The government has ruled out an extension of the wage subsidy for struggling tourism businesses at alert levels one and two, but has undertaken to look at other assistance options.Queenstown Lakes District mayor Jim Boult confirmed the news this week that the wage subsidy would only be available in the future at alert levels three and four.The mayor met online with prime minister Jacinda Ardern and tourism minister Stuart Nash earlier in the week and outlined the struggles faced by communities which are heavily reliant on tourism, and the visitor and accommodation sectors.Jim said he is confident central government understands the needs of this district’s communities, but acknowledged there is no “silver bullet” in addressing the challenges for the tourism industry.“While I am confident that both the prime minister and minister Nash truly understood what we’re facing here, they have ruled out any re-instigation of the wage subsidy that we had during that first initial wave of the effects of Covid-19 outside of the Minister of Finance’s December announcement confirming it would be available where alert levels three or four are in place,” he said.Jim said the news was disappointing and will be “a bitter pill for those who may have been holding out for that as a lifeline”.However, they have undertaken to explore some possible assistance in other ways, he added.“I recognise this is a unique situation, for our district, for Aotearoa New Zealand, and at a global level. In that context I appreciate there are hard decisions that central government has to make in the ongoing efforts to stamp out Covid-19 and keep our communities safe. These are tough calls and it is times like these we need to pull together and support each other whenever we can,” he said.“Locally we are enormously thankful for the many Kiwis who have and are intending to visit us. Operators here are committed to adjusting the offerings to suit the domestic market and their budgets.”PHOTO: Wanaka App

Tourism minister Stuart Nash has dashed hopes of a targeted wage subsidy for Queenstown Lakes District businesses and said they need to face the "cold, hard reality" of 2021. The minister, speaking to Newshub’s The AM Show this week, said there are tourism businesses "bleeding all over the country".But, there are unlikely to be any international tourists in New Zealand until next year at the earliest. The question for government then, Stuart said, is how much taxpayers' money they should use to "subsidise or prop up businesses that are probably not going to be viable for at least another 11 months".Stuart told show host Duncan Garner: "If you've got a business that is solely or predominantly reliant on overseas tourists and you haven't been able to pivot from an international base to a domestic base, then I'm afraid you're probably going to have to have some very hard conversations with your bank, your creditors, your directors and your employees."The cold, hard reality is that we're probably not going to see overseas tourists in this country until next year." He said the government is "working very hard" on an Australian bubble.  "That will alleviate it if we can get that across the line, but I see there’s another outbreak in Victoria today..."Queenstown Lakes District mayor Jim Boult and business leaders have been lobbying the Labour government in recent weeks for a return to the wage subsidy for tourism businesses. But Stuart said finance minister Grant Robertson "has been very clear on the wage subsidy". "That will kick in again if we have a change in alert level but at this point in time, everything being equal, i.e. we stay at alert level one, then we are not talking about a wage subsidy at all," he told The AM Show. Duncan Garner questioned how much of the $14B wage subsidy was left over and whether that could be used to create a package for Queenstown Lakes businesses. But Stuart said it is in a contingency fund, should there be another lockdown. "We're not out of the woods yet, this is what we keep saying to Kiwis." Queenstown tourism firm Canyon Explorers became the latest business to mothball operations, from Monday, although it will honour existing bookings and groups through to Easter. Managing director Stefan Crawford said it had been "a tough but necessary call" given the ongoing decline in visitors to Queenstown over the coming months and the uncertainty around a trans-Tasman bubble.He said Canyon Explorers had been doing its best to navigate through its first domestic-only season, adjusting offers to encourage kiwis to 'Do Something New'.Historically, 95 per cent of the company's clients come from outside New Zealand, so he was aware this season was always going to be a challenge."Through the generosity of local businesses, we are pleased to have found work opportunities for our guiding team over the medium term," he said.Last week, Queenstown giant Skyline announced it was returning to a skeleton staff, as those on fixed term contracts finished their terms. Skyline Enterprises boss Geoff McDonald said the company didn't have any plans to close its Queenstown operations, but it is monitoring the situation. Skyline Queenstown was one of 130 tourism businesses to receive funding through the Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme. It received $500k and access to a $500k grant. The allocation of STAPP funding, particularly some of the early allocations such as $5.1M (+ $5.1M grant) to Queenstown's AJ Hackett Bungy is the subject of an inquiry by the auditor general, announced last week. Stuart Nash, on The AM Show, pointed to the $400M the government has made available to tourism businesses, plus the $1.8B of the wage subsidy that went towards them. He urged businesses in trouble to take advantage of the $5000 of free advice on offer, through chambers of commerce and the Regional Business Partner Network. And he said he is still in talks with the finance minister. "... nothing is certain, we haven't got a bottomless pit of money as you can appreciate ... but the cold hard reality is you're just not going to see bus loads of Germans, Japanese or Americans or English travelling up and down our highways in 2021."

