A new bus park in the town centre, new timed parking restrictions in Northlake and new no-stopping restrictions on Anderson and McDougall Streets are up for debate in Wānaka this week.New ’no stopping at any time’ restrictions (yellow dotted lines) on both sides of Anderson Road are proposed over a 25m distance between the Aubrey Road roundabout and Rowley Place.In its report to the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB), the council said motorists were frequently parking vehicles on this stretch of roadside near the roundabout and illegally blocking the traffic lane.‘With both visitor and population growth in the district leading to pressure on housing and higher demands for parking, inappropriate parking is becoming increasingly common,” council staff said.But not everyone is happy with the proposal to increase the broken yellow lines on Anderson Road.“There are already insufficient roadside car parks,” WUCCB deputy chair Chris Hadfield said.Chris, who lives on Anderson Road, said he understands the need for safety at the busy roundabout intersection but added that new no-stopping sections of roadside coupled with existing no-stopping sections are putting a lot of pressure on what little parking remains along Anderson Road. “My understanding is there have been complaints about parked cars at the Aubrey Rd end of Anderson. However it has only become an issue since the bike path was put in,” he said.He said he plans to raise the issue of cycle lanes being introduced to the detriment of car parking at today’s (November 21) board meeting.Also proposed are new 60 minute parking restrictions in Northlake on Northlake Drive & Mount Linton Avenue. Sixty minute parking restrictions are proposed for Northlake’s commercial centre.Council said parking space near Northlake's commercial centre is used by vehicles parked all day and time restrictions would promote turnover and improve car park availability.A section of free roadside parking on McDougall Street between the Wānaka Showgrounds and Pembroke Park, often used by campervans, might also be amended for exclusive use by bus service operators.The proposed bus parking is beside the entrance to the showgrounds. Council staff say bus operators use this area to pick up and drop off passengers and are requesting the board considers installing bus stop markings and signs to this section of roadside.Further up McDougall Street, opposite the Wānaka Community Hub, parking on a 6.1m stretch of roadside, between two private driveways, has become contentious. Complaints have been made to council of motorists frequently parking vehicles illegally across the driveways. It is proposed to change this 6.1m section from free parking to no stopping at all times.The four proposed parking restrictions will be considered for approval by the WUCCB at its meeting this morning at the Lake Wānaka Centre.Changes to existing parking restrictions or the implementation of new restrictions under the Queenstown Lake District Council’s Traffic and Parking Bylaw 2018 require a council resolution but the WUCCB has been delegated the power to decide those amendments.  PHOTOS: Wānaka App

A new market initiative aimed at providing an outlet for local seasonal produce and artisan food made with local ingredients will begin soon in Luggate.Upper Clutha Farmers’ Market organiser Amanda Vollweiler said more than 20 vendors plan to support the market, selling a variety of fruit and vegetables, cheese, free range eggs, breads, fresh fish and smoked salmon, flowers, olive oil, preserves and coffee, as well as a range of brunch and lunch items.“Where possible the aim is to support vendors who live in the area, and are growing and using local ingredients,” she said.The market will be held on the reserve beside the Luggate Memorial Centre. The plan is to run it once a month during the summer, starting December 15, and then review its success, she said.Vendors signed up for the market include salmon producers Hook Wanaka, Queensberry’s Susi Q’s Garden, organic market garden Frog Song Farm, and Red Bridge Berries.Frog Song Farm owners Lisa Johnston and Greg Inwood said they will have a range of salads, carrots, herbs, walnuts as well as “a crop of green romanesco cauliflowers grown in anticipation of this market”.“We’re looking forward to it as it’ll be a good chance for us to meet with and chat with our customers and supporters. It will be a great connecting event for our local food community…” Lisa said. Red Bridge Berries co-owner Bex Trotter said the market concept is ideal for Luggate as the reserve venue has good capacity for vendors, plenty of parking for market-goers and the bonus of the playground for families.“It’s a great initiative for locals and visitors to buy fresh produce,” Bex said.She said a local market has been needed for a long time but perhaps only now are there enough local producers to support a market with a wide range and variety of locally grown products.Also attending will be Luggate-based catering company Fox and Badger. Known for creating fresh local and sustainable food, Fox and Badger’s co-owner Maria “Maz” O’Leary said a market like this in Luggate is a good initiative.“I think it’s great that Luggate will be coming together as a community... people here are really engaging and the community vibe is exactly what’s needed to make it a success,” Maz said.The first market day starts at 9am and runs until 1:30pm on Sunday, December 15. PHOTO: Supplied

