Kayak and boat owners have one month to collect their abandoned vessels from the Eely Point Reserve before Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) starts removing them.QLDC parks manager Dave Winterburn said there are more than 90 vessels along the lakefront area between the Wānaka Yacht Club, Eely Point, and Bremner Bay.“We’d like to take this opportunity to remind people that there is no permanent storage for watercraft on lakeside reserves,” Dave said.“To ensure our lakefronts can be enjoyed by everyone, we’re asking people to collect their kayaks and boats, as we’re unable to identify what vessels are unused or abandoned.” Notices have been placed on vessels in the reserve and removal will begin on October 6.“If you know someone using this location to store a vessel, please either let them know or contact council,” Dave said.He said Eely Point Reserve was a “highly valued” area for recreation and enjoyment and leaving vessels there was a breach of the Reserves Act.“Vessels left on lakeside reserves block access for those enjoying our waterways and restrict the parks team and community groups from undertaking maintenance, pest plant removal, planting and general enhancement of lakeside spaces.”Once vessels are removed from the reserve, they will be stored for a further two months. If unclaimed after this time, they will be disposed of by council.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Wānaka Pride Week is hitting its biggest day today (Saturday September 6), with a street party and late-night finale to follow a string of sold-out events and community initiatives across town.The message for today, regardless of the weather, is that the Pride Street Party will go on.“We are able to move most of the festivities inside the Lake Wānaka Centre ... as it'll be a mostly indoor event,” event manager Celine Van der Eeckenn said.Celine said it had been a “busy and exciting” week so far, with strong local support at every step.“We're overwhelmed with the amount of support we've had so far.”The week began with two days of mental health First Aid training for locals who work with rangatahi, in collaboration with Path Wānaka and Community Link.This had a “great turnout and fantastic to provide training like this thanks to the support of ticket buyers, funders, donors and attendees”, Celine said.On Wednesday night (September 3) the Wānaka Community Hub hosted a sold-out Queer Film Festival - “a wholesome evening celebrating the rainbow community”.Other highlights over the week so far included Thursday’s (September 4) Queers & Beers at Rhyme X Reason and last night’s (Friday September 5) Drag Bingo, which sold out with more than 200 tickets sold.Today’s programme begins with the Pride Ride, departing the Wānaka Rugby Grounds at 1.30pm and arriving at the Lake Wānaka Centre for the official opening of the Pride Street Party at 2pm.This will run until 6pm with three stages of live music, drag and dance performances, food stalls, an artisan market and family-friendly activities. The Lip Sync Battle Finale is expected to be a highlight.Festivities will continue into the night with Pride After Dark, an R18 showcase of DJs, drag, burlesque and aerial silks. Wānaka Pride Week is organised by Out&about Wānaka.PHOTO: Supplied

83 Sir Tim Wallis Drive.

Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) student band Stranger Danger has taken top honours at the Rockshop Bandquest regional final in Dunedin, winning the day-one final on Saturday (August 30).Year 8 students Tyla Scherger (vocals), Edie Yandall (vocals), and Year 7 students Maika Stephens (lead guitar), Zac Perkins (guitar), and Bruno Blampied (drums) performed two ‘System of a Down’ covers at the live music competition for primary and intermediate aged school students.The band’s talent also earned individual recognition, with Maika awarded the coveted Killer Guitarist Award.Edie said she loved the excitement of performing: “I really enjoy the atmosphere the band creates on the stage when we play.” “I was quite surprised when we were announced as winners, but I was also relieved because it meant all our hard work and lots of practice had paid off.”Bruno said he loved playing drums and performing on stage with the band. “It’s a lot of fun. I’d do it every day if I could.”Meanwhile Tyla said her favourite thing about playing in the band was the other band members. “My bandmates are great to be around and it always makes me feel confident when I perform with them.”MAC head of music Mat Doyle said he was incredibly proud of Stranger Danger.“What has impressed me most is their determination and the way they committed to rehearsing together as a group. That teamwork really shone through on stage.“I’d also like to acknowledge their guitar teacher Pete Stevenson who has worked with hundreds of young bands over the years. His passion and guidance continue to inspire our students to reach new heights.“We are so thankful for events such as Rockshop Bandquest that provide our students with opportunities to share and present their craft and also open doors for them.”Stranger Danger competed against eight other bands from across the region, with the judges praising the band’s super-confident presentation, the energy of their performance, their exceptional vocals, and the tightness of their instrumentals.The regional final was conducted over two days, with two bands selected to go through to the national final.All regional winners submit a video entry which is judged online. The Otago regional winners also get the opportunity to have one track recorded in the studio at South Link Productions.PHOTO: Supplied

