About 130 residents packed the Presbyterian Church in Cromwell on Tuesday night (August 26) to discuss a proposed gold mine in the Dunstan Range that opponents warn could alter the character of the region and cause irreversible environmental damage. The meeting, organised by Sustainable Tarras in collaboration with Forest & Bird and the Central Otago Environmental Society, was framed as reflecting widespread frustration at a lack of information from Santana Minerals, the company behind the proposed mine, which is seeking approval through a fast-track consenting process. Meeting facilitator Mark Sinclair said it had been left to volunteers to try to piece together the pieces of the puzzle for members of the public, and the turnout at the meeting reflected strong community interest. “There’s a significant turnout here tonight for a community the size of Cromwell…that’s because people really care about the issues we’re going to discuss tonight,” he said. Speakers challenged claims by Santana Minerals the mine would be minimally visible, with Mark highlighting chief executive Damian Spring’s remark the project would be like “a chip in your windscreen from the road”.  Visuals presented at the meeting indicating the mine would have a far greater impact on the landscape than claimed drew audible gasps from the audience. Rob van der Mark, a local vineyard owner speaking for Sustainable Tarras, said the mine would alter the region’s character, changing it from “100 percent pure” to “100 percent industrial gold mining”. He warned the approval of one mine could lead to "a free-for-all" that could threaten “what we know and love about Central Otago”. Rob also raised concerns about the proposed tailings dam - full of “chemical-laden slurry” - and its risk to local aquifers and waterways, and dust dispersal in a gully where the wind is known by locals to move through like a “freight train”. He claimed the mining company was repeatedly attempting to “fly under the radar”, not being proactive in releasing its own reports and requesting non-notified consenting processes for subsidiary activities. Matt Sole, the co-chair of the Central Otago Environmental Society, described the long-term environmental legacy of open-cast mining: “Huge opencast pits cut into the Dunstan Range….That’s not a price we should be asking our children and grandchildren to pay,” he said.  He highlighted alternative economic opportunities, including slow tourism, boutique accommodation, and the local wine and food industries, describing residents as “kaitiaki, guardians of this ‘World of Difference’.” Tourism expert Professor James Higham, who contributed via a recorded presentation, said research confirmed Central Otago residents valued “stunning open spaces...undisturbed mountains...largely untamed nature”, and these qualities were all threatened by extractive industries.  He warned of reputational risks to the region’s tourism, wine, horticulture, and creative sectors, and said mine impacts would be largely irreversible.  “Restoration measures would merely skirt around the edges. The major impacts cannot be undone ever,” he said. Rob Enright, a Wānaka-based barrister advising on the fast-track consent for Port of Tauranga’s proposed container wharf extension involving land reclamation, explained that the fast-track process is “very stacked in favour of the applicants…that’s just the nature of the beast”. He said the accelerated process compresses what, for a complex project like a gold mine, could be a three-year assessment under the Resource Management Act into roughly six months, with limited rights of appeal. It is his view a central element of the fast-track process is demonstrating regional or national benefits, and he questioned how the cost-benefit analysis will be assessed and to what extent the applicant must prove their case.  He suggested this could be a key factor in whether the project proceeds. At the end of the meeting, a question-and-answer session allowed attendees to put their concerns directly to the panel of speakers. One resident described the fast-track process as “a stitch-up”, limiting public input, while others sought clarification on who is considered an adjacent property entitled to participate under the legislation. Others queried who would benefit economically versus who would bear the environmental costs. Audience members also raised concerns about dust and air quality, with one describing conditions in mining towns as “thick grey dust … big wafts of it … it’s just everywhere”. A former geologist in the audience, with experience in the gold-mining industry, raised concerns about tailings dams, noting, in his experience, "these things do leak”. Santana Minerals CEO respondsSpeaking to the Central App on Wednesday, Santana Minerals chief executive Damian Spring addressed concerns raised at the meeting. On community information, he said: “We’re very mindful of making sure that when we’re putting stuff out there, that we’re really robust about it, understand it, and are comfortable to share it. Those parts are still moving, but when we land on it, then we’ll push it out into that public space.”Damian said the company has completed a series of studies with landscape architects.“I can categorically say that the visualisation I saw last night looks nothing like the visualisation that these experts have created,” he said, referring to an image of the proposed mine site as seen from across Lake Dunstan. An image depicting the area of the proposed mine was challenged by Santana Minerals boss Damian Spring.He explained his previous “chip in the windscreen” remark was intended to give context to the scale of the Dunstan Mountains, which cover 90,000 hectares, of which roughly 600 hectares would be disturbed by the proposed mine.On the project’s cost-benefit analysis, Damian said he is confident data will show the mine’s regional and national economic impacts are commensurate with the impacts on the surrounding environment and the project provides net benefits. He also rejected claims about potential contamination of surrounding waterways from arsenic or cyanide, saying: “Our experts need to demonstrate that we are able to manage the effects with proven technology and methods…and that’s because the regulator’s experts will be expecting that. We will essentially be a zero-discharge site during operations.”Damian said he attended the meeting to hear views from the community.“Sustainable Tarras [says it speaks] for the community, but I struggle with coming up with a definition for community because it’s so diverse. I thought it was a view from the community that was worth listening to.”IMAGES: The Central App

