The current dry weather conditions have created an extreme fire hazard for the whole of the Whakatāne District. The high risk has led Whakatāne District Council Principal Rural Fire Officer, Neal Yeates, to declare a prohibited fire season for the whole district until further notice.

Record entries have been received for this year’s Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award for painting and drawing.

The prestigious award has drawn 338 entries from 271 artists from around the country.  Award convenor, Arts Whakatane’s Heather Hourigan, says this compares to the previous record of 320 entries in 2012, with strong support coming from Auckland, Christchurch and the Wellington region.  Forty-six entries were received from Eastern Bay of Plenty artists.

The Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Award for painting and drawing is about to mark two significant milestones.

The award exhibition is relocating to Te Koputu a te whanga a Toi – the Whakatane Library and Exhibition Centre – where it will also be exhibited for an extended period.

First held in 1985, the annual award has been the cornerstone event of the Whakatane Summer Arts Festival coordinated by the Whakatane Community Arts Council (now Arts Whakatane).

The Mayor of Nelson, Aldo Miccio reluctantly handed over the coveted trophy and broad-brimmed hat which acknowledges the town’s status as the country’s sunniest centre.

Mayor Tony Bonne is visiting “cloudy Nelson” for family reasons this week and took great pleasure in uplifting the spoils of victory from Nelson Mayor Aldo Miccio today [11 January].