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

Today's power outages -Wednesday 18 February, 9.am till 3.30pm - Luggate Tarras Road, Mckay Road.Upcoming outages -Thursday 19 February, 9am till 3pm - Brownston Street, Helwick Street.Tuesday 24 February, 9am till 3pm - Norman Terrace.Tuesday 3 March, 8.30am till 4.30pm - Mclennan Road and Loach Road, Loach Road.Wednesday 4 March, 9am till 4pm - Edward Lane, Gladmuir Road, Gladsmuir Road, Isabella Lane, Luggate Cromwell Road, Wailana Heights Drive.Thursday 5 March, 9am till 4pm - Gladsmuir Road, Lochar Road, Luggate Cromwell Road.To keep up to date with power outages click here.

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

Wānaka-raised, US-based biathlete Campbell Wright has achieved his best result at the Winter Olympic Games this week with the best-ever Olympic pursuit finish by a US biathlete.Campbell finished eighth in the 12.5km pursuit at Südtirol Arena in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy.His result also tied with the best-ever Olympic result by an American man.After the race Campbell told US Biathlon the last speedy loop was “fantastic”.“I loved every single metre of that last loop… It was awesome. I love biathlon and I love racing like that.” Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust (which leases the Snow Farm, Campbell’s home skifield) trustee John Burridge told the Wānaka App that despite it not resulting in an Olympic medal, Campbell’s performance was “a brilliant show of the potential that our young man has in front of him”.“It is Campbel's best result at the Winter Olympics,” John said.“Campbell started in 12th place, one minute [and] nine seconds behind the leader, Quentin Fillon Maillet from France. He crossed the line with the same man in eighth place behind the winner Martin Ponsiluoma of Sweden.”His ski time was the second fastest of the race, 7.6 seconds behind Martin.  “He missed three shots out of the 20 taken compared to Martin's one. He finished ahead of several competitors who are ranked well above him in the World Cup rankings,” John said.“He really enjoyed the last lap as he should. Incredible speed.”US Biathlon called Campbell’s ski speed “nothing short of exceptional”; he posted the second-fastest course time of the day and undertook the fastest final lap of anyone in the race.PHOTO: US Biathlon

Two climbers involved in an incident on Mt Brewster in Mount Aspiring National Park yesterday afternoon (Sunday February 15) were rescued in a response coordinated by the Maritime NZ Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ).A Maritime NZ spokesperson told the Wānaka App the RCCNZ received a personal locator beacon (PLB) activation at 3:25pm on Sunday.“Our team established that two climbers had fallen, with one climber unable to walk due to their injuries,” the spokesperson said. A Lakes District Air Rescue Trust helicopter based in Queenstown was tasked to respond, alongside a helicopter from Aspiring Helicopters with the Wānaka Search and Rescue (SAR) Alpine Cliff Rescue (ACR) team onboard in case a technical rescue was required. The rescue helicopter arrived on scene first and located both patients.“A technical rescue wasn’t required - meaning the climbers didn’t require a complex alpine rescue – so the second helicopter with the ACR team onboard was stood down,” the RCCNZ spokesperson said.  “One patient was treated on scene and continued their climb. The second patient was winched aboard the rescue helicopter and flown to Lakes District Hospital with minor injuries.”Last year the NZ Mountain Safety Council (MSC) prepared a safety video to help hikers and trampers better prepare for the Brewster Track after a surge in rescues and fatalities on the popular but challenging track.Read more: Hazardous popular track subject of videoTwo people have died in the area in the past five years, and in the last two years alone, 26 people were rescued - a nearly 600 percent increase compared to previous years. Most incidents occurred either at the unbridged Haast River or beyond Brewster Hut toward Brewster Glacier where there is no track.Read more: Unprecedented Brewster rescues – social media misconceptions endangering livesPHOTO: Supplied

Youth get ready for an exciting adventure with PULSE, a dynamic fitness programme delivered by Kāhu Youth.When: Starting Wednesday 25t February and finishing Friday 27 March, 2 sessions per week, Wednesday 7:00am - 8:30am and Friday 7:00am - 9.00amWho: Year 9 & 10 students (Year 7, 8 and 11 by exception)Cost: FreeFor more info and to book click here.PULSE is a youth fitness programme designed to build resilience, strengths and foster positive relationships between youth and local community services. This programme is packed with fun fitness sessions led by community groups and partners, including the Wānaka Police, Wānaka Fire Brigade, Andrew King and many more! Each session will be a unique experience, with its own theme and focus. Each morning’s session will be followed by a nutritious breakfast before youth are dropped off at MAC to start the school day.Benefits for youth include:building positive connections between youth and community agencies and groupseducation on nutrition, included is a nutritious breakfast after each sessionbuilding of self-esteem and resilience by trying new things, overcoming challengesteamwork, working together and supporting each other through challengesincrease in well-being and mental health, through physical activityincrease in physical fitness and strengthfeeling a sense of belonging within the teamSecure your spot now to enhance your fitness, skills, make friends, as you embark on this epic journey with us!