Why this event matters for Wānaka families.Last week on More FM Queenstown, Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College principal Nicola Jacobsen joined Joel on air to talk about the social media and online epidemic affecting families across our region.Every day at the school gates she sees it first-hand - the challenge of raising teens in a digital world, moving faster than any of us can keep up.Nicola, a passionate educator with a deep commitment to community connection, didn’t mince her words:“You have to think of online predators like it’s their full-time job.“Parents often feel isolated like it’s just happening to just their child. But it’s not.“Social media, gaming, even online gambling: these things are hooking our teenagers in ways we never have had to face.”Nicola understands the pressures parents face today, however she also knows the power of coming together as a wider community to support our rangatahi.That’s why she’s throwing her support behind an important upcoming event hosted by Path Wānaka:Our Kids Online with Rob CopeThursday September 116:30pm Lake Wānaka CentreGet your tickets here.Rob Cope’s Our Kids Online is a powerful, practical session for parents and caregivers. Whether you’ve got a teenager deep into the world of social media or gaming, or a younger child just starting their digital journey, this evening will give you tools, strategies and insights to help keep them safe, balanced and well.It’s not about fear, it’s about feeling well equipped.As Nicola said, “education is about preparing young people for their lives now and in the future. That includes their online lives".Who is this event for?Parents, caregivers, grandparentsEducators and youth workersAnyone who wants to better understand the digital world our kids live in.Can’t afford a ticket?No problem, we don’t want cost to be a barrier – just reach out to us and we’ll make sure you’re looked after. Contact email: [email protected]’re lucky to live in a place like Wānaka, where the outdoors are our playground and community still matters. But even here, we’re not immune to the challenges of the digital age. Let’s show up for our kids!Get your ticket nowClick here to hear the full interview between Nicola Jacobsen, te Kura o Tititea principal Mount Aspiring College and Joel Palmer, More FM Breakfast Host – Queenstown.

