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Year of ups and downs for new bike park
Year of ups and downs for new bike park

07 February 2021, 9:02 PM

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.

Hāwea entrepreneur hoping for wave of community support
Hāwea entrepreneur hoping for wave of community support

05 February 2021, 8:59 PM

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

Summer ‘boom’ slowing - for now
Summer ‘boom’ slowing - for now

02 February 2021, 8:56 PM

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

Government funding boost for local farmers’ catchment group
Government funding boost for local farmers’ catchment group

20 January 2021, 1:27 AM

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 company expands orchard investments
Albert Town company expands orchard investments

17 January 2021, 1:23 AM

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

Visa changes allow migrants to fill labour shortages
Visa changes allow migrants to fill labour shortages

15 January 2021, 1:20 AM

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

Small business support expanded
Small business support expanded

14 January 2021, 1:19 AM

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.

Better late than never: floodwater management discussed
Better late than never: floodwater management discussed

26 December 2020, 8:54 PM

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

Bad timing for minimum wage increases, businesses say
Bad timing for minimum wage increases, businesses say

22 December 2020, 8:52 PM

“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.

Ode to reopen with ‘lifeline budget’
Ode to reopen with ‘lifeline budget’

13 December 2020, 6:40 AM

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

Loosening of visa rules a boost for district
Loosening of visa rules a boost for district

11 December 2020, 6:38 AM

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

Businesses’ carbon footprints under the microscope
Businesses’ carbon footprints under the microscope

09 December 2020, 6:37 AM

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

Local business making its mark
Local business making its mark

09 December 2020, 6:35 AM

A little local company is working with authors and publishers around the world from right here in Wanaka. Sisters Kimberley and Claire Davis are the duo behind Little Owl, which provides editing and writing services for a wide variety of clients. Distance from clients in the rural location hasn’t proven to be a problem, and the business has continued to tick over despite the effects of COVID-19. “We’ve been really fortunate,” Kimberley said. “We’re surprised by how busy we’ve been.“We sort of hope for the best and plan for the worst.” Claire’s background is in communications and events and Kimberley’s in traditional publishing: they decided to pool resources under Little Owl.“We found we have crossover skills that complement each other,” Claire said. The pair tend to tackle different parts of the projects they work on but come together for advice and to look over each other’s works. “It’s nice to have that inbuilt trust where you know you can trust the other person’s intentions,” Kimberley said. Little Owl has worked on a huge variety of books and publications: from Annabel Langbein’s recent memoir Bella: My Life in Food, to Husna’s Story by Farid Ahmed, survivor of the Christchurch mosque attack, and Not That I’d Kiss A Girl by Lil O’Brien. They both have a soft spot for children’s books too, and a long list of recent work in the children’s and young adults book category. “One of my favourites is working with authors on something that has been a really long-held project for them,” Kimberley said. “That’s really rewarding.”“Especially when a project has been a really long time in the making,” Claire said. The pair both take their roles within the publishing industry seriously and care deeply about helping produce quality publications.“There’s that feeling of social responsibility,” Kimberley said. “A book implies credibility.” “There are so many places you can access stories now, from books to Instagram,” Claire said. “As part of a wider industry we care about respecting the process. We’ve built a bit of a reputation for being sticklers.” Learn more about Little Owl here.PHOTO: Jodie James

