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Campaigns help share Christmas cheer
Campaigns help share Christmas cheer

06 November 2024, 4:06 PM

Community Link is running Christmas campaigns to help ensure all individuals and families in the Upper Clutha can celebrate this festive season.This year’s theme is ‘everyone CAN make a difference’.The one-stop community support and connection centre is partnering with New World Three Parks from next week (November 11) with the ‘Everyone CAN’ Christmas appeal.Until December 22, customers can donate products in-store at New World Three Parks, with products in specially marked trolleys to make donations simple.In a statement New World Three Parks said Community Link does “incredible work supporting the community and [providing] a helping hand to those going through a rough patch”.The company was pleased to be part of Everyone CAN.Locals can also make donations of toys - which will be passed on to families with children ahead of Christmas - at Wānaka Mitre 10 MEGA.Wānaka Mitre 10 MEGA will have toy collection bins open from tomorrow (November 8) until December 14.Gifts are also being accepted at the Wānaka Community Hub.Community Link general manager Kate Murray said the organisation is also accepting donations for anyone who would like to make a financial contribution ahead of Christmas.“When we all give together it amounts to hundreds of pieces of kindness and every piece of small kindness adds up,” Kate said. “All of the team at Community Link are so incredibly appreciative and grateful of the community’s support of the Christmas Food appeal so every family in the Upper Clutha can enjoy this Christmas to the fullest,” she said.Find more information about donating to Community Link here.PHOTO: Supplied

Jennian NZ Olympic House opened in Wānaka (sponsored)
Jennian NZ Olympic House opened in Wānaka (sponsored)

06 November 2024, 4:05 PM

A unique residential show home helping to fund the New Zealand Team has been officially unveiled in Wānaka.Jennian Homes Wānaka has partnered with the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) on the project with Jennian contributing funds to the NZOC’s Olympic and Commonwealth Games campaigns.The home boasts a stunning vista and magnificent indoor - outdoor flow.“We are delighted to open our new display home in partnership with the New Zealand Team,” Jennian Homes Wānaka owner Nathan Simon said.“The home will provide prospective house builders with new ideas and sustainable housing options as well as support our Winter Olympic athletes who need a base when in Wānaka.” NZOC CEO Nicki Nicol extended her thanks to Jennian Homes Wānaka for making the partnership possible.“We’re really proud to be partnering with Jennian on this project and we thank them for their support of our team,” Nicki said.A bay window in the dining area provides the snuggliest of locations to cozy up while you watch the world go by.The Jennian display home is the first home to be built in the recently opened Kamana Rise Development. It boasts a stunning vista and magnificent indoor - outdoor flow from the 192 sqm – 3 bedroom home. The light filled kitchen and dining areas cleverly borrow light with the installation of a series of Velux roof windows and a bay window provides the snuggliest of locations to cozy up while you watch the world go by.Jennian Homes Wānaka is owned and operated by well-known architectural builder Nathan Simon. Nathan brings a wealth of experience in large architectural builds, custom designs and bespoke homes alongside the Jennian Homes House and Land packages.The new Jennian Homes Wānaka display home is located at 1 Kamana Rise, Wānaka.For more information click here.

Duck Race on this Saturday
Duck Race on this Saturday

06 November 2024, 4:04 PM

The race is on to discover who’s at the top of the pecking order at the Rotary Club of Wanaka’s annual duck race this Saturday (November 9).The event begins at 10am when 1,500 rubber ducks will drop into Bullock Creek for the race to the finish line at the Dinosaur Park.From there they will be closely followed and cheered on - especially by family groups - as they ‘wing’ their way on a down-river adventure.The pluckiest ducks will take home cash prizes.  This annual event has raised more than $15,000 for the Rotary Club of Wānaka in previous years and president Alan Richardson said it is on track to do the same this year.“We’ve been selling duck tickets outside Mitre 10 MEGA and New World Three Parks for the past six weeks,” he said.Alan said that when a person buys a ticket it is represented by a ‘small’ racing duck.“The first ducks across the finish line are the winning tickets,” he said.“We also have a business category where businesses purchase an executive duck for $100.“A feature of the event is the dressing up of the executive ducks with the best dressed winning bragging rights for the next 12 months.”Alan said the executive ducks will be on display at New World Three Parks on Friday (November 8) at 5pm and at the Dinosaur Park on the day of the race.Funds raised will go to the Rotary Club of Wānaka which will then be allocated to needy and worthwhile causes in the community.Subject to availability, tickets will be sold at the Dinosaur Park on race day (Saturday November 9) from 8.30am. Tickets are five dollars for small ducks.The race begins in Bullock Creek on the north side of Brownston Street (opposite the food truck park) at 10am.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Dunedin Hospital petition presented to Parliament
Dunedin Hospital petition presented to Parliament

