There is still opposition to McDonald’s latest bid to open a restaurant in Wānaka - but it remains to be seen whether it will reach the same fervour as the resistance to the company’s previous application.The company’s proposal for a 24-hour restaurant and drive-through on Sir Tim Wallis Drive in Three Parks was made public this week.It comes eight months after the company’s attempt to set up at Mt Iron Junction was turned down.Read more: McDonald’s launches new Wānaka applicationThe earlier application attracted hundreds of submissions, thousands of signatories in an online petition, and plenty of heated debates.Many opponents at the time said they would prefer to see such a development located in Three Parks - the site of the new proposal - although others argued the fast-food chain was simply not a good fit for Wānaka.Local resident Jesse Herbert campaigned against McDonald’s previous application.“If the town chooses to contest this one I think it's time we start to talk about the local landowners selling out the place they grew up in, or the next one will be at the base of Roys Peak or the Wānaka Tree,” he told the Wānaka App yesterday.In November 2023 Wānaka resident Sarah Morrison launched a petition to QLDC opposing McDonald’s bid to establish a restaurant at Mt Iron Junction, which attracted more than 5,500 signatories.She said the Wānaka community prides itself on its beautiful natural environment, and “McDonald’s goes against our core community value”. She cited “extensive food waste and pollution… directing profit out of Wānaka” and low staff wages.Sarah told the Wānaka App yesterday she was still opposed to a McDonald’s in Wānaka, “for the same reasons”.McDonald’s Restaurants NZ spokesperson Simon Kenny told the Wānaka App that “a number of alternative sites presented themselves following the hearing on the Mt Iron resource consent”. Now that the resource consent application has been lodged, the company will work through the consent process with Queenstown Lakes District Council, he said.“Subject to consent approval we will then confirm a planned opening date.”PHOTO: Wānaka App 

Contact Energy CEO Mike Fuge says the company has moved on after its proposal to lower Lake Hāwea’s contingent storage level through the Fast Track Act has been rejected.Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has told the power generator it cannot use the Fast Track process to lower the operating level of Lake Hāwea by two more metres.Read more: ‘Elation, surprise, relief’ as lake level proposal rejectedMike Fuge told the Wānaka App the hydro lake is “a gift from previous generations, built for the nation to ensure affordable, secure energy for the country”, and local stakeholders are getting in the way of that.“We recognise that there is a debate that needs to be had between keeping these assets for the nation and local stakeholders who now wish to use that resource for other things,” he said.The Wānaka App asked him for clarification on what “other things” stakeholders wish to use the lake for, and how this was stopping Contact from generating electricity, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.His comments follow his appearance on a news talk show on Tuesday morning (October 21) where he was asked “how big an issue is Nimbyism?” in relation to the energy generator’s proposal for Lake Hāwea.Contact CEO Mike Fuge, who says local stakeholders now wish to use the lake “for other things” did not respond to the Wānaka App’s question on what those things were. Mike Fuge responded that all Contact was looking for was “an increased operation range… that was well established”.“Nimbyism is always going to be an issue… And as a nation we’re just going to have to have that discussion. At the end of the day it’s an opportunity and a little bit of flexibility in our hydro schemes goes a long way. “We should be grasping hold of the opportunity.”Guardians of Lake Hāwea chair Geoff Kernick said he was puzzled by Mike’s comment.“Contact does use the resource - they still operate the lake and it's a vital part of the hydro scheme,” he said.A group of stakeholders “representing a range of Hāwea residents and interests in the Upper Clutha district” released a statement today (Wednesday October 22) saying the proposal to lower the lake level “would have drastic impacts on the health of the lake and all those who rely on its water – not just households, but businesses and farming interests between Hāwea and Cromwell”.The group represented the Guardians, the Hāwea Community Association, the Hāwea Catchment Group, Devon Dairy Farms, three groups of residential bore users, the Upper Clutha Angling Club, and Glen Dene Tourism Group.The group said the Minister’s decision was “a victory for common sense and a chance to focus on a lasting solution to the country’s energy needs”.“Electricity security and supply is a critical issue for New Zealand as a whole and it needs a system-wide approach involving all generators in conjunction with the appropriate organisations such as Transpower, the Electricity Authority and the Commerce Commission,” they said.“Contact Energy still has access to the extra water it wants, but the decision about when it can be used is made by Transpower as System Operator on behalf of all New Zealand, not a commercial decision by Contact on behalf of its shareholders.”The Contact CEO said the decision was disappointing.“Our team worked really hard on this to achieve a balance between local stakeholder concerns and the need for security of energy supply for the nation over the coming years,” he said.He said the proposal would have had a significant, positive impact on “consumer prices, and the economy, not to mention energy supply”.“We will continue to focus on our pipeline of renewable energy projects and playing our part [to] support the country’s energy security. That is our top concern. “The more we build, the more we invest, the sooner we can bring down prices.”PHOTOS: Supplied

