A primary care survey report shows that general practices in rural Otago and Southland are feeling pressure, and are, compared to their urban counterparts, more likely to struggle to retain workforce, fill gaps and therefore provide care for the community they live in.The Upper Clutha’s three general practices - Wānaka Medical, Aspiring Medical, and Cardrona Doctors - are designated ‘rural’.While Wānaka doesn’t experience all the same rural shortages, local practices have other pressures such as long hours, and staff having to stay late and take on extra duties to keep up with demand.WellSouth (the primary health organisation for Otago and Southland) CEO Andrew Swanson-Dobbs told the Wānaka App that, while some of rural practices are struggling with workforce shortages due to the size of the practice, “Wānaka is more fortunate that its practices have bigger clinical teams and therefore provide more resilience”.“However, there are similar pressures when it comes to patient demand, hours of work and mood,” he said.“The population is growing, urgent after-care needs to be assessed and practices have to deal with the swell of tourists during holiday season. This will be happening right now with Easter and school holidays. The pressure mounts, and this affects staffing, patient interaction and job satisfaction.”Andrew said the WellSouth Primary Care Survey was established to understand the challenges facing primary care providers in the Southern region.Local general practices are under pressure to cope with demand. PHOTO: Wānaka App“While this is only the second survey of its type, we can see ongoing pressure and constraints, most acutely felt in our small, rural general practices,” he said. WellSouth has been surveying general practices and pharmacy since Covid-19 monthly check-ins. The new six monthly, more comprehensive survey launched in April 2024 covers pressures on workforce, capacity, and funding. “From the first April survey to the next, we have seen little relief or change to pressures for general practice,” Andrew said.The survey shows that overall, mood and morale have remained largely stable since April 2024 across the urban and rural practices, with a slight shift towards being more positive, with only 11 percent rating ‘Poor’ or ‘Very Poor’ compared with 15 percent on April 24.Despite this, feedback shows that most general practice staff are experiencing mild to moderate burnout. Andrew said the system and persistent under-funding of primary care must be addressed via nurse pay parity, greater support, and resources for primary care due to the workload pushed back from secondary care. “We must ease the administrative burden from non-contact time, and review appointment structures and ways to address patient expectations,” he said. Andrew commended practices that are adapting to pressures, including the use of triage improvements, expanded nursing roles, and telehealth, but said “acute demand continues to take priority over proactive care, and financial barriers prevent implementation of effective solutions”. The Wānaka App approached Wānaka’s general practices for comment.PHOTO: Wānaka App

I’m often surprised by how many people are still discovering what Community Link does. I regularly get asked versions of the same question."If someone can’t afford to live in Wānaka, why don’t they move?" or "I don’t know anyone who’s struggling here—is there really a need for Community Link?"It's not asked unkindly—usually it comes from a place of genuine curiosity. But it points to a deeper disconnect between perception and reality in our community.We see the statistics every month through our foodbank, and more recently I’ve been struck by the findings of the Queenstown Lakes District Council Quality of Life Survey.The number that leapt off the page? Nearly 1 in 3 people in our region either have no disposable income after paying their bills, or can’t even meet their basic costs.Even more sobering: in just one year, the proportion of people with no disposable income has risen from 17% to 25%—a staggering 47% increase. That’s one in four people in our community, and it’s only getting worse.At Community Link, we’re seeing this play out in real time—more families needing help with food, heating, and medical costs. The numbers are one thing. What they don’t capture is the mental strain, the quiet shame, and how incredibly difficult it is for families to reach out and ask for help.Recently, I bumped into a neighbour wearing a beautiful, thick winter coat. I complimented her on how great she looked. Later, she told me she wears multiple layers at home because she can’t afford to heat her house—and she’s started attending church more often because it’s warm.Let’s put this in perspective: Wānaka has roughly 4,000 households. If one in four are under serious financial pressure, that’s potentially 1,000 households who are one unexpected bill away from crisis. And in the current climate, that’s deeply concerning.So when someone says, “If you can’t afford to live here, maybe you should move,” I ask: Why should people be forced to leave a place they love—especially if they’ve lived here for years? Where would they go? And more importantly, what kind of community do we want to be?If everyone who struggles quietly packed up and left, who would teach at our schools? Who’d be at the medical centre, the café, or our emergency services?The good news is, Wānaka is a caring community. Many of us who are fortunate enough to live comfortably are aware that not all our neighbours are in the same position—and they give what they can.I don’t have all the answers, and it’s clear that cost of living pressures aren’t going away any time soon. But we must work together to create a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive—not just survive.This winter, Community Link is running its Cold Kids fundraising campaign to ensure no family has to remain cold. We can’t do it without you.Let’s keep looking out for each other. It’s what strong communities do.Make a donation to Cold Kids, to help ensure local families can stay warm this winter, at the Community Link website.PHOTO: Community Link

