riding, electricity, sewage, all of the above," he said. Building more infrastructure was only one part of the solution. The focus also had to be on regenerative tourism, where sustainability was encouraged. Mr Woods shared a similar opinion, pointing out that high visitor numbers needed to be considered hand in hand with resident population growth. The demand projection from the Queenstown Lakes District Council, released in May of this year, showed the projected resident population in 2025 was 54,440, with visitor numbers on peak days averaging 68,050 people. Looking ahead to 2035, the resident population was projected to hit 69,405 in the district and visitors on peak day to be 86,756. Mr Woods said the growth in resident and visitor numbers meant it was necessary to look at adding more infrastructure that could be used by all those living in or visiting the district. It was also important to look at the regenerative tourism strategy in the destination management plan, which aimed to make tourism sustainable for everyone in the region, he said.
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Cameroon's hidden green treasures unveiled in a book
In a powerful moment for conservation, the book 'Important Plant Areas of Cameroon' was officially launched on 18 June during UK - Cameroon Climate Week. This groundbreaking publication reveals a stunning yet sobering reality: over 850 endangered plant species are spread across 49 critical biodiversity hotspots in Cameroon. Co-authored by experts from Cameroon's Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) National Herbarium, and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the book positions Cameroon as Africa's most tropically diverse nation. From lush rainforests to arid deserts, the country's ecosystems are as varied as they are vital. Yet, this rich biodiversity faces mounting threats. 10% of Cameroon's plant species are now endangered, and the country holds the highest number of threatened trees on the continent. The culprits? Expanding mining operations, aggressive logging, and the relentless spread of palm oil plantations are rapidly eroding Cameroon's forests. These activities not only endanger plant life but also jeopardize the ecological balance of the entire Congo Basin. British High Commissioner Matt Woods used the book's launch to spotlight Cameroon's critical role in global climate discussions. He urged the international community to amplify Cameroon's voice at major forums like COP30 and called for stronger global support to safeguard the Congo Basin's irreplaceable biodiversity. Speaking during the book launch, the representative of Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, Prof. Philip Stevenson said: "It's been a fantastic week of new collaboration. We've been working with IRAD National Herbarium and developing opportunities to extend our reach and do more work here in Cameroon." This book is more than a catalogue of rare plants; it is a call to action. As the world grapples with climate change and biodiversity loss, Cameroon's green treasures remind us of what's at stake and what we still have the power to protect. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of British High Commission - Yaounde.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Aussies urged to look skyward to see 'extremely bright' phenomenon tonight
Astronomy enthusiasts have an extraordinary chance to catch a glimpse of the International Space Station (ISS) this week as it passes over the country during twilight hours. The 500-ton space laboratory, which orbits Earth, will appear as a bright, fast-moving white dot gliding smoothly across the sky and is viewable with the naked eye, no telescope needed. At its brightest, it can outshine Venus, making it an impressive and easy-to-spot sight. This week, it will be visible in Perth on Tuesday at 6:25 pm, Wednesday at 7.12 pm, and Thursday at 6.24 pm, the Perth Observatory stated online on Monday, sparking excitement among locals. Speaking to Yahoo News, the Observatory's Tour Administrator Matt Woods said that over Perth, there are "good" ISS sightings every couple of weeks. "Extremely bright evening passes like this often come in clusters over two to three nights — sometimes you'll get several in both the evening and early morning in the same week," he said. "This is usually followed by a quieter stretch where we don't see the ISS at night because it's flying over Perth during the day instead. The timing and brightness of each pass depend on the station's orbit and the position of the Sun relative to your location. "These passes occur during what we often refer to as the golden window, which is roughly the hour and a half after sunset or before sunrise. During this time, the sky is dark enough for us to see satellites, but they're still high enough to catch sunlight before entering the Earth's Shadow. The ISS reflects this sunlight, making it appear as a bright, fast-moving 'star' in the sky." Matt said a fun way to understand is to watch the sun set from ground level, then take a lift to the top of a tall building. "You'll see the sun 'set again' because you've gained enough height to catch those last rays, just like the ISS does as it orbits above us," he explained. "The ISS orbits at an average altitude of about 408 kilometres and takes roughly 90 minutes to complete one orbit around Earth. Its orbital path is tilted at 51.6 degrees to the equator, allowing it to pass over around 90p per cent of the world's inhabited land, which is why so many people across the globe can catch a glimpse of it." To view the ISS, you simply look up at the sky during its scheduled flyover time. Australians can find the schedule relevant to their location by searching their city here. "Give your eyes a few minutes to adjust to the dark and look in the right direction," Matt said. "The ISS usually appears low on the horizon and moves steadily across the sky — apps will show you whether it'll appear in the northwest, for example, and travel southeast." The ISS orbits Earth about 16 times a day, but it's only visible at twilight, when it's illuminated by the Sun while the ground is dark. It's flying over or near your location (which happens several times a day due to its orbit). It's dark enough where