The world-famous Cardrona Hotel will remain in Kiwi hands after being sold to New Zealand buyers for an undisclosed sum.The 162-year-old heritage-listed hotel and restaurant has been purchased by a group of NZ investors with strong links to Central Otago. The group, who wish to remain low key, will take over ownership on November 3.The business will be run by Warren Barclay, who has lived in Wānaka for the past four years and brings extensive corporate hospitality experience. Warren is the owner of Experience Group, which runs hospitality for major sporting fixtures and events. He’ll step away from the day to day oversight of Experience Group with his new role as Cardrona Hotel publican.Warren said the new ownership group brings with them “a deep appreciation for New Zealand’s heritage and a clear vision for the future of the hotel”.“We’re incredibly proud to take on the stewardship of such a special part of New Zealand’s story,” he said. “The Cardrona Hotel holds a unique place in the hearts of so many, and we’re committed to preserving its heritage while exploring thoughtful ways to enhance its boutique accommodation, dining, event offerings and overall guest experience.”He said the acquisition reflects continued confidence in the Southern Lakes region as a premier tourism and lifestyle destination. “The hotel’s strong trading performance, year-round visitor appeal, and iconic status made it a highly sought-after opportunity in the hospitality market.”Outgoing publican Cade Thornton and incoming publican Warren Barclay.Outgoing owner Cade Thornton, who has overseen the hotel’s operations for the past 13 years, expressed gratitude for the support of the local community and guests over the years.“It’s been an honour to be part of the Cardrona Hotel’s legacy, and we look forward to becoming ‘locals’ ourselves. We’re delighted to see it passed on to passionate new custodians who share a love for the region and its heritage.”The Cardrona Hotel sale attracted national and international attention when Cade announced news of the private sale in July. During the six-week campaign he received enquiries from NZ, Australia, USA and Singapore. At the time, the Cardrona Hotel listing on Trade Me Property was the website’s third most popular live listing this year, with more than 130,016 views in five weeks.“I’m really happy with how it’s all turned out,” Cade said. “It’s been a successful outcome for both parties.”He will remain working with Warren for a short transition period. He, wife Alexis and their two children will remain living in the Cardrona Valley.The hotel will continue to operate as usual, with no immediate changes planned to staffing or services, Warren said.PHOTOS: Supplied

A joint council assessment of the supply of land for housing and business in this district has identified a “staggering” deficit of supply in the short term.The Housing and Business Capacity Assessment (HBA) 2025 report, from Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) in partnership with Otago Regional Council (ORC), was considered by QLDC at its final council meeting for the triennium last week.Its key findings show an expected surplus of dwelling supply in the medium and long term (10 to 30 years) - due to increased “infrastructure investment and development opportunity within the planning frameworks”, but in the short term (three years) net shortfalls in residential dwelling and in the medium and long terms in business land are predicted - to be constrained by infrastructure limitations, primarily in Whakatipu.The Wānaka Ward shows a small surplus of 180 dwellings, but with projected shortfalls in Wānaka’s township - also primarily as a result of infrastructure capacity limitations.“The amount of infrastructure deficit and shortfall is absolutely staggering,” Wānaka councillor Quentin Smith said.“There is a crisis of infrastructure in achieving those outcomes we approved in the last meeting… I’m not quite sure where we’ve departed in the resource management world from aligning resource and management and resource management. I just can’t grasp the extent to which we’ve overzoned relating to [the] resource available to us to provide the infrastructure.”He used growth and the impact on infrastructure in Lake Hāwea as an example, and said the issue would be an important one for the incoming council.Councillor Quentin Smith said the report reveals a “crisis of infrastructure”.QLDC planning and development general manager Dave Wallace said the HBA provides a crucial resource for understanding how planning and infrastructure decisions will affect future land availability, ultimately helping to guide sustainable growth and development in the district.“We’re expecting population in the Queenstown Lakes District to grow by 80 percent and reach 97,500 over the next 30 years, which means more housing is needed, more businesses to support those residents, and more infrastructure required to service their needs,” Dave said.“The HBA highlights our current infrastructure constraints and future shortfalls in residential, commercial, and industrial land, ultimately guiding proactive planning decisions and identifying what we’ll need more of to continue growing well as a district.”The HBA adopts a high growth scenario to set housing bottom lines, setting out a requirement for an additional 27,100 new dwellings in the district over the next 30 years, with 9,100 required by 2033 and a further 18,000 by 2053.While substantial plan-enabled housing capacity already exists in the district, the HBA identifies infrastructure limitations that result in a district-wide shortfall of approximately 1,000 dwellings in the short term, especially in the Whakatipu.A surplus of dwellings is expected in the medium and long term as investment planned for infrastructure and development opportunities increase.Land for business is also projected to grow strongly over the next 30 years, but recent zoning changes and further infrastructure constraints show more capacity is required for retail and commercial operations, most notably 36 hectares of industrial land in the long term.Council said it will now explore alternative funding and financing tools to accelerate infrastructure delivery in priority development areas, in addition to developing an updated Spatial Plan which will help identify the location of additional land to meet demand. PHOTOS: Wānaka App

