A small food manufacturing company based in Lake Hāwea is taking on the industry by producing lightweight meals for outdoor adventures in home compostable packaging. Local Dehy owners Frankie Sanders and Emily Warne make dehydrated meals for people going on multi-day adventures, a business borne out of the keen rock climbers' own search for tasty meals suitable for outdoor pursuits. While the company initially sold meals in single-use foil bags, the pair have added a home compostable packaging option to their lineup and recently hit the milestone of selling as many home compostable bags as foil ones.“We are stoked,” Emily said. “It’s so awesome to be able to offer a sustainable alternative for outdoor adventurers.” Emily and Frankie had started cooking and dehydrating their own vegan meals for outdoor trips as they couldn’t find options they liked on the market.“We wanted something that we looked forward to after a long day in the hills,” Frankie said. Emily and Frankie say their home compostable packaging has been a hit with customers.After buying a small commercial food trailer they started making batches of their signature vegan meals and selling them locally and online.Frankie says she never felt wholly comfortable with the waste issue of the foil bags, but they were convenient to use and easy to source, plus most packaging companies had minimum orders of 10,000 bags which was out of the question for the small home-based business. Eventually the couple came across Econic, a Hamilton-based company specialising in home compostable packaging which was willing to produce packaging on the smaller scale Local Dehy needed. They started offering the new packaging in July 2020.“There was massive support for it straight away, but sales of compostable packaging steadily increased last summer, to the point where now sales of both types of packaging are 50/50,” Emily said.While Local Dehy still offers foil bags, Emily and Frankie said they hope market demand will continue to shift in favour of home compostable packaging.Since starting in 2015, Local Dehy has grown to offer a wide range of dehydrated meals, all of them cooked here in the Upper Clutha.PHOTOS: Supplied

The Hāwea Community Association (HCA) has had a busy few years, and the past week has been no different, holding two significant events and assessing a second supermarket proposal for the community.The HCA held its AGM last weekend (Saturday November 6) and today it will host a 'Hāwea Visioning Forum', hosted by Shaping Our Future (SOF).The forum aims to identify a set of key priority issues that need to be addressed in the short to medium term but will also look further to the future of Hāwea in 30, 40 or 50 years’ time. “The ideal outcome would be to have a clear idea of what the values and the vision are for our community,” HCA chair Cherilyn Walthew said.The association expects a hot topic at today’s event to be a resource consent application from Project H Ltd to construct a SuperValue (Woolworths) supermarket on land between Bodkin Street and Parry Crescent, close to the existing Hāwea Store and Kitchen - and neighbouring another proposed commercial development for which resource consent has been sought.Lake Hāwea Holdings Ltd, owned by Wanaka businessman Matt Laming, submitted a resource consent application late last year for a complex of commercial, retail, office and visitor accommodation use, including a restaurant, cinema, retail spaces, supermarket, medical clinic and visitor accommodation.Read more: Big changes proposed for Lake Hāwea commercial zoneProject H Ltd spokesperson Ray McLeod, a long term Lake Hāwea property owner and part time resident, told the Wānaka App he bought the land in 2004 with the intention to create something which worked for the community“We’re pretty excited. We worked really, really hard on the design,” he said. “We wanted the building to look right… we didn’t want to plonk downtown Wānaka in Hāwea.”The proposal is compliant in all respects apart from the size, which exceeds the “permitted activity” size of 300sqm by 150sqm.Ray said the project team has run a scale model for the space (independently of Woolworths) and believe the larger scale is more appropriate.“We’re fronting it; we’ve said it doesn’t work any smaller than that for the community or the investors,” he said.Ray said the design is “basically self contained”, with car parking, a service lane, and allowing flexibility to work with neighbouring developments. He said Project H Ltd has previously spoken to Matt Laming about the proposals, and remains “happy to reopen discussions”.The SOF session will take place at the Lake Hāwea Community Centre from 9am to 2pm today (Saturday November 13).Cherilyn said the HCA is still looking for new office bearers: chair, vice-chair, and an additional person for the association’s communication team. IMAGE: Supplied