Lakefront e-bike operation rejected
Lakefront e-bike operation rejected

28 November 2020, 10:30 PM

An application to establish a sightseeing e-bike rental and food/coffee caravan on the Wanaka lakefront has been rejected by council staff, who believe the lakefront is at “commercial capacity”.LandEscape, which operates an e-bike and hot-tub tourism business on 115 hectares near Hāwea Flat, applied to the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) for a licence to operate a mobile facility on the Roys Bay recreational reserve beside the Mt Aspiring Road car park.Active sightseeing proposalThe concept is to promote active sightseeing by e-bike. Initially it would use a mobile coffee caravan with outdoor seating as a focal point on the foreshore where e-bike test rides and safety briefings could occur. LandEscape already has 82 e-bikes designed for sightseeing, numerous spare batteries available from multiple locations for swapping, and a shuttle service to pick up and drop off visitors at their accommodation.LandEscape's YouMo e-bikes are especially designed for cruising and sightseeing. PHOTO: SuppliedLandEscape owner Rik Deaton acknowledged that “unfettered usage of the lakefront reserve by commercial interests” wasn’t desirable but is convinced his proposal, which is more than just a bike rental operation, would benefit the community.It is a comprehensive strategy to replace sightseeing visitors’ cars and motorhomes by providing “a viable and desirable alternative for sightseers”, he said, and is consistent with council’s stated objective to encourage active transport.“It [his proposal] is a synergistic, high-volume, electric bicycle operation...that puts our second transportation network (cycle trails) to work alongside our road system.”Seeking redress Rik took his concerns to the Wanaka Community Board (WCB) earlier this month (November 5), but was declined the opportunity to present his case during public forum by chair Barry Bruce, on the grounds Rik hadn’t pre-registered to speak and his statement would have exceeded the allocated three minute timeframe.Instead, Rik provided a written summary of his application to date, which indicated he had approached elected members at a WCB drop-in session in September 2019 and was advised of the possibility of a suitable site on the foreshore beside the new Mt Aspiring Road car park.A food trailer, similar to this Airstream, is considered the most likely option and it would be wrapped in LandEscape’s corporate artwork with e-bikes, hot tubs and Lake Hāwea and the mountains in the background. PHOTO: SuppliedOn the basis of this, LandEscape employed a professional planner and applied to the QLDC for the licence to operate on the Roys Bay foreshore. But Rik’s application wasn’t supported by council senior parks and reserves planner Aaron Burt.Lakefront at ‘commercial capacity’Aaron told the Wanaka App the location identified for the proposal, in the Roys Bay - Pembroke Park Open Space and Connection area, wasn’t suitable for commercial licences and “the LandEscape activity suggested would limit the ability of the public to enjoy the reserve in the area sought”.Aaron said council also had to consider the volume of proposals for the lakeshore reserves balanced against the popularity of those reserves for public/community recreational use and “the reality is that commercial concepts requiring a licence or lease are typically unsuccessful.” He said the council anticipated commercial activities on the CDB lakefront where they could be clustered to reduce the impact on the community's recreational use of the reserve. Both Paddle Wanaka and Lakeland Adventures have been issued commercial licences to operate on this portion of the recreational reserve.  In the case of Lakeland Adventures the licence to operate replaced its previous activity based at the log cabin (recently removed), and was appropriate in that location, Aaron said.The Lakeland Adventure’s licence was approved by the WCB in May. At the time, some WCB members and Wanaka-based councillors had concerns about the size of the operations but agreed that every effort should be made to support local businesses through the economic difficulties of COVID-19 and having a vibrant lakefront was important.Under the Reserves Act, the council must ensure the values of public reserves are not eroded by commercial use, Aaron said, and the CBD lakefront has reached “its commercial capacity”.Instead, Aaron recommended LandEscape “utilise commercial premises in the CBD to operate its business”.Next stepsRik said commercial premises in the CBD isn’t a practical solution for a number of reasons, including that e-bikes are bulky and the number required was too great for the limited space of a CDB shop, and no premises in the town centre included a space to safely provide riding tuition for uninitiated visitors.Not easily deterred, Rik has resubmitted LandEscape’s application for a licence to operate and said if the application is rebuffed once more council should “expect that decision to be challenged in court”.

Minister talks bed tax, campervans in first visit to district
Minister talks bed tax, campervans in first visit to district

