Have you seen a rook? What about Mediterranean fanworm? Or an Asian Paddle Crab?Otago Regional Council (ORC) wants residents to report sightings of priority pests - and now there’s a new way to do it that makes sure all the right information lands directly in the ORC biosecurity team’s inbox. The new online ‘report pests’ form is a quick way to alert the biosecurity team to priority pests or any potential biosecurity threats in the Otago region, ORC biosecurity team leader Robert Win said.“Priority pests are a significant environmental concern that have either not yet established, or not widely established and have the potential to cause substantial harm, such as Moth plant or the Freshwater Gold Clam,” he said. The form, which can be found on the ORC website, collects pest sighting details, precise location data, and other information for the biosecurity team to investigate.   People can still use ORC’s 0800 number (0800 474 082) to report pests, but ORC is encouraging people to instead use the form - which lets people upload photos and pin the exact location of the sighting - as it is more detailed and efficient.“Citizen science is a valuable way the public can help protect Otago’s environment,” Robert said. “Otago is home to many threatened and taonga species.” “We can help to protect these and the region’s wider indigenous biodiversity if we all work together, especially if Biosecurity staff have timely information on pest sightings and exact locations.”Priority pests in Otago include African feather grass, African love grass, Asian paddle crab, Chilean needle grass, Horsetail reed, Lagarosiphon, Spartina and many more.Find the new pest reporting form here, as well as more information on priority pests, here.PHOTO: ORC

KiwiHarvest’s 'Souperheroes' campaign has provided over a tonne of soup, stews, and curries to charities in Queenstown Lakes - including three in Wānaka - since launching in May. The food charity collects surplus food and delivers it to those in need, and ‘Souperheros’ started as a small side initiative, KiwiHarvest Queenstown Lakes branch manager Gary Hough says.“What began as a simple idea - aligned with KiwiHarvest’s mission to reduce food waste and support those in need - has grown into something that fills me with pride and hope.”Gary said KiwiHarvest started by collaborating with students from Queenstown's Liger Leadership Academy, working together to find a new way to feed people facing tough times.It soon expanded into a district-wide mission, with primary schools collecting surplus containers (like ice cream tubs and yoghurt pots) and teaming up with chefs at hotels and restaurants to turn excess food into a stockpile of frozen soups, stews, and curries.“The ‘Souperheroes’ campaign has exceeded expectations with over one tonne of food contributed,” Gary said.‘Souperheroes now delivers these meals to 13 charities, including Food for Love, Community Link’s food bank and Kahu Youth Trust.“Over 550 kilograms of nutritious, heartwarming soups and stews have been prepared, with local chefs transforming excess produce from KiwiHarvest and local kitchens into comforting winter meals.“In addition, we’ve received over 450 kilos of canned soups and stews that have generously been donated by our community…”Wānaka Primary School has been involved this year, during the ‘pilot’, but “next year we hope to include all Wānaka primary schools and some Wānaka hospitality businesses”, Gary said.On the back of the success of ‘Souperheroes’, Kiwiharvest has launched its major fundraiser of the year, ‘Cruise for a Cause’: an overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound with RealNZ.“We have come along with local grant support etc in the last couple of years but [we are] still operationally in a deficit of around $20K for the next two years,” Gary told the Wānaka App.“This event we hope will help to bridge that gap for next year and make our operation more secure and sustainable, which has a massive ripple effect for the community.”Find out more about the Doubtful Sound cruise here and more about KiwiHarvest here.PHOTO: Wānaka App

A 27-year-old Wānaka climber/snowboarder was airlifted to Southland Hospital after slipping backwards, falling over a steep cliff, dropping twenty metres then sliding another thirty metres into the Grand Couloire on the Remarkables.Police say the man suffered a badly broken arm and possible head injury in the fall from the top of the popular shute, which starts between Single and Double Cone close to the summit of the Remarkables running down to Lake Alta.Remarkables Ski Area ski patrollers assisted an Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter’s paramedic to get to the man, who was believed to have been crossing the Grand Traverse with a skier friend, after they activated a personal locator beacon, around 3pm on Monday (July 7).Police had the Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue Team on standby due to the steep, tricky terrain but they were stood down, with the paramedic able to get to the man.Cliff Rescue Team co-ordinator Russ Tilsley said he believes the paramedic was winched into a point 5-6 metres below the patient, climbing up then winching him out.“I understand they’d come over the top of the GT [Grand Traverse] and stopped halfway to ski Grand Couloire, but conditions are patchy as is usual this early in the season,” Russ said.“He’s probably slipped on ice, but he was a bit beaten up. I believe he may have also injured a rib.”Russ said the snow cover is not that great and it was likely quite icy and people need to be aware that they’re in mountainous terrain and cover can be patchy this early in the season.A St John Ambulance spokesperson said they were notified at 3.12pm on Monday and dispatched two helicopters. The patient was assessed at the scene then airlifted to Southland Hospital in a moderate condition.PHOTO: David Maunsell