After months of speculation by locals, McDonald’s has submitted an application for land use consent to establish a new restaurant in Wānaka, in an area it recently rejected as “the backblocks”.The application for a 450.4sqm McDonald’s restaurant and drive through - located near the BP service station at Three Parks, at 1 Sir Tim Wallis Drive - is currently being vetted by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).McDonald’s Restaurants (NZ) Limited said the restaurant and drive-through would operate 24 hours per day, seven days a week.A company spokesperson told the Wānaka App earlier this year it hadn’t given up on setting up a Wānaka restaurant, after being dealt a blow when independent commissioners turned down its proposal for a 447m2 restaurant and drive-through at Mt Iron Junction.Many of the people who submitted against the original proposal for the Mt Iron Junction McDonald’s - which was turned down due to ‘more than minor’ adverse effects on the environment - suggested a McDonald’s would be better located in Three Parks, however during the hearing the fast food giant said it deemed that area “the backblocks”.The new application is for a six-metre high, single-level restaurant building - with seating for 75 diners.Signage would include a six-metre high blade sign with an illuminated ‘M’, and there would be 19 car parks, including two parks within a drive-though lane at the ‘grill order’.McDonald’s application says while “public interest in the brand is acknowledged”, it does not justify public notification of the application.The owner of the site is Willowridge Developments Limited, which is owned by Three Parks developer Allan Dippie.Allan has previously told the Wānaka App he expected to be approached by fast-food restaurants seeking drive-through locations.“We realise half the town would be very pleased if they came to town and the other half wouldn’t be… The thing to remember however is that neither half is forcing the other half to frequent such establishments.” Allan said the important thing was “locating such businesses in the right place”.McDonald’s was approached for comment.IMAGES: Supplied

Despite demand for jobs running red-hot across the country, some Queenstown and Wānaka employers say it's never been harder to find staff.The latest TradeMe Jobs data shows the district has been bucking the national trend, with a 15 percent fall in job application numbers over the past financial year.Nationwide, job applications rose more than 60 percent between April and June, reaching record highs.Patrick Ryan, from R&R Plumbing and Gas, said he had found it very hard to employ a plumber to work in either Cromwell or Wānaka."It's generally always been reasonably tricky to find full-time staff down here. It is a pretty transient place anyway. But, especially over the last year, you do not even really get people applying as such now."We used to pick up... people who were just here for the winter season. But we have not even noticed the skiers anymore."To entice staff, R&R Plumbing had added a $1000 sign-on bonus for new recruits.Food delivery company Delivereasy was trying a similar tactic, offering $500 to drivers signing up in Wānaka.Co-founder Tim Robinson said recruiting in Queenstown and Wānaka was unlike anywhere else in New Zealand."It is night and day. Queenstown, Wānaka is the place we find a lot of competition - a lot of high wages for entry-level jobs. And if you're looking for work down there, it's sort of a buffet."The relatively high cost of living appeared to be the biggest barrier for potential recruits, Robinson said."I think it is the housing. The housing particularly is really expensive... and it is a large transient population too. And then a lot of people will not have vehicles. So it is a bit of a perfect storm."SUNDAYS owner Annabel Herbison. PHOTO: Katie Todd / RNZIn Queenstown, SUNDAYS eatery was gearing up for what owner Annabel Herbison hoped would be its busiest summer yet.She was advertising for several different roles, and had noticed a big difference in application numbers between them.One management position had attracted about 180 applications - largely from out of town - while the front-of-house jobs had drawn a lot fewer."I think it is just quite a competitive market. Everyone's recruiting, everyone's preparing for a big summer season, so there are a lot of jobs on offer."The typically quiet shoulder season between winter and summer had proved reasonably busy this year, she said."It is a good problem to have - businesses doing well down here. But when you have to balance that with staffing needs and operational needs, it can become challenging."TradeMe Jobs and SEEK NZ reported the tide was beginning to turn for the job market across the rest of New Zealand this month.TradeMe said there had been a 13 percent rise in job listings last quarter - many of them in Southland, Otago and Canterbury.SEEK said the national trend was still one of "elevated candidate activity", with "many willing applicants for the opportunities available".

