Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer.

Small town benefits from highway closure

I’ve always been a little perplexed by the need to create bypasses on our major highways to shorten travel times without thinking of the massive impact on the towns that rely and thrive on the traffic coming through them. Timaru is a great example and if you’ve been on its main road recently you will see a ghost town, compared to how it was before the bypass. So, I was heartened and gladdened to read about the positive impacts the Desert Road closure is having on hospitality businesses in Ohakune.

While the Desert Road is closed for two months due to maintenance, “a detour is in place via SH41, SH47, SH4, and SH49. At the southern end of Tongariro National Park lives the town of Ohakune, with SH49 – or Clyde St – as the main road.”

All the cafes, shops, and eateries in the town are booming. “The Mountain Rocks owner Karl Christensen said it had been ‘an absolute boon’. While the licensed cafe had got increasingly busier since the New Zealand border reopened in 2022, Christensen said the traffic flow from SH1 had increased the turnover dramatically.

“It was not just his business that was thriving, he added, but the entire town of Ohakune. ‘The whole area’s on a buzz at the moment. It’s really good to see. It’s really good for business. And everyone is just prospering. It’s fantastic. And I think people are learning that this route is a viable option, you know, it’s not just the Desert Rd.'” (Source: “Desert Road closure brings boom to Ohakune’s cafes and shops,” January 26, www.nzherald.co.nz).

5 stars – this is such a wonderful story – boosting local economies and making driving trips more enjoyable. Big upside!

Snowboarder sets record, whilst injured

I’ve never snowboarded and whenever I see competitive boarders I’m in awe. Their feats appear otherworldly and also, a little bit terrifying.

At the recent X Games in Aspen, United States, Japanese snowboarder, Hiroto Ogiwara became the first person ever to land a 2340 on competition – which in layperson’s terms – is landing a completed six and a half turns.

“‘I am the first in the world to do that. I’ve never been as happy as this,” Ogiwara said afterwards, per Olympics.com. It was really the greatest moment. It felt as if I used every ounce of energy I had.’

“Ogiwara completed the trick despite sustaining a minor forearm fracture in practice beforehand, the X Games told CNN, adding that he was cleared to compete. For his history-making 2340 mute grab, the judges awarded Ogiwara an almost-perfect 97.33 to hand him the gold medal, almost three points ahead of his compatriot Taiga Hasegawa in second. New Zealand’s Rocco Jamieson rounded out the podium another three points back in third.” (Source: “Teenage snowboarder Hiroto Ogiwara makes history by landing remarkable first ever 2340, with a fractured arm,” January 27. www.edition.cnn.com).

5 stars – a broken arm didn’t stand in the way of achieving a very notable first. Great stuff!

Kiwi cat crosses the ditch twice

We’ve all read the travel horror stories that our mainstream media trots out daily but this one is far more interesting and has a happy ending.

Mitten was supposed to make a one way trip from Christchurch to Melbourne with her family but ended up crossing the Tasman two times after being overlooked by handling staff.

“Her owner, Margo Neas, said that she waited for Mittens to be unloaded from the plane’s freight area, but three hours passed with no sign of the cat. It was then that ground staff told Neas the plane had returned to New Zealand – with Mittens still onboard. The return trip takes about seven and a half hours.

“But the saga had a happy ending. The pet moving company that Neas used to arrange Mittens’s travel met the cat on her return to Christchurch and ensured she was back on the plane for another trip to Melbourne – this time just one way. Mittens had lost weight but was otherwise unharmed.” (Source: “Cat becomes accidental frequent flyer after being left on a plane by mistake,” January 22, www.guardian.com).

5 stars – there’s nothing better than an animal story with a happy ending.