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Otago Daily Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Plan for Kelvin Hotel to be SIT training site
Plans are on the table to turn the Kelvin Hotel into a training operation as the Southern Institute of Technology celebrates the return of its autonomy. ILT chief executive and Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) community adviser Chris Ramsay said placing the control of the training organisation back into local hands was also the biggest step towards developing a hospitality training base at the hotel site. He had been working alongside SIT operations lead Daryl Haggerty on the venture and also to give SIT back its self-determination. "This is certainly a hugely positive result for the province and for the city itself in the sense that it provides autonomy back to SIT to be able to work more closely with organisations such as ourselves. "We are really looking forward to that coming back to fruition," Mr Ramsay said. Diversifying the Kelvin Hotel's operations to become a training hotel was an option available to the ILT which could offset any impact from the opening of the Distinction Hotel, he said. But it was important to first understand the impact of 150 new hotel rooms and what SIT's needs were before moving ahead, he said. "I think there remains a huge opportunity for a fully functioning training hotel, or something similar, to provide a real point of difference for the city as far as attracting both domestic and international students to the city to learn and develop their skills. "The Kelvin's perfectly structured — it's a six-floor hotel, 61 rooms. "So we could look at [developing] one or two floors at a time depending on where their demand and needs analysis showed it being required," Mr Ramsay said. The Free Fees Scheme introduced in 2001 had had a profound impact on the city. "We entered this new millennium with such huge positivity from it and we're really excited that the same spark is about to be ignited. "We had a huge number of international students that just added such a breadth of diversity to our city and that was the catalyst for population growth in our city at a time when there was a mentality of 'the last person out turn out the lights'." Vocational Education Minister and Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds said SIT was one of 10 regional polytechnics which would be re-established from January 1, 2026, after the previous government merged 16 polytechnics to form Te Pukenga in 2020. Mrs Simmonds said it had been a vigorous campaign against Labour's reforms, which removed the ability of regions to respond to local training and employer needs. "We're rebuilding our incredibly important vocational education system so that it delivers — for students, for employers and for the future of New Zealand." She believed restoring SIT's autonomy would help to promote economic growth and support the area's community. However, Te Pukenga would remain throughout 2026 to support a smooth handover, she said. Mr Haggerty said the community welcomed the return of SIT's autonomy as it empowered it to shape its own future and customise its programmes. - By Toni McDonald
Otago Daily Times
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Chair of Film Otago Southland seeks to modernise
Scenery alone is not enough, the region's latest screen champion says. Recently appointed Film Otago Southland chairman George Dawes has said pairing dramatic locations with local talent and facilities will keep the region on the global production map. As the owner of a Dunedin video company, he brings both practical and artistic knowledge to the role. Film Otago Southland, a non-profit trust funded by southern councils and the Southern Institute of Technology, links productions with local crews and facilities, provides advice on film permits and permissions as well as advocating for film-friendly policies and legislation. It covers a wide region across Queenstown Lakes, Dunedin, Southland, Central Otago, Waitaki and Clutha. These regions continue to attract productions ranging from international features to television commercials. Oscar-winning drama The Power of the Dog beautifully captured Central Otago's stark landscapes. Dunedin and Oamaru hosted Netflix romance The Royal Treatment , local coming-of-age comedy Uproar filmed in Dunedin, while Brad Pitt's Heart of the Beast was based in Queenstown. While international titles grab headlines, the trust aimed to grow domestic production. International shoots must hire New Zealanders, so building local capacity benefits both sides. Productions needed to satisfy Immigration New Zealand requirements and show they were using local crews. "Immigration [New Zealand] won't just give out visas for everyone just because they are coming for a film. "There has to be opportunities for New Zealanders." Three aspects the trust aimed to promote were world-class locations, world-class crew and world-class facilities. One of the challenges in the South was having options to move indoors when bad weather prevented exterior shoots. There had been several facility investment proposals in recent years such as the Ayrburn film precinct development near Arrowtown and the proposed Silverlight Studios near Wānaka. "We take a view that any investment in screen capacity is good and we would support any developer that can get it over the line." Simplifying the permit process remains a key challenge. Film Otago Southland connects productions with the Department of Conservation (Doc), Land Information New Zealand and local councils. It also advises on gaining access to privately owned land. "Sometimes it is just knowing who the landowner is and knowing which locations are accessible." The government is reviewing proposals to modernise concessions, including filming permits managed by Doc. Updated concession rules could better reflect modern filming trends, including lighter camera gear and the use of drones instead of helicopters. "A lot of Doc's processes are set in legislation, so the timeframes around concessions processing and the notification periods are set. "I think what we would really like to see is a modernisation of the permitting process." The footprint of film production has shrunk over the past 20 years thanks to technology and innovation, but the permitting process does not yet reflect that reduced impact. For example, the permitting rules do not clearly distinguish between crew sizes, from "micro" to small or medium teams. "I suspect we will get there. Doc has been really good at doing what they can to support film." Film Otago Southland also supported the Southern Film Collective with funding. "That is a group that is focused on growing the creation of content and IP in the lower South Island. "So it is producers, writers, directors trying to work together to grow the industry." While the trust remained focused on attracting overseas projects, it also wanted to foster productions created locally. "They have a benefit wider than just a film crew that comes into town for a period of however long. "So while that is all really important, we want to see that other part of the industry develop as well."