Tourism group Wayfare has changed its name and announced a new focus on conservation.The Wayfare group of tourism and ski companies (Real Journeys, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Treble Cone, Go Orange and the International Antarctic Centre) is now named RealNZ.“For us, business for good is about creating enduring value through conservation, that is enabled by tourism,” CEO Stephen England-Hall said.“Conservation has always been part of what we do but we’re committing to making it our focus.”  New Zealand’s first tourism chief conservation officer Paul Norris was recently appointed to lead a dedicated sustainability team for RealNZ. To celebrate the new name, a ‘RealNZ for good’ day would see each of RealNZ’s employees offer up skills to assist New Zealand’s environment or community for at least one workday a year.“Conservation work already takes place during the course of some of our team’s workdays, but this would see at least 1,000 additional days donated for conservation or community project work,” Stephen said Stephen said the group had needed to regroup and adapt to be successful under very different market conditions. “A period of acquisitions had led to complexity and inefficiency over the last few years, and with the market changing, left us with an unsustainable model. It also created a cluttered mix of brands and businesses, which were difficult for our visitors to find and navigate and for our teams to share their expertise and work across,” he said.  While Cardrona Alpine Resort, Treble Cone and the International Antarctic Centre maintain their individual brands as RealNZ experiences, there would be considerable efficiencies in bringing all the tourism brands under one umbrella, he said.Former Department of Conservation director-general Lou Sanson applauded RealNZ for being “the first tourism company that’s dedicated a position to conservation in New Zealand”. Stephen said the change to RealNZ is largely a digital transformation and that rebranding would only be done when vessels and coaches are due for repainting.PHOTO: Supplied

If Silverlight Studios creates a public path from Wānaka’s outskirts to its proposed film park site it will win the approval of the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust (UCTT), trustee John Wellington says. John has made a submission to the expert consenting panel considering Silverlight Studio’s application which requests the provision of such a path be a “formal condition” of the development proceeding.“The trust believes that the completion of a 2.9km separated and protected shared path along SH6 from Wānaka township to the western boundary of the development would address environmental compensation concerns, safety issues, help mitigate traffic volume challenges and create legacy infrastructure for the Wānaka community...” John said.Initial conversations with Silverlight Studios and their advisers about the path had been “positive,” a statement from UCTT said.The proposed shared pathway has gained written support from the Albert Town Community Association, Hāwea Community Association, Luggate Community Association, Mt Barker Residents’ Association, Wānaka Community Board, Upper Clutha Environmental Society and Bike Wānaka.An artist’s impression of the proposed Silverlight Studios film park. IMAGE: Silverlights StudiosIt is also supported by Active Transport Wānaka (ATW), which alongside UCTT has procured a feasibility report that confirms the viability and costs of the pathway.The recently approved Queenstown Lakes spatial plan envisions an active transport path linking Wānaka, Wānaka Airport and Luggate.“There’s now an expectation that developers enhance the town’s active transport, both within their development and connecting to the wider network,” ATW representative Simon Telfer said. “It’s all part of the social licence of doing business in our town.”Active Transport Wānaka representative Simon Telfer said the community now expects developers to “enhance the town’s active transport”. PHOTO: SuppliedJohn’s application on behalf of the UCTT also requested the formal realignment of two legal roads dissecting the film park site and asked that they maintain a 20m width. Silverlight Studios applied to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) for fast-tracked consent to transform farmland near Wānaka Airport into a film park complete with studios, production offices, a film school, and replicas of famous cities, earlier this year.The application is currently being considered by an expert consenting panel and the UCTT is one of 20 groups and individuals which have made submissions.

Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) has continued its commitment to pay at least the living wage as it increases wages this month to $22.75, up from $22.10. “Anecdotally we know the cost of living in the Queenstown Lakes district is higher than other areas in New Zealand and this commitment is just one of the ways we can help our team thrive and enjoy all that the region has to offer,” QAC people and culture manager Kate Walton said.The company operates Queenstown Airport and manages day-to-day operations at Wānaka Airport and it’s one of just five-or-so local living wage accredited employers which has had its status endorsed with the Living Wage Movement. To become accredited, employers must pay all of their staff at least the living wage, which the Living Wage Movement considers the hourly wage a worker needs to pay for the necessities of life and participate as an active citizen in the community. QAC people and culture manager Kate Walton says paying the living wage is part of being a good employer.The Wānaka Living Wage group was formed in March this year to raise awareness of the living wage locally. Founding members include Jon Henning (Public Service Association), Kate Murray (Community Networks) and Rev. Damon Plimmer (Upper Clutha Anglican Parish).“Since that first meeting, more have joined the conversation, including business leaders and community advocates,” Damon said.  New Zealand is a low-wage economy compared to similar countries like Canada, Australia and the UK - ranking 18th out of 35 for its average hourly wage - and only 275 businesses across the country are currently living wage accredited.“We know many are doing it tough at the moment,” Damon said. “What is encouraging are those employers already paying at or above the living wage.” Revology co-founder Monique Kelly says paying the living wage is particularly important due to the high cost of living in Wānaka.Ignite Wānaka Chamber of Commerce general manager Naomi Lindsay said some of the barriers to living wage accreditation for local businesses included the requirement to pay all staff, including teenagers, the living wage, and the “huge downturn” as a result of Covid-19.Some businesses might not offer the living wage but offer other perks like subsidised accommodation, she said.Wānaka’s Revology has been an accredited living wage employer since the store opened in late 2019.Co-founder Monique Kelly said her business paid the living wage to support and retain staff, particularly considering the “high price of living in Wānaka”. “We have found that the youth in the team contribute just as much,” she said. “It’s about how well they perform in store. We pay the price for the job to be done [and] put the time into training them and making sure they’re comfortable...”The living wage emerged as a response to growing poverty and inequality in New Zealand.The $22.75 hourly rate is calculated each year by the New Zealand Family Centre Social Policy Unit, reflecting the basic expenses of workers and their families such as food, transportation, housing and childcare. Damon said businesses and individuals in Wānaka who want to learn more about the living wage can get in touch with him ([email protected]) or Kate ([email protected]).PHOTOS: Supplied

The proposed Tarras airport would be able to serve short-haul international destinations such as Australia and parts of the Pacific, according to a preliminary aeronautical assessment of the site.The assessment says the site could support an airfield with a single runway of at least 2.2 kilometres and possibly up to three kilometres.Christchurch International Airport Ltd (CIAL) revealed plans to develop a jet-capable airport on 750ha of land at Tarras in July 2020.CIAL project director Michael Singleton said the preliminary assessment is simply a small step forward for the project.“The findings are encouraging but they’re not final. This assessment has given us the confidence to undertake the next stage of more detailed analysis to determine a preferred single runway alignment,” Michael said.Two potential runway alignments have been identified: one aligning to the Lindis Valley and Lake Dunstan; the other to the Hāwea valley and Lake Dunstan.Two runway alignments have been identified in a preliminary aeronautical assessment.“This initial assessment shows both options enable safe and efficient operation of various aircraft types, including new generation narrow and wide-body jets, freight, turboprop and small passenger aircraft,” Michael said.The preliminary assessment found both alignments would enable aircraft to connect to existing flight paths and would have similar emissions profiles. CIAL said noise impacts have yet to be technically analysed. The next phase of analysis will take between six to nine months after which CIAL expects to be able to identify its preferred runway alignment. Michael says a number of studies will be part of the project’s ‘planning and validation’ phase, which is expected to run to 2023. “It won’t be until they’re completed that we can make a decision on whether to take the project into the next phase – getting the required operational and planning approvals.”Details of the preliminary aeronautical assessment can be downloaded from the project’s website.PHOTOS: Supplied

Farming lobby group Groundswell NZ has confirmed a second nationwide protest against what it says are “unworkable regulations”.Groundswell NZ said the protest on Sunday November 21 will be of a scale and impact that will be significant in New Zealand’s history, calling it “the mother of all protests”.The group is asking protesters to travel into their local town by 1pm on the day “in your ute, your tractor, your truck or car, or march along on foot if you wish”. At 1.35pm they are asking people to play radio station Newstalk ZB, which will broadcast a statement from Groundswell.The plans follow the national Groundswell NZ ‘howl of a protest’ in July this year, which included a parade of more than 140 vehicles and supporters through the Wānaka CBD.At that time Groundswell NZ called for a halt to all environmental regulations and gave the government an ultimatum that further action would be undertaken if “sufficient moves from the government” were not made to address concerns by August 16.In response to the July protests, prime minister Jacinda Ardern said it was important the country stuck to the commitments it had made on freshwater and climate change, which would help New Zealand maintain the value of its exports.Lake Hāwea farmer Richard Burdon said many local farmers are still concerned about the plans the government is looking at imposing. “They have not been well thought through,” Richard said. “The farming community is still keen to keep protesting until such time as the government is prepared to sit round the table and communicate better.”Groundswell NZ spokesman Bryce McKenzie said there is widespread concern about various “unworkable regulations” being “rammed through” by the government.“We are not against the need for regulation or the need to care for the environment”, Bryce said.“We are saying there are much better, proven solutions to addressing environmental issues than the one size fits all approach being legislated by the government.”Richard said protest activity in the Upper Clutha is yet to be confirmed.Groundswell NZ is also planning a gathering at parliament in February 2022.PHOTO: Wānaka App

