The fire on Castle Hill, Canterbury continues to burn as it has since Thursday this week. Labour continues to press the governments policies as Franklin road prepares to re-open.
Matthew Rosenberg, Local Democracy reporter
A wizard with a history of dabbling in local politics has had an epiphany: Invercargill doesn’t deserve him.
Noel Peterson is the “green wizard” of Bluff, a man with a reputation for championing environmental causes and bringing good cheer to communityevents.
But I thought ‘you know, the community doesn’t really deserve a wizard’.”
Peterson feels Invercargill has rejected his message of taking care of the planet and fears the region is being run by people who only pay lip service to environmental issues.
One of his main disappointments was a feeling his message about the climate crisis had been overlooked.
“I do wish and hope that more people in the community realise that we need to change. That the world is changing and we need to change with it,” he says.
“We can’t just keep our sloven ways and carry on business as usual.”
Good news for those fearing Peterson may have hung up the robes for good though: the man who has called Southland home for about a decade reassures he will “always be a wizard”.
Noel Peterson embraces the sun and welcomes its warmth. Photo / Matthew Rosenberg / LDR
The garb is worn less these days, he admits, as wizard-wear is impractical and hot, and heatstroke has proven an issue in the past.
Peterson also hasn’t ruled out standing in the next election.
One of the main barriers is the cost, with the last campaign totalling about $3500 including new clothes and a haircut.
Some of those expenses would be transferable, however.
