It’s a ‘no’ for McDonald’s.

Independent commissioners have declined McDonald’s Restaurants NZ’s application for a Wānaka restaurant and drive-through.

In the decision released today (Wednesday February 12), the commissioners said the McDonald’s would have too many adverse effects on the rural-zoned site and neighbouring landscape.

The McDonald’s team, pictured during the November hearing. PHOTO: Wānaka App

“...we consider that the adverse effects on the environment are more than minor…on the approach to Wānaka, the landscape character and the visual amenity values of Mt Iron,” the commissioners said.

“The [application for consent] by McDonald’s Restaurants (NZ) Ltd is therefore declined”.

Commissioners Helen Atkins (chair), Lisa Mein and Robert Scott said the effects of the McDonald’s on landscape character and visual amenity went “to the heart of the application”.

The controversial proposal was the source of significant debate in the community. PHOTO: Wānaka App

The issues were hotly debated by the McDonald’s team and Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) planners, who had disagreed on whether the site - within Mt Iron Junction, near the SH6/SH84 intersection - was rural or urban in nature. 

Peter Greene, who co-owns the Mt Iron Junction site earmarked for the McDonald’s (alongside Wānaka businessman Steve Shikker), said he was philosophical about the decision.

“From our point of view we’re just the landowner,” he told the Wānaka App. “The commissioners have made their decision and now it’s up to McDonalds. It’s just the way it is.”

However, he argued that the site was not rural.

“It’s not a rural general site, is it? It’s no more rural than across the road.” 

Meanwhile Wānaka grocer Jesse Herbert, who campaigned against the proposal, told the Wānaka App he was “ecstatic” with the decision.

“I think no matter the decision the process was fair and the town definitely got heard,” he said.

The restaurant was proposed for rural-zoned land near the SH6/SH84 intersection. PHOTO: Wānaka App

Jesse said he believed someone at McDonald’s “made a real strategic error chasing that site” and he said other, less prominent options may have been more viable. 

The McDonald’s application for a Wānaka restaurant and drive-through was made public in November 2023 and it had hoped to open its doors by 2026.

McDonald’s Restaurants NZ was approached for comment on the decision.