06 November 2024, 12:08 AM

The government will be urged to ensure the new Dunedin Hospital provides crucial tertiary level health services for the Southern region in a petition being handed over at parliament today (Wednesday November 6).A statement from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) said the current Dunedin Hospital “is in a state of disrepair”.The hospital provides a range of tertiary level health services - including lifesaving care such as surgery and lifesaving and cancer treatments - to patients throughout Otago and the South Island, the NZNO said.The 34,406-signature petition from the NZNO calls for the new hospital to be fully funded as planned after the government in September said it would be scaled back to reduce costs.The proposed downgrades are a false economy, NZNO delegate Linda Smillie said."A scaled back hospital will increase costs over the long term because it will reduce the clinical capacity to care for an increasingly ageing population."Nurses will not be able to provide the appropriate level of care their patients need. This will lead to patient harm and loss of life."Health Action Wānaka (HAW) spokesperson Monique Mayze told the Wānaka App the group supported the NZNO’s advocacy efforts.“Here in the Upper Clutha, we rely on the specialist services delivered in Dunedin because we cannot access many of these services locally,” Monique said.“While some people are suggesting that a reduced spend on the hospital rebuild in Dunedin will translate into more dollars spent on developing healthcare infrastructure in the Central-Lakes area, we don’t believe there is any guarantee of this.”She said even with increased hospital services based in the Central-Lakes area, Upper Clutha residents will continue to require access to more specialised tertiary-level health services based in Dunedin.  “When the new hospital in Dunedin was designed and approved, its scope was based on patient need. That need hasn’t changed. In fact, that need is growing rapidly as our population grows,” she said.NZNO representatives were scheduled to be at Parliament at 12:30pm with the Dunedin City Council delegation led by mayor Jules Radich.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Major South Island civil defence exercise to take place
Major South Island civil defence exercise to take place