Greenstone Entertainment has confirmed the Wānaka leg of its 2026 Summer Concert Tour will take place on Saturday January 31, 2026 while its application for a resource consent with Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) remains under review.Should resource consent be granted Wānaka’s Three Parks Outdoor Arena will host the long-running Gibbston Valley event for the first time after organisers confirmed plans to move the event here in July this year.Organiser Dean Calvert told the Wānaka App that the resource consent application is a process and “we're now just going through the conditions”.“We're just ticking off the conditions to make sure that whatever conditions are in there, we can meet,” he said.Dean said Greenstone Entertainment is experienced at presenting events in an urban environment, citing the 15 years the Summer Concert has performed in Taupo.“In Taupo we're in the middle of town and we're also in the middle of a residential area,” Dean said.“ The whole community gets behind it and it's great.”The large-scale concert has attracted more than 15,000 people to Gibbston Valley each year for the past 15 years, featuring major acts such as Cold Chisel, Crowded House, Alanis Morissette and ZZ Top, and contributes around $12M to the region’s economy annually.“We're gonna be using all local suppliers,” Dean said. “We've had everyone contact us, which has been great, and we've had a whole lot of volunteers looking for money. It's great for the town.”Dean said the artist lineup for the Summer Concerts will be announced on Thursday October 16.PHOTO: Supplied

Queenstown Airport has been named Large Airport of the Year (more than two million passengers per year) at the 2025 New Zealand Airports Awards in Blenheim.Chief executive Shane O’Hare, who joined the airport last month, said it was an honour to accept the award on behalf of the team this week (Tuesday October 7).“In my short time in the role, I’ve been impressed by the exceptional quality of work being done and the calibre of the team,” he said.The award recognises operational excellence and major achievements over the past year, including the installation of Australasia’s first engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) - a major safety investment completed ahead of schedule and under budget.EMAS beds at either end of Queenstown Airport's runway are a significant investment in the safety of travellers and the community. PHOTO: SuppliedJudges also praised the airport’s innovation and community engagement, including the launch of the ZQN Community Fund, which distributes $50,000 annually to local charities.Queenstown Airport was also part of the Southern Way partnership, which won the Commercial Initiative of the Year Award for strengthening aviation connections across the lower South Island.The full list of winners can be found here.

Some of the world’s leading voices in destination management, tourism leadership and sustainability are visiting Queenstown this week (October 6-10) for the Destination Think Forum 2025.The forum will highlight the region’s leadership in regenerative tourism and put Queenstown and Wānaka at the centre of global conversations about the future of tourism, organisers say. “I’ve come to the Southern Lakes region not just to share, but to be inspired,” Wonderful Copenhagen marketing director Rikke Holm Petersen said.“Queenstown’s alpine landscapes, its commitment to carbon-zero goals and the deep connection between people and place present a powerful opportunity for the future of destination stewardship.”Attendees - including senior tourism delegates from across Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania - will explore how the area is reimagining its visitor economy and how lessons learned in here can help shape the next chapter of global tourism.They will participate in panels, site visits, workshops and networking events focused on the theme of ‘Regeneration in Practice’. Rikke has been an advocate for transforming tourism from consumption toward positive contribution, as demonstrated by Copenhagen’s CopenPay initiative, which rewards visitors for sustainable actions.She said she believes tourism has the power to shape communities, landscapes and behaviour beyond traditional boundaries. Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism chief executive Mat Woods, who will be a guest speaker at the event, said the area is “grappling with the same challenges many destinations elsewhere face, balancing visitation, community expectations and ecological impacts”. “Hosting an event like this helps us to lay out how we can evolve across the tourism industry by sharing opportunities and learnings. We look forward to showing what’s possible here and learning from peers who are pushing boundaries globally.”Mat will talk about the region’s Destination Management Plan (DMP), including its ambitious goal for a carbon zero visitor economy, as well as local case-studies.In addition to looking at regenerative models, the Destination Think Forum 2025 sessions will explore carbon reduction pathways, governance structures, and community collaboration. PHOTO: Wānaka App