A series of podcasts presenting council and mayoral candidates in the upcoming local body elections is now available live on Youtube.The Inside Voices podcasts are designed to be more light-hearted than investigative, driven by gentle curiosity rather than a political grilling and encouraging candidates to reveal the people behind the politics.Podcast producer Esther Whitehead said she was aiming for optimism and realism in equal measure - “a conversation that goes beyond policy to explore the people behind the campaign flyers.”“It's like having a virtual cuppa with candidates, with them all answering the same open questions across a 20-to-30-minute chat each,” she said."I wanted to create something that helps our community understand the role of councillors and the real people standing as candidates, and provide media which is accessible and different to candidate debates.”Topics covered include the candidates’ motivation to stand for council; what world views shape their decisions; and what are their beliefs about leadership and collaboration. “[We] keep things low-key and human. No ‘gotcha’ moments – just a chance to connect with people in a different way,” she said.Esther conducted similar interviews three years ago during the last council elections but only with mayoral candidates.This time she’s expanded the pool by asking all council candidates to participate as well as the mayoral candidates, and so far 23 out of the 25 have recorded interviews.Already the podcasts have been viewed more than 500 times since they went live on Monday (August 25).Esther has served as a Queenstown Lakes District councillor for the Queenstown-Whakatipu Ward since she was elected in a by-election in June 2021, but has chosen not to stand again this year. Back in 2021 she was excited by the potential direction local government was heading in but that enthusiasm has waned in recent months and, for a variety of reasons, she’s no longer “prepared to put her head above the parapet”.She has a job outside council: “I’ve done my dash for the community and now I’d like to invest my energy where I feel it will be best spent,” she said.View the videos here: Candidate Videos.PHOTO: Wānaka App

More than 4,000 Upper Clutha residents have been helped by a free mental health and wellbeing support programme which marks five years this month.The Access and Choice programme - known locally as Tōku Oranga - is delivered through general practices.Funded by Te Whatu Ora and delivered by WellSouth, the programme embeds health improvement practitioners (HIPs), health coaches and support workers into the practices, offering 20-30-minute sessions at no cost. Since it began in August 2020, the programme has delivered more than 175,000 sessions to more than 56,000 people in the Southern region.Between Wānaka Medical Centre and Aspiring Medical Centre, the Access and Choice team has delivered nearly 11,500 sessions to more than 4,000 people since the programme launched in August 2020, a WellSouth spokesperson told the Wānaka App.“HIPs saw people predominantly for low mood, anxiety, generalised stress, sleep and relationship issues,” she said. “The health coach typically supported people around their physical wellbeing, weight and healthy lifestyles as well as smoking cessation.”Access and Choice programme lead Genevieve Obbeek said the programme has “changed the way we respond to mental health and wellbeing in primary care”. “People can get support early, in the places they already trust, without long waits or unnecessary barriers. There’s no wrong reason to come and see one of our team - any door is the right door, and it’s free.”The programme has helped bridge critical gaps in the health system by offering timely, practical support for people experiencing mental distress, stress, or life challenges, Genevieve said. It has also played a key role in improving equity, with services tailored to better meet the needs of Māori, Pacific, youth, and other underserved populations.In addition to individual sessions, Access and Choice has introduced group workshops and proactive wellbeing initiatives that help people learn practical skills, connect with others, and stay well. The programme has also been named as a finalist for the 2025 New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards.Find out more about how to access support here.PHOTO: Supplied

The MetService has issued an Orange heavy rain warning for the headwaters of Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea from 3am-12pm Thursday August 28.An active front moving over the South Island on Thursday is expected to bring heavy rain and strong north to northeast winds.Expect 100 to 120 mm of rain near the main divide and 60 to 80 mm within 20km east of the divide. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h expected about the divide.Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.Anyone heading into Mt Aspiring National Park is advised to take extra care or delay travel.

Work to upgrade the supply and treatment of Luggate’s drinking water is now underway and will provide access to a new water source through two new bores, a new water storage facility, and a new ultraviolet (UV) treatment plant for the township.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) property & infrastructure general manager Tony Avery said the upgrades were initially set for 2028, but it made sense to accelerate delivery of the new infrastructure when introducing a protozoa barrier (UV disinfection) for the township this year.“The new treatment plant will ensure drinking water in Luggate remains safe and achieves compliance, and new bores will help to provide enough water to meet the needs of this growing community,” Tony said.“The project also includes development of a new long-term reservoir site up by Wānaka Airport, which will eventually include significantly increased storage capacity as part of future investment in the area.”He said some disruptions should be expected around Luggate while work is undertaken, including temporary traffic management, construction machinery movements, and possibly additional noise and vibrations in the area.The northbound lane on Church Street will be closed 24 hours a day for approximately four weeks starting from Monday September 1, so crews can excavate and trench for the installation of new water supply pipes in the area.Resident access for properties on Church Street near SH6 will be maintained, and a detour for all other northbound traffic will be in place using Shortcut Road.The protozoa barrier (UV disinfection) is expected to be operating in time for Christmas this year, and all remaining work completed by February 2026.Fulton Hogan will undertake the work.PHOTO: Wānaka App

