EVENT - ‘Summer Tango in Nelson’

 Welcome to the 12th ‘Summer Tango in Nelson’

 "in celebration of the milonga!"

Welcome, Enthusiastic Tangueros!

Get ready to immerse yourself in the sizzling embrace of Summer Tango as Nelson continues to pulsate with warm, festive vibes. We extend a heartfelt welcome to all, promising a spectacular lineup of dance experiences that will elevate your time in Nelson. So, make yourself comfortable, brew a cuppa, and dive into the details for an all-encompassing preparation.

What's New and Happening?

Flash Mob Extravaganza:

On Saturday, keep an eye out for Tango Dancers around Nelson City, gracefully performing a dance or two. Tangueros will don their trainers for an unexpected dance eruption, bringing the magic of tango to the public!

Italian Festival and Tango Sunday:

“Italian Festival Encounters”

Witness Tango Dancing from 11:15 to 11:45 on the street within the Italian Festival on Sunday. Tangueros, clad in trainers, will orchestrate a coordinated dance eruption for the public. A Street Milonguita near Weka St/Trafalgar St. Head towards the ocean over the bridge to savour the unfolding Italian Festival.

This year's Festival Milongas:

“Summer Tango Festival at Nelson Boys College:”

• Friday Night, March 1, 8 pm - 11 pm: Welcome Milonga with DJ NINA (Wellington) at Nelson Boys College, 67 Waimea Road, Nelson.
• Saturday Afternoon: DJ MAIDA (Auckland) with the theme "Spots & Stripes."
• Saturday Night: DJ DEB (Christchurch) with the theme "Black & White."
• Sunday Afternoon: IRINA (Wellington) with the theme “Floral."

“At The Free House Inn:”

• Sunday Night: DJ DAVID (Nelson).

Visit our website, www.summertangoinnelson.co.nz for detailed information about each DJ, with regular updates and for Tangueros to book for the festival.

As the countdown progresses, excitement builds for the ultimate Summer Tango in Nelson! Put on those dancing shoes and join us for an unforgettable dance-a-thon. Let's make this festival the best one yet, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Get ready to tango!

Spot Tango Dancers Around Town:

Keep an eye out for Tango Dancers doing a dance or two around town. If you're heading to the Italian Festival, catch them there, and you may also spot them at The Free House Inn on Sunday late afternoon. To participate in Tango dancing at the actual Summer Tango Festival, be sure to book with Anne-Maree. If you prefer to be a spectator it is $10.00, but email Anne-Maree at annemaree@tangolibre.com

Abrazos de Tango,
Anne-Maree

Pigeon Post News, Richmond, Tasman, NZ.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand - Fire Plans - Public Consultation

Fire Plans Public Consultation Now Open

15 February 2024

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has opened public consultation on its Fire Plans.

A Fire Plan outlines the particular fire risk conditions that exist or are likely to exist for a specific area, the local policies and procedures for the management of these conditions and sets out how Fire and Emergency will use its fire control powers.

Each Fire Plan outlines, specific to each local area, things like:

- what factors Fire and Emergency NZ will consider when deciding to change to prohibited or restricted fire seasons, or prohibited activities which can be a high risk of causing a wildfire

- how firebreaks might be used to reduce the fire risk

- information about environmental factors that are relevant to our work to reduce risks from fire and to manage the potential impacts if one occurs.

Fire Plans are developed for each of the following areas:

o Auckland

o Northland

o Waikato

o Bay of Plenty

o Tairāwhiti

o Taranaki

o Manawatū-Whanganui

o Hawke’s Bay

o Wellington

o Chatham Islands

o Nelson Tasman

o Marlborough

o West Coast

o Canterbury

o Otago

o Southland

Fire and Emergency New Zealand Wildfire Specialist Graeme Still says it is important for people in their local areas to have their say as this will directly impact how fire is managed in their area.

"We really want to hear from people about what they think of their local Fire Plan," he says.

"Getting this local knowledge is going to be crucial for us as we continue to develop these plans."

The public can have their say on the proposed Fire Plans on our website to consultation page or by emailing fireplans@fireandemergency.nz.