A new real estate agency has opened in Wānaka, representing buyers and vendors across the Southern Lakes region. Aspire Realty was founded by local real estate agent Craig Myles, who said the agency would operate independently of corporate brands.Joining Craig as partner is George Wallis, who has experience in the corporate and automotive sectors.The Aspire Realty team includes Emma Pledger, Robyn Myles, and Mandy Myles. The agency represents a range of residential and lifestyle properties across the region, including both on and off market listings.Craig said buyer interest remains strong, and demand for property in the area continues to grow.Aspire Realty is based in Wānaka.PHOTO: Supplied

In most galleries, you admire the art from a distance. At the Artē Collective, you can talk to the artists who created it.One of the six founding artists will be on site every day when the gallery opens, giving visitors a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the creative process.Andi Regan, who co-founded the collective with Sue Rutherford, Jenny Chisholm, Lizzie Carruthers, Briar Hardy-Hesson, and Sophie Melville, says this personal, accessible approach sets it apart from traditional galleries.“We want people to feel completely comfortable, whether they’re seasoned collectors or just curious,” Andi said. “‘Just looking’ is always welcome.”Even though its space is small - the Arte Collective is located in one of the cabins which form The Green, a new commercial precinct in Luggate - there is plenty to see.Andi’s own work utilises everyday objects and transforms them into forms that celebrate New Zealand’s natural environment. Visiting the Artē Collective, the Wānaka App got to see her kina art made from cable ties, and birds - kahu, kea and godwits - crafted from dyed nylon sheets.Freshly hung works at Artē Collective, showcasing a mix of media from six local artists. PHOTO: SuppliedHer pieces share the walls and surfaces with Jenny’s vivid Central Otago landscapes, Sue’s exploration of natural forms with ceramics, Lizzie’s expressive, personality-rich animal portraits, Briar’s colourful jewellery art, and Sophie’s emotive watercolour landscapes.Hanging the work in the gallery over the weekend was a milestone for a project Andi had long hoped to bring to life. She and two fellow members had previously been part of a similar collective in Cromwell, but high rents in Wānaka had made a similar venture closer to home impossible. When development began at The Green, Andi contacted developer Stuart Pinfold, and the Artē Collective was born.“Stuart has been incredibly supportive,” Andi said. “He believed in what we were trying to build and encouraged us from the beginning. “We’re grateful to be part of this new precinct alongside other small, locally owned businesses.”Small works on display. PHOTO: SuppliedThe Arte Collective will hold its launch event on October 10 from 4pm-7pm, with live music from the Dirty Money duo, wine from local sponsors, and a joint celebration with the pottery studio next door. Everyone is welcome. It will then be open seven days a week, with one of the artists on hand each day to welcome visitors, answer questions, and share insights into their creative process. Exhibitions will rotate every few months, giving people a reason to return and discover something new.