A controversial $5B gold mining project near Tarras is now one step closer.Mining company Santana Minerals confirmed yesterday (Thursday October 16) it had signed a binding agreement to purchase “key blocks” of Bendigo Station for $55M.A statement from Santana Minerals said this means it now controls the ground it needs to shift from “exploration to full-scale development”.Under the deal, Santana Minerals will acquire roughly 800 hectares of the historic station, or approximately 10 percent of the farm, for “modern open-pit mining”.However, the proposal is subject to Overseas Investment Office approval and the Fast Track Approvals Act process.Bendigo Station owner John Perriam said he had come around to the idea of selling the land to Santana Minerals.“I… was determined to keep control by leasing not selling the land to Santana, but seeing the benefits the Clyde Dam has brought to Cromwell and Central Otago, and the rigorous process that new age goldmines have to go through, I have decided to stand aside and put trust into the New Zealand government process.”John said he “didn’t feel he had the right to stand in the path of” the forecast $5B in regional economic benefits.The gold mining proposal has faced significant opposition from the local community and has also attracted national attention.Earlier this month nine prominent artists from around New Zealand - including Dick Frizzell, Gregory O’Brien, and Grahame Sydney - gifted works to raise funds in opposition to the gold mine.Read more: NZ artists vow to fight proposed gold mine“The proposed desecration of a heritage area for purely monetary gain is an outrage to all of us, as it is to the citizens of Central Otago and to all New Zealanders,” organiser Gregory O’Brien said.Money raised will go to Sustainable Tarras, which hopes to prevent the mining from going ahead, for legal fees and expert reports.Chair Suze Keith compared the fight between the small rural community and the mining company to “David vs Goliath”.Santana Minerals has not yet lodged a referral application for the project via the Fast Track Approvals Act.The company’s chief executive Damian Spring said the agreement to purchase a portion of Bendigo Station marked “a huge step forward”.PHOTO: Supplied

The world-famous Cardrona Hotel will remain in Kiwi hands after being sold to New Zealand buyers for an undisclosed sum.The 162-year-old heritage-listed hotel and restaurant has been purchased by a group of NZ investors with strong links to Central Otago. The group, who wish to remain low key, will take over ownership on November 3.The business will be run by Warren Barclay, who has lived in Wānaka for the past four years and brings extensive corporate hospitality experience. Warren is the owner of Experience Group, which runs hospitality for major sporting fixtures and events. He’ll step away from the day to day oversight of Experience Group with his new role as Cardrona Hotel publican.Warren said the new ownership group brings with them “a deep appreciation for New Zealand’s heritage and a clear vision for the future of the hotel”.“We’re incredibly proud to take on the stewardship of such a special part of New Zealand’s story,” he said. “The Cardrona Hotel holds a unique place in the hearts of so many, and we’re committed to preserving its heritage while exploring thoughtful ways to enhance its boutique accommodation, dining, event offerings and overall guest experience.”He said the acquisition reflects continued confidence in the Southern Lakes region as a premier tourism and lifestyle destination. “The hotel’s strong trading performance, year-round visitor appeal, and iconic status made it a highly sought-after opportunity in the hospitality market.”Outgoing publican Cade Thornton and incoming publican Warren Barclay.Outgoing owner Cade Thornton, who has overseen the hotel’s operations for the past 13 years, expressed gratitude for the support of the local community and guests over the years.“It’s been an honour to be part of the Cardrona Hotel’s legacy, and we look forward to becoming ‘locals’ ourselves. We’re delighted to see it passed on to passionate new custodians who share a love for the region and its heritage.”The Cardrona Hotel sale attracted national and international attention when Cade announced news of the private sale in July. During the six-week campaign he received enquiries from NZ, Australia, USA and Singapore. At the time, the Cardrona Hotel listing on Trade Me Property was the website’s third most popular live listing this year, with more than 130,016 views in five weeks.“I’m really happy with how it’s all turned out,” Cade said. “It’s been a successful outcome for both parties.”He will remain working with Warren for a short transition period. He, wife Alexis and their two children will remain living in the Cardrona Valley.The hotel will continue to operate as usual, with no immediate changes planned to staffing or services, Warren said.PHOTOS: Supplied