The consultation opened 15 February 2024 and will close on 14 March 2024, at 5pm. Following this, our District teams will review all feedback and final Fire Plans will be published on our website by 22 July 2024. 

Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

Weather Hotspot Watch - NZ Drough Index

 

Soil moisture anomaly (mm) at 9am on 22/02/2024

Hotspot Watch 23 February 2024

23 February 2024

A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing significant soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought.

Recent rainfall and current soil moisture conditions:

South Island:

• Rainfall amounts of 20-40 mm affected the West Coast in the past week, although Fiordland received 75-150 mm.
• However, the rest of the South Island saw meagre rainfall amounts of 10 mm or less, with some locations receiving no rainfall at all.  
• This resulted in moderate soil moisture decreases across nearly the entire South Island.  
• The driest soils across the South Island, when compared to normal for this time of the year, are found in Nelson, Marlborough and northern Canterbury, while the wettest soils for this time of the year are found in western Southland.  
• Hotspots are currently located across much of the upper and eastern South Island, including eastern Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, northern and southern Canterbury, and eastern Otago. In addition, central Canterbury is close to hotspot status.  
• As of 21 February, the New Zealand Drought Index (NZDI) map below shows that abnormally dry conditions are currently found in eastern Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, northern and far southern Canterbury, and northern Otago. Very dry to extremely dry conditions are located in Nelson, Marlborough, northern Canterbury, and northern Otago.
  

Soil moisture anomaly (mm) at 9am on 15/02/2024

Soil moisture anomaly (mm) at 9am on 22/02/2024

Pictured above: Soil Moisture Anomaly Maps, relative to this time of year. The maps show soil moisture anomalies over the past two weeks.

New Zealand Drought Index

As of 21 February, the New Zealand Drought Index (NZDI) map below shows that abnormally dry conditions are currently found in parts of Northland, Auckland, eastern Bay of Plenty, East Cape, much of the lower North Island, eastern Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, northern and far southern Canterbury, and northern Otago. 

Very dry to extremely dry conditions are located in eastern Northland, far southern Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, northern Canterbury, and northern Otago. 

Please note: some hotspots in the text above may not correspond with the NZDI map. This difference exists because the NZDI uses additional dryness indices, including one which integrates the rainfall deficit over the past 60 days. Changes are therefore slower to appear in the NZDI compared to soil moisture anomaly maps that are instantaneously updated.

New Zealand Drought Index  (NZDI) - 21 February 2024 [NIWA]

The week ahead:

South Island:

• A front moving up the South Island on Saturday (24 February) will bring moderate to heavy rain to the West Coast, Southland, and Otago.
• After dry weather on Sunday and Monday, an additional round of showers or rain may arrive on Tuesday (27 February).
• Thereafter, generally dry weather is expected through late next week.  
• Weekly rainfall totals of 70-100 mm are possible in the lower West Coast, including Fiordland, with 30-40 mm in the upper West Coast and lower South Island.
• However, regions such as Nelson, Marlborough, and Canterbury will likely see lighter rainfall totals of less than 15 mm.   
• Due to the expected rainfall in the next week, additional soil moisture decreases are likely in the upper and eastern South Island, but the lower West Coast and lower South Island may see small increases.
• Current hotspots may strengthen in the next week, while additional hotspots may form in central Canterbury.

Long-term outlook (through late March):

• The drier (25th percentile) and middle (50th percentile) rainfall scenarios show drier or much drier than normal conditions across much of the country.
• In the wetter (75th percentile) scenario, below normal rainfall is still forecast in isolated areas, but near normal rainfall is most favoured.
• Very dry soil conditions could affect the lower North Island and eastern South Island in all three rainfall scenarios, along with the upper North Island in the drier scenario. The drier scenario also shows the possibility for a small area of meteorological drought to form in the lower South Island.

Background:

Droughts 

A drought is defined as a rainfall deficit which restricts or prevents a human activity – for example, farming or power generation.

Extended dry periods are experienced in New Zealand most years, but whether or not they are classed as drought depends on a range of different factors.

Soil moisture deficit, measured in mm, is used as one index of drought. It measures the amount of soil moisture available to the roots of pasture plants, and is generally higher in summer, when evaporation rates are higher.

