Christmas Weather News Release

 

MetService Christmas Weather

Christmas: Warm and muggy weather

21/12/2023

Covering period of Thu 21 - Mon 25 December

The weather around Aotearoa New Zealand has been generally settled and warm these last few days, but MetService has been keeping a close eye on the moisture spreading across the country this weekend which brings the potential for rain to many places, maybe even into Christmas Day.

High pressure and warm, humid air drifting across the country has meant temperatures around Hawke’s Bay, Canterbury, and Central Otago have been up around the high-twenties with some spots exceeding 30°C. This warmth looks to continue through the weekend and into next week but riding alongside the heat will be the potential for rain.

Friday brings the risk of showers popping up in the west and south of the South Island but it’s Saturday when the more widespread rain begins to move onto the country. This northwest flow of rain continues into Sunday and there’s even potential for a few heavy showers in the mix, mainly across the North Island.

Current models signal that some of the weekend’s moisture will hang around on Christmas Day. However, it looks to be more broken up than the rain of the weekend, and for many parts of the country there is a chance of passing showers on the 25th and a couple heavier showers could pop up. With the weather coming in from the northwest, it does look like eastern areas of both the North and South Island have the largest chance of a dry Christmas Day.

MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris warns: “Those hoping to have a day at the beach on the 25th will need to keep a close eye on the forecast over the weekend and it’s recommended to have a wet weather plan in case those showers do happen to turn up at your place.”

Those with rain in their Christmas Day forecast currently, shouldn’t give up all hope as there is some wiggle room around the distribution and timing of wet weather. Even if a bit of rain turns up, the temperature looks to be on the warmer side of average and if the cloud breaks, the sunshine will dry things off quickly, but you’ll notice the high humidity.

Looking further ahead, the week between Christmas and New Year looks to remain warm but with a mix of rainy days and more settled ones.

MetService Communications

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

Ministry for Primary Industries - CHRISTMAS FOOD PRODUCT RECALL

 

CHRISTMAS FOOD PRODUCT RECALL

Woolworths brand Shortcrust Summer Berry Mince Pies (360g)

Woolworths brand Shortcrust Summer Berry Mince Pies

21 December 2023: 

Woolworths New Zealand Ltd are recalling specific batches of its Woolworths brand Shortcrust Summer Berry Mince Pies as the product may contain foreign matter (metal).

Product identification

Product type:    

Fruit Mince Pies

Name of product (size):  

Woolworths brand Shortcrust Summer Berry Mince Pies (360g)

Date marking:   

BB 12/06/2024 and BB 13/06/2024

Package size and description:  

The product is sold in a 360g cardboard box which contains 6 pies.

Distribution:  

The product is sold at Woolworths, Countdown, SuperValue and FreshChoice supermarkets throughout New Zealand. The product is not exported.

Notes:

This recall does not affect any other Woolworths brand products.

Consumer advice

Customers are asked to check the best before date on the product packaging.

Affected product should not be consumed. There have been no reports of associated injury, however if you have consumed any of this product and have any concerns about your health, seek medical advice.

Customers should return the product to their retailer for a full refund.

If you have questions, contact Woolworths New Zealand Ltd:

Phone: 0800 40 40 40

Address: 80 Favona Road, Mangere, Manukau.

FOOD RECALLS AND COMPLAINTS

• Recalled food products list
• Food recall information for consumers

Ministry for Primary Industries

PIGEON POST NEWS, RICHMOND.

Repairs complete at Dellows Bluff.

SH6 Dellows Bluff rockfall, July 2022. Photo NZTA

NZTA/Waka Kotahi - All ticked off and ready to go. Repairs complete at State Highway 6 Dellows Bluff.

Underslip and rockfall repairs are now finished at State Highway 6 Dellows Bluff, south of Murchison.

 

Contractors have been on site since 2022, fixing an underslip and mitigating rockfall dangers. Substantive repairs are now finished, and the highway is restored to two lanes, operating 24/7 through the area.

Setting steel work at underslip site, SH6 Dellows Bluff. Photo NZTA.

Rob Service, System Manager Top of the South, says a major rockfall in July 2022 had a big impact, closing the road at the time, and required significant effort to fix.

 

“We had to make the road safe, with shipping containers brought in to protect traffic while the cliff face was stabilised. This involved scaling and rock blasting, the use of drill rigs, and installation of hundreds of rock bolts into the cliff face.”

Mr Service says the nearby underslip, which was triggered by heavy rain in February last year, also required complex engineering and construction to fix.

