The Wānaka A&P Foundation is the sponsor for the upcoming 2025 Upper Clutha Winter Crop Competition.Organised by the Rotary Club of Wānaka, the competition judges the quality of local winter feed crops based on entries received from local farms and donates proceeds to worthy causes.It has become a staple in the agricultural calendar, bringing together farmers, agribusinesses, and the wider community to celebrate excellence in winter crop farming, Rotary Club of Wānaka Winter Crop committee chair Deans Hudson said.“The Upper Clutha A&P Society has kindly offered to help with the promotion of the competition and provide its support, with an end goal of raising funds for the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust and the local fire brigades of Tarras, Luggate, and Lake Hāwea,” Deans said.“These organisations will benefit from the fundraising dinner and awards ceremony, which will be held in the Upper Clutha Rugby Clubrooms on Friday, May 16, 2025.”The Wānaka A&P Foundation is administered by the Upper Clutha A&P Society.Society chair Keith Cooper said the initiative was a “particularly good fit with the Wānaka A&P Foundation’s strategy of supporting the Upper Clutha rural community.”The collaboration between the Rotary Club of Wānaka and the Upper Clutha A&P Society strengthens the competition’s presence in the local rural community and ensures continued support for key beneficiaries, Deans added.This will be the fourth time the Rotary Club of Wānaka has hosted the Winter Crop competition. Over the years, more than $120,000 has been donated to local beneficiaries, primarily the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust, through the generosity of Upper Clutha’s farming community and supporting businesses.Both farmers and sponsors alike are encouraged to participate in the well-established competition, which helps ensure critical local services continue to receive funding.PHOTO: Supplied

Rising cycling star Kim Cadzow has started another year strong after earning two wins at Cycling New Zealand Elite National Time Trial and Road Race earlier this month.Kim (23), who lives in Luggate when she is not training with EF Education-Oatly WorldTour team in Europe, said she was “super happy” to take both the national road and time trial champion titles.“It's not something I believed I could achieve - [winning] both in one year,” she said.Kim has a knack for surpassing expectations: she was selected to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games just a few years after she first took up the sport.She has also earned a spot as a full-time professional cyclist employed with EF Education-Cannondale and she spends most of the year training and competing all over Europe.It’s an impressive upward trajectory for any cyclist, but especially one who only started cycling after she finished school.Kim spoke to the Wānaka App after returning to Europe last week.“This year will be busy,” she said. “I started my season in January racing on the road for my team EF and this will continue until October. “Some of the racing can last for up to eight days and some one day events. In one year I will race around 45-50 days.”Despite her rapid success, Kim is taking a steady approach to the sport.“This year I'm looking forward just to keep progressing my cycling and finding out where my limits are,” Kim said.“I am still incredibly young in the sport so I continue to look to develop and improve while enjoying the riding.” PHOTO: Supplied

