The ownership and management of the council’s five rental houses for senior residents in Wānaka is up for public debate with a recommendation the housing be transferred to the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (QLCHT).Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has indicated it wants to transfer the ownership and operational responsibility of its nine rental properties used to house eligible elderly residents in Wānaka and Arrowtown as proposed by QLCHT.At a full QLDC meeting in Wānaka yesterday (Thursday, May 2), councillors approved a recommendation to seek public feedback on the QLCHT’s proposal to transfer the title of land on the five senior residents rental properties in Wānaka and lease the four seniors’ units in Arrowtown to the QLCHT.The proposal suggests a 20 year “peppercorn” lease at $1 per year for the Arrowtown units, which are not freehold, and the transfer of titles of the Wānaka freehold units to QLCHT for $1. The bare land purchased by the QLCHT for future rental housing sits adjacent to the council’s rental units for senior residents at the corner of McDougall and Upton Streets. PHOTO: SuppliedThe market value of the Wānaka land has been assessed at $2,250,000 but the QLCHT has advised it doesn’t have the capacity to purchase the Wānaka properties at market value. If the proposal goes ahead, the QLCHT (which already has 45 eligible seniors waiting for suitable rentals) said the units would remain in permanent community ownership and only be used for the QLCHT’s senior housing rental programme.  QLCHT has plans to expand its senior housing portfolio and 18 months ago purchased land beside the five council owned seniors’ rental units at the corner of Upton and McDougall Streets. Should the proposal to acquire the council owned units be approved, QLCHT aims to build a total of 12 one-bedroom units across the two sites.The units, all but one of which were recently upgraded to meet “healthy homes” requirements, are all currently tenanted but have operated at a loss to ratepayers for some years.The proposal includes details of how the current tenants would be cared for throughout the process of changing ownership and rebuilding.The councillors were advised of the pros and cons of the proposal, which included the units being managed by a suitably qualified tenancy organisation, reducing the cost to ratepayers to manage and maintain the housing, and enabling QLCHT to redevelop the land and increase seniors’ rental housing in Wānaka from five units to 12. The elderly housing units are listed as a strategic QLDC asset and the future use and management of these units, including any transfer to the QLCHT, requires public consultation, submissions and a hearing. The elected members voted unanimously in favour of the recommendations to adopt the proposal, authorise public consultation and appoint councillors Niki Gladding, Matt Wong and Lisa Guy to sit on the hearing panel.QLDC chief executive Mike Theelen said the council has no plans at this stage to divest its other rental properties but their future would be considered in an upcoming Strategic Plan review.

Sir Sam Neil, Helen Clark ONZ, Justine Cormack DMA, Rima Te Wiata MNZM and Sir Ian Taylor are the new ambassadors for the proposed Wānaka Performance Arts and Cultural Centre project.Plans for the proposed facility include a 500-seat performing arts theatre, a smaller 120 seat rehearsal theatre/dance studio, and a visual arts gallery and foyer space to allow for functions and conferences. The line up of ambassadors was revealed to Queenstown Lakes District councillors yesterday (Thursday May 2) at a lunch with the Wānaka Arts Centre Trust (WACT).WACT chair Michael Sidey told the Wānaka App the trust had put in a lot of work and secured “high quality ambassadors” for the project. “The response I think was very positive,” he said.Michael said WACT has asked QLDC to gift a site for the facility.“If they gift us the site we know then we have a project they are interested in,” he said.WACT intends to fundraise $30M for the project and to ask council for $40M.‘High quality’ ambassadors supporting the project are Sir Sam Neil, Helen Clark ONZ, Justine Cormack DMA, Rima Te Wiata MNZM and Sir Ian Taylor. Michael would not be drawn on the preferred site for the proposed facility, telling the Wānaka App it was a greenfield site and the number one choice from sites investigated (an investigation which considered site ownership, legal status and zoning, size, prominence, access, proximity to restaurant and cafés, and more).The top sites identified included two sites at Three Parks, the A&P showgrounds, Lismore Park, and Eely Point. Golf Course Corner was also considered but was no longer an option, Michael said.Councillor Lyal Cocks attended the presentation and said it was “great to meet the trustees”.“It was an excellent presentation and the other councillors I spoke to were suitably impressed the project was already well down track,” he said.Lyal said he preferred a greenfields site at Three Parks for the facility “as it was co-located with other community facilities and infrastructure such as car parking”.The presentation said Wānaka (home to 17,000 permanent residents) is a regional hub in the process of building a strong infrastructure for growth, and its population is projected to grow to  more than 50,000 within 20 years. “A feasibility study focusing on financial viability completed by Horwath HTL concluded that a  Performing and Visual Arts and Culture facility was viable,” it said.“We have the opportunity now to showcase and offer multiple options for leisure, cultural  education, entertainment and growth, for the future of our region, our country and the world.” IMAGES: Supplied