Wānaka Festival of Colour executive director Ruth Heath has been named as the new director of Queenstown’s arts and cultural centre, Te Atamira.The Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust Board said Ruth will step down from the role in early August.The board thanked Ruth for being “an exceptional steward of the trust” during her tenure as executive director.“Her collaborative approach and genuine passion for the arts have strengthened our organisation - from modernising systems and seeing us through tough periods while keeping our festivals strong and vibrant, to nurturing our incredible community of audiences, artists, supporters, sponsors, volunteers and staff,” they said.Ruth Heath PHOTO: Deanna GerlachRuth said the Wānaka Festival of Colour and Aspiring Conversations are “extraordinary festivals and it has been a privilege to serve the trust and this community in bringing these to life”.“A wonderful opportunity now exists for a new leader to carry the vision forward and further strengthen arts leadership in our region.”Ruth said she was “delighted to be joining a special team at a special place”. She is part of the inaugural cohort of Creative New Zealand’s New Leaders Programme, alongside 25 arts leaders from across the country. The Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust Board said the recruitment process for a new executive director is underway.

A series of power outages in the Upper Clutha over the past couple of weeks has left some residents frustrated - and raised fresh questions about whether customers should be compensated after unplanned outages.A major outage on the evening of Monday June 30 left more than 2,000 people in Hāwea and Makarora without power for almost three hours. Later that night, a second outage (due to a powerline near the road on Domain Road) saw some residents without power until after midnight.Then this Monday (July 7) another unplanned outage occurred in Wānaka and Albert Town, leaving around 1,200 customers without power for up to 5.5 hours during the day.Resident Jessie Byrne said the outages aren’t good enough - particularly given there is no longer any compensation available to customers for unplanned power cuts.Jessie said she discovered the credit had been removed when she and others approached Aurora Energy after the recent outages.“Power outages are becoming a frustratingly regular occurrence in our area, and the removal of this credit - without [a] clear community mandate - raises questions about accountability,” she said.Aurora Energy confirmed the change, with general manager customer and commercial services Mark Pratt saying its Customer Charter was updated in August following a public consultation in November 2023.“The new charter no longer includes a service level for compensating customers if power is not restored after an unplanned power outage within set timeframes,” Mark said.However, the company has doubled the charter credit for customers who aren’t properly notified of planned outages, from $20 to $40.Mark said the consultation was widely advertised in print, digital, radio, and local apps, and that the majority of those who engaged supported the changes.He noted that Aurora Energy ranks relatively well for unplanned outage frequency, sitting between fourth and eleventh out of 29 national lines companies - one of the reasons cited for removing the unplanned outage credit.But Jessie believes the consultation wasn’t transparent enough. “At a minimum, I’d like to see greater transparency from Aurora, starting with the public release of submission numbers from the 2023 consultation,” she said.“I don’t think anyone expects perfection - power outages happen,” Jessie said. “But when they do, people want to know someone is accountable, and that their experience matters.”Aurora Energy told the Wānaka App it would get back to Jessie, and others, regarding consultation numbers “in due course”.“However we are confident our consultation process was robust and provided opportunities for people to give us their feedback on the proposed changes.”The company says it has several projects underway to improve network reliability in the Upper Clutha.Over the past five years, the company has focused on replacing and upgrading ageing infrastructure. Longer-term, it plans to address network constraints and respond to population growth, economic development and decarbonisation.“The network is sufficient for current demand, but significant investment will be needed to meet the community’s needs through to 2050 and beyond,” Aurora Energy future network and operations general manager Matt Settle told the Wānaka App.A Regional Electricity Development Plan for the area is expected to be released later this year, with more details about future plans.Aurora Energy said it had also offered to meet with the Hāwea community in the coming months to discuss plans to strengthen the electricity network in the area.PHOTO: SuppliedRead more: Aurora apologises for power cut