Results from a survey of the quality of life of people who call Queenstown Lakes home have provided an insight into the changing lives of the district’s residents.The Quality of Life survey was conducted in September 2020 on behalf of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) for the third consecutive year, and findings released this month show significant changes in some areas.Compared with 2019, the results indicate home ownership has dropped by four per cent, from 64 per cent to 60 per cent. Meanwhile, 29 per cent of respondents who rented said they would need to move in the next 12 months, and the main influence was affordability - which dramatically increased from three per cent in 2019 up to 26 per cent.Working status also changed significantly in a number of areas, including self-employment which increased from 18 per cent to 22 per cent. The number of students increased from one per cent to four per cent, but respondents who reported they were not currently employed totalled six per cent - previously this had been less than one per cent.Home ownership has dropped by four per cent, the survey indicates. PHOTO: Wanaka App“While the focus of the study has traditionally been to collect data on the wellbeing of communities, the most recent one had a particular focus on the impact of Covid-19” QLDC CEO Mike Theelen said.The impacts of Covid-19 were generally synonymous with changes to employment, survey administrators Versus Research said. “The study found that many people had an overwhelming sense of job insecurity, which likely added to a decline in people’s overall sense of wellbeing. For some, it lessened their confidence and ability to speak up for themselves, while others were on edge wondering what their future held.”Residents are exercising more than ever: More than half respondents (55 per cent) indicated they exercised 5-7 days a week, up by six per cent from 2019. PHOTO: Wanaka AppAmong respondents who owned a business, 76 per cent had reduced overheads where possible, 45 per cent had made changes to staff employment and 37 per cent had reduced or stopped marketing activity.  In terms of the impact on individual employment, 30 per cent had temporarily reduced hours while 34 per cent said someone in their household had temporality reduced hours. Similar percentages were seen for temporarily reduced pay: 15 per cent of respondents had their employment ended and 18 per cent said someone else in their household had their employment ended. Despite all the changes, the quality of life of respondents remains steady, with 81 per cent of respondents saying they have ‘good’ or ‘extremely good’ quality of life. PHOTO: Wanaka AppThe survey, which measured various elements of wellbeing from cultural to social and environmental, also indicated residents were exercising more than ever; they wanted to see more done to add to the cultural aspects of the district; and on the topic of climate change, the level of concern by residents had dropped markedly.Despite some significant changes in the most recent results, the number of respondents who rated their overall quality of life as good or extremely good remained strong, increasing by one per cent to 49 per cent and 32 per cent respectively.There were similar changes of just one per cent in respondents who rated their quality of lives as poor, extremely poor and average.Twenty-eight per cent of the 1,630 respondents came from the Wanaka ward.Read the full report here.

A decision refusing an application by a Queenstown business to deliver alcohol in the same manner as food could have far reaching effects.Yesterday’s (Tuesday February 9) decision by the Queenstown Lakes District Licensing Committee to decline Drinks on Q’s application to supply alcohol for on-demand home delivery, even though three similar licences have been granted elsewhere in the country, sets a precedent in this district.Drinks on Q, which was established last year by Food on Q owners Daniel Taiaroa and Daniel Sykes, applied for a ‘remote-sellers off-licence’ with the intention to sell alcohol via a website for instant delivery. Food on Q, which offers instant delivery of food from a variety of Queenstown restaurants, receives between 700 to 1000 on-line orders for food a week.Daniel Taiaroa, who is a director of a number of bars including Lalaland Lounge Bar in Wanaka, told the committee Food on Q received numerous requests from people ordering meals asking for a bottle of wine to go with it.“Having a restaurant prepared meal with a bottle of locally sourced wine without leaving the house is a fantastic service,” he said.The application initially attracted opposition from the police and a medical officer of health. The medical officer withdrew her opposition after the application was modified to ensure deliveries were only to homes not public places; the hours of operation were reduced; only locally produced wines and beers would be sold; and there would be more vigorous staff training for delivery drivers.The police were concerned that issuing a licence would lead to an alternative way for people to purchase alcohol, particularly those who were already too intoxicated to go out and purchase more supplies from an off-licence. “We foresee that people at a party or gathering will use this as a means to have more alcohol delivered to them when they have run out of the alcohol….”, the police said. A police representative did not attend the hearing to support this statement, however.In summing up the application, the committee chairman Judge Bill Unwin said the application required the committee to form a view whether granting the application would increase the risk of alcohol related harm and/or whether the supply of alcohol will be undertaken safely and responsibly. The committee’s conclusion was the ability to order alcohol and have it home delivered “on demand” would increase the risk of alcohol related harm and the applicants’ proposal did not go far enough to ensure that such a risk was minimised.Even though the applicants advised deliveries would only be made to customers who were sober and had legal identification, Judge Unwin said the committee did not believe the supply of the alcohol would be undertaken safely or responsibly.He said the applicants viewed alcohol as just another commodity; they did not appear concerned about how much alcohol was going to be supplied as long as the person who ordered it was over 18 and sober. “If the company was serious about minimising the potential harm as much as possible, it could have suggested conditions such as restricting each order to a bottle of wine or six bottles of beer, and only to be delivered with food. We appreciate that such conditions might well make the enterprise uneconomic but they would certainly minimise the alcohol’s potential harm,” the judge said.     The committee was also concerned by “the domino effect”: that the granting of this application would open the door to other licencees seeking to make deliveries which would further normalise rather than minimise alcohol consumption, he said.PHOTO: Supplied

The Auditor-General will carry out an inquiry into aspects of the government’s Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme (STAPP).While STAPP, created to protect New Zealand’s core tourism assets during the border closures caused by Covid-19, has been a lifeline for some businesses, concerns have been raised about the eligibility criteria, application process, and whether the distribution of the $400M fund has been equitable.Some local tourism operators wrote to the Tourism Industry Authority and Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) last year complaining about elements of STAPP.One local operator, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Wanaka App they were misled by the early allocation of STAPP funding to large operators, such as Queenstown’s AJ Hackett Bungy which controversially received $5.1M.Lake Wanaka Tourism general manager Tim Barke told the Wanaka App STAPP funding was put together as a rapid response to help the tourism industry survive, and “as with any emergency response, more is often learned over time as to how it could be improved...” A number of Wanaka operators received a STAPP boost, including Alpine Helicopters & Southern Lakes Heliski - $500,000; Backcountry Helicopters - $500,000; Puzzling World - $500,000; Southern Alps Air Ltd - $500,000; Wanaka River Journeys - $215,101; and Wilkin River Jets - $500,000.“Because of the concerns we have heard, the amount of public funding involved, and the importance of robust processes to ensure public trust and confidence is not eroded, we have decided to carry out an inquiry,” Auditor-General John Ryan said.He said his office will examine how applications from tourism businesses have been assessed against the programme’s criteria; look at the information available to applicants about the programme’s eligibility criteria and assessment process; look as how applications from tourism businesses have been assessed, including three businesses that received funding approval before the formal application round began; and consider whether there is any evidence that applications have been assessed inconsistently.He said his office will not be examining the merits of individual applications or particular funding decisions.Minister of Tourism Stuart Nash said the inquiry was expected after a number of unsuccessful applicants, and others who did not apply, raised concerns.Stuart Nash said the inquiry was expected. PHOTO: Supplied“It is a good idea to have an independent set of eyes on the programme. I am open to this external scrutiny. The Auditor General is the right person to do this,” he said, adding he was open to hearing recommendations for how to change processes in the future.“I’m sure there are things that can be learned, to improve future decision-making, and I look forward to seeing the outcome of the inquiry,” he said.“In the first wave of Covid-19 we took a ‘no regrets’ approach to decisions about economic support. It was important to get money out the door, fast, to support jobs and businesses. We knew our support would not save all tourism businesses, and it was not designed to do. It was designed to shore up our key tourism assets, to bide time till borders could be safely opened once more,” he said.He said ministers said at the time that, like the Wage Subsidy, the STAPP operated on a high trust model.