More details have been revealed on plans for the development of land near Wānaka Airport, which could include a 36-hole golf course, two hotels, restaurants, and both residential and visitor housing.The Corbridge Downs landowner, South Island Office (SIO), submitted its plans for a proposed 'Corbridge Resort’ to the government’s Fast-track Approval process in May last year, but the application did not make the government’s list of approved projects.It proposed “an integrated resort development including … golf course, associated visitor accommodation including two hotels and short stay units, two golf club houses, restaurants, guest amenities (spa, gym, pool etc), residential activities and worker accommodation and resort maintenance facilities”. The proposal suggests the golf course would be created in two stages, providing both private and pay for play options. The plans also include a driving range and a pro shop.The proposal includes “lakeside apartments” and boathouses.Fifty bedrooms for staff accommodation were also part of the application, as well as up to 323 accommodation units - a mix of 150 guest units for short-stay guest accommodation, 60 units for short-stay guest accommodation, and 113 residential units (with the option to be used as short-stay guest accommodation).Stage one of the project would see 18 holes of the golf course completed, along with a club house and worker accommodation complete within two and a half years from approval, the application said.The second stage would see the hotels and first half of the visitor accommodation and residential units completed within three and a half years of approval, and the final stage would see the second 18 holes of the golf course, a club house and second half of the visitor accommodation and residential units completed within four and a half years of approval.The red border shows the location of Corbridge Downs (border may not be exact)SIO’s application for Corbridge Downs materials was published on MBIE’s website last month (January 2025). Some parts of the application were withheld under the Official Information Act, including information relating to ‘applications still being considered’. There is currently no application for such a development on the Queenstown Lakes District Council list of current resource consent applications, and SIO has not responded to the Wānaka App’s request for comment, so the proposal’s progress is unclear.Corbridge Downs was billed to become a $280M film park after Silverlight Studio was granted resource consent to construct a film park (complete with studios, production offices, a film school, a screening theatre, and an exhibition centre) in December 2021 under the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act.Despite the studio owners securing approval for various facilities, MBIE decided in 2023 to no longer provide it with funding support.MBIE comment on the SIO application for ‘Corbridge Resort’ noted that: “Silverlight has not progressed the development so the Applicant has recommenced its own planning with respect to the site. These plans are underway but have not yet been the subject of detailed consultation or engagement with potentially affected parties due to the Silverlight project”.Read more: MBIE funding withdrawn from SilverlightThe Christchurch-based SIO has declined to respond to various requests from the Wānaka App about the private equity company’s plans for the Wānaka site.IMAGES: Supplied

Wānaka’s community board has expressed frustration about the notification of new cell phone towers being left to the “eleventh hour”.The issue was raised at yesterday’s (Thursday February 20) first Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) meeting for the year, when considering a Connexa application for a new cell tower at Forest Heights Reserve.WUCCB chair Simon Telfer said he was “very surprised” that Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) had received no public feedback on the notification, despite it having been advertised in the Otago Daily Times and the Wānaka Sun.“I think we need to act on these things sooner, and not at the eleventh hour,” he told QLDC parks property planner Matt Judd.Deputy mayor Quentin Smith (who is not a member of the WUCCB but attends the meetings) asked Matt if QLDC had advised all landowners adjoining the reserve a cell tower was proposed; the answer was ‘no’, but, Matt said, “It’s a question of how far you go with that notification”.“They’re either on an adjoining property or they’re not,” Quentin said. “It is a matter of procedure.”A resident near the proposed cell tower site told the Wānaka App they were surprised to read about the proposed cell tower in the WUCCB agenda.“I didn't know anything about it, and it is in my backyard,” the resident, who asked not to be named, said.The resident questioned whether QLDC’s approach to notification was adequate, adding that the fact council received no submissions on the issue was “a red flag”.“Some issues are more scintillating than others, but my suspicion is that people didn’t know about it rather than people didn’t care,” they said. “I do think some scrutiny in general would be in order. [It is] symptomatic of how anyone is supposed to participate in democratic practice if the quality of engagement is not good enough.”Quentin told the Wānaka App “we could definitely do more than the legal minimum of a newspaper notice”.He added that the board must “really [put] pressure on the telecom companies to fulfil their industry best practice required by the code of practice”.  “Council often get blamed for cell towers like at Hāwea and even Dungarvon Street. This just reinforces [that] council and community have little control over them and that the processes don’t really work that well for stakeholders.” The WUCCB agreed to grant Connexa a license for the tower, subject to resource consent, and members highlighted the need for Connexa to adhere to its code of practice.The tower will extend mobile coverage to areas not covered by other towers, including Lake Wānaka near Beacon Point, across to some of the western shoreline of the lake, and to Roys Peak, according to Connexa.It will replace a temporary tower which was installed on the reserve in 2017 because the network had reached capacity months earlier.“If we didn’t grant this license… the flow-on effect would then be cell towers in road reserves in multiple locations through residential areas to get the same coverage or capacity,” Matt said.The cell tower could be up to 12.9 metres and QLDC planned to require additional planting to minimise the visual impact and, if appropriate, require the mast to be painted to blend in as much as possible, Matt said.PHOTO: Wānaka App