Drivers fed up with the temporary painted roundabout at Ballantyne and Golf Course roads will finally see a permanent fix, with construction of a new roundabout planned for summer 2026/27.The stop-gap circle was painted on the intersection in March 2024 to ease congestion during nearby roadworks, but ended up lasting much longer than initially planned. Now, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) says a full rebuild is on the way.“I believe there has been a call to change that roundabout for a long time,” a QLDC staff member told the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) at Thursday’s (February 12) meeting.The new, raised roundabout will be peanut-shaped, and designed to improve safety and traffic flow while dealing with the awkward geometry of the intersection. It will also be built to accommodate a future fourth road linking to Three Parks, effectively turning it into a four-way roundabout.Concept designs for the new roundabout. IMAGE: QLDCBecause the roads don’t meet at 90 degrees, the design means some compromises, and the new roundabout won’t suit every vehicle. QLDC staff said some of the largest trucks would be advised to use alternative routes. A safety audit and temporary traffic management assessment are currently underway for the new roundabout.The design is expected to be finalised before it goes out to tender in the second quarter of 2026. Construction should begin this summer.WUCCB chair Simon Telfer told staff it was “great to see progress” on the temporary roundabout’s replacement.

Free monthly workshops teaching local non-profits how to secure funding, strengthen grant applications and build long-term financial sustainability are returning to the district.Running from March to June in Wānaka, Arrowtown, and Queenstown, ‘The Funding Series’ will offer practical, hands-on sessions covering funding fundamentals, applying from a funder’s perspective, measuring impact, and developing alternative income streams.The programme is funded by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and delivered in partnership with Huddl, Three Lakes Cultural Trust, Sport Central and the Conservation Alliance.Huddl project lead Fiona Reeve said last year’s inaugural series delivered value to non-profits with “practical tools and training to help set organisations up for long-term success”.“Seeing groups grow their confidence around funding through these shared workshops is exactly the outcome we’re aiming for,” she said. “This year we’d also encourage boards and trustees to attend alongside their staff and volunteers.”The first workshop, ‘funding fundamentals’, will take place in early March, led by fundraising strategist Fi McPhee. She said this was the perfect entry point for those new to funding, boards, and volunteers, or as a refresher for those looking to hone their funding skills. Additional sessions will include ‘the funder’s perspective’, where organisations will learn from regional funders to explore what makes a great application; ‘measurement and impact’, a session with Dr. Linda Taylor on effectively measuring and communicating the impact of community work; and ‘alternative funding and creative hui’, where participants will learn about revenue streams beyond traditional grants.QLDC community partnerships manager Marie Day said the return of The Funding Series comes on the back of strong feedback in 2025, where workshops received an average impact rating of over 4.5 out of 5. “Sustainable funding is crucial for long-term impact, and we are pleased to extend our support for a programme that equips local groups with the skills and knowledge to thrive,” Marie said.The Funding Series is open to individuals, groups and organisations who rely on funding or fundraising to support their operations, project or event.Tickets for the March and April sessions are open now and can be found via the Three Lakes Cultural Trust website, where more detailed information and dates for each session can also be found.PHOTO: Supplied

