Challenge Wānaka is the main event of the week, Wānaka area response manager Sergeant Graeme Hamblett says.“We expect to see a significant increase in traffic volume to the area hitting its peak Friday and Saturday.” He asked people to be patient and considerate with their driving behaviours and with other road users.“Drive to the conditions, keep a safe following distance and stick to the speed limits. If you have the urge to look at your mobile phone, pop it in the glove box when you’re driving, and if you feel the need to have a few social drinks… consider using alternative transport to get home safe – local taxi services, uber, sober driver should always be the go-to options… however the best option is always the non-alcoholic soft drink.”Recently local police conducted an operation targeting the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18. “Unfortunately, a prominent local business failed by supplying alcohol to a minor,” Graeme said.“This is a timely reminder to all local business operators, who offer the sale and supply of alcohol as part of their service, to ensure you have robust policies and practices in place to mitigate harm relating to alcohol in our community.”The case mentioned is currently before the Alcohol Regulatory & Licencing Authority. “Police have continued to see questionable driving behaviour on our local roads this week, including passengers not wearing seat belts and unrestrained children,” Graeme said. “When a vehicle is moving, and is fitted with safety belts, they must be worn.“If you are 15 or older, it is your responsibility to ensure you wear a seatbelt. The driver is responsible for ensuring children or young passengers under 15 are kept safe. By this I mean wearing a seat belt, using a child car seat or booster seat. “In either case, if you are caught not abiding these simple road user rules you could be issued with a $150 on-the-spot fine.” Police are appealing for witnesses after an alleged assault at the BP in Three Parks on Wednesday (February 18) at around 1.35pm.“If you witnessed this incident or have any information which may assist the investigation, please contact Police on 105 quoting file reference number 260220/6973,” Graeme said.Read more: Information sought after daytime assaultCall 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: Supplied

A musical playground project for Three Parks has received a funding boost from Central Lakes Trust (CLT).Musical playgrounds are generally located in public spaces like parks and are designed to encourage greater involvement in music-making and musical experiences in young people.Wānaka Musicians Incorporated (WMI), the organisers of Wānaka’s long-running Stars in Your Eyes shows, are behind the local project, for which installation will begin shortly and the playground is expected to be up and running by April.“This playground offers so much more than entertainment," WMI secretary David Baker said. "It gives the community a fun, inclusive environment to build social and developmental skills through music and invites families to spend meaningful time together."It will be located at Three Parks’ ‘coffee corner’ near the Wānaka Recreation Centre and petanque court, on land provided by Willowridge Developments.Money raised through Stars in Your Eyes over the past few years has funded the playground and the $20,000 grant from CLT will fund benches and sail shades for the location.The CLT grant to WMI forms part of the $1.4M in grants CLT handed out in its first funding round of the year.The musical playground will be located at ‘coffee corner’ near the Wānaka Recreation Centre. PHOTO: Wānaka AppWMI is one of five Upper Clutha community groups or organisations to receive funding in this round.Others include the Upper Clutha Community Arts Council, which received $12,000 to help deliver its upcoming Wānaka Autumn Art School 2026. The school allows participants to step away from their everyday lives for one week and delve into a new art medium.This year’s art school will run from April 13-17 and there are still spots available for some of the classes.Predator Free Wānaka - which recently installed an 18km trapline as part of its predator management efforts in the Upper Clutha - received $8,894 towards trapping and monitoring supplies.Read more: ‘Team effort’ to install 18km traplineThe last local recipient was Path Wānaka, which aims to connect parents, whānau and caregivers to the tools, knowledge and skills they need to support teenagers.It received $23,600 towards its running costs for 2026.