Transport Minister Simeon Brown is crying foul over the amount spent on traffic management, saying it is "eyewatering".Brown had previously raised concerns over the cost of road cones and temporary speed limits, asking the ministry to look into it.In a speech at the roading industry's annual Future Roads conference in Hamilton on Wednesday, he shared their findings.About $786 million was spent on state highway maintenance and capital spending over three years, accounting for 9.3 percent of the government's total transport spend."Maintaining our road, water and electrical infrastructure is essential, and some level of TTM (temporary traffic management) is unavoidable. But the current approach is out of control. Excessive use of road cones and temporary speed limit reductions - sometimes left in place when work is complete - simply increases cost, forces people to slow down, and frustrates drivers," he said."As a result of the expectations set by the government, NZTA is already responding by implementing a new risk-based approach to how TTM is implemented."This new approach shifts away from the blanket use of road cones and temporary speed limit restrictions and towards a risk-based approach which seeks to balance the need to ensure road workers are kept safe, while keeping costs under control."The minister said initial signs from the first quarter of this financial year were positive, but urged caution on using those figures given they only covered the one quarter during winter months."The government will be waiting to see the trend continue to show a reduction in expenditure from what we have seen in previous years, and improved results for roadworkers and motorists."He said further work would also see local councils reporting their own spending, against benchmarks."This figure does not include expenditure by local councils on local roads. Further work is currently underway to provide public reporting and benchmarking of expenditure for local councils in addition to the reporting made by NZTA."PHOTO: RNZ / Angus Dreaver

A South Korean man who drowned in Lake Wānaka in 2022 stopped swimming suddenly and sank below the surface just five metres from his friend, a coroner has found.In findings just released, Coroner Andrew Schirnack said there was a strong possibility 21-year-old Jinwoo Park developed a sudden abnormal heart rhythm shortly before drowning.Jinwoo was travelling around New Zealand with a friend when they visited Roys Bay for a swim on November 24.His friend entered the water first, swimming to a pontoon situated around 50 metres from the shoreline, before Jinwoo followed.After stopping suddenly near the pontoon, his friend reported, Jinwoo began waving his hands to the side before he sank below the surface and did not resurface.Jinwoo’s friend called for help and jumped in the water to assist, shortly followed by two passers-by.He was located on the lake floor by one of the passers-by but they were unable to retrieve him and the police dive squad recovered his body the following day.The coroner said the pathologist had reported it was likely “a sudden abnormal heart rhythm” resulted in insufficient blood being pumped to the heart, “leading to him being unable to continue swimming or maintain buoyancy”.Jinwoo was described as young, fit and healthy and he was a former Korean Navy serviceman.His friend reported he was a good swimmer who could swim 100 metres.Jinwoo had shown no signs of fear or pain when he stopped swimming, the friend said.The coroner requested Drowning Prevention Aotearoa (DPA) provide an analysis of the death, and its report included safety recommendations such as hazard assessments for anchored swimming pontoons, water safety signage and the availability of rescue equipment.The coroner said while he was “not detracting from the DPA’s recommendations” he did not believe Jinwoo’s death could be clearly linked to the absence of any safety gear or signage.PHOTO: Wānaka App