Wānaka’s new theatrical society, Onstage Wānaka, has finalised the cast for its upcoming production of Blood Brothers.Eight Wānaka residents will take up the various roles in the acclaimed Willy Russell musical.Onstage Wānaka secretary Andrea Beryl said the society was thrilled with the “turnout [and] depth of local talent and the number of new faces” during auditions. “It’s amazing to see how much talent is right here in our community,” she said. “We’re excited to bring together a dynamic cast and crew to create something truly special.”Blood Brothers revolves around twin boys Mickey and Edward, who are separated at birth and brought up in completely different environments. Mickey will be played by Tatum Montecastillio and Edward by Aidan Butler.Natasha Kay Senior, Sophie Omar-McWalter and Maegan Young will lend their names to the roles of Linda, Mrs J and Mrs Lyons, respectively, while Brent Pihama will be the narrator.Chris Winstanley will be Mr Lyons and Greg Ferguson will be Sammy, with both of them also serving in the ensemble alongside seven others: Tana Hansen, Marion Low, Andrea Beryl, Andrew Logie, Katy Rowden, Lindsey Schofield and Kasey Brooks.Andrea said Onstage Wānaka had received a generous grant from Central Lakes Trust, “an incredible boost for our debut production”. “With their support, it’s full steam ahead as our cast and crew dive into rehearsals to bring Blood Brothers to life on stage.”Onstage Wānaka - which was formed to fill a need for a dedicated theatre society in Wānaka - officially launched in March.See also: New theatre group to launch.Blood Brothers, Onstage Wānaka’s inaugural show, will open in August at the Lake Wānaka Centre.PHOTO: Onstage Wānaka