A local trust which provides grants for a range of community initiatives has appointed a new intern, Jennifer Huddleston, to work alongside the other trustees for the next 18 months.Jennifer will be the second intern to join the Central Lakes Trust (CLT) board in this round, in an initiative chair Linda Robertson says is “mutually beneficial”.“While the initiative is designed to support the intern’s governance development, we also benefit from the knowledge, perspective, and experience they bring to the organisation.”Jennifer lives in Alexandra and has been actively involved in community governance across Central Otago for several years. She is currently a board member of Te Ara Tīrama: Youth Impact Network, a new organisation designed to empower young people to connect, collaborate, and create change in their communities.Jennifer won’t have decision-making powers or voting rights, but will attend all board and relevant committee meetings and take part in all board activities during her term.She replaces Michael Rewi, the previous board intern, whose internship concluded at the end of 2025.CLT is a charitable trust which provides grants to charitable initiatives benefitting people in Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes, with the aim of improving the lives of local residents and creating lasting positive impacts in the region.PHOTO: Supplied

Police are appealing for witnesses after an alleged assault in broad daylight at a busy local service station this week.They are asking the public for any information they may have about the incident, which took place at approximately 1.35pm on Wednesday (February 18).“The incident happened on the forecourt of the BP Service Station, Sir Tim Wallace Drive.” Wānaka Police area response manager Graeme Hamblett said.Police have not released further details about what occurred, or the number or ages of those involved.They are now urging anyone who may have been nearby at the time, or who may have dashcam or CCTV footage, to come forward.“If you witnessed this incident or have any information which may assist the investigation, please contact Police on 105 quoting file reference number 260220/6973,” Graeme said.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Plenty of us have been there before – the bills come in and they add up to a bigger number than what’s in your bank account. So you have to choose – what gets paid, and what doesn’t. This is a common scenario for many struggling businesses. When you’re in this situation, the natural temptation is to bump tax down the list. Inland Revenue doesn’t make your products or serve your customers, and paying Inland Revenue doesn’t keep stock on the shelves. It’s a tough dilemma, but putting off paying your tax is a bad idea, for several reasons. The national tax debt is now $9.2 billion and growing. More than half of this is GST and PAYE debt, which is a concern as this money really belongs to Inland Revenue – it’s not tied to a business’ taxable profits, but an incidence of trading and having employees.Unsurprisingly, Inland Revenue are keen to do something about it, and the government has increased their funding for debt collection.They’ve got several tools at their disposal too. Inland Revenue are ramping up their use of deduction notices, and they’re getting smarter at finding “hidden” assets that could be used to pay off debt. A new tool rolling out as well is reporting tax debt to credit reporting agencies. This one has the potential to really hit businesses where it hurts, as it could impact their ability to borrow or enter supply contracts.So what should you do if you’re falling behind on tax?The most important thing is to do something. Inland Revenue are generally very accommodating of any taxpayer who genuinely wants to pay their tax and will often enter into generous instalment arrangements or negotiate on interest and penalties.However, they’re much stricter with taxpayers who do nothing. This is where we can help. Tax agents can negotiate with Inland Revenue for you, discussing options to reduce the amount due and stagger payments over time. It’s often easier than you might think, and can really take a load off your mind, so get in touch if you would like to talk through your options. Alex CullTax Partner, Greenhawk Chartered Accountants0800 422 526 | [email protected] | greenhawk.co.nz91 Sir Tim Wallis Drive, Wānaka

Bullock Creek will benefit from modifications made to the nearby Alpha Series stormwater retention pond when work starts next week to improve the infrastructure.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery acknowledged Bullock Creek’s importance, shown through the many years of volunteer work by community groups to preserve the area’s ecological significance and community heritage.“Following development activity in the upstream catchment, council has been exploring opportunities to improve how stormwater enters and flows through Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs Wetland, into Bullock Creek, and on to Lake Wānaka…,” Tony said.“I’m pleased to share that we're progressing several modifications to the Alpha Series stormwater retention pond nearby, which will lessen the impact of urban stormwater runoff entering this highly valued natural environment and help protect this feature for future generations to enjoy.”Friends of Bullock Creek, a group which works to protect and enhance Bullock Creek catchment with a range of activities - including advocacy for more protection of the waterway - said the improvements were a step in the right direction.“We are optimistic that the current QLDC project will improve the quality of stormwater making its way into Bullock Creek,” Friends of Bullock Creek told the Wānaka App.“We continue to support the QLDC solution being the Stone Street Pipeline Diversion Project as outlined in the Long Term Plan.”Tony said the modification project will begin next Monday (February 23) and include modifications to the existing outlet on the nearby retention pond to reduce standing water, allowing for more gradual release of water from the pond, as well as water quality improvements through a longer and modified flow path and the planting of hundreds of native plants.Installation of a flow retention device on the nearby retention pond will also help manage high discharge rates, Tony said.Some disruption is likely around the western end of Bullock Creek Hatchery Springs Wetland while crews work in the area, which will include construction machinery and truck movements near the site, and may include some noise and vibration.PHOTO: Wānaka App

