Five years after announcing a Wānaka to Christchurch passenger service, Sounds Air has announced the service will be cancelled at the end of September, blaming “out of control” aviation costs.Sounds Air managing director Andrew Crawford told Radio NZ this morning (Monday July 21) that despite “very, very good” booking numbers for the service, the airline had no choice but to cancel its Wānaka to Christchurch and Blenheim to Christchurch services.The move means the loss of “about ten staff” in Wānaka and Christchurch, he said.“Since Covid, aviation has been out of control cost-wise,” he said.“We are really faced with no choice. In the last three months we’ve had another half a million dollars of annual costs imposed on the business.“At some point you have to say ‘no more’.”Andrew said he was “really worried” about the number of people on the regional flights who fly to access healthcare.“It’s a big part of our business,” he said.“All these regional services provided connectivity, and a big part of that is health care.”Sounds Air withdrew other regional services in December 2024.“In some ways it’s a relief,” Andrew said, because “the pressure on the business, staff, and shareholders is extreme”.In addition to sky-rocketing maintenance costs, exacerbated by the low Kiwi dollar, Andrew also said it was a “serious problem” getting aircraft engineers.He said Sounds Air airfares had increased by 22 percent since Covid and they could put them up another 22 percent and “it still wouldn’t be enough”.The company will get rid of its nine-seater aircraft and concentrate on offering its original services in the Cook Strait area.The Sounds Air Wānaka to Christchurch service was announced in August 2020 and began operating in November 2020. The service will close at the end of September 2025.PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka’s Three Parks Outdoor Arena may host the long-running Greenstone Entertainment summer concert from next year, after organisers confirmed plans to move the event here.The large-scale concert has attracted more than 15,000 people 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.Organisers Amanda and Dean Calvert said the move came after being told the Gibbston site would be developed for housing.“We're absolutely delighted to have secured Three Parks Outdoor Arena as our new home for the next five years,” Greenstone Entertainment CEO and founder Amanda Calvert said. The Three Parks Outdoor Arena siteThree Parks Outdoor Arena is owned by Wānaka businessman Allan Dippie and recently hosted 50,000 people for Wheels at Wānaka.“Allan is such a community driven person and without his foresight the concert would have likely moved away from the region," Amanda said."The expansion into Wānaka marks an exciting new chapter for us, and we're confident it will become a highlight of the South Island summer calendar.”Dean said it had been “extremely hard” to find a suitable new venue.“We started the whole thing back in 2011 in Gibbston and have built the concert into one of the most renowned for our demographic in the country,” he said.“But the region has been on that journey with us... land is so valuable now. And it's not just the concert site, it's the infrastructure needed to bring 15,000 people to that site.”“We hadn't been able to find anything and were on our way out of town... when Allan popped up and said 'come and have a look at this venue’.”Allan Dippie said the venue was excited to be teaming up with Greenstone.“Their impeccable track record for putting on world class events that attract major international artists have made this joint venture an easy decision,” he said.“Three Parks Outdoor Arena will offer a true outdoor amphitheatre experience like no other and we look forward to welcoming concert goers next year.”Greenstone has applied for consent for a 30,000-person capacity, although Dean said they were unlikely to hit that number. The consent application is currently being vetted by Queenstown Lakes District Council.There were traffic issues around the three-day Wheels at Wānaka event. A full traffic management plan has been drawn up for the concert consent and Dean says the site provides better access than Gibbston, on a notorious stretch of SH6.Related: Extravaganza of machinery draws thousandsThe 2026 concert tour dates and artist line-up will be announced soon.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has appealed a decision by the Environment Court ordering it to pay more than $120,000 in costs to local developer Tussock Rise - a move that reignites a dispute dating back nearly a decade.The council confirmed it had lodged an appeal, challenging the Environment Court’s ruling, which found QLDC’s conduct justified a higher-than-normal costs award to Tussock Rise.“QLDC’s appeal sets out a number of alleged errors in the costs decision,” a QLDC representative told the Wānaka App.“The decision to appeal was taken after careful consideration of the issues, and the impact of such a decision on ratepayers and the PDP [Proposed District Plan] process.”The Environment Court ordered QLDC to pay Tussock Rise in a decision issued in June, but the stoush dates back to 2016, centering over the zoning of a 9.3-hectare property owned by Tussock Rise.After Tussock Rise purchased the land, it sought to rezone it from Industrial B to Business Mixed Use, but QLDC rejected that request. When QLDC later proposed General Industrial Zoning over the same site through the PDP, Tussock Rise appealed.The council initially tried to have the appeal struck out, but the court disagreed and allowed the case to proceed, awarding $5,000 in costs to Tussock Rise at this stage. After a substantive hearing, the court ruled in favour of Tussock Rise again, leading on to the most recent decision to award the six-figure sum to Tussock Rise.Environment Court Judge PA Steven said she was satisfied “there were special circumstances in this case that justify an award of costs”; agreed with Tussock Rise’s legal counsel that QLDC had “advanced arguments without merit and evidential support”; and said some of the council’s actions had demonstrated a “disregard for due process”.Read more: QLDC loses case against developers - againTussock Rise part-owner Grant Bisset told the Wānaka App this week it was “disappointing but not surprising that the QLDC have appealed the costs award against them”. He said Tussock Rise was surprised that QLDC had chosen to lodge an appeal in the High Court instead of engaging with the company.“Their budget for litigation doesn’t seem to have the constraints of the infrastructure one.”Both parties said they could not comment further because the matter is now before the courts.PHOTO: Wānaka App 