Carrick Winery and Vineyard, in Bannockburn, has been purchased for an undisclosed amount by Wanaka homeowners Tony and Alison Cleland, who take over ownership at the end of this month.The Cleland’s have been farming in northern Southland for the last 30 years but have been homeowners in Wanaka for at least 17 years. Tony is also a founder of the farm investment company FarmRight and chairman of FMG Advice and Insurance.It’s from their home in Wanaka they’ve become regular patrons of Carrick Winery and decided the vineyard presented a new opportunity they felt was the right next move for them.“We were looking for a new challenge,” Tony said.He said the combination of the Bannockburn location, which is poised to become a popular destination, and the production of good wine, “the chardonnay is a standout”, meant the chance to purchase Carrick was too good to let pass.Carrick’s first vines were planted more than 25 years ago. PHOTO: James Jubb Tourism Central OtagoSet on almost 24ha on Lake Dunstan’s Bannockburn inlet, Carrick was first listed for sale in 2019. Re-listed in November last year, it had attracted considerable interest from various parties, despite the downturn in visitors caused by COVID-19 restrictions, before its former owner Elizabeth Zhong died in unusual circumstances in Auckland and the business went into receivership.Despite this, the sale proceeded relatively smoothly, Tony said, adding it was the resilience and “infectious enthusiasm” of Carrick’s 15 staff that clinched the deal.He said it speaks volumes about the winery and vineyard that the staff “have stayed positive through these tough times and are still passionate about what they do.”“We are all very excited about this new transition, after two years of ownership uncertainty,” Carrick’s general manager Cliff Wickman said.Carrick’s restaurant and outdoor area, which can seat up to 70 guests, is popular for lunches, Tony says. PHOTO: SuppliedTony said he and Alison were already starting to consider future plans for the business. Carrick has an “exceptional chef, and it’s a great place to have lunch and we plan to carry that on,” Tony said, but they also intend to promote the new cycle trail connection from Cromwell to the vineyard, which is scheduled to be officially opened in March, and to use the winery as a venue for local events.Carrick also has accommodation nestled within its vines, a six-bedroom house and a three bedroom one, designed to a very high standard which would be ideal for groups, he said. “We are eager to promote Carrick’s onsite accommodation offerings, utilise opportunities around the long anticipated new cycle trail and host regular events at the winery.”Tony said he and Alison plan to eventually live onsite and work alongside the existing team “to take the business to the next level”.Carrick was originally founded by Barbara and Steve Green in 1994 and its winery, underground cellar and restaurant were completed in 2002. The vineyard produces about 500 barrels per year, predominantly Pinot Noir as well as Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Blanc, all of which are certified organic and sustainable. It’s chief winemaker Rose Menzies also lives in Wanaka.PHOTOS: Supplied

It makes sense that anyone starting a business in 2020 would have met some challenges. Bike Glendhu is one such business, but after a year in operation, managing director Charlie Cochrane said he feels very positive about where the bike park is now, and where it will be at the end of 2021.  "The park's in great shape," Charlie said. "People are really enjoying it."Bike Glendhu features a series of biking trails which twist and turn through 1,000 hectares of terrain on Glendhu Station, a 13-minute drive from downtown Wanaka along Mt Aspiring Road.Bike Glendhu founders John Wilson (right) and John McRae. PHOTO: SuppliedThe park is a shared venture by keen local rider John Wilson and station owners John and Emily McRae. The first year has been a trial of perseverance: The floods in December of 2019 meant the opportunity to be open for the Christmas period was lost, and a couple of months later the COVID-19 lockdown came into effect.  The re-launch had been "a really nice wee run," Charlie said, adding that locals were keen to get out of their houses and riding again. But after closing for winter, heavy rain prevented the planned reopening in September, with 30 per cent more rain falling at Glendhu this spring than in any other on record. "We were shut for three-quarters of the month because of the wet weather," Charlie said.Previous: Mountain biking adventure park to open this weekStill, he’s quick to see the silver linings.All that rain meant the crew were able to watch where, how and when the water ran, and they lay culverts or reshaped trails as necessary.The park has trails for all abilities. PHOTO: Jay French"It gave us some good visibility about where water will pop up,” Charlie said."We’re ahead of the curve now because everything dries out a lot quicker when it does rain. Everyone's looking for 'hero dirt', which is like the 'powder' of skiing. The moisture in the dirt gives you grip which can improve a rider's confidence.”The crew are working toward maintaining optimum biking conditions. "We want moisture in the ground, but we don't want it to be boggy."  The downtime was also spent “investing heavily in trail development,” Charlie said.But the biggest benefit from Bike Glendhu’s first year came from how much the team learned, he said. "We've been able to collect a lot of data to understand the business the best we can and move it forward in the future."  He believes Bike Glendhu is on target to become a world class biking area.  Locals and Kiwis from further afield supported the bike park during the tough past year."The support from the community has been overwhelming, and we’ve been really well supported by the domestic market.We have a lot of people following us on social platforms and on our websites. They are having a great experience and telling all their friends.”The licensed cafe had been popular, too, and had become “quite a cool social hangout”, Charlie said.With the new year comes more opportunities to grow the business."From a broad perspective we really want to focus on growing the bike community in Wanaka and the Queenstown Lakes District.  Between us and Cardrona, Wanaka now has two really good bike parks. They have different offerings, so they complement one another."Learn more about Bike Glendhu here.

