Central Otago District Council (CODC) is making preparations to hear Santana Minerals Fast Track Application for a Bendigo gold mine.CODC mayor Tamah Alley, deputy mayor Neil Gillespie and Cromwell councillor Sarah Browne have all been appointed to the mine’s hearings panel.The council decided last Friday (April 4) that as chair of the hearings panel, it made sense for Neil to be involved, with his significant experience.CODC planning and infrastructure group manager Louise van der Voort told the council they had experts ready to go in the hearing, and the Otago Regional Council was likely to have its own panel as well.She said the experts would be looking carefully at the rehabilitation of the land and conditions around compensation.Due to the significance of scale, the council was likely to get some expertise, and there had already been discussions with the regional council about it.In December, the new Fast Track Approvals Act (FTA) became law. The two projects listed in the FTA for Central Otago were the Bendigo-Ophir Gold project, and the Remarkables Ski Area Upgrade and Doolans Expansion. In her report, Louise said there had been some conversations with Matakanui Gold Limited/Santana Minerals Limited indicating an application would be received in the coming weeks for the Bendigo Ophir Gold project. Council was likely to engage specialists on landscape, ecology and acoustics. That would be reviewed once the application was received in late April.It was noted in the report, that there was limited ability for the public and stakeholders to be involved in the applications. “There is a high level of interest in a number of these projects from the community and desire to understand council’s position on the proposals,’’ Louise said.“While this level of interest is recognised, there is no legal ability for council to provide further opportunities for public participation beyond the specified steps in the Act.”PHOTO: Supplied

Road workers have been busy on Central Otago, Queenstown and Wānaka highways completing a variety of maintenance improvements in the lead-in to winter, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says.While the annual programme includes multiple reseal and road rehabilitation elements, it doesn’t stop there, NZTA Central Otago maintenance contract manager Peter Standring said.“Maintaining our roading network is a complex piece of work,” he said.Aspiring Highways crews, on behalf of NZTA, have also completed hours of painting, litter-picking, filling potholes, sign replacement, cleaning, rockfall prevention, tree-felling, road-kill removal and more.“All of this work is to ensure the safety of every road user as well as the efficiency of the network. Our crews are out on the road daily and take a real pride in the work they deliver,” Peter said.Tree removal at Makarora, next to SH6. The trees had been identified as a danger to the road and road users due to rot.This could involve cleaning reflector caps on edge markers or painting sight rails, trimming trees to improve sight lines at intersections or removing road-kill from the road.“Every possum or hedgehog has the potential to become a pothole if it isn’t removed in a timely fashion. When the remains break down and decay, the fats and oils soften the seal underneath, potentially creating a pothole.”Reflective material on signs is also cleaned or replaced regularly.“This is a very important but time-consuming job and not something many people will always notice or consider. All these smaller components add up to ensuring we are keeping people safe on the road throughout the year,” Pete said.He said some of the works result in slight delays or temporary lower speed limits. “We always appreciate the public’s patience when the team carry out these works,” he added.PHOTOS: NZTA

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) has changed restrictions on outdoor fires and fireworks around Wānaka from Thursday April 10 until further notice.The Lakes and Glendhu Bluffs zones move from a prohibited to a restricted fire season, which means people can light open air fires if they have a permit authorised by FENZ. The fireworks ban in the Lakes zone has also been revoked."Lower temperatures and increased dew over the last fortnight have reduced the fire risk in these areas," FENZ Otago District acting manager Craig Geddes said."This means there is less dry vegetation readily available to burn. However, fires can start and spread year-round in our district, so restrictions on fires are still necessary.”Special risk zones will remain in a prohibited fire season. These areas are Lake Wānaka islands, Mt Iron, the Albert Town reserve, Queenstown, and Lake Wakatipu islands.People can apply for a permit and check the fire risk conditions in their area here. The website also provides advice on how to conduct controlled burns safely.PHOTO: Wānaka App