Sweeping Resource Management Act (RMA) changes signalled by central government are a "significant area of focus” for Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).Three discussion documents proposing changes to the rules governing councils' oversight of housing, infrastructure and development - among other areas - are currently open for public feedback.The government calls them the biggest package of changes to national direction under the RMA in New Zealand history, and holds the view they will streamline or remove burdensome regulations holding back growth.The changes would “help unclog the growth arteries of the economy”, Minister responsible for RMA reform Chris Bishop said, adding that they have been designed to be able to transition to a new RMA, once implemented.The discussion documents currently open for feedback cover a dozen national policy statements and national environmental standards. QLDC plans to make a submission on the proposals but - ahead of that submission being lodged - gave little away about how it feels about them.“Our policy team is currently working across the organisation to assess the proposals and their impact on specific areas of our work in the Queenstown Lakes District so that we can provide a submission on behalf of the community before the closing date,” a QLDC spokesperson said.Deputy mayor Quentin Smith said while the RMA “can be slow, complicated, and frustrating at times” it was important not to “throw the good away with the bad”.“The government’s proposed changes might make it easier for developers to build faster, but they also risk taking away local appeal rights and cutting the public out of decision-making,” he told the Wānaka App. “That means fewer chances for people to speak up through submissions or appeal rights and fewer checks on bad developments. The direction to more centralised decision-making has rarely served us well in our district and doesn’t always reflect what’s right for our people, towns or landscapes,” he said.“We all want progress and improvement. But not at the cost of losing what makes this place special - or shutting communities out of decisions that affect them for generations.”Meanwhile, councillor Lyal Cocks said he was optimistic about the process and thought it was “appropriate to put it out there for review”.The RMA has become “quite cumbersome and expensive”, he said. “I think it’s timely to get the input from the population…and see if we can come up with a more appropriate and useful planning system.”“I know there is a concern that if it goes too far we may lose some of the control over the protection of our landscapes and our environment,” he said, “but I’ll be interested to get more information and get more detail of what this will actually look like.”The discussion documents are open for public feedback until July 27. Read them here.PHOTO: Supplied

