The government has signalled a shift in priorities for local councils, introducing legislation this week aimed at tightening focus on core services and restoring ratepayer confidence.The Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill was introduced to Parliament on Tuesday (July 15), and proposes removing the four ‘well-beings’ - social, economic, environmental, and cultural - from council mandates.In a statement, Local Government Minister Simon Watts said the bill aimed to restore discipline, transparency and performance across the sector, for the benefit of ratepayers.“Kiwis are frustrated with rising rates, expanding bureaucracy, and poor value for money,” he said. “This bill puts councils back to work on the basics - their core services - so ratepayers see real results for what they pay.”The minister said councils had “drifted” from essential responsibilities like roading, water, rubbish, and infrastructure, and that the government was drawing a line.“This refocusing of our councils will help to deliver better value for money, and ultimately help with addressing the number one issue people are dealing with right now, which is cost of living.”The minister also ruled out supporting new taxes or revenue tools for local authorities, saying there was still room for greater efficiency. A model for a potential rates cap was in the works, and he planned to provide an update later in the year.Coalition partners appeared unconvinced a cap was a silver bullet.On Thursday, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters told media his party preferred not to interfere with local government."It's a case of doctor, heal thyself" he told RNZ reporter Lillian Hanly."We can't be preaching to them when we haven't got our own spending under control ourselves."For ACT leader David Seymour, the priority was to “cut non-essential spending” and not “worry about the ‘four wellbeings’”.In a social media post, he also stressed the need for cooperation between central and local government.“Finger-pointing has not worked to ease pressure on ratepayers. So, let’s work together,” he said.

Hunters are being urged to have their voices heard on the future management of highly valued game animal herds in New Zealand.The government is currently consulting on a change to the Game Animal Council Act 2013 through the Game Animal Council (Herds of Special Interest) Amendment Bill. If passed, the bill would make it clear that the minister for hunting and fishing can establish a Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) in a national park.“If the bill is passed, it will enable sustainable management of highly valued game animal herds in national parks, benefitting both hunting and conservation,” Game Animal Council (GAC) chair Grant Dodson said.“.. we encourage you to make the most of this opportunity, to submit, and to help enable sustainable, hunter-led game animal management in New Zealand, including national parks.”GAC chief executive Corina Jordan said hunters are passionate, boots-on-the-ground conservationists who contribute significant efforts to environmental initiatives.“Not only that, but hunting benefits physical and mental wellbeing, gets kids outside and off devices learning practical skills, while providing free-range meat for whānau and communities,” she said.The hunting area around Wānaka covers some 20,000 hectares in the Craigie, Albert, Minaret and Rumbling Burn western tributaries of the lake, and on Mt Burke to the east.Hāwea, Queenstown and Central Otago offer even more hunting opportunities.Corina said when HOSI is “fully implemented, it will empower hunter-led management of valued introduced game animal herds in a way that recognises and protects their values at the same time as achieving conservation outcomes”.Grant said the current law for national parks focuses on exterminating game animals as far as possible to achieve a ‘natural state’ - but he says this isn’t feasible.“Since the law was put in place almost 50 years ago, we have learnt that the dream of exterminating valued introduced species from national parks is not practically or financially feasible, and that hunters play an important role in protecting biodiversity and responsibly managing game animals, including in national parks.”He said the bill is a great opportunity for hunters.“This bill is a significant opportunity for hunters to have their voices heard by the Environment Select Committee, and shape New Zealand’s future legislative framework for the benefits of hunting and conservation”.“Have your voice heard,” he said. “Submit on the bill before July 24.”PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka Rowing Club (WRC) has celebrated a successful year “both on and off the water” at its annual prizegiving, the club says.Held on Sunday (July 13), the prizegiving brought together the local club’s coaches, crews, supporters, and backers - and awards were given out for a range of categories.Lola Ritchie received the prestigious Rower of the Year award and Chelsea Lodge received the President’s Award.The Most Improved Master award went to Keely Buick; Master of the Year to Victoria Schutte; Most Improved Male to MacKenzie Hay; and the Most Improved Female to Lily Garrett.Angus Todd was honoured with the Coach of the Year award while Lizie Ritchie received the Community Supporter of the Year and Shane Gibson received the Otago Rowing Association Volunteer Recognition Award.Coxswain of the Year went to Emily Hunt; Novice of the Year went to Lachlan Hay; and Member of the Year went to Sandra Binney.Crews were celebrated with a pair of awards: The Best Crew Spirit (Girls’ Novice Quad of Emma Throne, Milly Stuart, Casey Howard, Chantel Thurston, and Emily Hunt, the Coxswain); and the Crew of the Year (Boys’ Novice Quad of Lachlan Hay, Douglas Wise, Mackenzie Hay, Tyler Gawn, and Emily Hunt, Coxswain).Master rowers (from left) Victoria Schutte, Chelsea Lodge, Lizzie Ritchie, and Keely Buick.Lastly the UP Award - for ‘Unlimited Potential’ - went to Milly Stuart; and the ‘Awwr’ Award went to Douglas Wise.“Learn to Row coaches AJ Humphries, Max Maines, Grainne Power were thanked for their volunteer hours with rowers new to the sport as were Rob Bruce, Matt Rickard, Shane Gibson and Tristan Hughes for their continued support of novice and experienced rowers,” a statement from WRC said.“And huge thanks go to club supporters Ian Farrant, Alpine Group, Silver Fern Farms, Butchers Block, the Bruce Family, [and] Stay Mackenzie who provide regatta accommodation, transport and protein.”Wānaka Rowing Club will be running both Junior and Masters Learn to Row Programmes again. Anyone who is interested can contact the club.PHOTOS: Supplied

Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) chair Simon Telfer says the board is generally supportive of a Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) project to replace the Wānaka Refuse Transfer Station (RTS).The existing facility on Ballantyne Road is under pressure, facing capacity issues along with rising maintenance and renewal costs, QLDC staff told the board during an update on the RTS project earlier this week.The council has been working on a future-proofing replacement for some time but its purchase last year of neighbouring land at 189 Ballantyne Road increased the number of options available.A concept design was completed in March and QLDC’s preferred option would roughly triple the facility’s current footprint, expanding onto the newly acquired land, to meet future demand through to 2050.The project would take over five years, QLDC said.“Overall the board was supportive of this project given projected growth in the Upper Clutha over the coming decades,” Simon told the Wānaka App after the workshop. He said the board had encouraged QLDC staff to “step up collaboration and communication with Wastebusters as they are a very important partner in the overall waste management plan”.Wastebusters has operated from leased QLDC land next to the existing RTF since it began 25 years ago and it has long outgrown its existing site and urgently needs more space.The local non-profit has recently called on the public to encourage QLDC to allocate more land via submissions on the draft Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP).Read more: Wastebusters calls for support for expansionSimon said Wastebusters needs “clear direction from QLDC” as soon as possible.The board had also raised a couple of other concerns about the RTS project with QLDC staff, Simon said.“We had questions around the implications of the facility being built on a floodplain and the strength of the business case in light of the budget having ballooned to over $18M,” he said.QLDC staff plan to discuss the RTF project at the QLDC infrastructure meeting later this month before presenting it to the full council in September.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Simon Telfer, the current chair of the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB), has announced he will stand again for the board at this year’s local body elections.“It has been a privilege to chair the community board over the past three years, but there is plenty of unfinished business,” he said.“We need continued strong leadership to ensure Wānaka and the Upper Clutha receive an equitable share of [Queenstown Lakes District Council] QLDC funding and prioritisation.”Simon said priority projects for the ward include increased sports fields and facilities, safer pedestrian crossing points in the town centre, a clearer future for Wānaka Airport, a new roundabout at the Golf Course/Ballantyne Road intersection, and protection of our natural environment, especially our two lakes“I’d also like the $5M+ languishing in the Wānaka Asset Sales (Scurr Heights) Reserve to be invested into community infrastructure as soon as possible,” he said.“The idea of a community facility in Albert Town has my support.”Simon said the highlights from his three years on the board included “leading last year’s community health public meeting, completing Mt Iron’s reserve management plan, expanding our walking and biking network, commencing Wānaka Airport’s future review and empowering the community to invest the Scurr Heights Fund”. As a trustee of the Armstrong Trust he was also proud of championing large donations to Te Kura o Titiea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) Foundation, Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust, and After Hours Urgent Care service, he said.“I’ve been fully committed to my elected role over the past three years, attending 200 community engagements, making hundreds of phone calls and sending 4,900 emails.“If re-elected I commit to ensuring QLDC gives the Upper Clutha its equitable share of resources and prioritisation; Developing more sports fields and facilities; Acting as a guardian for our beautiful natural environment; People being at the heart of Wānaka’s town centre redevelopment; and supporting our not for profit community, especially Health Action Wānaka.” Over the past 25 years Simon has acted as a director and advisor to privately owned businesses across New Zealand. He is a patron of the Festival of Colour and supporter of a number of local artists. He lives in Wānaka with his wife, Jo Shearer, and two daughters who attend MAC.