Consultants Egis have launched the second round of community engagement on the future of Wānaka Airport combining in-person sessions with an online survey now live on the Let’s Talk platform.In this phase, Egis is asking Queenstown Lakes residents to share their views on five potential future scenarios for the airport, measuring support or opposition to different scales of operation, Egis NZ & Pacific advisory lead Geoff Anderson said.Four complementary options have also been developed, based on feedback from the first round of engagement, to test community sentiment on additional services the airport could provide.Two in-person community sessions were hosted by the Egis team in Wānaka: Friday (August 29) at Wānaka Airport, and Saturday (August 29 August 30) at the Wānaka Recreation Centre. Members of the public can provide feedback online on the scenarios for the future of the airport through until Thursday September 18.“It was great to see the enthusiastic contribution made by community members at the drop-in sessions,” QLDC Wānaka Ward councillor Lyal Cocks said.“There was lots of good discussion, and the process enabled the feedback to be clearly captured. For those who could not make it to these sessions, please provide your input online, as the future of the Wānaka Airport is important for us all.” The review is exploring the airport’s long-term role, its economic impact, and local views about its future.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Health services and infrastructure is the third hot topic facing the Upper Clutha which the Wānaka App has asked local body election candidates’ their views about.The Upper Clutha has been underserved for years in access to health services: Our population is almost four hours’ drive from the nearest tertiary hospital and over an hour’s drive from an emergency department, and has to pay for services such as radiology and blood tests.Health NZ Te Whatu Ora is currently undertaking a clinical services review for the wider Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago area which will be completed in December; meanwhile investors and other groups are moving ahead with plans for health infrastructure in the hope the public sector will come to the party.The Wānaka App asked candidates for the Wānaka Ward of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) who they think should be responsible for planning for and developing health infrastructure in this district.Read more: Who is shaping the future of our health services?Council candidates respondLyal Cocks: “Health NZ is responsible for producing a Clinical Services Plan (CSP) to identify what is needed and where. Private health infrastructure has and is being built in our region from which Health NZ can contract public services.Based on the CSP, shortfalls can be identified and will need to be addressed. This is one of the focuses for the Regional Deal negotiations.Barry Bruce: “Healthcare is a concern for many of our residents, particularly young families and our older residents, made even more critical given our remote location and lengthy travel distances to major healthcare facilities.Ultimately healthcare is a nationwide social responsibility incumbent on central government. Despite this, local government does have a responsibility to represent our communities by advocating and lobbying central government to ensure adequate medical services are provided in a timely manner.In addition where private medical facilities are being proposed, council should be proactive in enabling the planning and consenting process to progress quickly.”Niki Gladding: “In my ideal world, health infrastructure and services are publicly delivered without the post-code lottery. But underinvestment has created pressing needs and a gap that the private sector is now stepping in to fill.The government must respond in a way that ensures affordable, equitable access to public services. If that response involves leasing private infrastructure, the government is responsible for deciding where public services are needed and for following procurement rules to ensure the best deal for taxpayers.The Queenstown-centric, developer-driven approach via Regional Deal is the wrong way to go about things if we want great health outcomes.”Craig Gasson: “You would expect it to be central government. The entity we pay our taxes to and rely on to facilitate medical needs. As this seems not the case, we need to pivot for solutions.This is where private/public partnerships are key. The health offerings or lack thereof have always been in plain sight. To say otherwise is disingenuous to us of the Upper Clutha. I applaud the efforts of Health Action Wānaka to expose, and facilitate change.” Yeverley McCarthy: “The provision and planning for health infrastructure in the district is not the purview of the QLDC, it is a central government issue. The QLDC is involved in health through their regulatory requirements in environmental, food and liquor. There is a need for advocacy in the space from the health experts and users in the area and this is happening now with the great work done by the Wānaka Health Action Group.With the growth of the area it is inevitable that we have more health services here and the Roa project is certainly a very positive announcement.”Nicola King: “Healthcare in New Zealand is designed to be universally accessible, which makes central government responsible for funding and delivering health infrastructure. However, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the system isn’t keeping up with the needs of our district. Which means local government is left in a difficult position.While councils can’t fund health services directly, they can play a role in planning, advocating, and ensuring infrastructure aligns with community growth. We must be careful not to rely too much on privatised healthcare, as it can increase inequality in access.”Quentin Smith, Cody Tucker, and Thorsk Westphal did not respond.Community Board candidates respondSimon Telfer: “Strictly it’s a central government role but we have an engaged community that came out in force for the initial health public meeting last year. Our voice has been heard and we need to be grateful for Health Action Wānaka continuing community advocacy. I’m proud to have stood up and said it’s time for action, particularly with regards to the 24 hour urgent care service.”John Wellington: “The Ministry of Health through Health New Zealand should be responsible for planning and developing health facilities in the district. Council and the community have a key role advocating for these services especially where the ministry has failed to recognise or provide the necessary level of services the rapidly growing Central Otago community desperately require.We need to ensure that the location of any new hospital or facility serves the whole Central Otago community equitably and I would argue that Cromwell rather than Queenstown or Wānaka would be the best location.”Linda Joll: “Ideally our health system would be funded planned and developed by our national health system, however the district has been completely let down to the bottom of the barrel; the district now has a health crisis, with emergency, surgeries, birthing, cancer treatments, mental health, dental treatments, etc.”Kathy Dedo: “Ideally central government should build and provide core services like health care. If there are collaborative opportunities for private or for-purpose sectors to invest and enhance the infrastructure to support these services, I’m supportive of considering these options.”Chris Hadfield and John Bache did not respond.PHOTO: Supplied

Nine days of events celebrating diversity and inclusion kick off today (Friday September 5) with the beginning of ‘Welcoming Week’.Welcoming Week features a range of community-led events held in both Wānaka and Queenstown, from planting days and community garden working bees, to shared morning teas.“We have many different cultural groups across our district and our diversity is something to be celebrated – together we are stronger,” Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) welcoming communities coordinator Silvia Danclose said. “We invite everyone to get involved in Welcoming Week. There are all sorts of activities to enjoy, on both sides of the hill, and they are all free.”Welcoming Week will include a ceremony in Wānaka where dozens of new Kiwis will take part in an official celebration of their new citizenship. Other local highlights include a volunteer match evening, where people are invited to ‘find their perfect match’ with local organisations looking for volunteers. There are also a range of workshops, including one in Wānaka teaching people about working in New Zealand, plus Plunket playdates, a sports ‘have a go’ session, and more.Over in Queenstown there is a business workshop in Spanish for Latino entrepreneurs, a small music festival, more workshops, and an open day at OneBike Hub in Frankton.Welcoming Week is a nationwide annual campaign, supported by QLDC, to support newcomers to feel welcome and able to participate in the economic, civic, cultural and social life of their new community.This year’s theme is to showcase and celebrate how communities are working to be more welcoming places.Find the full Welcoming Week calendar here.PHOTO: Supplied