A total of 531 objections have been lodged over Super Liquor’s plans for a 300sqm+ liquor store in Lake Hāwea, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has confirmed.The Super Liquor, billed for Lake Hāwea’s Longview subdivision, received resource consent approval a few months ago but it still needs to clear the hurdle of securing an alcohol licence.The objections to its alcohol licence application have triggered a hearing, but QLDC says a date has not yet been set for it.Lake Hāwea resident Lisa Riley, who has spearheaded community awareness of Super Liquor’s plans, said she was encouraged by the number of objections lodged during the objection period.“The goal I was hoping for was 200 objections, which seemed achievable, given our population,” Lisa told the Wānaka App. “So to now have a result of 531 objections…it’s just amazing, and I am so thankful to all the individuals who took the time to have brave conversations with others, the volunteers who did mail drops, and everyone who made time to learn more about this.” “Getting that many objections to this liquor licence really speaks to the strength and thoughtfulness of our community,” Lisa said. “People clearly care deeply about the character of Lake Hāwea and the wellbeing of its residents.”Ahead of the hearing, Lisa said she is working with legal counsel to prepare evidence and is encouraging submitters to consider whether they’d like to speak at the hearing when the time comes.“Something I’d love to see from council is a real effort to ensure the hearing is held in Hāwea itself, where people most directly affected can easily attend and be heard,” Lisa said. Lisa said she would also like to explore a Local Alcohol Policy - a set of rules managing the supply, sale and consumption of alcohol - for the district.“It would give our communities a stronger voice upfront in shaping where and how alcohol is sold, rather than having to react to each new licence,” she said.Alongside the objections, three letters in support of the application were received, QLDC confirmed.A council spokesperson said the council did not plan to share any objections or letters publicly before the hearing.“The District Licensing Committee will decide on the time of [the] hearing, and a notice of this will be placed on QLDC’s website once arranged,” they said.PHOTO: Supplied

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has been ordered by the Environment Court to pay company Tussock Rise more than $120,000 in costs. It is the second time costs have been awarded to Tussock Rise, following a long-running dispute with the council over the zoning of a 9.3-hectare property the developer purchased in 2016.Tussock Rise part-owner Grant Bisset told the Wānaka App this week he was "delighted with the court’s decision and that this nine-year process has come to an end".“We were determined not to leave Wānaka a legacy of heavy industrial land with the associated heavy traffic in such a central and elevated location."This matter has been through two court processes and we have been awarded costs both times."Tussock Rise first applied for a private plan change in 2016 to rezone the land from Industrial B to Business Mixed Use, an application which QLDC rejected. Later, when QLDC notified stage three of the Proposed District Plan, it proposed to rezone an area including the Tussock Rise land to a General Industrial Zone.Tussock Rise lodged an Environment Court appeal against this, which QLDC applied to have struck out - claiming it was “frivolous or vexatious” - but the Environment Court rejected this, and ruled in favour of Tussock Rise, awarding $5,000 in costs.When the substantive Environment Court hearing was held, the court ultimately sided with Tussock Rise, enabling a more flexible rezoning for the site.The recent application for costs followed this, and in a judgement on June 18, Environment Court judge PA Steven said she was satisfied there “were special circumstances in this case that justify an award of costs”.Tussock Rise land looking north on Gordon Road. PHOTO: Wānaka AppShe was also satisfied that “higher than normal costs are justified” in this case.The judge said she agreed with Tussock Rises’s legal counsel’s submission that the council had “advanced arguments without merit and evidential support” and some of QLDC’s actions during the hearing demonstrated “disregard for due process”.QLDC told the Wānaka App this week it was “disappointed in the outcome relating to the cost decision and remain disappointed with the overall outcome”.“We've lost important and easily accessible industrial land that was anticipated to meet Wānaka's long term growth needs,” a spokesperson said.Grant disagreed with QLDC’s statement and he said the council’s modelling had shown sufficient capacity for all business land uses through to 2048.“The QLDC’s desire to funnel heavy industrial traffic into central Wānaka is perplexing,” he said. “The court’s position clearly vindicates [Tussock Rises’s] view that heavy industrial activities are inappropriate in the elevated centre of a resort town adjacent to residential areas.”

Skiers and snowboarders took their first trips up the new Soho Lift yesterday (July 5).The high-speed six-seater chairlift unlocks access to 150ha of skiable terrain in Soho Basin, expanding Cardrona Alpine Resort’s ski area from 465ha to 615ha.Snowmaking facilities are not in place at Soho Basin for this winter season so skiers and snowboarders have had to wait for enough snowfall before their first ride in the new chairlift.Cardrona held a Soho Lift blessing ceremony last month (June 29) ahead of its opening, with speeches from representatives of Ngāi Tahu including Komene Cassidy, RealNZ CEO Dave Beeche Doppelmayr’s Garreth Hayman and tourism minister Louise Upston.The new lift has capacity for 3,000 passengers per hour. PHOTO: Belle Grace“It was incredible to celebrate with all the generations of Cardrona and RealNZ, including both the Lee and Hutchins families,” Cardrona and Treble Cone chief mountains officer Laura Hedley said."To get this lift and terrain open, after decades of dreaming of what could be... it's a pretty emotional moment for our entire team."Early-season conditions still exist, so the terrain was mostly ungroomed and for advanced level skiers and snowboarders only.The Soho Lift is 1,237m long, with 75 chairs, and a vertical rise of 379m.It has 11 towers and is the same model as the $23M Shadow Basin chairlift by Doppelmayer at The Remarkables.