The woman behind a petition to stop the approval of a cell tower in central Lake Hāwea says she is “gutted” to learn Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has given it the green light.The council provided resource consent approval for the 12.5m high cell tower earlier this month, which applicants FortySouth and OneNZ said would provide “much needed improvements” as well as more capacity to meet growing demand for mobile services in Lake Hāwea.Darlene Thomson lives about 20 metres from the future cell tower site and her petition to prevent it from being installed has close to 200 signatures.She says she and some other members of the community have not stopped fighting. The Hāwea Community Association (HCA) chair Cherilyn Walthew is hoping to meet with mayor Glyn Lewers later this week to discuss the cell tower, and Darlene has asked for support from elected members, she said.“Failing that I am certainly not opposed to chaining myself to the fence on the day they come to erect it and others have indicated they will join me,” she told the Wānaka App.Darlene said the cell tower would obstruct her view of Mt Maude and cited “health reasons…., visual pollution and noise (in wind)” as other reasons she wanted it relocated.In 2020 Spark withdrew its application for a 15m high cell tower in Hāwea’s Peter Fraser Park following opposition from the residents, the HCA, and a legal challenge in the Environment Court.Darlene said she was disappointed not to have the opportunity to formally oppose this latest cell tower application and she said hers was the only household to be formally advised of the proposal.Her primary issue is the cell tower’s location: “There are so, so many other places it could go and not affect so many people,” she said.FortySouth said it had identified and ruled out a range of other sites, some because of lakefront and residential development underway, one because it was “very close” to Spark’s failed site, and another, Mt Maude, because the company was unable to secure a lease. “We acknowledge that some people do not want cell sites located near houses and away up on hills and out of sight, but new technology means the infrastructure now needs to be closer to users and in Lake Hawea’s case, the existing cell site coverage is also reaching its capacity,” FortySouth said in a statement shared with community members by councillor Cody Tucker.In QLDC’s summary of decisions on the application, a senior planner said the potential adverse visual and overshadowing effects on the environment were no more than minor, and said the same for the potential adverse effects on people.The facility will be operated in accordance with radiofrequency fields exposure levels regulations, they said.The HCA and Queenstown Lakes District Council were approached for comment.PHOTO: Supplied

A recent incident highlighted the importance of gun safety ahead of the start of the duck shooting season, Wānaka Police say.Wānaka Police senior sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said the police was alerted to a firearm in a vehicle at Wānaka Airport by a member of the public.“The person had gone away and left the car unlocked and insecure with the gun inside,” Fi said.This type of behaviour is “completely irresponsible”, she said.Fi noted that police can revoke firearms licences in certain instances and any actions a licence holder takes can put them “under scrutiny”.Wānaka police are looking into the airport case.Fi reiterated gun safety advice with the duck shooting season opening this Saturday (May 4).“Fifty percent of injuries related to bird hunting happen on the opening weekend,” she said.Hunters should remember the safety rules around firearms.They are: “treat all firearms as loaded; safe direction; chamber a round only when ready to fire; identify your target - recheck; check your firing zone (what if I miss?); storage and transport firearms safely; and avoid drugs/alcohol,” Fi said.Fi said “great numbers” attended the various ANZAC Day ceremonies last week.She said she was “super impressed with the Mt Aspiring College students” who spoke, and their “thoughtful messages”.One arrest was made in Wānaka during the walk from the Wānaka Community Hub up to the Cenotaph.The person was “called out” by a member of the public for their behaviour.“They didn’t listen to the warning and were arrested for disorderly conduct,” Fi said.Fi said road policing continues to be a priority for Wānaka Police and residents should expect to see police patrols anywhere, anytime.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 District Council (QLDC) has appointed a research business - with a project budget of around $50,000 - to help it improve how it communicates with the Upper Clutha communityWaikato based Versus Research has already conducted interviews with the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB), alongside three online focus groups of randomly engaged participants, and has begun approaching members of the community for two in-person focus groups.WUCCB chair Simon Telfer said the board’s views had been canvassed by Versus Research and feedback was also given at a recent board workshop. Simon said the board “absolutely” expected to see substantive changes from the process.“The community board has no intention of using this period of review to just go through the motions,” he said.Simon Telfer said the board expects substantive changes. PHOTO: Jeannine TuffinThe research is in response to a petition submitted to the Local Government Commission (LGC) in mid 2023 for the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Ward to secede from the QLDC and form its own council. After a preliminary investigation the LGC decided against undertaking a formal investigation into the proposal, but it directed QLDC to prepare an action plan to address some of the concerns raised by the petitioner, long-term local Dean Rankin.QLDC acknowledged at the time there was “clearly some level of perception of inequity amongst the Wānaka-Upper Clutha community”, saying concerns have been ongoing since Wānaka was amalgamated with the QLDC in 1989.Read more: Upper Clutha community has ‘perception of inequity’The LGC asked QLDC to work with the WUCCB and others to “identify specific actions targeting improved communication, engagement, and transparency of information”, including consideration of regular meetings and other council activities to be held in the Wānaka area.In a document outlining the parameters for Versus Research, council said it was not seeking general comment on its performance, service levels or investment. Rather the objective was to “provide representative insight into information and channel gaps/opportunities, level of interest in hearing from and engaging with council, and constructive suggestions into how engagement, representation and the relationship can be improved”.“We are interested in understanding why people don’t feel engaged, heard or represented and how we can respond to that.” Part of the research involved contacting Wānaka residents who have previously registered for the council’s Let’s Talk community engagement platform, offering them the opportunity to take part in the two-person focus groups.The focus groups (chosen by Versus to be representative of the Upper Clutha community) will take place later this month.A council spokesperson said the council’s action plan, which will be made public after Monday May 31 when council presents it to the LGC, is likely to include a summary of feedback from the focus groups.

Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC) students will have Wānaka ‘thinking pink’ when they present their production of ‘Legally Blonde JR’ at the Lake Wānaka Centre this month.Directed by MAC drama teacher Lisa Clough, the musical follows Elle Wood's journey from Malibu party girl to ‘serious’ Harvard law graduate while staying true to herself.Lisa said it was exciting for the cast and crew to have an opportunity to showcase the “funny, fast-paced and poignant” production to the wider community.“This musical brings together 87 akonga (students) from across the school and it is magic seeing them working collaboratively towards a common goal,” she said.“This show is one of many co-curricular learning experiences we offer to help students develop skills they can use in the performing arts and also in life.” Year 13 student Suki Leigh, who plays Paulette in the production, said performing in ‘Legally Blonde JR’ has pushed her out of her comfort zone.“I feel so grateful for the opportunity to work on a project that brings together so many areas of the arts, and so many different people. I can't wait to be able to share it with the rest of the community.”Suki Leigh (17), who plays Paulette, says she can’t wait to share Legally Blonde JR with the rest of the community.Year 8 student Alice Chaly, who plays Sabrina, is looking forward to the live performances.“I can’t wait to be on stage with my friends and see all our hard work come together when we perform in front of a live audience.”Fellow cast member Year 8 student Ford Mills, who plays Grandmaster Chad, said he loved the mood of the rehearsals.“It’s been great to meet new people and get tips from the experts and I can’t wait to feel the buzz of being on stage at the Lake Wānaka Centre.”MAC will present ‘Legally Blonde JR.’ from Thursday May 16 to Saturday May 18 at 7.30pm at the Lake Wānaka Centre and at a matinee performance on Saturday at 2.30pm. PHOTOS: MAC

The Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (QLCHT) has announced the appointment of Queenstown finance professional Kate Skeggs as a trustee.The long running local trust’s award-winning housing programmes provide affordable housing for low-to-middle income earners in Queenstown Lakes. It has helped hundreds of people into secure, long-term housing since it was created in 2007.Kate said she is thrilled to be joining the QLCHT team.“Having lived in the Queenstown Lakes for most of my life, I have seen significant changes in the housing market, and am passionate about enabling residents to have access to decent, affordable housing with security of tenure,” she said.“The trust is developing in complexity and scale, and I look forward to contributing to its continued growth.”Kate has been part of the local business community for many years. She is currently a wealth management adviser with Jarden, providing investment advisory and management services to clients. Prior to Jarden she had an extensive career with Bank of New Zealand and she recently served seven years on the board of Invest South, Community Trust South’s private equity fund.Kate replaces long-serving trustee Joanne Conroy, who has recently retired from her position after nine years serving on the QLCHT board.QLCHT chair Richard Thomas said the trust is delighted with Kate’s appointment and acknowledged Joanne’s contribution to the board. “We owe our appreciation to the valuable contribution from Jo, who [has been] a trustee since 2015,” he said.“As an experienced director and property professional, Jo also served as chair of QLCHT’s finance and audit committee and was a valuable member of the board.”“While we’re sad to see Jo leave, we look forward to utilising Kate’s strong background and capability in finance and her commercial acumen.”PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka Rowing Club (WRC) welcomed 248 athletes from 25 clubs last weekend (April 26-27) as this year’s host of the South Island Masters Rowing Regatta. The regatta rotates around the provinces annually and this year athletes competed at Glendhu Bay, which WRC secretary Tracey Pedersen said was a “wonderful opportunity to welcome rowers to Wānaka when the town is at it’s autumn best”.“It’s the first time the club has hosted a regatta of this size, and it was a big logistical challenge - but we’re feeling pretty proud of the way it all came together,” she said. With two full days of racing and a gala evening event with more than 240 attendees, it was “all hands on deck” for members of the club, Tracey said.Kelley Buick, Jo Underwood, Helen Wightman and Liz Ritchie.The club also managed to achieve almost 20 podium finishes. “Hosting a successful regatta [was] the first priority, but getting our whole club really enjoying working together to host was equally important,” Tracey said. The Glendhu Bay location gave the club plenty of space to accommodate athletes, supporters and a big fleet of boat trailers.There was some “very challenging choppy water” and snow on the hills on Friday (April 26) and a number of the long course races were slightly abbreviated. “The water conditions certainly tested the