05 November 2024, 5:00 PM

Do you have emergency provisions for at least seven to ten days? Civil Defence needs you to know you could be on your own in the wake of a disaster.A major South Island civil defence exercise gets underway this week, with hundreds of people across three regions responding to the aftermath of a major Alpine Fault shake.Experts say the Alpine Fault is overdue a significant shake, of magnitude 8, which would release around 350 times more energy than the 2011 Christchurch quake.The shaking, which lasts for nearly two minutes, finally stops.The Alpine Fault has ruptured over 400km from Fiordland to Lewis Pass, nearly the length of the South Island.The West Coast is completely cut off.Power is out over much of the South Island, and even parts of the North Island.Telecommunications are down.Tens of thousands of visitors and residents - potentially more than 250,000 - are isolated in Queenstown Lakes, parts of Central Otago, the West Coast and Fiordland as roads and rail are damaged or impassable and air travel is suspended.Health services and hospitals struggle to meet demand due to structural damage.A train load of passengers on the Tranzalpine are trapped by landslides.This scenario is nigh on inevitable - overdue by some accounts - and it is one that hundreds of civil defence experts, emergency and military personnel, utility workers and council staff from across the South Island will immerse themselves on Thursday.While it is not possible to predict earthquakes, the AF8 (Alpine Fault magnitude 8) programme, a collaborative project of scientists, local and central government agencies and South Island civil defence and emergency management groups, has found a 75 percent probability of an Alpine Fault earthquake occurring in the next 50 years, and a more than 80 percent chance it will be magnitude 8 or more.The project has examined 8000 years of geological records - one of the world's longest earthquake records - and know the fault has produced a large quake roughly every 300 years. The last one was in 1717.A magnitude 8 earthquake on the Alpine Fault would release around 350 times more energy than 2011's magnitude 6.3 Christchurch earthquake.Phill Mackay, team leader, Regional Emergency Management Canterbury, who will lead the inter-regional civil defence exercise, Operation Pandora. PHOTO: RNZ / Keiller MacDuffFormer firefighter and Regional Emergency Management Canterbury team leader Phill Mackay will be leading the twelve hour exercise.It is a huge operation involving hundreds of people over three regions and has taken months of preparation and planning.Nine South Island councils, the Canterbury regional council and two dozen other agencies, including the defence force and lifeline providers like utility companies will be taking part. The "tabletop" exercise will be controlled from the Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group Emergency Operations Centre office, a purpose built operations room at the heart of Christchurch's Justice and Emergency Services Precinct.The nation's civil defence exercise programme rotates through a four year cycle, from local councils doing local exercises, to regional exercises, to inter-regional events such as this one, involving Canterbury, Marlborough and West Coast civil defence emergency management groups all exercising together, to the fourth level, the national exercise.When the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) held its own exercise, Rū Whenua, earlier this year, they used a nearly identical scenario.While McKay is reluctant to put any potential numbers on the scale of destruction, Rū Whenua's scenario included three different stages, included one six weeks after the quake by which point more than 800 people had died, nearly 12,000 were injured and more than 27,000 people had been displaced.The West Coast and Queenstown were still cut off from the State Highway network, leaving 40,000 people isolated, more than 1500 people without water, and several thousand still without power.AF8's response framework, published in 2018, posits the South to North rupture as the maximum credible event, or MCE, a scenario that represents the most widespread and severe damage possible from an Alpine Fault rupture for the purposes of planning (though "more severe scenarios are also possible").It warns of "highly compromised living conditions from days to months", landslides, rockfalls, liquefaction, damage to buildings, electricity, telecommunications, water, and roads. Other impacts included in the modelling are thousands of minor to moderate injuries, hundreds to thousands serious injuries, hundreds of people potentially trapped, and tens of thousands displaced. Food and fuel supplies will be disrupted, along with agriculture, tourism and industry.AF8 research has thoroughly examined the potential impacts outcomes and vulnerabilities, factoring in hundreds of variables, providing an invaluable tool both for preparedness and for exercises like this one, known as Operation Pandora."That's the beauty of the work that's been done by the AF8 programme over the last seven to eight years - they've given us a realistic, science based scenario, so we can model some of the impacts and consequences. That's enabled us to build this exercise with really robust science and consequences," Mackay said.Mackay said next week's regional exercise was very deliberately set three days after the quake to get past the initial chaos - "families won't know where each other are, workers may not want to come to work, communications and power most likely will be down" - and begin to structure the response."By day three we would be expecting to see support coming out of the North Island and from our international partners ...which is all managed at a national level."Supply lines will be "challenged", power and communication lines will be lost. A lot of people will be trying to relocate themselves on broken roads, while international and domestic tourists could overwhelm airports.The modelling is clear the West Coast won't have power, and while Canterbury's status is a little harder to know, "we should all be planning to be on our own for seven to ten days," Mackay said.That planning frees Civil Defence up to focus on those who most need help, instead of those that are underprepared, he said.But people can become complacent with their emergency supplies, or struggle to afford replacements."It doesn't have to be cupboards full of tinned food and two minute noodles, it could be just knowing where your important documents are, your insurance papers, passport, pet's vaccinations records. Know where your camping gear is. If your family is split up, how would you reconnect without internet? There are lots of little actions you can take to be a little bit more prepared."Personal responsibility is at the core of Mackay's message, something made painfully clear during the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle and the North Island severe weather event."You've got to be responsible for your own actions and your own safety."It becomes "very challenging, very quickly" when disasters strike across a large geographical area."That's going to be the message for Alpine Fault - and to be fair, we need to be saying it more often for a lot more events - is that potentially you will be on your own, because no one can come, sometimes they physically can't come to rescue you."Myself, my team, the civil defence and emergency management sector, can't make New Zealand resilient, we can't make [it] prepared - all we can do is educate people to make themselves prepared."