The past week has been a busy one for Wānaka Police, who have dealt with numerous scams, search and rescue alerts, suspicious fires, and more.“Police have received numerous fraud related reports,” Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said.Generally speaking the most common scams are people selling non-existent goods on Facebook Marketplace and/or Instagram, and buyers transferring money and not receiving the goods purchased, she said.“An elderly member of our community reported being scammed out of a significant amount of money. They received a phone call from a fraudster pretending to be from Spark and said that he was testing the internet speed.  “Unfortunately, the trusting complainant followed their instructions and was able to take complete control of their computer and remove funds. Please be vigilant.”In other incidents, a female was trespassed from New World Dunmore Street on Wednesday (August 20) as a result of historic shoplifting.  Police held concerns for a missing 15-year-old, reported missing from her home in Wānaka on Friday (August 22). She was located safe and well.Police and FENZ (fire and emergency) responded to suspicious fire(s) on the Hāwea River Track at the Albert Town Campground on Monday (August 25). Fi asked anyone with information or sightings of suspicious activity to call police, quoting P063598849. LandSAR (search and rescue) responded to two people who got into difficulty in the Motatapu Track area walking towards Fern Burn Hut on Saturday (August 23).“They walked up a rough track and got to a reasonably high altitude before reaching the limit of their capabilities. They had to be extracted by a LandSAR ACR team and were recovered safely,” Fi said.A member of the public reported concerns for a female who had signed into the Brewster Hut book on Friday (August 22) saying she would return to collect her gear after climbing Mt Armstrong. Gear was left in the hut but the woman had not signed out. Police enquiries located the woman safe and well, Fi said.In road policing, speed remains a major factor in poor driving behaviour.Last Wednesday (August 20) a rental vehicle failed to give way when turning right onto Golf Course Road, colliding with an oncoming vehicle. There were no injuries and moderate damage to the front of both vehicles, Fi said.The Impairment Prevention Team was in town on Friday (August 22), and while a lot of people were tested, none converted into evidential procedures at the checkpoints. “Great to see responsible people making the right choices when it comes to drinking and driving,” Fi said.“The same could not be said for a 19-year-old male … who was the driver of a Mazda motor vehicle on Helwick Street.“He had two passengers in the car with him. He initially denied having consumed alcohol. He failed a passive breath test and underwent evidential breath alcohol procedures and will be appearing in Queenstown District Court on 5 September.”Police attended a single vehicle crash at Timaru Creek Road on Saturday (August 23). The vehicle lost traction, slid into the bank, and rolled onto its side. There were no injuries.Police received multiple calls for driving behaviour to and from the ski fields. Fi reminded people to slow down and drive to the conditions. “Expect us to follow up with driving complaints,” she said.Fi warned that snow, ice and black ice remain in the area; people should carry chains and know when and how to fit them.“Despite signs and road warnings from Queenstown Lakes District Council that chains must be fitted/carried, some motorists choose to ignore warnings. Our mountain passes are not the places to be complacent,” she said.A steady stream of lost property comes through the police drop box, and the Station Support Officer (SSO) “does a great job reuniting property with people” for people who submit a report online, Fi said.Call 111 when you need an emergency response from police, fire or ambulance.Call 105 to make a non-emergency report. To make an anonymous crime report contact Crime Stoppers. PHOTO: Wānaka App

A second round of community consultation on the future of Wānaka Airport, designed to refine the public opinions already received, begins this week with drop in sessions at the airport and the Wānaka Rec Centre.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is seeking further feedback from the community and stakeholders to evaluate the conflicting information gleaned from public submissions made in June and July this year.The drop in sessions will present potential scenarios for the airport’s future use and the participants will be encouraged to ask questions and share their views to help form the next steps.In July 2024 QLDC signalled its intention to develop a long-term plan for Wānaka Airport, and engaged consultants Egis to undertake the Wānaka Airport future review, considering its long-term role, its economic impact and its integration into NZ’s broader aviation network.An Egis project team identified a series of possible scenarios for the airport’s potential future based on the feedback from the two initial public sessions held in June, (which attracted 180-200 participants) and over 260 online submissions.A summary of the submissions indicated there was overwhelming support for the current uses and users of the airport and the possibility of attracting links to other NZ centres, such as Christchurch, Wellington or Auckland.The most important outcomes identified for the airport’s future listed connectivity, recreational activity, and employment, and that the airport should be financially self-sustaining.There were also a number of respondents who opposed further airport development.Egis aviation lead Kerr Forbes said the initial public engagement produced a strong response from the community, stakeholders and representative groups.“We are now seeing distinct scenarios that describe different potential future uses of the airport.”The new consultation round will test both mutually exclusive scenarios as well as some complimentary options on the airport’s future.“Airports are critical infrastructure that serve communities, so I encourage anyone with an interest in the future of Wānaka Airport to take part,” Kerr said.Drop-in sessions will be held on this Friday (August 29) from 4.00pm–7.00pm at Alpine Helicopters, 10 Lloyd Dunn Ave, Wānaka Airport; and Saturday (August 30) from 9.00am–12.00pm at the Wānaka Recreation Centre meeting room, Three Parks.Online feedback will open on Friday, August 29 and run until Thursday, September 18 for those unable to attend the sessions.PHOTO: Supplied