More than 100 young dancers from Wānaka and further afield are competing in a four-day dance competition at the Lake Wānaka Centre starting today (Friday April 11).This is the second annual Tititea Performing Arts Competition, described by organisers as a ‘celebration of dance’.The competition is organised by the Tititea Performing Arts Trust, who were keen to build on the success of last year’s event, founding trustee Leigh Cohen said.“We’re really excited to be bringing this event back to Wānaka for its second year,” Leigh said.“It means that local dancers can take part in a dance event with healthy competition, but without the usual many hours of travel and overnight accommodation. “At the same time, it encourages dancers and their families from outside the Upper Clutha to visit the area.”Organisers are expecting around 125 dancers to attend and there will be well over 600 performances from dancers across the four days.Organisers say there will be more than 600 performances across the four-day event.Leigh said that in addition to creating a Wānaka based dance competition, the event was also designed to promote wellbeing and learning for young dancers. This is part of the ethos of the Tititea Performing Arts Trust, which was formed by four local women in 2023 to encourage a love of performing arts in young people.“Dancers will receive plenty of feedback, support and guidance, and we are delighted to have acclaimed choreographer and performer Dr Sarah Foster-Sproull as our adjudicator for the event,” Leigh said.“She has already sent dancers some pre-recorded messages about how to prepare for the event, and we are delighted that she is staying on after the event to host a workshop.”Leigh thanked the volunteers, sponsors, local businesses, individuals and community organisations who had made the event possible.“We’re so grateful to our generous community.”PHOTOS: Supplied

Wānaka-based property investment company Roa has announced a joint venture partnership in its proposed Wānaka Health Precinct with Central Otago mana whenua interests.In May 2024 Roa revealed plans for a $300M privately funded project comprising a five-level hospital with four operating theatres, imaging services, a 24-hour emergency department and more than 70 inpatient, emergency, and post anaesthetic care beds.  Roa said the hospital would be at the heart of a broader “health precinct” which would include four offices for allied medical services such as consulting and treatment rooms, on-site parking, and ground level retail and hospitality opening out onto public pedestrian spaces.Puketeraki Limited and Te Runaka Ōtākou Limited have now entered into an agreement with Roa that is intended to support the wider interests of mana whenua, Roa announced on Thursday (April 10).Roa chief executive Mike Saegers told the Wānaka App the specifics of the joint venture partnership are “commercially sensitive”.“However, I can confirm the new partner will have an equity position,” he said.Roa said in a statement that the proposed Wānaka Health Precinct “will provide significant health and social infrastructure benefits for Wānaka and the Central Otago region”. “Puketeraki and Ōtākou acknowledge other mana whenua interests across rūnanga and will be inviting wider mana whenua interests to be represented in this partnership,” the statement said. The parties agree the Wānaka hospital and healthcare precinct “is vital to meeting the future needs of the area’s rapidly growing population”. “They recognise that the critical lack of healthcare access is a significant and growing issue for the people of Wānaka and Central Otago, and that action is needed now.”  An artist’s impression of Roa’s proposed health precinct at Wānaka’s Three Parks.The proposed health precinct at Three Parks is one of the key strategic health infrastructure projects included in the proposal to government for a Regional Deal for Otago Central Lakes, and the only one committed to starting site works this year. An application for resource consent was submitted to Queenstown Lakes District Council last year. Te Rūnaka Ōtākou Limited Chair Brett Ellison welcomed the agreement.“We are excited by the opportunity to tautoko this project and bring an intergenerational lens to the development of health infrastructure in our shared takiwā,” he said. “This is an inclusive opportunity for mana whenua to be a strategic partner to Roa who have recognised the value mana whenua provide when advancing strategic projects of this nature.” Mike called the agreement an “important milestone” towards improving access to healthcare services.“Both parties are intent on working together to improve public health outcomes, including expanding the scope of this project if necessary,” he said. Read more: Wānaka hospital plans remain on trackA ‘void’ in health care planning as private plans proliferatePHOTOS: Supplied