The Hāwea Community Association (HCA) has again raised concerns about access to a popular lakefront reserve, saying freedom camping continues to take a toll on the area many years after it first raised the issue.Sixteen years ago, in 2010, the access route to Craig Burn reserve was blocked with boulders by the HCA, a move which put freedom camping into the national spotlight. Locals were sick of the impact of freedom camping in the area, and the HCA said the move was made out of desperation.In 2018 locals again blocked access to the reserve with rocks; some saying there were 15 to 25 campers parked at the lakeside reserve each night, with many leaving human waste and litter behind - despite there being toilet facilities available.Then in 2024, Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), which manages the reserve, installed boulders and fencing at vehicle access points beyond the main car parking area at Craig Burn. “These measures were put in place following concerns from local community members about the environmental impact caused by freedom campers and other vehicles entering this fragile ecosystem,” LINZ land and waterways leader Lee Farnhill told the Wānaka App.This summer has led to more issues with freedom camping, HCA chair Jennie Harding told the Wānaka App this week.This includes the vandalism of the one toilet at the reserve, which has been temporarily replaced with a portaloo.Jennie said the HCA has been liaising with Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), and has had discussions with LINZ prior to Christmas about access to the reserve.Jennie said the HCA is concerned that LINZ will “close off access completely, which will impact sportspeople”.“[The] Freedom Camping Act has a lot to answer for,” she said.A QLDC spokesperson said repairs are underway on the toilet, with completion expected by mid-March. PHOTO: Supplied

A familiar lakeside pastime will have a competitive edge on May 16, when New Zealand’s first-ever stone skimming championships takes place at Lake Hāwea.Organiser Richie Laming, Lake Hāwea Station’s tourism manager, said the event is part serious sport, part tongue-in-cheek fun.“You can only take it so seriously – it is stone skimming,” he told the Wānaka App. “But we are going to be producing national champions.”Around 150 competitors and the same number of spectators are expected to line the lake to compete in open men’s and women’s categories. The winners in each category will also go home with much more than national bragging rights - they’ll head to the World Stone Skimming Championships in Scotland, with organisers planning to cover the costs.Richie said it might be the “most outrageous prize in stone skimming history”.There is currently no clear frontrunner in stone skimming in New Zealand, Richie said, with most of the competition “dominated by our northern hemisphere counterparts.”Entries for New Zealand’s inaugural event are open to anyone looking for some competitive fun, Richie said. “If you’re not skimming well it’s humorous; if you are, it’s competition.”Richie Laming says entries are open for anyone looking for competitive fun.The idea to host the country’s first stone skimming championships came from the lake itself.“We’ve always thrown around the idea because Lake Hāwea, on a classic inversion layer day, is so calm,” Richie said.When he shared a Lake Hāwea stone skimming video on social media and it got “a couple of hundred thousand” views, that sealed the deal.The championships will include round robins, semi-finals, and finals, and there will be food, entertainment, raffles auctions, and “really cool engaging events throughout the day”, with proceeds from the event going to Melanoma NZ.Though the goal is to keep the event lighthearted, the mechanics of accurate scoring are pretty technical.“Thrown lanes will be GPS marked; then we will ideally have a drone over the top looking at stones as they’re thrown; there will also be a surveying trig measuring where the stone ends; and we will also have people out on the water backing up the trig system as well.”Richie said he is looking forward to showcasing the landscape and community to visitors.“What we are really looking at shaping is an event that surprises people – we want them to come away and think ‘what a cool celebration’.”The Aotearoa Stone Skimming Championships will take place on May 16, with May 17 a backup day for weather.PHOTOS: Supplied