Both ACT and New Zealand First are casting doubt on whether capping council rates is the answer, even as the local government minister says he wants the policy in place as "fast as possible."The government is considering options to control rate rises - including placing a cap on how much local councils can increase rates.When asked for his position on rate capping, ACT leader David Seymour said "you've got to be able to control the costs first".Seymour said the issue was being looked at, but he was "really strong" on making sure "you're saving money before you cap the revenue"."The only thing I'd say, if you're asking me, is don't cap your income until you've got your spending under control."When asked for his position, Winston Peters responded by saying "every other party is interfering in local government" and that New Zealand First had never interfered in local government."It's a case of doctor, heal thyself" he said, "we can't be preaching to them when we haven't got our own spending under control ourselves."It comes as local government minister Simon Watts, speaking at a Taxpayers' Union LGNZ protest, told those gathered he wanted rates capping "in place as fast as possible".In a video posted by the Taxpayers' Union on social media, Watts said the government needed to intervene and make sure caps were in a sensible place, in order to bring costs down for ratepayers."This is your money, this is ratepayers' money," he said."In terms of timeline, we're working at pace. I know everybody wants it to be done yesterday."My direction to my officials is crack on, I want this in place as fast as possible. We're aiming to have that all decided ... definitely before Christmas, if we can go faster we will."Watts said he was making sure to get the details right, so that when the policy comes into force, "as fast as possible it actually achieves that outcome."He said he was working through how the caps would be set, as well as working with "our coalition partners" around where it's set, "and we'll make a decision"."So you guys can have assurance the government knows this needs to happen, we know we need to get it in place as fast as practical, and it needs to do what it needs to do which is cap those rates and get rid of that nonsense."

Wānaka’s Three Parks Outdoor Arena may host the long-running Greenstone Entertainment summer concert from next year, after organisers confirmed plans to move the event here.The large-scale concert has attracted more than 15,000 people each year for the past 15 years, featuring major acts such as Cold Chisel, Crowded House, Alanis Morissette and ZZ Top, and contributes around $12M to the region’s economy annually.Organisers Amanda and Dean Calvert said the move came after being told the Gibbston site would be developed for housing.“We're absolutely delighted to have secured Three Parks Outdoor Arena as our new home for the next five years,” Greenstone Entertainment CEO and founder Amanda Calvert said. The Three Parks Outdoor Arena siteThree Parks Outdoor Arena is owned by Wānaka businessman Allan Dippie and recently hosted 50,000 people for Wheels at Wānaka.“Allan is such a community driven person and without his foresight the concert would have likely moved away from the region," Amanda said."The expansion into Wānaka marks an exciting new chapter for us, and we're confident it will become a highlight of the South Island summer calendar.”Dean said it had been “extremely hard” to find a suitable new venue.“We started the whole thing back in 2011 in Gibbston and have built the concert into one of the most renowned for our demographic in the country,” he said.“But the region has been on that journey with us... land is so valuable now. And it's not just the concert site, it's the infrastructure needed to bring 15,000 people to that site.”“We hadn't been able to find anything and were on our way out of town... when Allan popped up and said 'come and have a look at this venue’.”Allan Dippie said the venue was excited to be teaming up with Greenstone.“Their impeccable track record for putting on world class events that attract major international artists have made this joint venture an easy decision,” he said.“Three Parks Outdoor Arena will offer a true outdoor amphitheatre experience like no other and we look forward to welcoming concert goers next year.”Greenstone has applied for consent for a 30,000-person capacity, although Dean said they were unlikely to hit that number. The consent application is currently being vetted by Queenstown Lakes District Council.There were traffic issues around the three-day Wheels at Wānaka event. A full traffic management plan has been drawn up for the concert consent and Dean says the site provides better access than Gibbston, on a notorious stretch of SH6.Related: Extravaganza of machinery draws thousandsThe 2026 concert tour dates and artist line-up will be announced soon.