This mornings (Thursday April 10) launch attempt has been cancelled.Wednesday April 9 6.52pm:NASA this morning (Wednesday April 9) cancelled an attempt to launch a super pressure balloon from Wānaka Airport, and has scheduled another attempt for tomorrow.This is the sixth super-pressure balloon campaign held in New Zealand since 2015 and NASA is planning two test flights this year. Two balloons were successfully launched from Wānaka during NASA’s last visit in 2023. NASA will begin flight preparations in the early-morning hours tomorrow (Thursday April 10) and will continue to evaluate real-time and forecast weather conditions throughout the morning. If weather is favourable for launch, lift-off is scheduled between 9.00am and 1.00pm local time. Public access to Wānaka Airport and roadside parking beside the airport is not permitted on the morning of the launch attempt. State Highway 6 Wānaka-Luggate Highway from Mt Barker to Church Road and State Highway 8A Shortcut Road will be closed for the launch. Light vehicles may detour via Camp Hill Road. Heavy vehicles will detour via Cemetery Road. A message board will be installed on State Highway 84 notifying of motorists of the closure status.Immediately after lift-off, the balloon will be visible for kilometres around – the best viewing points will be on the hill on the Hāwea side of the Red Bridge by Kane Road or on the Hāwea Flat side of the Clutha River.A live feed of the launch will available here.

Lobby group Health Action Wānaka (HAW) will meet with representatives from Health NZ later this month, following the recent publication of HAW’s report on the health needs of the Upper Clutha community.The report - ‘Perception versus reality: the true state of healthcare in the Upper Clutha’ - published last week (April 2) highlighted significant unmet needs, systemic barriers, and a lack of strategic health planning.“We are looking forward to working constructively with Health NZ to address the many areas of unmet need documented in our report,” HAW steering committee chair Monique Mayze told the Wānaka App.The report was based on consultation with more than 300 members of the Upper Clutha community and health system stakeholders.Read more: Healthcare crisis for Upper Clutha - reportHealth NZ Te Waipounamu regional commissioner Chiquita Hansen told the Wānaka App the agency had “noted” the report but had “not yet had the opportunity to fully consider” it.“Catering for the needs of the growing population of the Central Otago region is an ongoing consideration for Health New Zealand in terms of what might be needed right now, and in the future, and how best to deliver those services,” she said.  “We are committed to working with community leaders, papatipu rūnanga, and experts to design, deliver, and commission sustainable services that meet the current and emerging healthcare needs of the local community.” HAW’s report identified a lack of strategic health planning for the Upper Clutha. PHOTO: SuppliedThe Wānaka App asked Health NZ what its response was to HAW's request of Health Minister Simeon Brown to introduce psychiatric consultations via telehealth within 12 months, deliver a publicly funded blood collection service in Wānaka within two years, and increase local access to publicly funded radiology services.Chiquita responded in general terms that Health NZ was “committed to improving access to rural healthcare services and ensuring ongoing financial sustainability for hospitals and trusts operating in our rural communities”.   She said Health NZ was actively using its Rural Health Strategy 2023 “to inform funding decisions”.“... we look forward to continuing to work together with Health Action Wānaka to achieve the desired outcomes for the local community,” Chiquita said.HAW and Health NZ will meet on April 24.