Maintenance work is underway on two popular public tracks in Wānaka.Crews are working to repair the Waterfall Creek Track alongside Lake Wānaka, which was washed out late last year.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) said the widening and reinstatement of sections near Edgewater Resort should be completed by the end of this week. The work involves large stones being manoeuvered into place on the township side of the bridge before Edgewater. The track remains open but short detours may be required.Meanwhile, a section of the pathway alongside the Wānaka golf course is being upgraded. A 140m length of existing path is being widened and sealed to improve the connection between the Golf Course Road path and McDougall Street.The work is being funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), through its Transport Choices programme.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Finalists have been named for the Forsyth Barr Central Otago Sports Awards (COSA) ahead of the awards night on May 8.The annual COSA recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and teams from across Central Otago over the past year.Sport Central sport and active recreation advisor Jo Knight said the calibre of this year’s nominations - which features a number of Wānaka athletes, especially in snowsports - speaks volumes about the strength of sport in Central Otago.“The level of competition made it incredibly difficult for our judging panel to select finalists, let alone winners,” Jo said.“It’s a wonderful reflection of the dedication and talent that exists across Central Otago.”The 2025 finalists include world champions, Olympians, and emerging stars across disciplines as varied as alpine skiing, kayaking, athletics, rugby, mountain biking, rodeo, tennis, rowing, and snowboarding – as well as the often-unsung heroes in coaching, officiating and community sport.Wānaka finalists among the categories include rising 16-year-old running star Phoebe Laker, who most recently won a gold medal at the Australian National Athletics Championships this week, as well as her coach, Michael Beable.There’s also Roger North, who has played an integral role in increasing youth sailing - participation and success - at the Wānaka Yacht Club; multi-disciplinary young athlete Ryan Enoka; and Wānaka Football Club.Within snowsports local finalists include a range of well-known names including Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, Finley Melville Ives, Adam Hall, Luca Harrington and more.Sport central sport and active recreation advisor Ben Hamilton says the awards night promises to be a special celebration for everyone involved in the Central Otago sports community.“The Forsyth Barr Central Otago Sports Awards are about more than just celebrating individual success – they’re a chance for the whole sporting community to come together and celebrate an amazing year,” Ben said.Tickets to the awards night are on sale now.See the full 2025 finalists list below:Gary Anderson Sound and Vision Sportswoman of the Year: Alice Robinson – Alpine Ski Racing; Zoi Sadowski-Synnott – Snowboard Big Air and Slopestyle; Sophie Winter – Ice Swimming.Central Lakes Construction Sportsman of the Year: Finley Melville Ives – Free Ski Halfpipe; Rocco Jamieson – Snowboard Big Air and Slopestyle; Finn Butcher – Kayak Cross; Luca Harrington – Free Ski Big Air and Halfpipe.Gallaway Cook Allan Junior Sportsman of the Year: Mason Clarke – Cricket;Levi Casey – Squash; Luke Harrold – Free Ski Halfpipe; James Weber – Athletics; Lewis Laird – Mountain Biking; Charlie Manser – Rowing; Noa Milburn – Tennis; Dan Milburn – Tennis.Health 2000 Wānaka Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Phoebe Laker – Athletics; Brooke Hansen – Freeride Snowboard; Mathilda Watterson – Alpine Ski Racing; Sky Sanders – Rodeo; Heidi Winter – Ice Swimming; Eva Small – Freeride Skiing; Siena Mackley – Running; Zara Hazledine – Equestrianl Rosa Dawson – Gymnastics; Bella Breen – Rowing.Jennian Homes Team of the Year: Upper Clutha Rams – Rugby; Wakatipu U18 Coxed Quad Scull; Wakatipu U17 Boys Double Scull; Wakatipu Boys U18 Double Scull; Sky City Stampede – Ice Hockey; Wānaka Football Club Otago Polytechnic.Para Athlete of the Year: Mac Denniston – Athletics; Adam Hall – Para Skiing; Workplace First Aid Coach of the Year:Alex Dickson – Upper Clutha Rams;Michael Beable – Athletics; Dan Bogue – Para Skiing; Hamish McDougall – Skiing; Sean Thompson – Snowboard; Nils Coberger – Alpine Ski Racing; Murray Buchan – Freeski; Cam Frear – Stampede.Duncan and Kelly Good Ray White Real Estate Junior Spirit of Central Award: Charlie Nisbet – Gymnastics; Eli La Rose – Swimming; Liam King – BMX; Ryan Enoka – Athletics, Ki Uta, Rugby; Eva Small – Freeride Skiing, Mountain Biking, Multi-sport; Matilda Watterson – Ski RacingWānaka Physiotherapy Senior Spirit of Central Award: Roger North – Wānaka Yacht Club; Jess Lake – Cromwell Athletics; Shane Norton – Central Otago Football; Findex Official of the Year Flick Wallace – Snow Sports; Craig Anderson – Rugby; Adam Nagy – Ice Hockey.PHOTO: Supplied

The Wānaka Autumn Art School is underway for 2025 this week, with students now diving deep into learning or fine-tuning a skill or interest.The once-a-year school gives people the opportunity to step away from their everyday lives for a week and learn about a chosen art form from experienced tutors.“Tutors come from far and wide to offer courses in the arts,” Wānaka Autumn Art School co-organiser Liz Hawker said.“Phil Ridgway, [a returning tutor], travels the furthest, coming from Melbourne to offer his very popular book arts course,” she said.Many other “favourite tutors” have returned this year, she said.Critically acclaimed author Joe Bennett is teaching writing.Other tutors are covering a range of art forms: “painting, printmaking, travel photography, drawing from nature and videography.” “There is always something new to learn for our participants,” Liz said.The Wānaka Autumn Art School takes place at Te Kura O Tititea Mount Aspiring College, finishing on Saturday (April 26).As in previous years, the school will be open on Saturday, from 12.30pm-2pm, for the public to have an opportunity to view and learn about the week’s work.The Wānaka Autumn Art School is a non-profit event run by the Upper Clutha Community Arts Council.Surplus funds provide scholarships for young and needy artists and the betterment of the arts in the Upper Clutha Community.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has approved the final Mt Iron Reserve Management Plan (RMP).Councillors signed off on the RMP at last Thursday’s (April 17) full council meeting, the culmination of a long process in securing the reserve - a hugely popular local landmark - and deciding how it will be utilised by the community.The RMP envisions the reserve as “a revered Wānaka landmark where indigenous ecosystems thrive, providing outdoor recreation in the heart of an urban environment”. RMP planning began after QLDC purchased 94 hectares of Mt Iron and Little Mt Iron in May 2023.More than 870 people shared their visions and goals for the reserve - which is located just 2km from the town centre and attracts up to 180,000 walkers each year - during public consultation on the draft RMP.A hearing on the draft RMP was held in December and public insights helped shape the final RMP.The Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board agreed to recommend the final RMP last month before it was signed off by councillors on Thursday.PHOTO: Wānaka App