Queenstown resident Darren Rewi (Ngati Mamoe and Waitaha, Ngati Kahungungu ki Te Wairoa, Rongowhakaata, Ngati Porou) has announced he will stand for mayor of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).He joins incumbent mayor Glyn Lewers, Shaping Our Future executive John Glover, and businessman Nik Kiddle in the mayoral race.Darren (62), who has lived in the district for 32 years, has been involved in a wide range of community and governance roles.“Enabling and empowering all communities from Makarora to Tahuna Glenorchy is a passion,” he said.QLDC voters need to consider leadership, governance and engagement when they choose their mayor and councillors, Darren said.He said he has over 20 years of senior level leadership and governance experience on local, regional and national boards, and has qualifications and experience in strategic and change management.“Along with the wider Queenstown Lakes District community we the elected councillors need to come together to articulate a strategic vision for the next 30 years, not the next election cycle.” Darren said he supports “an open and transparent working relationship” between mayor and CEO, with a “no surprises” policy for the mayor and elected councillors.“There has been a lack of accountability recently which has led to a removal of community support. The councillors and the staff need to focus on reducing costs that have ballooned beyond our need.”He said there is “no point creating reviews and investigations; it’s obvious that there has been poor decision making and now its for the new council and mayor to create an expectation of accountability and that’s a conversation with the CEO”.“We need to look forward and get moving: let’s revisit issues like single designated authority and what contractors are and are not adding value. If they are not, then they are gone. We need with urgency to reduce and remove our reliance on contractors.”Darren said progress on the Regional Deal with central government comes with opportunities and expectations. The government wants to enable growth through productivity, but while Queenstown Lakes is projected to be the biggest population centre for Otago, its productivity rate is 10 percent lower than the rest of New Zealand, he said.“When we work with developers and private investors, once due diligence is done and we agree to move forward, can we enable their projects; we need to unlock the bureaucracy for us to achieve.”“Leadership is key”, he added.Read more: Local ‘regional deal’ progresses to next stage“Part of enabling the community is to utilise iwi and Maori business and the capability they have… The recent investment of Totara Energy to acquire 30 percent of Pioneer Energy is a great example of bringing the capability of nine iwi to the table for the benefit of New Zealand.”As part of the Māori community Darren provided support to the wider community during the Covid-19 pandemic, from which the Mana Tahuna Charitable Trust emerged. Darren has been chair of the trust since it was founded in 2020.He is a trustee of the Sky City Queenstown Community Foundation, vice chair of the Victim Support national board, a ministerial appointee on the board of Herenga a Nuku the Outdoor Access Commission, and Ngai Tahu ki Murihiku representative on the Otago Regional Council Upper Lakes Freshwater Catchment Working Group. Darren is also a local business owner (cultural support company Take Tuia), and was recently the vice chair of the Arts Culture and Heritage Strategy Committee. He was the mayoral appointee as chair of the Welcoming Communities Steering Group.Darren has also been involved with Scouts, football, supporting schools, iwi roles, and contributed for nine years as a volunteer fire fighter. He has led the ongoing restoration of Waiwhakaata Lake Hayes. PHOTO: Supplied

Snow Sports NZ is benefitting from a shake-up in ski and snowboard funding, with a new International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) revenue-sharing system underway.FIS will distribute €30 million (around $54M NZD) over three years to its 75 national members - which include Snow Sports NZ - through its new centralised broadcast rights deal, the FIS Media Rights Centralisation Agreement (MRCA).All member nations receive equal payments, regardless of whether they host World Cup events.“Everyone gets the same amount - €400,000 [more than $781,000] - and that’s a lot of money, especially for smaller nations,” FIS president Johan Eliasch said.He highlighted the impact for countries like New Zealand and Greece, which have traditionally not received commercial revenue due to their limited hosting opportunities.“Before, if you didn’t host events, you didn’t get anything,” Johan said. “Now, everyone benefits just by being a member. That’s a big change.”Snow Sports NZ has already received the first of three FIS MRCA payments, with the final instalment due in the 2026/27 season. “Once the FIS MRCA comes into effect in 2026/27 Snow Sports NZ is excited at the potential benefits that the MRCA will return,” Snow Sports NZ CEO Nic Cavanagh said.He noted that while no details about future MRCA profits or their distribution had been released, the organisation was hopeful the centralised system would deliver greater returns for FIS, which could be shared among the 75 members.Another change set to have benefits in New Zealand is the recent vote by FIS council members in favour of an increase of up to 20 percent in prize money for FIS World Cup events across all disciplines.Ten percent of the additional prize money will be guaranteed by FIS and the additional 10 percent is on a voluntary basis for each local organising committee.“This increase will directly impact New Zealand snow sports athletes who receive World Cup prize money from the start of the 2025/26 season,” Nic said.PHOTO: Supplied