Wānaka’s Community Link says it is seeing an increase in demand for its services from a range of locals including two-parent working families, with a lot of locals “living week to week”.Community Link general manager Kate Murray said the increase in demand raises the question of what sort of community we want to create.“Do we want kids in the community to grow up [going cold],” she said.The local non-profit hopes to raise $60,000 with its ‘Cold Kids’ campaign, which is how much it estimates it will need this year to help the increasing number of local families unable to steadily cover winter heating costsIt’s not just about warm layers: WHO recommends a minimum temperature of 18 degrees within the home. PHOTO: SuppliedKate said the health effects of being cold put stress on the body, which can affect children’s ability to learn at school, among other negative effects. It’s not just about providing warm layers either - the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a minimum indoor temperature of 18 degrees inside the home for physical health.Community Link has projected $60,000 for this year’s heating cost needs following a $45,000 spend last year and early signs of increased demand this winter.The organisation is keenly aware of the increasing number of people struggling to fund the cost of basic necessities.Use of the Community Link food bank, a helpful measure for need in the community, went up 21 percent this March compared to March 2024.More than 100 food parcels from Wānaka’s Food Bank were provided last month, demonstrating an increase in demand - and need - across multiple services. PHOTO: Community LinkThirteen new families who had never before needed the food bank’s services signed up in March and 111 food parcels were provided across the month - a “huge” number, Kate said.Kate said with a lot of locals in difficult financial positions the increase in demand for Community Link’s services “will likely keep on happening”.“We’re not out of the woods. With the cost of living, people are really struggling.”Community Link is not government-funded and it is calling on the local community to contribute to Cold Kids to help ensure every local family has a warm home this winter.All money donated to Cold Kids will go to households who have been assessed to have demonstrable need for support, which is provided either via firewood or a contribution to gas or electricity costs.Make a financial donation at the Community Link website or get in touch at 03 443 7749 if you would like to donate firewood or support the campaign in another way.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Three males were arrested for unlawful hunting at Lake Hāwea Station on Friday (April 4), which “serves as a strong message to hunters”, Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts says.“It is unacceptable to trespass on private property, [and] the aggravating factor is that poaching involves firearms,” Fi said. “Anyone poaching risks a conviction and losing their firearms licence privileges.”The three men appeared in Queenstown District Count on Monday (April 7) and have been remanded on bail to reappear on May 19.“Wānaka and Hāwea are small communities," Fi said. “Everyone knows everyone; poachers will be caught; and police will hold you to account.”Also last Friday, police arrested a 37-year-old man for cultivating cannabis and possession of cannabis. “He appeared in Queenstown District Court on [Monday April 7] and has been remanded to reappear on May 19,” Fi said.The Impairment Prevention Team (IPT) had a busy weekend with four excess breath alcohol readings, Fi said.“It is disappointing that people continue to drink alcohol and then choose to drive a vehicle.”A vehicle crash on the Crown Range Road which occurred during heavy rainfall last week is a “reminder to drivers to drive to the conditions”, Fi said.“Daylight savings has ended, the temperatures have dropped. Please drive to the conditions.”Call 111 when you need an emergency response from police, fire or ambulance.Call 105 to report things that don’t need urgent police assistance.Call *555 to report road incidents that are urgent but not life-threatening.To make an anonymous crime report contact Crime Stoppers.PHOTO: Wānaka App

A Wānaka teenager is the fastest girl in Australasia thanks to her winning a gold medal at the Australian National Athletics Championships this week.Aspiring Athletics Club member and Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) student Phoebe Laker (16) travelled with her mother Rebecca to Perth for the event on April 6-7.Phoebe won her first heat comfortably, easing up 60m out from the finish yet still recording a faster time (56.44s) than she did in winning the New Zealand National Champs in Dunedin in March.   In the final she won the Women’s U17 race in 53.87s - a personal best (PB) by 1.47s - and significantly ahead of the rest of the field (1.48s ahead of second place).Phoebe’s time was also 0.32s faster than the WU18 time.“We can rightly say that she is now the fastest 400m of girls aged 16 and under in Australasia,” AAC head coach Michael Beable said.“Phoebe is now unbeaten in all her 400m races, across New Zealand and Australia, for the last 27 months, and by very significant margins this season.”Michael said she ran the race “superbly well”.  “Basically, she ran the whole race on her own from the 50m mark, not seeing anybody else in the race from then onwards. That was the plan, of course, but it was so good to see her execute it so well, including her running posture and nice striding down the back straight, kicking for home at the right time, keeping her form to the finish.”Her new 400m time sets Otago records for girls aged 16-19. She now owns all the Otago 400m records for girls aged 13-19. She also has the Otago records for the 200m, for girls aged 16-18.Michael said it was "remarkable" that Phoebe had achieved this without access to a nearby all-weather surface to train on. Phoebe will now take a well-deserved rest after beginning her competition campaign back in October 2024.PHOTO: Supplied