Ever notice how your teen zeroes in on the one thing that went wrong, even when lots went right?It’s not just teenage angst – it’s a survival instinct built into all of us. Our brains are wired to focus more on what’s wrong than what’s right. This “negativity bias” helped our ancestors stay alert to danger – like spotting a lion in the long grass – but these days, it’s more like a super-sensitive smoke alarm going off every time you burn the toast. Helpful in the wild. Less helpful when you’re 15 and your beach volleyball partner ditches you a week before the tournament.That’s what happened to my daughter. It was upsetting, and totally understandable. But after letting the emotions land, we worked through a simple technique to help her feel more in control again: the CAN technique.C = ControlAsk: What parts of this can I control? She couldn’t change her partner’s decision – but she could decide how to handle it. That included how she responded, how she managed her emotions, and what she did next. A = AcceptAcknowledge the facts, then let it go. “This sucks. It’s not fair.” Let yourself feel it – then breathe. Don’t get stuck dwelling on what you can’t control.N = Now ActWhat’s one small thing you can do now? For my daughter, it was making a list of other players she could talk to about partnering up for the next season.This is mental flexibility. Choosing to change the way you’re thinking, so you can feel better and handle things more easily. While we can’t protect our kids from disappointment, we can teach them how to move through it with more confidence and less overwhelm.Try it yourself. Try it with your teen. You might be surprised how empowering it feels to go from stuck to stepping forward.Kim Tay is the founder of The Wellbeing Works and runs science-based workshops that build mental skills for wellbeing and high performance – at home, at school, and at work. For more bite-sized, no-fluff insights, sign up for her (very occasional, no-spam) newsletter here.Check out more here.Path Wānaka - more information on our websiteContact us: [email protected] our mailing list:Want to learn more and keep updated on Path’s events and programmes sign up for our (no-spam) newsletter here

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has the fourth highest cumulative rates increase over the current three-year electoral term from around the country, at 50.23 percent.The Taxpayers’ Union 2025 Rates Dashboard, which was published on Monday (July 14), tracks and compares councils’ annual and cumulative rates increases across New Zealand.It showed the average cumulative rates increase over the current three-year term is 34.4 percent, more than two and a half times inflation over the same period. The average for 2025 alone is 8.39 percent, and QLDC ranked eighth highest in the country by this measure at 13.50 percent.A QLDC spokesperson defended its position among the councils with the highest rates increases.The council had scrutinised its current and future projects in the Long Term Plan process “and produced a financially responsible strategy where we maintain our current commitments and deliver core council services,” they told the Wānaka App. Taxpayers’ Union local government campaigns manager Sam Warren said the rates dashboard shows the average Kiwi household now faces a rates bill more than a third higher than just three years ago.“Over the same timeframe, inflation has been just 13.7 percent,” he said.“These numbers represent real pain being felt by ratepayers.”The Taxpayers’ Union is campaigning for rates capping, which it says will force councils to keep rates under the level of inflation unless approved by local referenda. More than 28,000 people have signed the union’s petition for rates capping.The QLDC spokesperson said council would comply with any central government mandated rates cap programme. “Due to each district and council operating under very different circumstances we find the rates cap idea troubling, particularly after what Australian councils have gone through under a similar programme,” they said.“Our rates increases are part of ensuring we continue to offer core services and infrastructure to our community.”Read more: Rates increase ‘burdening ratepayers’ - councillorQLDC councillor Lyal Cocks was one of the councillors who protested against the rates increase when the council’s Annual Plan was adopted last month, saying the increases were “burdening our ratepayers”.“The current high average rate increase is required to fund what needs to be done now because we do not have alternative funding sources,” he told the Wānaka App this week.“Annual rate increases in the latter part of the 24/34 Long Term Plan are less but, in my view, still an unacceptable burden on ratepayers and that is why we must work hard to establish alternative funding sources.” Councillor Lyal Cocks says QLDC “must work hard to establish alternative funding sources”. PHOTO: SuppliedLyal said the joint councils’ Regional Deal proposal, recently accepted by central government, would create “a significant opportunity to negotiate alternative ways to provide and fund essential infrastructure and services, and we need to work hard to get the best out of that deal for our communities”. Read more: Local ‘regional deal’ progresses to next stageHe said a rates cap is “a very simplistic and a somewhat naive approach to manage council’s funding source”.  “For example, the districts the councils serve throughout the country are all different (eg size, population, economy, growth, demographics etc), so having one rate cap for all would, I suggest, not work. Experience from areas in Australia that introduced rate caps highlight major shortfalls, issues and unintended consequences that have resulted.”  QLDC ranked behind West Coast Regional Council (65.57 percent), Greater Wellington Regional Council (54.67 percent), and Taranaki Regional Council (51.02 percent) for cumulative rates increases over the current three-year term.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has appealed a decision by the Environment Court ordering it to pay more than $120,000 in costs to local developer Tussock Rise - a move that reignites a dispute dating back nearly a decade.The council confirmed it had lodged an appeal, challenging the Environment Court’s ruling, which found QLDC’s conduct justified a higher-than-normal costs award to Tussock Rise.“QLDC’s appeal sets out a number of alleged errors in the costs decision,” a QLDC representative told the Wānaka App.“The decision to appeal was taken after careful consideration of the issues, and the impact of such a decision on ratepayers and the PDP [Proposed District Plan] process.”The Environment Court ordered QLDC to pay Tussock Rise in a decision issued in June, but the stoush dates back to 2016, centering over the zoning of a 9.3-hectare property owned by Tussock Rise.After Tussock Rise purchased the land, it sought to rezone it from Industrial B to Business Mixed Use, but QLDC rejected that request. When QLDC later proposed General Industrial Zoning over the same site through the PDP, Tussock Rise appealed.The council initially tried to have the appeal struck out, but the court disagreed and allowed the case to proceed, awarding $5,000 in costs to Tussock Rise at this stage. After a substantive hearing, the court ruled in favour of Tussock Rise again, leading on to the most recent decision to award the six-figure sum to Tussock Rise.Environment Court Judge PA Steven said she was satisfied “there were special circumstances in this case that justify an award of costs”; agreed with Tussock Rise’s legal counsel that QLDC had “advanced arguments without merit and evidential support”; and said some of the council’s actions had demonstrated a “disregard for due process”.Read more: QLDC loses case against developers - againTussock Rise part-owner Grant Bisset told the Wānaka App this week it was “disappointing but not surprising that the QLDC have appealed the costs award against them”. He said Tussock Rise was surprised that QLDC had chosen to lodge an appeal in the High Court instead of engaging with the company.“Their budget for litigation doesn’t seem to have the constraints of the infrastructure one.”Both parties said they could not comment further because the matter is now before the courts.PHOTO: Wānaka App 