Submissions on Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) new draft Freedom Camping Bylaw 2025 are now open. QLDC said the draft bylaw was informed by “a robust technical assessment” that identified and examined which areas of the district need to be protected.Under the draft bylaw, freedom camping will be allowed in certain areas but subject to specific conditions including time restrictions, only using specified parking spaces, leaving no waste, lighting no fires, and a requirement for vehicles to be certified as self-contained with a toilet and grey water facilities.Key proposals in the draft bylaw include: Prohibiting freedom camping on most roads including any on-road vehicle parking spaces (i.e parallel, angle, etc spaces) located within the district’s built-up urban areas. Allowing freedom camping with restrictions in 158 carparking spaces across 15 specified areas in the district. Allowing freedom camping on most rural roads (including any areas off the active road corridor such as off-road laybys), subject to restrictions such as how close to the road a freedom camper can park themselves.  Read more: Freedom camping bylaw proposes 158 free sitesThese rules would apply on QLDC-controlled land and some New Zealand Transport Authority Waka Kotahi land.Freedom camping at the Luggate Red Bridge. PHOTO: SuppliedThe draft bylaw does not propose to regulate freedom camping on any reserve land or privately owned land. Camping on reserves will continue to be administered under the Reserves Act 1977. Find more information and make a submission here.  There will also be a public drop-in session in Wānaka next week: 5-7pm on Tuesday (July 15) at the Wānaka Recreation Centre and at the Queenstown Events Centre the day before (5-7pm Monday July 14), as well as an online webinar held on Monday July 28 at midday (details and registration information are available on the Let’s Talk platform). The results of the consultation will be considered by a hearing panel made up of councillors and will help to inform any changes to the draft bylaw ahead of it being adopted.The bylaw is expected to be finalised and in place before summer 2025-2026. Last year the High Court quashed QLDC’s 2021 Freedom Camping Bylaw, leaving the district without freedom camping restrictions - apart from restrictions under the Reserves Act regarding temporary and permanent accommodation, and the national Freedom Camping Act 2011 which requires that vehicles be certified self-contained to freedom camp. Last month QLDC mayor Glyn Lewers acknowledged “the challenges and frustrations” freedom camping brought to some residents this past summer. “No one wants to see any visitor using our pristine waterways for washing, nor do they want to see toilet paper where it shouldn’t be,” he said. “Sadly, that’s been the experience for some.”Read more: Freedom camping bylaw ‘by summer’

Community funding platforms Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown have raised $100,000 and they plan to distribute it to worthy organisations and projects.The platforms have opened applications for their 2025 Impact Grants, which will support charitable organisations delivering frontline climate, conservation, and biodiversity projects in the district.“These grants are about empowering the incredible organisations already working so hard to protect our rohe (region),” Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown community fund coordinator Ash Bickley said.Eligible organisations can now apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Funding has been made possible by generous contributions from visitors, tourism operators, and local businesses committed to protecting the region’s natural environment, Ash said. “The ongoing support from the visitor industry has been inspiring, showing a real commitment to not just sustaining, but regenerating, the places we love.”The grants will support charitable organisations delivering frontline climate, conservation, and biodiversity projects in the region. PHOTO: Jordan SiobhanSince their inception in 2023, Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown have brought industry volunteers together to plant 6,500 native trees, connected numerous visitors to volunteer opportunities, become hubs for sustainable travel information, and invested over $32,500 via endowment funds. “This is about building a regenerative future for our region,” Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism CEO Mat Woods said. “These funds are a direct result of visitor and business generosity and are a unique example of how tourism can support real, on-the-ground environmental action.”Past recipients of Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown’s Impact Grants include Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust, Predator Free Wānaka (formerly Wānaka Backyard Trapping), WAI Wānaka, and the Upper Clutha Wilding Tree Group, among others. Find more information, including full eligibility criteria and application details, here.