Patersons’ Wānaka office, which has been part of the community since 1994, is celebrating alongside the wider firm after Patersons was named winner of the 2025 Consulting Surveyors of New Zealand (CSNZ) Business Excellence Award.The award, presented last week (September 11) at the Survey and Spatial New Zealand conference in Christchurch, recognised Patersons’ 125 years of leadership, its people-first culture and contribution to the land development profession.“This recognition belongs to our entire team. It speaks to the heart and hard work our people bring every day - across every office, every project, and every client relationship,” Patersons chief executive Korina Foot said.Locally, Patersons’ Wānaka office has played a key role in shaping much of the town’s growth over the past three decades. The branch employs more than 20 staff and is led by principals Mike Botting, Alex Todd and Duncan White.Projects delivered by the Wānaka team include residential subdivisions at Riverside Park, Peninsula Bay, Northlake, Alpha Ridge, Pembroke, Alpine Meadows, Timsfield and Lake McKay, along with commercial developments such as Three Parks.Board chair and Queenstown principal Stephen Popenhagen said the national award was a timely honour.“To be recognised in our 125th year is something special. This milestone highlights the calibre of our people and the trust we have built with clients over many decades,” he said.PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka-based Ripe Events has scooped two major awards at the New Zealand Events Association (NZEA) Awards, including Sustainability Event of the Year.The company’s flagship Ripe Festival 2025 won for achieving its ambitious goal of being waste-free, while festival director Nathan White was named Emerging Event Professional of the Year.“We’re incredibly proud of what our team has achieved,” Nathan said.“Creating waste-free festivals isn’t just about logistics, it’s about reshaping the culture of events in New Zealand. To be recognised on a national stage for this long term initiative is a huge honour.”Ripe – The Wānaka Wine and Food Festival has become a leader in sustainable event practices, with initiatives such as reusable serviceware, comprehensive recycling and composting systems, and partnerships with local sustainability organisations.Nathan’s award recognised his leadership, creativity, and commitment to delivering world-class experiences while driving positive environmental outcomes.Ripe Events has also recently launched Valley Festival in Gibbston, a boutique summer music event celebrating New Zealand’s unique sound and landscape.Read more: New music festival set to debut in GibbstonPHOTO: Supplied

A tourism initiative showcasing the attractions of the South Island’s southern regions has been selected as a finalist in the New Zealand Tourism Awards 2025, under the Industry Collaboration Award category.Southern Way represents an alliance of eight regional tourism organisations (RTOs), including Lake Wānaka Tourism and Destination Queenstown.Its ‘One Trip to See It All’ campaign, delivered in partnership with Air New Zealand and the Southern Airport Alliance, promoted multistop travel by encouraging North Island residents to fly into one Southern Way destination, explore the region, and fly out from another.Running from July to August 2024, the campaign generated impressive results and drove travel performance, Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism chief executive Mat Woods said.It also inspired travellers to travel more slowly and sustainably.Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism chief executive Mat Woods. PHOTO: Lake Wānaka TourismMat said being recognised as a finalist in the New Zealand Tourism Awards 2025 was a testament to RTOs uniting under a shared purpose.“We’re proud to work together as a macro-region, amplifying our collective voice and showcasing the South’s extraordinary offerings,” he said. “This nomination reflects the strength of our partnership and the bold direction we’re heading as a united lower South Island.”The judges commended Southern Way on coordinating multiple partners across a high-demand tourism region and demonstrating a sophisticated approach to collaboration and visitor management. The winners of the 2025 New Zealand Tourism Awards will be announced at the gala dinner on October 29.Learn more about Southern Way here.PHOTO: Southern Way

Jetstar says the addition of two new domestic services - and added flights on existing routes - will open up more than 660,000 extra seats on the airline each year.The announcement included a new flight between Queenstown and Brisbane during next year's ski season (2026).Jetstar Group CEO Stephanie Tully said the changes would bring more tourism into the country and boost connectivity about the motu and across the Tasman."We know how vital air travel is for connecting Kiwi families, friends, holidaymakers and business travellers," he said. "These changes will give a much-needed boost to inbound tourism while offering Kiwis even more low-fares and choice in how they travel."With more seats on our trans-Tasman network than ever before, with one stop in Australia, Kiwis will have enhanced connectivity to Asia and beyond."