A Wānaka real estate agent and his wife, who had no children, have left a legacy of generosity to the Wānaka community over the past 34 years, worth many thousands of dollars.The Elsie and Ray Armstrong Charitable Trust closed down in March 2025, after all its remaining funds were divested to community groups.Trust chair Robin Patterson told the Wānaka App the trust was originally established in 1991 with $200,000 from the Armstrongs.The couple left their money to the community under the proviso it would go to applicants from the Wānaka Ward of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) for “the purpose of providing assistance and relief to the sick, frail and disadvantaged persons and any other charitable purpose beneficial to the community in the area”.Robin said the trustees distributed grants to approximately ten applicants a year, some of which were Kahu Youth, Riding for the Disabled, Otago Plunket Society, Mint Charitable Trust, Wānaka Preschool, and Mt Aspiring Netball Club.“The decision to wind up the trust was taken because the trustees felt that the purpose of the trust was better served by giving a substantial amount to some specific organisations rather than, over a few years, distributing the capital until we reached a point where all the money was gone,” he said.Robin, who has been a trustee for almost ten years, estimated that the trust would have distributed approximately five to six thousand dollars a year for some time, and the final divestment was of $360,000.Organisations which received larger amounts in the winding up process were the Stroke Foundation of NZ (to be spent in the Upper Clutha), Rad Community Trust, the Mount Aspiring College Foundation, the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (to assist with the establishment of housing units for seniors), Central Otago Health Services Ltd (for a LifePac 35 system for the Upper Clutha area), and the Upper Clutha Children’s Medical Trust.“Elsie and Ray's generosity has helped so many Upper Clutha residents over the last 30 years, particularly tamariki,” trustee Simon Telfer said.“The substantial grants we recently made to the Mt Aspiring College Foundation, Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust and the Central Otago Health Services will ensure their legacy lives on for many decades yet.“We are very fortunate that those who have benefited from living in the Wānaka community often choose to give back so generously.”The deed to set up the trust, along with other records, was lost in a fire at a local law firm, Robin said. Unfortunately the trust didn’t have any photographs of the Armstrongs.PHOTO: Supplied