A new initiative at this year’s Wānaka Festival of Colour is helping more people in the community access the festival’s world class performances.The ‘pay it forward’ option at checkout allows ticket buyers to donate the cost of a ticket to someone who might not otherwise be able to attend, festival executive director Ruth Heath said. “Thanks to the generosity of our festival-goers, we’ve sent more than 30 free tickets across a broad range of shows, including ones sold out, to Community Link to share with their clients,” Ruth said.She said the ‘pay it forward’ initiative was a “triple win”.“Donors feel great about giving, we receive the ticket sales, and the recipients get to enjoy an unforgettable festival experience that has been gifted by a caring person in the community.”Community Link general manager Kate Murray told the Wānaka App the initiative was “a treat many of our clients wouldn’t have thought possible”.“We’ve already seen first-hand how powerful it is for people to be given the opportunity to attend events like these. It’s not just about the show itself – it’s about offering people moments of fun, connection, and belonging,” she said.“It’s an amazing opportunity for those who often feel excluded from cultural events, and we’re thrilled the Festival of Colour selected Community Link to be part of it."Anyone who would like to ‘pay it forward’ can add a gift ticket when they complete an online booking..“It’s heartwarming to see the community rally behind this and we’d love to spread the word and keep the kindness rolling,” Ruth said.Wānaka Festival of Colour will take place from March 29-April 26.Read more: Wānaka Festival of Colour reveals ‘fabulous lineup’ PHOTO: Deanna Gerlach

Low rainfall over the past month has resulted in a notable drop in the level of Lake Wānaka but it is not out of the ordinary variation range, Guardians of Lake Wānaka chair and WAI Wānaka trustee Don Robertson says.Data supplied by NIWA at the time of writing (the afternoon of Wednesday February 19) showed a lake level of 276.456 metres above sea level.The level fell around 35cm in the past month but, after light rainfall, increased a little in the previous couple of days from the month’s low of 276.407 metres above sea level.It was still well above the lowest recorded level, which was measured on September 25, 1935, at 276.26 metres above sea level.Beacon Point Road Beach looking more like a tidal inlet than an alpine lake on Wednesday.Don said the drop in lake level is unlikely to have an impact on aquatic health.“In the ranges we are seeing, in normal circumstances I wouldn’t expect to see very much in the way of impact on biodiversity or anything else,” Don said.“If it carries on down like this it could get to the point where it is causing damage to plants.”The foreshore below Bullock Creek on Wednesday.The median level of Lake Wānaka (between 1962 and 2023) was 277.22 metres above sea level, with most years falling within 0.19 metres of this range, according to a report completed by aquatic ecologist Ian Hawes for Otago Regional Council (ORC).The lake level has “considerable year-to-year variability”, the report said.Don noted that the low lake level had made visible a substantial alluvial plain where Bullock Creek enters Lake Wānaka.It is the result of the “huge increase in sediment” entering Bullock Creek from the Alpha Series subdivision, he said.A forecast for heavy rain overnight on Wednesday suggests the lake level will trend upwards.PHOTOS: Wānaka App

