Kia Kaha Queenstown Lakes workshops start this month, offering free sessions with job-related advice for community members to attend in both Wanaka and Queenstown.The workshops will provide accurate, independent information and advice regarding current job opportunities in the district, business support, retraining and career advice, together with income support options, the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) said.QLDC Kia Kaha organiser Marie Day said the reintroduction of the workshops was an important step towards the district's recovery from COVID-19. A number of residents are looking for new work or how to understand what support is available to them right now, she said."Whether people are looking for a new job, or wondering about a career change or new study and looking for advice on how they should proceed, Kia Kaha Queenstown Lakes workshops can help them take their next step," Marie said."Workshops are also available for business owners looking to understand what services and financial products are available to help support their business and staff."Workshops begin in Queenstown today (Monday October 5) and in Wanaka from next Monday (October 12). All sessions are free to attend and require registration. A timetable and more information is available here.Kia Kaha also coincides with a Jobbortunities event - billed as 'speed-dating for jobs' - which is being delivered by the Clutha District Council mayor's taskforce for jobs. Jobbortunities has thousands of vacancies to fill with companies including Fonterra, Danone and Silver Fern Farms.There is a free bus available to take Wanaka residents to the Jobbortunities event, which is being held from 10:00am-3:00pm on Saturday October 10, at the Queenstown Memorial Centre. To register for the bus, click here.There is also an immigration and visa advice event being held at the Queenstown Memorial Centre a day earlier, on Friday October 9, from 10:00am- 3:00pm. No registration is required to attend either the immigration and visa advice event or Jobbortunities.PHOTO: Supplied

An application to build houses on over half a hectare of land on the western lower slopes of Mt Iron, beneath the walking track, is attracting a lot of attention.Allenby Farms, which owns the 6974m2 lot, has submitted an application for a six lot subdivision with access off Rob Roy Lane. The land is currently zoned low density (suburban) residential, which allows this development, but the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) plans to rezone most of this area to rural, aligning it with an Environment Court decision regarding Mt Iron as an Outstanding Natural Feature (ONF). The QLDC confirmed in a statement to the Wanaka App: “That zoning remains in place until it is formally changed through a variation to the proposed district plan.”   However, given the high level of public importance placed on Mt Iron and the Environment Court’s decision, the QLDC decided the Allenby Farms application should be publicly notified. A group of Rob Roy Lane residents has opposed the application, saying development on this site would be “grossly inappropriate”. “The Resource Management Act identifies the protection of outstanding natural features and landscapes from inappropriate subdivision, use, and development as matters of national importance,” spokesperson Tony Marsh said.The proposed development area and ONF boundary. IMAGE: SuppliedHe said the proposed development would involve earthworks and removal of vegetation up to 30 metres above the existing houses on the side of Mt Iron, with negative effects on the view of Mt Iron and on the natural environment.“The view to Mt Iron which has been largely unchanged for the last 10 to 15 years will be irrevocably altered,” he said.“We urge anyone in the community who shares our concern at further intrusion into the Mt Iron ONF to take the opportunity to make a submission,” he said.The importance of an Outstanding Natural Feature (ONF)Mt Iron, a glacial rock formation, is a defining feature in Wanaka’s landscape and notable for its indigenous biodiversity of kānuka woodland and its popular walking track. Large parts of the landform are identified as an ONF and as Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) in the Proposed District Plan (PDP), however residential building has been permitted on its northern and western slopes. Much of the lower slopes used to be owned and farmed under the name Allenby Farms but over the years have become residential suburbs.In September 2019, the Environment Court deemed Mt Iron to be an ONF, allowing it protection from development which required the QLDC to reassess its zoning. Last month a QLDC planning and strategy committee agreed the parcel of land owned by Allenby Farms should be rezoned as rural land as a variation to the proposed district plan. It also recommended Wanaka’s Urban Growth Boundary should be amended to match the Mt Iron ONF line.The variation would accurately identify land that is part of the ONF as Rural Zone, to achieve better alignment between the ONF, Significant Natural Areas (SNA) and zoning at Mt Iron ONF, the council report said. Timing for undertaking the variation has not yet been confirmed, but the council’s Planning and Strategy Committee recommended the zoning variation be endorsed by the full council meeting next week (Thursday October 8). Public SubmissionsThe Upper Clutha Environmental Society (UCES) has also opposed the application, saying: “the visual effects, amenity effects, effects on natural landscape values and cumulative effects of the development proposed, in the highly sensitive location it is proposed to be located within” will be significant and adverse.The UCES said development has changed the character of Mt Iron. “Far too much development has been consented to on Mount Iron and Little Mount Iron in the past and this application represents yet another inappropriate intrusion into the landscape in this vicinity,” the UCES submission said.Public submissions are open until October 8.