A driver who fled from police in Wānaka yesterday (Tuesday November 19) was clocked travelling at 166kph, Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said.The driver, a 21-year-old male, has since been charged with “serious charges” including reckless driving, failure to stop and driving while suspended, Fi said.She said police first received a driving complaint in relation to a rental vehicle in the Cardrona Valley Road area, Fi said.Police responded and located the vehicle, which “fled towards Wānaka, continuing to drive at high speeds”.The driver was later stopped in West Wānaka.Fi said the male was driving a rental vehicle.IMAGE: Supplied

Wānaka Police dealt with the breach of a protection order, a violent threat, a disqualified driver on the road, a car accident, a car chase and other incidents over the past week.“A male was arrested and charged with breaching a protection order and other family harm related offences,” Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said. “His bail was opposed and [he] has been remanded in custody.”Local police also arrested a Wānaka male “who threatened a person known to him with a knife in Queenstown,” Fi said. “He was located driving back to Wānaka. He is facing numerous charges in relation to the incident.”Road policing incidents included a disqualified driver who was found driving in Luggate on Monday (November 18).“His vehicle was impounded and [he] will appear in court in December.”Police also responded to a vehicle which lost control on gravel on Domain Road on Saturday (November 16).There were no injuries to the driver, Fi said.Yesterday (Tuesday November 19) the police also dealt with a dangerous driving incident.The driver was held in custody after he stopped for police close to an hour after first being spotted driving dangerously. Read more: Police arrest man over dangerous driving incidentFi said the trailers parked at the Mt Iron roundabout have been issued with a notice to remove them within seven days.The trailers have had an ever-changing series of messages posted on them and have attracted local attention.Go deeper: Locals have say as McDonald’s hearing looms.“The trailers will be removed by NZTA if not removed by [whoever] owns them,” Fi said.Fi congratulated Wānaka SAR after it hosted the Southern District SAREX successfully last weekend and thanked Coasguard, Wānaka SAR, landowners who provide access and the community.The exercise enables SAR and other groups to meet, plan, practice, review, and evaluate in an environment where time and stress can be controlled.“During the SAREX, the Coastguard had to pivot away from action to respond to actual events, assisting vessels that struck difficulty,” Fi said.On Saturday (November 16) Wānaka SAR also attended two land-based incidents: a family, overdue on Roys Peak, were safely found; and a female tramping in the Timaru Creek area sought police assistance when she thought she was lost.“Both resolved without incident.”Call 111 when you need an emergency response from police, fire or ambulance.Call 105 to report things that don’t need urgent police assistance.Call *555 to report road incidents that are urgent but not life-threatening.To make an anonymous crime report contact Crime Stoppers.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Queenstown Lakes mayor Glyn Lewers has weighed in on the government’s proposal to charge visitors for access to some national parks and conservation areas.The Department of Conservation says charging for access to public land is a significant opportunity for conservation, which would support a fairer user-pays system and improve the experience of all visitors.Glyn told the Wānaka App while he was broadly supportive of the proposal, there are “big questions still to be answered”.“I’m a keen advocate of regenerative tourism, and ‘user pays’ access to our environmental taonga should definitely be explored. This is a similar rationale to the visitor levy that we have long advocated for,” he said.“As Destination Queenstown has already pointed out, the whole funding model needs to be considered holistically – how does the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, national park access and any local visitor levy work together? What are these revenue streams spent on, and who are they channelled to?” He said there was “significantly more work to be done”, including answering the important question of whether or not domestic visitors and Kiwis would pay, or just international visitors.Despite the unanswered questions, Glyn said it was “good to see that the government is acknowledging that visitation comes with a cost.”Regional tourism organisation Lake Wānaka Tourism (LWT) also believed the details of the user-pays proposal will be important.“We believe any such framework should be thoughtfully designed, incorporating public and stakeholder input and reflecting values such as inclusivity, fairness, and alignment,” LWT head of tourism Gizelle Regan told the Wānaka App. “Funds generated should be transparently allocated to conservation, infrastructure improvements, and initiatives that benefit both residents and visitors​​​.”Public consultation of the topic is open now.“The world has changed considerably since the Conservation Act was enacted in 1987,” minister of conservation Tama Potaka said. “These proposals are intended to bring our conservation system up to date, better protect biodiversity, and enhance our ability to manage growing tourism sustainably.”The minister said he wants to hear from the public on the proposal, in particular on key questions over who should be charged, which locations should have fees, and how revenue should be used.There are two discussion documents on the proposal available for members of the public to read, before public consultation closes in February 2025.“I encourage all New Zealanders to read them and share their views,” the minister said.QLDC confirmed it was working on a submission.Find the discussion documents here.PHOTO: Wānaka App