This week’s Challenge Wānaka marks 20 years of New Zealand’s largest triathlon festival, which has attracted more than 25,000 athletes and injected more than $54M into the local economy over the past two decades, organisers say.Part of the global Challenge Family, which runs middle and long-distance triathlon races in more than 30 countries, the Challenge Wānaka Half has been a cornerstone of NZ’s triathlon scene since 2007. As well as a stepping stone for talented young age-group triathletes hoping to qualify for pinnacle world championship events and turn pro, it’s also a key event for the Wānaka community.“As we reflect on 20 years, it’s very exciting to see how far the festival has come and everything our athletes have achieved,” Challenge Wānaka event director Jane Sharman said. “Challenge Wānaka has played a part in launching some incredible pro athletes and international racing careers. “But it’s also a fantastic grassroots event where anyone can take part…”She said some of the pro athletes who started out racing in Challenge Wānaka are now watching their own children participate.One of those athletes is two-time Challenge Wānaka winner and former Team NZ cyclor (cycling sailor) Dougal Allan, who will be cheering on his own children, Flynn and Matilda, at the Challenge Wānaka triathlon festival later this week. Some 2,100 children will be taking part in the festival this year, from age two and up.“Competing in and eventually winning Challenge Wānaka in 2016 and 2017 launched my profile into the world of international triathlon,” Dougal said.The event welcomes athletes from all over New Zealand and the world every year, and some from closer to home. Wānaka GP Dr Andrew McLeod has participated in every Challenge Wānaka race since its inception.“I don’t remember much of that first race in 2007 but I clearly remember 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,” he recalled. “Twenty years on - and after races across NZ, Australia, North America and Europe - I’m still learning.“Along the way my wife Karen and I have been to amazing places, met wonderful people, and so often heard the words: ‘You’re from Wānaka? I’ve always wanted to do that event.’”The 20th Challenge Wānaka will take place from Thursday-Saturday (February 19-21) and Jane said this year’s event is set to be “extra special”.PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka athlete Hamish Elliott has claimed a commanding victory in the 44th Kathmandu Coast to Coast Longest Day, overcoming a fall from his kayak to win one of New Zealand’s toughest endurance events on Saturday (February 14).The 31-year-old took control early during the opening 55km cycle stage from Kumara to Aitkens in Arthurs Pass and extended his lead on the mountain run over Goat Pass, building a 10-minute advantage over rival Sam Manson.Hamish’s biggest challenge came on the paddle down the Waimakariri River, where he fell from his kayak.“I just went through some rapids and had a momentary lapse of concentration," he said. "It probably made me pedal a bit harder because I knew I had lost a bit of time.”Despite the setback, he maintained his buffer and extended his lead on the final cycle into Christchurch, finishing 20 minutes clear.“I promised myself I’d enjoy it for as long as possible and I literally did," Hamish said.“I’m just stoked to be here.”Hamish finished in 11:10:04, more than 10 minutes faster than his 2024 winning time.Race director Glen Currie said the performance was “world class”.“To take control from the opening cycle… shows incredible composure and strength.”Hamish’s win follows his 2024 title and 2025 runner-up finish behind Alex Hunt, cementing his place among the event’s standout competitors.PHOTO: Supplied.

Parenting our tamariki can often feel like a private sport - no crowd, no rulebook, and somehow you’re meant to “just know!” What happens at home often stays there. The tough chats, screen battles, worry, and the late night-second-guessing usually stay behind closed doors. But this silence costs us: we lose support, perspective, the power of connection, shared wisdom, and relief of realising we’re not the only ones.This is the whakaaro behind Path Wānaka’s Parenting Fest, happening on the 23–24 February at the Community Hub. We’re inviting parents to step out of the “doing it quietly” zone and into a couple of hours that could genuinely shape their family’s next decade.As part of Path Wānaka’s Youth Survey Project this year, we’re introducing a Parent | Whānau Survey. This facilitated inquiry by Ali McCormick and Gemma McCaw, is about making sure parent insight isn’t an afterthought, but rather the foundation. We want your lived experience to directly shape the themes and questions, so the Whānau survey captures what genuinely matters for families to thrive here. Your voice will also help chart what comes next: a future where our community initiatives and local support services are guided by what families need, not what we assume they need. By sharing your perspective, we ground the survey in real life, not guesswork.Monday 9:00AM - 11:30AM @ Wānaka, Community Hub, 34 McDougall StOur Parent Community Evening, hosted by Ali McCormick, Gemma McCaw and Kirsten Roy, will offer a chance for parents to connect in person, locally and honestly. The focus is on strengthening local relationships at a time when so much of our parenting support has shifted online. This is a practical, collaborative session, so whether you’re in the thick of early parenting or navigating the ‘wildhood’ of raising your teens, you are all welcome.Monday 6:30PM – 8:00PM @ Wānaka, Community Hub, 34 McDougall StOur Parent Whānau Coaching Groups create a space for reflection and practical learning alongside others who understand the realities of raising families. These facilitated groups are a mix of face-to-face and online sessions designed for small groups of parents seeking support, strategies and community connection. - Term 1 sessions begin Tuesday 24 February at the Community Hub.Connecting as parents reminds us that the pressures we’re navigating aren’t ours to carry in isolation. Three things happen: we normalise the hard parts, we strengthen relationships, and we create opportunities to shape what comes next.We want our Whānau community to reflect our values and thrive, so come and have your say! Your voice. Your community. Your chance to influence and help us get it right!For further information about these events, and to register, visit us here.