A Wānaka-based adventure consultant says she agrees that anyone wanting to climb Mount Everest should have previously summited a 7000 metre high mountain at least once.Nepal's government is considering the new rule that would require climbers to have previously summited a 7000m high mountain in Nepal before attempting Everest which is 8848m high.New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first people known to reach Everest's summit in 1953.But recently the mountain has been been in the spotlight over increasing pollution with discarded climbing gear, tents, oxygen canisters and human waste.And the traffic jams with climbers literally nose to tail at dangerous pinch points as more people attempt Everest.Wānaka-based Adventure Consultants takes climbers up Everest and its general manager Caroline Ogle said they had strict rules around who they took to Everest but there was a real mix of people on the mountain.She said there were some operators, such as hers, which had been on the mountain for many years and ran well-resourced expeditions ensuring that only experienced climbers came onto Everest."Unfortunately there are a lot of teams that are a) quite large in size and b) their climbers don't have necessary experience before heading onto the mountain and those factors combined can mean that people do get into trouble and that's what you end up seeing in the headlines."Adventure Consultants advised anyone who wanted to climb Everest to follow a programme which started with a mountaineering course and to ensure they had a lot of climbing experience either in New Zealand, the European mountains or in the United States, she said."So building up experience on multiple 6000 to 7000m peaks and ideally another 8000m peak before going on to Everest."But often the climbers do not want to put in the preparation, she said."And we often see them turning up on other climbing teams who are just happy to accept their money for a place on their expeditions."A lot of people including influencers have been documenting their Everest trips on social media in the last few years with some willing to put in the work and some less so, she said.Ogle said she agreed that climbers wanting to take on Everest should have climbed a 7000 metre peak at least once."But the key caveat here is the proposed regulations require climbers to have climbed that 7000m peak in Nepal, where as lots of climbers who are already on their Everest pathways, they may have climbed a 7000m peak in South America or Kyrgyzstan or even 7000m peaks in Tibet or Pakistan - but under these proposed regulations those would not be applicable."That requirement could set back climbers who were wanting to take on Everest and had already climbed a 7000m peak, but just not in Nepal, she said."Summiting Everest (is) definitely not a walk in the park, it's an extremely serious and dangerous mountain and you need to have experience before doing that."PHOTO: File

Wānaka’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott has added a silver medal to her Winter Olympics tally after a thrilling slopestyle final at the Milano Cortina Games in Italy early today (February 19).The 24-year-old claimed second place in the snowboard slopestyle final, delivering a strong third run when it mattered most to secure the podium spot.Zoi qualified first but after her opening run of the final a score of 73.01 put her in third place and a 77.61 second run left her in fourth.In an event where your best run counts, Zoi needed a high scoring last run to make the podium. On her final attempt she produced a clean, high-scoring run that lifted her into silver medal position with an 87.48 score. The gold went to Japan’s Mari Fukada with 87.83, and bronze to Kokomo Murase.Zoi's slopestyle silver makes her the most decorated snowboarder in the world with a total of five Olympic medals, and her second of the 2026 Winter Olympic games after claiming silver in the Big Air event.Read more: Zoi soars to Olympic silver in Big AirEarlier Wānaka-based Dane Menzies finished seventh in the men’s snowboard final.PHOTO: NZ Team