A man has been arrested after fleeing police this afternoon.Police said they were alerted to dangerous driving on Wānaka-Mt Aspiring Road at approximately 3.40pm today (Tuesday, November 19).The driver stopped for police on West Wānaka Road, a police spokesperson said.The driver has been taken into custody and charges are being considered, they said.Members of the public were alerted by numerous sirens.One witness said they saw a vehicle traveling at speed at 4pm near Wānaka Station Park and passing vehicles on the inside by driving on the grass verge. The car was followed by three police cars, they said.IMAGE: Supplied

A long-awaited second large-scale supermarket chain has plans to open in Wānaka.An application to build a Woolworths supermarket in Three Parks was lodged with the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) yesterday (Monday November 18).Woolworths New Zealand is planning a 3,810m2 supermarket - comparable in size to New World Three Parks - and it is planning to offer pick-up and delivery services of its groceries.It will be a “state of the art, full service store designed to meet the needs of the growing local community,” Woolworths New Zealand director of property Matt Grainger told the Wānaka App. The proposed Woolworths supermarket (green rectangle) and retail shops will be on the same side of Sir Tim Wallis Drive as Mitre 10 MEGA.If approved, the new supermarket is set to be located in Three Parks on the south side of Mitre 10 MEGA, diagonally opposite New World Three Parks.As well as the supermarket itself, the Woolworths will include 200m2 of separate retail, food or beverage tenancies.The supermarket would be known as ‘Woolworths Three Parks’.The proposed site layout.The development would also feature a publicly accessible open space/plaza alongside Sir Tim Wallis Drive, and there would be parking for more than 180 cars, as well as provision for campervans and bicycles.“It’s great to be at this stage with our proposed new supermarket and we look forward to working with the council as the application progresses,” Matt said.QLDC is currently considering Woolworth’s New Zealand’s application.IMAGES: Supplied

Otago Regional Council (ORC) is looking to simplify the application process for a fund which supports a range of grassroots environmental groups in the region.As part of its review of the ECO fund - billed to offer more than $1M in funding in its next round - it is also planning to adjust eligibility and assessment criteria to give more groups the opportunity to access funding.“Year after year, we’re oversubscribed for funding and want to make the application process as easy as possible for these environmental groups,” ORC principal advisor environmental implementation Anna Molloy said.“The results to date from these largely community-lead projects have been amazing.”Local recipients of past ECO Fund rounds have included Friends of Bullock Creek, Hāwea Charitable Trust, Kirimoko Catchment Group, and Black Peak Road Rabbit Control Group, among others.At last week’s council meeting councillors reviewed wage funding criteria, eligibility criteria, assessment criteria, and terms and conditions for applicants.They also floated the idea of replacing two categories (native planting for water quality and pest control) with critical source area management on private land, for the latter, expanding it to include weed removal and native revegetation.This would broaden the type of projects which are applicable, ORC said.The next round of the ORC’s ECO Fund is scheduled to be opened in March 2025.An estimated total funding available of up to $1.05M is likely.People and groups interested in an ECO Fund application can register their interest via the ORC website.As part of this process, they can ask to be notified of the next round opening, discuss with ORC staff their project idea or how their project would fit in terms of ECO Fund criteria, and learn about the terms and conditions before submitting an application, Anna said.She said the website would be updated with the outcomes of the review and council decisions shortly.PHOTO: Supplied

