Wānaka restaurant Kika has received two ‘hats’ from the prestigious Cuisine Good Food Awards for the first time, as well as the ‘Casual Dining of Year’ title for 2024.Kika made Cuisine’s top-100 list as part of the awards in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021 (the awards didn’t take place in 2020 due to Covid-19), and in 2022 and 2023 it stood out further, receiving one ‘hat’, for restaurants scoring 16 or more out of 20.The restaurant has improved again, Cuisine judges say, awarding it two hats, reserved for restaurants which are ‘consistently outstanding’.The Wānaka App asked Kika owner James Stapley how the long-running restaurant continues to improve.“We have always just done our own thing and not really followed trends too much,” James said. Kika owner James Stapley said the recognition from Cuisine was a “huge boost”.We know what we are and what we do and have a unique style that is uniquely Kika.”He said Kika provided a combination of consistent quality and “constant innovation”, with an ever-changing menu, aside from a few classic dishes that have been on the menu since the early days.Receiving the two accolades from Cuisine was “a huge boost,” James said.“It’s been a tough year in hospitality so it’s so really nice to get some good news. We are very proud of what we do but to receive two hats was just an incredible surprise.”James said he was especially pleased to receive the casual dining award as “casual is what we do”.The recognition “drives us to be better and to keep evolving”.Cuisine judges said Kika nailed “contemporary Kiwi cuisine” with an atmosphere that is “warm, inviting and lively”.They singled out Kika’s “delectable” beef tartare, “juicy, tender” lamb shoulder and “masterful” Otago cherry and chocolate pavlova as must-tries.Kika was the only Wānaka restaurant awarded hats, but other restaurants also caught the eye of Cuisine judges.Muttonbird, Paloma Taqueria, The Cow, The Cardrona Distillery, Arc Wānaka and Bistro Gentil will all be featured in Cuisine’s Good Food Guide for 2024/2025, which celebrates quality eateries around the country.PHOTO: Cuisine

Wānaka outdoor performance wear brand Mons Royale is celebrating its 15th anniversary and the opening of its new retail store in Wānaka.Mons Royale was founded by husband and wife Hamish and Hannah Acland in 2009. Over the past 15 years the brand has grown from a passion project into a global leader in Merino wool apparel and is stocked in more than 1,000 stores across the world.“We’re incredibly proud to celebrate 15 years of Mons Royale,” Hamish said.“It’s been a huge decade and a half of taking the best of New Zealand to the world and we’re excited to keep pushing the boundaries of innovation in performance wear.”Hamish, a former competitive skier, saw an opportunity in the market for high-performance and stylish merino wool-based adventure clothing.“When I was on tour I noticed that there was no modern apparel out there,” he said.“I thought it was a real gap in the market and so Hannah and I came back to New Zealand and got to work with the dream of making technical clothing that transitions from the mountain to the high street.“It’s been a huge amount of work and I can’t thank our awesome team enough for everything they’ve done for the brand. I still love seeing people walking down the street in our clothing and we’re pleased to be showcasing New Zealand wool and innovation on the world stage.”Mons Royale employs more than 40 staff and has offices in Wānaka, Innsbruck and British Columbia, with the brand just opening its fifth retail store, this one in Wānaka, where the business is headquartered.“It’s a very cool thing to create the physical manifestation of the brand when you create a retail store. We love it and we’re just starting to learn the game of retail, the next step is retail stores overseas,” Hannah said.Sustainability has also formed a key part of the Mons Royale story, with the brand obtaining B Corp certification in 2024.“As keen adventurers we’re all really passionate about sustainability,” Hannah said.“We consistently prioritise natural materials, ethical production practices, and reducing waste throughout our supply chain and we’re really pleased to have that recognised through B Corp certification.”Hamish said they feel very fortunate to do something they love."We’re just getting started and we’re excited for the next 15-years of Mons Royale,” he said.