Race week has kicked off for the 2026 Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wānaka Festival of Triathlon, and more than 3,000 athletes will be competing in events during the next three days.The event, which started in 2007 with just 85 athletes on the start line, is marking its 20th anniversary. Retired Wānaka GP Dr Andrew McLeod, a trustee of the Challenge Wānaka Triathlon Charitable Sports Trust, has taken part in every event for the past two decades.“As a thoroughly mediocre runner and cyclist, and a non-swimmer with a worrying amount of stubbornness, it seemed entirely logical that the very first Challenge Wānaka should also be my very first triathlon,” he said. “God only knows what I was thinking.”Andrew McLeod has now competed in Challenge events around the world. PHOTO: SuppliedAndrew said he doesn’t remember much of that first race, but recalls “crossing the line already analysing what I’d done wrong, what I’d somehow done right, and how I’d do it better next time”.“Twenty years on, and after races across New Zealand, Australia, North America and Europe, I’m still learning.”He has seen the event evolve from a single-lap bike course (Cromwell to Tarras, through Hāwea, up to Treble Cone and back) to two laps - and even more during the Glendhu Bay years immediately post-Covid. The introduction of the half-distance race, team events, junior and adaptive categories has been “a huge step forward”, he said, offering “a way for almost anyone to be part of it”.Events introduced over the years include the half-distance race, team events, junior and adaptive (pictured) categories, offering a way for almost anyone to be part of it. PHOTO: Challenge Wānaka Andrew said the Challenge Wānaka was “a bit of a leap of faith”, as the first time the Challenge organisation had stepped away from its roots in Challenge Roth in Germany.“What’s impressed me most over the past 20 years is how willing the event has been to adapt,” he said.“There have been almost annual tweaks: changes to the course, shifts in timing, and the steady addition of new race formats. That willingness to evolve has kept the event fresh and relevant rather than stuck in nostalgia.”Andrew says the event is an important one for Wānaka because it encourages not only activity, but community engagement.Challenge event director Jane Sharman said the 20-year milestone is an opportunity to celebrate both the evolution of the event and the community that supports it.“This event has always been about more than racing. It’s about courage, connection, and celebrating what’s possible – whether you’re five years old, an adaptive athlete, or racing professionally on the world stage.”Events this week include the Puzzling World Junior Challenge & Mini (Preschool) Challenge today (Thursday February 19), the Puzzling World Intermediate Challenge, Mitre 10 Mega Wānaka Adaptive Challenge, and Secondary Schools Challenge tomorrow (Friday February 20), and the Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wānaka Half, Gallagher Insurance Corporate Trophy and Garth Barfoot Aquabike on Saturday (February 21).There will be restricted vehicle access around the Wānaka lakefront, Mount Aspiring Road, and sections of the bike and run course.Find the full list of pro athletes here and the full event schedule here.

Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) will pay a $7.22 million interim dividend following a strong start to the 2025/26 financial year, with Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) set to receive $5.42M as the majority shareholder.In its interim report for the six months to December 31, 2025, QAC highlighted robust passenger numbers and aircraft movements as key drivers of performance. Revenue for the period was $43.6M (+ eight percent), with EBITDA of $31.2M (+ six percent) and a net profit after tax of $16.8M (+ four percent). Scheduled aircraft movements rose three percent, while passenger numbers increased nine percent to 1,458,538.The interim dividend represents a modest increase on the last interim payout. “The rise in international passengers is particularly notable,” QAC chair Simon Flood said.“Queenstown and the wider Southern Lakes region have a strong appeal to those in Australia and beyond, and we have benefitted from that trend, which has been enabled by our airline partners increasing capacity on trans-Tasman routes.”QAC chief executive Shane O’Hare highlighted the importance of the major investment in infrastructure mapped out in the Queenstown Airport Master Plan. “Our capital works programme is gaining considerable momentum, with several major projects well under way and others to start soon,” he said. “We are working closely with our customers and other key stakeholders to ensure the decisions we make now meet their needs far into the future and elevate the traveller experience.”The airport corporation is 75.01 percent owned by QLDC with Auckland Airport holding the balance of the shares.Read the full report here.PHOTO: Supplied