More than 65,000 people made the trek to Wheels at Wānaka in Three Parks this Easter (April 18-20), along with 5,000 vehicles.The vintage machinery fair included steam engines, tractors and farming heritage, cars, motor-bikes, snow-mobiles, traction engines, trucks, earthmovers and heavy machinery spread over more than 50 acres at Three Parks.The biennial vehicle extravaganza put on an extraordinary show for its final year, starting on Good Friday with the ‘earthmoving practise day’ featuring vintage and modern earthmovers and a range of demonstrations, plus the 2025 Cat Operator Challenge, where the ‘best of the best’ competed with three different Cat machines.A rarity in New Zealand, the 1916 Waterloo Boy Model R tractor from Wheels at Wānaka organiser Allan Dippie’s tractor collection.Overnight rain cleared to an overcast but mild Saturday morning (April 19) after a damp Friday at the event.As a result of the better weather, traffic was backed up for kilometres on all the major roads to and through Three Parks and every available parking space was taken as the hordes descended on the event on Saturday. Locals took to social media to describe the gridlock and the travel times within the Upper Clutha as a result.The show celebrated 125 years of Mack trucks with a huge turnout in the display ring and the commentators calling it the biggest and best display of Macks ever seen at Wheels at Wānaka.A beautifully presented collection of Hart-Parr steel wheeled pre 1930 tractors.Wānaka resident Chris Menzies had his 1998 Mack MH613 truck and trailer unit on display. A rural workhorse used for carting fertiliser, timber, gravel, hay and baleage, the truck was retired with more than 1.24M kms on the clock.A futuristic looking Tesla Cybertruck caught the eye of many attendees as did another rarity on display, the 1916 Waterloo Boy Model R tractor from Wheels at Wānaka organiser Allan Dippie’s tractor collection.A cheer went up from the crowd for the little tractor that could - in the popular tractor pull contest.The name John Deere is arguably the most successful agricultural machinery maker in the world but its venture into tractor production began in 1918 when it purchased the company which produced the Waterloo Boy tractor. Its 6.5ltr, two cylinder engine design was so reliable it powered nearly all John Deere tractors for about 50 years. Wheels at Wānaka general manager Allan Dippie said the event “felt successful in every way”.“The volunteers and vehicle enthusiasts’ contributions were exceptional, the sun was shining, we had record numbers through the gate and everyone had a wonderful time,” he said.However he acknowledged the traffic problems, saying while the event had “plenty of parking and a robust traffic management plan in place, the roading network simply isn’t designed to cope with the level of traffic experienced on Saturday morning”. “We apologise for the delays and thank everyone for their patience and understanding,” he said.Crowds gather for the big machinery excavation displays.The Wheels at Wānaka charitable trust has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various national, regional and local charities including Cure Our Ovarian Cancer, Heart Kids NZ (via the Heartlands Tractor Trek) and Coastguard Wānaka Lakes.PHOTOS: Wānaka App