A late burst of spring snow has allowed Snow Farm NZ to extend its winter season by two weeks into the school holidays.The cross-country ski area in the Cardrona Valley has confirmed that 20-30 kilometres of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails have been able to remain open thanks to excellent late-season conditions.The Snow Fun Zone and tubing hill is also open providing a wide range of activities for children and families.“We’ve had some fantastic spring snowfall and great trail conditions, so we’re thrilled to be able to keep the trails open for longer,” Snow Farm NZ general manager Sam Lee said.“It’s the perfect time for families to come up and experience the snow, especially during the school holidays.”Family-friendly cross-country ski lessons are available for those new to the sport, making it easy for beginners of all ages to get started. The on-site café will also be open.The Snow Farm offers cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and tubing.Snow Farm NZ's winter season will now operate until September 28.Find more information here.PHOTOS: Snow Farm NZ

Consultants Egis are asking members of the community to share their views on the future of Wānaka Airport, presenting options ranging from its closure to developing it into an international airport.More input is being sought on the five different scenarios: close the airport; have general aviation only; domestic routes to Christchurch and/or Wellington; domestic routes including Auckland; and an international airport.Another four complementary scenarios have been developed by Egis, all of which are now open for consultation at the Let’s Talk webpage.What are the options?Close Wānaka AirportBased on the first round of consultation, this was the least supported option. The majority of people valued an airport in Wānaka. General aviation airport only  Under this option, there would be no scheduled passenger services to other airports. The focus would remain on light aircraft, training, and recreational flying.In the first round of engagement, the most common response was to keep the airport ‘as it is’ with no major changes (39 percent support).The majority of responses were to keep the airport as close to how it is now, showing support for local businesses. General aviation airport with domestic routes to Christchurch and/or WellingtonThis option would require a terminal but no change to the current runway. It would allow for smaller aircraft carrying between eight and 30 passengers.To achieve this scenario, the airport would need to attract and work with airline operators in the short to medium term. The viability of a route would depend on sustainable passenger numbers and willingness to pay.General aviation airport with domestic routes including direct to AucklandThis option would require an airline to commit to new scheduled passenger services, going further by including a direct route to Auckland.Services would be operated by larger aircraft than in the last scenario, using aircraft that carry more passengers, like a Q300 (50 passengers), ATR72 (68 passengers), or possible new aircraft types to the New Zealand market, including smaller regional jets like some of the Embraer fleet (30–115 passenger aircraft). Small regional jets could be considered by airlines for the direct flights.Primarily domestic, and international airport focusedAn international airport would have significant costs, require more infrastructure and will impact general aviation.This was the second least supported option after closing the airport.The four ‘complementary’ optionsBased on the first round of engagement, Egis has developed four complementary options that could be achieved in tandem with one of the other options.The first imagines Wānaka airport as a ‘more prominent community asset’, with medical emergency and patient transfer services, a civil defence centre, and recreational facilities; while the second focuses on the airport becoming a ‘centre of aviation excellence’, with the development of additional hangars and utilities, attracting flight training schools and on-site accommodation.The third complementary option imagines a more mixed-use area with a business park, community services, a solar farm and community battery, and the like.The final complementary options questions whether a financially self-sufficient Wānaka Airport is on the cards, if airport users are prepared to pay more, if Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) finds more revenue streams, and more contributions from ratepayers.Feedback on the future scenarios is open until September 18.The scenarios are part of the Wānaka Airport Future Review, which is exploring the airport’s long-term role, its economic impact, and local views about its future.PHOTOS: Supplied

Resource consent has been granted for the first stage of a development programme that will bring major changes to Lake Hāwea.Quartz Development Group has been given the thumbs up for ‘Falcon Rise’, a residential development of 17 sections with price tags of up to $2.1M.Nine of these sections - which will be located at the site that houses the existing Hāwea Hotel - have already sold.“At this stage we’re hoping to begin the earthworks within the next four weeks, starting with some vegetation removal,” Quartz Development Group managing director Matt Laming said.Planned works due to commence soon also include the disestablishment of the Hāwea Hotel’s current garden bar, but new lawn will be established around the front and existing patios and utilised as a semi-permanent stage for events.The hotel will remain operational for the foreseeable future, with accommodation bookings still being taken until at least April 2026, Matt said.“The community won’t be left without a restaurant and bar throughout any stage of the development – it will be business as usual,” he said.Falcon Rise will be complemented by the anticipated Hāwea Hotel & Residences, a new commercial precinct further up Capell Avenue on the site of the current Hāwea Store & Kitchen.Further consent applications are being developed and will eventually be lodged, Matt said.He said Lake Hāwea Hotel & Residences, once operational, is expected to create approximately 40 new jobs in the area. “A modern, quality hospitality offering is exactly what the township needs and we’re looking forward to seeing that take shape, and building something that will service the Hāwea community for decades to come,” Matt said.Previous: More details on new Hāwea subdivision PHOTO: Supplied