A local entrepreneur and inventor is hoping the community will support his initiative to establish a surf wave leisure business on his family's property at Hāwea Flat.Ross McCarthy is the owner and founder of Airwave, a company which develops and markets surfable waves for the leisure industry. For the past 10 years he has been developing a wave created by water flowing over an inflatable form (like surfing on a bouncy castle) which can manipulate the shape of the wave with the touch of a button. “Our technology is the only tech in the world that can do this,” Ross said. Ross McCarthy, pictured with his daughter, has a masters degree in product design.“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 said the key purpose of setting up at Hāwea Flat is for further research and testing with a view to selling AirWave units worldwide. He is proposing to establish an AirWave outlet on his family’s property utilising the existing irrigation system as a water source.“One of the best features about putting AirWave on the farm is the fact that we can circulate irrigation water through the unit which means we do not need to treat the water or use chlorine,” Ross said.“The AirWave unit doesn't actually use any water, it simply sits on an irrigation dam which will be used to store water for irrigating another part of our farm. Whenever the irrigation system is working it will be recirculating water through the dam every seven hours keeping it very fresh and clean.”Ross is in discussion with the Queenstown Lakes District Council about the venture and is hoping that the local community will support the initiative.Proposed location at Hāwea Flat“We are building one of the most environmentally friendly attractions in the area and will support the local community,” Ross said. “We will have great deals for locals and local schools and will also introduce water safety programmes and surf trips and maybe a surf team.”“This farm is my home and to actually move Airwave to it will be a dream come true for Sarah and I, something we never expected to do. We have a daughter who is just turning one and to have the opportunity to bring her up on the same farm I was brought up on is fantastic.”Airwave is commercial in nature and its proposed location is zoned for rural activities. Public notification of the proposal may be required if any adverse effects are regarded as more than minor. Ross highlighted in the resource consent that the Hāwea Wave and LandEscape are similar in nature and in rural zoning.Read more about AirWave here.IMAGES: Supplied

Many local businesses are reporting a bumper New Year’s period, but are predicting there may be an early shoulder season.The Wanaka App has heard mixed reports from businesses, including record-breaking days for some hospitality and retail businesses.“Many businesses are reporting a slightly slower Christmas period than usual, but a bumper New Year’s with some reporting a 20 to 30 per cent average increase year on year across the ten to 12 days,” Ignite Wanaka executive officer Naomi Lindsay said.“A mix of holiday homes being full and Kiwis taking to the roads to explore their backyard in campsites, hotels and B&Bs has meant good visitor numbers coming for a week to 10 days,” she said.Lakeview Holiday Park manager Natalie Ward said the period between Christmas and New Year was very busy. Wanaka Lakeview Holiday Park between Christmas and New Year.“I almost think it was fuller because every site was full of Kiwi families rather than couples and individual travellers.”However the sites have emptied out since January 3-4, she said. “It’s trickling off - it almost reminds me of Wanaka ten years ago. It’s a nice level of busy.”“The trend is showing the weekends will be busy, and I have a good feeling for the school holidays but the weekdays may be a lot quieter.”Natalie said she thinks a lot of people are waiting for the summer holidays to be done before travelling with their families for the remainder of the school holidays.New Kai Whakapai owner Nick Aubrey noted record numbers from Christmas through the following week, including large groups of young people from the Rhythm & Alps event. Now the crowds are predominately families, he said.Hospitality businesses experienced a short ‘summer boom’. “It’s quite noticeable that things are slowing down faster than they have previously. It was a big boom, but it was short.”But Nick said there are “still plenty of people around” and the challenge is to be smart about getting through what is likely to be a shoulder season which comes earlier than usual.Puzzling World manager Duncan Spear said the attraction has had “pleasing numbers” through the holiday period.“They’ve been holding pretty steady. We were probably down on numbers from Boxing Day to New Year’s, but [since] then have been up on last year.”Receiving a similar number of visitors to previous years means “the slack has been picked up by the domestic audience”, he said.It has also been “eye-opening” to realise how multicultural New Zealand really is, Duncan said, as the popular attraction has hosted many families from a range of Asian countries this summer.“Before we perhaps considered they were from their home countries, but now they can only be from the domestic audience.”Looking ahead, without the international tourists for Chinese New Year (late January/early February) which are a “big player” in Wanaka, Duncan said he is expecting visitor numbers to drop after the official holiday period ends.Naomi agreed that future business “isn’t looking great” once the school holidays end. “With borders remaining closed and Kiwis largely returning to work, there is limited visitor business coming our way in February and March,” she said.“Lake Wanaka Tourism and Tourism New Zealand continue to encourage New Zealanders to get out and do something new and we can only hope that Wanaka remains a must-visit destination.”There is, however, an impressive lineup of events during the next few months which will attract domestic visitors to Wanaka. These include The Ruby Swim event (January 30), Challenge Wanaka (February 18-120), the Motatapu mountain biking event (March 2), The Wanaka A&P Show (March 12-13), Ripe: Wine & Food Festival (March 21), Wheels At Wanaka, Easter Weekend 2021 (April 2-4), the Festival of Colour (April 12-18), and the Contact Epic bike event (April 17).Waitangi Weekend also means a public holiday on Monday February 8 - making another long weekend for visitors.PHOTOS: Wanaka App