Former Wānaka resident Don Grant has recently survived an aircraft crash, but he had made it a priority to get a message to the children of Wānaka primary school Te Kura o Take Karara, for whom he was a bus driver.Don’s wife Nicky told the Wānaka App this week that Don wants to let all the students know he’s OK.“He sends his love and wants to let them know he will come right eventually,” Nicky said.“He’s in the best place.”Don (60) is currently in ICU at Dunedin Hospital, where he has undergone a range of surgeries following the aircraft crash in the Dingle Burn Valley (near Lake Hāwea) on Saturday March 29.“He’s improving each day,” Nicky said.“He was beginning to talk yesterday and giving the nurses a hard time. It’s going to be a long haul for him.”Nicky said Don is “gutted” about his friend Ivan van de Water, who died in the crash.Don was cut from the wreckage of the aircraft and flown to Dunedin Hospital.Nicky said she had been “just amazed” at the support Don has had from the Wānaka community, including the Wānaka Airport. Don is chair of the Wānaka Airport Users Group.“So many people have been absolutely incredible, offering their help,” Nicky said.Warbirds Over Wānaka general manager Ed Taylor told the Wānaka App that Don had been volunteer manager at the 2024 airshow.“He was a great volunteer manager because he loves people - and he has aviation knowledge in spades.”Don is also a “relentlessly positive” person, Ed said.“If having a relentlessly positive attitude counts for anything then Don will pull through.”PHOTO: Supplied

The Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) Community Fund 2025-2026 is now open.The fund is for local groups, charities and not-for-profit organisations seeking funding that promotes wellbeing outcomes for people, places and communities.QLDC community partnerships manager Marie Day encouraged eligible groups to apply for one year of operational or project funding.“We welcome applications from new or established community groups and not-for-profit organisations across the district,” she said.“Successful past recipients have reflected the diversity of our community. “These include those working in social services, environmental protection, arts, culture, and heritage through recreational projects such as building tracks and trails.”Funding often supports the great work “of our tireless local volunteers”, she said.This year’s fund has a total pool of $180,000 available.“Priority will be given to initiatives that align closely with community needs and deliver strong local impact,” Marie said.Previous recipients have included one stop support and connection centre Community Link, food charity Food for Love and bike advocacy group Bike Wānaka.Applicants will have the optional opportunity to present their application to elected members in May.“This is a chance to provide additional context about your funding request and share the benefits of your work,” she said.Further funding opportunities from council are also now available, including the Events Fund and Heritage Incentive Grant.  In addition, QLDC’s Waste Minimisation Community Fund will open on April 14.Full information on funding criteria, key dates and how to apply is available here.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Wastebusters has created a 10-minute video about how far Slow Fashion Month has come since 2018.Slow fashion is a movement to slow down the pace of consuming clothing, which encourages people to repair what they own, buy pre-loved first, and invest in pieces made to last.In March Wastebusters celebrated Slow Fashion Month for the eighth year in a row with a range of events designed to inspire people to reconsider how they shop.The feedback, Wastebusters marketing and communications coordinator Catrin Smith said, has been “overwhelmingly positive”.“People have told us they left feeling inspired to buy less, get sewing, shop second hand first, or simply give their existing wardrobes more love.”She said one of the biggest shifts of this year was the number of young people wanting to get involved in Slow Fashion Month.“The next generation is already so aware of the impact of their fashion choices, and they’re not just comfortable wearing secondhand – they’re proud of it,” Catrin said. “It’s been inspiring for us to witness.”Catrin said the new video - created by Orla Ó Muirí - was created to celebrate how far Slow Fashion Month, which has grown ‘from an idea to a movement’, has come.“The idea behind it was to give ourselves and our community a moment to reflect,” Catrin said. “We're always looking forward, asking, what more can we do? But we felt it was just as important to pause and acknowledge how far this movement has already come. “The video is a way of saying thank you to everyone who has contributed to Wastebusters’ Slow Fashion Month – from designers and models to our incredible crew and wider community.” “Special thanks to [Queenstown Lakes District Council] zero waste district zero waste district programme for their support.”Watch ‘The Evolution of Wastebusters Slow Fashion’:PHOTO: Wastebusters