Locals and visitors can get their hands on second-hand treasures and feel-good finds at the Wastebusters’ Sustainable Christmas Market, coming up on Saturday (November 23).From 9am-2pm, the Wastebusters yard will become a festive hub of locally made treasures, sustainable shopping, and plenty of holiday cheer, Wastebusters’ reuse team leader Mathilde Fonteneau said. ”Our Reuse Team has been busy collecting wonderful gifts and decorations, and we can’t wait to decorate the shop and welcome everyone into the festive spirit,” she said.“This market is one of our favourite events of the year.”There will be more than 20 stalls featuring everything from artwork and jewellery to handmade ceramics and houseplants. Mathilde said shoppers can expect to find thoughtful gifts, stocking stuffers, and unique treasures.The reuse shop will also be filled with secondhand decorations, affordable gifts, and alternative wrapping options.One of the stallholders from last year’s market.Plant-based food will be available from The Fox and Badger.Shopping at Saturday’s Sustainable Christmas Market will support talented local makers and a more sustainable holiday spirit, she Matilde said.“We love seeing the Wānaka community come together at this event,” she said.“It’s a chance to celebrate the season while making thoughtful choices for people and the planet.”The on-site car park will be closed for the market stalls and parking will be available across the road; pedestrians should follow the yellow cones to the pedestrian entrance; and bike parking is available on-site.The drop-off lane will be closed for the day.PHOTOS: Wastebusters

Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) year 13 student and rising cycling star Carter Guichard has signed with a pro cycling team in Europe.Next year Carter (18) will compete in around 30 of the most competitive races in Europe as a member of Nice Métropole Côte d'Azur.“As a Neo-Pro [a professional cyclist in their first year] I know that my role will first be to help my teammates at first and be in the early race breakaways but I also hope to get a handful of standout results for myself,” Carter said.His selection follows a successful year racing in Europe in the Decathlon AG2R under-19 development team, which aims to ‘detect and train the champions of tomorrow’.Read more: Wānaka teen selected for prestigious cycling teamDuring the season Carter made first place in the Tour de la Vallée de la Trambouze, the Tour de Causse-Aigoual-Cévennes, and the Classique des Bourbons.He placed second in the Three Days of Axel and the Prix de la Ville d’Aubenas and placed third in the New Zealand national championships.Carter has a busy training regime: “My typical day looks like between 2.5 and 4 hours of training per day on average both in the gym and on the bike,” he said, “occasionally going up to over 6 hours of training per day.”Carter will spend the next couple of months in Wānaka, training for the 2025 season.In January, he will head to Spain to meet his team for its first training camp of the year.PHOTO: Supplied

The fallout from a High Court decision to revoke this district’s Freedom Camping Bylaw has continued, with Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) deputy mayor estimating a new bylaw will cost ratepayers an additional $100,000.Freedom camping restrictions in Queenstown Lakes are no longer being enforced after the bylaw on freedom camping was revoked following a legal case which cost ratepayers $135,803 in legal costs alone.The New Zealand Motor Home Association (NZMCA) challenged the bylaw, and High Court Justice Osborne backed them, declaring QLDC’s bylaw invalid due to the unlawful influence and consideration of “irrelevant matters” - the economic impact on commercial campgrounds and the effects on private property amenity (such as dumped rubbish and waste).Last week deputy mayor Quentin Smith told the Wānaka App the NZMCA had shown a “sickening” disregard for this district, after QLDC had worked to contain and control the impacts of a “freedom camping assault”.Read more: Council stops enforcing freedom camping, legal costs mountA local who asked not to be named told the Wānaka App he was “very disappointed” in Quentin’s comments, and blamed QLDC for “not getting proper advice and going gung ho over the attitude of we can do what we like with ratepayers’ money”.Deputy mayor Quentin Smith: ‘Bad’ freedom campers have undermined the social licence of other campers. In response, Quentin said he wanted to make it clear that his criticism of the NZMCA did not reflect on its membership or the services it provides.“NZMCA members are generally very responsible campers throughout New Zealand and are good ambassadors,” he said. “Unfortunately the ‘bad’ freedom campers and the activities enabled by these challenges undermine the social licence of their members.”A costly new bylawQLDC is in the early stages of freedom camping bylaw development, and the process is expected to take approximately nine months. This will include community consultation, which is expected to take place early in 2025.Quentin told the Wānaka App the new bylaw is estimated to cost around $100,000.“That includes consultation, submissions and hearings; but excludes any specialist consultant costs, and the costs associated with any appeals,” Quentin said.The freedom camping bylaw “has always been a large and contentious piece of work”, he added. By contrast, a simple bylaw update (like the Easter Trading Bylaw underway) is estimated to cost closer to $30,000 in internal costs.During the summer ahead, QLDC ambassadors will be tasked with engaging with visitors, heading to popular freedom camping spots to share information on how to camp responsibly, local expectations and promoting local campgrounds nearby, the council says.PHOTOS: Wānaka App