Wao Aotearoa has launched tickets for its annual Autumn Harvest Festival and it is encouraging business and community members to support the festival. The season-long festival will feature workshops, tours, and the annual Upper Clutha Apple Drive, and its keynote weekend of workshops will take place from March 14-16.Workshop events will teach participants how to grow, harvest, prepare and preserve their own food, master hot and cold smoking of fish, forage for edible wild herbs, and much more.Last year’s workshops all sold out so participants are encouraged to book quickly.This year the festival will also feature a film night for the first time, with a screening of ‘Wilding’, which follows a young couple's daring to ‘rewild’ their 400-year-old estate.“The Harvest Festival is more than a weekend event - it’s part of the Wao Aotearoa Food Resilience Programme, which aims to strengthen our local food system and increase our knowledge on how to grow and process food,” Wao Aotearoa said in a statement. “By connecting people to practical skills, expert advice, and community workshops, we’re preparing the Southern Lakes to thrive—no matter what challenges come our way.”As well as attendees, Wao Aotearoa is also hoping to hear from individuals in the community who would like to partner with the festival in some way.“To run this impactful weekend, we’re seeking a principal sponsor or a group of supporters who share our vision of a stronger, more self-reliant community,” Wao Aotearoa said.“Whether you’re a business leader, a community advocate, or someone passionate about food security, your support can make a lasting impact.”Find more information and tickets for the Autumn Harvest Festival here.Anyone who is interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities can get in touch with [email protected]: Wao Aotearoa

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) will receive a $5.2 million dividend as the major shareholder of Queenstown Airport, which has marked a strong start to the financial year.Releasing the airport’s interim report (for the six months to December 31, 2024) Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) chair Simon Flood said the business had started the financial year well with a strong financial performance and significant progress towards its strategic goals.“Following our first-half results, we are pleased to be able to distribute an interim dividend of $7 million, which will be paid out to shareholders this month,” he said. “In determining the level of the dividend to be distributed, the board has considered not only our results for the period under review, but also our commitments in the foreseeable future.”QLDC will receive $5.2 million as the major shareholder (75.01 percent) of the airport. Auckland International Airport Ltd will receive 24.99 percent of the $7 million dividend. Queenstown Airport has been busy, with a total of 1,343,006 passengers passing through the terminal in the first six months of this financial year (FY25). QAC said this represents a six percent increase compared with the same period the previous year. Revenue for the first half of the financial year was up 22 percent and profit up 27 percent compared with the same period the previous year. Simon said airport operations ran smoothly during the peak winter weeks and over the summer holidays, when record numbers of passengers travelled through the terminal. The growth in passenger numbers was driven by continued demand for travel to and from Queenstown, with particularly strong trans-Tasman numbers, he said.The airport will continue its capital investment programme, including work on the Queenstown Airport Master Plan, he added.“Looking ahead, we expect passenger numbers to remain strong, producing steady revenue and a solid full-year result. We will continue to focus on enhancing the passenger experience, and ensuring we are well-prepared for an extended period of infrastructure delivery.”QAC’s interim results include revenue of $40.4 million; earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $29.5 million; and a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $16.2 million.PHOTOS: Supplied

An independent performance evaluation report by Local Government New Zealand’s ‘Te Korowai’ has highlighted both strengths and weaknesses at the Otago Regional Council (ORC). ORC chief executive Richard Saunders said the report is “a good step in benchmarking where the regional council is at, and more importantly which areas need focus to deliver the best outcomes”. “The report identifies ORC’s strengths and weaknesses, through the eyes of staff, councillors, iwi partners and other stakeholders; both the positives and areas where improvements are needed”. He acknowledged there was “plenty to focus on” in the report’s ‘area of improvements’.The report recommended the regional council consolidate its State of the Environment report to stocktake Otago’s environment, provide a better explanation of the approach to land and water planning, further its investigations into the management of ORC investments, and continue to develop the approach to catchment management.It also “needs to grow further to address issues such as land and water management”, the report said.“In the background, there is an emerging question of mitigation of climate change effects that needs to be addressed catchment by catchment.”Te Korowai also recognised ORC’s strong commitment to building science and environmental capability, achieving quick turnaround times and reduced costs for those seeking consents, plus delivering a financial strategy greatly simplifying the rating regime. ORC’s overall performance in the report was rated ‘Mauri tū – Active’, which recognised there are some highlights and considerable work in progress to build council into a mature institution and in developing the planning and regulatory frameworks.The rating categories range from Mauri moe - Inactive (lowest) to Mauri oho - Aware, before Mauri tū – Active and lastly Mauri ora - Thriving (highest).Richard said the report provided a “great insight” into how the ORC can further evolve to meet demands “from the up-front environmental issues through to back-room strategies and streamlining the delivery of services”.“A plan for the next steps will be developed alongside ORC’s broader Business Improvement Framework,” he saidThe plan and regular progress reports on implementation will be provided to council along with reporting on business improvement initiatives, including the Efficiency Review implementation, he added.The report will be presented to councillors at today’s (Wednesday February 15) meeting. PHOTO: ORC