Otago Daily Times
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Chair of Film Otago seeks to modernise
Scenery alone is not enough, the region's latest screen champion says. Recently appointed Film Otago Southland chairman George Dawes has said pairing dramatic locations with local talent and facilities will keep the region on the global production map. As the owner of a Dunedin video company, he brings both practical and artistic knowledge to the role. Film Otago Southland, a non-profit trust funded by southern councils and the Southern Institute of Technology, links productions with local crews and facilities, provides advice on film permits and permissions as well as advocating for film-friendly policies and legislation. It covers a wide region across Queenstown Lakes, Dunedin, Southland, Central Otago, Waitaki and Clutha. These regions continue to attract productions ranging from international features to television commercials. Oscar-winning drama The Power of the Dog beautifully captured Central Otago's stark landscapes. Dunedin and Oamaru hosted Netflix romance The Royal Treatment , local coming-of-age comedy Uproar filmed in Dunedin, while Brad Pitt's Heart of the Beast was based in Queenstown. While international titles grab headlines, the trust aimed to grow domestic production. International shoots must hire New Zealanders, so building local capacity benefits both sides. Productions needed to satisfy Immigration New Zealand requirements and show they were using local crews. "Immigration [New Zealand] won't just give out visas for everyone just because they are coming for a film. "There has to be opportunities for New Zealanders." Three aspects the trust aimed to promote were world-class locations, world-class crew and world-class facilities. One of the challenges in the South was having options to move indoors when bad weather prevented exterior shoots. There had been several facility investment proposals in recent years such as the Ayrburn film precinct development near Arrowtown and the proposed Silverlight Studios near Wānaka. "We take a view that any investment in screen capacity is good and we would support any developer that can get it over the line." Simplifying the permit process remains a key challenge. Film Otago Southland connects productions with the Department of Conservation (Doc), Land Information New Zealand and local councils. It also advises on gaining access to privately owned land. "Sometimes it is just knowing who the landowner is and knowing which locations are accessible." The government is reviewing proposals to modernise concessions, including filming permits managed by Doc. Updated concession rules could better reflect modern filming trends, including lighter camera gear and the use of drones instead of helicopters. "A lot of Doc's processes are set in legislation, so the timeframes around concessions processing and the notification periods are set. "I think what we would really like to see is a modernisation of the permitting process." The footprint of film production has shrunk over the past 20 years thanks to technology and innovation, but the permitting process does not yet reflect that reduced impact. For example, the permitting rules do not clearly distinguish between crew sizes, from "micro" to small or medium teams. "I suspect we will get there. Doc has been really good at doing what they can to support film." Film Otago Southland also supported the Southern Film Collective with funding. "That is a group that is focused on growing the creation of content and IP in the lower South Island. "So it is producers, writers, directors trying to work together to grow the industry." While the trust remained focused on attracting overseas projects, it also wanted to foster productions created locally. "They have a benefit wider than just a film crew that comes into town for a period of however long. "So while that is all really important, we want to see that other part of the industry develop as well."
Otago Daily Times
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
New album a tribute to southern, life history
Releasing their album next week are Brenny and the Bushwhackers (from left) Lachie Hayes, Antonio Mercuri, Brendon Fairbairn, Chris Chilton and Liam Fairbairn. Photo: supplied A Southland-proud musical outfit are releasing their album at the start of May featuring songs on shearing, World War 1, whalers and other key foundations of the land of the rolling "r". After coming runner-up at last year's Gold Guitar Awards, Brendon Fairbairn said he formed a band called Brenny and the Bushwhackers and then recorded an album at the Southern Institute of Technology. The album, titled The Land of the Rolling "R", is set to come out on May 2, and Fairbairn said it has a little bit of country, punk and Irish. He said he listened to The Pogues when he was younger, for better or for worse. He wrote the lyrics and the music was written by his son, Invercargill based musician Liam Fairbairn. The band also boasts Catlins-based singer-songwriter Lachie Hayes on rhythm guitar, and Southern musicians Antonio Mercuri and Chris Chilton on drums and bass guitar. Brendon Fairburn plays the harmonica and bagpipes, the latter of which features strongly on the song about the World War 1 battle Chunuk Bair. "People tire of bagpipes," he said. They have a song about shearing, called The Ringer's Song, that details the steps and rhythm of the Godfrey Bowen technique. On another song, he sings about duck-shooting, to be released just in time for the mai mai. On another he sings of the whaling history of Bluff. The album release party will be held on May 9 at the Riversdale Community Centre, with proceeds going to the Waikaia Trails Trust. The band can be found on Spotify and at
