Māori businesses in Otago, Southland and the Queenstown Lakes are being invited to enter an awards event that celebrates resilience, collaboration and business success.Te Kupeka Umaka Māori ki Araiteuru (KUMA), the Māori business network for the Otago/Southland region, has opened entries to the biennial KUMA Māori Business Awards.After a year when people around the globe were asked to isolate, for many the past 12 months has provided opportunity to reinterpret that message, KUMA board co-chair Claire Porima said. “What I have seen is the demonstration of kaupapa Māori entrepreneurship,” she said.“We have focused on valuing our whānau connections, supporting each other personally and professionally, and creating innovative ways to strengthen our businesses. This is whakawhanaungatanga in action, one of our key values at KUMA. Our vision is captured in the whakatauki ‘Kia tipua tahi ai’, Let us grow together.”Businesses that identify as Māori are eligible to enter the awards, for which this year’s theme is Manawaroa (resilience) and Kotahitanga (collaboration/oneness). The categories for this year’s event are: collaboration and innovation, employment and growth, resilience and wellbeing and emerging enterprise (includes Rangatahi).The supreme winner will be awarded the Suzanne Spencer Tohu Maumahara Business Award. Suzanne was highly regarded as one of the founding members of KUMA. This award is an acknowledgement of her significant contribution to Māori ki Araiteuru and her enduring legacy. An independent judging panel will select finalists, who will be acknowledged on the night alongside the category winners.  Entries close on Thursday, June 17. Entry forms can be downloaded and are to be submitted to [email protected]. The awards dinner will take place at Elmwood Gardens in Invercargill, on July 2. 

This season Cardrona and Treble Cone are saying goodbye to landfill bins and single-use, non-recyclable packaging.From winter 2021 onwards, there will be no landfill bins for public use at either ski area, and other significant environmental changes are being made, Cardrona-Treble Cone general manager Bridget Legnavsky said.“We’ve made a lot of small changes over the years, like removing single use coffee cups and PET plastic bottles from our food and beverage outlets, and we’ve been proud to be an industry leader in this space,” she said.“But now it is time to make big changes, and we need everyone to come on this journey with us.”The ski resorts identified two issues requiring significant change from a sustainability perspective - waste and transport - and they are making moves to reduce their footprint with both.Neither mountain will sell any items in their food and beverage outlets that have packaging that needs to go to landfill; and rubbish bins will be replaced by recycling and compost stations, with signage explaining the changes and staff members on hand to help visitors sort through their waste.Cardrona-Treble Cone general manager Bridget Legnavsky said waste and transport had been identified as areas requiring significant change. PHOTO: Supplied“If you need to bring single use packaging, you will need to take that off the mountain with you – but that doesn’t really help,” Bridget said. “We’re asking everyone to think really deeply about what they buy in the first place, the packaging it comes in, and the packaging you choose to bring up our mountains.”Suppliers have been willing to accommodate the changes, Bridget said.Don't leave it, see Aspiring Dental Service in your Wanaka App“As an example, Cookie Time has developed a compostable cookie bag so they can continue to be sold on our mountains this winter.”To address transport emissions, both Cardrona and Treble Cone have made their access road shuttles from the bottom of each mountain free of charge for the winter season.Both ski fields had a good dusting of snow on Tuesday morning following Monday’s storm, with Cardrona getting 8cm and Treble Cone 5cm. PHOTO: Jen HoulthamThe resorts are also encouraging carpooling by reserving the parking spaces closest to each mountain’s base facilities for vehicles with three occupants or more until the car parks are filled. Designated hitch-hiking spots will be set up at both mountains, and carpooling app usage encouraged.Bridget said the changes have been sparked by guest and staff feedback over the past couple of years.“We love that our guests keep challenging us to do and be better, and we want to keep encouraging that feedback. So to all our people we say – please keep asking us questions, and keep challenging us to improve on this sustainability journey.”Cardrona Alpine Resort opens for the winter season on June 12, with Treble Cone following on June 25. PHOTOS: Supplied

Scroggin is a staple food for active people who go exploring, but according to Lucy Conway, the owner of a new Wanaka cafe by that name, scroggin is also "a mix of all things good".  Lucy has wanted to open up a cafe since she was very young and believes people should feel energised by what they eat and leave a cafe fueled up and ready to go out and enjoy the day."I hate it when I buy a meal that makes me feel sleepy, and I end up thinking, 'Oooshh, that was really big' because that doesn't encourage me to go out and do more stuff,” she said."If I'm going to spend my money on breakfast or lunch, I want to go on with the rest of my day and feel awesome."Lucy found inspiration for the new cafe in the four years she spent in America. She discovered cafes there were "so progressive" in their willingness to go beyond ‘meat and three-veg’ and explored new ideas by combining ingredients in unexpected ways.Upon her return to New Zealand she found "quite hip, foodie, plant-based places to eat" in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch but saw that there wasn't a large catering for plant-based eating in Wanaka, so she decided to fill the gap in the market.Inspired by fond memories of sharing a meal and laughter with friends in a backcountry hut, she set out to transform the former Beanie Cafe to reflect Wanaka’s rugged surroundings.  Plywood furnishings, sunlight and the polished concrete floor create a sleek yet unfussy feel, but Lucy believes that to be successful, a cafe has "got to be able to make something that people wouldn't normally cook at home; that makes them feel awesome".  She uses as many local suppliers as possible, which is why the menu is seasonal. "It's got to be for the locals."  Lucy likes the idea of contributing to the cafe culture on Ardmore Street. “I love it. It should be that Wanaka is an awesome place to come and eat. If someone else is doing a really good job at something, it means you step up as well. It's like we're all doing it together."PHOTO: Supplied