The Wānaka A&P Show has teamed up with Wānaka Wastebusters and Cardrona Alpine Resort to tackle organic waste.All organic materials from this year’s show - including food waste from trade exhibitors and attendees, as well as livestock waste - will be collected and transported by Wastebusters to Cardrona, where they’ll be composted as part of the resort’s ‘Plant a Seed’ initiative.  ‘Plant a Seed’ turns composted materials into fertiliser for native plantings across Cardrona and Treble Cone, supporting endemic wildlife and helping restore the natural landscape. Cardrona and Treble Cone general manager Laura Hedley said the partnership was “a great opportunity to highlight how we all have a part to play in sustainability and conservation”. Diverting the show’s organic waste in this way “marks a significant milestone in our sustainability efforts,” Wānaka A&P Show general manager Jane Stalker said.The ‘show to snow’ project also “marks a significant milestone in our sustainability efforts, demonstrating our commitment to reducing the show’s environmental impact”, Wānaka A&P Show general manager Jane Stalker said.Wastebusters has worked with the Wānaka A&P Show for over 10 years, providing recycling services, advice and diversion of horse manure and food waste to private composting. “We're really excited to be part of the next phase of their sustainability journey, collecting food waste from show goers and all hospitality providers and to compost it locally on the mountain at Cardrona,” Wānaka Wastebusters’ business development manager Sophie Ward said.“Our staff will be on hand at the show helping people get their waste into the right bins to help divert as much waste from landfill as we can.” Jane said the partnership with Wastebusters provides show organisers “with the metrics that will enable us to monitor our waste outputs and incorporate this in our year-on-year planning to ensure continuous improvements”.The Wānaka A&P Show - one of New Zealand’s biggest agricultural, pastoral and community events - will return to the Wānaka Showgrounds and Pembroke Park on March 7-8.It will feature traditional drawcards like the equestrian, livestock and home industries events and family-friendly favourites like rides, food trucks and the entertaining Jack Russell race.PHOTOS: Supplied

The search for 21-year-old Hector Antigua has shifted downstream, NZ Police say.Hector was reported missing on February 6 after a friend and hiking companion saw him fall from a rock into Rob Roy Stream during a hike in Mt Aspiring National Park.Police followed a promising lead yesterday (Monday February 17) but did not locate Hector. A NZ Police spokesperson said police had received reports from a member of the public about what was believed to be an item of interest in an area of Rob Roy Stream.“Police searched the area locating the item, however it was not as originally reported, and was instead a white rock,” the spokesperson said. A couple of days earlier, on Saturday February 15, the Police National Dive Squad and Wānaka SAR Swift Water Rescue Team also searched an area of the canyon with underwater cameras and light equipment.The NZ Police spokesperson told the Wānaka App the search will now move further downstream “due to exhausting all search avenues in the canyon”.Search teams were quickly deployed to the area when Hector (an Argentinian national) was reported missing just before 5pm on February 6.Some of the early search efforts were hampered by extreme hazards and limited visibility.Last Thursday (February 13) police said they had located a number of personal items along the stream which were believed to belong to the missing man.Hector arrived in New Zealand in September 2024 and he recently worked at a cherry orchard in Alexandra.More than $15,000 has been raised to help Hector’s mother, Adriana Calomarde, travel to New Zealand to be closer to the search for her son, via a Givealittle page.PHOTO: Supplied

McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd has not given up on plans for a local McDonald’s branch despite the project being delivered a blow last week.Independent commissioners declined the company’s application for a restaurant and drive-through at Mt Iron Junction (near the Mt Iron intersection) after a lengthy resource consent process.“Our intention remains to open a restaurant in Wānaka, navigating some of the local commercial interests at play,” a McDonald’s Restaurants NZ spokesperson told the Wānaka App this week.“As we have stated throughout, McDonald’s is committed to working in good faith to follow the process regarding the proposed restaurant site in Wānaka.“We’ll review and assess the decision, discuss with the developer, and consider next steps with regards to that site.”The location of the proposed McDonald’s - on rural-zoned land just below the Outstanding Natural Landscape (ONL) zoned Mt Iron - was one of the most common complaints about the proposal from submitters.The “adverse effects” on the environment also played a significant role in the commissioners’ decision to decline the application.Read more: ‘Adverse effects’: Wānaka McDonald’s turned downOptions facing the fast food giant include appealing the decision, or finding a new site for a restaurant in Wānaka.McDonald’s Restaurants NZ’s plans for a Wānaka restaurant were first made public in November 2023.PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka Crag Fest will return next month after a successful first event in 2024.Run by the Wānaka Climbing Club and New Zealand Alpine Club, Wānaka Crag Fest is designed to unite climbers, build community, advance climbing skills, and promote sustainability across an action-packed weekend. It offers a full schedule of clinics, social events, and community activities, with something for climbers of all levels, the New Zealand Alpine Club says.This year Wānaka Crag Fest will expand, with more tickets available, new clinics catering to a wider range of skill levels, and a special focus on youth and family accessibility. Clinics include those focused on young people (ages 13–18) and their caregivers, tailored to different competency levels.“The weekend isn’t just about climbing—non-climbing activities like yoga, cold water immersion, slacklining, and acroyoga offer plenty of opportunities to connect, unwind, and try something new,” the New Zealand Alpine Club said.Friday night (March 14) kicks off with a vendor village featuring outdoor brands, climbing competitions, quizzes, films, and prizes from sponsors. Saturday night will offer food and drinks at Velo Cafe alongside live local DJs and giveaways to round out the day.There will also be a sustainability working bee on the Saturday afternoon, giving attendees the chance to earn their dinner by giving back to the local crags.Wānaka Crag Fest runs from March 14-16. Find tickets and more information here.PHOTO: Wānaka App

The government has announced a $30 million spend on tourism infrastructure and biodiversity projects.Conservation Minister Tama Potaka, alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, made the announcement at the post-Cabinet brief on Monday.It includes $11m spent to improve popular visitor sites and further $19m towards biodiversity efforts.The $11m tourism funding would go towards:Upgrades to huts, car parks and facilities at Aoraki Mt Cook, Rangitoto Island and Motutapu IslandSafety upgrades to 116 cable structures including suspension and swing bridgesInvestment at Goat Island / Te Hāwere a Maki to improve beach access, car parking, and reflect the area's significant cultural heritage.The $19m biodiversity funding would go towards:Stopping the spread of wallabies and managing deer and goat populations in National Parks and popular visitor areas to allow nature to thriveTargeted predator control to protect native species especially the critically endangered Southern Dotterel birds in Rakiura National ParkStopping and removing wilding pines from our iconic landscapes.Potaka said the spending came from the government's International Visitor Levy which is paid for by tourists entering the country, from the funds raised before the government increased the cost from $35 per tourist to $100.It follows the announcement on Sunday of a further $500,000 spent on an ad campaign for attracting Australian tourists during the off-peak "shoulder season".Labour and the Greens supported tourism growth at the time but said there should instead be more funding for tourism infrastructure, which was already struggling to cope with demand in some areas.The "Everyone Must Go" slogan also faced criticism and mockery from the parties as well as as well as the public.