A joint council assessment of the supply of land for housing and business in this district has identified a “staggering” deficit of supply in the short term.The Housing and Business Capacity Assessment (HBA) 2025 report, from Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) in partnership with Otago Regional Council (ORC), was considered by QLDC at its final council meeting for the triennium last week.Its key findings show an expected surplus of dwelling supply in the medium and long term (10 to 30 years) - due to increased “infrastructure investment and development opportunity within the planning frameworks”, but in the short term (three years) net shortfalls in residential dwelling and in the medium and long terms in business land are predicted - to be constrained by infrastructure limitations, primarily in Whakatipu.The Wānaka Ward shows a small surplus of 180 dwellings, but with projected shortfalls in Wānaka’s township - also primarily as a result of infrastructure capacity limitations.“The amount of infrastructure deficit and shortfall is absolutely staggering,” Wānaka councillor Quentin Smith said.“There is a crisis of infrastructure in achieving those outcomes we approved in the last meeting… I’m not quite sure where we’ve departed in the resource management world from aligning resource and management and resource management. I just can’t grasp the extent to which we’ve overzoned relating to [the] resource available to us to provide the infrastructure.”He used growth and the impact on infrastructure in Lake Hāwea as an example, and said the issue would be an important one for the incoming council.Councillor Quentin Smith said the report reveals a “crisis of infrastructure”.QLDC planning and development general manager Dave Wallace said the HBA provides a crucial resource for understanding how planning and infrastructure decisions will affect future land availability, ultimately helping to guide sustainable growth and development in the district.“We’re expecting population in the Queenstown Lakes District to grow by 80 percent and reach 97,500 over the next 30 years, which means more housing is needed, more businesses to support those residents, and more infrastructure required to service their needs,” Dave said.“The HBA highlights our current infrastructure constraints and future shortfalls in residential, commercial, and industrial land, ultimately guiding proactive planning decisions and identifying what we’ll need more of to continue growing well as a district.”The HBA adopts a high growth scenario to set housing bottom lines, setting out a requirement for an additional 27,100 new dwellings in the district over the next 30 years, with 9,100 required by 2033 and a further 18,000 by 2053.While substantial plan-enabled housing capacity already exists in the district, the HBA identifies infrastructure limitations that result in a district-wide shortfall of approximately 1,000 dwellings in the short term, especially in the Whakatipu.A surplus of dwellings is expected in the medium and long term as investment planned for infrastructure and development opportunities increase.Land for business is also projected to grow strongly over the next 30 years, but recent zoning changes and further infrastructure constraints show more capacity is required for retail and commercial operations, most notably 36 hectares of industrial land in the long term.Council said it will now explore alternative funding and financing tools to accelerate infrastructure delivery in priority development areas, in addition to developing an updated Spatial Plan which will help identify the location of additional land to meet demand. PHOTOS: Wānaka App

Greenstone Entertainment has confirmed the Wānaka leg of its 2026 Summer Concert Tour will take place on Saturday January 31, 2026 while its application for a resource consent with Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) remains under review.Should resource consent be granted Wānaka’s Three Parks Outdoor Arena will host the long-running Gibbston Valley event for the first time after organisers confirmed plans to move the event here in July this year.Organiser Dean Calvert told the Wānaka App that the resource consent application is a process and “we're now just going through the conditions”.“We're just ticking off the conditions to make sure that whatever conditions are in there, we can meet,” he said.Dean said Greenstone Entertainment is experienced at presenting events in an urban environment, citing the 15 years the Summer Concert has performed in Taupo.“In Taupo we're in the middle of town and we're also in the middle of a residential area,” Dean said.“ The whole community gets behind it and it's great.”The large-scale concert has attracted more than 15,000 people to Gibbston Valley each year for the past 15 years, featuring major acts such as Cold Chisel, Crowded House, Alanis Morissette and ZZ Top, and contributes around $12M to the region’s economy annually.“We're gonna be using all local suppliers,” Dean said. “We've had everyone contact us, which has been great, and we've had a whole lot of volunteers looking for money. It's great for the town.”Dean said the artist lineup for the Summer Concerts will be announced on Thursday October 16.PHOTO: Supplied