Southern District Police are seeking witnesses to the serious crash that occurred yesterday (Wednesday September 3) on Cardrona Valley Road.Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 4pm, where multiple vehicles were involved and several people sustained serious injuries. The road was closed for a number of hours while emergency crews responded and the Serious Crash Unit carried out an examination.Area response manager Senior Sergeant Fiona Roberts said police would like to hear from anyone who saw the accident or the manner of driving beforehand.“If you have any information that could assist police, please contact us via 105, either over the phone or online, and quote file number 250904/6697,” she said.Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.Fiona said police appreciated the patience of motorists caught up in yesterday’s road closures.The road is reduced to one lane this afternoon while enquiries continue.“It is important we all do everything we can to prevent lives being lost on our roads. Please make sure everyone in your vehicle is safely restrained, drive at a safe speed for the conditions, put your cell phone away, and ensure you’re free of fatigue, alcohol and drugs,” Fiona said.

Resource consent has been granted for the first stage of a development programme that will bring major changes to Lake Hāwea.Quartz Development Group has been given the thumbs up for ‘Falcon Rise’, a residential development of 17 sections with price tags of up to $2.1M.Nine of these sections - which will be located at the site that houses the existing Hāwea Hotel - have already sold.“At this stage we’re hoping to begin the earthworks within the next four weeks, starting with some vegetation removal,” Quartz Development Group managing director Matt Laming said.Planned works due to commence soon also include the disestablishment of the Hāwea Hotel’s current garden bar, but new lawn will be established around the front and existing patios and utilised as a semi-permanent stage for events.The hotel will remain operational for the foreseeable future, with accommodation bookings still being taken until at least April 2026, Matt said.“The community won’t be left without a restaurant and bar throughout any stage of the development – it will be business as usual,” he said.Falcon Rise will be complemented by the anticipated Hāwea Hotel & Residences, a new commercial precinct further up Capell Avenue on the site of the current Hāwea Store & Kitchen.Further consent applications are being developed and will eventually be lodged, Matt said.He said Lake Hāwea Hotel & Residences, once operational, is expected to create approximately 40 new jobs in the area. “A modern, quality hospitality offering is exactly what the township needs and we’re looking forward to seeing that take shape, and building something that will service the Hāwea community for decades to come,” Matt said.Previous: More details on new Hāwea subdivision PHOTO: Supplied