In anticipation of a cycle trail along the Clutha River linking Wānaka and Cromwell, the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust (UCTT) is preparing a ‘gateway’ trail to Wānaka.Trust chairman David Howard said this week the trust plans to develop a new four-kilometre track along the Cardrona River from The Hook upstream to the one-lane Ballantyne Rd bridge.It would connect to the previously existing but now washed out track which connects the Clutha to Hook.The track would be the initial stage of a track which will eventually link the Clutha River to The Larches on Cardrona Valley Road, via the Cardrona riverbed.David said it would include the short section linking the Clutha River track to SH6 and the entrance to Wānaka.He said the track would be “the start or finish of the long-discussed recreation track further up the Cardrona River, eventually providing access for walkers and cyclists to the start of the Department of Conservation's Little Criffel Track leading to the top of the Pisa Range”.The Trust this month applied to Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) for resource consent for the ‘gateway’ trail - from Hook to Ballantyne Road, and UCTT member John Wellington said he was delighted after many years of talk and many months of planning it had reached this point.“It's fantastic to finally begin the process,” John said.Some parts of the track towards Little Criffel already exist but about 6.35km of new track would need to be formed. IMAGE: SuppliedDavid said the lower part of the river margin was ''a bit shabby'' with low ecological values according to the UCTT's ecological survey.“'It has the potential to be so much more. Creating the track will be a great way to improve recreation and conservation opportunities in the Upper Clutha's outdoor spaces.”Some parts of the track towards Little Criffel already exist but about 6.35km of new track would need to be formed.It would cross river terraces, follow 4WD tracks in places, pass by indigenous vegetation, and pass through areas of lupins, willows, and poplars.The track would be at a distance from the river to avoid users damaging the river environment.Prior to construction, an ecologist would determine the track's final alignment.It is expected the new track would have a similar surface to the existing track along Lake Dunstan at Pisa Moorings.John said affected landowners, government agencies, and the trust had come together to formulate the application.However, while he was aware of enthusiasm in some quarters for the track to eventually continue right through to Cardrona, he said any such plans for a track beyond Little Criffel would only be at the invitation of the local Cardrona community and landowners.The trust's application is seeking a restricted discretionary activity resource consent and John said he hoped to hear from QLDC by October.The initial section of track to Ballantyne Rd would cost $180,000 and fund raising can begin once consent is granted.

A $43,000 fence is being constructed along a section of lakeside reserve adjacent to Mt Aspiring Road, following concerns raised by a member of the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB).WUCCB board chair Simon Telfer told the Wānaka App that Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) parks staff had raised concerns about the health of trees along the area - from Stoney Creek to McDougall Street - under which vehicles can park.Simon said the concerns were sufficiently “urgent” that the fence was built before any consultation takes place on what he called ‘stage six’of the Lakefront Development Plan (LTD).“Over time we have seen an increasing number of vehicles parking on the Reserve, particularly on the newly seeded grass at the Wānaka Watersports facility and up by the wagon wheel,” he said.“This reduces the enjoyment of the reserve as an unencumbered green space and causes root damage to trees, particularly the beautiful oaks.“It is well known that vehicle storage under trees compresses root structures which can lead to permanent tree damage. Once damage occurs it is very difficult to reverse.”Simon said the fencing is consistent with fencing at Pembroke Park, Kelly Flat, and other reserves.He said the board had no plans to block access to the gravel road which runs alongside the lake on part of the reserve, as the intention “is to prevent parking on the grassed areas at this stage”.“A number of gaps in the fencing will allow easy crossing from the showgrounds across to the lake.”Simon said the WUCCB asked council staff at a recent workshop to do “some high level planning for the lakefront” from the McDougall St toilet block to the Wānaka Watersports facility, which is next to the Stoney Creek carpark.“Our request was for the more informal and relaxed nature of that section of the lakefront to be retained.”Simon said there is a lack of ‘wayfinding’ from McDougall Street towards Stoney Creek, and a pathway consistent with the existing path from Dungarvon Street to McDougall Street is needed.He said the section from McDougall Street to Stoney Creek will be “a new stage 6” of the LDP, which “goes all the way around the lakefront”.“It's very early days looking at stage 6... We would like to see progress but it is not urgent.”Adopted in 2016, the Lakefront Development Plan’s purpose was to formalise pedestrian/cycle access to Wānaka’s foreshore along the Roys Bay reserve.It was designed in five stages stretching from McDougall Street to the Wānaka Marina and aimed to relocate parking from the foreshore into established car parks opening up the foreshore reserve to public access and providing toilets, seating, tables and so on.Stage 4 opposite Wānaka’s CBD (from Dungarvon Street to the Dinosaur Park) is yet to be completed.A QLDC spokesperson said the bollard fencing is associated with a range of works along the lakefront near the Wānaka Watersports Facility carpark, including remediation of the grassy reserve area, defining the carpark boundary area with rocks, and fencing to protect specific areas from carparking.Funding for the fence was allocated from the unspent portion of the $432K Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF) Round 5 awarded by MBIE for the development of the Stoney Creek carpark.PHOTO: Wānaka App