The Upper Clutha Rugby Club’s premier side, the Rams, made it three wins from as many games in the Central Otago Premier Rugby Competition with a 59-28 win over Cromwell on Saturday (April 5).The sides entertained a good crowd at the Upper Clutha Rugby Club running in 13 tries between them.“It was tough this week as we lost a lot of players. We’ve had so many injuries,” Rams’ head coach Alex Dickson said.“Definitely happy with the result.”Cromwell dominated early possession in the match but could not contain the Rams when they had ball in hand. The Rams scored four converted tries to skip out to a 28-14 lead at the half time break.Three more Rams’ tries early in the second half put the result beyond doubt.For the Rams, halfback Caleb Dixon was impressive behind the pack, scoring three tries and clearing the ball well. Fullback Henry Schikker, in his fiftieth match for the premier side, made the most of his opportunities with a number of elusive runs.In the forwards lock Andrew Horne continued to impress with his physicality.This was a good result for the Rams given the disruption to the playing side in the lead up to the match. Coach Alex Dickson will be concerned about the midfield’s defensive effort - an area Cromwell exploited on numerous occasions.“We’ve got the bye next week and then Easter off,” Alex said. “We hope to get a lot of guys back after Easter.”The Rams next match is on Saturday April 26 against Matakanui Combined in Omakau.Rams’ pointscoreresTries: Caleb Dixon (3), Henry Schikker (2), Sean Murray, Brady Kingan, Arthur Boutillier, Joel Turnbull Conversions: Brady Kingan (6), Brody FlanneryIn other matches:Arrowtown 21-32 AlexandraMatakanui 21-45 WakatipuTable:TABLE: Tribe App

An incredible week of the arts has come to a close with the curtains now drawn on the Wānaka Festival of Colour 2025.The festival brought world-class performers, artists and academics to Wānaka with more than 60 events between March 29 and April 6.The Wānaka App attended as many events as it could from the jam-packed schedule covering theatre, cabaret, music, comedy, dance, kōrero, visuals arts and community events.We had plenty of favourites.Circus sensation Cirque Alfonse brought their show Animal to Wānaka, which Tony said was “clever and highly entertaining”, ticking all the boxes of an exceptional circus performance.He marvelled at the cast's many talents, with individual performers serving as musicians, singers, acrobats, dancers and entertainers all in one.Maddy and Tony both attended the Trick of the Light Theatre’s The Suitcase Show - billed as an eclectic box set of short stories.It was “imaginative, playful and completely unexpected” according to Maddy, and impressed Tony with its innovative series of plots and clever use of a sparse set.In a rare sign of an excellent show, Tony said it got better and better every time he thought back to it, noting more intricacies and details that made it so special.Maddy attended Dirty Passports, an evening of young BIPOC storytellers performing across spoken word, music and comedy. Standouts included musical duo and opening act Ersha Island, who delivered a moody performance on violin, keyboard and vocals, and comedian Janeye Henry - “a delight” - who opened the second half, lightening the mood and delivering plenty of venue-filling laughs.Tony said An Evening Without Kate Bush - ‘a cult cabaret paying tribute to Kate Bush’ - was “hilariously funny, engaging, interactive, brilliantly presented and very special”.Last but not least on our list of favourites was Hāwea Flat resident Anna Shaw’s play Stuck In the Middle With You, about Anna’s time with her husband Rick in MIQ during the Covid-19 pandemic.Tony described our sentiments on it well: “A clever slice of life, reminding us of the challenges posed to travellers during the Covid pandemic,” he said. “It strips us back to our basic humanity: food, companionship, hope.”Thank you to the Festival of Colour team, performers, volunteers, supporters and everyone else involved for yet another great festival.PHOTO: Deanna Gerlach