No rain is anticipated but a typically cool morning and partly cloudy day is forecast for ANZAC Day in the Upper Clutha this Friday (April 25).Local ANZAC commemorations begin with dawn services at 7am at Wānaka and Hāwea; Wānaka’s civic service is at 9:30am, followed by a parade and the laying of wreaths and poppies at the Cenotaph around 10:45am.The Hāwea District ANZAC Committee and Hāwea Community Association will host Hāwea’s dawn service at the ANZAC peninsula on the Lake Hāwea dam. The service will begin with a “symbolic thunderclap” and a call to commemoration.Flypast at Hāwea’s Dawn Service. PHOTO: Wānaka AppStudents from Hāwea Flat School and Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC) will participate, as well as a guest speaker, piper, trumpeter, and the traditional flypast (weather permitting).The Lake Hāwea Hotel has offered parking for ANZAC attendees as has Contact Energy on its land beside the garage (on the Wānaka side of the dam), signified by a large poppy on the gate.Hāwea Men’s Shed is hosting a breakfast at the Lake Hāwea Community Centre following the dawn service. Tickets are available by emailing [email protected]ānaka’s Dawn Service is held in the carpark at the lake end of Helwick Street. MAC student Noah Moody will speak at the short service, and Jen Anderson and Janine Weatherly will sing the New Zealand and Australian national anthems.Following the service, the public is invited to breakfast in the Armstrong Room, Lake Wānaka Centre (LWC), hosted by the Wānaka and Districts Lions Club and Upper Clutha Lions Club.Piper Clifford Hiscoke leads the visiting New Zealand Youth Choir in an impromptu chorus at the Cenotaph last year. PHOTO: Wānaka AppWānaka’s Civic Service at LWC will be led by Reverend Damon Plimmer. St John Wānaka will provide a Colour Party and four MAC students (Ania-Kanu Saklani, Lucy Redford, Ryan Enoka, and Charlie Roy) will be the guest speakers.Former Cardrona entertainer Martin Curtis and MAC student Ruby Smith will each sing during the service; trumpeter Amos Wells will perform at the dawn and cenotaph services; and piper Clifford Hiscoke will, once again, perform at all three Wanaka services, as well as lead the parade about 10:30am from the LWC to the Cenotaph.At the Cenotaph on Chalmers Street, attendees will be welcomed by Wānaka RSA committee member Commander Lyal Cocks (RNZN Rtd) and encouraged to lay wreaths and poppies at the foot of the CenotaphWeather permitting, classic aircraft pilot Peter Hendrix plans a flypast over both dawn services and over Lake Wānaka and the Cenotaph, wrapping up Upper Clutha’s ANZAC Day commemorations.

A WAI Wānaka beach-clean up will take place tomorrow (Tuesday April 22) to coincide with Earth Day, which calls for people to demonstrate support for environmental protection.Celebrated internationally for more than 50 years, Earth Day also aims to raise public awareness about environmental challenges.“Here in the Upper Clutha, we’re fortunate enough to live in paradise, with the lakes, rivers, and mountains on our doorstep,” WAI Wānaka said.“We want to protect this natural beauty and ensure it’s available for generations to come.”The Earth Day beach clean-up will take place at the Wānaka lakefront near the Dinosaur Park between 10am and midday, with a morning tea supplied by Big Fig.The rubbish collected during the event will be sorted and recorded into Sustainable Coastline’s national Litter Intelligence database, WAI Wānaka said.A few days later WAI Wānaka will host ‘Get Your Feet Wet’ at Bullock Creek opposite the Speights Ale House, from 4pm-5pm.“It’s a chance to learn about, measure and record a selection of indicators that reflect water quality,” WAI Wānaka said, “[and] about having fun, hands-on learning, and making a positive impact on local waterways.” “Both events are during the school holidays, so take the kids and teach them a thing or two about protecting our environment.”For both events, attendees can RSVP via the Facebook page or show up on the day.Find the full list of WAI Wānaka’s upcoming events and volunteer opportunities here.WAI Wānaka is a non-profit community organisation working to protect local waterways.PHOTO: LWT