Last week was a busy one for Health Action Wānaka (HAW), whose members attended not only the rural road show in Wānaka with Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey, but also met with Health Minister Simeon Brown in Auckland.HAW steering committee chair Monique Mayze told the Wānaka App that Simeon appeared “very receptive” to what HAW had to say.“We shared with him the many challenges our community is facing when it comes to accessing healthcare, challenges which are compounded by our geographical isolation and rapid growth,” she said.HAW also gave the minister a detailed overview of each of the group’s ‘quick wins’, identified in the group’s report ‘Perception versus reality: the true state of healthcare in the Upper Clutha’.The report, which was released in April, identifies significant unmet needs, systemic barriers, and a lack of strategic health planning for the Upper Clutha.Read more: Healthcare crisis for Upper Clutha - reportFrom left: HAW’s Trish Fraser with Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey, Miles Anderson MP, ADL chief executive Clive McArthur, ADL Central Lakes service leader Warren Scott, and Rural Minister Mark Patterson last week. PHOTO: HAWThe quick wins identified by HAW are: Introduction of psychiatric consultations via telehealth for NGO and community frontline mental health and addiction services in this region within 12 months.Delivery of a publicly funded blood collection service in Wānaka within two years.Increase in local access to publicly funded radiology services via the government’s $30M funding boost announced in July 2024.“The minister committed to discuss the three ‘quick wins’ with Health New Zealand and to come back to us with a plan,” Monique said.“We will be meeting with Health New Zealand senior officials in the coming weeks, and will seek an update from them on what progress has been made.”She said HAW also discussed the National Travel Assistance scheme with the minister, and explained the difficulties people have when seeking to meet the eligibility criteria to receive compensation for health-related travel.He “expressed surprise at the problems we identified and was keen to learn more”, she said, and HAW plans to write to him with more information on the issue.“We want to see the scheme re-designed so people in rural communities like ours can be fairly compensated for mileage and accommodation costs incurred as a result of having to travel so far to access healthcare services.The travel assistance scheme was one of a range of issues also raised at the rural health roadshow on Tuesday (July 1), as was a clinical services review of the district currently underway by Health NZ.HAW believes locals should not have to wait until the review is completed to see action on the proposed ‘quick wins’.“Our quick wins respond to well-documented health service inequities in the Upper Clutha community, and there is no reason why steps cannot be taken now to start implementing the solutions we have proposed,” Monique said.Read more: ‘No hope of much change’ following health roadshow

Significant investment into supporting native species and tackling invasive pests in national parks has been announced by conservation minister Tama Potaka.The minister has announced $22M from the International Visitor Levy (IVL) will go to restoring unique wildlife in national parks, islands and other popular visitor sites over the next three years.He said the funding is split between supporting native species and tackling invasive pests - giving birds, bush, marine life and landscapes respite to recover.“We’re putting $4.15M into expanding predator control, plus $11.5M on the recovery of highly threatened species, including tara iti, at national parks and popular sites so visitors can enjoy thriving natural areas where their funds have contributed.”Mt Aspiring National Park is listed as a potential location for boosted predator control operations in response to the beech mast forecast for 2026.       Last year, nearly three-quarters of international visitors said they did a hike, walk or tramp while in New Zealand, and around half visited a national park. “Conservation-related tourism is worth around $3.4B a year,” Tama said.The minister said people fly to New Zealand with the dream of enjoying our world-class environment, and the government wants to make that experience “even better” for them.Budget 2025 has allocated $55M per annum to the Department of Conservation for new investments from money raised under the new $100 IVL rate. PHOTO: Supplied

Police are appealing for public assistance following significant damage to a cellular tower on Lindis Pass-Tarras Road (State Highway 8) on Saturday (July 6).Cromwell Police were called to the scene at around 10.50am, where they found a tower had been extensively damaged between Forest Range Station and Goodger Road.Detective Phill Hamlin said the tower plays a vital role in keeping people connected in an alpine area known for limited reception.“Cellular service is especially critical in this rural and alpine area,” he said.“Rural areas tend to rely on fewer cell towers to cover larger areas, and damage to these towers can cause significant reduction or complete loss of cell service in the area.”Detective Hamlin said police are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen suspicious behaviour at or near the tower and is asking anyone who travelled along Lindis Pass-Tarras Road between 7am and 1pm on Saturday, July 6, and has dashcam footage, to please get in touch with police.Anyone with information is asked to contact police by calling 105 or reporting online with reference number 250707/0047.Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