Crimeline: Crown Range fatality lamented
Crimeline: Crown Range fatality lamented

05 November 2024, 4:06 PM

Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said police went from celebrating a zero road toll over Labour Weekend to lamenting a serious motor vehicle accident on the Crown Range on Sunday (November 3).Sunday’s accident left one person dead and three people seriously injured.It was the third motor vehicle accident on that stretch of road since Labour Weekend, Fi said.She advised people travelling between Wānaka and Queenstown give themselves an extra half hour to take some of the pressure off.Last year the Wānaka App made an official information request to the NZ Police and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency asking about the accident and injury rates on the Crown Range, as well as the most common type of accidents there.The figures from 2000-2023 showed there had been five fatal accidents (and six deaths) on the road, all of them since 2013. The figures showed a total of 460 crashes.Crash Analysis System (CAS) data received at that time showed the crash contributing factors recorded for crashes identified 910 factors in crashes since 2000. (A crash is normally attributed to multiple contributing factors therefore there will be more factors than crashes.)The most cited contributing factor was ‘road factors’, at 228. Next was poor handling (172), inappropriate speed (114), and poor judgement (106).Read more: The Crown Range in numbers: six deaths; 460 accidents, 100kphIn other road policing this past week, two drivers were caught driving without a licence and a 48-year-old male was arrested for driving while disqualified.There have been five cases of EBA (excess breath/blood alcohol) in the past week, with one at 770mgms/litre and four between 250 to 400mgms/litre.Fi advised people who are out enjoying a drink to get a ride home, adding that a taxi fare might be less inconvenient than not having a driver’s licence.In other incidents, a 48-year-old male was arrested for breaching bail. Bail was opposed by police and the man appeared in court on Tuesday (November 5).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

Food rescue charity expands Wānaka operation
Food rescue charity expands Wānaka operation

05 November 2024, 4:04 PM

Food rescue charity Kiwiharvest aims to further expand its rescue network in Wānaka in 2025.The organisation’s Queenstown Lakes base may be over the hill in Queenstown but it has also been redistributing excess food in Wānaka for almost four years.KiwiHarvest Queenstown Lakes branch manager Gary Hough said Kiwiharvest collects from New World Three Parks, New World Wānaka and Woolworths Metro twice each week.The food is dropped off to Food for Love, Community LINK Food bank and Kahu Youth, Gary said.Gary said six “local legends” - Phillipa Jones, Martin Hill, Kit South, Barry South, Craig Sudron and Myra Van Den Begen - had significantly bolstered Kiwiharvest’s local operation.“They all give up time and use their own vehicles to make collections and drop-offs on a Tuesday and Friday,” he said.“Since they started our twice weekly collections there in early 2023 they have rescued 15,000 kilos of food from ending up in landfill and that equates to over 34,000 meals worth of food being redistributed to the three charities there for free.” Next year Kiwiharvest will be providing the local team with a Kiwiharvest refrigerated truck and an e-bike and trailer to make collections and drop-offs easier.It is also looking to expand its collection in Wānaka to include cafes.Kiwiharvest’s mission is to tackle food waste and promote food security throughout New Zealand.Find ways to get involved here.PHOTO: KiwiHarvest

Scholarships recognise excellence for MAC students 
Scholarships recognise excellence for MAC students 

05 November 2024, 4:00 PM

Twenty-one Te Kura O Titea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) students are set to begin their further education and training with financial support from Central Lakes Trust (CLT).CLT distributed scholarships valued at $2,500 each to the MAC students and another 47 high school students from Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes at a ceremony last month.In total, the scholarships are worth a combined $170,000.The selection process, managed by six secondary schools in the CLT region, evaluated candidates on more than just grades, CLT chair Linda Robertson said."Success takes many forms," Linda said. "By looking at students' overall achievements and qualities, we recognise excellence across all aspects of life." At the ceremony, which took place in Cromwell, guest speaker Sarb Johal shared insights on how AI is shaping the world both in opportunity and responsibility, Linda said.CLT has been distributing high education scholarships to Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes students for the past 18 years."Including this year’s allocation, we’ve supported 634 young people with scholarships of more than $1.8 million,” Linda said.MAC recipients this year included Coco Bentley, Eva Gilbertson, Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills, Ruby Ives, Anton Jones, Zoe Laws, Annika Massey, Ben McMurray, Josh Moody, Baxter Pollard, Lena Pollard, Abbey Ragg, Daisy Sanders, Ella Sarginson, Tom Sides, Hugo Sinclair, Zavier Taylor, Tai Treadwell-Burke, Sophie Walsh, Annie Wells, and Lily Wilson.CLT is a charitable trust that offers financial support for charitable initiatives, including monthly grants to a range of organisations.Its goal is to improve the lives of residents in Central Lakes and create lasting positive impacts in the region. Learn more about CLT here.PHOTO: Supplied