Cardrona’s hot pools and spa complex, which was set to begin construction this year on its 8800m2 site on the Wanaka side of Cardrona Village, has stalled.The complex received consent two years ago for seven outdoor pools, five private hot tubs, spa treatments, a sauna and steam room, as well as 16 apartments, retail stores and an onsite cafe. The complex is the concept of Mike and Bridget Healy, who said they were eagerly looking forward to announcing the start of the project this year when they learned the project had become the victim of the pandemic’s impact on global business.“Unfortunately our agreement with an Auckland entity was cancelled in February due to their international business interests struggling to recover from the adverse effects of Covid,” Mike said. “Suffice to say the setback was disappointing for us and also the very supportive local community.”The consented complex is now on the market.As a result, the whole site, including the resource consents and the spa’s completed feasibility study, are on the market and they’re “quietly confident” of negotiating a sale agreement within the next three to six months, Mike said. The sale has already generated a fair degree of interest, with a lot of enquiries regarding the apartment block “which may prompt us to sell this 3,600m2 zone separately,” Mike said. “We are currently fielding calls from Auckland and Australia but would welcome local investment, as people from the region have a great appreciation and respect for the area.”He said they were “extremely grateful” for the support they’ve received from Cardrona Valley locals, particularly the adjoining landowners who were integral in the project achieving consent and amalgamating 8,800m2 of land into one title earlier this year.While it has been a “stressful” introduction to their first venture of this scale they believe their confidence in the hot pools and spa complex is well founded.Two new hot pool complexes have recently opened in Christchurch and Methven with higher than anticipated daily numbers, Mike said.“We know that the right people will invest in this unique opportunity and we look forward to the region opening the first outdoor hot pools within the next two years,” he said.  PHOTOS: Wanaka App

Queenstown Lakes District is one of five South Island tourist communities targeted for specialist support in a plan for the immediate survival and long-term transformation of the tourism sector outlined by tourism minister Stuart Nash.The plan includes a $20M fund to support, diversify and re-set the Queenstown-Wanaka economy. The government support will be through an underwriting role, the minister said, and potential projects include a digital innovation hub and a film studio.Stuart told the tourism industry’s annual TRENZ conference an all-of-government plan will support the recovery of tourism communities after the impacts of Covid-19, and rebuild tourism on a more sustainable foundation for the future. “The economic impact of the loss of international visitors is felt beyond the tourism workforce and businesses,” he said. “Whole communities, especially in five South Island regions, are facing new challenges to their way of life.He noted that reviews by agencies like the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, the Climate Change Commission, and the Tourism Futures Taskforce have all highlighted that transformation is required to rebuild tourism for the future.   Stuart Nash said this region is over-reliant on international tourism, and needs support to improve its resilience to global economic shocks. PHOTO: SuppliedThe $200M Tourism Communities: Support, Recovery and Re-set Plan will be rolled out between now and 2023. There are 12 key points in the Tourism Communities Plan, half of which are focused on “the most vulnerable” South Island regions (Fiordland, South Westland, Queenstown Lakes, Mackenzie District and Kaikōura), and the remaining six are nationwide initiatives, the minister said.“It will invest in new programmes like small business support, tourism infrastructure, the conservation estate, Māori development, economic and regional development, and mental wellbeing support.” Stuart reiterated that long-term structural change and short-term targeted support must prioritise the regions and communities who need most help.Support for the five South Island communities will include:$4.5M for psychological and social wellbeing support and training.$10M in grants ($5,000 per business) for businesses to get expert advice on planning and decision-making in response to Covid-19.$10M ($5,000 per business) in grants to help businesses implement these plans and advice.A $49M kick-start fund so businesses that have gone into hibernation or suspended operations can receive grants to help reopen and resume trading once international visitors return.A $20 million fund to support, diversify and re-set the Queenstown-Wanaka regional economy by helping develop alternative industries and attract private sector investment.“The Tourism Communities Plan also offers wide support for the industry as a whole. It is an opportunity for government, councils, iwi, businesses and tourism communities to work together and re-set the industry on a more sustainable model for the future,” Stuart said. Six additional components of the plan to address longer-term challenges. These include a new round of funding for regional tourism organisations (RTOs), such as Lake Wanaka Tourism; grants for Inbound Tour Operators (ITOs); targeted funding for some Māori tourism businesses; an extension of Department of Conservation fee waivers for operators on public conservation land who pay a tourism concession fee, and an extra $10M allowing tourism concession fees to be waived for a further six months; another - $16.5M - round of the Tourism Infrastructure Fund; and a new Tourism Industry Transformation Plan (ITP) with $10M new funding, which will see the government work in partnership with tourism businesses and the tourism workforce, councils, iwi, researchers and independent advisers to “lift industry standards and transform to a more sustainable model”. The Tourism Communities Plan is funded through the Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund. It includes approximately $73 million returned and reprioritised from the 2020 Tourism Recovery Package.Queenstown Lakes District mayor Jim Boult welcomed the announcement, adding that the council has been supporting a number of diversification initiatives and working alongside central government to help assess which ideas offer the most local and national benefit.

