Latest news with #Waikaia
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Farmer group pushes back on Alliance's foreign investment plans
A group of farmers are asking other sheep and beef farmers to turn up their noses at plans by Alliance to invite greater foreign investment in the co-op. Photo: Unsplash / RNZ composite A group of South Island sheep and beef farmers are urging others to vote against a proposal for foreign investment in the red meat cooperative Alliance Group, which is the only 100 percent farmer-owned meat processor in the country. A series of financial losses in recent years has seen the board aim to raise $200 million dollars in new capital from the private sector. Some media reports have suggested an Irish meat supply group, Dawn Meats, is a contender. Alliance Group chair Mark Wynne says details are commercially sensitive but it's in the advanced stage of assessment, and Alliance is working towards confirming a preferred option to take to shareholders to vote on. Dave Pinckney's family has farmed Glenaray station in the Waikaia valley, for 127 years and supplied AGL for 60 years. Kathryn speaks to him about why he and a group of shareholders are urging other farmer suppliers to vote against any external capital which would change the ownership structure of Alliance. Mark Wynne, chair of Alliance Group, said: "Because of the commercial sensitivities involved and the confidentiality agreements now in place, we are limited in how much we can share. "We will be providing another update to our farmers later this month ahead of a series of road show meetings followed by a formal shareholder vote in the next few months."
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Not all farmers back Alliance's foreign investment plans
A group of South Island sheep and beef farmers are urging others to vote against a proposal for foreign investment in the red meat cooperative Alliance Group, which is the only 100 percent farmer-owned meat processor in the country. A series of financial losses in recent years has seen the board aim to raise $200 million dollars in new capital from the private sector. Some media reports have suggested an Irish meat supply group, Dawn Meats, is a contender. Alliance Group chair Mark Wynne says details are commercially sensitive but it's in the advanced stage of assessment, and Alliance is working towards confirming a preferred option to take to shareholders to vote on. Dave Pinckney's family has farmed Glenaray station in the Waikaia valley, for 127 years and supplied AGL for 60 years. Kathryn speaks to him about why he and a group of shareholders are urging other farmer suppliers to vote against any external capital which would change the ownership structure of Alliance. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
26-05-2025
- RNZ News
Waikaia arson suspects still sought, over a year later
Damage from a fire in Waikaia, February 2024. Photo: Police / supplied Police are following positive leads after a suspicious fire gutted a house in Southland last year , but are yet to make any arrests. In February 2024 emergency services were called to the house in the Southland town of Waikaia just after midnight. No one was injured, but the house and two vehicles were extensively damaged by the fire. Detective Sergeant Brian McKinney said police are determined to hold the person responsible accountable, and were making progress. "There are positive leads in our investigation that we are looking into, however we continue to appeal to the public for any information they have on this incident." Damage from a fire in Waikaia, February 2024. Photo: Police / supplied He said police appreciate that the arson was some time ago, and said that information from the public could be pivotal in the investigation. "We know there are people out there who may know something about this house fire, and we would like them to get in touch," said McKinney. "If you know anything, we encourage you to come forward and speak to us." Damage from a fire in Waikaia, February 2024. Photo: Police / supplied Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Halton Hart 'Grandad Mait'
Halton Hart are Caitlyn 17, Marissa 16, and Erica Byars 10, Jaelyn 10 and Meila Scully 12, Taegan 10 and Hazel Evans 7, and Georgia Martin 11. Between them the girls can play acoustic guitar, bass, ukulele, banjo and Mando Guitar. Halton Hart is a very rare and unique musical family of 8 girls, where music plays a massive role in their lives. All the girls have been taught music by Gore based recording artist Kayla Mahon with all starting at the young age of 2, up on the stage, singing on the country music competition circuit. To honor their family's heritage and create a name that bound them together, the girls chose Halton Hart. 'Halton' comes from Halton Street, Gore, the home of Grandad Mait and Nana Horrell. Grandad Mait's love for traditional country music and yodeling set the stage for a family tradition that has continued through Kayla Mahon and now finds new voice in Halton Hart. Following their engaging performance as Halton Hart at the 2024 Waikaia cavalcade, the girls are now launching their own gigs, fuelled by a genuine love for singing! Georgia, Meila and Jaelyn recently travelled to Tamworth Country Music Festival 2025, winning hearts, and were asked to perform in the Busking Finals for guests at the Tamworth Bowlo. Meila made the top 5 at the Golden Gig Finals at Tamworth Country Music festival also. Georgia and Meila also go under the duo name ' The Sparks ' and are the current runner up overall Junior Gold Guitar winners. The girls opened for the Mitchell Twins last year at Gore's Little Theatre. Georgia is the current Junior Overall Winner for the Dunedin Country Music Awards 2023. A love of the outdoors binds these girls together. Hunting, exploring remote hill country, four-wheel driving, and motor biking are more than just hobbies; they're shared passions. With their Stony Creek gear on, they live for these adventures. The girls listen to a lot of the new country music, and have a strong love of the music of Lainey Wilson and Kaylee Bell. Halton Hart often open gigs for Kayla Mahon, their Aunty, who is exceptionally proud of them all. A funny tale about Grandad, he was cheeky and always liked to have people on. ' Grandad Mait' tells a snippet of his life and he loved to share his stories with his family. This song has the good old country feel that we hope brings you a smile. Grandad loved his traditional music: Tex Morton, Slim Dusty, and Johnny Cash. In the studio, it was an amazing experience. The girls recorded their singles at Music South by Aaron Ives and had a great time using the big studio at Southland Institute of Technology in Invercargill. Capturing their voices at this time will always be such a treasure as they grow older. Their personalities are all different, from the quiet, dark horses that bring out the music magic, and then to the 'no holding 'em back' attitude that drives the spark in the family.