A community watchdog group has shared its conditional support for the proposed Wānaka film park.The Upper Clutha Environmental Society (UCES) says the social and economic benefits would “far outweigh” the adverse land effects of the $280M film park.Silverlight Studios applied to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) for fast-tracked consent to transform farmland near Wānaka Airport into a film park complete with studios, production offices, a film school, and replicas of famous cities, earlier this year.Plans for the film park were first made public in March and it has received endorsements from the district’s mayor Jim Boult and deputy mayor Calum Macleod, the town’s tourism organisation (Lake Wānaka Tourism), its chamber of commerce Ignite Wānaka, and Film Otago-Southland. The UCES has now added its support.UCES secretary Julian Haworth’s submission on the proposed film park has the society’s “in general” support because of the positives, “especially in terms of employment and economic diversity”.It also “mainly supports” the design of the proposal because it integrates buildings into the landscape while leaving large areas of the site undeveloped. However, the society has concerns about the scale of development adjacent to the Outstanding Natural Landscape zoned Clutha River corridor, one of a number of issues which “must be taken into account when consideration is given to granting consent,” Julian said.Julian made a series of consent condition recommendations, including a comprehensive landscape masterplan to be developed for the site; a no-build covenant for areas proposed to be retained as open rural land (excluding temporary structures built for less than six months); and a requirement that no buildings or structures should be permitted within 200 metres of the northern boundary of the subject site.Julian also suggested Silverlight Studios finance half of a dedicated cycle track, which could be used by the whole community, between the SH6 West Coast junction and the film park’s entrance.He also said he assumed that the 35-residence subdivision already consented on the site would be surrendered if the film park is consented. Silverlights Studios was given government approval to apply for a fast-tracked consent application under special Covid-19 rules and an expert consenting panel will consider the application.

An intensive leadership programme with a strong track record of success will be taking place in Wānaka this month for the first time.  Well established in Otago and Southland, the Leadership Academy is a five-week course designed to help participants be better equipped for leadership roles and opportunities and connect them with successful leaders across a range of industries.It is being brought here by Ignite Wānaka, and general manager Naomi Lindsay says the programme will help build up Wānaka’s businesses and community leaders. “As the business support organisation for Wānaka, we wanted to play a role in ensuring our business and wider community has strong leadership today and in the future,” Naomi said. “In times of stress and crisis, we need strong leaders to help rebuild our communities and help businesses, our people and communities thrive.” The academy will take place over six weeks starting this month (there’s an April academy available to sign up to as well) and in each six-hour session participants will learn about leadership from seasoned experts including Dunedin Airport CEO Richard Roberts, Ministry of Social Development southern regional commissioner Jason Tibble and Wayfare chief experience officer Bridget Legnavsky. By the end of the academy, which also includes reflective learning sessions, attendees will have a good understanding of what is required to be a significant leader in their own organisation or in the wider community, Naomi said.  The Wānaka Leadership Academy is registered with the Management Capability Development Voucher Fund through Regional Business Partners Network (RBP) growth advisors. Vouchers may be provided to a business where the growth advisors have identified a need for management training to support the business owner to grow and innovate their business, Naomi said. There are just four places left in the October round of the Wānaka Leadership Academy so anyone wanting to take part should get in touch as soon as possible, she said. Find more information about the academy on Ignite Wanaka's website. PHOTO: Supplied

