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Work scheduled for Anderson Rd roundabout
Work scheduled for Anderson Rd roundabout

17 October 2024, 4:04 PM

Drivers who use the SH84/Anderson Road roundabout will need to build in an extra ten minutes for a week at night from early November, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says. The roundabout will be getting fresh asphalt ahead of the holiday season and the area around it will be reduced to single lane for repairs and re-sealing. During the work period, traffic will be detoured around the site and traffic speeds will be reduced to 30kmph. “There will be detours in place for drivers who would normally take Anderson Road,” NZTA Otago journey manager Nicola Felts said.“Mt Iron Drive entrance will be closed off Anderson Road also, but residential access will be managed for both those streets. “The journey along the detour routes could add ten minutes to the normal trip.” Works are planned to start on Sunday November 3 and run through to Friday November 8, from 8pm each night to 5.30am the following day.“This work is weather dependent so if it rains it could be postponed to the next run of dry nights,” Nicola said. Residents on Anderson Road and Mt Iron Drive will be allowed access, she said, and emergency vehicles will be accommodated throughout.HPMV and 50MAX trucks will not have entry to Anderson Road during this period.Detour details (for light vehicles, utes, vans) Southbound traffic Anderson Road: Turn right at Link Way, left onto Reece Crescent, right onto Plantation Road. Continue on Plantation to turn left onto Beacon Point. Beacon Point Rd to Lakeside Road. Turn left onto Ardmore Street, continue through RAB to SH84. Westbound SH84 to Anderson Road: No right turn into Anderson Road. Traffic to continue through roundabout and traffic signals to Ardmore St, veering right. Right at Lakeside Road, continue to Beacon Point Road. Right onto Plantation Road to Reece Crescent. Left onto Reece Crescent, right onto Link Way. Eastbound SH84 to Anderson Road: No left turn into Anderson Road. Traffic to continue through to Sir Tim Wallace roundabout and complete U-Turn to return to Anderson Road roundabout. Traffic to continue through to Ardmore Street, veering right at roundabout. Right at Lakeside Road, continue to Beacon Point Road. Right onto Plantation Road to Reece Crescent. Left onto Reece Crescent, right onto Link Way.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Crimeline: Police urge preparation for outdoors
Crimeline: Police urge preparation for outdoors

16 October 2024, 4:06 PM

Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts is reminding people to be well prepared before heading outdoors, especially if taking part in water related activities.Her warning follows a busy few weeks for local Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers, with four incidents in the Southern District in the past week alone.These included Wānaka SAR dealing with two incidents in the Timaru Creek catchment (Lake Hāwea) last week.Queenstown police and LandSAR volunteers also successfully rescued a pair of kayakers who did not return from a trip in Queenstown.Fi said police were notified at 11pm of two people missing after going to Lake Wakatipu.“Police LandSAR, Coastguard Queenstown, and two rescue helicopters were deployed to search for the pair. They were located on the water in the early hours of the following morning, with a single lifejacket between them and no overnight gear,” she said.“This is one of the four recent SAR incidents in the last week in the Southern District, with one other involving kayaks and two with dangerous high rivers.”On Tuesday October 8 one person died following a water-related incident in Milford Sound after a report of two people needing assistance while kayaking.“It is a timely reminder as we head into the warmer months to take care on lakes and rivers,” Fi said.“Police urge anyone going near lakes or rivers, no matter the skill level, to take the basic precautions to keep themselves safe in case something goes wrong.” Advice includes wearing a lifejacket (making your chances of survival much greater); having a form of waterproof communication (or put your phone in a waterproof bag inside your lifejacket); checking the weather forecast and change your plans if needed; telling someone where you are going and when you will come back; and taking care of yourself and others with warm clothes, extra food, and regular breaks.Fi said a personal locator beacon is “the lifeline when in a life-threatening situation”, providing essential information to help rescuers get to you. They can be hired for as little as $10 from Department of Conservation visitor centres and outdoor tramping and hunting stores; they should be registered.Find more information about outdoor safety, including free resources and videos, here.Road policingThe police Impairment Prevention Team was in Wānaka on Friday (October 11), and 372 drivers were screened through checkpoints resulting in one EBA (excess breath/blood alcohol) and two infringement offence notices.Fi said the police were pleased with the mountain traffic at Cardrona Alpine Resort’s closing day on Sunday (October 13).However: “Road policing units report continued high speeds on the open roads,” she said.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