Central Otago District Council (CODC) has signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the company behind a proposed gold mine in the hills above Cromwell - but Otago Regional Council (ORC) has refused.CODC confirmed it had agreed to keep confidential early reports on the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project, supplied to it by Matakanui Gold Ltd, a subsidiary of Santana Minerals.ORC, however, said it had declined to sign a draft NDA offered by the company earlier this year.Under the government’s fast-track consenting legislation, applicants must provide pre-lodgement reports to local authorities as part of consultation.Santana chief executive Damian Spring defended the use of NDAs, saying they were common in pre-application processes.“There needs to be a certain level of understanding between us…for us to have a robust and open discussion,” he said.Damien said the agreements were intended to cover consultants engaged by councils, rather than to restrict the councils themselves from sharing information.It was up to the councils to decide what information they shared under the Local Government Act, he said.Both councils confirmed they had engaged independent specialists to review the reports they had received so far. CODC acting infrastructure, planning and regulatory group manager Fiona Garrett said the district council was drawing on expertise in ecology, landscape, lighting, acoustics, heritage, economics, bonding and traffic.ORC environmental delivery general manager Joanna Gilroy said the regional council had been given 45 draft technical reports covering matters including ecology, water, geotechnical issues, noise, air quality, heritage, traffic, lighting, and economics. Its audits and commentary on the reports will go to the expert panel considering the mine application.A local protest group, Sustainable Tarras, said the use of NDAs underscored what it sees as a lack of transparency around the project. Spokesperson Rob van der Mark said the group had repeatedly asked Santana Minerals for more information.“The CEO has accused us of misrepresenting the project…[but at the same time] they are choosing to hide the details of the mine behind NDAs and non-notified consent applications. “The two-paragraph FAQs and the one-page rehabilitation plan tells us next to nothing about the literal and figurative downstream impacts of the mine.”Santana Minerals has been signalling for several months that its fast-track application is imminent. Once it is lodged, the application and expert reports will be made public.PHOTO: Supplied

Up to $30M in government loans for small passenger airlines to support at-risk regional air routes have come “too late” for Wānaka’s Sounds Air passenger service.Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford told the Wānaka App the airline has already sold one of its aircraft and the other two are under negotiation.“It’s too late for Wānaka and Christchurch,” he said.After six years’ of Sounds Air lobbying the government to support regional airlines, the timing of the loan offer yesterday (Monday September 1) was “disappointing”, he said.Andrew said the loans would be great from a long term point of view, although airlines don’t have any details yet and won’t until the end of this month.“But it’s tragic for Wānaka,” he said. “It’s just so sad, especially for… healthcare. We fly a lot of very sick people.Andrew said “Wānaka is only growing bigger and bigger”, meanwhile the road to Queenstown can be dangerous and Queenstown Airport can be “tough” to fly in and out of.Passenger numbers for the Wānaka to Christchurch service were good, but aviation costs were “astronomical”, he said.“In the end the passengers go ‘we just can’t pay this anymore’,” he said.“These were all the messages we put to [the] government… It’s so frustrating.”Regional development minister Shane Jones and associate transport minister James Meager announced concessionary loans for small airlines on Monday, saying regional carriers are under pressure from rising costs, limited access to capital, and ongoing post-Covid disruptions.“Reliable air services are critical for the economic and social wellbeing of regional New Zealand. They enable access to healthcare, education, business, and whānau, particularly in areas where other transport options are limited,” Shane Jones said.Without this support, some communities risk losing vital air links and potential regional development.”Sounds Air’s passenger service from Wānaka to Christchurch will finish at the end of September. Lake Wānaka Tourism said the announcement was likely to have little impact on visitor arrivals for Wānaka, but a significant impact on local people who travel to access healthcare.Read more: Air service cancellation will affect healthcare, airport reviewPHOTO: Supplied