Two Wānaka sportspeople claimed top honours in the 63rd Halberg Awards in Auckland on Monday (February 16).Snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, currently competing at her third Winter Olympics, was named Sportswoman of the Year.Last year she earned her third snowboard slopestyle world title, and just last week she claimed Olympic silver in the women’s Big Air competition at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics (Tuesday February 10).Read more: Zoi soars to Olympic silver in Big AirZoi was scheduled to defend her title in the snowboard slopestyle final at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics early this morning (Thursday February 19). Read more: Zoi’s bid for Olympic gold put on holdKat Mueller was honoured with the Sir Murray Halberg Legacy Award for her work with adaptive snowsports, including the Adaptive Programme at Cardrona Alpine Resort. Kat (in red) at work at Cardrona Alpine Resort. PHOTO: SuppliedThrough inclusive coaching, innovative equipment, and dedication, Kat has “created pathways for participation, belonging, and achievement - helping hundreds gain confidence, independence, and lifelong friendships”, the Halberg commendation said.“It’s very humbling to receive the Sir Murray Halberg Legacy award, as there is so many experienced and talented people working in the disability space locally and in Aotearoa,” Kat told the Wānaka App.“I hope that this will reach people who did not know that they could access adaptive snow sports and it will motivate them to give it a go.”She said it was coincidental that she ended up in adaptive snow sports and disability support work.“But once I saw first hand what it entails it sparked a passion of mine. Active recreation and spending time outdoors is a big part of my life, so making sure this is available to everyone just makes sense to me.” Cardrona/Treble Cone Snowsports School manager Kirsty Oakes told the Wānaka App that Kat’s passion for sharing the mountains - and the outdoors in general - with people, combined with her nursing background, has been “priceless”.“She just has the air about her that nothing is too difficult, ‘we can get it done’,” Kirsty said.That quality is essential when it comes to getting people up snowboarding or skiing when “it seems too big a hill to climb”, she said.“Kat always figures out a way … that’s why she’s where she is now.”Kat’s involvement has also been “a lot wider than Cardrona/TC”, Kirsty said.“She is involved in the wider adaptive community, runs all the volunteer groups up here… and is trying to get more people involved.” Cardrona Alpine Resort posted on social media that Kat’s dedication has “changed lives and inspired our whole community”.She has “transformed” adaptive skiing and opened up the mountain “for hundreds of people,” the ski area said.Wānaka resident Richie McCaw was also formally welcomed (along with Dame Valerie Adams) into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, recognising their contributions, achievements, and lasting impact on New Zealand sport.The full list of winners is: Supreme Halberg Award: Hamish Kerr (athletics - field)Sportswoman of the Year: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (snow sports - snowboarding)Sportsman of the Year: Hamish Kerr (athletics - field)Para Athlete of the Year: Danielle Aitchison (Para athletics - track)Team of the Year: Black Ferns Sevens (rugby sevens)Coach of the Year: James Sandilands (athletics -field)Emerging Talent: Sam Ruthe (athletics - track)Sport New Zealand Leadership Award: Katie SadlierSir Murray Halberg Legacy Award: Kat Mueller

The developer of the Bendigo-Ophir gold project has secured the massive financial backing required to move from exploration to construction.In a statement to the ASX and NZX on Tuesday, Santana Minerals confirmed it has received "firm commitments" to raise A$130M (approx. NZ$152.1M) from "institutional and sophisticated investors".The company emerged from a trading halt following the announcement.Chief executive Damian Spring said the funds will "accelerate our pathway to production" by paying for early civil infrastructure works and placing deposits on major equipment.According to the market update, the move is designed to ensure the company can begin work immediately if final resource consents are granted.In a boost for local shareholders, the company's announcement also detailed a share purchase plan.This allows existing investors in New Zealand and Australia to apply for up to A$24,948 (approx. NZ$29,200) worth of new shares at the same discounted price of A$0.90 (approx. NZ$1.05) offered to the large institutions.Alongside the financial maneuvers, the local conversation remains active.Santana Minerals reported plenty of interest at the Central Otago A&P Show on Saturday, saying close to 200 people dropped by their tent.According to a post on the company’s Facebook page, the most common question from locals was, “So… when do you start digging?”.The company said their youngest visitors included a "sharp group of students from Poolburn School" who are already shareholders."People came with real curiosity and plenty of straight-talk," the post said."Some raised concerns, many shared encouragement."Sustainable Tarras shares a video message from former prime minister Helen Clark. IMAGE: Screenshot/FacebookHowever, the opposition is also ramping up its profile.Community group Sustainable Tarras shared a video to their Facebook page this week featuring former prime minister Helen Clark, who urged those concerned about the environmental impact of the mine to add their voices to collective opposition."Speak up. Spupport those who are asking for proper consideration to be given to future planning, the environment, communities and iwi," she said in the video."Let us all help shape the future of the country we love with proper care and attention. We are its guardians."The latest developments come just days after reports of escalating tension in the community, including claims of online abuse directed at those publicly opposing the project, which is being considered under a fast-track consenting pathway.The expert panel appointed to decide the mine's fate is officially scheduled to begin its work next week - the start of a 140-working-day timeframe, with a final decision required by October 29.Read more: Claims of threatening behaviour escalate mine tensions

