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Kia ora and welcome to our October issue.
This month: a new Council is named, we’re sniffing out wallabies in the Flagstaff area, and meet the volunteers doing wonders in the Ida Valley.
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ORC supports weather response
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A tree down in Waitahuna following the recent storm
PHOTO: JENNIFER GOULD
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Wild and windy weather last week caused huge damage in South Otago and left thousands without power, wifi or access to important services.
Emergency Management Otago activated to support our colleagues in Clutha, with ORC providing staff to help with logistics, monitoring and getting information out to affected people. Radio was a great way to do this, proving that it has an important role to play in a crisis.
As our friends in Clutha battled to restore power and normalcy, we picked up the jobs they needed us to do. Much love to all the high-vis heroes who have been working long hours in terrible weather to supply generators, chainsaw trees, clear roads and restore the power supply.
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The results of the 2025 Otago Regional Council elections are in, and the councillors representing Otago are:
Dunedin Constituency: Hilary Calvert (Chair), Gretchen Robertson, Andrew Noone, Chanel Gardner and Alan Somerville.
Dunstan Constituency: Matt Hollyer, Neil Gillespie, Michael Laws and Gary Kelliher.
Moeraki Constituency: Kevin Malcolm (Deputy Chair).
Molyneux Constituency: Kate Wilson and Robbie Byars.
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Protecting Otago’s biodiversity takes all of us
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Jewelled gecko
PHOTO: CAREY KNOX
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From tūī song in your backyard to the whitebait in our estuaries, sea lions patrolling our coast and mountain daisies flowering on an alpine peak – protecting Otago’s unique biodiversity involves all of us.
We’ve put together a strategy to maintain Otago’s biodiversity – so we don’t lose any of what we hold precious – and we want to know if we’ve got it right. The survey will be on our website from 3 November. Feedback closes 30 November.
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School students test Salmond’s Creek
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Tokomairiro High School students verify their findings after testing water, with the help of Clutha facilitator Scott
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With Salmonds Creek in their backyard, two Tokomairiro students decided to critically evaluate measures that could be undertaken to improve the stream health of this creek.
Enviroschools Clutha Facilitator Scott and the students tested several different areas of the creek and noted that the area with the restored native vegetation yielded the best results.
The creek had previously had a stream health check done by other students in 2024, and this year’s results showed similar trends.
The students’ assessment is part of their work towards an Education for Sustainability achievement standard, which explores the ways we can address unsustainable practices through empowering, optimistic, and values-based action.
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Community transport trial for Ōamaru
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Trevor Goodin, Chair of the Ōamaru–Palmerston Community Shuttle Group
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We are supporting the trial with a funding contribution of $25,000 using targeted rates previously collected that were intended to support public transport.
The trial will be managed by the Ōamaru–Palmerston Community Shuttle Group, a local group who will organise volunteer drivers for the community transport service. Community transport services are not-for-profit services established by local communities to improve transport access, particularly where traditional public transport is not feasible.
The shuttle will transport people to areas between Ōamaru and Palmerston.
The trial starts on 4 November and runs for six months.
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Extra buses during cruise ship season
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Cruise ship and tug boat, Otago Harbour
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Cruise ships have begun arriving in Port Chalmers for the 2025–2026 season, with 79 ships expected — down from 94 last season. We’ll again be providing additional buses to help address increased demand for services to and from Port Chalmers during peak times.
As the cruise ships will bring thousands of tourists to Dunedin this summer, we’re working with the West Harbour Community Board and Port Otago to plan for crowding on buses.
Demand for buses will increase on busy ‘double days’ and when large ships, such as Anthem of the Seas, dock. Extra trips will run on Route 14 during peak times on 30 days throughout the season. On these days, extra services will run during our morning and afternoon peak times, meaning buses will run every 15 minutes on weekdays or every 30 minutes on weekends.
Cruise passengers are encouraged to use private ship buses. We are again selling bus tickets to cruise passengers from a retail booth at the Port Chalmers Library. Despite these measures, peak days may still strain services, and locals should check Orbus Dunedin’s Facebook page and website for updates. If a ship cancels, extra buses won’t run.
Busy days
Peak days
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Why are Bennett’s wallabies a pest?
Bennett’s wallabies were first reported in Otago in the early 2000s, having hopped the fence from Canterbury. Bennett’s wallabies foul pasture, destroy agricultural crops, contribute to erosion, and compete with livestock at a rate of three wallabies to one stock unit.
Wallabies have now become a serious pest issue that requires central and local government, iwi, farmers, landowners, and communities all working together to protect our region.
What do they look like?
Bennett’s wallaby, often called red-necked wallaby, is a marsupial (a mammal that carries its babies in a pouch).
Size: They stand up to 80 centimetres tall with a tail length around 62 centimetres. Males can reach over 20 kilograms in weight, with females reaching 14 kilograms.
Appearance: Greyish-brown upper body, pale-grey chest and belly, and reddish-brown colour on the shoulders. Hind feet and tail are black tipped.
Distinctive features: Distinctive tracks — paired prints, generally only two toes of each foot leave prints.
Similar species: Hares, with large hind legs and long ears, can appear similar when moving quickly.
Habitat: Forest, scrub, or tall tussock, particularly along ridgelines or streams.
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What can I do?
Here in Otago, we still have a chance to stop these pests in their tracks. If you see a wallaby, dead or alive, report it at reportwallabies.nz or phone us on 0800 474 082.
Find out more about why wallabies are pests on our Pest Hub, and let’s work together to eradicate this pest once and for all!
