So I jinxed myself in Wednesday’s newsletter about it being a ‘slow news day’, and then an hour later I was on the road to cover a pile-up involving multiple cyclists.
The nature of the industry is that you need to be prepared for the unexpected, that’s why I have a camera, wet weather gear, a hi vis vest, and an emergency stash of muesli bars (unless my kids have raided them) at the ready.
Sometime you go to something because of a hunch. That happened on the day of the Six60 balcony collapse. I wasn’t rostered on, but was curious at how the event would unfold. I was expecting some out of control behaviour, but wasn’t expecting what unfolded.
I write this as thousands of students return to the city. It is always hard to predict what happens when you combine a large number of young men and women, and add alcohol or drugs into the equation.
But one thing that you may notice change is the amount of glass smashed in the student area. My youngest son used to go to a daycare on Castle St, I remember when a teacher sliced her foot on a massive bit of broken glass.
Anyway, at the media briefing with police this morning, Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond talked about a new campaign to get glass of the streets, called (and the jury is out on this name) CAN’paign.
This is about supporting the purchase of canned products (or as you and I would say ALCOHOL) over glass products (ALCOHOL).
Bond said the whole purpose of the campaign was to reduce the risk of glass being smashed on the streets, endangering pedestrians and motorists alike.
Anecdotally, I’ve heard the liquor stores in the student area - Super Liquor and Liquorland - push their glass stock to the rear of the store and put the cans at the front. It is a simple move that will have an impact on the area.
Bond said the change in the type of alcohol students were drinking - think more RTD’s rather than beer - was also helping.
The former products tended to be sold in cans, but one exception was the very popular Long White. Check it out, but don’t buy it.
Meanwhile the Dunedin City Council has installed two new recycling hubs in the tertiary precinct, and will also be changing from fortnightly to weekly recycling collections in this area from 1 July 2023 (when the new kerbside collection contracts begins).
And I love that they have also increased street lighting on Leith and Castle Streets.
This is a great move by all the parties. I’ve covered events in the student area, and heard the sounds of thrown bottles smashing nearby. I value my face too much to lose part of it to some smashed glass…
As I said on Wednesday I got a late document dump for an OIA I filed concerning emails involving councillors/senior managers regarding their remuneration this triennium.
You might remember that story, background info here.
Most of the release is not worth a story, but it was interesting to read the letter from Cr Steve Walker. You can do so here (apologies I had to take a photo of the PDF, because I’m a luddlite):
And finally this zinger from the head of the Remuneration Authority:
A couple of weeks back I got a tip about a Dunedin professional (that’s all I can say!) who was in a spot of trouble.
Turns out the professional may have (allegedly!!!!!) stolen some items from a couple of people (I’m being cryptic for a reason).
Well, for some reason that hasn’t been made clear, she appeared in court this week but not in Dunedin.
I have the details, but suppression orders prevent many of the details being shared. But I can confirm the woman is facing five theft-related charges.
This will be, and I’m sorry to repeat myself, “one to watch”.
Below is a new ambulance design for Hato Hone St John, and will service as a patient transfer service between Invercargill and Dunedin. The new ambulance has completed more than 100 patient transfers since it started service on 9 December 2022.
And from a modern machine to this slice of yesteryear:
Beautiful.
And you might have seen this, but if not, Abdal's Gourmet Food is having a fundraiser for people from his former homeland of Syria, who were impacted by the devastating earthquake.
Abdal Moneem told me he was talking to his family - his mother and sister - in Syria when the quake struck, and could see lightbulbs swinging above them.
“They were very scared. And I felt very scared because of that.”
He was from Hama - the fourth largest city in Syria - which escaped major damage compared with northern cities such as Aleppo.
He was hoping to sell dozens of meals as part of his special Syrian Sunday night takeaway pack with:
Syrian Fried Chicken; بروستد دجاج مسحب
Shoestring Fries; Syrian-style بطاطا مقليه
Coleslaw salad سلطه الكولسلو
Garlic sauce. كريم ثوم
Abdal’s silky hommos حمص طحيني
Each pack is $30, and is good for one adult or two kids.
Moneem said he was inspired by New Zealand culture to do the fundraiser, and was touched by how people support one another in his adopted country.
“We are all living on one earth,” he said.
You may remember that story I wrote about the dodgy Dunedin backpacker listing rooms for hundreds and hundreds of dollars when the Red Hot Chili Peppers played here.
So with the announcement that P!NK is returning to play in Dunedin I check out what was on offer. It is not pretty.
But if you have friends who buy tickets and can’t secure accommodation, please get in touch with the city’s i-Site.
Remember this: Dunedin i-Site visitor centre manager, Louise van de Vlierd, said while third-party booking sites made it look like the city was full, that wasn’t the case.
The DCC is beginning work on upgrading George Street’s Malls Block. The original plans include a playground around this year, so that will be one to watch.
The area is expected to be completed by about September 2023, while the Knox Row block is expected to be finished about August this year.
If you are looking for events, this Saturday is the annual Thieves’ Alley Market Day, which I note won’t include any stalls in Bath Street.
Unlike other years, no cruise ships will be in town.
And on Saturday morning, about 10:30am remember to look skywards.
The RNZAF Black Falcons, the formation aerobatic team, led by Squadron Leader Stuart Anderson, will show their stuff.
The best vantage point is St Kilda Beach. And if you are watching, try listening to this by Stef Animal:
Any chance you could do an honest article regarding the past behaviour of David Benson Pope. I see in the letter from Councillor Walker that he says about BP being a 3 time Cabinet Minister under Helen Clark but doesn't explain that he was sacked for this because of his behaviour with young girls.
Would be an interesting read. Thanks