Wanaka's Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, the defending Olympic gold medallist and reigning world champion in slopestyle, will have to wait until tomorrow morning (Thursday February 19) to compete in the snowboard slopestyle final at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.Persistent snow at the finals venue in Livigno Italy forced the postponement of her final competition which was originally scheduled for 1am this morning (February 18).The event has been rescheduled to 2.30am Thursday morning.Zoi is the favourite for the slopestyle final after leading the qualifiers ahead of rival Kokomo Murase from Japan.PHOTO: NZ Team

Local community groups have already put their hand up for a parcel of land next to Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) which is set to return to council ownership.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and the MAC Foundation (a charity that runs MAC’s boarding hostel) are proposing to lift an old covenant on an approximately 9,000sqm parcel and then split the land.The covenant, originally placed when QLDC land was sold to the foundation for one dollar in the 1990s, meant that if the land was ever sold, QLDC would receive its value back. Removing it would allow the foundation to subdivide the property, fully own the hostel portion, and secure a mortgage for future development - while a smaller section of 3,241m2 with an existing house on it would return to QLDC ownership.Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) chair Simon Telfer said it was a “really pragmatic” solution to a tricky land ownership arrangement.“We’ve got land near Plantation Road and the hostel that could have been tied up in perpetuity here,” he said. “It is a great piece of work.”Multiple community groups had expressed interest in the lot QLDC would end up with, Simon said, and one of them presented at the WUCCB meeting where the land deal was discussed.An Abbeyfield Wānaka Inc spokesperson presented the organisation’s vision for a local ‘Abbeyfield’ house - one which provides affordable, ‘family style’ accommodation for older residents.The group plans to build a 14-unit home in Wānaka and it expects to fundraise the $4M-or-so build cost but needs support to acquire a piece of land to build it on. The spokesperson asked for support to transfer the new parcel to Abbeyfield Wānaka Inc.Simon told him the board looked forward to “furthering the discussions”.If the deal with the foundation goes ahead, QLDC’s lot will be accessible via Plantation Road.The WUCCB endorsed the subdivision plan and its potential community benefits at last week’s meeting, but final approval will be up to the full council.PHOTO: Wānaka App

The Harvest Festival Showcase Weekend will return to Wānaka in 2026, with two days of workshops, talks and shared meals planned for March 14-15 at Rippon Hall and other venues around the district.The festival, organised by Wao Aotearoa, celebrates seasonal produce and practical food skills.The 2026 programme includes hands-on workshops, guided tours and discussions designed to reconnect people with where their food comes from and how it’s grown, gathered and prepared.“This weekend isn’t just about workshops,” Wao Aotearoa food resilience programme manager Babu Blatt said.The weekend-long showcase will feature workshops, tours and talks, culminating with a potluck feast at Rippon Hall.“It’s about strengthening our connection to land, food, and each other and showcasing the growers, makers, educators and practitioners who quietly hold so much wisdom in our region.”Sessions will include rabbit preparation with local hunter Dan Orbell, herbal tea making and botanical walks with Loran Verpillot, and gluten-free baking with Tanja Schwindt.Among other sessions are vegetable garden planning with Ali Soper, guided walks and talks with ‘Sam the Trapman’, plus hot and cold smoking techniques and preserving workshops.On Saturday evening (March 15), the community is invited to gather at Rippon Hall for The Harvest Table - a large potluck feast with live music from Devil’s Nook, followed by a Ceilidh dance.Loran Verpillot (pictured) is one of the hosts for the many workshops on offer over the weekend.The Harvest Festival is grounded in the belief that local food resilience starts with shared knowledge and shared tables, Babu said. Tickets are available now. Kids under 18 can attend for free; other tickets start at $15.Find more information on all the events at the Wao Aotearoa website.PHOTOS: Wao Aotearoa