A Wānaka-based beauty entrepreneur is taking the next step with an equity crowdfunding offer with the goal of raising $2M to help fund expansion. Kester Black founder Anna Ross created her ethical beauty brand in 2014 and after success in the Australian and New Zealand markets, she now aims to accelerate its expansion into the US and Europe. Anna was born-and-bred in Otago and last year she moved from Melbourne to Wānaka. The Kester Black company offers vegan, sustainable and cruelty-free, certified carbon neutral beauty products like lipsticks and nail polishes, which have won 27 global awards. The move from a big city to a small town has been a fairly smooth transition for both Anna and the business and going global is a big undertaking but “Wanaka has everything and everyone we need,” she told the Wānaka App.  Kester Black’s revenue has grown 53 per cent over the past year.“Apart from the occasional trip to Cromwell to pick up time sensitive deliveries from Mainfreight, everything is fabulous,” Anna said. “We love our NZ post driver Anna, she's super efficient, responsive and lovely to work with.  “Overall, the customer service we are receiving here is of much higher standard than anywhere else in the world where we do business. And being able to sneak off early to ski outweighs any of the challenges.”  The clean beauty industry, part of the broader commercial wellness movement, is projected to generate nearly $22 billion globally in 2024, up from $11 billion in 2016, according to Statista. Kester Black’s revenue has grown 53 per cent over the last year and will expand its product range as part of its global growth plans. The brand is already partnering with high-end retail stores Liberty London (UK) Dover Street Market (France) and Nordiska Kompaniet (Sweden). “The bigger retailers have caught onto the fact that consumers want brands that are sustainable, have clean formulas and ethical products,” Anna said.  Funds from investors will go towards stock, infrastructure, product and packaging development and marketing. “An equity crowdfunding campaign is an opportunity to introduce the Kester Black brand beyond our customers and the beauty industry,” Anna said.  “We are excited about the opportunity for investors to become part of the Kester Black growth journey.” PHOTOS: Supplied

Queenstown Lakes businesses can continue to claim the wage subsidy while Auckland is at Alert Level 4 and 3. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in the daily 1pm update, clarified the rules around support for businesses as most of the country moves down to Alert Level 2 tonight. "All businesses remain eligible to apply for the wage subsidy so long as any part of the country is in level three or four," she said. "So, that means, for instance, a business in Queenstown, which is in level two, can still apply. "You still need to meet the eligibility criteria of a 40% decline in revenue over the previous two-week period. "But I want to assure businesses that the Covid economic supports stay in place as long as, for instance, Auckland is at those higher alert levels. "That, in part, is recognition of the fact that one part of the country can have a knock-on effect on other parts of the country."There were more than 66,000 vaccination doses delivered yesterday. Almost a third of people over the age of 12 in New Zealand are now fully vaccinated, and 60% have had at least one dose. The PM also announced that NZ is in the final stages of buying extra vaccine supplies from other countries, to meet the surge in demand following the community outbreak of Delta. Masks are required on public transport and ride-sharing services, and also shops and public buildings, such as libraries. But they are not required for customers and clients in hospitality venues, swimming pools and gyms, although staff must wear them. 

A multi-million-dollar eco-dome glamping retreat on the shores of Lake Hāwea has taken out the title of best new build over $100,000 at an industry awards ceremony.  The energy-efficient geodesic domes, designed and built in a secluded area of Lake Hāwea camping ground ‘The Camp’, had Holiday Parks Association of New Zealand (HAPNZ) judges “very impressed”, HAPNZ CEO Fergus Brown said.“The geodesic domes provide quality accommodation at a premium rate that will meet the needs of visitors and provide valuable income for the property.  “It is excellent to see holiday parks investing in new and improved product at a time when business is very difficult.” Owners Sarah and Richard Burdon said the project was in the works for more than two years, and delayed as a result of Covid-19. Owners Sarah and Richard Burdon are stocked with the recognition.After taking the plunge on the $2M build despite the uncertainty of Covid-19, Sarah said she and Richard were “stoked” with the recognition. “We’ve all worked so hard to get the domes completed, facing numerous barriers along the way.” “It is one of our long-term sustainability goals to provide accommodation all year round, so to have the domes now finally open and experienced by guests for the winter is so rewarding.”The domes have been designed with comfort in mind. The six domes, located within The Camp and called Cross Hill Lodge and Domes, are 40sqm in size and each has a bathrooms, kitchenette, private dressing area and 30sqm private deck. Guests at the domes also have access to Cross Hill Lodge, which includes a hot tub, massage room and lounge area.  “The judges applaud Sarah and Richard for providing a premium product to meet customer demand as well as exceeding their expectations when they arrive,” Fergus said. PHOTOS: The Camp