Mobile emergency response gets funding boost
Mobile emergency response gets funding boost

16 October 2024, 4:04 PM

Wānaka Community Response Group’s (CRG) ability to respond to an emergency has been enhanced by funding for a bespoke emergency response trailer.The group has been granted $26,617 from the Central Lakes Trust (CLT) towards the emergency trailer in the trust’s September funding round, and the Graeme and Olive West Charitable Trust has agreed to grant Wānaka CRG the same amount. Wānaka CRG management committee member and spokesperson Geoff McLeay told the Wānaka App the trailer would ensure “we are mobile and ready to deploy to a suitable community emergency hub, or a discrete stand-alone site, in the event of an emergency”.Wānaka CRG was established two years ago to help coordinate efforts in the event of civil emergencies.Read more: Local groups issue ‘wake up call’ for emergency planningThe new trailer, which would contain the group’s operational equipment, would enable the group to be mobile.Emergency response trailers such as this one are used in Australia and parts of New Zealand. PHOTO: Supplied“We don’t know where we’ll be needed, so we can move and provide support in the affected areas,” Geoff said.Geoff said Wānaka CRG’s operations coordinator David Brown had extensive experience with emergency management in Australia and is familiar with the requirements for specialised trailers.“Dave has been critical to the design of a trailer to suit Wānaka communities,” he said.The enclosed trailer will be stored at a secure and readily accessible facility.Follow Wānaka CRG and keep up to date here.

Hats are ‘huge boost’ for local restaurant 
Hats are ‘huge boost’ for local restaurant 

15 October 2024, 4:08 PM

Wānaka restaurant Kika has received two ‘hats’ from the prestigious Cuisine Good Food Awards for the first time, as well as the ‘Casual Dining of Year’ title for 2024.Kika made Cuisine’s top-100 list as part of the awards in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021 (the awards didn’t take place in 2020 due to Covid-19), and in 2022 and 2023 it stood out further, receiving one ‘hat’, for restaurants scoring 16 or more out of 20.The restaurant has improved again, Cuisine judges say, awarding it two hats, reserved for restaurants which are ‘consistently outstanding’.The Wānaka App asked Kika owner James Stapley how the long-running restaurant continues to improve.“We have always just done our own thing and not really followed trends too much,” James said. Kika owner James Stapley said the recognition from Cuisine was a “huge boost”.We know what we are and what we do and have a unique style that is uniquely Kika.”He said Kika provided a combination of consistent quality and “constant innovation”, with an ever-changing menu, aside from a few classic dishes that have been on the menu since the early days.Receiving the two accolades from Cuisine was “a huge boost,” James said.“It’s been a tough year in hospitality so it’s so really nice to get some good news. We are very proud of what we do but to receive two hats was just an incredible surprise.”James said he was especially pleased to receive the casual dining award as “casual is what we do”.The recognition “drives us to be better and to keep evolving”.Cuisine judges said Kika nailed “contemporary Kiwi cuisine” with an atmosphere that is “warm, inviting and lively”.They singled out Kika’s “delectable” beef tartare, “juicy, tender” lamb shoulder and “masterful” Otago cherry and chocolate pavlova as must-tries.Kika was the only Wānaka restaurant awarded hats, but other restaurants also caught the eye of Cuisine judges.Muttonbird, Paloma Taqueria, The Cow, The Cardrona Distillery, Arc Wānaka and Bistro Gentil will all be featured in Cuisine’s Good Food Guide for 2024/2025, which celebrates quality eateries around the country.PHOTO: Cuisine

AWE Festival ‘a brilliant experience’
AWE Festival ‘a brilliant experience’