Time again we hear clients say they have been meaning to get around to their estate planning, but it is not uncommon for people to go months or years without putting pen to paper and sorting their affairs out. When we talk about estate planning, we are referring to your Will, guardianship arrangements for your children, Enduring Powers of Attorney and a Memorandum of Wishes (if you have a Family Trust). Your WillA will ensures that your wishes prevail, even after you’ve gone. In the absence of a will the Administration Act takes effect; this is costly to your estate and the statutory administration of your estate may not result in the outcomes you would have intended had you drafted a will yourself. Your will ensures that a trusted executor of your choice is appointed to administer your estate and that your assets (property, savings, personal belonging etc) are distributed to the people you choose. You may also like to include special requests in your will such as a gift or donation in your name to your favourite sports club or charitable organisation.    Avoiding Family ConflictPassing away without a will can spark disputes among relatives over property or guardianship of children. A will clearly documents your intentions, reducing emotional and financial stress on grieving families. GuardianshipIn the event a child loses their parents together or in quick succession, who would have guardianship of that child? This is a major decision, and it is important that parents have this decision documented somewhere, such as in their Will. It is also important to talk this through with a trusted advisor like a lawyer who can ensure this decision is documented correctly and also discuss with the parents the difference between guardianship and day-to-day care arrangements. Safeguarding Decisions When You Can't Make ThemAn Enduring Power of Attorney (“EPOA”) lets you appoint trusted individuals to handle your personal care, welfare, finances, and property, if you lose capacity There are two types of EPOA, one for appointing an attorney to make decisions on your personal care and welfare and another to make decisions on your finances and property.   We recommend that you get both completed. It is important to remember that EPOAs operate from a time when a person loses capacity until they pass away, and after death your will takes effect. Any individual wanting to access aged care in NZ will require an EPOA, whether that is entering an independent apartment within a Retirement Village at 65 or if a person is entering fulltime care much later in life. Most, if not all, aged care providers will require a resident to have valid EPOA’s before coming to live at the Village. Clients are often pleased to hear that they have the option to appoint an individual as their attorney with specific instructions that their attorney provide information to or consult with other people, who are similarly important to the EPOA donor. For example, in the event one adult child is appointed as the attorney, a duty on that attorney to consult with and provide information to their siblings is an important feature if the EPOA donor would like to ensure all family members feel included in the process.   Family TrustIn the event you have an existing Family Trust or are thinking of setting one up, we recommend a Memorandum of Wishes, if you do not already have one or it is not an up to date expression of your wishes.  The Memorandum of Wishes is a guideline from yourself as the Settlor of the Trust to the Trustees who will be operating the Trust which sets out your objectives and purpose in setting up the Trust and your wishes as to how the Trustees administer the Trust usually including your view on how and in what proportions you would like to see some or all of the beneficiaries benefit from the assets of the Trust. A Memorandum of Wishes is not binding on the Trustees but it is useful guidance to the Trustees and evidence of the purpose for which the Trust was established. We can assist you to put this Memorandum together and we can similarly discuss with clients the option of having an annual Family Trust review, whereby we check in with you once a year to ensure all Trust records are up to date and whether any major life changes in the last year require us to update your estate planning documentation. Flexibility Through Life’s ChangesEstate planning should be organic and evolve as life changes. Key life changes that may require you to get in touch with us to review your estate matters include births, deaths, new relationships, the end of an existing relationship, a significant change in your property/asset pool or simply if your wishes for your estate have changed. Whether you have an existing will, Enduring Powers of Attorney and/or a Family Trust and would like us to assist you with an estate review or if you have not embarked on estate planning before and would like to take the first step of putting a Will in place; we at Checketts McKay Law are more than happy to meet with you in person or over the phone for an initial discussion and then work towards putting estate planning documentation in place that best reflects your wishes.7 Dunmore Street, Wānaka  

Cardrona Valley Road has reopened after a serious crash yesterday (September 3) afternoon left one person critically injured, two with serious injuries, and another two with moderate injuries.Police said enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are continuing. “The road will be reduced to one lane for a period this afternoon to allow further investigations,” a police spokesperson said.Motorists are being asked to plan ahead and allow extra time to travel along Cardrona Valley Road.

The clash between what residents want from a new freedom camping bylaw and what Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) can legally enforce was on display at a hearing last week.Approximately 70 people spoke across two days of hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday (August 26 and 27), part of the process to finalise a new bylaw in time for another busy summer. Many residents used the hearing to call for stricter rules, saying the draft bylaw does not go far enough.Councillor Cody Tucker, who sat on the hearings panel, said the gap between those expectations and the council’s legal powers was notable.“The big takeaway for me was there's a clear steer from the community on how they would like to see the issue managed practically, then the legally defensible version council has drafted that speaks more directly to the abilities to manage it under the Freedom Camping Act.”The draft bylaw, if approved, will allow freedom camping at 15 designated sites across the district, most of them carparks and some centrally located. In the Upper Clutha, they include the Wānaka Recreation Centre, Allenby Place and Beacon Point Road.Camping would also be permitted on most rural roads but not many urban ones.Submitters said this approach was too permissive, taking issue with the pressure on neighbourhoods, the risk of waste being left behind, the effects on camping grounds and more.Their concerns follow a summer when QLDC recorded “concerning levels of non-compliance” – including campers stringing up washing lines, setting fire pits, toileting in the bushes, and rubbish dumping.Concerns about freedom camping in Queenstown Lakes have been growing for years, as the district has become one of the country’s most popular for visitors - many of them choosing to camp in their vehicles for free.Some submitters at the hearing called for an entirely different model, where campers must pay to stay in designated camping grounds, while others called for a tighter definition of what defines ‘freedom camping’.The gap between what residents want and what council can do comes down to the Freedom Camping Act, which gives councils only three reasons to create a bylaw: protecting access, protecting health and safety, or protecting the values of an area. The limits were made clear in 2022 when the High Court struck down QLDC’s previous bylaw, ruling councillors had been influenced by “irrelevant matters” such as impacts on campgrounds and nearby properties.This time, QLDC says it has taken a robust assessment process to ensure the draft is as legally sound as possible.Cody acknowledged that meant the bylaw could not go as far as some residents wanted. “This was always going to be an unwinnable compromise, I think,” he said.Still, he said other tools could help, such as booking systems, partnerships with Land Information New Zealand, clearer signage and mapping, and the use of freedom camping ambassadors.Cody and fellow councillors Gavin Bartlett and Lisa Guy, who sat on the hearings panel, will now weigh possible amendments before the draft goes to the full council on October 9.PHOTOS: Supplied

