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Kia ora and welcome to our November issue!
This month: meet your new Council, get thrown in the deep end, and be on the lookout for yellow flag iris.
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Back row, L-R: Cr Matt Hollyer, Dunstan; Cr Andrew Noone, Dunedin; Cr Neil Gillespie, Dunstan; Cr Alan Somerville, Dunedin; Cr Gary Kelliher, Dunstan; Cr Kate Wilson, Molyneux.
Front row, L-R: Cr Gretchen Robertson, Dunedin; Deputy Chair Kevin Malcolm, Moeraki; Chair Hilary Calvert, Dunedin; Cr Chanel Gardner, Dunedin; Cr Robbie Byars, Molyneux.
Inset: Cr Michael Laws, Dunstan.
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The 2025 Otago Regional Council has been sworn in.
Councillors are already busy a month into the new Council term, led by Chair Hilary Calvert and Deputy Chair Kevin Malcolm. As well as returning councillors, there are some fresh faces around the council table this triennium (the three-year period a council is elected to serve).
Profiles of the councillors are going up on our website so people can get to know them better.
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River safety training at Outram Glen
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Our teams are often working around and in Otago’s rivers, where conditions can change rapidly, which is why several took the recent opportunity for river safety training.
Steve and the team from Wild Earth Adventures did an excellent job teaching staff how to identify hazards at our sampling sites and manage critical risks in worst-case scenarios.
Staff learned how to:
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safely cross a river as a group or individually if needed
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spot different hazards and river features, and assess their risk
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behave in fast-flowing water and swim to shore in emergencies
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assist others using a throw bag.
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Prevent the spread of freshwater pests in Otago waterways
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We all need to do our part to protect New Zealand’s waterways.
Lagarosiphon, didymo and lake snow are the three major freshwater pests present in Otago, and they can spread from a single drop of water or plant fragment.
When you’re out on the water this summer – boating, paddleboarding, kayaking, or swimming – make sure that before you move between waterways, you always Check, Clean and Dry any clothing and equipment to prevent freshwater pests hitchhiking from one waterway to another.
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Come and see us at the South Otago A&P Show!
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Demonstrating how a clarity tube shows water quality at the Wānaka A&P Show earlier this year
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On Saturday, 29 November, we’ll be at the Balclutha Showgrounds.
Come along and have a chat with staff from our Biosecurity, Natural Hazards, Catchments and Civil Defence Emergency Management teams.
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Why is it a pest?
Yellow flag iris is a highly invasive plant that forms dense stands in wetland areas, along lakeshores, and on the margins of rivers and streams. It outcompetes native species, disrupts water flow, and alters the natural structure of waterways.
It can invade pastures, displace native vegetation, and is toxic to livestock. Its seeds are buoyant, easily dispersed by water, and can remain viable for over a year, making this plant difficult to control once established.
What does it look like?
Size: Grows up to 1.5 metres tall.
Leaves: Broad, flat, sword-shaped leaves forming a fan from the base of the plant.
Flowers: Bright yellow flowers up to 12 centimetres in diameter with three large drooping sepals (leaves that form the outermost layer of a flower) and three smaller, upright petals.
Root system: Thick, fleshy rhizomes form dense mats that can float in water or anchor in wet soil.
Similar species: It looks similar to stinking iris (Iris foetidissima), which gives out a foul smell when crushed, and Typha orientalis (Raupō), which has different flower heads and taller stems.
Habitat: Commonly found along the edges of lakes, rivers, wetlands, and drainage systems. It thrives in both fresh and brackish water environments.
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When can I spot it best?
Yellow flag iris is most visible when flowering between October and December.
What should I do?
Early detection helps prevent its spread and reduce the cost of control. If you think you’ve seen yellow flag iris, please notify Otago Regional Council:
Learn more about how to spot yellow flag iris on our Pest Hub.
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Developers dig residential earthworks workshop
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ORC staff held a workshop in Wānaka recently, inviting developers and planners to attend and hear from consents and compliance staff about all things residential earthworks, including relevant rules, helpful hints to incorporate into applications and tips for maintaining compliance with their consents.
We had a good turnout of developers, planners and members of other councils who welcomed the opportunity to ask questions of staff and get clarification of the process and requirements.
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Did you know Otago has six species of seals and sea lions?
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Kekeno / New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri)
PHOTO: DUNEDIN NZ
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Long-serving Dunedin bus drivers Allen Lawless (left) and Tania Cuff
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Our bus drivers are the unsung heroes of our public transport system, battling traffic jams, bad weather and road works to keep Dunedin and Queenstown moving day and night. The wheels on the bus wouldn’t go round without them!
Every day, no matter what conditions they face, drivers are out on the road, making sure you reach your destinations safely.
National Bus Driver Appreciation Day on 16 November celebrated their great work. One way of showing your appreciation when you’re on board is to say ‘thank you, driver’ nice and loud. Another way is to let the bus go first when you’re driving behind.
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Remarkables Primary School students show off the ‘no sew’ bags they made with clothes they saved from the landfill
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Primary-aged students from Queenstown were recently offered the opportunity to attend the ‘Being Zero Waste Heroes’ Enviroschools hui, run by Queenstown Enviroschools Facilitator Nicky Gray.
To start the day, students worked with Rosa from the Heart Foundation and Skye from Garden to Table to whip up a waste-free and nutritious morning tea, including pesto, yoghurt dip, seed crackers, apples, and celery, using available ingredients from the Queenstown School garden.
This was followed up with four activities where students learned how to sort their recycling, give clothes destined for the bin a new life, cook effectively with seasonal produce, and use low-waste-living cleaning products.
This hui was a collaborative effort, with all presenters having the same goal in mind – inspiring students to consider how they can reduce their household waste.
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Ready to enjoy the nutritious and waste free morning tea they made
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Jewelled gecko
PHOTO: CAREY KNOX
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There’s still time to have your say on ORC’s draft strategy for indigenous biodiversity in Otago.
Feedback closes 30 November.
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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
If you have been forwarded this email, you can sign up here.
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