Glenorchy resident and Shaping Our Future executive officer John Glover has announced he will run for mayor of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) at this year’s local body elections in October.John made the announcement, the first of its kind for this election, “in response to the many enquiries I’ve received around my intentions for the upcoming election”, he said.John has previously stood unsuccessfully for the QLDC in 2013, 2019, and in a by-election in 2023.John said relationships between QLDC and its key stakeholders “are broken”. “There needs to be a ‘hard reset’ to change that, restore community confidence and return the balance of power back to communities via their elected representatives,” he said.“I will campaign to restore openness and trust, and hope to partner with candidates who also seek to restore a functioning democracy in this district.”John’s proposed policies include inviting a “crown observer” to investigate and report on QLDC’s management of risk, its governance and financial probity around the Shotover Wastewater treatment plant, the Lakeview development, Queenstown’s proposed new civic building Project Manawa, and Queenstown’s arterial road construction.He said he would establish a working group of Upper Clutha community stakeholders “to identify changes that should be made to support ‘one district’ council policies and operations”.He also said he would ensure that all council workshops would be public and live-streamed online unless there were exceptional reasons for excluding the public; amend standing orders to remove the discretion of the mayor to require in-person attendance to speak at public forums; provide procedural changes around the use of a casting vote, and include Notice of Councillor Motions and “any other business” on council agendas “to encourage councillors to actively set the direction of QLDC”.John would undertake a review of how QLDC should store and publish information, he said, “in order to enable speedier and fuller compliance with information requests from councillors and the public”; establish a quasi-independent Information Office to assist those requesting information and monitor the fullness of responses to requests.He also proposed a standalone review of QLDC’s significance and engagement policy “so councillors can readily establish, on the community’s behalf, issues where consultation is expected and how that should be undertaken”.Finally, he proposed that any new civic building for Queenstown be located in the Frankton area to make it more accessible to residents of the Upper Clutha, Arrowtown, Shotover & Jacks Point/Hanley Farm.“Trust is something that is earned, and we don’t need another expensive consultants’ report to place a spin on uncomfortable realities: that’s so symptomatic of the problem,” he said.“We just need to make the necessary changes. Success will be when the community has our back, rather than being on our back.”Local body elections will take place from September 22, 2025.PHOTO: Supplied

A Maungawera Valley farmer has created a unique local attraction in his paddock, in the hope it will be used as a fun activity and fundraising opportunity.Murray Gibson enlisted the help of Andy Craig (a maize seed importer and farm machinery salesman from Alexandra) to design the maze, which includes six checkpoints for people to find.“I’ve always wanted to do a maize maze,” Andy told the Wānaka App.He had seen such mazes in South Canterbury which had been used annually for school fundraisers.“I wanted to do something I could cover my costs from but could give back to the schools. And something that’s affordable,” he said.Things have got very high tech in farming, Andy said, as the process for designing and creating the maze shows.He found a European company to create a tractor design for the maze, which was then uploaded to the John Deere operation centre. From there it was uploaded to the farmer’s precision planter; when the planter moves along it turns itself on and off in response to the design.Andy’s initial cost estimate of $1,000 blew out to $6,000 (including the cost of growing the maize, which will later be cut for silage).An aerial view of the maize tractor maze. The cost of creating the design, advertising and running the attraction make the venture “a long game”, he said.Andy said they will create another maze next year, as well as a smaller sweet corn maze for younger children.Andy’s partner Melissa Dodds said the maze has had good community support so far, and she, Andy, and Murray have “really enjoyed watching the families that have completed it come out smiling and knowing they have had a good time”. “Some families have even made it a competition,” she said.Melissa said the maze has hosted birthday party groups and Holy Family School did it as a fundraiser on Saturday (April 5). The maze will also be used as a family reunion activity during Easter, and Andy and Melissa are planning an Easter egg hunt on Good Friday (for which people will need to prebook on the Maize Maze Facebook page).Find the maize at 393 Maungawera Road. The cost is $20 per adult, free for children under 10, and $10 for children older than 10. It is open Saturday and Sunday from 2pm until the last group finishes, with morning sessions available for fundraising and private events. PHOTOS: Supplied