Local farmers have welcomed significant government support in their ongoing work to protect the water quality of Lake Wānaka and its catchment.The Wanaka Catchment Group (WCG) will receive over a million dollars as part of a three year $1.9M project focusing on improving water quality flowing through high country stations and farms throughout the catchment. The funding will be used to fence more than 40km of waterways and plant tens of thousands of native plants at priority riparian sites throughout the catchment. Environment Minister David Parker announced the funding, which comes from the Freshwater Improvement fund. It is part of the government’s $1.245 billion Jobs for Nature package that aims to create environmental benefits and employ thousands of people in the regions to help accelerate the recovery from the impact of COVID-19.“This is an exciting moment for the group. While many of the stations have already begun projects to fence and plant critical source areas themselves, this funding can act as a stimulus to speed up actions on all the properties involved,” WCG member Randall Aspinall, of Mount Aspiring Station, said. The funding will be used for riparian planting and fencing waterways. PHOTO: SuppliedThe group was established in 2017 in response to a community interest in Lake Wānaka's water quality, the effect farming has upon it, and to respond to an increase in regional council and governmental scrutiny of farming practices.The group includes 15 out of the 17 large farm properties (greater than 50ha) and a vineyard in the catchment, all of whom have signed up to a farmer-funded collective approach to catchment management. This means approximately 90 per cent of the farmed catchment by area is being managed under one consistent environment plan. Read more: Farmers' group committed to water qualityThe farmers have funded their own activities during the past three years, with previous work prioritising locations for fencing or wetland restoration through using advanced farm plans to identify problem sites. “Our primary focus was on educating our group, learning more about how farming affects water and then implementing actions on-farm through the use of our environmental plans,” WCG chair Grant Ruddenklau said.The group has also worked closely with the Otago Regional Council (ORC) via a Good Water Project sampling water quality at locations throughout the catchment.The ORC supported the WCG’s application for funding, and chair Andrew Noone said the group has shown self-initiative over the past few years to implement the intent of the Regions Water Policy. “This project has been driven by farmers who are responding proactively to what their community holds dear, excellent water quality and the protection of a lake with immense intrinsic value,” Andrew said.The funding will also support an environmental education project where the group will work closely with local Iwi and schools to build mātauranga Māori (traditional knowledge) into a community understanding of the local environment and farming, with the help of local Māori education leader Tania Brett.The project will include cultural indicators in farm planning - a first for this area.Environmental consultant Chris Arbuckle, who has worked with the group from its inception, said he was “overjoyed” central government is supporting the initiative.“The farmers and others I have worked with over the past few years in Wanaka have welcomed learning about environmental issues and adopting actions on-farm. It’s great to get a boost to support their commitment to protecting Lake Wānaka,” he said.

Albert Town based horticulture company Hortinvest has expanded its horizons to include a new partnership in the Ardgour Valley, Tarras, investing in fruit growing with the potential for new employment opportunities.Joining forces with Ardgour Station, the two have formed Ardgour Valley Orchards (AVO) and have already planted about 9,000 apricot trees and 1,200 cherry trees during the winter this year, with a further 6,000 apricot trees and 7,000 cherry trees scheduled for 2021 and 2022.Spread across 33 hectares of the station, two thirds of the new orchard has been set aside to produce new commercial apricot varieties bred by Plant and Food Research at its Clyde site in Central Otago. One of the new apricots is an early season variety ready for picking early to mid December.White-fleshed and red-fleshed cherry varieties will complement the stonefruit line-up.White-fleshed cherries will be a point of difference for the new orchard.Hortinvest's Ross and Sharon Kirk said Ardgour Station, located in the fertile Ardgour Valley with plentiful irrigation, provided ideal growing conditions for the cherries and apricots. Bruce Jolly, whose family has bred merino sheep and cattle at Ardgour Station since 1955, said he became interested in diversifying the station's land use into horticulture after a study in 2000 found much of the property was climatically suited to stonefruit production.The site chosen has the best attributes including the nature of its contours, drainage ability and it is frost-free, he said.Ross and Sharon KirkBruce said horticulture was one of the few sectors where the producer could maintain control of the product from orchard to consumer and he was looking forward to being part of New Zealand's horticulture success story.While first harvests aren’t expected until 2023, Hortinvest will manage AVO's orchard and harvest and export operations, including the recruitment and management of staff. Sharon said they’re hoping to attract staff who come to Central Otago and want to stay in the region longer than just a couple of weeks as the orchard could provide work for several weeks from December through to harvests in early March.AVO won’t be providing on site staff accommodation in the early stages, she said, but Hortinvest is already working with the backpackers and the camping grounds on securing workers’ accommodation.“We are also looking at some purpose built accommodation in the future which likely will not be on site,” Sharon said..AVO is the latest orchard development undertaken by Hortinvest in Central Otago. Its other developments include Tarras Cherry Corp which will harvest its first commercial cherries this summer and Deep Creek Fruits NZ LP - a significant enterprise which is developing cherry orchards at Lindis Peaks and Mt Pisa.PHOTOS: Supplied