Businesses are being invited to support an endowment fund designed to provide enduring benefits to Te Kura O Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) and the wider community.The endowment fund is a “future-focused” initiative of MAC Foundation, the foundation’s chair Matt Williams said.“It’s likely that none of us sitting around the table today will see the full benefit of this fund. But that’s exactly why it matters, it’s about long-term security,” Matt said.“The value of an endowment increases over time, meaning gifts given now will support our school and community for generations.”Late last year the fund received a $100,000 grant from the Ray and Elsie Armstrong Charitable Trust, alongside $154,000 from the MAC Foundation itself.This means the foundation is almost a quarter of the way to reaching its initial target of $1M.“We’re inviting business partners to join us and help grow this fund,” Matt said.“By partnering with us, businesses will help enhance educational opportunities and school facilities, as well as support vital programmes that benefit students, teachers and families.”He said the longer-term goal is to grow the fund to $5M, allowing interest generated from the investment to be used for annual donations to the school while reinvesting a portion to increase the fund’s capacity for years to come.MAC Foundation has supported MAC since 1993, giving more than $600,000 since 2008. The foundation owns the MAC hostel buildings and the land on which they sit. In addition to the new endowment facility, the foundation funds a wide range of initiatives, including specialist staffing, music and library resources, hardship support for students, the Te Ūkaipō scholarship, and outdoor pursuits equipment.MAC principal Nicola Jacobsen said the endowment fund enables the college to go beyond what is provided for by Ministry of Education funding. “By contributing to this fund, the community is investing in the young people of Wānaka, ensuring they have access to the very best learning and wellbeing resources to enrich their education,” she said.PHOTO: Supplied

Ardgour Valley Fruit is in liquidation and a second orchard company run by the same managers is under review.Sources have told The Central App that Hortinvest owners Sharon and Ross Kirk, of Wānaka, will no longer be managing the Deep Creek Fruit company from the end of August.Deep Creek Fruit operates two of the biggest cherry orchards in Central Otago, with 51,150 trees in production at Mt Pisa across eight varieties, and a further 49,589 at Lindis Peaks.Both were started by Hortinvest in 2019, then the Kirks collaborated with Bruce and Linda Jolly to venture into apricots in the Ardgour Valley orchard, planting 50ha in the new NZ Summer varieties.Liquidators were appointed for Ardgour Valley Orchards on August 10. Deep Creek Fruit has a separate group of shareholders, and chief executive Jo Pearson declined to comment.Ross Kirk is currently the development and operations manager of Deep Creek Fruit and Sharon a director and international sales and marketing manager.The Deep Creek Fruit website lists Maurice Noone as the chairman of the board and director, along with both Richard Perry and Sharon as directors and Debbie Oakley as an independent director.In 2022 Ardgour Valley Fruit built a new packhouse at Tarras and in summer 2025 about 150 tonnes of the new apricot varieties were exported under their Temptation Valley brand.The trees, coming into their fourth season, were expected to reach full production in 2026-2027 when they planned to export 500 tonnes.Ardgour Valley Orchards also produced several cherry varieties including a distinctive, white-fleshed variety (Stardust).The Kirks didn’t respond to an email about their management contract by the time the story was published.PHOTO: Supplied

Resource consent has been approved for the Wānaka Health Precinct joint venture between Roa and Kā Rūnaka (represented by Puketeraki Ltd and Ōtākou Ltd).Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has used discretionary powers to grant the consent without the need for a hearing, following a public notification process where all 17 submissions received were supportive. The consent is for a five-level surgical hospital and helipad, supported by four purpose-designed office buildings for allied medical services, and on-site car parking.Roa CEO Mike Saegers said achieving the resource consent was “a big step forward”. “The community can now look forward to the Wānaka Health Precinct attracting medical specialties and services not currently available in the area,” he said.Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki chair Matapura Ellison welcomed the news on behalf of Kā Rūnaka. “The critical lack of health and social infrastructure is a significant and growing issue for the people of Wānaka and Central Otago,” he said. “This project is vital to meeting the future needs of this area’s rapidly growing population and we look forward to advancing the project, including the wider interests of mana whenua.”While Roa initially announced it planned to engage “a high-quality private healthcare operator to manage the hospital”, Mike told the Wānaka App it was “an absolute priority for us for these facilities to be available to everyone”. “We’re looking at all options to make that happen, and we’re engaged with the public health sector about ways to do that.” Read more: Roa announces joint venture partnership with mana whenuaIMAGE: Supplied