Lake Hāwea Station has been named as the first farm in New Zealand to have its carbon footprint certified by Toitū Envirocare.The 6,500-hectare station on the eastern shores of Lake Hāwea is owned by Geoff and Justine Ross and Toitū has recently spent time on the station to independently verify and certify its position."The biggest koha Lake Hāwea Station can make to the world is to sequester more carbon than we emit,” Justine said.The certification process undertaken is planned to be the first of many for New Zealand farms as the country moves to lower its overall carbon footprint and consumers world-wide demand carbon positive food and fibre.Geoff Ross said the station was able to increase its stock numbers while also improving its carbon position. “The popular myth is the only way to reduce your carbon profile is by reducing stock numbers. This hasn't been the case here. Instead, we have increased stock numbers and wool production whilst increasing our tree plantings and retiring of marginal land.”Almost 1,800 tonnes, or CO2-equivalent emissions from Lake Hāwea Station are due to methane from grass-eating sheep and beef and other contributing areas include greenhouse gas from animal urine, fertiliser use, supplements, and farm vehicles. However, on the other side of the carbon ledger, the farm locked up more than 3,966 tonnes of carbon through extensive tree planting and areas of regenerating bush.The process of becoming certified was relatively simple, Geoff said. “Prompted by our son and seeing changes in consumer preferences offshore we started with some simple online calculators. We then had this process ‘ground truthed' by two scientists and then Toitū came in to check our numbers and view our operation,” he said.“Much of the information needed to calculate a carbon footprint is available as part of systems farmers are already using, (Farm IQ and Overseer). So, it is more about gathering existing information and having Toitū run the calculations”.PHOTO: Sothebys

A major expansion of the Lake Hāwea commercial zone, including a restaurant, cinema, retail spaces, supermarket, medical clinic and visitor accommodation, has been proposed.Lake Hāwea Holdings Ltd, owned by Wanaka businessman Matt Laming, has submitted a resource consent application to the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) seeking to redevelop the Capell Avenue site for “a comprehensive complex of commercial, retail, office and visitor accommodation use”.The proposal includes the demolition of the existing Hawea Store and Kitchen building - a dairy and cafe - situated on the corner of Capell Avenue and Parry Crescent, with plans to “repurpose” it.The Hāwea Store and Kitchen is owned by IWC Holdings, of which Hamish and Erica Mackay are directors. The Mackays have signed an ‘affected party approval’ consenting to the proposal.An artist’s impression of the proposed commercial zone. IMAGE: SuppliedThe proposed two-storey development includes a ground floor level restaurant, cinema, six retail spaces, supermarket, medical clinic, and access to parking for eight visitor accommodation units (four one-bed units and four two-bed units).Twelve parking spaces for the visitor units would be located at ground level, with a one-way lane running through the site. The first floor includes additional restaurant and cinema space, and office space above the smaller retail units fronting the neighbouring QLDC reserve, and further medical clinic space. The development includes a total of 1666m2 of floor area.The existing Hāwea Store and Kitchen will be repurposed as part of the redevelopment. PHOTO: SuppliedThe application said Lake Hāwea Holdings Ltd was seeking to re-develop the site in line with the activity and scale of buildings anticipated by the Local Shopping Centre Zone. The Local Shopping Centre Zone enables small scale commercial and business activities in largely residential environments to reduce the necessity for locals to travel longer distances to town centres to purchase convenience goods and access services. Two additional lots to the south were recently re-zoned to Local Shopping Centre Zone as part of the Proposed District Plan.“...accordingly the planning context and therefore future environment anticipates a reasonably high degree of change within this area,” the application stated.While the applicant has requested the application not be publicly notified, a QLDC spokesperson said a decision on notification has not yet been made.Matt Laming and the Mackays were approached for comment.

A surf wave leisure business has been approved for a family farm at Hāwea Flat, following ten years’ development of surfable waves by entrepreneur and inventor Ross McCarthy.YourWave - a wave created by water flowing over an inflatable form (like surfing on a bouncy castle) - will operate Monday to Friday during the summer months at the McCarthy farm off Gladstone Road, and winter operating hours will be trialled.“We’re going to start digging holes next month,” Ross told the Wanaka App. Ross founded AirWave, a company which develops and markets surfable waves for the leisure industry, ten years ago. The business has recently rebranded as YourWave.“Our technology is the only tech in the world that can do this,” he said. The development’s proposed location at Hāwea Flat.“We can change the wave from a left hand break to a right hand break in under a minute and we can manipulate the shape of the wave to suit learners or create expert waves [steep and barrelling].“We are also introducing a kayaking wave, wake for wakeboarding and a half pipe.”Ross told the Wanaka App earlier this year the business will support the local community with deals for locals and local schools, and will also introduce “water safety programmes and surf trips and maybe a surf team”.He said the key purpose of setting up at Hāwea Flat was for further research and testing with a view to selling YourWave units worldwide. Ross McCarthy, pictured with his daughter, has a masters degree in product design.The recreational side of the business would be limited to a maximum of 25 people a day.“Our priority is to sell the unit and hopefully if we book those times [at the recreational wave] we can cover costs. If it works it works - if not, we will focus on research and development,” he said.The YourWave outlet will utilise the existing water source, a bore, and will sit on a 260m2 irrigation dam used to store water for irrigating another part of the farm. The consent application, which was non-notified, noted the development may be partially visible from neighbouring properties, Department of Conservation (DOC) tracks such as Grandview, and the surrounding roads. However, QLDC landscape architect Megan Ash considered the proposed facility would not detract from views of the rural character landscape or reduce the visual amenity of the area.Earthworks are required to construct the dam and form bunds around the facility. Buildings housing pump controls and generators, and container buildings for ticketing, food and beverage, wetsuit hire, changing rooms and toilets are also included. The development may include retail sales of souvenirs and textile products (woollen products made on site). The summer opening hours are proposed to be October 1 to April 1, Monday to Friday from 12pm to 5pm and weekends 12pm to 5pm; and winter hours are proposed to be April 2 to September 31, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 5pm. Ross said he hopes to have a heating system in place before winter.Watch how YourWave works here.IMAGES: Supplied 

