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

A soldier looks out over Waimate from the painted silos.

That soldier is Eric Batchelor.

He’s one of the country’s most decorated war heroes -  described at his funeral as an “ordinary extraordinary person”.

As we head into Anzac Day we look at the story behind the soldier on the silos - also known and The Ferret and The Waimate Warrior.