State Highway 6 through Kawarau Gorge will close overnight from Sunday to Thursday for eight weeks from August 31 while work is carried out to repair an underslip.The closures, just north of the Goldfields Mining Centre, will run from 9pm to 6am the following morning, with the road reopening on the hour to allow queued traffic through. There will be no closures during the day, or between 6am Friday and 9pm Sunday.NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said delays of up to an hour could be expected during the overnight closures.During these nightly periods of closure, the highway will open every hour, on the hour, and any waiting traffic will be piloted through a single lane at the site, Waka Kotahi said in a statement.Oversize vehicles will be accommodated if operators follow permit requirements and give prior notification.The work, being carried out by Aspiring Highways on behalf of Waka Kotahi, will strengthen the retaining wall at Scrubby Corner. This involves boring anchors into the rock behind the wall and structurally connecting them to reinforce the crib wall.The project is scheduled to finish by October 23. Motorists can check current conditions on the Kawarau Gorge page in the Wānaka App.PHOTO: Waka Kotahi

Santana Minerals has outlined its plans for environmental stewardship at its proposed Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project, releasing a detailed press statement today (Monday August 25), a day before a local community group hosts a public meeting in Cromwell to discuss concerns over the project.In the press release, chief executive Damian Spring said the company’s approach is guided by “respect for the land and the people who live there”, including collaboration with mana whenua, local communities, and environmental specialists. It outlined its post-mining rehabilitation plans, including measures it says will leave a “positive legacy” for Central Otago.These include reopening historic walking and cycling routes, reshaping the Tailings Storage Facility and planting it, creating wetlands, and progressively restoring land as mining advances at the site.“This project gives us an opportunity not just to protect biodiversity, but to improve it,” Damian said.“That includes meeting strict water compliance limits to prevent downstream effects, and creating new areas where threatened species can thrive.”Santana Minerals confirmed its fast track application is expected to be submitted “imminently” - although this is something it has been saying for several months. As of Sunday (August 24) night, no application had yet been lodged. The fast track process, introduced by the coalition government, is designed to accelerate decision-making timeframes for key projects across the country.Community group Sustainable Tarras is hosting a public meeting in Cromwell to discuss the fast-tracked Bendigo gold mine. IMAGES: Sustainable TarrasDamian said all environmental assessments required under the Resource Management Act would still apply under the government’s fast track consenting process.The timing of Santana Minerals’ release coincides with a public meeting organised by the Sustainable Tarras residents group, set for 6pm-8pm Tuesday (August 26), at the Presbyterian Church in Cromwell. The group says the meeting is to inform the community about potential environmental and social impacts of the mine, as well as ways the public can provide feedback, with a panel of speakers lined up to present.“Despite the scant amounts of information released by the mining company so far, there are numerous very worrying issues,” Sustainable Tarras chair Suze Keith said in a statement promoting the meeting. “These include the size and scale of the mine right in the heart of an Outstanding Natural Landscape, the massive tailings dam which will hold 10,000 Olympic swimming pools of toxic waste, and the extensive use and storage of large quantities of cyanide solution just upstream of the Clutha/Mata Au River. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

Further charges have been laid against a Wānaka couple accused of defrauding people, including one who's lost more than a million dollars, through false cancer claims.Sepiuta Vave and Andrew Jones are charged with defrauding family, friends and associates through the fake cancer scam.Police said they have identified 10 possible victims and further charges are likely.The couple appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Monday (August 25) morning via audio-visual link, where Vave pleaded not guilty.Jones is yet to enter a plea.The pair have been remanded in custody and will reappear in court next month.Read more: More victims of cancer fraud identified Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

A local affordable housing provider is cautiously optimistic about government changes allowing a wider range of building materials into New Zealand, but warns that the devil will be in the detail.Building and construction minister Chris Penk said the new legislation, by providing access to more building materials, will make it easier and cheaper to build homes.“There are thousands of well-made, high performing products that have been tested against rigorous international standards but have faced barriers for uptake here, purely because they have not been specifically tested against our own standards,” the minister said.He said removing “red tape” will create a more competitive marketplace which, in time, should offer more product choice and lower costs.Last month thousands of overseas building products were given the green light - via a list of overseas certification schemes that automatically qualify certain products for use in New Zealand - and a second tranche will be added later this year.Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (QLCHT), an award-winning local trust which builds homes for low to middle income earners in the district, said the changes could be significant.“On the face of it, this decision seems like a sensible proposition and we welcome any changes in legislation that result in the reduction of cost of building materials while still ensuring a high standard of quality is maintained,” QLCHT chief executive Julie Scott told the Wānaka App.“With close to 100 QLCHT homes either under construction or in the planning phase, this could potentially have a real impact on reducing building costs, and the flow on effect for that is a decrease in purchase price for our households. “However, as with all these legislation changes, the devil is always in the detail.” Julie said she would want to see provisions to ensure substandard materials won’t end up in use here.“No one wants a repeat of the leaky home saga – especially Queenstown Lakes ratepayers, where our council was, unfairly, left as the last man standing.”Opposition parties are also cautious.Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter said the changes seem practical but they "could be great or it could be terrible, depending on which building products and which licensing schemes they're looking at".Industry groups have also backed the move, saying it should help reduce costs and improve productivity.QLCHT said it took comfort in the fact the changes are not prescriptive.“We don’t have to change unless we choose to,” Julie told the Wānaka App. “There will simply be more choices available.” “...the key to safeguard quality is to not blindly accept material substitution just because something is cheap…[but] capture the opportunity when there is an alternative that genuinely offers a more competitive price point and better performance.”PHOTO: Wānaka App