Queenstown Airport has been named Large Airport of the Year (more than two million passengers per year) at the 2025 New Zealand Airports Awards in Blenheim.Chief executive Shane O’Hare, who joined the airport last month, said it was an honour to accept the award on behalf of the team this week (Tuesday October 7).“In my short time in the role, I’ve been impressed by the exceptional quality of work being done and the calibre of the team,” he said.The award recognises operational excellence and major achievements over the past year, including the installation of Australasia’s first engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) - a major safety investment completed ahead of schedule and under budget.EMAS beds at either end of Queenstown Airport's runway are a significant investment in the safety of travellers and the community. PHOTO: SuppliedJudges also praised the airport’s innovation and community engagement, including the launch of the ZQN Community Fund, which distributes $50,000 annually to local charities.Queenstown Airport was also part of the Southern Way partnership, which won the Commercial Initiative of the Year Award for strengthening aviation connections across the lower South Island.The full list of winners can be found here.

Some of the world’s leading voices in destination management, tourism leadership and sustainability are visiting Queenstown this week (October 6-10) for the Destination Think Forum 2025.The forum will highlight the region’s leadership in regenerative tourism and put Queenstown and Wānaka at the centre of global conversations about the future of tourism, organisers say. “I’ve come to the Southern Lakes region not just to share, but to be inspired,” Wonderful Copenhagen marketing director Rikke Holm Petersen said.“Queenstown’s alpine landscapes, its commitment to carbon-zero goals and the deep connection between people and place present a powerful opportunity for the future of destination stewardship.”Attendees - including senior tourism delegates from across Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania - will explore how the area is reimagining its visitor economy and how lessons learned in here can help shape the next chapter of global tourism.They will participate in panels, site visits, workshops and networking events focused on the theme of ‘Regeneration in Practice’. Rikke has been an advocate for transforming tourism from consumption toward positive contribution, as demonstrated by Copenhagen’s CopenPay initiative, which rewards visitors for sustainable actions.She said she believes tourism has the power to shape communities, landscapes and behaviour beyond traditional boundaries. Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism chief executive Mat Woods, who will be a guest speaker at the event, said the area is “grappling with the same challenges many destinations elsewhere face, balancing visitation, community expectations and ecological impacts”. “Hosting an event like this helps us to lay out how we can evolve across the tourism industry by sharing opportunities and learnings. We look forward to showing what’s possible here and learning from peers who are pushing boundaries globally.”Mat will talk about the region’s Destination Management Plan (DMP), including its ambitious goal for a carbon zero visitor economy, as well as local case-studies.In addition to looking at regenerative models, the Destination Think Forum 2025 sessions will explore carbon reduction pathways, governance structures, and community collaboration. PHOTO: Wānaka App

A new real estate agency has opened in Wānaka, representing buyers and vendors across the Southern Lakes region. Aspire Realty was founded by local real estate agent Craig Myles, who said the agency would operate independently of corporate brands.Joining Craig as partner is George Wallis, who has experience in the corporate and automotive sectors.The Aspire Realty team includes Emma Pledger, Robyn Myles, and Mandy Myles. The agency represents a range of residential and lifestyle properties across the region, including both on and off market listings.Craig said buyer interest remains strong, and demand for property in the area continues to grow.Aspire Realty is based in Wānaka.PHOTO: Supplied

In most galleries, you admire the art from a distance. At the Artē Collective, you can talk to the artists who created it.One of the six founding artists will be on site every day when the gallery opens, giving visitors a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the creative process.Andi Regan, who co-founded the collective with Sue Rutherford, Jenny Chisholm, Lizzie Carruthers, Briar Hardy-Hesson, and Sophie Melville, says this personal, accessible approach sets it apart from traditional galleries.“We want people to feel completely comfortable, whether they’re seasoned collectors or just curious,” Andi said. “‘Just looking’ is always welcome.”Even though its space is small - the Arte Collective is located in one of the cabins which form The Green, a new commercial precinct in Luggate - there is plenty to see.Andi’s own work utilises everyday objects and transforms them into forms that celebrate New Zealand’s natural environment. Visiting the Artē Collective, the Wānaka App got to see her kina art made from cable ties, and birds - kahu, kea and godwits - crafted from dyed nylon sheets.Freshly hung works at Artē Collective, showcasing a mix of media from six local artists. PHOTO: SuppliedHer pieces share the walls and surfaces with Jenny’s vivid Central Otago landscapes, Sue’s exploration of natural forms with ceramics, Lizzie’s expressive, personality-rich animal portraits, Briar’s colourful jewellery art, and Sophie’s emotive watercolour landscapes.Hanging the work in the gallery over the weekend was a milestone for a project Andi had long hoped to bring to life. She and two fellow members had previously been part of a similar collective in Cromwell, but high rents in Wānaka had made a similar venture closer to home impossible. When development began at The Green, Andi contacted developer Stuart Pinfold, and the Artē Collective was born.“Stuart has been incredibly supportive,” Andi said. “He believed in what we were trying to build and encouraged us from the beginning. “We’re grateful to be part of this new precinct alongside other small, locally owned businesses.”Small works on display. PHOTO: SuppliedThe Arte Collective will hold its launch event on October 10 from 4pm-7pm, with live music from the Dirty Money duo, wine from local sponsors, and a joint celebration with the pottery studio next door. Everyone is welcome. It will then be open seven days a week, with one of the artists on hand each day to welcome visitors, answer questions, and share insights into their creative process. Exhibitions will rotate every few months, giving people a reason to return and discover something new.