15 October 2024, 4:06 PM

The rafters of the Rippon Hall rang with applause on Sunday night (October 13) as At The World’s Edge Festival (AWE) took its final bow to a standing ovation.Throughout the ten day festival, audiences from Queenstown to Bannockburn and Cromwell to Wānaka were treated to programmes of folk and classical music performed by some of the world’s best chamber musicians.“This has been, quite simply, a brilliant experience for everyone involved,” AWE festival director and violinist Justine Cormack said. “This was our biggest programme to date and we were thrilled with the support that we received from our audiences and the broader community into which AWE has become inextricably embedded.”Highlights included the world premiere of this year‘s composer-in-residence, Eve de Castro-Robinson’s new work, earth’s eye, which was commissioned by AWE. Eve said there could be no better place for the piece to make its début than Rippon Hall with the backdrop of Lake Wānaka, as the piece was inspired by Thoreau’s line: “A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.” Justine said festival audiences “of all ages” showed there was a demand for world class performances in the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago regions. “We may be situated geographically at the world’s edge, but when it comes to chamber music this festival shows that we are undoubtedly front and centre.”In addition to the main festival programme, the AWE+ series offered free events including composer and artist talks, stand alone concerts and open rehearsals.Some musicians have remained in the region for the final week of AWE to visit schools around the region. “This week is every bit as important for us as the performances that come before,” Justine said.“Our artists love playing for and with young students and hope that they can offer inspiration and motivation to younger generations of musicians.” Justine thanked AWE’s sponsors, patrons, artists and audiences for supporting the festival.

Wānaka athletes excel at new season’s meet
Wānaka athletes excel at new season’s meet

15 October 2024, 4:04 PM

Wānaka athletes got off to an excellent start to the 2024-25 season, setting new records and personal bests at last weekend’s (October 12) meet in Dunedin.Four Aspiring Athletes Club (AAC) members competed in track events at Athletics Otago’s first new season interclub meeting, earning podium finishes in every event.Year 13 Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC) students Cody Armstrong (18) and Matthew Botting (17) both ran in the men’s 100m and 400m. Cody was placed second and Matthew third in the 100m age-18-19 grade but Cody excelled in the 400m, winning in 49.94sec and setting a new personal best (PB) time.AAC coach Michael Beable said by slicing “a sizeable 0.61 seconds” off his previous PB, Cody had displayed remarkable form, especially so early in the season.“Just over two years ago, his best 400m time was greater than 61 seconds,” Michael said. “Now, through regular, proper training he’s reduced that time substantially, by more than 11 seconds, [and broken] the 50-second barrier for the first time.”Matching Cody’s achievement, two-time national title holder in women’s Under 16 400m Phoebe Laker (15) broke the age-15 grade 400m record, winning in a new PB time of 56.93sec. Her time also set new women’s 400m records for Otago Clubs in the 16 and 17 year age grades as well.Champion Phoebe Laker is unrivalled as she wins the women’s Age-15 grade 400m.“This is at least the fourth time she has broken these Otago records - a rare and outstanding achievement,” Michael said.  Phoebe, who is Year 11 at MAC, also won the women’s Age-15 grade 100m, in 12.87s.Year 13 MAC student Niamh Townsend also continued to outclass her rivals in the women’s age18-19 grade 200m, winning in a time of 26.67sec. She was placed second in her 100m.And fellow Year 13 student Matthew placed third in the men’s 18-19 grade 100m and ran close to his PB in the 400m with a time of 53.08 seconds.All four athletes had performed “superbly” given it was just the start of the season and their winter training had been impeded by the loss of 15 training days due to heavy rain making the grass training grounds unusable.Unlike many of the athletes with whom they compete, the Wānaka athletes are at a disadvantage with no all-weather track to train on, Michael said.He expects further improvements in sprint times from each athlete once repairs to their regular training track (which is shared with Wānaka’s football clubs) are completed in November.“It’s a great shame we don’t have an all-weather track. We certainly have the athletes to warrant one,” Michael said, recalling that, despite pleas to the Queenstown Lakes District Council, there was still no plan to fund a synthetic track in Wānaka. Instead, Michael is hoping for better weather to allow the MAC athletes to complete their preparations for the upcoming New Zealand Secondary Schools National Athletics Championships, which will be held in Timaru on December 6-8.  PHOTOS: Supplied