Community Link pitched solutions to problems affecting local clients at a meeting with a government minister last week.The local non-profit’s manager Kate Murray, as well as volunteers and trustees, welcomed Louise Upston, who is the minister for social development and employment, the community and voluntary sector, and disability issues. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to raise concerns around the growing demand for food support, heating assistance, and the barriers to accessing public healthcare. “We appreciated the chance to share what’s happening on the ground,” Community Link chair Ian Maxwell said. “Our community continues to face serious challenges, and it’s essential we explore flexible, locally driven solutions when centralised services fall short.”Community Link outlined to the minister the impact of the loss of local government social servicing, highlighting particularly the closure of in-person Ministry of Social Development (MSD) appointments, which has left many residents without the support they need or even access to a callback service. They put forward a practical local solution - piloting a video clinic from within the Community Link offices to restore access to critical MSD services, and asked that MSD offer a call-back service to the 0800 number.Another key issue raised was the difficulty in accessing National Travel Assistance (support for the cost of travelling to medical appointments). Many locals are unable to receive the subsidy due to rigid and centralised systems. Community Link recommended to the minister that trusted community organisations could manage the process based on existing criteria, with MSD reimbursing the costs.The minister told the Wānaka App she had had a “really productive meeting” with the Community Link team.“They undertake very important work for Wānaka locals and I’ve asked MSD officials to look into topics raised,” she said. “Both MSD and I are keen to explore ways the agency can work in new ways with rural and isolated communities.”“Again, I’d like to acknowledge Kate Murray and the team for their work in the Wānaka community.”

Wānaka Police have had another busy week in the Cardrona Valley with ice related crashes, including a vehicle rolling, Wānaka acting response manager Sergeant Dylan Hannah-Jones said.While police were attending one crash they were advised of another car on fire at the Crown Range summit, Dylan said.“Police arrived to find a Mazda Demio sized fireball and its driver left out in the cold, unharmed and supported by members of the public,” he said.“Fire crews arrived from Arrowtown and did a great job putting the fire out.” Three drunk drivers were apprehended over the weekend with high alcohol level readings over 700mg/L, Dylan said. “One driver nearly five times over the limit ran out of talent near the Albert Town bridge, driving into the back of another motorist like they weren’t there,” he said. “That driver has since appeared in Queenstown District Court and [been] convicted.” Police have noticed an increase in the use of Surron electric dirt bikes on public roads, Dylan said.“Reports made to police suggest that they are sometimes being ridden by kids, dangerously and at high speed. The use of these types of electric dirt bikes on the road is illegal and the risks are obvious. We encourage the public to report the use of these bikes to police so we can help prevent a serious crash from taking place.”Wānaka Police arrested a man wanted for a string of nine shoplifting incidents last week, and have more shoplifters under investigation. “Wānaka Police won’t tolerate thieves operating in our community and will have no hesitation in arresting and charging people.” The Wānaka Police Station has had more than 15 high value items handed in, including wallets and mobile phones, with many finding their way back to grateful owners, Dylan said. “Great to see that kind of honesty and helpfulness.” “We continue to get reports of ski and snowboard gear getting stolen from cars,” he said, and reminded people to lock their roof racks if they intend on parking up with their ski gear on the roof. Call 111 when you need an emergency response from police, fire or ambulance.Call 105 for traffic related complaints.To make an anonymous crime report contact Crime Stoppers. PHOTO: Supplied

Completion of the final link in Wānaka’s lakefront shared pathway is one step closer after the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) agreed yesterday (Tuesday July 15) for council staff to progress concept plans.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) senior parks advisor Kat Banyard and community services general manager Ken Bailey shared a concept plan for the remaining section of the shared pathway - just 340 metres from the Dinosaur Park to the public toilets at the end of Dungarvon Street - with the board at a workshop yesterday, seeking direction on the next steps.WUCCB chair Simon Telfer told the Wānaka App he was keen to see the pathway completed so people can use it safely and to showcase Lake Wānaka.“Let’s look at the lakefront and having that continuous pathway that has always been envisioned rather than four fifths of a pathway,” he said. “The most highly trafficked area of that pathway is [currently] a shingle path.”The board sought progress last year on the pathway ahead of the wider stage four of the Lakefront Development Plan.The “iterative nature” of progress was deliberate, Simon said, to avoid residents possibly “waiting for decades” for the entire project to be complete.There is no funding available currently for the shared pathway completion, he said, but the board decided to seek a more detailed design and a more accurate cost estimate, and will then seek funding through council’s Long Term Plan (LTP).The concept plan presented would provide continuous access along the lakefront with a pedestrian/cycleway promenade, in keeping with the completed pathway at either end.The cost of the 370 metre pathway concept was estimated at $700,000.“There’s no bells and whistles on this,” Simon said, but “it’s a big investment”.“It’s a lot but it’s a much bigger meterage [than the completed sections]... It‘s technically not too difficult but there is quite a bit of concrete.“You can’t just get the concrete mixer out and plonk it down,” he said, due to different slopes, stormwater pipes, and other features.Simon said a key discussion point among the board was that the final pathway “doesn’t inhibit overall stage four development”, whether that be a jetty, car parking, or any other development.“We’re comfortable the pathway won’t inhibit any future development,” he said.QLDC deputy mayor Quentin Smith recently introduced concept plans for a new jetty to replace the “past its use-by date” existing jetty, in the same section of lakefront.Read more: Creative designs for ‘long overdue’ new jettyPHOTO: Wānaka App