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern’s announcement about plans to reconnect New Zealand with the rest of the world have been welcomed by the Queenstown Lakes’ mayor.The first step in the plan is to speed up the vaccination process, then “once enough people are vaccinated, we will be able to start the next step in the plan: a phased introduction of an individual risk-based approach to border settings in 2022,” the PM said yesterday (August 12).Mayor Jim Boult said he was encouraged by the news.“While I don’t expect that will open the floodgates for international visitors, it will provide a steady pathway towards recovery of the tourism industry and continue to benefit our wider economy,” he said.Under the new plan, unveiled at a forum ‘Reconnecting New Zealanders to the World’, a series of ‘pathways’ will be created for travellers, from low-risk to high-risk.Which pathway a traveller takes will be based on the risk associated with where they are coming from and their vaccination status.The mayor encouraged residents to heed the PM’s advice and get vaccinated.Jacinda said vaccination of Kiwis was a crucial step in the plan and eligibility dates will be brought forward (with the 50+ age group will be open from today, Friday August 13, 40+ from August 18, 30+ will be open from August 25; and all eligible ages from September 1.)Jim said the announcement was the positive news the district needed.“Our district, and others in New Zealand, are highly reliant on tourism and today’s announcements are certainly a light at the end of a very long tunnel.”PHOTO: QAC

Three new categories have been added to the Ignite Wanaka Business Awards, which will be back for a fourth year in November. The awards, supported by Milford Asset Management, provide a biennial opportunity for businesses to take a step back to assess their business, analyse what's worked well and where improvements could be achieved.This year the awards are expected to highlight the Upper Clutha's most resilient and innovative businesses: those which have tackled, and largely survived, some of the hardest trading conditions seen in our lifetimes. “The focus of the 2021 Ignite Wanaka Business Awards is on resilience and diversification,” Ignite general manager Naomi Lindsay said. “It's been an uncertain 18 months for many in our business community, but the courage, tenacity and creativity with which businesses have tackled the pandemic has been nothing short of inspiring.”Convenor of judges Wayne Hudson said 2021 will be a very interesting year for the awards. “I’m looking forward to seeing how businesses have coped with the challenges imposed by the pandemic, the lockdowns and the closing of our international borders. I am not expecting every business to have had a ‘successful’ year. Instead, survival in these turbulent times will in many cases be a success in itself. Learning how businesses have managed to survive and what they did to adapt should be very interesting." The three new award categories this year are Outstanding Employer, and Outstanding Not for Profit or Social Enterprise; and the retail and hospitality category has been split into two, recognising the differences between these sectors.  In addition, a new question has been included to recognise those businesses who showed exceptional resilience or diversification of their business in light of the pandemic.For the first time, judges will also be able to choose to nominate finalists (and subsequently winners) based on business size, with finalists and winners in the small or large capacity within each category. Naomi said it was important for judges to be able to award two winners (based on business size) should they deem that there were two businesses who equally deserved to win and the only difference in scores was size.This year there are also two new judges on the judging panel: local business advisers Charlie James and Meg Taylor. The full list of award categories for 2021 can be found here.Application forms will be on the Ignite Wanaka website within the next few days. Entries (which should be emailed to [email protected]) will close at 5pm Friday October 8, and the awards finals dinner will be held in November.PHOTO: Wanaka App