Health NZ Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) - the entity responsible for planning and delivering health services - has provided an update on its planning for the Central Lakes region (which includes Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago).A statement from HNZ on Monday (September 1) - ‘Shaping the future of health services in Central Lakes’ - outlined the clinical services review currently underway. Meanwhile, private investors and others are planning health infrastructure and, in one case, preparing to break ground.HNZ said it is planning “to guide the future of health services in the Central Lakes region – one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing areas – with initial workshops and stakeholder engagement sessions already in progress”. The project will “help to determine what future publicly funded clinical services may be required in the area, how they will be delivered, and where they will be provided”. Wānaka investment company Roa has just received consent for a five-level surgical hospital and helipad, supported by four purpose-designed office buildings for allied medical services, and on-site car parking.Roa CEO Mike Saegers said the community “can now look forward to the Wānaka Health Precinct attracting medical specialties and services not currently available in the area”.Roa has big plans for health infrastructure at Three Parks, and the Wānaka App is aware that these plans have been seen by local representatives and others. Roa did not respond to the Wānaka App’s recent request for more information.Read more: Green light for Roa ‘health precinct’Why wait for the government to do it? The Regional DealAlso underway are regional deal negotiations between central government and Otago Lakes Central (a group comprising Queenstown District Council (QLDC), Central Otago District Council, and Otago Regional Council). The draft deal includes plans for a privately financed, publicly leased hospital in Queenstown - at least partly funded by Queenstown businessman Rod Drury’s Southern Infrastructure group.Wānaka councillor Lyal Cocks, the QLDC member of the regional deal negotiating committee, said the deal includes a proposal for health infrastructure and services based on work undertaken by the Otago Central Lakes Health Services and Assets Project and health advocacy group Health Action Wānaka (HAW), as well as identifying existing health projects and resources.  Lyal told the Wānaka App “we’ve got to look at alternative ways of doing things”, explaining that if private providers build health infrastructure maybe central government doesn’t have to.“It’s a good thing if we get it earlier rather than later.”Public servants: HNZ community integration group manager Aroha Metcalf (Photo courtesy Health Action Wānaka), QLDC mayor Glyn Lewers, CODC mayor Tamah Alley.Lyal said it was essential to ensure HNZ completes a Clinical Services Plan (CSP) for the region to identify what is needed and where, and “provides the services as identified in the CSP, in whatever way possible”. Read more: ‘Red flags’ raised during regional deal voteMayors, MPs, private investors collaborateThe Otago Central Lakes Health Services and Assets Project, which includes Central Otago District Council mayor Tamah Alley, Queenstown Lakes mayor Glyn Lewers, Southland MP Joseph Mooney, Waitaki MP Miles Anderson, and Queenstown-based ACT MP Todd Stephenson (and which is backed by a charitable trust) has been working with health infrastructure specialist Helen Foot - of Markit Consulting in Queenstown - with the goal of incorporating public health services alongside existing and planned private providers. Helen Foot has not responded to questions put by the Wānaka App.A statement from the group in July said HNZ’s clinical services review “clears the way for a new hospital in the region that could complement and support existing health services”. “It could be New Zealand’s first large privately-owned and publicly operated hospital,” the statement said.Read more: Mayors, MPs welcome clinical services reviewHAW steering committee chair Monique Mayze told the Wānaka App HAW has concerns that there is too much focus on Queenstown as the location for a regional hospital. “We maintain that the location of a hospital in our region must be driven by community need — across the whole region — and not by the commercial interests of developers in Queenstown,” she said.Read more: A ‘void’ in health care planning as private plans proliferateWhat is Health NZ’s role?Despite this work underway, a Wānaka App question to HNZ on who is responsible for planning health infrastructure drew a firm response: “The role of planning for public health services sits exclusively with HNZ,” HNZ Southern interim group director of operations Craig Ashton said.HNZ’s statement on Monday (September 1) said its Southern executive regional director Dr Pete Watson, who is new to the role, is encouraging regional and Southern health leaders and service providers to think of the future: digital technologies, new innovations, different ways of working and using different workforces.HNZ Te Waipounamu community integration group manager Aroha Metcalf said planning will incorporate secondary hospitals in Dunedin and Invercargill as well as rural hospitals in the district. “This planning process is essential to shaping the future mix, delivery model, and distribution of publicly funded health services for the Central Lakes region,” she said. Roa has received resource consent for stage one of a health precinct at Wānaka’s Three Parks.“We are committed to working closely with the community, papatipu rūnanga (local Iwi), and key stakeholder groups to ensure access to high-quality and appropriate healthcare services. Community views and experiences of the health system will be a cornerstone of the clinical services planning process.”  Aroha said the review will “set a precedent nationally for the way services are delivered in rural and remote communities by responding to population and geography in equal measure”.HNZ said it is on track to deliver a Clinical Services Plan by December, with planning for implementation beginning in the new year.IMAGES: Supplied