Patersons’ Wānaka office, which has been part of the community since 1994, is celebrating alongside the wider firm after Patersons was named winner of the 2025 Consulting Surveyors of New Zealand (CSNZ) Business Excellence Award.The award, presented last week (September 11) at the Survey and Spatial New Zealand conference in Christchurch, recognised Patersons’ 125 years of leadership, its people-first culture and contribution to the land development profession.“This recognition belongs to our entire team. It speaks to the heart and hard work our people bring every day - across every office, every project, and every client relationship,” Patersons chief executive Korina Foot said.Locally, Patersons’ Wānaka office has played a key role in shaping much of the town’s growth over the past three decades. The branch employs more than 20 staff and is led by principals Mike Botting, Alex Todd and Duncan White.Projects delivered by the Wānaka team include residential subdivisions at Riverside Park, Peninsula Bay, Northlake, Alpha Ridge, Pembroke, Alpine Meadows, Timsfield and Lake McKay, along with commercial developments such as Three Parks.Board chair and Queenstown principal Stephen Popenhagen said the national award was a timely honour.“To be recognised in our 125th year is something special. This milestone highlights the calibre of our people and the trust we have built with clients over many decades,” he said.PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka-based Ripe Events has scooped two major awards at the New Zealand Events Association (NZEA) Awards, including Sustainability Event of the Year.The company’s flagship Ripe Festival 2025 won for achieving its ambitious goal of being waste-free, while festival director Nathan White was named Emerging Event Professional of the Year.“We’re incredibly proud of what our team has achieved,” Nathan said.“Creating waste-free festivals isn’t just about logistics, it’s about reshaping the culture of events in New Zealand. To be recognised on a national stage for this long term initiative is a huge honour.”Ripe – The Wānaka Wine and Food Festival has become a leader in sustainable event practices, with initiatives such as reusable serviceware, comprehensive recycling and composting systems, and partnerships with local sustainability organisations.Nathan’s award recognised his leadership, creativity, and commitment to delivering world-class experiences while driving positive environmental outcomes.Ripe Events has also recently launched Valley Festival in Gibbston, a boutique summer music event celebrating New Zealand’s unique sound and landscape.Read more: New music festival set to debut in GibbstonPHOTO: Supplied

A tourism initiative showcasing the attractions of the South Island’s southern regions has been selected as a finalist in the New Zealand Tourism Awards 2025, under the Industry Collaboration Award category.Southern Way represents an alliance of eight regional tourism organisations (RTOs), including Lake Wānaka Tourism and Destination Queenstown.Its ‘One Trip to See It All’ campaign, delivered in partnership with Air New Zealand and the Southern Airport Alliance, promoted multistop travel by encouraging North Island residents to fly into one Southern Way destination, explore the region, and fly out from another.Running from July to August 2024, the campaign generated impressive results and drove travel performance, Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism chief executive Mat Woods said.It also inspired travellers to travel more slowly and sustainably.Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism chief executive Mat Woods. PHOTO: Lake Wānaka TourismMat said being recognised as a finalist in the New Zealand Tourism Awards 2025 was a testament to RTOs uniting under a shared purpose.“We’re proud to work together as a macro-region, amplifying our collective voice and showcasing the South’s extraordinary offerings,” he said. “This nomination reflects the strength of our partnership and the bold direction we’re heading as a united lower South Island.”The judges commended Southern Way on coordinating multiple partners across a high-demand tourism region and demonstrating a sophisticated approach to collaboration and visitor management. The winners of the 2025 New Zealand Tourism Awards will be announced at the gala dinner on October 29.Learn more about Southern Way here.PHOTO: Southern Way