 

“Contractors installed around 850 metres of steel piles and 563 metres of horizontal anchors while working to restore and stabilise this part of the road. 58 vertical piles were put in place to build a 60-metre retaining wall. New drainage was also installed to help stabilise underground areas.”

 

“A lot of work has had to go into fixing this site. We appreciate it has taken a while to complete. But it hasn’t been a simple job, and it was important contractors took the time needed to get design and construction right.”

 

“I want to thank the community and road users for their patience and understanding while this project has been underway. The result is a road that will be much more resilient and resistant to future bad weather events,” Mr Service says.

Meanwhile, the protective container wall and a temporary speed limit of 70 km/h will remain in place at the rockface until a permanent rock fence is built. The entire site will continue to be monitored to ensure it is stable and functional.

Aerial shot. SH6 Dellows Bluff rock fall and underslip repair sites. photo NZTA.

State Highway 6 rock fall and underslip repairs – facts and figures:

Underslip Site:

• Vertical steel piles totalling 850 meters in length were installed.
• Horizontal anchors measuring 563 meters were implemented.
• Approximately 18,000 litres of grout were used around the anchors for stabilisation.

 

Rockfall Site:

• Two drill rigs were used during construction.
• A total of 1,200 meters of rope was used.
• 280 rock bolts, each 6 metres long, were installed.
• 80 kilograms of high-explosive material were used.
• Transporting materials required 29 helicopter lifts.
• 840 bags of cement were used for various construction tasks.
• Rockfall blasting video for download

 

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

·       Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic

• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTASouthIsland
• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiTOTS
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)
  

Felix Marwick
Media Manager NZ Transport Agency.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

 

UPDATED 21 December:- Phase D Water Restrictions to be Implemented on 22 December

 Phase D restrictions implemented for Tasman urban water 

users 

UPDATED

21 December, 2023

 

Tasman District Council has announced water users on council supplies for urban and rural extensions will move to Phase D restrictions, beginning on Friday 22 December. 

The areas affected are Wakefield, Richmond, Brightwater, Hope, Redwood Valley 1 and 2, Māpua / Ruby Bay, Dovedale and Eighty Eight Valley.   

Nelson residents living adjacent to Champion Road, Wakatū Industrial Estate, and parts of Saxton Road West, where water is supplied from the Richmond Water Supply Scheme, will also face Phase D water restrictions. 

I asked Tim O’Connell, Communications Officer, Tasman District Council whether there were any exemptions for the disabled or the very elderly people in our community, he said “There are no exemptions contemplated, but the use of water for human health and wellbeing is not being restricted.” 

“The restrictions are implemented to reduce overall water use in the urban supply areas. However they are not put in place to deprive our community - and especially our most vulnerable - of the basic necessities that water provides. While the Phase D conditions minimise the opportunity for outdoor washing, watering and filling of pools, ample drinking and bathing water can be consumed during what we hope is not a long-term period of restrictions. We are asking everyone in our community to do their bit in keeping to the requirements of the water restrictions while they are in place.”

Tasman District Council Group Manager Community Infrastructure Richard Kirby said “a move beyond the existing Phase B restrictions had been anticipated, and we had intended to implement Phase C but use has not decreased sufficiently as we continue our efforts to meet consent conditions.” 

“Recent rain, and the possibility of more across the Christmas period, is helpful for the district in managing the wider potential for dry weather scenarios. 

We also acknowledge any water released from the Waimea Community Dam will assist in keeping aquifers at stable levels and salinity at bay in the Waimea Plains. 

However, restrictions on our urban supplies are guided by the level of abstraction across our water supplies.  

As abstractors, we have a responsibility to remain within our consent conditions - we want to avoid exceeding the amount of water Council could extract from its intakes.  

Due to excessive use, we need to restrict the amount of water going out. In the meantime, we appreciate everyone’s efforts to make these short term reductions in their water use.” 

Under Phase D restrictions; 
You can: 

• Wash your car using recycled grey water only. 
• Do essential outdoor washing for safety reasons, using a bucket only. 
• Water listed protected trees every second day only with a hand held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, watering systems on a timer or a bucket. 
• Water your veggie garden and fruit trees every second day using a bucket only. 

You can’t: 

• Water your flowers/trees/planters. 
• Water the lawn. 
• Fill or top up a pool, spa or water feature. 
• Use water for play. 

 

More information around water restrictions can be found at Current restrictions - reticulated | Tasman District Council

Tasman Communications.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.