Earlier this month prime minister Christopher Luxon announced plans to replace the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) with a new “internationally benchmarked national qualification”.Under the proposed changes, NCEA level one would be replaced by foundational literacy and numeracy tests, and levels two and three would be replaced by a ‘New Zealand Certificate of Education’ and an ‘Advanced Certificate’.In levels two and three students would need to take five subjects and pass four to attain their certificate, and marks out of 100 and traditional letter grades like A,B,C and D would be reinstated.Following the announcement, Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) principal Nicola Jacobsen told the Wānaka App though she was aware changes were coming, she was surprised by the plan to scrap NCEA entirely.Here, she outlines her experience as a student and educator, and how she feels about the proposed changes.When I started teaching in 2004, the New Zealand education system was in the process of introducing the NCEA Level 3. As someone who had come through School Certificate, Sixth Form Certificate, and Bursary, I found myself learning about a system that recognised subject content, process, as well as skill development, and rewarded students for what they could show they had learned.The idea that students could be assessed in different ways (written, presentations, blogs, voice recordings) was revolutionary, and it made absolute sense: a strengths-based approach to assessing a student’s understanding.An approach that values all learningMore than 20 years on, I believe this strengths-based approach - an approach that values all learning - best supports student learning achievement and wellbeing.A strengths-based approach means that young people can achieve NCEA in subjects that are meaningful to them and their future pathways, whether that be university, a trade, polytech, or entering the workforce. NCEA’s choice, flexibility, and wide range of subjects enables young people to be participants, not bystanders, in what they learn and how they demonstrate their learning. It’s an approach that allows students to develop a sense of agency which I never experienced at school.That NCEA values all learning, whether that learning be academic, practical, vocational, is something no other system does. NCEA rewards students with an ‘Achieved’ to show they understand a topic, skill or process, rather than a ‘C’ which says you ‘just made it’.Rewarding students with ‘Achieved’, ‘Merit’ and ‘Excellence’ is positive language which supports student wellbeing, essential when this generation of young people is experiencing ever-increasing rates of anxiety and depression.As a student in the mid 90s I found myself working through a system which had very little to do with what you learned at school and your level of proficiency, and more to do with where you ranked against everyone else. The School Certificate and Sixth Form Certificate were systems where grades were allocated based on where everyone placed, not on what you were able to show you had learned.An imperfect but valuable frameworkI am the first to acknowledge that the NCEA in its current form is not perfect and there is clearly scope for improvement.Changes to NCEA have been underway since 2018 when a review of the curriculum was introduced to strengthen numeracy and literacy, and better manage student and teacher workload. At that time, teachers were assessing too many things, and students were opting out because there were too many assessments.The changes to NCEA Level one were a good step towards strengthening numeracy and literacy.The curriculum refresh also introduced five essential pedagogies — or the five most important things for teachers to do in their classrooms — and for the first time, we had a nationwide focus on what best practice in classrooms looks like. This was needed as there has been inconsistent practice within schools across the motu which has undermined the effectiveness of the NCEA and its requirement for students to have a strong grasp of the foundations of learning.I am deeply concerned that this best practice, research-based approach, which has shown strong evidence of success, has been left out of recent iterations of the refreshed curriculum, and that its sole focus is now on ‘what to teach’ without the essential foundation of how best to go about teaching the curriculum.A step back in timeIt appears the government’s proposal to replace NCEA with a New Zealand Certificate of Education (NZCE) may see students in Years 12 and 13 selecting from a smaller range of mostly academic subjects.It may also mean that students can no longer take a range of vocational and academic subjects which they can do now to achieve an NCEA qualification.Yet, everything we know about how young people develop and mature tells us that how they learn and what they want to learn can change. NCEA is responsive to the way young people develop, giving them flexibility in their choices, rather than locking them into a pathway that may not suit them. Making a choice at Year 12 to be on either an academic or vocational pathway is a pretty hefty decision.Moving to a new system where there is a hierarchy of knowledge and negative language around achievement is a step back in time. It is not purpose-built for the young people of today who are more aware of what is happening in the world, who are better at critical thinking, and who are more creative problem solvers (as evidenced in the 2022 PISA results) than previous generations.To move to a qualification that fails to recognise the value of all learning is regressive. I fear that in an effort to promote excellence in student achievement, the government’s proposed changes may have the opposite effect, while also diminishing student wellbeing.Have your sayThe government is seeking feedback from parents, whānau, teachers, and employers on its proposal. Read more about the proposed changes and have your say by completing the online survey here.PHOTO: MAC