Overnight care service opens its doors 
Overnight care service opens its doors 

14 October 2024, 4:06 PM

Organisations behind the Wānaka after-hours health service gave credit to the community in an opening ceremony yesterday (Monday October 14).Named Wānaka Acute Overnight Care, the new service is provided by Central Otago Health Services Limited (COHSL) in collaboration with local GPs, St John and Ka Ora, and funded by Health New Zealand.Minister of health Dr Shane Reti first announced the service was on its way during a visit to Wānaka in June.A range of organisations and individuals had worked hard to bring the service to life in the months since, COHSL chief executive Hayley Anderson said.“We have arrived,” Hayley told the crowd at yesterday’s opening event. The service is accessed via the Aspiring Care reception, adjacent to the Wānaka Lakes Health Centre.The seven-night-a-week service is being run from two clinic rooms in Aspiring Care, adjacent to the Wānaka Lakes Health Centre.Hayley thanked representatives from a range of organisations as well as “the people in this community who have really pushed for a better deal for people who live here”.Aspiring Village chief executive James Reid said there had been a “soft opening over the last week” and described the experience with the first ever patient, which was “a textbook situation”.Rather than taking the patient to Dunstan Hospital, St John transported the patient to the after-hours service where the clinical nurse specialist and a senior doctor (via telehealth) provided assessment, point of care testing and observation.The patient was very happy with the service and able to return to the community without disruption, James said.Queenstown Lakes District mayor Glyn Lewers and Central Otago Health Services Ltd chief executive Hayley Anderson.It was a “great outcome” and showed the service doing “exactly what it’s designed to do,” he said.COHSL chair Richard Thompson said primary care up and down the country was struggling to provide 24/7 care and that challenge is “even more acute in small communities”.He said the Wānaka after hours service had been in the works for several years but “the funding was not there”.“Without the community, we wouldn’t be here today,” he added. The funding came about in the end, I believe, because the community said, ‘this is simply not acceptable’.”The new service, while “not a perfect solution”, was worth celebrating, he said.Wānaka’s new after-hours health service, Wānaka Acute Overnight Care, runs seven days a week, from 11pm-8.30am Monday-Friday and 11pm-9am on weekends and public holidays.Health NZ funding for the service has been provided for one year, but there will also be a patient co-payment for the service.Consultation fees from 11pm for those enrolled with a WellSouth GP practice will be $180 (for those 14 years and over) and free for those under 14. For ACC injuries the fees will be $65 for enrolled patients over 14, and free for those under 14.Fees are higher for New Zealand visitors ($280 for over 14) and overseas visitors and non residents ($650).PHOTO: Wānaka App 

Community rooms planned for Hāwea Domain
Community rooms planned for Hāwea Domain

14 October 2024, 4:00 PM

A new clubroom is planned for Hāwea Domain, which the Hāwea Domain Board hopes will help more people make the most of the 40-acre reserve.The domain, which is located between Lake Hāwea and Hāwea Flat, has been a public reserve for around a century and a few years ago a reserve management plan for the domain was adopted.Hāwea Domain Board chair Geoff Hewson told the Wānaka App the board is planning to put an approximately 100sqm relocatable building on the reserve to be used as a clubroom “for all the future users of the domain”.“It’s a great parcel of land that needs to be utilised more and having a clubroom will help with that,” he said.The building, also billed as ‘community rooms’, will include a kitchen, bathroom, and a meeting room, he said.It will be sited near the tennis courts, closer to Domain Road than the existing Hāwea Picnic Racing Club’s historic ‘President’s Lounge”, which Geoff said will remain untouched.The new clubroom will be sited closer to Domain Road than the existing ‘President’s Lounge’ at the Hāwea Domain. The Hāwea Domain Board Inc was formed a few years ago to work in collaboration with Queenstown Lakes District Council to make the most of the domain. Read more: Domain to become ‘breathing space’ for the Hāwea communityThe domain is currently underutilised - aside from the Hāwea Food Forest (a community garden) it is used by the Wānaka Hāwea Pony Club, and once a year for the annual Hāwea Picnic Races.The $49,062 grant from Central Lakes Trust (CLT) will be “a great start” for the project, which Geoff says has a budget of around $130,000.“We’re hoping for more grants, then we’ll be all go,” he said, adding that the board is hoping to make progress on the resource consent process next year.Hāwea Domain is located at the Gladstone Road end of Domain Road.The grant towards the new clubroom is part of the CLT September funding round, which supported 18 charitable projects across the region - totalling $1,298,826.PHOTOS: Wānaka App