Many migrant workers currently in New Zealand will be able to stay and work here for longer, following adjustments to visa settings announced by immigration minister Kris Faafoi.The changes include a six month extension for employer-assisted work visa holders; a postponed stand down period for low-paid essential skills visa holders; retention of the 2019 median wage of $25.50 per hour for immigration settings until at least July 2021; and working holiday visas extended by six months.“Our economy is bouncing back better than expected and we are seeing labour shortages across many industries,” Kris said.“With the labour market outlook being more optimistic, we are implementing a range of changes to ensure the migrant workforce already in New Zealand can supplement employers’ efforts to recruit New Zealanders who have lost jobs due to COVID.”Kris said the visa setting changes will run well into 2021 to provide certainty for employers and workers, and the government will closely watch how the labour market develops to see whether further extensions are needed.There are about 192,000 migrant workers in New Zealand. While this is a similar number to a year ago the numbers would be expected to fall as visas expire and border restrictions mean limited numbers of new workers are able to come to New Zealand.“With border restrictions in place to keep COVID-19 out, we cannot bring the numbers of migrant workers into New Zealand that many industries have come to rely on, especially for their peak seasons,” Kris said.“Our priority remains to help get New Zealanders into jobs and we encourage employers to continue focusing on longer-term workforce planning, training, and improving wages and conditions to attract a local workforce.“While these changes will allow employers to retain their existing migrant workforce, they will still need to prove that no New Zealanders are available before hiring new employees.”Workers on employer-assisted visas can renew, and other migrants can obtain essential skills visas, if they have an offer of work for 30 hours per week and it can be shown that there are no New Zealanders available to do the job. Employers of low-paid migrant workers, who are subject to the stand down period, can avoid the stand down period by paying above the median wage.PHOTO: Supplied

More small businesses will be eligible to take out interest-free loans under changes to a government cashflow scheme announced on Friday (December 18).The COVID-19 Small Business Cashflow (Loan) Scheme (SBCS) has been extended until 2023; the interest-free period has been extended to two years; and the eligibility criteria has also been broadened to include new businesses.“There are encouraging signs for our economy, but the global economic outlook remains uncertain,” revenue minister David Parker said. “The scheme provides a backstop for small and medium businesses.”Small business minister Stuart Nash said cashflow support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has been central to government efforts to accelerate the economic recovery and sustain businesses and jobs.“The decision to extend the interest-free loan scheme is designed to give confidence to our smallest businesses and keep up the momentum of recovery.” The scheme can provide up to $10,000 to businesses as well as an additional $1,800 for each full-time equivalent employee. PHOTO: SuppliedWhile data for the Queenstown Lakes district is not available, David said a milestone of 100,000 SMEs in New Zealand had drawn on the government support, to the tune of $1.6B. Small businesses from around the country can apply to the scheme, which has a maximum loan of $10,000 plus $1,800 per full-time-equivalent employee.Around 82 per cent of loans so far have gone to firms with one to five employees and roughly 92 percent are to firms with 10 or fewer staff.Most loans have gone to SMEs in construction and building (17 per cent), accommodation, restaurants and cafes (12 per cent), those offering professional, scientific or technical services (10 per cent), retail trade (nine per cent), and manufacturing (seven per cent).The SBCS was introduced to support SMEs struggling because of loss of actual or predicted revenue as a result of COVID-19. The expanded eligibility criteria come into effect in February 2021.Find more information on how to apply to the Small Business Cashflow (Loan) Scheme here.

A 2019 marker has joined the five other stainless steel markers outside Kai Whakapai recording the dates of the six most notable floods of central Wanaka.Eleven months after the December 2019 flood of Wanaka’s central business district, which closed roads and forced many businesses to shut, a meeting of local business operators, elected members, contractors and staff of the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and Otago Civil Defence Emergency Management was held in Wanaka (November 2).Wanaka CBD property owners’ group representative Roger Gardiner, who had been critical of the QLDC’s slow response to discuss how to better manage future floods, said the meeting was productive.He said while no-one expects to hold the flood waters back during a big flood they all agreed with better planning “we can be smarter on how we manage [the floodwaters] and we should be able to keep the town operating”.“It comes at a cost to everyone when streets are closed for four or five days,” Roger said. The metal barrier was deployed to keep water out of Patagonia Chocolates on December 5. Consideration was given to creating a bund (raised ground) along the CBD foreshore to reduce the impact of water entering the CBD, with work expected to start early next year, he said.Options to use a boom or sandbag the low lying area on the lakeside of Ardmore Street were also discussed, as was the option of having on standby two appropriately sized pumps, specifically designed to mitigate the impact of floodwaters, which could be deployed at short notice.Some businesses were forced to close last December, even though they were unaffected by floodwaters, because the council shut down the sewerage infrastructure amid fears of contamination. As a result, council engineering staff will investigate what options are viable to allow stormwater and sewerage infrastructure to remain operational during a similar flood event, Roger said.Big Fig was closed by rising floodwaters.Further clarification regarding local authority announcements which enabled tenants’ insurance cover to be triggered was also sought, he said.Meeting participants also agreed it was desirable to have a QLDC representative with delegated authority in Wanaka to improve response times and the coordination of resources.QLDC media spokesperson Jack Barlow said in future flooding events, a QLDC emergency management officer will be “a visible presence in Wanaka...working alongside the community, contractors and other stakeholders”.He added that Wanaka’s Lakefront Development Plan (stage four: the CBD foreshore area) will consider flood mitigation measures for more frequent events. Roger said evidence of the impact of climate change made it all the more compelling for council to revise its existing Flood Risk Management Strategy for the communities of Lakes Wakatipu and Wanaka - which was published 14 years ago.“Flood guidelines for lakefront businesses to provide information on how to prepare for floods (including emergency plans and business continuity plans), and what to do and where to go when flooding occurs, are currently being updated,” Jack said.Roger said while the meeting was constructive he is disappointed there has been no effort from the QLDC and its contractors to document proposed actions and keep key stakeholders informed.“Council staff and contractors [are] to come up with a simple new plan [but] there is no agreed time frame or allocation of responsibility to convene a future meeting with stakeholders. We find this very frustrating,” Roger said.PHOTOS: Wanaka App