Hāwea Flat biathlete Campbell Wright - aka ‘The Golden Mullet’ - has succeeded in proving his first silver medal for the USA team was “not a fluke”.After winning silver on Sunday (February 16) in the 10km sprint of the IBU World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, Campbell went on to win another silver medal in the 12.5km pursuit the following day.“Campbell may be wearing a USA jersey but is bringing Wānaka's winning ways to the podium,” Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust (owner of the Snow Farm and Merino Muster Ltd) trustee John Burridge said.In Monday (February 17) night’s event, which included two prone shootings and two standing shootings, Campbell missed one fewer shot than the gold medal winning leader JT Boe (Norway), and was just 8.6 seconds behind him at the finish.John said Campbell started 28 seconds behind JT and was “clearly closing the gap in the last lap, which made for an exciting finish”. “I am beyond words in terms of Campbell doubling up on yesterday's miracle,” John said.  “For biathlon he has rattled the Norwegian firmament… I am sure there is very special snow at the Snow Farm.”Eric Perrot (France) came in third.Campbell, who holds dual citizenship in New Zealand and the USA, joined the US biathlon team in July 2023. “Had to prove it wasn’t a fluke,” Campbell posted on social media following the race. “I enjoyed every single metre of that race, and felt Team USA cheering every step of the way.”Watch Campbell’s reaction when he shoots clean at the last standing shooting here.PHOTOS: Supplied

The Wānaka real estate market is experiencing noteworthy changes as we head into 2025.Recent statistics reveal a significant increase in sales, specifically in the month of January 2025 which recorded 24 sales.This marks the highest January volume since 2021, and is up 33 percent on the same month last year.Such growth in transaction levels indicates a shift in market momentum, with clear signs of a recovery taking form after a more cautious year in 2024.Despite the increase in sales volume, the median house price held steady at roughly $1,365,000 in January. This stability amid rising sales is indicative of a healthy and active entry-level market.Notably, the data shows six houses sold for over $2M compared to two in January 2024.January saw a surge in new stock listings within the greater Wānaka area, which is not unusual for this time of year as Vendor’s held off listing until after the holiday period, however this has driven up supply levels even further, and this is indicative right across the country.As the real estate landscape evolves, staying informed is essential for both buyers and sellers.Engaging with the Ray White Wānaka team, attending open homes, and understanding where your property sits in the market is as important as ever.Ray White Wānaka is situated at Sir Tim Wallis Drive Wānaka. Find out more here.PHOTO: Ray White Wānaka

Rocks have been installed around the Stoney Creek reserve to help restore it from a “dust bowl” to a green area, but locals say the move will exacerbate congestion at the popular spot.Work crews placed rocks along part of the reserve near the Stoney Creek carpark (adjacent to the Wānaka Watersports Facility and near ‘The Wānaka Tree’) last week (February 13-14) to “protect reserve land from vehicle damage and reduce congestion”, according to Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).“Several informal parking spaces will be maintained near the playground, and the new rocks will provide a gap for vehicles with trailers to use when accessing the watersports facility,” QLDC announced on social media, adding that additional parking was available “a short walk away” at the Wānaka-Mt Aspiring Road carpark.Many locals responded by bemoaning the loss of car parking, “Where are all the cars now going to park? It's a very busy area which won't change,” said one person. Others suggested creating more car parks on the reserve; another said they believed there was already insufficient parking for the nearby playground, and the loss of more parks would “force people to walk their children and toddlers in buggies along the road with the buses and much dubious driving.”Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) chair Simon Telfer said the board agreed to the project at a public workshop late last year.  “We have obligations to reduce the dust storms for neighbours, protect trees and reserves and to meet Environment Court requirements based on the Water Sports Facility decision,” Simon told the Wānaka App.The reserve has been turned into “a dust bowl”, community board chair Simon Telfer says.The amenity of the reserve is currently poor “as vehicles have turned what is a reserve into a dustbowl”, he said.“But, over time, we will rehabilitate this area and it will continue to be part of the green space fabric that Wānaka is known for.”Simon said there will “never be enough vehicle parking in peak times at a number of our reserves”. “But creating parking costs, and that burden falls on the rate payer,” he said. He added that QLDC needs to “do better at sign posting where people should park and for Stoney Creek that will include using Stage 2 parking, road side parking and showground parking”.Locals also raised concerns on social media about the number of buses using the reserve, with one person saying: “Stop allowing three 40 seater buses to park in there at a time; charge them and make them park elsewhere so it’s not so dangerous for others to drive, walk, bike in that area.”A bus double parked to dislodge passengers on Saturday.When the Wānaka App visited the reserve on Saturday (February 15) two commercial buses were forced to double park while passengers unloaded. The parks were also busy with campervans, cars, and pedestrians.Simon said bus parking in the area “is a challenge”.“[But] I'm not sure ratepayers should fund those buses that stop off to use the Watersports toilets, photograph the tree and then head to Queenstown without making any contribution to Wānaka,” he said.PHOTOS: Wānaka App