Due to the impact on agriculture, the Ministry  for Primary Industries (MPI) declare when a dry period is classed as an adverse event. This declaration takes into account the climatic conditions as well as a number of impact-based criteria.

Causes of drought

Drought is caused by insufficient precipitation – for example rainfall – over an extended period of time. In turn, this can lead to the ground drying up, and can also reduce the volume of water in rivers/streams, lakes/dams and subterranean reservoirs.

Potential consequences of drought

The impacts of drought can be economic, environmental and social. Drought can affect farmers by shrivelling crops or drying out grass so that livestock don't have enough to eat (or drink). These losses then flow through into downstream production and other sectors, such as retail, where shortages can cause price increases.

Drought also increases the risk of fire, as well as depleting water flow in storage: this, in turn, can cause problems for the production of hydroelectric power. Drought can also mean that rural and urban populations have water restrictions imposed on them.

Drought is one of the major causes of malnutrition and famine in many parts of the world.

Recent examples of drought around New Zealand

• 2010 – The worst drought in Northland in 60 years occurred when record low rainfall levels were recorded between Nov 2009 and April 2010. Instead of the 748mm which fell during the previous year, only 253 mm fell, leading to parched soils, significantly reduced pasture growth, and decreased farm productivity.
• 2008 – Much of New Zealand encountered very dry conditions at the start of 2008, with the Waikato experiencing its driest January in a century. Severe moisture deficits continued throughout the north island until April/May, with the estimated cost to agriculture exceeding $1 billion, and an 11% fall in sheep numbers.
• 2007 – Low rainfall and significant soil moisture deficits persisted throughout summer and autumn with record low rainfall totals occurring in many northern and eastern areas. This resulted in a severe shortage of feed for livestock, and lower than normal spring lambing and beef numbers, costing more than $500 million.

Drought research at NIWA

NIWA updates its soil moisture maps, which cover all of New Zealand, daily. In addition, NIWA monitors and archives rainfall and river flow data for all of the country.

This information is then provided to end-users such as Regional Councils and the MPI-led National Adverse Events Committee, to help them make informed decisions about drought planning, response and recovery.

Current NIWA research projects

• Risk of drought under climate change – Of all of the threats posed to New Zealand by climate change, drought is the one which could have the largest effect on New Zealand's economy. This project has significantly advanced previous estimates of how drought severity and frequency are likely to change as global warming effects New Zealand.
• Continuous monitoring of soil moisture levels throughout New Zealand – These measurements are used, together with a number of other variables, by farmers when assessing the status of the soil moisture in their region compared with other parts of the country and by authorities when deciding whether dry periods are classed as drought.
  

NEWA Communications.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

Cook Strait Ferry Services

 

Cook Strait Ferries

Independent ferry service advisory group in place

15 FEBRUARY 2024

Hon Paul Goldsmith

Appointments to the Ministerial Advisory Group tasked with providing independent advice and assurance on the future of KiwiRail’s inter-island ferry service have been made, State Owned Enterprises Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

“It’s important for New Zealand that KiwiRail is focused on ensuring safe, resilient, and reliable ferry services over the short to medium term while longer term solutions for the Cook Strait connection are developed."

 

“So I’m very pleased to announce the appointment of Nelson Airport Chief Executive, Mark Thompson as Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Group. He will be joined by a further two members, Mark Cairns and Roger Sowry."

“Mark Thompson has had a 30-year career in logistics and transport operations with senior executive roles in Australasia, the United States, China and the Philippines, leading public and private service focused organisations."

 

“Mark Cairns also brings extensive logistics and transport experience. He is currently a director of Freightways and Auckland International Airport . He also has experience in infrastructure, construction, contracting and capital markets that will be valuable for the advisory group."

“Roger Sowry is a professional director with considerable governance expertise. His current and previous director roles span companies in several sectors including technology, health, infrastructure and energy. He is also a former Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister."

“New Zealanders want to see ferry services on Cook Strait provided efficiently in a competitive market, that integrate with the wider transport system and support the economy. In December, the Government committed to establishing the independent advisory group to give us assurance that these objectives will be met.”

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.