A new endowment fund designed to benefit Te Kura O Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) students has gotten off to a great start with a generous donation by a local trust.The Elsie & Ray Armstrong Charitable Trust has announced a grant of $100,000 to ‘seed’ Mt Aspiring College (MAC) Foundation’s Endowment Fund.MAC Foundation chair Matt Williams said he was thrilled to receive the grant.“The foundation has just launched its endowment fund to create long term sustainable financial returns for the benefit of the school,” Matt said.“This initial grant from the Armstrong Trust is extremely generous and gives us enviable momentum towards achieving our initial goal of a $1M fund.”MAC relies on additional funding in order to keep costs to students and their families down.The endowment fund will help support the costs associated with things like sports tournaments, school uniforms and the like. It was a good match for the Armstrong Trust, which exists to help those in the Upper Clutha who are disadvantaged and need extra assistance, Armstrong Trust trustee Simon Telfer said.“We have been in discussions with the MAC Foundation over the last few months,” he said.We…appreciate their hard work in supporting school whānau with the costs of uniforms, devices, camp fees and health services both now and for generations to come.” MAC principal Nicola Jacobsen said the donation by the Armstrong Trust was a remarkable contribution.It’s “not something a principal gets to experience every day,” she said. Deliberations by the Armstrong Trust for their usual annual granting process has begun and this year’s applicants will be informed of the trustee’s decisions next week. PHOTO: Supplied

Good weather on the West Coast over the weekend has helped crews removing loose rocks at Knights Point just north of Haast, where State Highway 6 was closed a week ago.The closure was caused by record-breaking rain, creating wide-spread flooding, slips, and rockfall. “The crew was able to use the helicopter to sluice the highest parts of the rock face on Saturday and has completed most of the safety-critical rock removal over the past two days,” NZTA system manager Mark Pinner said.The next stage, once there is no more risk of overhead rockfall, is to construct a bund around the base of the cliff face to reduce the risk of any future rockfall making it onto the road. The bund will be constructed using rock which has fallen from the site to date.“The scaling team will continue with preparation for removal of some of the larger rockfall features this week, in clear co-ordination with ground crews for everyone’s safety," Mark said.“Once we get this highway reopened in coming days, scaling and clean-up crews will continue to work at this site for some weeks so it will be a slower journey through this point for some time.”Cracks in the highway are being filled this week and drainage improvements installed to funnel water away from the area of recent movement.“We know this is frustrating for hospitality and tourism operators on the West Coast and in Otago who rely upon the Haast/SH6 loop for much of their summer business," Mark said."We are doing our best to return this road to everyone in a safe condition, ready for the months ahead.”NZTA will provide a further update on Wednesday November 20 at 5pm, which will include a definitive timeline for re-opening the road, with earlier updates if anything changes before then.The road is closed between Haast and Fox Glacier with access to the glacier region available from the north. 