Two chefs from Hook Wānaka have brought home medals after competing in the Caputo Cup - held for the first time in New Zealand at Fine Food New Zealand 2025 at the Auckland Showgrounds (June 30 - July 1).The competition, which honours the traditional craft of Neapolitan pizza-making under the official regulations of the Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani (APN), attracted top pizza chefs from across the country.Simone Coacci placed third in the Pizza Napoletana STG category, which required contestants to master the art of classic Neapolitan pizza - made with specific ingredients, techniques, and cooking methods recognised by the APN.Sam Mari earned third place in the Pizza Contemporanea category, which focuses on modern approaches to dough fermentation, innovative toppings, and presentation.The Caputo Cup is one of the most respected pizza competitions in the world, and this year’s New Zealand debut marks a milestone for the country’s growing artisan pizza scene.Hook Wānaka owner Graham Lee said the team was “delighted” with the results.“To have two of our chefs placed in such a high-level event is a massive achievement - and it reflects the care and craft they put into every dish at Hook,” he said.PHOTO: Supplied

One of New Zealand’s most iconic buildings – the Cardrona Hotel – is on the market for the first time in more than a decade.The 162-year-old heritage-listed hotel in the Cardrona township is expected to attract significant national and international interest.The Cardrona Hotel’s current owners – Cade and Alexis Thornton and James and Fleur Jenneson – have owned the historic establishment since 2013 and describe it as a “once-in-a lifetime opportunity”.“It has always been a very busy and successful business, and we have loved our time here, but our next step is to spend more time with our young family,” Cade said.The 8613sqm property encompasses a restaurant, year-round beer garden, and 17 ensuite hotel rooms sleeping up to 44 guests.The hotel was built in 1863 and its history is steeped in the gold rush era, with many of the original relics such as the historic facade, and a glass window looking into a mineshaft in the floor of the property. It is one of the regions’ most well-known tourist attractions and a popular après ski destination, hosting everyone from international movie stars and royalty to locals.“In our time, the growth has been phenomenal, and the business has become a big beast,” Cade said.“We now employ 40-50 staff, the hotel averages 84 percent occupancy annually, and it’s often fully booked at many times throughout the year."The sale is likely to be one of the Cardrona Valley’s highest, and coincides with continued growth in the area.The hotel business and associated buildings will be sold by private negotiation.Expressions of interest are open until Friday August 15.PHOTOS: Supplied

A Wanaka-based design label has come up with a creative way to put quality clothes in front of more customers.Wanaka-based design label Precious Collaborative is selling $10,000 coats to help subsidise other items on the rack.It's selling the coats, designed by Liz Mitchell, to help subsidise a further 20 items on the rack. Instead of their true cost of $690, the items' "gift" price drops to $189 courtesy of the money from the coats.The aim is to put quality New Zealand woollen items within reach.The pinafore and women's pants from the Precious Collaborative collection.After a lengthy hiatus from the fashion business raising her three children, Precious Collaborative's founder Claire O'Connell needed a new kind of business model, she told RNZ’s Nine to Noon.“I realised if I wanted to make clothes, they were going to be expensive and most of the population wouldn't be able to afford them.”When she sent a sample off to designer Liz Mitchell, who didn’t know her “from a bar of soap" at the time, she got an immediate response.“She got this little box with a sleeve in it and a few other items on her desk, and she rang me straight away and said she would be on board with the coats.“So, she designed some coats, and we then went to launch the coats which we did in Wanaka last December and we sold one of the coats for $10,000.”At that point O’Connell, was able to put the collection into production.The collection is made from fine traditional tweed and hemp, she says.“There are pants for men, pants for women. I call them a women's cut, and a men's cut because people can wear each other's cut pants. There's a pinafore, which has sold incredibly well. There's a skirt and there's a hemp shirt.“The first four items are all tweed, fully lined tweed and the last item is an organic hemp shirt.”Everyone deserves to own something of quality they attach meaning to, O'Connell says.“We have lost the ability to attach meaning to what we purchase in a way with fast fashion I feel that deeply.”The purchasers of the coats so far (both wishing to remain anonymous), understand the concept, she says.“The second coat buyer, before they had even actually received their coat, sent me an email and asked if they could spend another $10,000 on their coat. So, they have paid $20,000.“The reason they've done that is they fully get the idea that it is not simple for people to pull themselves out of the fast fashion loop. It's not just a monetary thing, it's a mindset.”Ninety garments from the collection have been pre-sold, she says.“Ten percent of the people who bought those garments chose to pay the true price for them. They didn't pay the gift price.“So, they've done that paying it forward thing and another 5 percent of people have paid somewhere between the gift price and the true price.”PHOTOS: Jodie James