The Upper Clutha Rams have secured top spot on the table after two rounds of the Central Otago Premier Rugby Competition, grinding out a hard-fought 17-6 win over Wakatipu at home on Saturday (July 5).The Rams exploded out of the gates at the Upper Clutha Rugby Club, lifting their game to a new level in the opening 20 minutes with ferocious defence and crisp attacking execution. They crossed the line twice in that opening period and held a commanding 12-3 lead at halftime.Rams head coach Alex Dickson said the team had finally delivered the kind of performance they had been building toward.“Ecstatic – what defence! We really hit our straps, been waiting all year for it,” he said.The second half, however, saw the Rams come under sustained pressure as ill-discipline crept into their game. Ten penalties in a 30-minute spell saw them pinned deep in their own half, but Wakatipu were unable to break through thanks to a steely Rams’ defensive wall.Wakatipu slotted a penalty in the 69th minute to close the gap to six points, but it proved a turning point in the Rams’ favour. From the restart the Rams worked their way into the Wakatipu 22 for the first time in the half, and sealed the match with a decisive try.The defensive effort was led by prop Fergus Smith and second five Oliver Stirling, who were relentless at the tackle. Lock Andrew Horne put in a powerful shift and flanker Arthur Boutillier was physical and disruptive throughout.The win also ensured the Rams retained the White Horse Cup, now in its 100th year. As the final holders of the cup this season, the Rams name will be engraved on the historic trophy.Upper Clutha now prepares to face Maniototo in Wānaka on Saturday (July 12) in a home semi-final. Wakatipu will play Alexandra in Queenstown in the other semi-final.Points:Tries: Jack East, Oliver Stirling, Jake GreerConversion: Brody FlanneryTable:TABLE: TribePHOTO: Wānaka App

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has been ordered by the Environment Court to pay company Tussock Rise more than $120,000 in costs. It is the second time costs have been awarded to Tussock Rise, following a long-running dispute with the council over the zoning of a 9.3-hectare property the developer purchased in 2016.Tussock Rise part-owner Grant Bisset told the Wānaka App this week he was "delighted with the court’s decision and that this nine-year process has come to an end".“We were determined not to leave Wānaka a legacy of heavy industrial land with the associated heavy traffic in such a central and elevated location."This matter has been through two court processes and we have been awarded costs both times."Tussock Rise first applied for a private plan change in 2016 to rezone the land from Industrial B to Business Mixed Use, an application which QLDC rejected. Later, when QLDC notified stage three of the Proposed District Plan, it proposed to rezone an area including the Tussock Rise land to a General Industrial Zone.Tussock Rise lodged an Environment Court appeal against this, which QLDC applied to have struck out - claiming it was “frivolous or vexatious” - but the Environment Court rejected this, and ruled in favour of Tussock Rise, awarding $5,000 in costs.When the substantive Environment Court hearing was held, the court ultimately sided with Tussock Rise, enabling a more flexible rezoning for the site.The recent application for costs followed this, and in a judgement on June 18, Environment Court judge PA Steven said she was satisfied there “were special circumstances in this case that justify an award of costs”.Tussock Rise land looking north on Gordon Road. PHOTO: Wānaka AppShe was also satisfied that “higher than normal costs are justified” in this case.The judge said she agreed with Tussock Rises’s legal counsel’s submission that the council had “advanced arguments without merit and evidential support” and some of QLDC’s actions during the hearing demonstrated “disregard for due process”.QLDC told the Wānaka App this week it was “disappointed in the outcome relating to the cost decision and remain disappointed with the overall outcome”.“We've lost important and easily accessible industrial land that was anticipated to meet Wānaka's long term growth needs,” a spokesperson said.Grant disagreed with QLDC’s statement and he said the council’s modelling had shown sufficient capacity for all business land uses through to 2048.“The QLDC’s desire to funnel heavy industrial traffic into central Wānaka is perplexing,” he said. “The court’s position clearly vindicates [Tussock Rises’s] view that heavy industrial activities are inappropriate in the elevated centre of a resort town adjacent to residential areas.”

Nominations for the 2025 local body elections are now officially open, and most local elected representatives have confirmed their plans to run for office again, while a few remain tight-lipped.At least three out of four Wānaka councillors elected to Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) have confirmed they will run for office again this year.Lyal Cocks, Barry Bruce and Cody Tucker say they are putting their hats in the ring again, while deputy mayor Quentin Smith did not respond to the Wānaka App’s query.Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) chair Simon Telfer said he hopes to share his decision in the next few weeks; board member John Wellington confirmed he will stand for the board again, but not QLDC (as he did three years’ ago); Chris Hadfield also confirmed he would stand for the board; and Linda Joll said she was unsure.Meanwhile QLDC hopes to increase participation in the election with the launch of its 2025 local election campaign, The Highest Vote, on Friday (July 4).The campaign invites voters to “take part in democracy at new heights”, with special high-altitude ballot boxes available at Cardrona Alpine Resort’s ticketing office (1,670m) and Treble Cone’s ticketing area (1,260m), hosted by RealNZ.QLDC will also host a one-day voting box at the Crown Range lookout on October 10. Residents who prefer to vote closer to home can do so by post or at voting boxes located throughout the district. A map of voting locations and further information will be available on the QLDC website.  The Crown Range lookout will host a one-day voting box on October 10. PHOTO: Wānaka AppTo stand for election, candidates must be enrolled voters and nominated by two voters from the area they wish to represent. QLDC said it “encourages people of all backgrounds to consider standing, no prior experience needed”. “How our district moves forward involves everyone who lives here, so it’s important that our elected officials reflect the values and ideas of our diverse community,” QLDC chief executive Mike Theelen said. “Now is a great time to learn more about the challenges and rewards, either for yourself or for friends and family who you think would make great local leaders.”In 2022, 43.05 percent of eligible voters in the district cast their ballots. This year, QLDC hopes to surpass the national average voter turnout of 44.5 percent.  Nominations for both QLDC and the WUCCB opened on Friday (July 4) and will close at 12pm on Friday August 1.  Voting papers will be delivered between September 9-22, and the voting period is September 9 to October 11.The QLDC website provides information on who can stand for election, how to get nominated, and how to campaign when the time comes. 