Tensions around a fast-tracked gold mine proposal in the hills above Cromwell have escalated this week, with opponents of the project alleging threatening behaviour and multiple groups linked to the debate publicly calling for online conduct to remain civil.Mine opposition group Sustainable Tarras said some of its members and individuals publicly opposing the mine had been subjected to “serious threats against them and their property”.“This absolutely crosses the line of what’s acceptable,” the group said in a Facebook post on Thursday (January 12).The group said it had written to Santana Minerals asking it to take action and would also respond directly, “including alerting the police, and publicly identifying anyone who does this”.Santana Minerals rejected any suggestion it was involved in threatening or abusive behaviour.In a Facebook post in response, the company said claims it was behind online abuse were “serious, and they are false”.“We do not control independent forums or what people say online,” the company said.“We do have zero tolerance for threats. Zero tolerance for intimidation. Anyone crossing that line does not speak for us.”Santana Minerals declined to provide further comment when contacted.Administrators of a pro-mining Facebook page that has grown rapidly in recent weeks also issued warnings to members.In a post by an administrator, the page said: “No threats to anyone please…There’s a time & a place & this isn’t it.”One of the page founders, Bill Sanders, said content would be removed if it crossed the line.“What I’m very concerned about is accusations of threats,” he wrote.“If anything is mentioned on this page that is over the top it will be deleted…We have zero tolerance for bad behaviour.”Meanwhile, Official Information Act documents released by Land Information New Zealand show an Auckland law firm acting for an unnamed New Zealand buyer has challenged Santana Mineral’s proposed acquisition of farmland at Ardgour Station.They allege their client was not given first opportunity to purchase the land, as required under rules for the sale of land to overseas buyers.In correspondence to the Overseas Investment Office, the firm described its client as having “a high degree of interest in purchasing Ardgour Station”, and as “a credible purchaser” with “funds readily available to complete the purchase”.It said its client first became aware the property was for sale through a Trade Me listing in September 2025, about two months after Santana Minerals announced it had entered into an agreement to purchase the station.The firm said its client contacted the agent listed on the advertisement seeking further information, but that information was not provided.The Bendigo-Ophir gold mine application, lodged by Matakanui Gold Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Santana Minerals, is being assessed under the government’s Fast-Track Approvals Act.Earlier this month, a seven-member expert panel was confirmed to consider the application and a 140-working-day assessment period set, with a final decision due by October 29.

Work to manage the invasive lake weed lagarosiphon in Lake Wānaka will begin next week.Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) is leading a targeted control programme with the long-term goal of eradicating the weed from the lake.LINZ biosecurity leader Tracey Burton said dive teams will carry out surveillance in the cleared eradication zone, focusing on high-risk areas where lagarosiphon may attempt to reinvade. This includes the recently expanded eradication zone including Paddock, Parkins, Glendhu and Damper Bays, which were declared free of lagarosiphon late last year."Clearing invasive weed from these areas is a significant achievement, but maintaining those gains requires ongoing vigilance,” Tracey said."Divers will be checking to make sure there are no stray plants trying to re-establish in the cleared areas. Even a single plant left unchecked can undo decades of control work.”Lagarosiphon weed. PHOTO: Boffa MiskellLagarosiphon spreads easily - just a fragment the size of a fingernail can lead to a new infestation. Once established, it forms tall, dense weed beds that can overtake lakes, choke waterways, smother native plants, and interfere with swimming, fishing, and boating.Lake Wānaka is one of two locations where LINZ has been trialling wool matting alongside traditional hessian matting to smother invasive weeds. LINZ biosecurity partner Boffa Miskell began trialling the wool mats in 2024, as part of ongoing innovation in lake weed control."We have seen some promising early results from the wool matting and we’re optimistic about its potential,” Tracey said. "As trials continue, we’ll be assessing whether it could become a suitable alternative to hessian in the future.”The control programme in Lake Wānaka is funded by LINZ, Otago Regional Council and Queenstown Lakes District Council, with support from the Lake Wānaka Aquatic Weed Management Committee.The community also plays a vital role in protecting the lake and surrounding waterways by remembering to ‘Check, Clean, and Dry’ their gear - three simple steps that greatly reduce the spread of invasive species.