Electricity company Aurora has apologised to residents in the Hāwea and Makarora areas who experienced a power cut on Monday evening (June 30).“Any time the power is out is inconvenient, but especially during the winter, in the evening and over the school holidays,” Aurora future network and operations general manager Matt Settle said.“We apologise … for the power cut last night and want to reassure people we will continue to investigate the causes of the faults and put in place any necessary corrective actions.”Matt said the company was still investigating the cause, but the initial investigation had identified several contributing factors.The power went out to 2,065 customers at 5:14pm on Monday with full power restored to all customers before 8.00pm, Matt said. “We made a decision to cut the power a second time, for safety reasons, some 30 minutes later and at the request of Fire and Emergency NZ, who were notified of a power line close to the ground on Domain Road in Hāwea,” he said.In the second supply interruption 1,882 customers were affected, with power restored in stages from 9:00pm. “The majority of customers were back on by 10:06pm and the remaining 361 restored at 12:37am. “... we are continuing to investigate the causes of these two faults.” Matt said Aurora has had “a spotlight” on the Hāwea and Makarora areas since late last year, when the company first noticed an increase in the number of unplanned power outages.There were 13 unplanned outages over the past year (including Monday night’s) that affected the wider Hāwea and Makarora areas.“The Hāwea township has experienced significant growth in recent years and our regional electricity development plan that will be released publicly later this year will set out the longer-term options for enhancing and developing the Upper Clutha network,” Matt said. The long and rural single electricity lines and feeders that supply Makarora will always be more vulnerable to unplanned supply interruptions than urban networks, which have secondary back feed options, he said.“This is the case for similar networks across the country with network configurations like those that supply rural Makarora. “It's worth noting that outages are caused by largely uncontrollable factors such as vegetation, wildlife and car impacts as well as more avoidable factors such as defective equipment,” he said. PHOTO: Supplied

Are you a budding entrepreneur with a big idea, but need a little extra push to get it off the ground?Startup Queenstown Lakes (SQL) has just announced a new Microgrants Program, designed specifically to support the next generation of founders in the Queenstown lakes district.With grants ranging from $500 to $3000, the SQL microgrants are all about giving local startups the targeted boost they need - whether it’s for developing a prototype, conducting market research, or investing in essential equipment.Unlike many funding opportunities, these microgrants come with no strings attached: there’s no repayment required and no equity taken. The only requirement is that your startup is based in the Queenstown lakes district for at least six months of the year.The focus is on sectors that reflect the region’s strengths and future potential: hospo-tech, outdoor-tech, film, food & beverage, and sustainability. By supporting these areas, SQL aims to help diversify and strengthen the local economy, ensuring Queenstown lakes remains a vibrant hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.“We want to help transform innovative ideas into reality and diversify our district’s economic landscape,” SQL general manager Marco Dingemans said.“These microgrants will provide the essential boost that many startups need to move forward, whether it’s for product development, market research, or pivoting their business models.”Successful applicants will not only receive funding but also ongoing mentoring from SQL coaches and expert guidance from a panel of experienced entrepreneurs. This comprehensive support system is designed to help founders fast-track their product development, test their business models, and gain visibility within the local startup ecosystem.The application process is straightforward: simply share your idea and outline how you’ll use the grant. Applications are now open, but you will need to apply before July 15. Decisions will be made within five weeks of the closing date. To help founders put their best foot forward, SQL is also hosting a Zoom information session where you can get advice and application tips from the team.If you’re ready to take your startup to the next level, don’t miss this opportunity. For more information and to apply, visit the Startup Queenstown Lakes website.