A high staffing ratio and debt load but low day-to-day spending are characteristics of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), according to a new nationwide council performance measurement framework introduced to provide a picture of how councils compare.Led by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), the first set of metrics was published on July 31.QLDC has been categorised in the ‘Large Metro Group’ of councils alongside Wellington, Palmerston North, Christchurch and others.This category features councils with populations of 100,000 or more, or others - like QLDC - with fewer residents but “considered metros within the sector”, DIA said.“QLDC’s placement in the 'Large Metro Group' of councils reflects government recognition of our district as one of the most significant in the country, particularly in terms of our high levels of growth and tourism which have consequential impacts on the levels of services and investment that we need to provide to our community,” a QLDC spokesperson said.QLDC has the second smallest population of all 11 councils in the group at 52,900, but its land area of 8,719 km² is nearly ten times the group average.These factors should be considered when comparing other metrics.QLDC employs 488 staff in total, well below the group average of 927, but its staffing ratio - 9.2 staff per 1,000 residents - is the highest of all the councils. The group average is 6.1.On day-to-day operation cost, QLDC is relatively lean. In 2024 it spent 88 percent of its revenue on operating expenses, the lowest in the group, compared with an average of 96 percent.When it comes to future investment, QLDC’s 2025–2027 capital expenditure is set to total around $520.6M, well below the $878.6M average. However, it also has the highest net debt divided by rates income at 272 percent, compared to the group average of 161 percent.Across the different categories, QLDC stands out for its high staffing ratio and debt load, but low day-to-day spending and smaller capital programme.The QLDC spokesperson said the information in the performance measurement framework was sourced from a combination of its annual reports, annual plans, long term plans, and other sources.The new performance measurement framework is part of the government’s broader Local Government Systems Improvement (LGSI) programme.Although the initial metrics focus on financial indicators, the framework will expand over time to include service delivery, governance, and contractor expenditure.In August 2024, the government announced measures to refocus councils in response to cost of living concerns.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said concerns about rising rates meant council spending needed to focus on core services and infrastructure, with greater efficiency in decision-making.PHOTO: Wānaka App

‘Wheels at Cromwell’ could be an option, after a surprise proposal at a Cromwell Community Board meeting on Tuesday (August 19) for the town’s racecourse to host the major motoring and machinery event previously held in Wānaka.Peter McDougal, who introduced himself as a trustee of Wheels at Wānaka, made a pitch for the biennial show that attracts tens of thousands of people to find a new home at the Cromwell Racecourse.Addressing elected members as they heard from submitters on Central Otago District Council’s (CODC) draft racecourse reserve management plan, Peter indicated his presentation would pivot the conversation from the topic of “horses to horsepower”.He said a chance encounter with a council employee led to discussions about relocating the event to Cromwell. “I said, ‘have you got anywhere to hold our next event?’ and she connected me with council staff,” he told the board. He has since met twice with CODC staff and visited the racecourse, which he described as “a very good site for 2027 and beyond if we can put it together”.Peter said he and Allan Dippie shared a love of vintage tractors, which sparked their early collaboration on the Wheels at Wānaka event.Grown under Allan’s watch (the developer behind Wānaka’s Three Parks), Wheels at Wānaka peaked with 65,000 attendees this Easter - but Allan also announced it as his last.Efforts by The Central App to reach Allan for comment were unsuccessful.Back at this week’s community board meeting, Peter said the event attracted people from all over - “They brought bulldozers from Whangārei” - and Cromwell stood to benefit from providing an alternative venue. “If you look at the number of people that come into the district and the benefit to the hospitality people, they generate a tremendous amount of money,” he said.He suggested using the area housing the existing cross-country course for a heavy machinery display, with horse jumps temporarily removed and reinstated. “We don’t want to stand on anyone’s toes,” he said.A CODC spokesperson confirmed staff had met with Peter and advised him to present his proposal at the hearing meeting. At the meeting, staffer Gordon Stewart said the next step would be “a meeting of the main users to see what we can make work”.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Smiths City Wānaka is one of a handful of stores from the nationwide brand closing this year.The more than 100-year-old furniture and appliance company has announced it is downsizing after its business dropped 40 percent from two years ago, Stuff reported.So far this year Smiths City stores in Tauranga, Palmerston North, Wellington, Blenheim, and Nelson have closed. Smiths City once had 35 stores nationwide, and that number has now shrunk to 10.In 2023 Smiths City Wānaka relocated to Three Parks, as the anchor tenant in a building adjacent to the Warehouse.At the time, Three Parks developer Allan Dippie said it was one of a number of successful local businesses which had outgrown its premises in Wānaka.Before that the store was located on Reece Crescent.The store at Three Parks has already been leased to a new tenant, Furniture Central.PHOTO: Supplied

As game bird hunting seasons conclude across the country, early indications suggest the 2025 season has been another successful year for the hunting community.Survey results following the May opening weekend paint a positive picture, with hunters nationally reporting strong satisfaction with their experiences, Fish & Game said. On average, hunters ranked their opening weekend satisfaction at four out of five, matching the high standards set during the 2024 season.While not all regions reported a great season, more than 70 percent of hunters reported feeling satisfied or very satisfied with their opening weekend experience. The estimated mallard harvest reached approximately 240,000 birds – representing a notable 15 percent increase compared to the 2024 opening weekend harvest."The strong satisfaction levels we're seeing reflect the enthusiasm we witnessed during opening weekend, with hunters from all over New Zealand coming together at wetlands and waterways," Fish & Game acting chief executive Richie Cosgrove said."It’s a tradition spanning generations – bringing families together while connecting with our rural heritage and sustainably harvesting kai. It's also about the well-being benefits of spending time outdoors with mates and family."Hunting season is not just about harvest, he said."Hunters are amongst our most dedicated conservationists. These wetland habitats support not just game birds but many other species – and our licence holders directly fund their protection and restoration.“The continued success relies on farmers who generously open their properties to hunters, ensuring many New Zealanders have access to hunting opportunities.Richard said hunters can still hunt upland game birds in most regions, including Otago, until the end of August.PHOTO: Fish & Game

