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Otago Daily Times
21 hours ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Councillors see bridge as proposal's Achilles' heel
A truck crossing the Ward St overbridge in Dunedin yesterday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH A government proposal to direct traffic around Dunedin's central city could be hampered by an inadequate overbridge, city councillors say. Earlier this month, proposed roading changes aimed at making the area around the new Dunedin hospital safer were released for public consultation. The changes proposed by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) included removing the westbound right turn from St Andrew St on to Cumberland St — northbound heavy traffic was instead expected to use the Ward St overbridge to join the one-way system. Dunedin City Council infrastructure committee chairman Jim O'Malley said the proposal to direct traffic on to the overbridge did not make sense. Following an NZTA report to council in April, Cr O'Malley raised concerns about the bridge's capacity to support extra traffic and said substantial investment was needed to upgrade it. Yesterday, he said he still held concerns about the proposal. "Bottom line is to put everybody over that bridge, it just doesn't make sense — NZTA knows that," he said. "The reality of it is we just can't get the money [to upgrade it]. "We don't have a full metro status in the eyes of NZTA and that shows up in these projects." Cr Lee Vandervis had also raised concerns about the bridge's suitability. "[The] bridge and feeder roads are already at capacity at times," he said yesterday. Other suggestions to limit the St Andrew St traffic flow and railway crossing would make the bridge and the council's Harbour Arterial project — which was intended to provide a safe and efficient alternative route for traffic to bypass the central city — "even more problematic", he said. Council transport group manager Jeanine Benson said the bridge underwent a detailed assessment in 2019 and was used by about 7000 vehicles per day, including about 450 trucks, without significant issues reported. Replacing the bridge had been included in initial plans for stage 4 of the Harbour Arterial project. "This stage of the . . . project would be the most expensive part of the entire project, and there is currently no funding for stage 4 in either the [council's] 9 year plan or the Regional Land Transport Programme," she said. "It's possible this stage may be funded and progress at a later date." Public consultation on NZTA's roading proposal closes on Monday.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Event teaches students how to protest
University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic students gather for protest training, organised by Climate Liberation Aotearoa. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH Protestors who are not fans of being pepper-sprayed, handcuffed or locked up in a police cell spent two hours learning how to avoid the common commotions on Thursday night. The Protest Skills Night event, organised by Climate Liberation Aotearoa (CLA), was held in the University Students' Association Centre and aimed to show protesters how to demonstrate their points, using "non-violent direct action techniques". Event co-ordinator Cora Scott said many people were passionate about the environment, but might be too scared to voice their concerns at protests because of the unsavory things that sometimes happen. The event aimed to help them avoid those elements, in the hope it would entice more people to get involved in upcoming protest actions. "At the moment, we are trying to get university students upskilled in how to protest, in anticipation of a nationwide action that we've got coming up at ANZ bank. "It is part of our campaign to get ANZ bank to drop Bathurst Resources as a customer. "Bathurst Resources is the company pushing to blast open a 20million-tonne coal mine on the Denniston Plateau," she said. CLA hit the headlines in April this year when six climate activists climbed on to the cable cars used to transport coal from Bathurst Resources' Stockton Mine, halting operations and drawing attention to the company's plan to expand coal mining across the nearby Denniston Plateau. The action followed a five-day protest encampment, involving more than 70 people on the Denniston Plateau, where 10 people were arrested. Miss Scott said the skills night aimed to get as many people as possible to join Climate Liberation Aotearoa in a protest outside the George St branch of ANZ in Dunedin on August 8. "We'll be showing them how to stay calm at protests, and not respond emotionally to high-stress situations — it's a pretty versatile skill set, in my opinion. "The aim is to keep them from being pepper-sprayed or arrested or spending a night in a jail cell. "We'll be talking about how to avoid escalating a situation or getting on the wrong side of the police or other members of the public." It was essentially about dealing with people who might be upset or reacting negatively to their protest actions, she said.