you are to see it, usually within about one to hours hours after sunset or before sunrise. The ISS is still in sunlight, meaning it's high enough above Earth that it's catching sunlight while your location is in twilight or darkness. The ISS is a 500-ton space laboratory orbiting Earth at 28,000 km/h, carrying astronauts and science experiments. Depending on location and timing, most Aussies can expect to see it once or twice a week. The International Space Station (ISS) is permanently crewed as it orbits about 400 km above Earth. It was launched as a global science and engineering project to support long-term human presence in space and advance research that benefits life on Earth and future space exploration. Construction of the ISS began in 1998, with the first module launched by Russia. It has been continuously occupied by astronauts and cosmonauts since 2000. Onboard, the ISS is used for a wide range of scientific research, including testing technologies for future missions to the Moon and Mars. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama District 5 House race pits Matt Woods against Ryan Cagle
Voters go to the polls June 24 to choose one of two candidates to represent them in Alabama's Senate District 5, a district including Lamar, Fayette, Walker and the northern half of Tuscaloosa County in north central Alabama. Rep. Matt Woods, R-Jasper, will face Democratic candidate Ryan Cagle, a progressive faith leader and community organizer, in a special election on June 24 to fill a seat vacated by former Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed, R-Jasper, who stepped down at the beginning of the year to join Gov. Kay Ivey's administration as senior adviser to workforce transformation. Woods in a phone interview June 16 described his run for the Senate seat as a 'natural progression of (his) public service,' pointing to his commitment to continuing the 'strong conservative leadership' and 'conservative values,' he said, that have defined the district for years. He cited the passage of the 'Alabama Child Protection Act,' a bill he sponsored making it illegal for anyone to create, share, or possess child sexual abuse material, and carrying the 'Parents Right to Know Act' in the House, which required schools to post classroom curricula online. The representative also pointed to his votes in favor of grocery tax cuts and eliminating sales tax on feminine and baby products. 'I will continue to look for ways to provide tax relief for the people of the state while fighting for more jobs and more resources for rural Alabama,' he said. Cagle said that the state's policy should better support the community, saying that his decision to run stems from a desire for 'proper representation in Montgomery of working-class and vulnerable people in District 5.' Cagle criticized current elected officials for not being 'on the ground' and directly addressing issues like poverty and the opioid crisis. He also criticized the influence of lobbyists and big corporations on state leadership, saying that many have been 'bought and sold.' 'The system's not set up for working-class people to run. It privileges wealthy, affluent people in our communities to lead us,' he said, adding that he wants to bring a voice that 'reflects the majority of the people's lives and lived experiences in our district.' More: Special election scheduled for Tuscaloosa's House District 63 seat Cagle said that dissatisfaction with the status quo goes beyond party lines, claiming that even Republicans in the district are considering voting for him due to his community work. He said that ongoing problems such as rising poverty, hunger and opioid overdoses stem from electing similar individuals, regardless of their political affiliation. 'I hope that my campaign, if anything else, can be a seed for us beginning to think more critically in District 5, beyond these party lines, and looking toward how we as a community, as a district, can come together and work together and put our people first,' Cagle said. Woods said he would not 'be sitting still (on) day one.' If elected, he plans to re-introduce bills to increase the criminal penalties for making violent threats, such as a bomb threat, to schools, and a bill aimed at expanding broadband internet resources in underserved areas. The legislation would remove state sales tax on broadband equipment funded by federal grants to allow more of the grant money to be used for infrastructure development. Woods did not answer how he would propose handling federal budget cuts being floated by Congress, which could cut an estimated $5.54 billion in federal funding to Alabama for SNAP and Medicaid over 10 years in the House proposal, but said his priority is on rural health care and providing access to medical care in underserved areas. Regarding potential changes to the Department of Education, such as a proposal to eliminate it, Woods said he believes that the state would be able to provide a 'common-sense Alabama-based education.' More: New president caps 18 months of change at University of Alabama Cagle called for 'reprioritizing what we want for the state and what we want the community.' He said he opposes cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP but also argued that the state can make up the difference with resources he said are often mismanaged, saying that a majority of the land in Alabama is owned by 'a handful of people,' preventing potential tax revenue. He was also critical of the 'CHOOSE Act,' which expands funding for private schools and homeschooling, arguing it's a 'poor stewardship of our money and resources' that primarily benefits 'wealthy, affluent Alabamians' and underfunds public schools. Considering Republicans' supermajority in the Senate, Cagle said that if elected he would engage in 'bridge building.' He said that he would draw from his experience organizing, saying that 'the work of caring for our community has transcended those boundaries.' 'This is the first battle of many. It's time for change,' Cagle said. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama House District 5 election includes part of Tuscaloosa County
ABC News
11-06-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Why are people calling tonight's full moon a 'strawberry moon'?