More people in Otago can now be assured health providers will know what their health care wishes are at times where they are unable to speak for themselves, often at the end of their lives. In February 2024, WellSouth, the primary health organisation (PHO) for Otago and Southland, changed the way it funds general practices to support patients writing and recording Advance Care Plans (ACPs).WellSouth has created a funding stream for practices to claim for processing ACPs, alongside offering training and support via two dedicated WellSouth shared care plan coordinators (Helen Sawyer and Michelle Anderson).  The funding means that anyone 60 years and over, or people of any age who are Māori, Pasifika or who are former refugees are eligible for a free ACP consultation. General practices can identify these people and contact them to start talking about advance care planning. Since ACP consultations became funded by WellSouth in February 2024, 36 general practices have created 154 ACPs, well above previous years. Helen said creating an ACP “involves thinking and talking about your values and goals and what your preferences are for your current and future health care”.“An advance care plan speaks for you often because you can no longer speak for yourself,” she said. “However, while these plans are important, clinicians often have limited time, and feedback to WellSouth from practices was that ACPs, done well, take time to complete and upload. The funding for ACPs is in recognition of this feedback, acknowledging the time and effort to complete these plans with patients,” she said.  People can discuss their wishes with a GP, practice nurse, health improvement practitioner or health coach at their general practice. Plans are signed off by a GP or nurse at the practice the patient is enrolled at.Helen or Michelle review the ACPs to ensure they are medically interpretable across the spectrum of healthcare provision.  “These plans are important to a person and their family. They should be in a person’s life kit with wills and insurance policies, and we encourage anyone to have an ACP conversation with those they love, and to contact your general practice to ask for an appointment,” Helen said.PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka’s Craig Murray has won the inaugural Yeti Natural Selection Ski event, held in the Tordrillo mountain range in Alaska today (April 18).The invite only event saw legends of freeride take on some of the biggest names in the park & pipe world on the formidable ‘Priority 1’ face in the Alaskan ranges. “I feel incredible, today has been something out of a dream, this whole setup being out here in the Tordrillo’s is crazy…I honestly can’t believe I ended up in the finals and ended up taking it out, it’s surreal,” Craig said. “I am so happy and I would like to thank everyone for all the support, it means so much.” Craig delivered his trademark huge fluid lines during the knock out competition.Craig Murray in action in Tordrillo PHOTO: Chad Chomlack / Natural Selection TourIn the final round Craig produced a precision-crafted run that earned him an 85 and the win. He attacked the face with a fast, smooth line, stringing together a symphony of stylish 360s and flips, lacing them seamlessly from top to bottom.His composure under pressure and ability to flow through complex terrain with freestyle finesse exemplified the Natural Selection vision: freeride meets freestyle at its highest level. Craig was joined on the podium by Sam Kush of Canada (second), and Italy’s Marcus Eder (third).

New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (MSC) is reminding trampers to be prepared for autumn conditions when planning their outdoor adventures this Easter. MSC warns that shorter daylight hours, cooler temperatures and unpredictable weather need to be key considerations, particularly for those heading into national parks. All adventurers should plan thoroughly and pack the essentials, MSC chief executive Mike Daisley said. “When choosing a trip, trampers need to consider that summer is over, daylight hours are getting increasingly shorter and temperatures are dropping,” Mike said.“Depending on your fitness and experience, that may mean choosing a shorter tramp.” If heading into a national park, carefully consider the weather.“Regardless of the trip, all trampers need to be ready for all weather, including packing extra warm layers and a waterproof rain jacket, and keeping these easily accessible,” Mike said.“We also highly recommend taking a headtorch and emergency communication device.” Be prepared to alter plans if conditions look unfavourable, Mike said, and when on the track, stick together, check in with each other regularly and continue to stay aware of the weather.“If anyone in your group is fatigued or if the weather deteriorates, it’s crucial to stop and assess the situation, discuss a plan with everyone and turn back if that’s safest,” Mike said “Don't let the arrival of colder weather cloud your judgement by thinking this might be your only chance before winter. Your top priority is always getting home safely.” PHOTO: NZAC

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has received an abatement notice from Otago Regional Council (ORC) over performance of the Hāwea Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) but the council says there are “no adverse effects”.The facility failed to achieve its 12-month rolling mean for nitrogen levels within treated wastewater discharged to its oxidation pond.An abatement notice is issued by a controlling authority when there are violations of environmental laws, regulations, or resource consents, to prevent or remedy adverse environmental effects.QLDC property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery said while the breach and abatement notice are disappointing, environmental monitoring in Hāwea River showed there are no adverse effects associated with the treatment plant’s elevated nitrogen levels.“Treated wastewater is discharged to land either via the facility’s land treatment area or an infiltration trench, both of which are located downstream from Lake Hāwea and ultimately drain through to Hāwea River,” he said. “As a priority, staff are exploring further measures to improve performance and to bring the plant back into full compliance with its consent conditions.”Tony said QLDC had been aware of “fluctuating nitrogen levels” in the treated wastewater and it had attempted to resolve them through upgrades to the facility’s wastewater treatment processes in the “recent past”.“While these changes have resulted in significant improvements, nitrogen remains above consented limits.”Water quality sampling locations Hāwea Wastewater Treatment PlantHāwea’s existing wastewater treatment plant was built in 1998 and upgraded in 2000; but it doesn’t meet current demand and it has breached compliance for many years. Since 2022 loads of waste have been trucked each week from Lake Hāwea’s Longview subdivision to Project Pure - with the cost met by Longview developer Universal Developments.Plans are in place to connect Hāwea to Project Pure/Wānaka Wastewater Treatment Plant, Tony said, part of the wider Upper Clutha Wastewater Conveyance Scheme project, which will see significant investment in wastewater management capacity across both the Hāwea and Wānaka schemes.Funding for this project is included in the adopted QLDC Long Term Plan 2024-2034, with an overall budget of $80.1M which includes approximately $22M of funding from the Infrastructure Acceleration Fund.PHOTO: Supplied