Lake Wanaka Tourism (LWT) has given its seal of approval to a new government package which will help tourism businesses with training and tools for digital commerce. The $20M digital capability funding includes $10M for small-medium enterprises, $5M to boost digital capability in the tourism sector and $5M for Qualmark to help operators develop strategies and skills.A recent analysis of 700 tourism businesses found more than half needed support with digital capability, tourism minister Kelvin Davis said.“In the past, many smaller tourism businesses haven’t had to invest in strong digital marketing to find customers, because of the volume of international visitors and the role of travel agents and tour operators to bring people to their door,” he said. “Tourism businesses are now pivoting towards the intrepid domestic traveller who likes to shop around online and book their own holiday.”LWT media and campaign manager Gizelle Regan said the package addressed issues also identified in an LWT survey. It found ‘understanding and adapting marketing to a domestic only market’ and ‘opportunities to inform marketing plans and online selling tools’ as key areas of need among the 128 local business respondents.Gizelle said in the post-COVID environment businesses need a competitive edge and strengthening their digital presence can help achieve that. “An effective digital marketing strategy delivers new customers, which can be converted to more business and also helps to create and strengthen customer loyalty for the brand,” she said.The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is currently engaging with potential private sector providers to deliver the small business digital capability package, and more information will be available at the business.govt.nz website in the coming weeks.In the meantime, expert advice (to the value of $5,000) is currently available here through the COVID-19 Business Advisory Regional Business Fund to support business recovery and growth, and Qualmark funding is available to help tourism operators to develop digital strategies and skills, with more information available here.PHOTO: Wanaka App

Some local tourism operators have written to the Tourism Industry Authority and Ministry of Business, Innovation and employment (MBIE) complaining about elements of the government’s Strategic Assets Protection Programme (STAPP).While STAPP, created to protect New Zealand’s core tourism assets, 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.A local tourism 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.“...this gave us the strong impression that the funding was not for smaller businesses and hence not worth us applying for, which unfortunately for us and many other tourism operators who thought the same was an incorrect assumption,” they said.The operator said the short timeframe to apply (from June 4 to June 18) also made it difficult for small operators with few or no staff to assist with the application process. Businesses were also meant to show they had explored all avenues of alternative funding, such as bank loans, which was difficult to do in such a short timeframe, they said.Tim Barke said some eligible operators did not realise they met the funding criteria. PHOTO: SuppliedWanaka businesses aren’t the only ones with concerns: More than 20 tourism companies around the country who missed out on funding are considering seeking a judicial review of MBIE’s funding process.Radio New Zealand reported last week that the STAPP fund was nearly abandoned after MBIE struggled to properly assess applicants. Recently released ministerial briefing documents show MBIE officials also urged against capped grants of up to $500,000, citing concerns it would “create perverse outcomes”.Lake Wanaka Tourism general manager Tim Barke told the Wanaka App the 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 and I believe this is the current situation”.“...either there was a misunderstanding of the criteria or the criteria changed without people realising,” he said.Patsy Nolan of Backcountry Helicopters said the STAPP funding will help the business focus on the domestic market, offer access options into Aspiring National Park, and keep their crew employed. PHOTO: Backcountry HelicoptersA number of Wanaka operators have been grateful for the STAPP boost.To date the following local operators have been granted STAPP funding: 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.Backcountry Helicopters and Wilkin River Jets are owned by Harvey Hutton and his partner Patsy Nolan, who told the Wanaka App they were “thrilled” to get the funding.“Both businesses, as was the wider tourism industry in Makarora, were hit hard due to the borders being closed,” Patsy said. “The funding will enable us to focus on the domestic market, and continue to offer access options into the national park, while keeping our crew in employment.”An MBIE spokesperson told the Wanaka App MBIE has received around 80 queries, including OIA requests, on the STAPP process.She defended the funding process, saying information about the application process was provided, and contact details were listed for businesses which needed more information.As the economic conditions and realities changed (for example, the anticipated trans-Tasman or Pacific bubble hasn’t eventuated, the wage subsidy has been extended, and domestic tourism has been stronger than expected in many parts of the country), the support offered also changed, she said.“While the operating environment has changed, the process of determining successful STAPP applicants did not change. STAPP applications were based on a high trust model,” she said. “The assessment criteria was the same for all applicants in the round. Applications were assessed, peer reviewed and moderated according to the criteria laid out on the MBIE website.” MBIE assessed the applications in consultation with a range of government departments, including the Treasury, and the tourism recovery ministers group reviewed the advice MBIE provided and made the decisions, she said.