Wānaka’s Finley Melville Ives (18) has won his maiden World Cup, securing the top spot at the FIS Freeski Halfpipe World Cup in Calgary.This makes him the youngest New Zealander to ever win a FIS Freeski World Cup.“I just can’t believe it, I am so stoked,” Fin said.“I have trained so hard and I am so happy to put down my run.” The mercury hovered around -20 degrees Celsius this week in Calgary, but the frigid conditions didn’t faze Fin who shared the podium with American freeski icons Nick Goepper (2nd) and Alex Ferreira (3rd).“Both of them are my heroes growing up, I have watched them on the TV and at the Olympics, I can’t believe it, this is nuts,” Fin said.Fin delivered his winning run on his first of two finals attempts. His highly technical performance included a left double corked 1620 mute grab into a unique left alley-oop double corked flat spin 1080 mute grab, earning him a score of 92.75 and an early lead.He had to endure a nervous wait after recording a ‘Did Not Improve’ on his second run. With nine athletes still left to drop, his first-run score remained untouchable, sealing his first-ever World Cup victory.Lake Hāwea’s Luke Harrold (16) finished just off the podium in fourth place, securing his season’s best result.This competition marked the final stop of the 2025 FIS Freeski Halfpipe World Cup Tour, with Ferreira crowned overall champion and awarded the Crystal Globe. Fin finished fourth in the overall standings for the season.The Kiwi Freeski Halfpipe Team now sets its sights on the World Championships, scheduled for the end of March in Switzerland.PHOTO: FIS Park & Pipe

Wānaka athlete Campbell Wright has won the silver medal in the 10km sprint of the IBU World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. The biathlete, who learned his skills at Wānaka’s Snow Farm and now represents the USA, took second place behind the great Norwegian J.T. Boe, who is retiring at the end of this year, pushing French star Q.Fikkon Maillet into third place.Campbell’s medal is only the fourth World Championship medal the USA have ever won; it is the first time they have won a sprint medal and their first medal since 2017. “We need to remember that New Zealand and the Snow Farm helped them do it,” Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust (owners of the Snow Farm and Merino Muster Ltd) trustee John Burridge said.Campbell on the podium in Switzerland.Campbell, who holds dual citizenship in New Zealand and the USA, joined the US biathlon team in July 2023.John said the race conditions were “brilliant with sunshine but cold almost windless conditions”.  After starting 34th in a 99 place interval start event Campbell was in the lead for much of the race, John said, after making a very fast start.“[He] backed that up with clean shooting at both prone and standing. He also did not fade on the last lap but watching him skiing the last sections before the finish straight his skiing lost shape as he was pushing his limit.  “He clearly wanted that podium,” John said.Campbell posted on social media after the race that he had “no words, just tears”.Watch a video of the race here.PHOTOS: Supplied