Update: The balloon was successfully launched.Update 10.30am: The balloon is ready for launch - no road closures are expected.A live feed of the launch is available here.Earlier:NASA is preparing to launch a super pressure balloon from Wānaka Airport this morning, (Thursday, April 17).NASA has begun flight preparations and will continue to evaluate real-time and forecast weather conditions throughout the morning. If weather is favourable for launch, lift-off is scheduled between 9am and 1pm.This is the sixth super-pressure balloon campaign held in New Zealand since 2015 and NASA is planning two test flights this year. Two balloons were successfully launched from Wānaka during NASA’s last visit in 2023. Public access to Wānaka Airport and roadside parking beside the airport is not permitted on the morning of the launch attempt. State Highway 6 Wānaka-Luggate Highway from Mt Barker to Church Road and State Highway 8A Shortcut Road will be closed for the launch. Light vehicles may detour via Camp Hill Road. Heavy vehicles will detour via Cemetery Road. A message board will be installed on State Highway 84 notifying of motorists of the closure status.Immediately after lift-off, the balloon will be visible for kilometres around – the best viewing points will be on the hill on the Hāwea side of the Red Bridge by Kane Road or on the Hāwea Flat side of the Clutha River.

Two Wānaka athletes took top spots at the New Zealand and Australia freestyle trampolining championships - the GTGames ANZ - this past weekend, earning them an invitation to the world championships in Barcelona later this year.Blake Hartley (23) and Cole Rasmussen (16) took part in the event at Frankton trampolining facility Site on Friday and Saturday (April 12-13).Blake won the senior category (over 15 years old) and Cole came third.Freestyle trampolining is a relatively new sport, Blake told the Wānaka App. “It started getting popular in the 2000s with people pushing the limits with what was possible on backyard trampolines,” he said.Now there are sponsored freestyle athletes, he said. Freestyle differs from Olympic trampolining, which is “quite strict” and competitors have to follow a certain routine. Freestyle, on the other hand, Blake said, “is for people who just love doing flips and pushing their limits”.At the competition the three judges considered each person’s routine on its difficulty, creativity, and execution.Cole Rasmussen (left) and Blake Hartley (centre) on the podium.“Some people focus on doing the most amount of flips they can,” Blake said. In traditional trampolining events competitors must only do up to three, but in freestyle trampoline “there are no rules”, he said, and the record is nine flips“I’m tall so I focus more on style,” he said. Blake created and was the first person to achieve the ‘shuricutter-in-half-out’ - a double back flip with three kicks and two full three-sixties - which he performed on the weekend. “I think that’s what put me above the rest,” he said.The top three competitors were invited to the world championships in Barcelona this September. Blake hopes to attend, and will be fundraising over the next few months.He is a keen ambassador for trampolining.“Even though it seems like a daunting sport, anyone can get involved with it,” he said. “You don’t have to do it from a little kid - anyone can come and learn a back flip.”PHOTOS: Supplied

Wānaka Police wish everyone “a safe and happy Easter”, Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts says.She warned locals to expect to see increased activity on the roads. “We often see risky driving behaviour as some drivers look to make every minute count, which often means attempting to get to their holiday destinations as quickly as possible,” Fi said.“Drivers and riders who risk the safety of themselves and others can expect that our people will follow through with the appropriate enforcement action…”Tri-agency training dayPolice, Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) and Hato Hone St John held a tri-agency exercise at Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College on Tuesday (April 15). “The training involved emergency services responding to an active armed offender at the college,” Fi said.People in the area would have seen a heavy emergency service presence, but there was no cause for concern, she added. She thanked the volunteers who assisted the teams and the college itself “for allowing our agencies to train and refine our skills and drills in a realistic environment”. Road policingPolice were called to a vehicle accident on Maungawera Road early on Saturday (April 12).“The vehicle flipped in the ditch; fortunately the driver sustained only minor injuries,” Fi said.On Sunday (April 13) a vehicle was stolen from Northlake and later recovered on the Wānaka-Luggate Highway. “We don’t see a lot of car theft, but we ask people to lock your vehicles and remove the keys to remove the opportunity,” Fi said. “Thieves use a range of techniques, but most offending is opportunistic, please help us by mitigating their opportunities.”She advised people to park in well-lit areas and take their keys with them. She also recommended installing an alarm to provide extra security.On Friday (April 11) a 35-year-old male was stopped on Aubrey Road with an elevated blood/breath alcohol (EBA) of 777 mcg - significantly above the legal limit. “He is also facing a charge of driving while disqualified,” Fi said.On the same day a 50-year-old male was stopped on Aubrey Road with an EBA of 317 mcg and a 26-year-old male was stopped on the Wānaka-Luggate Highway with an EBA of 369 mcg.“Daylight savings has ended, the [temperatures] have dropped. Please drive to the conditions,” Fi 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