“Not great timing” seems to be the local businesses’ assessment of the government’s plans to introduce a further increase in the minimum wage.The minimum wage was previously $17.70 per hour, but was increased to $18.90 per hour in April this year. In April 2021 it will be raised to $20/hour: a jump of $2.30 in a one-year period.Ignite Wanaka executive officer Naomi Lindsay said the change will impose significant costs to small businesses.‘Significant costs’ for businesses“The increase in minimum wage, proposed extension to sick leave, the new domestic violence leave introduced this year, proposed additional Matariki Bank Holiday as well as the proposal to increase the minimum wage to be offered to 3-year visa holders from $25.50 to $27 all adds significant costs to small businesses,” she said.An escalation in fixed costs makes it harder to turn a reasonable profit, says a local businessman. PHOTO: Wanaka App“This is on the back of a really tough year financially, with little relief on outgoings including rent, etc. This issue will impact many sectors that employ what is deemed unskilled labour earning hourly rates around the living wage rate, including but not limited to retail, hospitality, tourism and some supporting industries.”“Many small and medium businesses are already struggling to maintain overheads with reduced income. Adding other increases to an already stretched environment is causing local businesses to rethink their business models, opening hours and staffing, as a ‘do nothing’ when faced with enforced rising costs isn’t an option,” Naomi said.Naomi said the general issue of rising business costs was mentioned at a recent local meeting with incoming tourism minister Stuart Nash.“He is aware of the pressure this puts on business. We will continue to raise these issues with appropriate parties as and when we can,” she said.Staff may lose jobsLocal businessman Brian Kreft, who owns Wanaka Paper Plus, said the impact of the cost increases will vary from business to business depending on the strength of their cash flow or balances.“The concern is the escalation in fixed costs and it just makes it harder to turn a reasonable profit… You've got to look and say what can you do to decrease costs to cover,” he said, adding that in some cases that will mean staff will have to go.Brian also noted the ‘domino effect’ whereby staff receiving an increase in wages will lead to other staff seeking a wage increase of $2.30 per hour. For example, an adjustment in pay by that amount for 10 staff could increase costs by $51,667 compared to 2018.“The timing’s diabolical. I don’t think thought has been given to the escalation of this because it permeates through the whole business,” Brian said.However, Brian believes the Reserve Bank has done well in keeping unemployment low and money flowing into the workplace. “The proverbial hasn’t hit the fan, but it’s just a matter of when that’s going to be,” he said.Or - wage increases will stimulate economyWhen finance minister Grant Robertson visited Wanaka on the campaign trail in October he said an increase to the minimum wage would stimulate the economy.He said the idea that increasing the minimum wage is bad for the economy doesn't stack up, pointing out that unemployment fell constantly throughout the 2000s, despite minimum wage increases averaging 8 per cent, and it continued to fall throughout the 2010s even with further minimum wage increases by both National and Labour governments. Finance minister Grant Robertson said an increase in the minimum wage will stimulate the economy. PHOTO: Wanaka AppLow wage earners spend most of what they earn in the economy, so increases act as an economic stimulant, he said. It’s also a moral issue, Grant said: Employees should earn enough to live on.“We believe that many people are trying to get by on very low pay and having a pretty hard time and they deserve to make a living,” he said. A new report from the Helen Clark Foundation and the NZ Institute of Economic Research says now would be a good time to bump minimum wage to $22.10 - the amount determined by the Living Wage campaign to be "necessary to provide workers and their families with the basic necessities of life".How locals are paidIgnite surveys local businesses annually to gauge wage levels, although the survey was not conducted this year because of COVID-19 restrictions.Naomi said among respondents there was an increase in wages paid for both the skilled and unskilled workforce in 2019.Last year’s survey indicated just 1.49 per cent of businesses who responded to the survey paid their staff on average the then minimum wage of $16.50 per hour. Almost six per cent of respondents paid their staff an average of $17.21 per hour, and almost 39 per cent of respondents paid their staff an average of between $21-$28. Local cafe owner Chris Hadfield, who is also a member of the Wanaka Community Board, said he has always paid all of his staff more than the minimum wage.Chris Hadfield says paying his staff a living wage has kept them in town. PHOTO: Supplied“The majority of our permanent local staff we’ve paid the living wage, which is why some of them have been there for eight years or more,” he said.Chris said, however, that the wage increases are bad timing for local businesses.“It’s going to be three to five years before things are anything near to what they used to be. I think we’d all agree that it’s not great timing.“Ultimately if base costs go up, prices go up,” he added.Life on the minimum wageOne local worker told the Wanaka App it is “very hard to survive here on minimum wage”.Working a 40 hour week on the current minimum pays $752 before tax - just over $600 a week in the hand. With rents around $500, she said, that can leave just $100 per week for food, petrol and other costs.“Getting top ups from WINZ and Working For Families basically means public money is being used to help top up employees of these businesses to be able to survive, essentially subsidising them,” she said.“The rise gives an extra $44 before tax on a full time wage: it may be the difference between eating well and staying healthier, or not. Employers need to think more long term but they won't until they are forced to.”Community Networks general manager Kate Murray said the service provides assistance and food parcels to working families in Wanaka.“We definitely do see people who are above the threshold for Work and Income who are struggling to make ends meet.“Their cash flow position is difficult - it doesn’t take many unexpected costs, such as healthcare, to not be able to manage,” she said.

It’s the news local businesses have been waiting for: The trans-Tasman bubble could soon open. Today (Monday December 14) prime minister Jacinda Ardern said a bubble between New Zealand and Australia should be expected within the first quarter of 2021.The PM did issue a disclaimer on the announcement, saying the decision would be made "pending confirmation from the Australian cabinet and no significant change in the circumstances in either country”.A trans-Tasman bubble would allow unrestricted, quarantine-free travel between the two countries. It’s something tourism-dependent businesses in Wanaka and elsewhere in New Zealand have been calling for for many months. At today’s post cabinet press conference the PM said cabinet had agreed in principle to the bubble.Officials have begun work on preparations, the PM said, which would need to include clear plans for the event of a community outbreak, arrangements for air crew and airlines, among other things. "It is our intention to name a date... in the New Year, once remaining details are locked down," she said. Late last week a travel bubble between New Zealand and the Cook Islands was announced, also likely to be implemented in the first quarter of 2021. The Cook Islands and New Zealand bubble would likely be in place before the trans-tasman bubble, the PM said.