The first quarantine-free flight from Australia landed in Queenstown yesterday (Monday April 19) for the much-anticipated opening of the trans-Tasman bubble.  By next week flights will increase to 20-odd a week and, soon after, to normal trans-Tasman numbers. Wanaka businesses have so far seen mixed impacts: some have already had huge spikes in bookings, others are gearing up for imminent increases in numbers, and others don’t expect to see much difference for some time.  But, 387 days after the last quarantine-free flight from Australia landed in New Zealand, the bubble opening marks a significant shift and brings renewed optimism to businesses who have long been waiting for positive news.An empty Ardmore Street a year ago. PHOTO: Wanaka App“Having the bubble with Australia won’t miraculously fix everyone’s businesses and the economy but the border opening gives some light at the end of the tunnel, and the hope is this time it is sunlight and not another train coming,” Lake Wānaka Tourism general manager Tim Barke said.  “It...is hugely significant for our local economy and for the psychological wellbeing of our community.” Edgewater Hotel is one of the businesses which saw an immediate change when news of the bubble opening was announced on April 6. “That evening we saw an increase in bookings for the next five months,” Edgewater general manager Catherine Bone said. Mayor Jim Boult welcomes a passenger from Australia yesterday. PHOTO: Nick HynePre-Covid, at least 40 per cent Edgewater’s customers came from Australia. While Catherine said Edgewater has been well supported by the domestic market since the borders closed last March, the bubble is welcome news. Bookings are now up significantly for April to September, which means Edgewater can retain staff as well as add new members to the team. “What it’s done as well is help to prompt the Kiwis to book because with the influx of a wider market Kiwis are thinking ‘I better book now’,” Catherine said. “Traditionally booking with the domestic market has been quite last minute and it has helped with advanced planning and forecasting.” Catherine was excited to see the bubble benefit businesses all over Wanaka, a sentiment shared by Wildwire Wanaka owner Mark Morrison.Family and friends reunited at Queenstown Airport yesterday. PHOTO: Nick HyneBefore Covid-19 hit, 75 per cent of the businesses customers were Australians and a successful domestic koha (pay-what-you-can) scheme will also be extended to Australian visitors under ‘Kia Ora Australia’ which “create a lot of work for our guides and subsidy providers so can only benefit Wanaka as a whole,” Mark said. “The Australian bubble is big news for us,” he said, “although I must admit that we have had amazing support from New Zealanders.” Wanaka Ski Concierge owner Mark Orbell is also optimistic about the bubble and the visitors it will bring.  The business offers winter ski transport and ski packages to visitors and it’s already seen an uptick in website traffic and enquiries from travel agents and individuals, signalling a promising winter season ahead. Before the pandemic, half of Wanaka Ski Concierge’s customers came from Australia and while Mark didn’t think the bubble was a silver bullet, it was a significant help. “This is the first step in the return of visitors,” Mark said. “We’ve got to start somewhere and it is a great start.”  Big Fig co-owner Chrissie Lahood said she expected the benefits of the bubble opening to take a few months to take effect at the cafe. “Most of the people coming now are probably here to see friends and family - the holidaymakers I think will come later, in the ski season,” she said. But preparations for a busy winter are underway, with the cafe currently searching for experienced chefs and a skilled baker to add to their team. Compared to last winter, which was down “quite a bit” on the 2019 season, things were looking very positive. “I reckon Wanaka is going to be absolutely pumping by winter and spirits are going to be high as well,” Chrissie said. At Wanaka Lakeview Holiday Park, manager Natalie Ward said the bubble hadn’t yet affected bookings. Summer is the holiday park’s busiest season, and Natalie expects it will be “a long time” before they see a big impact. “The type of people that do campervanning are more budget travellers, and I don’t know that there’s that many of them around now because they are the ones that have been financially affected by Covid-19.” But it was hard to predict with so many variables. Natalie had heard holiday parks in Queenstown were filling fast, and said it wasn’t unusual for people to book in at the park just a week or so before arriving. Tim said the mixed effect of the bubble on local businesses was to be expected, with many still struggling after a difficult summer. “For many businesses heavily affected by Covid-19 the bubble will absolutely be a lifeline. Some other businesses, however, may not feel as much positive effect, at least not initially,” he said.  “Those who have primarily summer products and/or previously primarily attracted foreign customers, were relying on a strong summer to tide them through the winter.  “For many of them, instead of being a strong three months, they had an ‘okay’ three weeks. As welcome as the domestic market was, it simply wasn’t enough to fill the hole left by the missing international market.” In time, however, the bubble would enable very welcome revenue for businesses to start to get back on their feet, he said.