‘Stand-out’ applicant appointed to QAC board
‘Stand-out’ applicant appointed to QAC board

05 November 2024, 3:59 PM

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has appointed experienced business and governance professional Dr Don Elder to Queenstown Airport Corporation’s (QAC) board of directors. Mayor Glyn Lewers said Don, who was appointed on October 30 at the QAC AGM after approval by councillors at a recent meeting, was a “stand-out candidate with a wealth of experience and knowledge”.“His long governance experience in transport, infrastructure and major projects, energy, construction, finance, tech startups and risk management will add further depth to the board’s expertise in key areas as the airport continues to deliver for our community and visitors.”Queenstown Airport is a Council-Controlled Trading Organisation (CCTO) with two shareholders: Queenstown Lakes District Council (75.1 percent) and Auckland Airport (24.9 percent).  Don fills a vacant position on the board following the internal election of Simon Flood as chair in September. Simon had replaced Adrienne Young-Cooper who stepped down from the board after completing the maximum number of terms under QAC’s constitution.Don said he was excited to join the board.“The strategic future of Queenstown Airport is intrinsically linked with the future of our district and wider region,” he said. “QAC’s ten-year plan describes an innovative airport that serves the region well. I’m looking forward to supporting my colleagues on the board and the management team in delivering this vision for QAC’s shareholders and the local community.” Don’s current directorships include Pioneer Energy, Wenita Forestry, Canterbury Seismic, and several social service charities.   In addition to his appointment, two existing QAC directors – Andrew Blair and Mike Tod – were reappointed at the AGM.PHOTO: Supplied

Filipino teacher named as Crown Range crash victim
Filipino teacher named as Crown Range crash victim

04 November 2024, 10:30 PM

Tributes have been paid to a Filipino teacher killed in a crash on the Crown Range on Sunday (November 3).Married mother-of-three Joyce Fesico, known as Madoy, was on holiday in New Zealand, attending her niece's wedding.She died on the mountain pass in a two-car crash shortly before 4pm. Three other people were seriously injured, while others sustained moderate and minor injuries.A Givealittle page, created by her sister Mia De Los Santos (O'Riley) to fund repatriation, says she had dedicated her life to teaching high school students in Baao Camarines Sur for many years."She was actually due to retire comes January and was looking forward to endless days with family and love of gardening," it reads."Whilst she was enjoying her short visit to New Zealand, she refrained from posting pictures as our province got ravaged by floods a week prior to her untimely death. She deemed it inappropriate and insensitive."She was kind, considerate, chill, and funny. She was our confidante. She leaves behind a husband, three children and many grieving family, friends, and students."Dozens of her pupils have posted tributes online."Hello Mommy Joyce, also known as Ma'am Joyce Fesico, thank you for teaching us, thank you for being our second mother, thank you for telling and sharing your story that helps us grow our knowledge about life," one reads."Your way of teaching is very special. You taught us how to fight, not physically, but mentally. Your lessons will always be unforgettable, and we will always carry them until our last breath. You've been an exceptional teacher for caring about your students and treating them like your own kids. Our memories with you will be special and unforgettable."Police have not yet formally confirmed her identity. The Serious Crash Unit examined the scene for several hours.PHOTO: Facebook

Empowering the next generation of emergency responders
Empowering the next generation of emergency responders