A Cardrona business is at the centre of a licensing debate over what is and what isn’t a convenience store. An application for an off-licence by the Cardrona Valley General Store to sell wine and beer has been stalled by the district’s delegated medical officer of health (MOH) Stephanie Bekhuis-Pay.While giving evidence at the district licensing hearing in Wanaka on Wednesday (August 4), Stephanie told the district licensing commissioners she believed the Cardrona store was a convenience store and not a cafe as the applicant stated.Under section 36c of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, off-licences are not permitted for convenience stores and because over 85 per cent of the store’s turnover related to convenience items, including barista coffee, the MOH had objected to the application.Cardrona Valley General Store owner Margaret Bowes staunchly defended her application for an off-license to sell a limited number of local wines and craft beers, describing her business as a cafe not a convenience store. The store, located 100m from the Cardrona Hotel, has indoor and outdoor seating as well as a wood-fired pizza oven. PHOTO: Jonas Nilsson“My business is a country cafe...it’s cute, charming and rustic; it’s the quintessential rural general store and not a convenience store,” she said.Margaret stated that while many of her customers purchased her pre-made, take-away food and beverages, an increasing number also chose to eat and drink on the premises, which provided indoor and outdoor seating for a maximum of 22 persons.Margaret said she considered Wanaka’s Night’n’Day store, on Ardmore Street, a convenience store and likened her store to a “community hub” similar in nature to Glenochy’s Market Place store which was granted an off-licence by the District Licencing Commission in 2018, without an objection by the MOH. Margaret said her store, unlike convenience stores, sold local works of art, crafts and homewares; hosted a coffee club; and she operated a wood-fired pizza oven selling custom-made pizzas on Friday evenings and more often during the school holidays.“We sell pizzas between 5pm to 7pm so they become a meal as opposed to snack food.This is one of the primary reasons that I have sought to obtain an off license,” Margaret said. She asked the committee to look at her business in its totality and not just focus on its sales of convenience type foods.“The last two years have been very difficult for businesses in the hospitality sector, particularly in tourist areas such as ours. We must continue to grow and evolve if we are going to survive,” she said. Speaking in support of Margaret’s application, Cardrona resident Peter Bonifant said while he enjoyed the convenient location of Cardrona Valley General Store it was more than a convenience store.“We don’t know what we’d do without Margaret’s store. We use it frequently... we have meetings, we have coffees, we have lunches, and what she's established is quite vital for our community,” he said. “It’s convenient.. but it’s definitely not a convenience store,” Peter said. “To us it’s a cafe [with] a nice ambience…[and] we appreciate it.”Other than the objection by the MOH, the application was not opposed by the police or the district’s alcohol licensing inspector; nor did it attract any public objections. All parties agreed there was no question over the suitability of the applicant or the processes in place to reduce alcohol related harm.District Licensing committee chair Bill Unwin said applications like this might well contribute to case law for reference in future similar cases.The committee reserved its decision.

Newly-released documents have revealed the extraordinary scale of a film park planned for the outskirts of Wanaka.Replicas of New York, Venice, Paris and the River Seine are among Silverlight Studios’ plans for the 332ha site near Wanaka Airport, as well as a new and enlarged lake, a series of villages, and a variety of filming, post-production, tourist and ancillary buildings.Resource consent applications submitted to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) show some buildings could be as tall as 17m and city replicas could reach 14m.The New York site’s footprint could be as large as 23,700m2 and a 14m tall ‘great hall’ could span 3,600m2. A portion of the site plan, showing the planned city replicas, villages and ancillary buildings. IMAGE: Silverlights Studios (view in webapp to enlarge)Silverlight Studios is owned by film industry veterans Ra Vincent, Jonathan Harding and Mike Harris.Application details show the company would lease the site, known as Corbridge Estate and located 6km east of Wanaka, on a 10-year lease.The largest building in the application would host a series of sound stages spanning a whopping 68,850m2 and reaching 17m tall.Construction would take place on around 55ha of the site, including buildings for tourism activities.Silverlight Studios was given government approval to apply for a fast-tracked EPA consent application for the project under special Covid-19 rules. The 332ha Corbridge Estate site. PHOTO: Realestate.co.nzAn expert consenting panel will now decide whether or not to approve the application.Plans for the film park were first made public in March and it has received endorsements from the district’s mayor, the town’s tourism organisation, its chamber of commerce and from Film Otago-Southland. 