A judicial review against Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) began in Queenstown yesterday (Monday September 21).The review was launched by the Wanaka Stakeholders Group (WSG), which represents more than 3,000 Upper Clutha residents. They signalled the action in August 2019, saying various agreements between QLDC and QAC in relation to Wanaka Airport are unlawful - including the 100-year lease to QAC.The WSG opened with its submissions yesterday. Julian Miles QC said the issue was the biggest this community has faced in a very long time, and the QLDC's and QAC's plans "impact on every element that makes Wanaka what it is... and are of enormous importance".WSG chair Michael Ross said the group’s legal team had spent “hundreds of hours” during the last year preparing for the case, and the group was pleased to have the opportunity to put its concerns before a High Court judge.The WSG, as Protect Wanaka, raised $13,000 via a Givealittle page to pay for the legal action. A second Givealittle page has raised $1,230 of a $20,000 goal.WSG chair Michael Ross Queenstown media outlet Crux reported that QAC has spent more than $300,000 so far defending the WSG legal action. WSG spokesperson Mark Sinclair told Crux that not only do residents have to fund the WSG application, “but in effect ratepayers will cover the cost of defending it”.Queenstown Lakes District councillors approved a long-term lease of the Wanaka Airport to the QAC at a council meeting on April 20, 2017. One year later the lease became effective, with QAC paying the QLDC $14.5 million for the ground lease and related assets. The WSG claims that handing over control of the existing Wanaka Airport to QAC by a 100-year lease following QLDC’s consultation in 2016/2017 acted in breach of numerous sections of the Local Government Act. It claimed that, as a result, any contracts entered into with QAC to transfer control of the airport “were unlawful, were illegal contracts and of no effect”. Additionally, it argues the decisions of QLDC to enter into the lease were unreasonable and failed to take into account relevant matters.The hearing is expected to take a week and High Court Judge Justice Gerard Van Bohemen’s decision is likely to be delivered later in the year.

In any other year, Ridgeline Adventures would not come close to being involved in the food and beverage industry, but 2020 is not like any other year. This year the Wanaka 4WD tour operator is a finalist in three categories in the New Zealand Food Awards (NZFA). Instead of showcasing New Zealand’s best food, this year the NZFA has moved to recognise the Kiwi businesses and individuals that helped keep the food supply chain going during the COVID-19 response. When the COVID-19 lockdown hit, Ridgeline Adventures’ business (which was around 95 per cent international tourists) died overnight. Owner Mark Orbell quickly contacted Volunteer South - Central Lakes (formally Volunteering Central) to see how the company could help, and was matched with New World to deliver groceries to those most vulnerable or who could not get to the shops themselves. "We volunteered because we’ve always been about community and giving back,” Mark said. “It was a no-brainer for us.”Using its vehicles and staff, the business was able to deliver necessities to people who needed them most. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to visit people all over town who have been so appreciative for our service,” Mark said.He said the interaction delivering groceries was often the only physical interaction recipients had for weeks at a time. “We became a connection to the outside world - boosting spirits on both sides."For its lockdown efforts, Ridgeline Adventures is a finalist in three of the six NZFA categories: Dream Team, Local Hero and Greater Good. NZFA received over 340 nominations reflecting innovation and true community spirit. “Finalists span from individuals to companies all doing their bit to help keep the food supply chain going,” an NZFA spokesperson said. “Ridgeline is the only tour operator finalist, which makes them a real standout.”The award winners will be announced on October 8 at the Food Heroes Awards Celebration in Auckland. PHOTO: NZFA