04 November 2024, 4:04 PM

Youth Search and Rescue (YSAR) is opening a branch in Wānaka next year, and the organisation is seeking applications to the three-year programme from the next generation of emergency responders.YSAR is a New Zealand charity dedicated to helping secondary students build personal, life, and leadership skills through hands-on authentic training, YSAR NZ branch support specialist Kelly Hoskin told the Wānaka App.She said the organisation’s purpose is to empower the next generation of community volunteers within the search and rescue and emergency management sectors.“It's a three-year journey that empowers young people to gain emergency management skills, build career pathways, and make life-long friends,” Kelly said.“It is really exciting to get things up and running in Central Otago.” YSAR’s youth development and training programme is offered to secondary school aged students in the classroom, on site with sector partners, and in the outdoors. The programme is delivered via Wednesday evening classroom sessions throughout the first three school terms, reinforced by six practical weekend exercises (which include formal courses with sector partners such as Coastguard and LandSAR) throughout the year and culminating in an end of year exercise. The young members are “the next generation of community volunteers”.Students learn skills such as bushcraft, first aid, search and rescue techniques, geospatial mapping, and leadership skills. Kelly (who is based in Alexandra) said YSAR is relatively new to the South Island with the Dunedin and Christchurch branches welcoming their first cohorts at the start of this year.The Wānaka branch manager will be Aaron Power. Applications are open now for the programme, which starts in February 2025. Young people aged 14-15 who are interested in finding out more or applying for the programme can find more information here. PHOTOS: Supplied

Summit aims to guide talented musicians
Summit aims to guide talented musicians

04 November 2024, 4:00 PM

Registrations open this week for the Wānaka non-profit music summit Youth + Adults in the Music Industry (YAMI).YAMI has earned a reputation for bringing top musical talent and industry heavyweights to its summits, and it is preparing to celebrate 10 years of delivering the Wānaka event at the 2025 summit, which will take place on May 3-4.Past summits have featured Troy Kingi, Anika Moa, Ladi6, Barnaby Weir, Tiki Taane, Moana Maniapoto, Jon Toogood, Julia Deans, Anna Coddington, Dave Dobbyn, Kings, and Bella Kalolo, as well as members of The Beths, L.A.B., Fat Freddy's Drop, and Shapeshifter.Next year's lineup will be announced in February but pre-registrations have already opened and tickets for places to the summit will go on sale this Thursday (November 7).Participants are taught how to navigate the music industry with workshop and seminar topics covering performance, DJing, songwriting, beatmaking, royalties and distribution, marketing and management.The biennial summit was the first to welcome rangatahi and adults, with 10 years old being the minimum age to attend.Most of the crew are volunteers, and YAMI director Lynne Christie acknowledged that support from the music industry was vital. “The tutors and speakers are incredibly generous with their time and knowledge,” she said. “They are able to tap into focussed hacks that guide talented creatives to the next level.”Yami ambassador Barnaby Weir (The Black Seeds, Fly My Pretties) said he was proud to have supported the summit since its beginnings in 2014. “It's not easy in the creative industries. This summit shows the participants that there is a network, there is support,” he said.Funding applications are underway, and registrations for YAMI open this week.