Queenstown Lakes District mayor Glyn Lewers and other members of the Otago Central Lakes Health Services and Assets Project have welcomed Health NZ’s clinical services review, which begins this month.The review will look at how needs have changed in this region, with clinical services “the priority” and the location of a regional hospital “the fundamental point of the review”, Health NZ Southern chief medical officer David Gow said.Read more: ‘No hope of much change’ following health roadshow“This is the news from Health NZ we’ve been waiting for,” Glyn said. “Until recently, despite our growth, Health NZ had no plans for expansion in our area. We’re finally on their radar.”Glyn is one of the leaders of the Otago Central Lakes Health Services and Assets Project, along with Central Otago District Council mayor Tamah Alley, Southland MP Joseph Mooney, Waitaki MP Miles Anderson, and Queenstown-based ACT MP Todd Stephenson.The group (which is backed by a charitable trust) has been working with health infrastructure specialist Helen Foot of Markit Consulting since October 2023, with the goal of incorporating public health services alongside existing and planned private providers. A statement from the Otago Central Lakes Health Services and Assets Project yesterday (Monday July 14) said Health NZ’s clinical services review “clears the way for a new hospital in the region that could complement and support existing health services”. “It could be New Zealand’s first large privately-owned and publicly operated hospital,” the statement said.Joseph Mooney said incorporating public health infrastructure alongside current or planned private providers in Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, Wānaka and Queenstown would bring public healthcare closer to home for the area’s growing number of residents and visitors.“We want to work with existing providers and help uplift the service everyone can provide.”Health NZ’s clinical services review is expected to be completed by December this year.David Gow said Health Action Wānaka’s ( HAW) report, ‘Perception versus reality: the true state of healthcare in the Upper Clutha’, was “an excellent start” for the review. Read more: Healthcare crisis for Upper Clutha - reportPHOTO: Supplied

The countdown is on for Blood Brothers, the debut production from Wānaka’s new community theatre society, Onstage Wānaka.The show, which runs at the Lake Wānaka Centre from August 8–16, is the first full-scale musical theatre production in Wānaka in many years.It’s an entirely community-led project, featuring a local cast, live musicians, and a team of volunteers working behind the scenes.Onstage Wānaka is bringing to the stage the internationally acclaimed musical by Willy Russell, which tells the story of twin brothers separated at birth and raised in different worlds — one in poverty, the other in privilege. Their paths cross and intertwine with tragic consequences in what the group describes as a “gripping, fast-paced production full of heart, humour, and unforgettable music”.“Adding to the magic, Blood Brothers will feature a live band, not backing tracks — a bold choice that elevates the theatrical experience and brings a raw, dynamic energy to every performance,” Onstage Wānaka said in a statement.With the all-local cast, there are likely to be some familiar names on the stage.Read more: Cast finalised for Onstage Wānaka’s inaugural productionOnstage Wānaka was formed to fill a need for a dedicated theatre society in Wānaka, and officially launched in March.The group said Blood Brothers marks the start of a new era for performing arts in Wānaka.Tickets to Blood Brothers are available now.PHOTO: Onstage WānakaRead more: New performance group