stamina and skill of crews - but with many competitors not lacking experience, the programme went well,” Tracey said. Saturday saw “bluebird” conditions, flat water and a full schedule of excellent racing. Trophies and medals were awarded across 61 different events and classes, with the Mercer Trophy for the club with the most wins going this year to the squad from Picton. Closer to home, Wānaka rowers were among five gold medal winning crews, and placed in another 14 races.Wānaka Rowing Club gold medalists in their age groups were Victoria Schutte (Women's Single); Kirsty Moran, Tristan Hughes, Sandra Read, Shane Gibson (Mixed Four); Tristan Hughes and Shane Gibson (Men's Pair); and Tristan Hughes and Ian Boserio (as part of a composite eight with Picton’s Ian Boserio along with Picton rower Ryan Lock in Men's Double Sculls).The excellent results rewarded plenty of training hours on the lake, Tracey said.“Huge thanks to all sponsors, supporters and athletes for putting together an outstanding regatta - rowing at its best on beautiful Lake Wānaka.” PHOTOS: Wānaka Rowing Club

Waitaki MP Miles Anderson shared breakfast and a range of long-standing local concerns with Wānaka business owners yesterday morning (Monday April 29), followed by a chat with the Wānaka App.Miles told the Wānaka App the biggest adjustment he’s facing now (just six months into the job) is “getting used” to parliament. He has plans for a Wānaka electorate office in Spencer House Mall, which he hopes will be open by June.But while he’s getting used to the new routine, there are thorny issues waiting for his attention. Attendees at the Wānaka Business Chamber breakfast raised issues around infrastructure funding, immigration and employment needs, the lack of vehicle licensing facilities, and access to health services.Wānaka is the largest community in the Waitaki electorate, Miles said, and he’s surprised at some of the gaps in service here.Public/private health partnerships Miles was unable to attend a meeting in Wānaka last month which raised concerns about health services in the Upper Clutha, but ironically the same day (March 20) he met with health minister Dr Shane Reti in Wellington, along with Queenstown Lakes major Glyn Lewers, Central Otago mayor Tim Cadogan, NZ First list MP Mark Patterson, and Southland MP Joseph Mooney. The group has been working on a public/private partnership proposal which will, if approved, “address the bulk of all the health issues” in the district, Miles said.“Because it’s not about building a big building, it’s about utilising everything that’s here,” he said, adding that, for example, maternity services could take place in Wānaka, surgery in Clyde, and renal services in Naseby - using existing staff.Joseph Mooney has been leading the project with the help of Queenstown business management consultant Helen Foot.The group has another meeting with Shane Reti next month, to supply more details on the project first presented in March. He said the group has not been working with Health NZ/Te Whatu Ora.“If the minister approves it he’ll take it to the health authorities,” Miles said. “We want the concept to be approved by September/October.”Miles said the pressing issue for Wānaka of after hours care (which currently is supplied by local GPs only until 11pm) is an issue faced by other communities in the Waitaki electorate.However, he said: “I think it’s ridiculous an area as large as this has to funnel toward Dunedin or Invercargill to get the health services that people get a lot easier in other centres.”Miles told the Wānaka App he would apply pressure on Te Whatu Ora to its commitment made at the Wānaka health meeting to extend after hours care here by winter.“But I don’t know where they’re going to magic up GPs from - that’s the problem.”PHOTO: Wānaka App

The last of Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) Festival of Authors events in Wānaka will take place on Thursday evening (May 2), celebrating Jessica Howland Kany’s ‘The Runners Guide to Rakiura’.The event series, now in its third year, brings a range of authors to the libraries across Queenstown Lakes each autumn to discuss their work, inspiration and ideas.“It sometimes takes a while for programmes to gain traction but this festival has drawn good audiences since the beginning, and this year is no exception,” Wānaka Library assistant librarian Eve Marshall-Lea told the Wānaka App.“It’s such a special opportunity to engage with an author about their writing process, the publishing aspects, how they research their work and to gain real insight into the development of characters they have created.”Events have taken place across Wānaka, Frankton, Queenstown and Arrowtown libraries with the librarians all working together to create the series, Eve said. “Fiona Sussman spoke here at Wānaka library to a wonderfully enthusiastic audience,” she said. “She is a wonderful speaker and really engages the audience.”Eve said Wānaka Library was looking forward to hosting Jessica, who splits her time between Wānaka and Rakiura/Stewart Island.The latter was the inspiration for her debut novel, which one reviewer described as ‘a fabulous compendium of various writings that range from activities to do on the island [of Rakiura], poetry, Moby Dick, a set of clues, a genealogy, a treasure map’.Other authors who have visited Queenstown Lakes libraries to give talks include Eva Wong-Ng, Leila Tovø Larsen, and Sumi Hahn; and a second tranche of writers have hosted workshops on a range of topics.