The Winter Pride festival is coming up later this month and local businesses and individuals are being encouraged to get involved.  Queenstown Lakes’ Winter Pride is a week-long festival celebrating love, community, diversity, visibility, safety and inclusion. It’s taking place from August 27-September 4, with a range of events in both Wanaka and Queenstown.In conjunction with Winter Pride and Lake Wānaka Tourism, Ignite Wanaka is encouraging businesses to “paint the town rainbow”.  Here are some ways businesses (and individuals) can get involved:Fly your rainbow flag somewhere visible for everyone to see Do a pride focused deal/offer, or advertising opportunity to show your support for prideRainbow dress your storefront, office, bar, cafe, gym, or wherever you live and work with something rainbowGet your staff involved in being visible by wearing something rainbow for the month, or have a staff event dressing in rainbow themeBuild rainbow awareness and launch something new during pride month – such as pronouns on email signatures, gender neutral bathrooms, hosting rainbow awareness training sessions, or announcing a new policy changeChange your logo to rainbow for the month and shout about it on social mediaRainbow decal your vehicle or some other prominent place so you can be seenRainbow light up your buildingParticipate in events during Winter Pride - show your supportClick here for the full Winter Pride event list. PHOTO: Supplied

Cardrona Alpine Resort/Treble Cone Ski Area’s Bridget Legnavsky is a finalist for the Marsh Tourism Industry Champion Award at the upcoming New Zealand Tourism Awards.Bridget is one of six “leading individuals” and 23 businesses which are in the running for 11 prestigious tourism awards.  The three awards for individuals are open to outstanding performers in the industry, and eight awards will recognise business excellence, industry alignment and organisations that are ‘living the values’ of the Tourism Sustainability Commitment.Formerly Cardrona and Treble Cone’s general manager, Bridget was promoted in June (by parent organisation Wayfare Group) to the new position of chief experience officer with responsibility for all Wayfare Group experiences.“Bridget is a visionary leader, with an incredible talent for building team culture to deliver an outstanding guest experience and we want to continue to ensure this is developed further across the group,” Wayfare chief executive officer Stephen England-Hall said.Her new role requires her to lead, coach and mentor a team of general managers responsible for Wayfare’s tourism and ski experiences across their brands Real Journeys, Go Orange, the International Antarctic Centre and Cardrona Alpine Resort.Real Journeys (Otago/Southland) has also been named a finalist for the Conservation Award.Read more: Cardrona-Treble Cone GM takes on new roleThe tourism awards attracted a record number of almost 150 entries, after a 2020 hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.“We know tourism businesses and individuals are keen to showcase how they’ve adapted and innovated over the past year, with the awards bringing a sense of prestige and celebration back to the industry,” Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) chief executive Chris Roberts said.He described the awards as “a valuable opportunity to benchmark your business against your peers and demonstrate that you are striving to be the best”.The winners will be announced at the awards dinner on September 1 in Hamilton following Tourism Summit Aotearoa. Both events are organised by the TIA.Find more information on the New Zealand Tourism Awards here.PHOTO: Supplied

Local businesses are keeping a positive attitude and continuing to adapt after the government announced an eight-week suspension of the quarantine-free travel bubble with Australia last week (July 23), despite this change resulting in a decrease in Australian tourists for the town.  “It’s the right move,” Puzzling World marketing and operations manager Duncan Spear said.  “It’s good we’re keeping coronavirus out as much as we can, we don’t want any hard closures coming up for spring and summer.” Wanaka’s Wild Wire, the world’s highest waterfall climb, has been affected by recent cancellations and refunds. “We’re looking forward to the Australian bubble [reopening] in the summer and that being a bit of a turning point, but if not we can adapt for a domestic market,” Wild Wire co-owner Mark Morrison said. The continued uncertainty of border restrictions has prompted other businesses to adapt and focus on a more domestic market.Cross Hill is evolving to target the local market by hosting events and food trucks.The latest bubble suspension has affected luxury glamping accommodation provider Cross Hill further, adding to “an already significant impact”, general manager Tom Gerlach said. However, the business is evolving to incorporate events and a permanent food truck on its grounds in the foothills of Glen Dene Station.“We’re now working really hard to activate the local community to come down and enjoy the beauty of the camp,” Tom said. The new focus on domestic tourism has also been a “blessing” for WanaHaka owner Joe Waide. The company, which offers wine tours combined with an educational Māori experience, has changed its target market away from overseas visitors and towards local weddings, high schools and families.Joe said the situation had offered “a really great chance” for him to share local wineries and vineyards and “the Maori footprint” with locals.PHOTO: Supplied