Wānaka news and information service, the Wānaka App, has been acknowledged at the Wānaka Business Excellence Awards, winning the Excellence in Professional Services category at a gala dinner on Saturday November 9.Wānaka App director Tony O’Regan said it was a win for the community.“We’re very fortunate to live in a community that cares deeply about its wellbeing,” Tony said.“It is reflected in the engagement we get with local news stories and local information.”The Wānaka App is a digital-only publisher, distributing to a mobile app, website, and weekly newsletter.Tony said more than 220,000 people read the Wānaka App in the past 12 months recording 1.5M reader sessions and 8.8M page views.“The reach is amazing but our real focus is on the Upper Clutha community and ensuring it has a strong local news source,” Tony said.“It was a real thrill that the judges acknowledged the work our team does and how important local news is.”Learn about all the award winners at the Wānaka Business Excellence Awards here.A key contributor to the Wānaka App’s award, judges said, was the innovative software solution it developed to distribute content to readers. The software is designed as a “software as a service” (SaaS) platform and licensed to other local community news services in New Zealand and Australia.“The software is a great opportunity for us to share what is working in local news and help other publishers have success in their market,” Tony said.This is the third time the Wānaka App has been recognised at the Wānaka Business Excellence Awards winning Outstanding Innovators in 2017 and Outstanding in Innovation in 2019.The Wānaka App launched in 2016.PHOTO: Sarginson Photography

The government's proposal to charge people to enter Aotearoa's most popular natural attractions has received mixed reviews.The Department of Conservation (DOC) is asking the public who should pay to enjoy our national parks and conservation areas and how that money should be used.Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton welcomed the idea, if the money funded desperately needed infrastructure.The mayor said central plateau tourism hotspots like Mount Ruapehu were not coping with the number of tourists they had."National parks can't continue on with the damage caused by visitors over the years and without the infrastructure needed to support up to 200,000 tourists a year."We're tremendously stretched as a small community and can't take on the cost."But he said, it was important for locals to continue to have free access to Aoraki."There should definitely be a price for New Zealanders from outside the district and for those who come from overseas."He said the district required more toilets and camping grounds to keep up with demand."We welcome visitors to the area but we don't get the funding required to support them."Stewart Island Flights owner Bill Moffat strongly opposed the plan, arguing it already cost too much for tourists to visit.The island currently has a $10 visitor levy, but Moffat said this could increase to $15 in 2025.Most people travelling to New Zealand must also pay a $100 dollar tourist levy."It's yet another charge being incurred by the visitors," said Moffat."The inbound arrival levy, 50% of that is supposed to contribute to DOC."Adding another levy is like triple dipping."Tourism Industry Aotearoa chief executive Rebecca Ingram said decisions about the proposed charges needed to be made carefully."Tourism businesses think it's important that DOC can invest in the future and deliver the amazing experiences they provide."They also think it's important to consider the fees that are paid by visitors and in particular, take into consideration that the international visitor levy is now $100 and a portion of that goes toward conservation."The group will consult tourism operators before it makes suggestions to the government.Tourists spoken to by RNZ were understanding of the government's position, but some were concerned about added costs.Liyaan was returning to London after a 21 day tour of the North and South Island."As a tourist, it would drive up my costs. But I also understand why it would be imposed."For people on a budget, it might make them think twice about coming to New Zealand."Phaidra from Belgium said if the fees were in place now, she would have to consider how many activities would fit into her budget"It would be quite a lot to pay every time."US traveller, Liam, was happy to pay for the sights."I would have no problem as long as it's going towards preserving the natural places in New Zealand."He was used to paying an entry fee to access parks in the US and suggested New Zealand implement an annual pass for tourists.Some New Zealanders RNZ spoke to were worried about losing free access to treasured places.Jalal was sceptical about where the money would go."It seems like another cash-grab from the government."They should be encouraging people to explore our parks more. An additional fee would be detrimental to encouraging people to get outdoors."Amelia said she would not go to a conservation area if there was a fee."I wouldn't pay it. Not a single dime. New Zealand should be free for everyone to see."Other New Zealanders like Ben were on board with increased funding for conservation efforts."It probably would be fair for the user to pay to maintain the places they visit."Neil was fine with paying as long as the money went back into the area."That way we get nice things like walkways."Consultation on the proposal, which would also make it easier for private businesses to operate on conservation land, closes at the end of February 2025.