“Feedback from our attendees has been very positive, having enjoyed the informal atmosphere the library offers for these events, being able to ask questions and engage directly with the authors,” Eve said.Jessica Howland Kany’s author talk will take place from 5.30pm-6.30pm on Thursday (May 2) at Wānaka Library.It is a free event, but booking is required - email [email protected] or call (03) 443 0410 to reserve a spot.Visit the QLDC libraries website to learn about other upcoming talks and workshops coming up as part of the festival.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Eight young sailors from Wānaka are challenging the best in New Zealand following an impressive seventh place finish last week at the NZ Secondary Schools Teams Sailing Nationals in New Plymouth.   The event, which wrapped up on Friday (April 26), brought together approximately 300 sailors from 30 New Zealand school teams which competed in four fleets over four rounds. The local sailors (Thomas Jurczyluk, Oli Wyeth, Erica Hudson, Mabel North, Madison Smith, Otis Murphy, Imogen Nesbit and Matthew Jurczyluk) dominated the Silver Fleet in the seeding rounds, leading to a promotion into the Gold Fleet where they stayed for the rest of the week, competing with the best crews in the country.Teams sailing or teams racing is a unique style of racing which has been compared to ‘tactical chess on water’; in it, two teams of three boats each take part in very fast, action-packed and strategic combat.The sailors (Thomas Jurczyluk, Oli Wyeth, Erica Hudson, Mabel North, Madison Smith, Otis Murphy, Imogen Nesbit and Matthew Jurczyluk) improved on previous years by finishing inside the Gold Fleet and they were also the number one team from outside Auckland.Auckland Grammar School ended up in the top spot this year but the Wānaka sailors’ finish inside the Gold Fleet (top eight teams) was a first and they were also the number one team from outside Auckland.Wānaka’s improvements caught the eye of Yachting New Zealand representative Jenny Armstrong.“I am already looking forward to seeing what this talented group get up to next season….” she said.Jenny highlighted the hard work of the Wānaka Yacht Club (WYC) sailing programme and some of the standout achievements of this season. “This year alone [WYC] has seen sailors compete at national championships, compete in the Sail GP programme, join the National AON Youth Sailing Squad and compete at NZ Youth Champs.”“But the biggest achievement is the MAC team racing with a group of eight finishing seventh at nationals.”WYC youth sailing coordinator Roger North said the club is really pleased with the culture that has evolved, which is “one that focuses on fun, inclusiveness, support, personal development and kicking a little butt along the way”.  PHOTOS: Supplied

Several workplace incidents have already hit the headlines this year.Bunnings in Australia was ordered to pay out $1.3million to a former worker after she was seriously injured lifting a 11kg bucket of fertiliser. And, what’s more, the fertiliser manufacturer was ordered to contribute!In our own backyard, Trade Depot was forced to pay out almost $500,000 in fines and reparations when a customer was struck by a forklift and had to have her lower leg amputated.In the case of Trade Depot, the company was found to have no effective traffic management plan in place to keep pedestrians and moving vehicles separate. One-way systems, barriers, speed bumps, signage and designated crossing points could have prevented this terrible accident. These cases are a good lesson for Kiwis employers on the importance of health and safety at work.While the massive Bunnings payout was in Australia, New Zealand has its own very stringent health and safety laws which are largely based on the Australian work health and safety laws. The rule of thumb and guiding principle of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) is that workers and other persons should be given the highest level of protection against harm to their health (both physical and mental), safety, and welfare from any workplace risks, so far as is reasonably practical. And businesses must be able to demonstrate this. HSWA has shifted the focus here in New Zealand, from merely monitoring and recording health and safety incidents, to proactively identifying and managing all risks. As a business you have the primary responsibility for the health and safety of all your workers and any other workers they influence or direct. You are also responsible for the health and safety of people at risk from the work that your business carries out.Are you across your obligations and actively managing workplace risks? If you need advice on workplace policies and health and safety, get in touch, we can help.