The Upper Clutha Rams have powered their way into this year’s Central Otago Premier Rugby Competition final, defeating Maniototo 18-9 in a hard-fought semi-final on a wet and muddy home pitch at the Upper Clutha Rugby Club on Saturday (July 12).The defending champions crossed for two tries and kept Maniototo try-less in challenging conditions, earning a well-deserved win and the chance to secure back-to-back titles.“We went alright, conditions were tough,” Rams’ coach Alex Dickson said.“Scrum was awesome. The boys went well.”Among the standout performers was No.8 Jake Burtenshaw, who carried strongly throughout the match and handled the slippery ball with impressive composure. He was ably supported by hooker Scott Cunningham, who marked his 100th match for the Rams with a typically industrious performance.With heavy rain falling during Saturday’s match in Wānaka, it was always going to be a forward-dominated battle. The Rams adapted well, dominating at scrum time and applying pressure through consistent defence and territory.The scoreboard ticked over with two well-taken tries, plus a penalty and conversion, while Maniototo’s points came from three penalties.Despite the slippery surface, the Rams stayed composed and played to the conditions, shutting down Maniototo’s attacking threats and taking their chances when they came.Coach Alex Dickson credited his side’s discipline and forward pack for getting the job done.The win sets up a blockbuster final against Wakatipu this Saturday (July 19) at home. Wakatipu secured their finals spot with a convincing 26-7 win over Alexandra in the other semi-final played in Queenstown.Alex is calling on supporters to turn out in force for the final.“Numbers and noise would be good,” he said.Kick-off for the final against Wakatipu is this Saturday (July 19), at the Upper Clutha Rugby Club at 2.30pm.Rams’ Points:Tries: Ben Mckeich, Andrew HorneConversion: Brodie FlanneryPenalty: Brodie FlanneryPHOTO: Wānaka App

Sweeping Resource Management Act (RMA) changes signalled by central government are a "significant area of focus” for Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).Three discussion documents proposing changes to the rules governing councils' oversight of housing, infrastructure and development - among other areas - are currently open for public feedback.The government calls them the biggest package of changes to national direction under the RMA in New Zealand history, and holds the view they will streamline or remove burdensome regulations holding back growth.The changes would “help unclog the growth arteries of the economy”, Minister responsible for RMA reform Chris Bishop said, adding that they have been designed to be able to transition to a new RMA, once implemented.The discussion documents currently open for feedback cover a dozen national policy statements and national environmental standards. QLDC plans to make a submission on the proposals but - ahead of that submission being lodged - gave little away about how it feels about them.“Our policy team is currently working across the organisation to assess the proposals and their impact on specific areas of our work in the Queenstown Lakes District so that we can provide a submission on behalf of the community before the closing date,” a QLDC spokesperson said.Deputy mayor Quentin Smith said while the RMA “can be slow, complicated, and frustrating at times” it was important not to “throw the good away with the bad”.“The government’s proposed changes might make it easier for developers to build faster, but they also risk taking away local appeal rights and cutting the public out of decision-making,” he told the Wānaka App. “That means fewer chances for people to speak up through submissions or appeal rights and fewer checks on bad developments. The direction to more centralised decision-making has rarely served us well in our district and doesn’t always reflect what’s right for our people, towns or landscapes,” he said.“We all want progress and improvement. But not at the cost of losing what makes this place special - or shutting communities out of decisions that affect them for generations.”Meanwhile, councillor Lyal Cocks said he was optimistic about the process and thought it was “appropriate to put it out there for review”.The RMA has become “quite cumbersome and expensive”, he said. “I think it’s timely to get the input from the population…and see if we can come up with a more appropriate and useful planning system.”“I know there is a concern that if it goes too far we may lose some of the control over the protection of our landscapes and our environment,” he said, “but I’ll be interested to get more information and get more detail of what this will actually look like.”The discussion documents are open for public feedback until July 27. Read them here.PHOTO: Supplied

Central Lakes Trust has awarded more than $1M in its latest funding round, including a quarter of a million dollars for a sought-after local preschool.Wānaka Preschool Early Learning Childhood Centre will use the grant towards a renovation and expansion of its pre-school building, which will allow it to expand its roll.The preschool currently has 62 children between one and five attending. Manager Lo Stevenson said the preschool receives enquiries about spaces on a daily basis.Other grant recipients in this funding round include the Upper Clutha Presbyterian Church, which was granted $15,000 towards the cost of having two youth workers. Wānaka Community Patrol - which works closely with police as extra “eyes and ears” to assist them and other agencies to build safer communities - received an operational grant of $2,500.Plenty of other grant recipients also operate district-wide and benefit Wānaka in some way.One of them is the Queenstown Electrification Accelerator Programme, which received $220,000 to establish a team to develop momentum and accelerate movement to alternate energy sources.CLT said while the name of the programme includes Queenstown, resources, educational materials, events, package deals, and capability building will be made available to everyone throughout the region.“We are thrilled to support this initiative,” CLT chair Linda Robertson said. “It’s an exciting step toward a more resilient and low-emissions future that ensures all our communities have access to clean, affordable energy.”A total of 24 organisations received funding in the funding round.Central Lakes Trust, a charitable organisation working to support groups in Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes, distributes grants each month.PHOTO: Wānaka App