Maccas proposal vetoed by QLDC planner 
Maccas proposal vetoed by QLDC planner 

04 November 2024, 5:30 AM

A council planner has recommended the proposed Wānaka McDonald’s restaurant be turned down weeks ahead of a hearing to decide whether it can set up shop in Wānaka.More than 300 members of the public have already asked in public submissions that the McDonald’s be refused, with thousands more adding their names to an online petition against it.It will be up to independent commissioners at a hearing at the end of the month to have the final say on whether McDonald’s Restaurants NZ can set up a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week restaurant and drive- through at Mt Iron Junction.In the meantime Queenstown Lakes District Council senior planner Andrew Woodford has added his voice to the chorus of opposition in a recently released council report.Andrew said the proposed 445m2 McDonald’s, which would be built on rural-zoned land at the foot of Outstanding Natural Feature (ONF) Mt Iron had a handful of “primary issues”.They included the proposal’s effect on the rural character of the zoning, its “lack of integration into the site”, which he said “detracts” from the Mt Iron ONF, and other “adverse visual effects”.The development, “urban in nature and scale”, does not respond appropriately to the context and location, he said.While members of the ‘No-McDonald’s’ camp may support Andrew’s argument, he disagreed with many of the reasons submitters gave to oppose the McDonald’s - including the impact on local business and view that it would have a negative impact on Wānaka’s image as a whole.It was “a matter of personal choice for customers as to where they may wish to purchase food”, he said, and hard to quantify the “potential adverse effects on the Wānaka image or ‘vibe’”. “If submitters are solely concerned that McDonald’s could be established in Wānaka, then such a development could occur as of right subject to zoning provisions either in Three Parks or the Wānaka Town Centre…”.Read more: Maccas: ‘Spoiling the community’, ‘providing opportunities’McDonald’s plans for a Wānaka restaurant became public in November last year and the response has been deeply divided.During public consultation earlier this year 340 people made submissions opposing a Wānaka McDonald’s and just 21 made submissions in support of it.Common themes in formal submissions among people who oppose the proposal were concerns about litter and packaging, the financial impact on local food businesses, the nutritional value of McDonalds’ food, and the visual effect of the McDonald’s restaurant and signage at the ‘entrance’ to Wānaka.The much smaller group who supported the proposal in formal submissions said it would provide employment opportunities, a rare alcohol-free environment for families, and an affordable option for takeaways.More than 100 submitters plan to speak at the upcoming hearing, which will begin on November 25 and could last up to four days.While the hearing will be over by the end of the month a final decision on the proposal won’t be made until after post-hearing deliberations by the commissioners.PHOTO: Supplied

The Goods on Real Estate: mind ‘the gap’ (Real Estate Blog)
The Goods on Real Estate: mind ‘the gap’ (Real Estate Blog)

04 November 2024, 4:00 AM

In real estate we're always dealing with a gap between vendor expectation and buyer demand. But it's the size of that gap that is critical to the momentum in the market.At the beginning of 2021, the gap was small because we had a climbing local market and a fear of missing out (FOMO) scenario amongst buyers. We saw quite aggressive bidding and buying, so ‘the gap’ was small. In mid-2022 buyer interest dropped considerably in the Upper Clutha and there was a small price correction to the median sell price. But like any classic control system theory, there's always an overshoot on that asking price where vendor expectations don't correct as quickly as the market does, and we end up with quite a sizable gap between vendor expectation and where the market's sitting. That's basically what we've been dealing with since mid-22.So what's interesting in the last two to three months is that we have seen ‘the gap’ reduce, which means vendors are coming back in line with buyer expectations. There is a realisation that to move on and sell their property the vendor may have to adjust expectations. With interest rates coming back, we're also seeing buyer demand pick up so ‘the gap’ is closing from both sides and that's a nice thing to see in real estate because the most efficient market is one where expectation and demand are aligned as closely as possible.Asking price v selling price - 'the gap' - REINZNew boutique sub-divisionA new boutique sub-division that will appeal to many buyers is Bremner Park on the corner of Eely Point Road and Kidson Lane, right down in the heart of the ‘golden triangle’. It's a beautiful land parcel with some lovely established trees.The public release for the subdivision will come online in the coming weeks, but we do have the opportunity for buyers to purchase now.This is a great opportunity to get in early and secure something truly unique to the Wānaka area. Ray White Wānaka is situated at Sir Tim Wallis Drive Wānaka. Find out more here.

Easter trading policy up for discussion
Easter trading policy up for discussion

03 November 2024, 4:06 PM

Should shops in Queenstown Lakes be allowed to open on Easter Sunday?Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) wants members of the public to weigh in on this question, to help inform its proposed draft Easter Sunday Shop Trading Policy 2025.Easter Sunday is a restricted trading day under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990 (Act) which requires shops to remain closed, except for certain shops under certain conditions. However, shops in Queenstown Lakes have been allowed to trade on Easter Sunday since 2017 because of an amendment to the Act which enabled councils to adopt policies to permit shops to open on Easter Sunday. QLDC’s Easter Sunday Shop Trading Policy in 2017 has now expired.Council staff are proposing the new policy allows all shops to open on Easter Sunday again.Allowing shops to open supports local businesses who benefit from tourist trade and provides greater options for the large volume of visitors to the district over this time period, council staff said.It is only applicable to Easter Sunday and does not include Good Friday or Easter Monday.The policy would also not apply to the sale or supply of alcohol, which is regulated under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.Copies of the draft Easter Sunday Shop Trading Policy 2025 and submission information can be found online here, at QLDC offices and all libraries.The final policy is expected to be presented to councillors for adoption in March 2025.Public input closes on November 30.PHOTO: Supplied