Collaboration to produce ‘green canvas’ for sports fields
Collaboration to produce ‘green canvas’ for sports fields

13 October 2024, 4:06 PM

Progress is being made on a project between Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and Willowridge Developments to create a 20ha grassed site at 101 Ballantyne Road.The site was earmarked long ago for much-needed sports fields for the Upper Clutha but little funding was allocated for the project in the recent Long Term Plan (LTP).Now, a collaboration with the local developer means it could get going much sooner than expected.The details of the proposed agreement are not public but council staff hinted at what the outcome could look like at Thursday’s (October 10) Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) meeting.The goal is to turn the former oxidation ponds site into a “green canvas”, QLDC community services general manager Ken Bailey said.“It will be the largest open space dedicated to sport and recreation across the district.”QLDC sport and recreation manager Simon Battrick told the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) at Thursday’s (October 10) meeting he “needed to emphasise that the outcome of these works will not give us sports fields”.“We will need to look at how we work with the community to see what we can do in that space.”The project, he indicated, would include remediation of contamination of the council-owned site, earthworks and site-flattening to provide a platform for future sports fields.Sports field shortages in the Upper Clutha are long-running and well-documented, with a growing number of clubs and members competing for use of limited fields.Many clubs urged council to bring forward funding for the development of sports fields at the site during Long Term Plan hearings in August.At that same hearing, Willowridge Developments director Allan Dippie told elected members he wanted the development of 101 Ballantyne Road to be the company’s “major community project”.Simon said the collaboration would lead to a “really fantastic outcome” for the community and thanked Willowridge, and Central Machine Hire (which is also owned by Allan Dippie).WUCCB chair Simon Telfer thanked staff for moving “with agility” on the opportunity to collaborate.The board unanimously agreed to recommend the council enter into the agreement.PHOTO: Wānaka App 

Changing needs for health transport service
Changing needs for health transport service

13 October 2024, 4:04 PM

Eighteen years on, Wheels to Dunstan is still helping locals get to medical appointments around Otago.The long-running, volunteer-run service has changed little in all those years, and last year 261 people took a trip with Wheels to Dunstan.Most passengers take the Cromwell route, where they connect with the St John Health Shuttle to travel on to Dunedin Hospital, Wheels to Dunstan Trust chair Gordon Girvan told the Wānaka App.Others travel to Dunstan Hospital or to Alexandra for ophthalmology services.When Wheels to Dunstan was created almost two decades ago, its primary purpose was to get elderly people to Dunstan Hospital who would otherwise struggle to find a way to get there.Now, with changing demographics, health services and health needs, the Dunedin Hospital link is much more common and the number of people using the service to get there is “increasing all the time”.“It’s a very good service for people who can’t drive themselves,” Gordon said.Gordon has been involved with Wheels to Dunstan since the beginning, when the Rotary Club first floated the idea, and the Masonic Lodge provided the funds for its first shuttle.The organisation is now on its third vehicle - and for all those years Upper Clutha Transport has provided the diesel.“If it wasn’t for that we wouldn’t be able to operate,” Gordon said.Other costs incurred by Wheels to Dunstan are covered by donations from private individuals and local trusts, and the voluntary donations passengers give - usually of around $10 per ride.A team of 52 volunteers take turns driving the Wheels to Dunstan vehicle and Community LINK coordinates all bookings and pick-ups.Gordon said the service runs “very smoothly” thanks to its supporters, volunteers and the help of Community LINK.To book a trip with Wheels to Dunstan or learn about ways to help support the service, contact Community LINK on 03 443 7799.PHOTO: Supplied

Proposed Wānaka loop - NZ’s next ‘iconic track’?
Proposed Wānaka loop - NZ’s next ‘iconic track’?