Good progress is being made on the annual maintenance of the Luggate Red Bridge as overnight closures continue to allow this work to happen faster and more safely, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says. Closures have been in place Sunday to Thursday nights, between the hours of 8pm and 6am, for almost a month while the work has been carried out on the century-old bridge on State Highway 8A. Earlier bridge inspections had revealed signs of corrosion in parts of the structural supports beneath the surface of the bridge. During the maintenance period, non-destructive testing has been carried out to identify the extent and location of this corrosion. Where corrosion has been found, specialised steel brackets have been added to provide additional strengthening. In addition to this work, 85 running boards on the bridge surface have been replaced, with a further 21 to complete. Twenty-five per cent of the work to strengthen the bridge surface, and replacement of bolts, has been completed. The bridge closures are expected to continue through to Thursday March 26 (excluding public holiday weekends). Motorists need to take detours or travel outside the hours of the closures. Detours are as follows:Light vehicles can travel via Kane and Camp Hill Roads through Hāwea Flat. It will add 25-30 minutes to the journey. (Camp Hill Road Bridge on the detour route isn’t approved for HPMV or 50MAX).HPMV 50MAX and HPMV Higher Mass permit holders can travel via Kane, Cemetery, Domain Roads and Capell Ave – State Highway 6 via Albert Town to State Highway 84.Overweight permit holders need to refer to their permit and confirm an alternate route according to their permit type or travel outside of the closure times.NZTA thanked road users for their ongoing patience and understanding. PHOTO: Supplied

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) recently teamed up with New Zealand Police to create videos for Chinese tourists promoting safe driving in the district.The videos, which are in Mandarin, are being promoted to tourists ahead of Chinese New Year, via rental car companies, Chinese-language media outlets in New Zealand, and other agencies.One video focuses on open road driving tips, such as pulling over if cars build up behind you and not passing on yellow lines. The other video explains what different road signs mean.Road policing Constable Kiriana Flannery, who is based in Wānaka and features in one of the videos, is usually at the sharp end of accidents, getting called out to serious crashes across the district. She said it was great to collaborate with QLDC on a prevention project. “We want visitors to understand the risks and challenges of driving in our district before they get behind the wheel.” The idea for the videos came from Chinese-Kiwi resident and QLDC staff member Xinghao Chen. She said she saw a gap for further education and understanding about driving in New Zealand for Chinese visitors. Xinghao features in the videos, which were filmed in Arrowtown and on the Crown Range, alongside local police.QLDC one network technician (transportation) Sarah Thomson said there is a need for more education for all tourists. “We have some of the most scenic roads in the world and we want our visitors to enjoy themselves – we just want them to do so safely, and we hope these videos will help,” she said.PHOTO: QLDC

The Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) has made a strong bid to retain the current Wānaka jetty until its replacement is completed.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) had recommended the damaged Wānaka town centre jetty - which staff said was at the end of its “serviceable life” - be removed at the end of the summer.The ageing jetty has been repeatedly damaged after severe weather events, most recently in November, and continuing to maintain it would likely cost between $20K and $25K per year, QLDC staff told the board at Thursday’s (February 12) meeting.WUCCB members, who pointed out that a new jetty could be some years away, said they were reluctant to leave Wānaka in limbo.The jetty was left damaged and partially submerged after severe weather in November. PHOTO: Wānaka App WUCCB chair Simon Telfer said it was a “much-loved piece of community infrastructure” - one which is popular with both tourists and locals.“There’s a lot of people that have kids who manu [jump] off there, grandparents who look at the eels, everything else like that,” he said.“We don’t want it to be a no-mans land for three or four years without something down there.”Calls for a new, upgraded jetty have increased in the past couple of years, and it is one of the WUCCB’s listed priorities. RMM Architects presented four concept designs for new, more inventive interpretations last year.Read more: Creative designs for ‘long overdue’ new jettyBecause there is established support for a new jetty aligned with the end of Helwick Street, work on a replacement could progress while the existing jetty remains in place, deputy mayor Quentin Smith said.One of RMM Landscape Architects’ concept designs for a new Wānaka jetty. IMAGE: SuppliedThe WUCCB voted to recommend that work progress on the new jetty immediately, while keeping the existing jetty in the meantime, with a desired completion of the new jetty within 24 months.It will be up to the full council to make the final decision on the future of the jetty.