Exhibition to support Aitutaki environmental project
Exhibition to support Aitutaki environmental project

03 November 2024, 4:04 PM

Wastebusters is taking its zero waste expertise to the island of Aitutaki to help identify waste minimisation actions that will help protect the natural environment. The initiative to support the island, located 250km north of Rarotonga, was sparked after Reset Urban Design co-director Garth Falconer completed a spatial plan for Aitutaki.Garth said Wānaka and Aitutaki share the growing challenges of waste management in communities that welcome significant numbers of tourists each year.He approached Wastebusters about collaborating with Aitutaki for positive environmental outcomes and to help build on the small recycling scheme on the island and was met with a resounding ‘yes’. Wastebusters' advisory role will focus on recommending tangible action for the local communities and visitors to take positive steps towards waste minimisation and protecting the natural beauty of Aitutaki, Wastebusters’ business development manager Sophie Ward said. “We’re excited to be part of this initiative and to have the opportunity to work with Aitutaki’s government, businesses, and community leaders to develop waste minimisation strategies tailored to their needs.”While the project has been endorsed by all involved, there is no public funding for it.As a first step in fundraising for the project, Garth is holding a fundraiser exhibition early next month.The exhibition, to be held at Pembroke Wine and Spirits on November 11, will feature 12 of the established artist’s oil paintings. All proceeds from the exhibition will go towards the Aitutaki project.The exhibition will take place from 5pm and all are welcome.Wastebusters is also accepting donations and, as a registered charity, it can provide tax receipts for any donations.Sophie said both Wastebusters and Aitutaki will benefit from the project.“With many people from Wānaka and Aotearoa visiting Aitutaki, this partnership offers a chance to reinforce the connections and shared values between our regions, focusing on local strengths and exchanging knowledge to create effective solutions.”PHOTO: Reset Urban Design 

Wānaka Pride: week to celebrate inclusivity
Wānaka Pride: week to celebrate inclusivity

03 November 2024, 4:00 PM

Wānaka Pride Week will take place this month, and has expanded from a one-day event to a full week celebrating love, joy and inclusivity, organisers say.The event, organised by OUT&About Wānaka, will run from November 11-17, with film screenings, a living library, pride bingo, drag karaoke and more, before the “highlight of the week”, the Pride Street Party on Saturday (November 16).Festival director Oliver Harcus said Out&About Wānaka had created Wānaka Pride Week to “make sure our rainbow rangatahi feel seen and celebrated”.Festivities will kick off on Monday November 11 with the Queer Film Festival, showcasing a selection of New Zealand and Australian short films, and the following day a ‘Living Library’ will provide an opportunity for participants to hear from local rainbow community members.Other events include a free rainbow awareness training session On Friday (November 15), hosted by Pride Pledge, which is designed to build understanding and support for the rainbow community. Also on Friday is Pride Bingo, hosted by Lady Bubbles, and later in the night “glitzy performances” at Drag Karaoke.The Pride Street Party will return on Saturday (November 16), featuring three stages, food trucks, face painting, and performances from local artists including poets, musicians, comedians, dancers, and drag queens.With whānau-friendly activities and a welcoming, safe, atmosphere, it is the biggest event of Pride Week and a must-attend for everyone in the community, Oliver said.The celebration is taking place to “make sure our rainbow rangatahi feel seen and celebrated”, festival director Oliver Harcus said.Night-owls can continue on to the Pride After Dark party on Saturday night, which will feature performances by DJs, GoGo dancers, drag queens, aerialists, and burlesque performers.Oliver said the last year had been a “huge journey” for OUT&About Wānaka, which has evolved in the last year from a grassroots organisation to a registered charity delivering a large-scale event.“A massive thank you to everyone who's helped bring Pride Week to life,” Oliver said. “We can’t wait to share this incredible week with you all.”Find the full lineup and ticket information at the Out&AboutWanaka Facebook page here.PHOTOS: Deanna Gerlach 

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