The Upper Clutha Tracks Trust is confident it will have completed its new 5km ‘true right’ track along the Hāwea River by Christmas.The track is designed to allow walkers and cyclists to get away from the trust's busy commuter cycle route between Wānaka and Hāwea on the other side of the river.While it will be simpler and more rugged, it will still be accessible for adaptive bikes and strollers. The trust said it is intended to cater for experienced cyclists and walkers looking for a natural, minimally constructed experience, while still maintaining family-friendly access and stunning river views.As part of the new track, trust chairman David Howard said small clearings would be established on off-shoots from the track to allow walkers and cyclists to ''stop, take a breath, dangle their feet in the river and, perhaps, get out the rug for a picnic”.The track will be simpler and more rugged than the existing river track.The track, on Department of Conservation land, will run from the Lake Hāwea dam to Camphill Road and has Queenstown Lakes District Council resource consent.At the UCTT’s meeting last month, trustees gave the go-ahead for tenders to be called to form some of the more difficult parts of the track near the kayakers’ wave at the Camphill Bridge, create some new track, widen some sections of existing tracks, and construct a boardwalk across a wetland.A survey has already been completed to ensure the track does not affect lizards, and the trust is talking to Contact Energy about where track users can cross the dam at the head of the river.While work has yet to start, David is confident it will be ready by Christmas.The amount budgeted for the project is $154,000, and while there is still a shortfall, trust founding member John Wellington believes the trust can - with caution - continue with the project while further funding is sought.Major contributors so far have been the Central Lakes Trust ($38,346), Otago Community Trust ($30,000), New Zealand Bike Trails ($1500), and Hāwea Community Association ($3000).The trust has just received $2,500 from the final Wheels to Wānaka event.''We also received a $1,000 donation, out of the blue, from a charitable trust we had not heard from before,” John said.''We have just launched a give-a-little page, and we are gradually building up our supporter members.''Meanwhile, the trust is holding back on plans to upgrade the existing Wānaka to Hāwea track.The trust is aware rough parts of the track are in dire need of upgrading, however John said the only responsible approach is for the trust to be sure the work is completely funded before beginning work.''Unfortunately, we missed out on a grant from the Lotteries Board and are now back at the drawing board looking at how to get this big maintenance job across the line,” he said.PHOTOS: Supplied

Skiers and snowboarders took their first trips up the new Soho Lift yesterday (July 5).The high-speed six-seater chairlift unlocks access to 150ha of skiable terrain in Soho Basin, expanding Cardrona Alpine Resort’s ski area from 465ha to 615ha.Snowmaking facilities are not in place at Soho Basin for this winter season so skiers and snowboarders have had to wait for enough snowfall before their first ride in the new chairlift.Cardrona held a Soho Lift blessing ceremony last month (June 29) ahead of its opening, with speeches from representatives of Ngāi Tahu including Komene Cassidy, RealNZ CEO Dave Beeche Doppelmayr’s Garreth Hayman and tourism minister Louise Upston.The new lift has capacity for 3,000 passengers per hour. PHOTO: Belle Grace“It was incredible to celebrate with all the generations of Cardrona and RealNZ, including both the Lee and Hutchins families,” Cardrona and Treble Cone chief mountains officer Laura Hedley said."To get this lift and terrain open, after decades of dreaming of what could be... it's a pretty emotional moment for our entire team."Early-season conditions still exist, so the terrain was mostly ungroomed and for advanced level skiers and snowboarders only.The Soho Lift is 1,237m long, with 75 chairs, and a vertical rise of 379m.It has 11 towers and is the same model as the $23M Shadow Basin chairlift by Doppelmayer at The Remarkables.