Four Queenstown Lakes’ tourism and hospitality businesses will go through a technology bootcamp over the next six months to streamline their operations and inspire others to do the same. Wānaka Lavender Farm, Absoloot Hostel, Atlas Beer Café and Kinross Winery will be supported by local technology suppliers to put new software solutions in place.The Digital Catalyst project was launched by the Economic Futures team at Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and had received more than 40 applicants. QLDC destination management advisor James Mulcahy said the project will create “real-world examples” that other tourism and hospitality operators can benefit from. “While it’s encouraging that 87 percent of applicants plan to use AI in the next year, many mentioned they’re nervous about how to go about implementing new technology,” he said. “Using these four businesses as case studies will help demystify technology and demonstrate how to get the best from it”. Each business will work with either Queenstown IT, Both Brains, or HeadQuarters to assess their current systems and add technology that will make the biggest difference. Both Brains general manager Jenni Powell said the company is looking forward to helping.  “At Both Brains, we believe technology should feel like a helping hand, not a hurdle,” she said.“The Digital Catalyst project is a brilliant opportunity to show how even small digital tweaks can unlock big wins - whether that’s saving time, reducing stress, or simply making it easier to run a great business.” “We’re excited to support these local businesses and help them thrive.”Lessons and experiences from the bootcamp will be shared with the district’s broader sector and used to help inform future business capability initiatives, James said. PHOTO: Wānaka Lavender Farm

Francesca Wānaka is open again for winter, unveiling a new menu, an expanded kitchen, and a covered, heated outdoor dining area overlooking Bullock Creek.The Italian restaurant has been given a fresh upgrade and a fresh take on its signature offering: local food, made with heart.Francesca's head chef Lukas Botta said Italian food is about regionality. "In Italy, the north sources ingredients from the north, the south sources ingredients from the south," he said.“Serving Italian food in Wānaka does not mean sourcing ingredients from Italy, it means taking the old plates that we love and colliding them with the flavours of our new home."The winter menu includes wood-fired green-lipped mussel pizza, handmade pasta, the restaurant’s well-known balloon bread, and a Wānaka-favourite: beef cheek gnocchi. Local suppliers include Frog Song Farms, Alpine Fresh and Ocean Speared."We’re so lucky to live in a place where we can work closely and directly with many local farmers, winemakers, brewers and producers of delicious things”, Francesca's manager Ben Towner said. “Committing to using as many Wānaka and New Zealand suppliers as possible was an easy win."Francesca changed hands in 2023, with the Smith family – Sean, Kelly and Rob – and Sam Ragel taking over the business.Director Sean Smith said the restaurant aimed to bring a distinctly Wānaka take to traditional Italian hospitality.Francesca is open daily for lunch from 12–3pm and dinner from 5pm–late.

Consultation on the future review of Wānaka Airport has begun, with online surveys now open and public drop-in sessions planned for this week.The review will look at the airport’s long-term role, its economic impact, and its integration into New Zealand’s aeronautical network. It will also set the vision, values, objectives and preferred outcomes for Wānaka Airport. “It's really important that as many people as possible in our community share their ideas,” Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board chair Simon Telfer said.Wānaka Airport is owned by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and operated by Queenstown Airport Corporation under a management services agreement. In July 2024 QLDC signalled its intention to develop a long-term plan for Wānaka Airport, and went on to engage consultants Egis to undertake the Wānaka Airport future review. Egis said this is an independent review, and the consultants want to hear what is important to the Wānaka community, airport operators and users to help shape the airport’s future potential. Egis posed the questions: “What does living, working and playing in this unique landscape mean to you? What role should the airport play in your future?”Two drop in sessions are planned: on Friday (June 27) between 4-7pm at the studio space in Paetara Aspiring Central, and on Saturday (June 28) between 9-11am at the meeting room in the Wānaka Recreation Centre.Options for giving feedback include an interactive activity, where respondents can drop a pin on Wānaka Airport features to identify spatial elements, facilities, services or activities in response to question prompts. There is also an online survey asking about travel patterns, community lifestyle values and airport values.Have your say here.PHOTO: Supplied