Health NZ/Te Whatu Ora says it is listening to the community’s concerns about health services in the Upper Clutha and feeding these concerns into work programmes - however the agency has provided few details about these programmes.  Te Whatu Ora Southern Group director of operations Hamish Brown told the Wānaka App it had been a “great opportunity” to be invited to a meeting hosted by the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board last month (March 20) which raised concerns about access to local health services such as after hours care.“Catering for the needs of the growing population of the Upper Clutha District is being considered in terms of what might be needed right now and, in the future, and how best to deliver those services,” Hamish said.“We are listening to the Wānaka community’s concerns and feeding these into regional and national work programmes.”The Wānaka App asked Hamish to respond to each of the goals set by newly formed health advocacy group Health Action Wānaka (HAW).Read more: Clear health goals the target for advocacy groupWithin six months, HAW wants delivery of extended (6pm to 8.30am) publicly funded after-hours healthcare for the community; and the opening of Wānaka's primary birthing unit in Albert Town.Te Whatu Ora Southern Group director of operations Hamish Brown“The most immediate project for Wānaka is the primary birthing unit and it remains on track to open in mid-2024,” Hamish said.“We continue to work with our partners on sustainable solutions for after-hours/urgent care services, including ambulance services.”He added that the rural telehealth service, Ka Ora, was introduced in Wānaka at the end of last year, offering residents “another option” for receiving after-hours care from doctors and nurses (along with the after-hours phone triage service offered by the local general practices).At the meeting in March Hamish committed to put after hours care in place by winter, and said he would try to get Wānaka’s health designation changed from rural to urban, which would open up alternative funding streams.HAW has also set a 12 month goal for a publicly funded blood-collection centre in Wānaka; increased resources to reduce wait times to see GPs; improved access to mental health services; and increased ambulance services to manage demand.“There were many ideas raised [at the meeting] that are being driven by the community with some falling within the scope of Health NZ and some for Hato Hone St John, general practice or the private sector to consider,” Hamish said.He said access to mental health services has been boosted in recent years through the implementation of the Access and Choice programme.The programme offers new funding allowing health coaches and health improvement practitioners to work alongside general practice in Wānaka, and further investment in national helplines for those requiring support, he said.“Other work is underway to put consistent models in place for blood collection across the South Island, along with system design programmes to strengthen workforce, funding and delivery models in aged care, general practice and rural urgent care.”He did not comment on HAW’s 10 year goal for a fully publicly funded hospital built in Cromwell to service Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes’ growing population.He said HAW is welcome to contact Te Whatu Ora directly to discuss its goals.Hamish said Te Whatu Ora will continue “to work with partners across the health system to achieve excellent outcomes for the Wānaka community”.Read more: Community sends resounding message to health officialsPHOTOS: Supplied

The game-bird hunting season is just around the corner and mallard numbers in Otago are looking positive overall despite this year’s trend count being below average, Otago Fish & Game says.For the past nine years Otago Fish & Game has conducted aerial surveys of mallards before the opening of the game-bird hunting season in the first weekend of May.Fish & Game officer Jayde Couper said 5,130 mallards were counted on April 15 ‒ a figure surprisingly close to last year’s count of 5,100.Mallards are counted by helicopter at ponds, rivers and overland transects, starting in the Taieri, but mostly in South Otago around the Clutha/Mata-au and Pomahaka rivers.“The overall mallard trend across nine years is positive, although this season’s trend count was below the average of 5,700,” Jayde said. “However, when the 2022 year, which had an extremely high count, is removed from calculations, this year is just above average.”Jayde said the positive trend count indicated that mallards in the region were being managed responsibly over the long-term.“It’s important for duck hunters to realise trend counts aren't actually a sign of how many birds they’ll harvest each season,” he said.“We’d like more rain and then suitably windy conditions on opening weekend, which encourages the birds to move around.”Fish & Game surveys the same locations (46 ponds, six 10km river sections, and ten 10km overland transects) annually.This year, the counts were affected by low water in many ponds as well as high and dirty water on the Clutha River/Mata-au due to heavy rain in the headwaters.“Mallards which would be normally camped on the big river were instead sheltering deeper among the willows or out of sight, off the river,”Jayde said.“This is why we analyse the overall trend and not just one year’s count. It’s not a population count of all mallards in Otago.”Mallards appeared to be more evenly distributed this year with only 16 sites containing no ducks below the average of 19 and the highest result at 25.  