13 October 2024, 4:00 PM

A proposed 80km walking and cycling loop-track along the shorelines of Lakes Wānaka and Hāwea has the potential to become an iconic New Zealand track, believes the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust (UCTT).The track - a feature of the UCTT’s strategic plan - would traverse the precipitous East Wānaka faces between Wānaka, Hāwea, and The Neck (near the head of the two lakes).While it is no more than an orange line on a map at present, and labelled "long term aspirational", trust chair Dave Howard believes the track proposal demonstrates what "could be possible and be of high value to the region": a multi-day hut-to-hut trip around Lake Wānaka.''It is a great thing to do in the school holidays and it could become a rite-of-passage for local kids, like hiking the Treble Cone summit for the first time,” Dave said.Veteran track builder David Howard PHOTO: Supplied''The track would serve multiple users, whether it's a short stroll along the lake or a quick marathon in the rain before breakfast (you know the type). Everything starts with some crazy concept.”Dave said within the next two years it will be possible to bike 300km off-road from Wānaka and Queenstown to Dunedin, so the 80km Lake Wānaka/Hāwea loop proposal “is entirely achievable”.He says the concept “has all the elements to make it one of New Zealand's iconic tracks”, most more importantly it would be for residents to enjoy accessing the outdoors.Dave, a track-building veteran, knows the amount of work required before construction can begin on any new track. Negotiating access is even more crucial and difficult than raising money, and proposed tracks the strategic plan would require access to Department of Conservation and private land, which has not yet been secured.Dave said the track would have to work for everyone, particularly the landowners.''We work hard to create benefits for landowners and mitigate any potential downside through careful planning and track design,” he said. ''Every landowner has their own specific interests and we must invest in the time to understand these.''We have had great success with developing ecological restoration sites right through to creating new business opportunities for landowners.''Another "aspirational" project in the strategic plan would extend the Minaret Burn track, which begins at the mouth of the Matukituki River on the west side of Lake Wānaka.The 80km track has the potential to become one of New Zealand's iconic tracks, says the UCTT. IMAGE: SuppliedDave said the route has “a few challenges” from the distance and isolation.''A successful long-term concept to make this track viable would likely include multi-day trips, boat transfers, mixed adventures of bike/boat/walk,” he said. “'It is the sort of track that would evolve over time and requires several businesses to offer services to track users.''The trust's more immediate plans are for improvements to the connection between Wānaka and Hāwea, with upgrades to the commuter route and a new trail on the true right bank of the Hāwea River, about which Dave expects to announce more detail soon.A 50 year visionThe strategic plan is intended to be a 50-year vision of what could be possible, acknowledging the trust’s heavy reliance “on the good will and collaboration of landowners".The charitable trust, founded in 2006, is run by volunteers and has invested $2.4M in its 95km track network so far.Dave said tracks are not only a valuable recreational resource for residents but also bring economic benefits. Businesses benefit by providing services to track users, such as accommodation, hospitality, shuttle and rental, he said.''The New Zealand Cycle Trail impact assessment (2021) shows that track users stay longer and spend more than the average visitor. The 23 Great Ride trails returned $950M of direct economic benefit to their communities in 2021,” he said.''Tracks are the perfect infrastructure to support regenerative tourism activities and enhance our natural environment. 'Our future trail network would return tens of millions dollars to our community annually.''The strategic plan, including a map showing the existing and proposed tracks, is attached to the trust's website.