Entries will open at the end of the month for Challenge Wānaka’s youth and adaptive events.The Adaptive Challenge will return in 2025, open to anyone over 10 years old with either a physical or intellectual impairment.Meanwhile the Secondary Schools Challenge will once again host the Otago Secondary School Triathlon, featuring U14, U16, and U19 categories.Secondary School teams have the unique opportunity to compete in the Challenge Wānaka Half on Saturday, bringing high-level competition to the school-age athletes.Other youth events include the Mini Challenge, Junior Challenge and the Intermediate Challenge.Mitre 10 MEGA Wānaka and Puzzling World will be sponsoring the youth events again in 2024, Challenge Wānaka trustee and event director Jane Sharman said.“Their continued support allows us to inspire young people, create lasting memories, and nurture the next generation of athletes.”At the core of Challenge Wānaka is a dedication to empowering youth through sport, Jane said.Each year, the Challenge Wānaka Sports Trust subsidises the participation of nearly 2,000 primary and secondary students, promoting healthy lifestyles and imparting values of teamwork, perseverance, and goal-setting.This initiative has seen more than 11,000 young athletes participate since 2013, providing profound benefits to physical fitness, confidence, and community spirit, she said.Wānaka Primary School principal Jason Cowan said Challenge Wānaka is an event “our entire school participates in”.“It is an amazing opportunity for our children to be part of a professionally run event that builds perseverance and supports our kids to ‘be the best they can be,” he said.“The smiles and grimaces from our children as they compete against themselves and their friends, no matter how athletic, creates an incredible atmosphere.”Find more details about each of the youth and adaptive races taking place as part of Challenge Wānaka (February 13-15, 2025), here.PHOTO: Sean Beale

OUT & About Wānaka is excited to welcome visitors to today’s (Saturday November 16) Wānaka Pride Street Party, the pinnacle event of Wānaka Pride Week 2024.The free, family-friendly celebration of inclusivity will include live music, DJs, comedy, dance performances, local food vendors, a craft market and activities for all ages, plus much more.Organisers said highlights will include the Pride fashion show, performances by drag queens on the Love Loud stage throughout the day, the craft and info market featuring handmade creations from Wānaka artisans, and the raffle and auction.Wānaka Pride Week began on Monday (November 11) and OUT & About Wānaka volunteer Catrin Aeron told the Wānaka App it had got off to a “fantastic start”.“We kicked things off with a full house at the Queer Film Fest at Rhyme X Reason [and] every seat filled!” she said. “It was such a lovely, chilled vibe, and the films sparked some really meaningful conversations.” The craft and info market will return for today’s event.“The whole evening had this beautiful, supportive energy that set the tone for the week.”Tuesday’s Living Library event at the Wānaka Library had “another fantastic turnout,” she said.“So many people from our community came to listen to the experiences of five 'books'—members of the rainbow community who shared their personal stories.“We had some laughs, a few touching moments, and plenty of thoughtful questions.”Other events this week have included ‘Queer Quarterly Reads’, a queer-themed book club at The Last Chapter, plus Pride Pledge training sessions designed to support inclusivity and understanding in workplaces and communities; as well as drag bingo, drag karaoke and more.“We’re feeling incredibly grateful to everyone who’s joined us so far,” Catrin said.The Wānaka Pride Street Party will be held at the Lake Wānaka Centre from midday.St John and Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) will be present to ensure a safe, enjoyable day for all, organisers said.Highlights will include performances by drag queens, a craft and info market, a fashion show, and more organisers said.Night-owls can continue on after the pride street party with Pride After Dark, also at the Lake Wānaka Centre (from 7pm), which will feature DJs, burlesque, go-go dancers, drag queens, aerial silks and more.Pride After Dark is a ticketed event. Book here.PHOTOS: Deanna Gerlach