A pilot programme has been launched to keep people in tourism jobs affected by Covid-19, while giving them new training opportunities.The programme ‘Train, Retain and Regain 2021’ will be piloted in the Queenstown Lakes District, Te Anau and the Mackenzie District.The aim is to enable employers keep core staff, providing them with an opportunity to reskill in other areas of the business and gain a qualification in an area they are keen to pursue that is of value to the business.It has been developed by Queenstown Chamber of Commerce, Queenstown Resort College and Ministry of Social Development (MSD),The pilot runs over 26 weeks on a part-time basis so participants can continue to work, including at peak tourist times.Queenstown Resort College will administer and deliver the programme at its Queenstown campus. MSD funding will support up to 140 workers (110 full-time employed and 30 part-time employed) to participate.“It's fantastic that we are able to offer a local solution to our businesses that enables them to retain and build capability, with the confidence of MSD support for the next six months," Queenstown Chamber chief executive Ruth Stokes said."Even with the confirmation of a trans-Tasman travel bubble, the nature of Covid means we will be living with business uncertainty for some time to come. In that environment it is critical to provide businesses with a programme they can rely on for six months, delivered by a partner they know and trust, that will work with them to build capability and is flexible to accommodate changing business demands."Queenstown Resort College chief executive Charlie Phillips said he's thrilled the college can support the region in this way."MSD and Chambers have worked hand-in-hand with us to make this a reality."We are committed to the tourism and hospitality sector and we are really pleased we have been successful in putting together what we believe is a programme that will make a very real and positive contribution to local businesses in 2021," he said.MSD industry partnerships director Amanda Nicolle said the programme has been designed to help keep people employed and also upskill, gaining industry qualifications that will be valuable to the employees, employers and the sector as a whole."MSD recognises the ongoing impact of border closures, and the impact that losing jobs and letting staff go has had on these businesses and their staff."We hope this pilot programme will be a welcome support for Queenstown, the Mackenzie district and Te Anau, and increase the ability of New Zealanders to take on more skilled roles that employers might normally have to look overseas to fill," she said.To participate, employers nominate eligible employees (either New Zealand citizens or permanent residents) for the funded pilot programme.Applications open from April 15 and the pilot begins on May 3. More details are available through the college.PHOTO: Supplied

A landmark deal has been signed with Amazon for The Lord of the Rings TV series, currently being filmed in New Zealand. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) - signed after negotiations between Amazon and the New Zealand Film Commission, Tourism New Zealand, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment - secures multi-year economic and tourism benefits to New Zealand, outside the screen production itself.Economic and regional development minister Stuart Nash predicted the agreement will not only create an enduring legacy for New Zealand’s screen industry, but also generate local jobs and create work for local businesses.“There is considerable economic and tourism potential in the Lord of the Rings project,” he said. “Not only does it bolster our global reputation as a desirable place to make screen productions, it will further strengthen our tourism appeal to visitors with the ‘Middle-earth’ theme,” he said.The Lord of the Rings trilogy was dubbed “the best unpaid advertisement that New Zealand has ever had" by a former Tourism New Zealand manager and the number of visitors to New Zealand shot up by 40 per cent in the five years following the first film’s release in 2001. Stuart Nash says the deal will create an enduring legacy for NZ’s screen industry; meanwhile the Tax Payers Union called it a “corporate welfare payment” for one of the world’s richest companies. PHOTO: SuppliedA film studio proposed for Wanaka was also recently compared to the Lord of the Rings films in terms of the effect it could have on the local economy.See also ‘Lord of the Rings’ style boost from proposed film parkThe TV series is expected to be a multi-year production and filming will take place in provincial regions as well as Auckland, and it is expected to be particularly beneficial for the South Island, Stuart said.Stuart said the deal will also result in job creation; increased coordination with Amazon and NZ businesses; Amazon’s promotion of NZ businesses, innovation and R&D opportunities; and stimulate growth in the NZ screen sector.“It will enable a new wave of international tourism branding and promotion for this country. It opens the door for Kiwi businesses to access future innovations in technology, research and development through connections with the wider Amazon group,” Stuart said.It is estimated Amazon is spending up to $650 million in New Zealand for season one of the show. The MoU entitles it to a potential rebate of 25 per cent of this expenditure, or approximately $162.5 million.While New Zealand Taxpayers Union spokesperson Louis Houlbrooke described the deal as a “$162M corporate welfare payment” for one of the world’s richest companies, Stuart said these types of grants, rebates and incentives are “the global norm for countries who want to be part of the international film industry”. “Without this rebate, jobs and economic opportunities would be lost overseas in the fiercely competitive global film industry,” he said.