Hundreds of people have voiced their opposition to plans for a Lake Hāwea Super Liquor store, some citing fears the store could worsen alcohol-related harm, mental health challenges, addiction, drink driving and the like in the small community.As of Wednesday (June 19), 382 people had lodged objections to the store’s alcohol license application via an online form shared among residents.A Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) representative said it could not confirm the exact number of objections it had received directly but noted the council “...has rarely had to process such a large amount of feedback on an alcohol licence application.”Lake Hāwea resident Lisa Riley, who has spearheaded community awareness of Super Liquor’s plans for a 300sqm+ store in the Longview subdivision, said she was grateful for all the objections lodged.“My reaction to the number of submissions is one of sincere gratitude - to everyone who’s used their voice for the good of the community, and also to those who were on the fence but took the time to learn why this does matter,” Lisa told the Wānaka App.The Super Liquor store, billed for the subdivision’s commercial area, received resource consent approval last month but in order for it to operate its alcohol license needs to be approved.Lisa Riley (pictured) says objections have highlighted a range of concerns about adding another liquor retailer.A single alcohol license application objection is enough to spark a District Licencing Committee hearing, and Lisa says she hopes even more people - in Lake Hāwea and beyond - will take the time to look at the issue and consider lodging an objection before objections close on Monday night (June 23).The objections already lodged via the online form (which was created by Communities Against Alcohol Harm with input from Lisa) show how deeply the community cares about the issue, Lisa said.“People are taking the time to explain why this matters to them - and it’s not just about inconvenience or preference,” Lisa said. “The concerns are serious, heartfelt, and grounded in lived experience.”They ranged from concerns about the store’s location (near a playground, a school bus stop, and the site for a childcare centre); its long hours of operation (it has resource consent approval to operate 12 hours a day, seven days a week); potential cumulative effects of more alcohol provision; and potential visual pollution and litter, Lisa said.“The community wants to grow in a way that reflects our values. This proposal doesn’t do that,” she said.“We’re not anti-progress - we just want thoughtful, inclusive planning that respects the people who live here.”Anyone who wants to learn more about the alcohol license application or lodge an objection can do so via the Communities Against Alcohol Harm online form or via the QLDC website.Read more: Longview residents oppose liquor store plansThe QLDC spokesperson said he expects “...it will take some time for the team to process and collate all [the objections] alongside their other day-to-day work” once the objection period closes.IMAGES: Supplied

The government will take back power from local councils if their decisions are going to negatively impact economic growth, development or employment.Speaking to a business event in Wellington, Housing and Resource Management Act (RMA) reform minister Chris Bishop said the new regulation within the RMA would stop councils from stalling on housing developments."We have had decades of local councils trying to make housing someone else's problem, and we have a planning system that lets them get away with it," Bishop said.Accusing local government of being one of the largest barriers to housing growth, Bishop said the provision would be added into the RMA amendment legislation currently before Parliament."The RMA's devolution of ultimate power to local authorities just has not worked. There may be people who say 'why don't you just leave councils to it?' The reality is, central government has an intense interest in the way councils plan and allow their cities to function," Bishop said."We bear the cost, all New Zealanders bear the cost, of a failed and dysfunctional planning system. Ultimately, it is central government that shells out the $5b a year in housing subsidies that is a direct result of a failed planning system. So it is in our interest, and I would argue we are more than justified in taking action to make sure that councils can plan properly."Before using the power, a minister must check whether what a council is doing is consistent with the national direction under the RMA, and engage with the council.It would also only be an interim measure, while the government works to reform planning laws, which are due to take effect in 2027 to align with councils' next long-term plans.The government is also no longer proposing to make Medium Density Residential Standards optional for councils.The MDRS standards required councils to allow the development of three homes up to three storeys on a site without the need for resource consent.They were announced by the previous government and passed with National's backing. At the time it signalled a bipartisan commitment on housing.In government, National backed down, and made the standards optional.But Bishop now said most councils had already changed their plans to include the MDRS, so it would be inefficient and a waste of money to make them change their plans again.Bishop on Wednesday released a discussion document on how proposed housing rule changes would work in with the government's resource management reforms."Next year we'll replace the RMA with a new planning system that makes it easier to plan and deliver the housing and infrastructure New Zealand needs."The new planning system is an enormous opportunity to create a planning system that enables and encourages housing growth," Bishop said.The document provided more details on six planned law changes:The establishment of Housing Growth Targets for Tier 1 and 2 councilsNew rules making it easier for cities to expand outwards at the urban fringeA strengthening of the intensification provisions in the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD)New rules requiring councils to enable a greater mixed-use zoning across cities.The abolition of minimum floor area and balcony requirementsNew provisions making the Medium Density Residential Standards optional for councils.Last month ministers released proposed sweeping changes to rules covering councils' oversight for public consultation.Under the proposed Resource Management Act changes, granny flats of up to 70sqm, and papakāinga of up to 10 homes would be allowed without a consent on specific land zones.Papakāinga would also allow commercial activities of up to 100sqm, conservation activity, accommodation for up to eight guests, along with education, health, sports, marae, urupā and māra kai facilities.Medium papakāinga of up to 30 homes would be considered a "restricted discretionary" activity, with those of more than 30 units becoming "discretionary" activities.PHOTO: RNZ / Mark Papalii