If you've been seeing a lot of chatter about tonight's full moon being a "strawberry moon" on your social media feed, you'd be forgiven for expecting a lunar eclipse tonight. But that's not the case. Here's what you can expect from the full moon tonight. Tonight's full moon is appealing to people for different reasons. It's a big deal in the UK, for example, because of a phenomenon called a "major lunar standstill". That means the moon will be the lowest in the UK skies it's been in more than 18 years. But there's a lot of hype about the moon because people are calling it "the strawberry moon". And with a name that sounds as visually appealing as "strawberry moon", it has been getting a lot of traction in some social media circles. We're not expecting it to be. The moon appears to glow red during a lunar eclipse, with many people calling the phenomenon a blood moon. But the next total lunar eclipse visible in Australia isn't until September. Local atmospheric conditions like bushfire smoke, dust and haze can also make the moon appear reddish. So the moon might look reddish if there's haze in your area this evening, but it wouldn't be something all of Australia would be seeing. It's also known as "lunistice" — think "solstice", but with the moon instead of the sun. "It's when the Moon reaches the extremes of its northernmost and southernmost rising and setting points on the horizon," Matt Woods from the Perth Observatory said. "These standstills happen because the Moon's orbit is tilted at a 5 degrees inclination relative to the Earth's equator and slowly shifts over time." These shifts happen over a cycle that lasts 18.6 years. "During a major lunar standstill, the Moon appears to travel much further across the sky over a month than usual, rising and setting at more extreme points and reaching higher or lower altitudes in the sky," Mr Woods says. "It's not something that happens in just one night — it happens over weeks or months." In the UK, the full moon's track throughout the night will be at its lowest point in the sky. But it'll be the opposite for us here in Australia. "This is the time it will be as high as it will ever get in the sky," University of Southern Queensland astrophysics professor Jonti Horner said. So, if you were to go out and look up at the moon at midnight, it should be directly over you, rather than closer to the horizon. "It will pass directly overhead," Professor Horner says. In terms of the moonrise and moonset locations, it's not all that noticeable unless you're comparing it to previous years. "You won't notice a big shift in just one night — and there's no sudden visual event like an eclipse — but astronomers are already tracking the gradual changes in the Moon's rising and setting positions," Mr Woods said. Ancient cultures were very in tune with these events because they used the moon to track the passage of time. And without big city buildings obstructing the horizon or smartphones sucking their attention, they would have been acutely aware of where on the horizon the moon rose and set each night. But a smartphone can help you understand the significance of the phenomenon. Professor Horner says you can download a stargazing app to show you where the moon is expected to rise in the future — which will help you understand what's happening tonight. He recommends facing the horizon when the moon rises this evening and then using the app to show you where the full moon will rise in June next year, the year after, and so on until 2033. And as for the night owls? Stay awake until about midnight because that's when the moon will be at its highest. "Look at the length of the shadows … you'll barely have a shadow," Professor Horner said. He recommended taking a photo of the moon in the sky with visible landmarks in the horizon. Take note of the exact spot you stood in and return mid-way through the cycle — about a decade from now — and retake that photo. "If you go out at midnight in Brisbane, the moon will be directly overhead," Professor Horner said. "If you go out in 9.3 years in June, instead of being overhead, it'll be 36 degrees lower in the sky." Because it only happens every 18.6 years. "The major lunar standstill would have been a generational event, spoken about in the stories that passed orally from one generation to the next," the English Heritage's Stone Henge website says. "The phenomenon may have marked huge celebrations of religious, spiritual and social significance, and perhaps also mark the time for the rites of initiation of young members of the community into adulthood." It's another name for the full moon in June. It's not unlike the other names you might have for full moons at different times of the year, like the sturgeon moon or the hunter's moon. Different cultural groups in different parts of the world may have their own names for full moons at certain times of the year, but many people go with the names used by a US publication called The Old Farmer's Almanac. The annual magazine has been in print since 1792 and is something of a cultural institution in the US. "The moon names we use in The Old Farmer's Almanac come from Native American, colonial American, or other traditional North American sources passed down through generations," the publication's website says. However, Professor Horner is skeptical of the publication, saying it has "butchered" traditional beliefs and raised concerns about cultural appropriation. It has nothing to do with the colour of the moon. "The name comes from North American Indigenous peoples, marking the time of the strawberry harvest," Mr Woods said. But the Southern Hemisphere is experiencing wintry conditions right now, so the term might not feel right for all of us here in Australia. Strawberry season typically doesn't start for a few more months for growers in places like Victoria, South Australia and parts of southern Queensland, according to Berries Australia. However, strawberry season does kick off in June for growers in Perth, Bundaberg and Sunshine Coast regions.