Tititea Performing Arts Competition adjudicator Dr Sarah Foster-Sproull says she was impressed by the skill of the dancers at a four-day Wānaka dance competition which ended on Monday (April 14).The competition - billed as a celebration of dance - brought together 125 dancers from Wānaka and further afield for the second year in a row.“It was so good to see a community of young, energetic dancers coming together from the lower South Island, with an impressive standard of technical ability and stage presence,” Sarah said.She said the wellbeing of the dances was “a strong focus” throughout the event.The competition was held over four days, starting on Friday April 11.The competition, organised by the Tititea Performing Arts Trust, fosters a welcoming, supportive and enjoyable culture for performers from all backgrounds, geographical areas, and abilities. During the competition more than 600 items were performed by dancers at the Lake Wānaka Centre.Awards were given for achievements in a range of dance categories across all age groups, and categories included ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz, self choreography, and more. On the first day of the competition (Friday April 11), the nomination for the National Young Performer Awards (NYPA) - the pinnacle achievement for many dancers - was held.This year the competition included a hip-hop battle.Isabel Martin (Wānaka), Sophia Hannigan Johnson (Mosgiel), and a troupe from Dance Wānaka were awarded nominations to the NYPA, which will be held in Palmerston North in October.  There were also two ‘firsts’ at the competition this year: a hip-hop battle and the new ‘Adjudicator’s Choice’, which celebrated some of the adjudicator’s favourite performances.Tititea Performing Arts Trust founding trustee Maxine Frazer said there was an “excellent atmosphere” across four days.“We were delighted to see dancers from across the South Island supporting and encouraging each other right throughout the competition. That’s what this is all about.”The event is designed to celebrate dance and the arts in a supportive and encouraging environment.She thanked the dance parents, enthusiasts, supporters, and local businesses involved: “We simply couldn’t have delivered this event without their generosity,” Maxine said.Maxine, together with her co-founding trustees Leigh Cohen, Maria Hearle and Gillian White, are gathering feedback from dancers and parents to help refine next year's competition.PHOTOS: Supplied

A new email-based system to send appointment letters will significantly improve the way Health New Zealand communicates with South Island patients, the agency says. However, to ensure patients receive these communications, they are being asked to not automatically consider them spam but follow the verification process outlined below instead.“Currently, 1.2 million appointment letters are posted annually in the South Island, yet it’s not the most efficient way for patients to receive information promptly or securely," Health NZ regional group manager Kirsty Martin said. "[Starting this week] patients who have previously provided Health NZ with an email address will receive an email prompting them to visit a secure website to validate their email address."Once they have validated their email address, they will receive their future appointment letters by email.” Responding to the email is a simple verification process that will enable Health NZ to send information about appointments and other important health information by secure email. Some appointment information will continue to be sent via post when email is not appropriate, for example when a patient is asked to return information to Health NZ that is relevant to their appointment.The system is being rolled out across most of the South Island, including the Southern District, at present."As well as added security, patients will receive their appointment details faster, [the switch to email] supports environmental sustainability and, depending on the uptake, reduces the cost associated with traditional postal services,” Kirsty said.When patients receive an email they should check their email inbox (and Junk/Spam folders) for a verification email (from [email protected]); click on the link in the email to confirm their email address and to consent to receiving health information electronically; and once verified, they will start receiving appointment letters via email. This service is optional, and patients who prefer traditional mail will continue to receive appointment letters via post.PHOTO: Wānaka App