New populations of a rare and threatened native fish species have been found in three locations in the Cardrona Valley thanks to research funded by the inaugural Donald Scott Memorial Scholarship in Freshwater Ecology.The Clutha flathead galaxias, a critically endangered species found only in Central Otago, was detected in two previously unrecorded populations - and a third population rediscovered after 20 years - during a field survey led by Otago-based researcher Isaac Davies.The project, instigated by a donation from Patricia (Pat) Scott with ongoing support from the Otago Fish & Game Council and Clutha Fisheries Trust, surveyed 30 streams throughout the Cardrona Valley.All three populations of Clutha flathead were found in small, trout-free headwaters, highlighting the importance of natural fish barriers in protecting vulnerable native fish.The Clutha flathead galaxias is a critically endangered species found only in Central Otago. PHOTO: Isaac DaviesIsaac Davies, a postgraduate researcher at the University of Otago and the inaugural recipient of the Donald Scott Memorial Trust Scholarship, said the discovery adds significantly to understanding species interactions in the region’s freshwater ecosystems.“The Cardrona remains a valuable sports fishery, but this project shows there’s also room to recognise and protect the special native species still hanging on in remote corners,” he said.While most of the research into the Clutha flathead has been in the Cardrona catchment, field work has also been done in the Nevis, Little Valley near Alexandra, Queensbury, and near Lawrence.As well as distribution mapping, the research has expanded into the Clutha flathead’s life history - including spawning age, egg size, abundance, and the downstream drift of newly hatched larvae. These insights will help inform how native and sports fish can be managed together in shared catchments.“The scholarship made it possible to investigate key questions about how this species survives and how to protect it,” Isaac said. “Reading about everything Dr Scott contributed to freshwater management in New Zealand made me incredibly honoured to be the first recipient.”The Donald Scott Memorial Trust Scholarship was established to honour the legacy of the late Donald Scott, a pioneering freshwater advocate. His wife Pat played a central role in launching the scholarship fund in 2022 through a donation.“The outstanding work in the discovery of these new populations of rare galaxiids by the first scholar of the Donald Scott Memorial Scholarship proves the worth of Fish & Game's ongoing commitment to scientific research and to being kaitiaki of the taiao,” Pat said.Otago Fish & Game chief executive Ian Hadland said the research aligned with the organisation’s balanced approach to species management.“We’re committed to supporting resilient ecosystems that support both native fish and a world-class sports fishery,” he said. “This work, guided by our Regional Species Management and Interaction Policy, shows the value of partnerships in getting there.”The research also identified priority sites for environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, which will provide an even clearer picture of where native fish populations remain and how to protect them.

The Upper Lakes Integrated Catchment Group is asking the community for feedback on its draft Catchment Action Plan (CAP).Once complete, the Upper Lakes CAP will be a long-term, community-led plan for managing land, water, biodiversity and wellbeing values of the Upper Lakes catchment, building on existing work and setting out local priorities for action.The draft CAP is the result of Otago Regional Council’s (ORC) 2021-24 Long Term Plan, ORC environmental implementation manager Libby Caldwell said.“The Otago community provided feedback to ORC that they would like to see a community-led approach to how to achieve environmental outcomes, and out of this the Integrated Catchment Management Programme was developed,” she told the Wānaka App.ORC started the first CAP in the Catlins, which is now in the implementation phase, and the Upper Lakes is the second CAP to be developed.It is now at the halfway mark, and a survey has been released for public feedback.“The survey is a good opportunity for the group to check with a wider audience how much the draft work aligns with their expectations,” Libby said.“The survey results will be incorporated into the work to date, which is really the scene setting for the CAP – that is, the vision, values, pressures and goals.”“The next stage…is to develop actions that will mitigate the pressures and/or enhance the values which have been identified which work towards achieving the long term goals of the plan,” Libby said.“For example this could include planting natives, wetland enhancement, predator control, wilding conifer control, mahika kai, etc.”The Upper Lakes Integrated Catchment Group features representatives from a wide range of groups including WAI Wānaka, Guardians of Lake Hāwea, Guardians of Lake Wānaka, Queenstown Lakes District Council, Otago Fish & Game, and many more.Have your say on the draft Upper Lakes CAP here before June 15.The group will also be holding a public hui in Wānaka in August to update the community on progress on the CAP. PHOTO: Wānaka App