Locals will have to wait a little longer to find out whether the ‘golden arches’ are coming to town.

The independent hearing panel which is considering McDonald’s Restaurants NZ’s application for a local McDonald’s restaurant and drive-though needs more time.

The panel initially planned to issue a decision by the end of this month.

A decision is now not expected until the week of February 10, a Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) representative said. 

McDonald’s lodged its resource consent application for a 445m2 restaurant and drive-thru at 237 Wānaka-Luggate Highway in November 2023.

A three-day hearing on the application was held in Wānaka in November 2024.

See also: Protectiveness for town expressed as McDonald’s hearing concludes.

During the McDonald’s team’s right-of-reply, following the hearing, it made a concession.

Instead of operating 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week, as initially planned, if approved it would operate from 6am-11pm daily, the lawyer for McDonald’s said.

See also: McDonald’s: ‘Discreet’ amendment to Mt iron proposal.

If the restaurant is approved, McDonald’s has indicated it hopes to have the Wānaka operation up-and-running by 2026.

IMAGE: Supplied