A new bloc of candidates for Otago Regional Council (ORC) is promising not just a rates freeze, but actual rates cuts.Vision Otago, which includes sitting Dunstan councillors Michael Laws and Gary Kelliher, launched its rates and finance policy this week, pledging to “reduce rates, not hold them” over their first council term.The group said its campaign is fuelled by what it calls the “obscene annual rate rises” of recent years.While this year the average rates rise for the region was 5.5 percent - significantly lower than the forecast 13.8 percent - it was 16.6 percent, 18.8 percent, 18 percent, and 48.5 percent in the years preceding.Michael said households in Central Otago and Southern Lakes often experienced rates rises higher than average.Both he and Gary refused to sign off on rates rises in the past term in a bid to “instil more responsibility to the council’s finances”.Vision Otago argues the council has let spending spiral, pointing to staff numbers they say have almost doubled in recent years, a new Dunedin headquarters that is over budget and behind schedule, and the contrast of still hiking rates despite fully owning Port Otago and banking a $15M dividend last year.“In the midst of a cost of living crisis – when farmers, businesses and ordinary households are doing it tough – the ORC has purposefully turned a blind eye,” Michael said.“This isn’t so much not reading the room – this is not reading the region.”In the Dunstan constituency, a third candidate for council, Nicky Rhodes, a commercial real estate agent based in Wānaka, is also running on the Vision Otago ticket.The elections will be conducted by postal vote using, for the first time, the Single Transferable Vote system, which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference and can encourage strategic grouping.At a meet-the-candidates event held in central Queenstown on Monday night (September 1), local Queenstown-based ORC hopefuls Matt Hollyer and Ben Farrell reportedly joined forces to suggest voters rank them ‘1’ and ‘2’ on the ballot - then stop there, to up the chance of a strong Wakatipu voice on the council.The Dunstan constituency covers the communities of Wānaka, Cromwell, Tarras, Makarora, Alexandra, Maniototo and Teviot Valley, in addition to Queenstown.Long-standing Central Otago councillor and deputy mayor Neil Gillespie, of Cromwell, and Maniototo-based community worker Aime Pont round out the seven candidates vying for election to the four seats representing the area - up from three at the last election.Ballot papers are expected in letterboxes throughout the region later in September, with voting closing on Saturday, October 11. PHOTOS: Supplied