Wanaka restaurant Ode Conscious Dining will reopen later this month with a lifeline budget, owner and chef Lucas Parkinson has announced. The restaurant closed its doors on November 8 after the second lockdown in Auckland proved to be one too many financial hits to take. Now, Ode has received a lifeline budget: “An initial investment large enough to get us operational again,” Lucas said.He remained tight-lipped about the financial backers and the certainty it provided for Ode into the future, but said if the trial period was successful the restaurant would “secure” its partners. “I can't say too much at present... The main thing is we're back in action and feeling good about Ode's future,” Lucas told the Wanaka App.This is the second time Ode has closed and reopened, and a third closure was narrowly avoided thanks to a successful apple crumble fundraiser. Ode first closed 15 months after it first opened when the restaurant was severely damaged by fire. After a lengthy battle with insurers and a costly rebuild, it reopened. The restaurant stayed afloat following the first COVID-19 lockdown in March after Lucas put out a plea for the community to buy apple crumbles to help save the business.Later, when the Auckland lockdown hit, Ode lost many of its bookings and closed again on November 8. Lucas said it had been a “gut wrenching” experience but said he was positive about the future.“I know our community and guests will show up and give their full support to help us get through…” Ode will reopen on December 17 under the new moniker ‘New Zealand Cuisine’. The fine dining restaurant serves local and organic food.  PHOTO: Supplied

The government has changed the rules for Queenstown Lakes employers who want to hire migrants.The Ministry of Social Development's 'undersupply list' was updated yesterday (Tuesday December 2) to include 20 types of tourism and hospitality jobs, specifically in the Queenstown Lakes district. The move allows more employers to support a work visa application for roles paid below the median wage - including chefs, bartenders, baristas, cleaners, housekeepers, outdoor guides, tour guides and others (full list below). Both the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) mayor Jim Boult and Southland’s new National MP Joseph Mooney welcomed the news."I am delighted to see the changes made by the ministry today, responding to the lack of New Zealanders available to fill a number of key tourism and hospitality roles in the Queenstown Lakes district," Jim said.There is a lack of New Zealanders available to fill key tourism and hospitality roles in this district, mayor Jim Boult says."Our district has relied heavily on workers from overseas given the scale of the visitor economy here, and I couldn’t see any other way of helping these businesses adequately staff themselves” Southland MP Joseph Mooney says it will mean many thousands of workers on employer-assisted work visas will be able to secure further employment."There was serious concern in the community [that] work visas were expiring and there was a struggle to not only find Kiwi workers, but any workers at all," he said."I had heard of situations where businesses were having to close because they couldn’t get sufficient staff... While [this] does not solve the labour shortage issue, it will provide some relief to many businesses.”The following occupations will be added to the undersupply list for the area covered by the QLDC:351311 - Executive Chef, Head Chefs, Sous Chefs, Chef de Partie, Commis Chef351411 - Cook431111/ 431511 - Restaurant supervisor431511 - Waiter431111 - Bartender431112 - Barista851299 - Butchery assistant851211 - Bakery assistant851299 - Food trades assistant851111 - Fast food cook851311 - Kitchenhand431411 - Concierge542113 - Hotel or Motel Receptionist811211 - Cleaner431912 - Porter811511 - Laundry Attendant811411 - Housekeeper452299 - Outdoor Adventure Guide452217 - Raft Guides452214 - Canyon Guide451412 - Tour GuideEmployers will still need to advertise their vacancies and demonstrate they have made genuine attempts to attract and recruit suitable New Zealanders.PHOTOS: Supplied

Although the Reset Summit has wrapped up, there’s still a chance for local businesses to learn more about living with a smaller environmental footprint this year. ‘Zero Carbon Now Wanaka: How to measure and manage your business’s carbon footprint’ is coming to Wanaka today (Tuesday December 1).“If you missed out on WAO's carbon footprint workshop, or even if you want to delve deeper into the measurement and certification options within New Zealand - this is the event for you,” WAO organisers said.The free event is being led by Ekos, an international non-profit enterprise that develops innovative approaches to financing a sustainable future.Ekos will “demystify the carbon footprint measurement process and… help your business get started on their zero carbon journey no matter what stage it is at,” Ekos said in a statement.Attendees will learn about the importance and the advantages of understanding their business’s carbon footprint; how to start measuring and reducing; and a sense of how much it might cost to measure to the ISO standard and get certified as a zero carbon/climate positive business operation.The event will teach business owners how to start measuring and reducing their carbon footprint.The Otago Regional Council (ORC) recently tallied up its greenhouse gas emissions for the financial year 2018-19, finding its greenhouse gas output over the period was 578 tonnes. Most of the output came from transport fuels, domestic air travel, and purchased electricity: fuel for the ORC’s fleet of 59 vehicles accounted for 349 tonnes; domestic flights, mainly between made up 103 tonnes, and purchased electricity for ORC offices, depots and pump stations totalled 76 tonnes.ORC chief executive Sarah Gardner said the assessment was a first for the organisation, adding that it was done in parallel with a region-wide emissions assessment.“There’s no requirement for us to do an inventory like this of our own organisation, but it has been really helpful for us to take a step back and understand what ORC’s day-to-day activities look like in terms of carbon output,” she said. “Crucially, this work also sets us up with a baseline to measure improvements over time.”‘Zero Carbon Now Wanaka: How to measure and manage your business’s carbon footprint’ will take place at the Lake Wanaka centre tonight, with the doors opening at 4.45pm. A presentation followed by a Q&A session and networking. Register for the free event here.PHOTO/IMAGE: Supplied