Fourteen young Wānaka basketball players will attend the South Island Primary Basketball Tournament in Rangiora this coming Easter, the fourth time a team has attended from Wānaka.Aspiring Basketball Academy coach Beth Mackie said her goal this year is for the Wānaka team of year 7-8 players to finish in the top half of the pool.“Every year is different but it's our first tournament of the year so a good starting block. It gives the kids an opportunity to see how much of a bubble we live in and how talented kids their age in other regions are,” she said.“It’s great exposure for kids from a small town.” This was the first time only boys were attending the tournament as half the girls’ team had other plans for Easter weekend, Beth said.The 3x3 format on Friday nights draws more than 90 young people. PHOTO: Wānaka AppA former professional Scottish basketball player who set up the Wānaka academy in 2022, Beth has seen a dramatic increase in the sport’s popularity locally.Read more: Pro basketballer sets up local academyWhen she established the academy it attracted 36 young people in the first term.This term there are 80 players (30 of them girls) training weekly.There are also more than 90 young people competing in the popular 3x3 basketball format each Friday from 3.30-7.30pm.Wānaka players at a previous South island tournament. PHOTO: SuppliedBeth puts that down to the academy spotlighting a new sport for kids to try, as well as the success of some locals in the sport.“We have six or seven athletes who have gone off to Christchurch, Dunedin and Auckland on scholarships or for basketball specifically and are succeeding there,” she said. “We are now averaging eight to 12 players each year making Otago Representative teams.”Last year four athletes from Wānaka (two boys and two girls) were called up for the New Zealand South Island Camp for trials for the national team. The South Island Primary Basketball Tournament will take place in Rangiora from April 18-20. Beth said the tournament gives local players “the inspiration to dig in to their training” before the next tournament in June or July.

Enthusiastic olive growers in Central Otago have marked Saturday May 17 as the date when their careful pruning, watering, fertilising and harvesting will seem worthwhile.Approximately 30 growers, who have anywhere between five and 50 trees on their properties, will bring up to 300 kilograms of freshly picked olives to a Community Press Day.Growers will see the olive press in action and be rewarded with low-cost 250ml bottles of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) proportional to the weight of their olives that go through the press.“The day has become really popular among the numerous lifestyle property owners across the district who would otherwise have an olive crop which is uneconomic to process,” Central Otao Olive Growers (COOG) chair Michael Hope said.“With the price of high-quality extra virgin olive oil reaching up to $100 a litre because of the worldwide shortage of the crop, these hobby growers love the opportunity to get some locally grown product in their kitchen, the fruit for some of which may have come from their own back yard.”Central Otago’s hot, arid summers and dry winters combined with a plentiful water supply from the Clutha/Mata-Au River means olive growers can bring more than 30 kilograms to the community press, Michael said.On the day they’ll be able to watch the olive pressing as hosts Steve and Olivia Morris of Olive Press Central Otago supervise the crushing of the harvested olives. After that the olives will sit while the oils and natural juices seep out, a process called “malaxation.” The oil will then be separated and filtered before bottling and distributed to COOG members or sold to the public through local markets.All Central Otago olive growers are welcome on the day whether or not they are COOG members.Michael encouraged growers to join COOG and “become part of a sociable passionate and supportive group with one thing in common – olives”.The Community Press Day will take place on Saturday May 17, from 10.30am to 2pm, at 125 Smiths Way, Pisa, Cromwell. Registrations can be made to COOG ([email protected]). The cost for the day is $20 for COOG members or $40 for non-members.