Cross-country transects were similar to previous averages, pond counts were higher than normal, and river counts were low, at around 800 mallards fewer than normal.“While the Otago countryside is greener, April’s rainfall so far hasn’t made a huge difference to water levels in many ponds and wetlands. But heavy rainfall in headwaters did top up Otago’s big southern lakes.”Hunting licenses are available at the Fish & Game website.Hunters can also find a range of tips, ‘dos and don’ts’ and a range of other information for preparing for game-bird hunting season on the website.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Para athletes and coaches across the country will learn from each other and high performance sport experts when they unite for the Para Sport Collective from June this year.Together, the participants represent New Zealand’s future talent across 11 of the 29 recognised Paralympic sports, from wheelchair basketball to para snowboard.Wānaka resident and Snow Sports NZ sport development manager Sami Corne has been selected to take part in the Para Sport Collective.Sami has a background in coaching but said she is “taking part more as an observer to learn more about Para Sport and to strengthen, collaborate and connect with others in the industry”.Sami Corne said the Para Sport Collective provides opportunities to learn, discuss and share knowledge across all para sports.This will take place across three national in-person camps, and bi-monthly virtual connections over the coming 12 months.Topics covered will include performance life, performance nutrition, performance physiotherapy, media training, personal brand and sponsorship, strength and conditioning, anti-doping, classification and more.“The Para Sport Collective is so important as it provides opportunities to learn, discuss and share knowledge across all para sports in New Zealand,” Sami said.“Technologies, equipment, technique and coaching styles change over time and to be at the forefront, we must collaborate, learn and adapt to new developments.”The Para Sport Collective, created by Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ), is supported by ACC.PNZ set up the Para Sport Collective based on consultation with Para athletes and coaches who saw an opportunity to better support pre-high performance Para athletes and coaches. ACC CEO Megan Main said she was pleased to see the Para Sport Collective enter its second year.“Sport has the power to transform the lives of disabled New Zealanders. Involvement in Para sport is so important to rehabilitation and wellbeing in general,” she said.PHOTOS: Supplied

A local non-profit is feeling positive after a conversation with Wānaka Upper Community Board (WUCCB) members on the future of its plant nursery.The mission of the long-running Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust (TKAT) is to inspire community native habitat restoration through propagation, education and hands-on participation.Its community native plant nursery specialises in propagating plants of local origin and it has used these plants to undertake dozens of local native habitat restoration projects around the Upper Clutha. However, with the nursery site set to be listed for sale, it needs a backup plan for its future, TKAT trust manager Loran Verpillot told the WUCCB at last Thursday’s (April 18) meeting.“Our ideal plan is to stay on the land but we need to think about a plan B,” she said.Loren has asked for support in TKAT’s search for a potential new site, querying whether Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) owned land was an option. Elected members were quick to share their support.“From my perspective I’m very confident there would be somewhere we could accommodate you,” deputy mayor Quentin Smith said.WUCCB chair Simon Telfer shared the sentiment, saying Te Kākano was a “key part of the community”.Te Kākano’s current nursery site, established in 2008, is located on private land near Waterfall Creek.Loran said Te Kākano was open to a range of locations as long as there is water available, but said the ability of volunteers to walk or ride their bikes to the existing nursery is advantageous.The board discussed a range of options including the newly acquired council land near Wastebusters and the Hāwea Food Forest, among others.Following the meeting Te Kākano trust manager Carrie Williams told the Wānaka App the trust had started a conversation with QLDC staff on the board’s recommendation.“I think the signals from the elected members are all pointing in the right direction,” she said.Carrie said the Wakatipu Reforestation Trust (an initiative similar to Te Kākano in Queenstown) has its nursery on QLDC land “so there is a precedent there”.“We’ve had a close working relationship with QLDC since Te Kākano started,” she said. “We hope that council will understand and acknowledge that really close relationship.”Te Kākano’s first planting session of the season will take place this Saturday (April 27) from 10am to 12pm, on the shore of Lake Wānaka below Lakeside Road. All are welcome.Learn more about Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust here.PHOTO: Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust

The Department of Conservation (DOC) says the “toxic component” of its aerial operation in the Makarora area will take place today (Saturday April 27).The 1080 drop is part of a rat and stoat control operation in response to high rat numbers resulting from a beech mast season in 2023.“These rodents seriously threaten the survival of the mohua populations in the area, and negatively impact other native species,” DOC said in a statement. During the operation, helicopters will be sowing toxic cereal pellets across a roughly 36,000ha area including the Makarora, Blue, Young, Siberia and Wilkin Valleys.The pellets are about 3cm long, cylinder-shaped and green, and DOC warned that they should not be touched; they are deadly to dogs, and anyone in the area with children should watch them at all times.There will be a handful of closures in place until at least Sunday (April 28) due to the drop including the Blue Pools carpark and the area immediately around it, the Cameron Flat Campground and the Siberia Airstrip and Jumboland Airstrip. “If weather or other issues cause the operation to extend into Sunday these closures will be extended until 11am on Monday,” DOC said.DOC signalled the rat and stoat control operation in February.An increase in food supply from the recent heavy seeding event (also known as a mast season) caused the surge in introduced predators including rodents and stoats.During one of these events, a larger number of tree seeds are produced, which should benefit native species.Instead, this can be hijacked by introduced predators and, a few months later, with all the seeds eaten, the rodent population turns to eating native species.DOC said it had been monitoring rodent numbers in the area and found they had reached “critical levels”. “There are rare native species here that will suffer heavy losses if we don’t act, including mohua, whio, kākā, kākāriki, rock wren/pīwauwau and bats/pekapeka,” DOC said.DOC said today’s 1080 drop is weather dependent.“If difficult operating conditions are encountered on Saturday work may continue into Sunday.”PHOTO: Sarah Forder

Wānaka’s A&P Show is in good shape and focused on next year’s show, says the Upper Clutha A&P Society, which has been in existence since 1895.In contrast, the New Zealand Agricultural Show in Christchurch has been cancelled this year because organisers say it is not financially viable.The New Zealand Agricultural Show has been held annually by the Canterbury A&P Association at the showgrounds in Christchurch each November since 1863.No two A&P Shows are the same in either content or structure, Upper Clutha A&P Society chair Keith Cooper told the Wānaka App.“The Upper Clutha A&P Society is committed to creating a showcase event of their rural constituents, to ensure continuity of the heritage of the show but at the same time ensuring it is an event that attracts attendees, competitors, exhibitors and sponsors, who all contribute to the success of the show,” he said.The Upper Clutha A&P Society is committed to continuing the heritage of the show. “We are particularly thankful to the army of volunteers that also contribute to the show and its success.” The Wānaka Show’s cost structure is assisted by the fact the showgrounds (which were donated by the Sargood family) are owned by Queenstown Lakes District Council and protected for the show’s annual use under the Reserves Management Act, Keith said.“The 2024 Upper Clutha A&P Show was again a success,” he said, adding that the organising team is now focusing on the 2025 Show and what innovation is needed “to ensure the show remains relevant and continues to be attractive to a diverse audience”. This year's show attracted 44,000 attendees, who enjoyed an array of exhibits, competitions, and performances. The Upper Clutha A&P Society’s commitment to spotlighting the agricultural core of the event resulted in 1,820 livestock and 1,533 home industry entries. There were also significant changes this year, including the reimagined Rural Village at Gate 2, the new Farmlands Farmyard area, and a simplified pricing model for trade exhibitors.Several initiatives were introduced to reduce the event’s carbon footprint, including bike parking, a trial second Park n Ride service on the Mt Iron Reserve, and paperless entry options. Keith said the society is looking to continue these efforts in future shows.“For the 2024-2025 events funding round QLDC are working in partnership with our sustainability and climate action teams to develop and support events' sustainability measures,” he said.PHOTOS: Supplied

A second-hand snow gear, winter clothing and accessories sale taking place tomorrow (Saturday April 27) will have lots of great finds for bargain hunters. The Castaways clothing sale takes place twice a year, with one event in spring and another in autumn, bringing together shoppers and people with pre-loved items to pass on to a new home.Event organiser Rachel Peden said there are about 30 sellers signed up for Saturday’s event and she is expecting a mix of snow gear (snow pants, goggles and the like, rather than skis or snowboards) and warm winter clothing. Sellers for this event have told Rachel they had a lot of kids’ stuff to sell too so it will appeal to families, she said.The event is “a good way to stock up on winter clothing without spending too much money”, she said.Rachel has been organising the Castaway events for the last five or so years. “It just kind of sparked because people have a lot of extra clothing but don’t want to deal with putting it up on Facebook Marketplace and TradeMe,” she said.The sustainability aspect of the events is also a motivating factor.“We are a promoter of ‘if it ain't broke, don't biff it’,” she said. “Selling on fashion and snow gear you no longer use promotes the reuse and recycling ethos.”The Castaways recycled clothing sale will take place on Saturday April 28 at Paetara Aspiring Central between 10am and 1pm.Visitors can bring cash or make payments by bank transfer. PHOTO: Supplied