The government has announced another multi-million dollar funding boost for Tourism New Zealand in a bid to attract 72,000 more visitors to our shores.Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said $13.5 million in funding would help to target the core markets of Australia, the United States and China over the next few years."This investment is expected to generate around $300 million in spending, which is a very strong return on investment," she said."International visitor numbers continue to climb and this boost will help drive further economic growth throughout the entire country."Less than two months ago, she announced a separate $13.5 million boost for Tourism New Zealand to fund marketing in the shorter term, with the aims of attracting an extra 23,000 international visitors by the end of March 2026 and bringing in an additional $100 million.The international visitor levy - which was nearly tripled last year - is covering the costs for both."We know how important marketing is to attract visitors, with around 14 percent of international holiday visitors directly influenced by Tourism New Zealand's marketing activity," Upston said."We want people to know New Zealand is open for business and we welcome visitors with open arms."She described the funding as the first investment in the government's Tourism Growth Roadmap, which outlines the initiatives to help the government and industry double the value of tourism exports by 2034."We know how important marketing is to attract visitors, with around 14 percent of international holiday visitors directly influenced by Tourism New Zealand's marketing activity," Upston said.Last year, Tourism New Zealand unveiled an ambitious strategy to grow tourism by $5 billion by attracting more visitors outside of summer over four years.It aimed to grow international tourism spend by 8.7 percent, or an additional $900 million in the strategy's first year.February marked the largest number of American visitors that Aotearoa had ever recorded in a month.At tourism conference TRENZ last month, Tourism New Zealand chief executive René de Monchy said that had been buoyed by airlines opening up new routes, a tailwind of a strong American dollar and focused marketing, and the outlook for American visitors remained really positive.

Wānaka cafe and restaurant Urban Grind will close its doors next week, and will be replaced later this month by a new Italian restaurant.The cafe on Ardmore Street, owned by hospitality group Dropping Inn, will close its doors at 2pm on Monday (June 9) in preparation for new proprietors to take over next week. The new restaurant - Bambina by Giovi - will be developed by Queenstown-based Giovi Fine Food.The Wānaka restaurant will be the fourth for the brand, with Italian restaurants already operating in Queenstown, Frankton and Arrowtown. Giovi Fine Food founder Giovanna Boventi says the restaurant will bring an authentic Italian culinary experience to Wānaka.“I am very happy to bring our fresh, homemade pasta, ravioli, lasagna and other delicatessen to Wānaka after successfully serving locals and tourists in Giovi and Farelli in Queenstown, and Bianca in Arrowtown,” she said.“Bambina will be a piece of Italy right in the heart of Wānaka and we look forward to continuing the legacy with the customers of Urban Grind, although with a different twist.”After a short refurbishment, the restaurant will hold a soft opening on June 27, with the full restaurant opening on June 28. Dropping Inn director Matt Laming said Urban Grind has been a Wānaka institution since the business opened 14 years ago, but the time was right for the change of ownership.“We’re inviting the community to come into Urban Grind next Monday and enjoy a free slice of cake with every coffee purchased as a final celebration,” he said.Any customers holding Dropping Inn vouchers or loyalty points will still be able to redeem them at alternative Dropping Inn venues (b.social, Hāwea Hotel,Treehouse, and Hello Ranger).PHOTO: Supplied