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Tuesday 9 December 2014
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Swimmers dive into Nayland champs
Santa comes to town
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Nelson’s growth highest
Nelson’s spending growth was the highest in the country last month and a lot of that is down to tourists, say eftpos provider Paymark Paymark released its November figures yesterday and it showed Nelson leading the way with 8.1 per cent growth. This year, $91.6 million was spent through the network, compared to last year’s $84.7 million. Paymark’s Mark Spicer says Nelson and Otago were the regions with the highest growth rates in the country. “This may be attributed to the strong growth in spending on accommodation that we have seen this year, as well as the consistent increases in the food and beverage sectors. For example, Nelson and Otago are popular destinations for kiwis and tourists.”
Nationally, the growth rate was 5.2 per cent. Uniquely Nelson manager Cathy Madigan says the Paymark figures have been really good for Nelson two months in a row and, with the Christmas season upon us, it will only get better. “Traditionally it’s the second week of December when Christmas spending really kicks in and retailers are saying it’s definitely started.” Cathy says people seem to have more discretionary money to spend which is helping bars and restaurants. “Our hospitality sector has really been strengthening and we you get places like Panama and Urban opening. It benefits everybody because the city becomes a destination for dining and going out.”
Richmond man Mike Corkill get a kiss from his wife Julie-Ann after hearing that he may not live to see Christmas. Photo: Andrew Board.
Dad loses battle but thanks public Mike Corkill’s fight for a new set of lungs is over. The father of five, who reached out to our community for help to pay for the life-saving surgery, has been told by doctors that he will be lucky if he makes it to Christmas. His failing lungs have put too much pressure on his kidneys, causing them to fail as well. The pressure is
Andrew Board Editor
andrew@nelsonweekly.co.nz now on his heart and it’s a matter of when it gives out, not if. Sitting at home, less than 24 hours after he was told he’d be dead within a month, Mike spoke with Nelson Weekly surrounded by his young-
est daughter, distraught wife and a half-decorated Christmas tree. In the cruellest of endings, Mike was rushed to Nelson Hospital the week he reached his $140,000 target. His passports had arrived, the visas were ordered and the plane tickets were about to be booked.
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