After a wait of almost three years, Wanaka’s Brownston Street food vans have moved across the street to the new food stall village created beside Bullock Creek.Three of the four food vendors now established at the new food village moved on Tuesday and reopened their businesses yesterday (Wednesday April 14) to a steady flow of customers at lunch time.The four businesses are Sushi, the Burrito Cafe, Firebird and Coco Hut but there’s further space for another couple of vendors.The first to be established in the landscaped setting was Chrissi Roper’s Coco Hut, which specialises in Southeast Asian cuisine. Coco Hut hadn’t been a part of the group of food vans on the northern side of Brownston Street, and decided to get set up in the new village ahead of the rest.Chrissi said she thought the village was a great idea and a beautiful setting for this style of dining.“I've been to different outdoor food courts in other countries and it's nice to go with friends but you don't always want [to eat] the same thing. So it's really nice to have the choice; like someone might want a burrito, and someone else wants some fried chicken or pad thai and everyone's happy. “It's a lovely way of doing it, you know, to sit together and enjoy your food by the beautiful creek,” she said.Sushi’s Akiko Suzuki said she had learned of the food truck village concept three years ago and was keen to become a part of it but just had to be patient. She spent 10 months building up customers on the other side of Brownstown Street and was very happy to move into the village.“Finally, we are here, and we are so pleased to be here,” she said.Firebird’s Peter Hvid said they shifted onto their new site in the rain ‘but it’s all worth it, right?”Firebird has a permanent spot in the sun and Peter said the “lovely setting” with the creek, stonework, landscaping, tables and seats should prove very attractive.“It's beautiful; it's a nice place to sit, so the hope is that it will be a nice place to come for families and everybody,” he said.The plan to establish a food stall garden was proposed by the Teat Family Trust, the Brownston Street site’s landowners, in 2018.The original food truck hub started in June 2017 on Adventure Rentals’ land on Brownston Street where the land was zoned commercial and licensed food trucks were permitted.On the opposite side of the same street, the Teats’ land was zoned medium density residential and, with the blessing of the Wanaka Community Board, project manager Casey Teat applied for resource consent.The consent was approved by the Queenstown Lakes District Council in December 2018 but neighbours who had submitted against the proposal appealed the decision to the Environment Court in 2019.However, during this lengthy appeal process, the zoning of the Teats’ land changed under the Proposed District Plan, which allowed the commercial activity to proceed and redefined the food trucks as buildings. As consent was no longer required, it was withdrawn together with the neighbours’ appeal. It took years to sort out but Casey told the Wanaka App he was “very pleased” with the outcome.PHOTO: Wanaka App

Tourism New Zealand has appointed a new chief executive, René de Monchy.René has been a member of the Tourism New Zealand executive team for over five years and has been interim chief executive for the past few months - “a uniquely challenging time for the sector and the organisation”, Tourism New Zealand board chair Jamie Tuuta said.“René is a strong advocate for working with government and the sector to ensure that it enriches Aotearoa and this will be particularly important as borders start to open,” Jamie said.He said Tourism New Zealand continues to have a firm focus on encouraging domestic visitation to support New Zealand’s recovery. News of quarantine free travel with Australia about to open up means the team is working with the sector to get Australians booking and to ensure that the industry is ‘Australia ready’, he added.The organisation is also working to keep New Zealand’s brand alive in other core markets for the eventual return of overseas visitors.“Tourism is important to New Zealand’s recovery and as we get closer to the return of international visitors it’s incredibly important that this is balanced with ensuring tourism enriches our home, communities and people,” René said.“I look forward to working closely with government and the sector to achieve this.” PHOTO: Tourism NZ

Public feedback is being sought on tighter rules for freedom camping, which include proposed new rules for self-contained vehicles, increased penalties, and the recommendation that rental companies collect fines from campers who hire vehicles. Tourism minister Stuart Nash released a discussion document this morning (Friday April 9) with ideas to better manage freedom camping to reduce the negative impacts on local councils and communities, as well as the country’s “100% Pure” brand.“The most consistent complaints I hear about the tourism sector relate to abuse of the freedom camping rules,” Stuart said. “A sub-group of visitors are spoiling the experience for more responsible campers and for locals who are left to clean up the mess.”He cited cases around the country where a surge in freedom camping has led to local bans, including within city limits in the Queenstown Lakes District.Stuart said while backpackers and budget travellers are welcome, “it must be ‘right vehicle, right place’”.  “Freedom camping in self-contained vehicles has a place for Kiwis and international visitors. However change is needed where vehicles are not self-contained, so communities have more confidence in the system. We want clear rules and expectations so we can deliver a high quality visitor experience,” the minister said.Freedom camping at the Red Bridge site.The discussion document asks for public feedback on the future of vehicles that are not self-contained, with four main proposals. The first two are alternatives: that all vehicle-based freedom camping would be limited to certified self-contained vehicles only, or that vehicle-based freedom campers would be required to either stay at a site with toilet facilities, or stay in a vehicle that is certified as self-contained. Freedom campers on public conservation land and regional parks would be excluded from this requirement.Other proposals are stronger powers to enforce the rules, including a regulatory system for certifying self-contained vehicles involving checks on the people doing the plumbing work and issuing the certificates, and a centralised vehicle register; tougher penalties and fines; requiring vehicle rental companies to collect fines; and additional grounds for confiscation of vehicles that breach freedom camping requirements.The fourth proposal is to strengthen the standard for self-contained vehicles, including testing whether it should align with the recommendation from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment that would require toilets in self-contained vehicles to be permanently plumbed in, rather than merely portable.The minister said improving freedom camping regulations would “go a long way” to changing campers’ behaviour. “These proposed changes are in line with our priorities for tourism once borders can safely reopen. We want to reset tourism on a sustainable model, mitigate the negative impacts associated with tourism, and elevate Brand New Zealand. The time to do so is now, before we fully reopen to international tourism,” he said.Find the discussion document and details about how you can share their views here. Public consultation opens today (Friday April 9) and closes on Sunday May 16.Submissions can be made online, by email or mail. MBIE tourism officials will also hold public information sessions around New Zealand, as well as webinars for people who are not able to attend a meeting.PHOTOS: Wanaka App

