Among the new activities at Waimate District Library these holidays is Gaming with Kate - a gaming session for children with a serious message behind the fun.

Books, computers… and now seeds. Waimate Library’s latest initiative is getting the community growing, sharing and saving seeds.

Creatives across Waimate District are being brought together on an ambitious project to “supercharge” The Waimate Trail – Te Ara Waimatemate.

Large-scale murals, a giant bicycle, a ghost-like moa, 100 butterflies and stone carvings are among the artworks planned for Footsteps of Our Ancestors, the trail's outdoor sculpture project.

Waimate’s investment in two modern community facilities is proving its value to the community.

They are busy community hubs, with new activities bringing people of all ages through their doors.

Meet the teams making it happen - including one unicorn and a badly behaved dinosaur.

Young people from Mid Canterbury to North Otago are being asked what life is really like for them in 2026 - and they could win one of 15 $100 Prezzy Cards for taking part.

District Life is going into print, with the first edition of a new monthly community paper launching in September.

Another new business has opened on Waimate’s main street, blending art with ice cream.

The Old Tin Shed Ice Cream and Art Emporium was officially opened on Sunday, with a crowd gathering in the winter sunshine to eat ice cream, get arty and watch the ribbon cutting

After nearly a decade serving as Chief Executive of Waimate District Council, Stuart Duncan has announced his resignation.

Mr Duncan said the decision had been made after considerable reflection and was driven by a desire to ensure the Council is well positioned for the future.

Plenty of practical tips were shared at a free property seminar on Tuesday night.

The message was clear - Waimate's property market remains active, supported by a steady stream of people choosing to make the district home.

Read on for some of the key takeaways from the event.

A new permanent orienteering course officially opens at Knottingley Park and Arboretum on Saturday, adding another free outdoor activity for locals and visitors to enjoy.

Led by The Rotary Club of Waimate, the project has been developed with support from Waimate District Council, local businesses, volunteers and specialist course designers from Christchurch.

They’re part treasure hunt, part recycling centre, part community support network.

Our local charity stories, The New Zealand Red Cross Shop and The Salvation Army Store, are packed with quality second-hand goods at low prices. From clothing and linen to kitchenware, books, games, gifts and the occasional unexpected find.

Something’s been brewing in Waimate over the past few years - and it has the potential to become an economic game changer for the district and wider region.

The Waimate Trail - Te Ara Waimatemate is an ambitious community-led project.

We caught up with some of the people behind the scenes and looked at what the trail could mean for the district’s future.

Waimate has firmly established itself as a second-hand shopping destination.

Over the past few years the number of stores has multiplied.

New Zealand’s second-hand market is now estimated to be worth $5.5 billion, with stores helping reduce landfill, strengthen local economic resilience and attract visitors to small towns.

Most of us know how to shop in them but how can we interact with the local stores to keep our clutter out of landfill?

Buying property can feel complicated. Add in national headlines about housing affordability, and it’s easy to assume home ownership is out of reach altogether.

But local property professionals say Waimate is a bit different.

They’ve organised a free seminar next month aimed at helping people better understand the local market, finance and home-buying process.

The Waimate District Council called an urgent public meeting at the Waimate Event Centre on Thursday night following the Government’s announcement of the “Head Start” programme, giving councils just 90 days to develop amalgamation proposals.

Across the country, a growing land-sharing movement is connecting people who want to farm with those who have available land.

In a local example, Carl Barnes, a former chef who once cooked for the likes of Angelina Jolie and Tom Cruise, is now growing nutrient-rich organic food for local tables and other chefs.

Happy hens, cows and sheep are living their best lives on Arnstead Farm at Ikawai, on the plains of the Waitaki River.

Diversity, resilience and big biological bombs are all part of the system producing high quality food for top eateries and tables across the country

It’s been a year since Waimate said no to the incinerator - but the conversation around waste hasn’t gone away.

At the Big Organic Day Out, the focus shifted to what comes next, with a clear message: we need to get better with our waste - and it’s easier than you might think.

We look at where Why Waste Waimate Inc is now, and share some simple, practical tips to help you cut down what you throw out.

One of Waimate’s major sporting events is making a comeback, with the Waimate Storage Invitational White Horse Pairs Tournament set for 11-12 April.

The big guns of NZ golf are heading to Waimate for the tournament, it will be a great couple of days of action.

Community groups across Mid and South Canterbury have shared more than $100,000 in the latest funding round from the Community Trust of Mid and South Canterbury - including support for one of Waimate’s key events.