26 November 2020, 10:28 PM

Newly-appointed tourism minister Stuart Nash says he will be going back to Wellington to talk to other ministers about solutions for some of Queenstown Lakes’ current challenges. The minister, who replaced Kelvin Davis in the post-election cabinet reshuffle, was in Queenstown yesterday (Wednesday November 18) for talks with district mayor Jim Boult, the council's economic development team, and tourism industry leaders.Jim said he was "particularly pleased" the minister had chosen to come so soon after being appointed to the role.Stuart said he'd had a "very constructive conversation" with Jim about employers' struggles to find staff in the absence of people on working holiday visas. "I'm going to go back and talk to the minister for immigration and the minister of finance and other colleagues to outline a solution that I think, in the short-term any way, may alleviate a couple of problems the Queenstown [Lakes] district faces," he said.It was Stuart’s first visit to the district since his appointment as tourism minister.On Tuesday (November 17) Stuart addressed the Tourism Summit Aotearoa in Wellington and announced one of his goals is to ensure that New Zealanders no longer subsidise international visitors to the extent they have in the past. Asked today whether the district’s proposed bed tax could be a way to transfer the cost of tourism from communities to the tourists themselves, he said he had "a lot of thoughts" about that. "What I have done, two things, first of all the Tourism Futures Taskforce, which is made up of some incredibly knowledgeable and experienced people in the industry, they're going to give me a report in mid-December. "I'll take a good hard look at that, see what their recommendations are. "The other thing is I have asked my officials to be innovative in their recommendations to me about how we can better value the tourist experience that international tourists get when they come to this country." The visitor levy was on its way to parliament as a private members bill before being shelved when COVID-19 struck. Earlier in the day, Stuart had outlined plans to ban international tourists from hiring campervans which are not self-contained. Tourists defecating on the side of the road is not part of New Zealand's global brand, he said. "And I don't think they are the sort of tourists New Zealanders want to see in our country." He said New Zealand will welcome tourists from across the economic spectrum, but will target high spending visitors. "I think what we do as Kiwis, is we undervalue the offering we have. I'm not saying we're going to asset-test everyone who wants to buy a ticket to New Zealand, but what I am saying is if we're spending taxpayers' money marketing New Zealand . . . that spend should be targeted at the high-end tourists." He said New Zealand's global brand was at an all-time high due to prime minister Jacinda Ardern and the country's handling of the coronavirus, and plenty of people will want to come here once the borders reopen. PHOTOS: Queenstown App

Beauty entrepreneur returns to Hāwea
Beauty entrepreneur returns to Hāwea

24 November 2020, 8:36 PM

Beauty entrepreneur Anna Ross has returned to her roots in Otago after 11 years abroad. The CEO and founder of ethical nail polish company Kester Black formed and grew her brand in Melbourne, Australia, but decided after more than a decade overseas it was time to come home.Her successful brand, launched in 2012, has earned countless awards.Anna said she had been wanting to return to New Zealand for a couple of years and after a long search, it was finding a reliable company for packaging and distribution was the final clincher.“That was really the last piece of the puzzle that allowed us to leave Australia and come back to New Zealand,” she said. Kester Black products are vegan, sustainable and cruelty-free, certified carbon neutral, B Corp certified. Plus, two per cent of all revenue is donated to social causes.Anna is now based in Hāwea Flat, and half of the Kester Black team has come to New Zealand with her: Anna and her husband are two of a small but efficient four-person team behind the company.Going remote has “really forced us to automate and streamline,” Anna said. Living back in New Zealand also gives the company boots on the ground to help grow the company’s following here, she said.After spending her childhood in Dunedin, Anna’s parents made the move to Hāwea Flat, and it was the obvious choice when deciding where to set up a new base.“Every time I’ve come home for the last ten years I’ve managed to come back here [to Hāwea Flat],” Anna said.“It is just breathtaking every time I look out the window. There’s something about the smell, I never get sick of the view, and I love the lake and the mountains.”But moving to the countryside hasn’t slowed down Anna’s life just yet. Business has been booming - up around 1000 per cent on last year - something Anna attributes to a phenomenon called ‘the lipstick effect’.“In times of recession, the sales of affordable luxury goods skyrocket,” Anna said. “Instead of buying handbags and shoes, people want to feel really good and they buy lipstick. It also applies to nail polish.”She’s wary though that Australia and New Zealand are in “a bit of a bubble”. Anna said when the recession hits at its hardest here the business will likely go one of two ways: the lipstick effect will either continue its upward trajectory or it will be the complete opposite and things will dial right down. But for now Anna is making time to get to know her new community. “I think it’s going to be a really easy place to meet people so I’m just throwing my hand up for everything at the moment,” she said. “It’s so nice to move home, especially to a smaller town where there is a real sense of community and people are welcoming.”Kester Black products are currently stocked at the Wonder Room in Wanaka, and online at the brand’s website here. LINK https://nz.kesterblack.com/ PHOTO: Supplied