We often hold onto the hope that things will “go back to normal” once the worst of our child’s depression passes. But the truth is — they don’t. They can’t. And actually… that’s not necessarily a bad thing.Your young person is changed. You are changed. There is no rewinding the tape to before it all started. But in the same way that a profound experience — say, travelling the world or caring for someone you love — shapes a person, so too does living through mental illness.This chapter is about what happens after. It’s not neat or linear. But it is a place of progress, strength, and, with time, peace.They’ve Changed. You’ve Changed. That’s Okay.Depending on the depth and duration of your child’s experience with depression, it may have fundamentally shifted how they see the world and themselves. And let’s be honest — it may have done the same to you.You might still carry the trauma of witnessing their despair. You may even feel a twinge of jealousy when your friends talk about their kids navigating ordinary problems — the annoying flatmate, the part-time job drama, uni deadlines. You may mourn the version of teenage or young adult life your child didn’t get to have.But here’s what you get in return: resilience. Insight. Grit. Skills they learned the hard way — that most of their peers haven’t had to develop yet.When ‘Normal’ Expands, So Does BelongingIn the teenage years, everything is measured — test scores, social circles, university acceptances. It’s a sausage factory of standardisation. And if your child didn’t fit the mould, it may have felt like they were falling behind or left out.But here’s the beautiful truth: as their peers grow up, the shape of ‘normal’ starts to dissolve. Some leave uni, some never go. Some chase careers, others chase travel. Some fall in love, others feel lost. That uniformity fades. The bubble pops. And suddenly, your child — who once felt on the outside — is part of the wider, wobbly world again.What made their life feel small at 15 might be what makes them strong at 25.They’ve learned to anticipate stormy weather and prepare. They’ve learned self-care, mindfulness, and the importance of sleep, food, and connection. These aren’t just coping tools. They’re life tools. Superpowers, really.You’ve Learned TooParents often end up walking a parallel path — learning how to care for themselves, manage anxiety, maintain boundaries, and reconnect with their own lives again. Maybe for the first time in years.That journey isn’t always clean. In the thick of it, some parents understandably develop coping habits that aren’t so healthy — more wine at night, more arguments behind closed doors, more isolation, or even beginning to mirror the withdrawn or avoidant behaviours of their child. It’s human. It’s common. But it doesn’t need to be the end of the story.The good news? Just like your young person, you can choose something different. You can step toward healthier habits, seek connection, and reach out for support. Parent groups, therapy, peer spaces — they exist, and they help. Sometimes just hearing “me too” from another parent changes everything.And here’s the kicker: the advice we give to our struggling young people? It’s the same advice that makes us well. Eat good food. Move your body. Find meaningful connection. Seek support when needed. Take a breath before you react.What felt like a lonely path is suddenly full of others walking the same way. The umbrella of “normal” has widened — and you’re under it too.This Isn’t About Blame – But Let’s Be HonestI’m not here to demonise the systems that measure our young people — schools, universities, sports teams. But once you’re outside of them, they start to look a bit… strange.Imagine sitting at a bar with friends and being told who “won” their Christmas holidays or who had the most “successful” friendship group. Ridiculous, right?That’s the world our kids are often raised in. And when you step out of it, you realise: adulthood isn’t about gold stars. It’s about living in a way that feels meaningful to you.So whether your young person is starting a course, going to therapy, travelling, working, or just taking life one day at a time — they are collecting their version of gold stars. And so are you.The Transition: From Caregiver to WitnessHere’s the hardest bit: moving on.Even if your child still struggles — you need to shift how you respond. If you stay locked into the fear you felt during the worst of their depression, you risk reacting to who they were, not who they are now.You might panic and think, “Oh no, we’re back here again.” But maybe it’s just a dip, not a return. Maybe they bounce back faster. Maybe they use tools you didn’t even notice they picked up. But if you only focus on the fear, you’ll miss the growth.Instead, celebrate the bounce. Notice their self-care. Let social connection look different (even if it’s online). Gently let go. Yes — that’s terrifying. But shielding them forever means they never get to test their wings. And what’s life without that?The Final MessageYour child is now the adult and all adults are still kids in disguise, figuring things out.Here’s what matters now:
• Shoulder your baggage with kindness.
• Soothe your busy mind with movement or stillness.
• Eat to fuel, not punish.
• Reach out when you’re not okay.
• Ignore the highlights reel of social media.And most importantly — give yourself some bloody gold stars. For the small things. For the big ones. For not giving up.Let your young person see you live. That, more than anything, shows them the path forward.There’s no more official grading system. You get to decide what success looks like now.You’ve walked through the fire with your child. You’ve grown. So have they. Now… take a breath, step forward, and start living the life you both deserve.Let the new chapter begin.This post is the third in our journey. Read the first blog here. The second chapter explores what recovery starts to look like, how the fog begins to lift, and what it means to slowly trust again. Read the second blog here.