A quarantine-free travel bubble with Australia will begin at 11:59pm on April 18, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced this afternoon (Tuesday April 6).In its consideration this afternoon, Cabinet accepted advice from Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield who said the risk of transmission of Covid-19 from Australia to New Zealand is low, that quarantine-free travel is safe to commence, and that he was confident in both countries’ ability to manage a travel arrangement, the PM said.In its consideration this afternoon, Cabinet accepted advice from Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield who said the risk of transmission of Covid-19 from Australia to New Zealand is low, that quarantine-free travel is safe to commence, and that he was confident in both countries’ ability to manage a travel arrangement, the PM said.The PM said since the pandemic began sacrifices have been made: “One sacrifice we’ve had to bear... has been not being able to see friends and family who live in Australia.”She said safely opening up travel to another country was “an important step forward in our Covid response”.The PM warned, however, that travel would not be without risk. Just as we have alert levels to manage Covid in New Zealand so there would be three levels - “continue, pause and suspend” - to manage the trans-Tasman bubble.She said travel could “continue” without restrictions if Covid cases were well-contained at the border, for instance; but if a case was not clearly linked to a known source or a State issued lockdown then a “pause” would create a temporary halt to travel between that State and New Zealand.And if multiple cases of an unknown origin were recorded then travel would be “suspended”.The bubble will operate on a state-by-state basis within Australia. If there was a community outbreak in one state, travelling Kiwis in that state may have to stay put, self-isolate or be tested, but Kiwis in other states would not necessarily be affected.There was also an element of “flyer beware” as the government will not rescue those trapped in Australia because of an outbreak and it’s unlikely such occurrences will be fully covered by insurance. All trans-Tasman international airports in New Zealand, including Queenstown Airport, are currently being audited to ensure safe travel is managed. This audit process is due to be complete by April 16.QAC has been preparing for the opening of the travel bubble. PHOTO: Wanaka AppPassengers flying to and from Australia will pass through a “green zone” on arrival which will keep them separated from other passengers arriving from other countries. They will fly on aircraft and with aircrew only operating on trans-Tasman flights.Only passengers who have been in Australia for 14 days or more will be permitted to fly to New Zealand and vice versa. The Queenstown Airport Corporation has been working with the Southern District Health Board in preparation for a return of international flights and vaccinations of airport staff and their close contacts will begin this Saturday (April 10). A one-way safe travel bubble was opened between Auckland and Sydney in October last year without requirement to quarantine in Sydney but until now it has never been reciprocated with passengers returning to New Zealand always having to stay in quarantine for 14 days on their return.The Ministry of Health announced no new Covid-19 community cases today but advised of 17 new Covid cases in managed isolation over the last two days, 11 of which were new arrivals from India who tested positive for Covid either on arrival or during their first day test in isolation. On Monday (April 5) India recorded a record rise in Covid-19 infections with more than 100,000 new cases reported in one day.

Local event styling company The Full Effect has been hard at work creating a bright and bold street presence for the Southern Lakes Festival of Colour.The business is run by two long term locals, Nikki Latham and Erika Gordon, whose motto is “styling the crap out of life”.The pair met in 1997, and talked for years about setting up a styling business together.They took the plunge in late 2019, deciding “the time was right”. Not long after, Covid-19 hit, and after some discussion the two partners decided to keep the business running.“It gave us time to find our feet,” Nikki said.Since then they have done a lot of visual merchandising (optimising the presentation of products and services) for local shop windows and displays, and styled various exhibits at the recent Wanaka A&P Show.Erika Gordon and Nikki LathamThe pair approached the Festival of Colour with a proposal to enhance the streetscape presence of the festival, and were thrilled to get a ‘yes’.“We’re super excited about the festival because that was our dream,” Erika said. “Hopefully people will enjoy what we’ve done.”We’re trying to bring the bright and the bold to the festival, bringing more presence in the streetscape.”“We’d like people to say ‘OMG who made that?’,” Nikki said.Their work will be seen mostly around the Crystal Palace and the Lake Wānaka Centre on Ardmore Street, but will include seating at the Dinosaur Park and the trademark Festival of Colour leaves at each regional venue.“We love doing the quirky creative stuff,” Erika said. “We really love making things - and we have so much fun.”“Where possible we try to be sustainable,” Nikki added. “We use recycled materials, and make things which will be permanent.”The business has a range of eclectic and stylish props which people can rent. The pair’s dream is to find a “massive workshop” where they can work as well as display their wares.Find out more here.The Festival of Colour will take place in Wanaka and elsewhere from April 12-18.PHOTOS: Wanaka App