Lack of skilled workers impact long term
Lack of skilled workers impact long term

23 November 2020, 10:21 PM

Orchard manager Murray Booth says there needs to be change now – it’s not just about one tough season, it’s long term. Murray Booth manages both the 45-hectare Earnscleugh Orchard, and the 21-hectare Hollandia Orchard. He normally employs 50 or more RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employment) workers each season; he currently has six. Many of these RSE workers had become highly trained and highly productive over the past thirteen seasons.“We’ve got 40 Kiwis coming for work; no-one trained.“All these people need training, and fast, and there’s just me and six Vanuatuans.”Kiwis, he said, tended to view horticulture simply as a holiday money spinner.This meant training would become constant this year, if Kiwis did not stay on to develop a higher skill level. “They don’t know anything about apples, apart from buying them in the shop.”Everyone talks about the harvest, Murray said, but there was so much more.“If we don’t get trees thinned and they’re overloaded, we’ll have fruit you can’t pick. “Then the young trees don’t grow because they’re overloaded; it all has longer term impact, and that’s only one aspect.”Murray said they had started thinning early, knowing it would take longer this year.“We’re also mindful there’s cherry growers that will be screaming out for people come Christmas.“So we’ve only got till Christmas to get our work done.”“After Christmas there’s apricots, then apples, then there’s pruning.”“People could get work right through until May, if they want it.”“We’ve invested a lot of time and money into the trees to keep the fruit sound and the nutrition to the trees. “The wheel is turning, we can’t just stop, we have to keep going to get the fruit to market.”Murray said they had employed Kiwis previously, who did not see horticulture as a long term career choice. In the last few years there were few Kiwis as unemployment in Central Otago had been low.“We want Kiwis to realise there’s a lot of opportunity in the horticulture industry, it’s a good career choice, not just a holiday job.”“There’s plenty of jobs, permanent work with qualifications and a good future.”Murray said he worried about the RSE workers, who he come to know well over the years. He had been to the islands and knew their families.He said some had only been home a short time and wished they’d never left – they need the money.“Tourism’s their biggest earner, and there’s no cruise ships.“Their second biggest earner is RSE income, so that’s two main incomes gone, and self-sufficiency is their only option to survive without income.”“They don’t benefit from government aid pay-outs like they do with this work. “They take home skills that benefit their whole community, they build good fences, grow good food and provide for each other.”“Also, if it weren’t for the RSE workers, we wouldn’t have the new developments, we wouldn’t have seen the growth in our industry here.”Murray employs over 50 RSE workers each year.Murray said he sees the practical solution as a mix of both Kiwis and RSE workers.“We need young Kiwis coming through to develop skills, but we also need the highly experienced RSE workers.”“Their work output is tremendous.”“They want to do a good job, they’re serious about the work and have a good work ethic.”“If Kiwis learned to see horticulture as a serious career path, then opportunities would open up for them. It’s a cultural shift for Kiwis.”“When we got the first RSE workers in 2006, it was because we were having trouble with labour – it’s the same now, fourteen years on.”“We were trying to run a business, and we would be wondering each day who would turn up to do the work.”“Back then, Kiwis didn’t treat it like a real job – and they still don’t.”Murray said he had tried to employ Kiwis over the last few years as he developed new orchards, but for most, attitudes to horticulture as a career had not changed.“RSE workers are here because they want to be here."They take pride in their work, they know if they do a good job thinning, it will be better when they come to pick. If they look after the trees, there’ll be lots of work for everyone next season. "They look at the long term; plus they develop skills and knowledge that benefit their families.”“They’ve stayed long term, they get the seasonal cycle and see the impacts of the quality of their work; they understand.“If a Kiwi just stays a week, they don’t get that.“It wouldn’t work in other businesses, so why is it expected to work for us?”Murray said it was frustrating and stressful to have lost the majority of their skilled workers. “COVID hit at apple harvest, so we just haven’t stopped. We did it right and kept everybody safe in their bubbles, we got them home when they wanted to see their families; you go through all that – then this.“We’ve just got to keep smiling.”Murray hopes that Kiwis will shift their attitudes towards horticulture work.“This is a serious industry, it gives a serious contribution to the economy and contributes in a big way to our communities. “It’s a serious career and the knowledge is practical.”He called for the Government to recognise they need their men back, and they need them now - for this season, to set up for future seasons and to give time to train Kiwis.“Our foundations have gone.” “You can’t build new foundations overnight with new people – it’s just not possible.”IMAGES: Supplied