Luggate’s water treatment container plant on Church Road is operating, fully connected to a new water source, and now providing UV treatment for the town’s drinking water supply.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery thanked Luggate residents for their patience while work has been carried out in and around the township.“Luggate now has a protozoa barrier (UV disinfection), two new supply bores, and water tanks at the long-term reservoir site up by Wānaka Airport,” he said. “These upgrades will ensure drinking water remains safe and achieves compliance, while providing enough water to meet the needs of this growing community.”Crews continue to deliver minor works in and around Luggate as they build bore enclosures, finish landscaping along the Upper Clutha River Track nearby, and create a second water supply line between Church Road and Harris Place to improve the town’s wider water network.Stop/go is temporarily operating during the day on a short section of Church Road while crews work at one end of the second supply pipeline. Over the next few weeks, this work will move from Church Road through to Harris Place, via Luggate Creek Track.Regular track users and residents of Harris Place are advised that minor detours will be required on Luggate Creek Track towards the end of February to help guide pedestrians safely around the construction site.All work in Luggate is expected to be completed by the end of March this year.PHOTO: Supplied

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) says it is making solid progress on environmental outcomes, six months after adopting its Climate & Biodiversity Plan (CBP) 2025–2028.The plan sets out more than 50 actions to be delivered over three years, covering areas such as greenhouse gas emissions reporting, electrification, wilding conifer control, and revegetation of council land.At a council meeting earlier this month, QLDC resilience and climate action manager Bill Nicoll said 48 actions were already under way, with the remainder to begin in the coming year.He highlighted progress in two key areas: electrification and organisational greenhouse gas emissions reporting.One of the most significant initiatives is the Queenstown Electrification Accelerator - a pilot project designed to demonstrate how home electrification can reduce both household energy bills and emissions.If successful, the project could be scaled up across the district to support emissions reductions, energy resilience, and more equitable access to clean energy, Bill said.The programme is being delivered in partnership with community organisations, which provide independent advice and coordinated support for households and businesses.These partnerships help “translate council strategy into practical, on-the-ground change”, Bill said.Progress has also been made on council-wide emissions reporting, which Bill described as a foundation for effective climate governance.QLDC completed its 2024–25 emissions inventory late last year, with the data independently verified by Toitū Envirocare in November. The inventory provides a baseline to track emissions over time and inform future investment decisions.“It provides the data and assurance needed to justify major capital investments such as LPG-to-clean-energy conversions, solar and battery systems, and fleet transition, while strengthening council’s preparedness for future climate-related disclosure expectations,” Bill said.The CBP’s theme is ‘Accelerating Transformation through Partnerships’, with the latest progress report also highlighting collaboration with community groups.It notes ongoing council support for community-led revegetation projects on reserves, funding and operational backing for the Upper Clutha Wilding Tree Group to remove wilding conifer seed sources, and continued support for Southern Lakes Sanctuary’s predator control and biodiversity monitoring work.The CBP 2025–2028 is the council’s third action plan since declaring a climate and biodiversity emergency in 2019.It builds on six years of work that has seen emissions reduced, one of New Zealand’s largest native reforestation projects launched through Project Tohu, and the expansion of community-led initiatives in active travel, revegetation, predator trapping, food resilience, and emergency preparedness.The full Climate & Biodiversity Plan 2025–2028 progress report is available on the QLDC website.PHOTO: SuppliedRead more: Plan signals commitment to low-carbon future - council