It’s been around for bushfires, floods, and even a pandemic, but five years ago today news on the brand new Wanaka App included another delay to the resource consent hearing for the Wanaka Watersports Facility; a “flag bomber” erecting New Zealand flags around the district in the run-up to the flag referendum; and local snowsports success stories.

It’s a good snapshot of the range of issues covered in the five years since, on the first local community news and information app of its kind in New Zealand.

There are now 20 community apps across New Zealand and Australia all using the software platform developed for the Wanaka App by founders Tony and Pip O’Regan.

Tony and Pip moved to Wanaka in 2015 and saw a gap in the market for a daily digital news and information platform which people can look at on their smartphones, ipads and tablets, 24/7.

Since being launched, the mobile app has 36,873 downloads and just over a year ago the company expanded its channel offering by launching a web platform to complement the mobile channel.

One of the first stories was Adam Hall wins Slalom at the International Paralympic Committee World Cup Finals in Aspen in 2016. PHOTO: Supplied

Readership across the mobile app and web app was 54,240 people in 2020, recording over 900,000 reader sessions and 4.26m page views, making it the most successful local digital media per head of population in New Zealand.

Stories relating to police activity and search and rescue callouts are always well-read, but unsurprisingly the App’s most-read stories have been the breaking stories about Covid-19 in March and April 2020.

Other popular stories have covered a wide range from international to local issues: the impact of the Australian bush fires, Wanaka’s December 2019 floods, the development of Three Parks, the White House restaurant closing, issues arising from Mount Aspiring College’s most recent Education Review Office report, and - of course - damage to ‘the Wanaka tree’.

Outside of news the Wanaka App provides information on local Roads, Events, Jobs and has a comprehensive searchable directory of local businesses including Trades/Services, Health/Beauty and Dine | Drink.

The flag referendum was a hot topic in March 2016. PHOTO: Wanaka App

Festival of Colour general manager Laura Williamson was one of the journalists on board when the App launched.

“I think people love the convenience of it, but also the quality community journalism,” she said. “And with my Festival Of Colour hat on, I can’t say more about how supportive the App has been about our festivals. The pop-up (Festival of Colour) function has been invaluable to us and our audiences love it.”

Sport Central’s Wanaka-based community sports advisor Tiny Caruthers is also a fan of the App, calling it “so responsive to news and information.”

"The Wanaka App is invaluable for quickly and easily finding out what has been happening locally from the big stories in the region to stories that wouldn't be covered by other news media," Wanaka Swim Club senior coach Cameron Stanley said.

Wanaka’s three elected members to the Queenstown Lakes District Council said this week they all appreciate the addition of the local media platform whose reporters are embedded in the community.

“It has definitely added to the depth and breadth of the conversation in the Upper Clutha and long may it continue. Having journalists who live and breath the issues is vital,” deputy mayor Calum MacLeod said.

“The Wanaka App is a great example of adapting from print media to an online but localised platform. It’s important to have reporters who are part of the community and the app has done a good job covering issues relevant to the local community,” councillor Quentin Smith said.

Councillor Niamh Shaw said she was looking forward to many more years of the App’s “wonderful and occasionally quirky blend of news, deeply rooted in community interest”.

The editorial team now consists of Sue Wards (editor) with reporters Maddy Harker and Diana Cocks.