Jetstar says the addition of two new domestic services - and added flights on existing routes - will open up more than 660,000 extra seats on the airline each year.The announcement included a new flight between Queenstown and Brisbane during next year's ski season (2026).Jetstar Group CEO Stephanie Tully said the changes would bring more tourism into the country and boost connectivity about the motu and across the Tasman."We know how vital air travel is for connecting Kiwi families, friends, holidaymakers and business travellers," he said. "These changes will give a much-needed boost to inbound tourism while offering Kiwis even more low-fares and choice in how they travel."With more seats on our trans-Tasman network than ever before, with one stop in Australia, Kiwis will have enhanced connectivity to Asia and beyond."

A late burst of spring snow has allowed Snow Farm NZ to extend its winter season by two weeks into the school holidays.The cross-country ski area in the Cardrona Valley has confirmed that 20-30 kilometres of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails have been able to remain open thanks to excellent late-season conditions.The Snow Fun Zone and tubing hill is also open providing a wide range of activities for children and families.“We’ve had some fantastic spring snowfall and great trail conditions, so we’re thrilled to be able to keep the trails open for longer,” Snow Farm NZ general manager Sam Lee said.“It’s the perfect time for families to come up and experience the snow, especially during the school holidays.”Family-friendly cross-country ski lessons are available for those new to the sport, making it easy for beginners of all ages to get started. The on-site café will also be open.The Snow Farm offers cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and tubing.Snow Farm NZ's winter season will now operate until September 28.Find more information here.PHOTOS: Snow Farm NZ

Consultants Egis are asking members of the community to share their views on the future of Wānaka Airport, presenting options ranging from its closure to developing it into an international airport.More input is being sought on the five different scenarios: close the airport; have general aviation only; domestic routes to Christchurch and/or Wellington; domestic routes including Auckland; and an international airport.Another four complementary scenarios have been developed by Egis, all of which are now open for consultation at the Let’s Talk webpage.What are the options?Close Wānaka AirportBased on the first round of consultation, this was the least supported option. The majority of people valued an airport in Wānaka. General aviation airport only  Under this option, there would be no scheduled passenger services to other airports. The focus would remain on light aircraft, training, and recreational flying.In the first round of engagement, the most common response was to keep the airport ‘as it is’ with no major changes (39 percent support).The majority of responses were to keep the airport as close to how it is now, showing support for local businesses. General aviation airport with domestic routes to Christchurch and/or WellingtonThis option would require a terminal but no change to the current runway. It would allow for smaller aircraft carrying between eight and 30 passengers.To achieve this scenario, the airport would need to attract and work with airline operators in the short to medium term. The viability of a route would depend on sustainable passenger numbers and willingness to pay.General aviation airport with domestic routes including direct to AucklandThis option would require an airline to commit to new scheduled passenger services, going further by including a direct route to Auckland.Services would be operated by larger aircraft than in the last scenario, using aircraft that carry more passengers, like a Q300 (50 passengers), ATR72 (68 passengers), or possible new aircraft types to the New Zealand market, including smaller regional jets like some of the Embraer fleet (30–115 passenger aircraft). Small regional jets could be considered by airlines for the direct flights.Primarily domestic, and international airport focusedAn international airport would have significant costs, require more infrastructure and will impact general aviation.This was the second least supported option after closing the airport.The four ‘complementary’ optionsBased on the first round of engagement, Egis has developed four complementary options that could be achieved in tandem with one of the other options.The first imagines Wānaka airport as a ‘more prominent community asset’, with medical emergency and patient transfer services, a civil defence centre, and recreational facilities; while the second focuses on the airport becoming a ‘centre of aviation excellence’, with the development of additional hangars and utilities, attracting flight training schools and on-site accommodation.The third complementary option imagines a more mixed-use area with a business park, community services, a solar farm and community battery, and the like.The final complementary options questions whether a financially self-sufficient Wānaka Airport is on the cards, if airport users are prepared to pay more, if Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) finds more revenue streams, and more contributions from ratepayers.Feedback on the future scenarios is open until September 18.The scenarios are part of the Wānaka Airport Future Review, which is exploring the airport’s long-term role, its economic impact, and local views about its future.PHOTOS: Supplied

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