Upper Clutha athletes recognised at Snow Sports NZ awards
Upper Clutha athletes recognised at Snow Sports NZ awards

11 October 2024, 7:52 PM

The Snow Sports NZ annual awards were announced at a ceremony at Coronet Peak last evening (Friday October 11) with four awards going to local athletes.Wānaka’s Nico Porteus was awarded Freeskier of the Year, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott won Snowboarder of the Year and Ben Richards won Freeride Athlete of the Year. Lake Hāwea’s Luke Harold won the Breakthrough Season award.Nico finished in second place at the 2024 Aspen X Games, putting down a unique run combining the most technical tricks in the game with his trademark style and creativity.Zoi’s gold medal performance at the Edmonton FIS Snowboard Big Air World Cup was enough to secure her Snowboarder of the Year. Ben had an exceptional rookie season on the Freeride World Tour, winning the Fieberbrunn Pro stop, coming third overall on the 2024 Freeride World Tour and was named the Freeride World Tour Rookie of the Year.Luke finished second at his debut FIS Freeski Halfpipe World Cup and brought home a gold and bronze medal from the 2024 Gangown Youth Olympic Winter Games.Alpine ski racer Alice Robinson (Queenstown, 22) was crowned the 2024 Snow Sports NZ Overall Athlete of the Year.Alice claimed five Giant Slalom World Cup podiums and an additional five World Cup Giant Slalom and Super G top 10 finishes. Alice is also the 2024 Giant Slalom New Zealand National Champion and won the Winter Games NZ FIS ANC Giant Slalom earlier this season. Snow Sports NZ Awards winners:Instructor of the Year sponsored by NZSIA – Frank Wylie (Coronet Peak)Masters of the Year sponsored by Arrowtown Lifestyle Village – Kerry Trevella-Hall and Geoff HuntCoach of the Year sponsored by SITE Trampoline – Nils Coberger and Tim Cafe (Queenstown)Breakthrough Season sponsored by Winter Games NZ – Luke Harrold (Lake Hāwea)Freeskier of the Year sponsored by Mons Royale – Nico Porteous (Wānaka)Alpine Ski Racer of the Year sponsored by Coronet Peak – Alice Robinson (Queenstown)Snowboarder of the Year sponsored by Dick Schulze – Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (Wānaka)Adaptive Athlete of the Year sponsored by Cardrona / Treble Cone – Adam Hall (Dunedin)Freeride Athlete of the Year sponsored by The Remarkables – Ben Richards (Wānaka)Snow Sports NZ Overall Athlete of the Year – Alice Robinson (Queenstown)The Snow Sports NZ Annual Awards presented by Sidekick celebrates the year in Snow Sports recognising outstanding achievements in the sport. PHOTO: Ross Mackay

Bird stocktake shows need for community effort
Bird stocktake shows need for community effort

11 October 2024, 4:06 PM

Otago Regional Council (ORC) has released its first-ever stocktake of the bird population in the Otago region, shedding light on the current conservation status of its avian inhabitants. The landmark study provides insights into the conservation needs of Otago birds and the pressing challenges they face, ORC senior terrestrial ecologist Dr Scott Jarvie said. “In order to protect and restore our threatened species, we need to understand which species are living in our region and how they are doing,” he said. The report assesses 283 bird species in the region, with 32 native species deemed ‘regionally threatened’ and four others are classified as ‘regionally at risk’. Among the other birds included 43 species which have gone ‘regionally extinct’; 22 are ‘regionally not threatened’, and three were identified as ‘conservation translocations’ (which means they have been deliberately moved to Otago for conservation benefit and currently have populations). Scott said the key threats to birds in Otago are habitat loss and degradation, introduced mammalian predators, human disturbance, and climate change.“The data from this report will be instrumental in shaping future conservation efforts,” he said.“We need everyone — residents, businesses, and local groups — to pitch in and help protect Otago’s unique birdlife. “This isn’t just a council effort – it’s a community effort. Every action counts.” Otago serves as a national stronghold for eight bird species, meaning more than 20 percent of the national population is within the region. They include migratory shorebirds and domestic migrants, emphasising the region's critical role in preserving these species.ORC science and resilience general manager Tom Dyer said Otago wouldn’t be the same without the melody of birdsong. “This report is an important reminder of the incredible avian diversity that graces our region.This regional assessment is a crucial step in understanding and mitigating the impacts of environmental changes and other activities on bird populations.” “The findings will guide ORC in achieving its biodiversity management objectives, ensuring our native bird species continue to thrive.”Read the full report here.PHOTO: Oscar Thomas

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