Updated 6am Thursday September 4: The road is now open.Updated 9pm: The Cardrona Valley Road and the Crown Range are closed following a serious crash involving multiple vehicles.Emergency services were called to the scene about 4pm today (Wednesday September 3). A passerby told the Wānaka App the crash appeared to be a head-on collision. They had seen at least two helicopters at the scene and drivers were being diverted through a nearby paddock.RNZ has reported that one person has been flown to Christchurch Hospital in a critical condition, two people have been flown to Dunedin Hospital, one of them was seriously injured, and another two people have been taken to Dunstan Hospital.Motorists are advised to delay or avoid travel through the area.Alternative route via Kawarau Gorge.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Central Otago District Council (CODC) has signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the company behind a proposed gold mine in the hills above Cromwell - but Otago Regional Council (ORC) has refused.CODC confirmed it had agreed to keep confidential early reports on the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project, supplied to it by Matakanui Gold Ltd, a subsidiary of Santana Minerals.ORC, however, said it had declined to sign a draft NDA offered by the company earlier this year.Under the government’s fast-track consenting legislation, applicants must provide pre-lodgement reports to local authorities as part of consultation.Santana chief executive Damian Spring defended the use of NDAs, saying they were common in pre-application processes.“There needs to be a certain level of understanding between us…for us to have a robust and open discussion,” he said.Damien said the agreements were intended to cover consultants engaged by councils, rather than to restrict the councils themselves from sharing information.It was up to the councils to decide what information they shared under the Local Government Act, he said.Both councils confirmed they had engaged independent specialists to review the reports they had received so far. CODC acting infrastructure, planning and regulatory group manager Fiona Garrett said the district council was drawing on expertise in ecology, landscape, lighting, acoustics, heritage, economics, bonding and traffic.ORC environmental delivery general manager Joanna Gilroy said the regional council had been given 45 draft technical reports covering matters including ecology, water, geotechnical issues, noise, air quality, heritage, traffic, lighting, and economics. Its audits and commentary on the reports will go to the expert panel considering the mine application.A local protest group, Sustainable Tarras, said the use of NDAs underscored what it sees as a lack of transparency around the project. Spokesperson Rob van der Mark said the group had repeatedly asked Santana Minerals for more information.“The CEO has accused us of misrepresenting the project…[but at the same time] they are choosing to hide the details of the mine behind NDAs and non-notified consent applications. “The two-paragraph FAQs and the one-page rehabilitation plan tells us next to nothing about the literal and figurative downstream impacts of the mine.”Santana Minerals has been signalling for several months that its fast-track application is imminent. Once it is lodged, the application and expert reports will be made public.PHOTO: Supplied

Community funding platform Love Wānaka has provided funding to six Upper Clutha organisations to restore nature, reduce waste, and protect biodiversity across Queenstown Lakes through this year’s Impact Grants.Another six organisations from Queenstown received funding in the Love Queenstown round, which distributed a total of $85,505 across Queenstown Lakes.Funded by donations from local businesses, industry partners, and visitors, the grants reflect a growing commitment to regenerative tourism and long-term environmental stewardship in the district, Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown community fund coordinator Ash Bickley said.“These grants are about more than funding – they represent a community working together for the future of our rohe/region,” she said.This year’s grants support initiatives led by Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust, Plastic Free Wānaka, WAI Wānaka, Upper Clutha Tracks Trust, Friends of Bullock Creek, and more. The grants will enable a mix of native habitat restoration, biodiversity monitoring, predator control, waste reduction, wetland protection, and community engagement projects across the district.“Businesses, visitors, and locals are helping to fuel these everyday projects, while also building systems and partnerships that will deliver long-term impact,” Ash said.“That’s what makes this mahi so powerful.”The Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown Community Funds exist to support grassroots environmental action, providing an opportunity for visitors and industry operators to give back and protect the environment at the heart of our home.Launched in 2023, Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown were the first initiatives from the region’s destination management plan. They are delivered in partnership with Destination Queenstown, Lake Wānaka Tourism and the 45South Community Foundation (formerly Wakatipu Community Foundation).Ash said Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown thanked the donors, partners, and community members who made the mahi possible.PHOTO: Dave Oakley

Wānaka skier Isabel Watterson (16) has secured the first FIS level national title of her career, winning the women’s crown at the New Zealand Slalom National Championships at Coronet Peak on Monday (September 1).Isabel put down a strong second run to overtake her rivals and be named 2025 NZ Slalom National Champion.“I just went for it and tried to ski my best,” she said.“The level of the Kiwi women is really high at the moment so it’s great to take the win.”After the first run, Auckland’s Charlotte Wiggins led the women’s field, with Nelson’s Ruby Fullerton just behind her and Isabel sitting in third. Isabel delivered a blistering second run to claim the trophy. Charlotte finished second, +0.92 behind, and New Plymouth’s Zoe Parr rounded out the podium.The result marks a career milestone for Isabel, who said it gave her confidence heading into her 2025/26 FIS season.In the men’s race, 20-year-old Tutukaka skier Alec Jackson successfully defended his 2024 title, winning by more than a second ahead of Rotorua’s Jesse Mutton. Wānaka’s Calder Bain finished third among the New Zealanders.Almost 90 athletes from 22 nations competed in Monday’s event, which doubled as an international FIS race and the New Zealand National Championships.The international women’s podium was topped by Germany’s Romy Ertl, while Norway’s Eirik Hystad won the men’s FIS title.PHOTO: Sean Beale/Snow Sports NZ.