Otago Daily Times
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Impressive and vibrant experience
Knox Church. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH Billed as African folk music with a jazz twist, "Zimbe!" certainly filled Knox Church to capacity for unique ethnic music as David Burchell conducted City Choir's midwinter concert on Saturday evening. They began with The Word was God, by Rosephanye Powell — a strictly paced, declamatory, canon-styled piece (unaccompanied). The followingwere generally brisk, full-harmony pieces composed in 1993 by David Hamilton, althoughwas a softer rendition of well-known text. Dunedin Children's Choir contributed three items and joined for the main work. This choir, founded and conducted by Natasha Manowitz, performs with excellence and discipline, maintaining clear diction and well-intoned balanced harmony. Their waiata, Ehara i te mea, by Eru Timoko Ihaka, was accompanied by guitar (Helen Rutherford). 1914, written by Sue Mepham, told the story of horses who were used in World War 1 — "10,000 left our shore but only four returned". Banaha, a Congolese folk song with djembe accompaniment (Andre Harry), completed their performance. Their pianist was Susan Frame. Zimbe! Come, Sing the Songs of Africa, a vibrant celebration of African music and culture composed by Alexander L'Estrange, brings together soulful melodies, energetic rhythms and infectious harmonies showcasing rich musical African traditions, rooted in the American "Gospel" tradition. An outstanding jazz ensemble of Bill Martin (piano), Nick Cornish (saxophone), Andy Lynch (bass), Carl Woodward (drums) and Alex Burchell (percussion) provided exceptional accompaniment which carried the singers' performance. Catherine Schroder showcased African dance routines in the centre aisle. Many of the 15 songs had the colourfully clad choir moving and clapping, and so were the audience. The drummers were sensational, especially in the triumphant final repeat of Freedom is Coming — Hamba Vangeli. Thula Mama, thula, a lullaby for mothers of imprisoned sons, was softer with emotional sax obligato. Altogether, this was an outstanding musical experience for choir and patrons alike.
Otago Daily Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Seymour not welcomed by all
Protesters outside the Distinction Hotel this evening. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH About 100 demonstrators chanted outside a central Dunedin hotel where Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour was at a meeting tonight. They were heard yelling for the Act leader to "bugger off". The protest was organised by the International Socialist Organisation and included a variety of groups who were vocal about issues including the Regulatory Standards Bill, pay parity, rights for workers and Māori, and the environment. The protest took place outside the Distinction Hotel where Act was hosting a public meeting with Mr Seymour at 6pm. Police told demonstrators to stay away from outside the front of the hotel in Liverpool St and to stick to the footpath. They marched a loop around building to make sure they were heard by the MP.
Otago Daily Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Games week chance to reconnect
University of Canterbury student Ayu Razali meets the Otago and Southland Chinese Association lion at the 2025 Bersatu Games carnival yesterday. PHOTOS: PETER MCINTOSH Nearly 300 Malay students from across New Zealand descended on Dunedin recently to compete in a games week steeped in tradition. The Otago Malaysian Students' Association hosted the Bersatu games in Dunedin over the last week. About 280 Malaysian students from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch took part. The participants celebrated a successful games week at the closing ceremony and carnival at the University of Otago Union Hall yesterday. The event's executive director Sofea Haizal said the games, which could be traced back to the 1960s, brought together Malay university students and alumni to participate in sports and activities. Dunedin resident Michael Glover plays the Gamelan at the carnival. She said it felt good to be taking part in the games which her parents once helped host in Dunedin. "It's kind of cool that now that I'm at uni I get that opportunity to take part and it's also a good way for me to reconnect with my culture and my roots as well." The games included football, futsal and basketball as well as e-sports this year. It did not matter that Otago failed to win the games because it was a lot of fun and a great way to make new friends, Ms Haizal said. The Malaysian students from the University of Canterbury were the overall winners.