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Wallaby operation for Flagstaff
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An ORC operation to control Bennett’s Wallaby has started in the Flagstaff area, on the outskirts of Dunedin, supported by Dunedin City Council and DOC and funded by Biosecurity New Zealand, who coordinate the Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication Programme.
This will be a phased operation, with surveillance carried out in separate areas from now into 2026. The operational area is a whopping 8,300 hectares, divided into five areas. We know there are wallabies in the area. These pests can have a massive impact on New Zealand’s primary industries and native biodiversity. Good news: Otago has a chance of eliminating this pest, as they are still in relatively low numbers here.
Mountain biking or walking around Flagstaff and spot a dog wearing high vis? It’s probably a trained wallaby indicator dog.
What can the public expect?
You may see indicator dogs and their handlers, and perhaps drones, searching for wallaby sign, e.g. scat (poo) or prints, in this first phase of the operation. There will be signage with plenty of information about the operation installed at public entrances to the areas this is taking place in.
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A map of the wallaby operation area
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The Ida Valley Catchment Group! We recently caught up with Vicki from the group to ask, ‘How’s it going?’
“It’s been a busy year for us in the Ida Valley!”, she said.
“With the support of Waiora Manuherekia and the Manuherekia Catchment Group, we successfully removed a large mass of willows along the Poolburn Creek in the Poolburn Gorge. This work has opened up the area significantly, allowing the natural biodiversity to flourish.
“We are also close to completing a tunnel house and shade house in partnership with Poolburn School. These facilities will be used to grow our own native plants for the catchment, while also giving students hands-on experience in growing both native plants and vegetables.
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Poolburn school pupils propagating seeds in the tunnel house
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“We were successful with our application to ORC’s ECO Fund, which will allow us to trial the use of a drone to spot-spray willow regrowth and to broadcast seed bombs in areas that are difficult to plant using traditional methods. Alongside this, further native planting is planned.”
To volunteer or learn more, visit the group’s Facebook page.
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Left: before willow removal, where’s the river? Right: after removal, willows are gone and the natural landscape is restored.
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Does your lifejacket fit?
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Deputy Harbourmaster Pete makes sure his lifejacket fits before heading out on Lake Dunstan
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Labour Weekend heralded the start of Otago Regional Council’s summer safety campaign, led by the Harbourmaster team, who patrol coastal Otago and central Otago lakes.
This year the focus is on wearing a properly fitted lifejacket. Otago Regional Council Harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook says, “Heading out on the water this summer? You need to know your lifejacket works before you leave land. The only way to know is to check it regularly.”
Too loose? You may as well not be wearing one. Check children’s lifejackets are correctly sized.
Kapok can be unsafe: used to fill lifejackets 30 years ago, kapok is wool-like filling found in old lifejackets like the one pictured below. We now know lifejackets that are made from kapok can absorb water and cause wearers to sink. Destroy and replace.
Cotton straps rot over time: even if a lifejacket is not used. In an emergency, cotton straps can tear or break off.
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An example of an old, kapok-filled lifejacket. These should be destroyed and replaced.
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Replacing lifejackets
Coastguard’s highly successful Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade will be back this year from 1 December, visiting communities throughout the country. Simply bring your old, damaged out-of-date lifejackets in and receive a great discount on brand-new Hutchwilco lifejackets.
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Did you know Otago has 42 species of wētā, cave wētā, crickets and grasshoppers?
Wētā, cave wētā, crickets, grasshoppers and their close allies belong to a group of terrestrial insects known as orthopterans (meaning ‘straight wings’). Most orthopterans can be differentiated from other similar insects (such as mantids, stick insects and cockroaches) by the presence of enlarged hind legs that enable some orthopterans to jump.
Keen to find out more? Patience, grasshopper, everything you need to know can be found on our new orthopterans webpage.
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Orbus Ferries ferry, Lake Whakatipu
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With an extended timetable, it’s even easier to take the lake with Orbus Ferries. The Queenstown ferry service now offers late night trips seven days a week and hourly trips during the day.
Awarding the ferry contract to Watersports Ltd in July provided us with an opportunity to expand and rebrand the service (formerly called Queenstown Ferries).
Ferry pricing remains: $10 per person, per trip with a Bee Card, or $14 with a bank card (children under 5 travel for free, and cash is not accepted).
New Orbus Ferries timetable:
Queenstown to Hilton: hourly from 8.45am (first sailing) until 9.45pm (last sailing).
Hilton to Queenstown: hourly from 8.15am (first sailing) until 9.15pm (last sailing).
Find Orbus Ferries route and timetable information.
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Nature-based Solutions study wraps up
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Takitakitoa wetland, just north of Waihola. Wetlands are an example of how nature can help reduce flooding.
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Our Nature-based Solutions study has now finished.
From 2023 to 2025 we carried out a study, essentially looking at what the public think of and know about Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in Otago and how these might work here. Nature-based Solutions — also known as green infrastructure — include things such as wetlands and planting to help manage flooding.
The study found that landowners were receptive to the use of NbS on their land and a wide range of collaborations — if a funding and governance model could be established.
Council has resolved to use NbS in our work where we can; in fact, we already do for things such as hill country erosion, climate change resilience and wetland protection and restoration.
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Find out about upcoming community events and Council meetings here.
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Feel free to forward this email to anyone who might like to read it. If you have any story ideas or want to know anything specific about anything in this issue, let us know by emailing onstream@orc.govt.nz
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