A government fund that helps councils build infrastructure for visitors has been re-opened, and Queenstown Lakes is one of the priority areas.Round five of the Tourism Infrastructure Fund, which has a specific focus on regions hardest hit by the loss of overseas tourists, will open for applications next month, tourism minister Stuart Nash announced today (Wednesday March 31).It last allocated funds in November 2019. “I have updated the criteria for projects to be prioritised by the fund. It will now better reflect the reality that jobs and businesses in some regions, particularly the South Island, are harder hit by the loss of international tourists than other regions,” Stuart said.“All councils will still be eligible to apply if they lack adequate revenue sources to cater for visitors, for example if they have a small ratepayer base. Community groups with council backing can also apply.An empty Helwick Street in Wanaka a year ago, during the initial Covid-19 restrictions. PHOTO: Wanaka AppThe minister said he has identified five regions that face greater uncertainty given their reliance on overseas visitors: Queenstown Lakes, Kaikōura, MacKenzie - Aoraki Mt Cook, Fiordland and South Westland. Applications from these districts will be prioritised, he said. “The projects will provide much-needed local employment as tourism towns work to diversify their economies. The new infrastructure will also ensure the quality of the visitor experience is improved for when tourists return in greater numbers.”Stuart said the round five funding will ensure government investment in visitor projects can continue while the government works to open quarantine-free travel with Australia, and other international connections when it is safe to do so. While the final size of the funding pool is still to be determined it is expected to be in the vicinity of $13M, he said.The Tourism Infrastructure Fund was established in 2017. It has helped councils build and maintain important assets like public toilets and showers, carparks and footpaths, waste disposal and water treatment facilities, freedom camping sites, picnic shelters, jetties and boat ramps, bike stands and mountain bike hubs.

The need to prioritise sustainable tourism that enhances community wellbeing is the central theme of the Tourism Futures Taskforce report, which was released on Friday (March 26). The taskforce was established in May 2020 as an independent public-private partnership to consider the long-term future of tourism, and tourism minister Stuart Nash said the report sets out a vision and direction for the sector.“Their report seeks to re-imagine tourism, long after the Covid-19 recovery period,” he said. “It sets out a desired ‘Future State’ where the wellbeing of communities is at the centre of the tourism eco-system.”Lake Wānaka Tourism general manager Tim Barke told the Wanaka App now is the time to plan for tourism’s future, adding the report outlined the direction the majority of people he had spoken to wanted to see the tourism industry head.The new report seeks to create a more sustainable future for the tourism industry. PHOTO: @freeridenewzealandIn the report, the taskforce recommends legislating a tourism business standards framework; creating a government-led supply management system; targeting an even spread of visitors throughout the year; creating a formally recognised public/private industry leadership body; and more.“The taskforce also highlights an opportunity for the industry to co-own and co-invest in its future, so much-needed changes can support jobs, businesses and communities that rely heavily on tourism,” Stuart said. One way it recommends doing that is by raising employment standards and improving career pathways. “A government supported industry agreement, with seed funding, needs to be created, together with the development of a credential pathway to support an attractive career structure,” the report says.Tim said it made sense to be thinking and looking to the future: “...what we all wish that to look like, what we will be leaving our descendants, and what we need to do, starting now, to enable that to happen.”He said most people he had spoken to were currently under financial and situational pressure, “but the vast majority are determined to see this as an opportunity (probably a once in a lifetime) to make a significant difference and future-proof the way we operate as a visitor destination.“There has never been a better opportunity to achieve this.”Next up for the taskforce is reviewing its approach for the next phase of work, which will include fleshing out further details of the recommendations for the final report.“I anticipate drawing further on the expertise of individual taskforce members as the government works on tourism recovery and a re-set of the sector over the coming year...Their work will be a useful contribution in moving towards a more sustainable tourism sector,” Stuart said.Read the full report here.

The Ignite Wanaka Chamber of Commerce board has appointed experienced retail and HR manager Andrew ‘Howie’ Howard as its new chair, replacing interim chair Bridget Legnavsky.Howie is the people, culture and capability manager at Mitre 10 Mega Wanaka, and he is also the current board chair of Wanaka Primary School.He was elected to the board at the AGM last November along with fellow new board members Emma Kenny, Jo Learmonth and Bronwyn McCarthy. At that time Bridget stepped back into the chair role – as an interim measure – after Pete Eastwood resigned from the board.“We have already done some great work as a chamber in focusing our business plan and reviewing our strategic position and vision over the past few months,” Howie said. “I would like to thank Bridget for enabling the transition to a new board and leading our work up to now.”Looking for a local business? See Trades/Services and Health/Beauty in your Wanaka AppHowie is a former owner of an outdoor equipment importing business and also previously worked for outdoor retailers Racers Edge and Mt Outdoors. In his current role at Mitre 10, he is responsible for human resources, health and safety and learning and development for the business.Howard’s appointment took place at last week’s board meeting and he said he was looking forward to a busy year with Ignite Wanaka.“We have some very exciting events coming up this year and are looking forward to building on past success and reaching for an exciting future,” Howie said.“We will continue to deliver our key, successful events and programmes but there are two new aspects to our plan. “We have included a diversified economy as part of our strategy: the past year has shown us that diversified economies are successful economies. This is key to building resilience and future success in our district.”The full board is now: Andrew ‘Howie’ Howard, Celia Crosbie (vice chair), Claire Dooney, Emma Kenny, Jo Learmonth, Bridget Legnavksy, John Metzger and Bronwyn McCarthy. QLDC deputy mayor Calum McLeod is ex-officio.PHOTO: Supplied