Wanaka to be hit hard by Aurora price hikes
Wanaka to be hit hard by Aurora price hikes

21 November 2020, 8:31 PM

Wanaka power bills will rise, but not as much as they could have done: That’s the silver lining in the Commerce Commission’s draft decision on Aurora Energy’s proposed lines upgrade programme. The draft decision is a mixed bag for customers in Wanaka as well as the wider Otago region.The electrical lines company has historically under-invested in its network, causing deterioration costing hundreds of millions of dollars to rectify. It has proposed a steep hike in households’ power bills to help pay the investment bill.In its application to the commission the lines company sought average increases of $47.30 to Wanaka customers’ monthly power bills by 2023/2024. If that seems a higher figure than has been reported in the past, that’s because it is: Before being assessed, the commission had to adjust Aurora’s number to include relevant factors - like GST and inflation - which Aurora had neglected to include.After taking that into account, the commission found there was still plenty of room to cut the fat: Expenditure cuts could reduce that bill by $15.80 per household per month, taking it down to an average of $31.50.The commission proposes Aurora be allowed to recover a maximum spend of $523M over five years, close to $100M less than the $609M it requested.Aurora Energy CEO Richard Fletcher inherited a tough job when he joined the company in January 2018. PHOTO: SuppliedThe Wanaka figures, which also apply to Central Otago, are still significantly higher than the commission’s estimates for Dunedin and Queenstown households, which would pay an average of $22.20 and $22.70 by 2023/2024 respectively under the draft decision.Incremental bill increases could start as soon as April 2021, with the commission estimating line charges alone could rise between $3-13 per month for the majority of households across Otago. This would increase to between $20 to $73 per month by 2026. “While our draft decision would lower Aurora’s expenditure and substantially reduce the increase in lines charges compared to its plan, we expect the impact on electricity bills would still be significant,” Commerce Commission associate commissioner John Crawford said. “To help mitigate the bill shock, we have proposed to smooth Aurora’s revenue over the five-year… period. This would limit Aurora to increasing the maximum revenue it can collect from its customers by no more than ten per cent a year.”The commission acknowledged it has to strike a difficult balance between managing customer costs and funding the infrastructure upgrades needed.“We understand the disappointment and anger Aurora’s customers hold about the position the business is in,” John said. “Aurora has, nevertheless, made its case for urgent and ongoing investment to replace old and failing assets in its network.”Without the investment, John said, “the network will continue to deteriorate, safety incidents will increase, and its customers will experience more frequent, and longer, outages.”Under the package of proposed decisions, Aurora would also have to set targets for power outages and interruption levels that reflect its actual performance over the past five years; and face requirements to improve its transparency on how it delivers against its plan and how it reports on its service quality and pricing calculations.These were in part a response to customers’ lack of trust and confidence in Aurora delivering on its promises, the commission said.An alternative scenario to the ten per cent each year scenario which the commission said could be considered is to cap overall revenue increases at five per cent in the first year and then ten per cent for each of the next four years, he said. Aurora Energy said it would make a comment after it had worked through the 500-plus page draft decision.The commission will hold public meetings on the draft decision in Alexandra, Cromwell, Wanaka, Queenstown and Dunedin later this month. The Wanaka meeting will take place at the Lake Wanaka Centre on November 25, 10am-12pm.Submissions on the draft decision can be made before December 10. Read the Commerce Commission’s summary of decisions here or its full draft decision here.

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