A Southern Lakes alliance, including Wanaka, has scored a $8.5M grant from the central government’s regional events fund.The grant, announced yesterday (Thursday September 10), will support the staging of events in Wanaka, Queenstown, Central Otago and Fiordland.When announcing the funding, tourism minister Kelvin Davis confirmed that regions will be responsible for driving domestic tourism as part of the government’s tourism recovery plan.“We are supporting the events sector as Tourism New Zealand advice indicates that up to one third of domestic travel is primarily driven by people looking to take part in events,” he said.“Through this fund, we will empower regions to make the decisions around how the money is spent and what events are most likely to drive domestic visitation for their region. This means they can invest in existing events, developing new ones, capability building or events coordination.”Queenstown Lakes District mayor Jim Boult said he is delighted with the funding. Mayor Jim Boult said events are the most effective way to encourage New Zealanders to visit the region more regularly. PHOTO: SuppliedJim said the work of the Mayoral Taskforce for Tourism and Short-term Recovery identified events as the most effective way to encourage New Zealanders to visit the region more regularly.“That the government recognised the value of events in supporting an economy such as ours is fantastic. Equally, that the minister saw fit to award $8.5M of the fund to the Southern Lakes is truly a show of confidence in the ability of our region to recover and once again become a major contributor to GDP.”Jim said the grant will provide the opportunity to bring high quality events south while also supporting jobs in tourism.The minister said the fund is a medium-term one designed to provide funding certainty for two to four years. Each grouping, including the Southern Lakes Alliance, must produce an investment plan prior to funds being released. The minister said investment plans should be submitted by early November, and funding agreements would be in place by December.PHOTO: Supplied

Local photographer Andy Woods has come away from the 2020 Iris Professional Photography Awards with 16 new awards under his belt. The awards are the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography’s (NZIPP) annual celebration of photography. Of Andy’s 16 awards, three were in the commercial category, three in the landscape (in-camera) category, three in the nature category, five in the travel category and two in the wedding (in-camera) category.“It’s a real honour to receive these awards,” Andy said. “I am really pleased with results as the Iris Awards recognise and honour the best in contemporary photography from New Zealand and overseas professionals”. Maungawera Valley based Andy is an NZIPP accredited professional photographer and his speciality areas include commercial, travel, wedding, architectural, agricultural, portraits, product and food. Andy Woods PHOTO: SuppliedAndy holds a ‘Master Photographer’ distinction with NZIPP, recognised globally as a benchmark of excellence. He is also a member of the Advertising and Illustrative Photographers Association (AIPA).As well as entering the awards, Andy was also one of the many judges. He judged five out of the 15 categories. The judging was done via online livestream with a panel of five judges judging each photograph.The Iris Professional Photography Awards have been running for more than 35 years, celebrating the innovation and excellence of professional photography and providing a platform for recognition within the wider photographic community and with the general public.The 2020 award winners were announced on September 7. Learn more here.Find more information about Andy’s work here.

The Tourism Recovery Ministers Group has approved grants for three Wanaka businesses from the Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme (STAPP).Wanaka River Journeys, Wilkin River Jets and Backcountry Helicopters are among 130 tourism assets around the country to receive funding through the programme.STAPP is intended to protect the assets in the tourism landscape that form the core of New Zealand’s essential tourism offerings, helping ensure their survival through the disruption caused by COVID-19.Applicants for the fund must demonstrate they have exhausted alternative options for support, and there is a need for support to safeguard the asset. The tourism asset must also be of strategic significance (national or regional, cultural, environmental and/or historic), be a key attraction, be responsible for significant visitation to the region where it is located, and generate significant spillover benefits.STAAP is part of the government’s Tourism Recovery Plan.Lake Wanaka Tourism was granted $700,000 through STAPP in late July, as one of 31 regional tourism organisations (RTOs) to receive grants totalling $20.2M. Backcountry Helicopters (pictured) and Wilkin River Jets are Makarora based businesses.In this round, Wanaka River Journeys has been granted $215,101, while Wilkin River Jets and Backcountry Helicopters each received grants of $500,000. Sue Pihama, who co-owns Wanaka River Journeys with her husband Brent, said they were thrilled to receive the STAPP funding. Wanaka River Journeys offers a range of experiences, including by jet boat and pack raft, on the Matukituki River.“We are really pleased we have been recognised and we are proud we have been given that recognition through a lot of hard work and an incredible product,” Sue said. The strength of domestic tourism over the past few months was a positive sign for the industry moving forward. “We are optimistic about the future and the summer season ahead,” she said. Wilkin River Jets and Backcountry Helicopters did not respond to a request for comment before publication. Patsy Nolan is a director and CEO of both companies.There were 305 businesses which applied for support through STAPP. While all STAPP funding has been assigned, the recipients of the funding have not all been made public yet, so there may be more local businesses who have received STAPP funding. PHOTOS: Supplied

The Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) says new population predictions indicate a slowdown in the district’s population growth, but chief executive Mike Theelen says this will be short lived.“While COVID-19 will have a significant impact on our population in the short-term, this doesn’t mean our district’s ongoing development will stop,” Mike said.While the population growth might not happen as fast as it might have done without the economic impacts of COVID-19, the district continues to grow, and the pace is expected to pick up again.“Our modelling expects that ongoing family formation and migration from people across Aotearoa New Zealand and elsewhere who see the district as a great place to live, work, and play will ensure that population trends recover over time,” Mike said.Property information provided by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) showed the number of properties sold in Wanaka this July increased by 23.5 per cent compared to the same time last year. RELATED: Another strong month for property salesWhether these properties are for permanent dwellings or investment properties/holiday homes is not provided in the data, it does indicate interest in Wanaka continues to remain strong. At Wanaka Primary School, principal Wendy Bamford said the school roll had gone up substantially since lockdown.“We have had some increases we weren't expecting,” Wendy said. “We have had New Zealanders returning from overseas e.g. America, Bali, UK, Dubai, and we have several families from Auckland arriving in the next fortnight.”Rolls have increased unexpectedly since lockdown at two local primary schools. PHOTO: SuppliedThe school had so far had 16 unexpected new arrivals and 17 expected new entrants.“We continue to receive regular enquiries including a couple of families from Australia, when they are able to travel,” she added. Hawea Flat School principal Tania Pringle said the school is continuing to grow and there has been a significant increase of enrolments from families moving from out of the district. “A third of all our enrolments (seven families) since returning from lockdown have been from families new to the area. This compares with an eighth of all enrolment prior to lockdown. “We are continuing to field regular enquiries from families looking to shift into the area immediately or in the new year. These enquiries come from across New Zealand as well as a number of people looking to return from overseas.”Tania said since lockdown only one child has left the school to move out of the district. Conversely, Mount Aspiring College’s school roll had decreased slightly: On March 1 the school roll sat at 1,133; by July 1 it was down 10 to 1,223.The biggest factor expected to slow down the increase in population in the district was the economic impacts of tourism and how that would affect jobs.“Tourism accounts for 64 per cent of all jobs in the district, and without international tourists it’s evident there will be a knock-on effect in terms of the district’s population figures,” a QLDC representative said.A report commissioned by QLDC and completed by Infometrics in May predicts an economic decline of 25.3 per cent, or 7,500 jobs lost, before March 2021.But there is plenty to suggest the population increases will pick up the pace again, says Mike, who expects a slowdown over the next ten years then an increase in the 20 years following. “Both historic and current patterns suggest the district can have continued confidence about its future population,” he said.

Confirmation of the Sounds Air flights between Wanaka and Christchurch could not have come at a better time, Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean says.“I met with the Sounds Air chief executive Andrew Crawford several months ago where we discussed the potential for flights to and from Wanaka airport, and I’m very pleased to see that their proposal is becoming a reality," said Jacqui.“Flights into Wanaka will bring tourists and visitors into town at a time when the hospitality and accommodation sectors sorely need their support, and the flights will support business travel and connectivity with the rest of New Zealand.RELATED:Sounds Air tickets on sale from next month“It was great to hear confirmation on Monday that the proposal had got the thumbs-up and that this plucky Blenheim-based regional airline would be able to launch a daily service between Christchurch and Wanaka starting on November 2.“With the Queenstown Airport Corporation managing the Wanaka operation, everyone’s hoping for a smooth final sign-off between the parties involved, which include QAC owners Queenstown Lakes District Council and Auckland International Airport, along with Christchurch Airport.“These plans have been a long time in the making for both the airline and the communities that will be served. Whether it’s Christchurch people who own property in Wanaka, or Wanaka residents who do business in Christchurch. They have long expressed a need for this service.“I look forward to seeing tickets go on sale in September as proposed, and for the arrival of the first flights into Wanaka in November,” said Jacqui.