Much higher intensity housing is a feature of the new Mt Iron Junction development plan, which has been confirmed on the government’s fast-track approvals projects list released on Sunday (October 6).Two hundred and sixty-three “high density units” are part of the Mt Iron Junction Housing Scheme project, the government said. High density units include townhouses or apartment buildings.Mt Iron Junction Ltd director and long-time Wānaka resident Steve Schikker told the Wānaka App he was “very pleased with the outcome”.“We look forward to moving through the process,” he said.Read more: Cardrona Valley ski gondola among fast-track consenting projectsAn artist’s impression of the original terraced housing planned for the junction. The plans now include 263 high density units. IMAGE: SuppliedSteve declined to provide details about the latest proposal, which was submitted to the Fast Track process, except to confirm it was “higher density than the original”.The original plan that went through the Environment Court was for a service station, a nine-unit workers’ accommodation village and 13 two-and three-bedroomed terrace houses.Steve and fellow director Peter Greene publicly announced their plans for the mixed-use development (on 6ha of unused land at the base of Wānaka’s Mt Iron, bounded by State Highways 6 and 84) in 2018.Read more: Major development proposed for Wānaka’s entrance“We envisage Mt Iron Junction to be an attractive, thoughtful and functional entrance to Wānaka – one that complements the natural environment, existing urban and commercial development, and community infrastructure, while offering the necessary facilities for future growth,” Steve said at the time.There has been a lot of water under the bridge since then, including Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) declining the original resource consent application. A compromise was reached through the Environment Court for a modified development and conditional consent was granted in April.One of the conditions specified for the development’s go-ahead was an operational roundabout adjacent to the development. Work on the Mt Iron Junction roundabout began in 2023 was officially deemed completed in July this year. Late last year came the controversial news that a McDonald’s restaurant had been proposed for the junction area. The McDonald’s proposal is due to go to a hearing panel next month.Regional development minister Shane Jones said the 149 projects chosen by Cabinet will be listed in the Fast Track Approvals Bill.“Once the bill is passed, [projects] will be able to apply to the Environmental Protection Authority to have an expert panel assess the project and apply relevant conditions," he said.An expert advisory panel of the Environmental Protection Authority will assess each project and apply any relevant environmental protections.

A high-speed electric passenger lift system linking the Cardrona Valley to the Cardrona Alpine Resort and Soho ski areas is among three local projects announced in the government’s fast-track approvals projects released today (Sunday October 6).The gondola is part of a Blackmans Creek Holdings Limited project, which lists developer John Darby as the sole director. The project will establish on-mountain visitor accommodation, guest facilities, and workers' accommodation.A development to establish 263 high-density units at Mt Iron Junction, and the controversial Bendigo-Ophir gold mining project were also selected for fast-track approval.In total the government announced 149 projects nationwide.“The 149 projects selected by the government have significant regional or national benefits,” regional development minister Shane Jones said.“They will make a big difference in the regions by delivering jobs and growth and develop a pipeline of major projects to help boost the economy.“The 149 projects chosen by Cabinet ... will be listed in Schedule 2 of the Bill once [it] is reported back from the Environment Committee in mid-October. Once the Bill is passed, they will be able to apply to the Environmental Protection Authority to have an expert panel assess the project and apply relevant conditions."The minister said the Fast Track Approvals Bill is a key part of the government’s plan to rebuild the economy and cut through "the red and green tape" that has made it more and more difficult to build the projects New Zealand needs.Find the list of all projects here.PHOTO: File

The Wānaka Business Chamber has announced the finalists for the 2024 Wānaka Business Excellence Awards in association with Milford Asset Management.The Chamber said the selection process has been rigorous and the finalists chosen for their outstanding achievements and commitment to excellence in their respective fields."The judging panel had the difficult task of evaluating an incredibly diverse and innovative group of businesses,” Wānaka Business Chamber general manager Glenn Peat said. “What stood out this year was the level of adaptability and forward-thinking that so many businesses demonstrated, particularly as they navigated recent economic challenges.”A revamped application and judging process, designed to make it more accessible for businesses to enter, resulted in a record number of entries.“It’s a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit here in Wānaka that we’ve seen such strong engagement with the awards,” Glenn said. “We look forward to celebrating not only the finalists but the broader business community that continues to drive our region forward."Glenn congratulated all the entrants and said he hoped the process allowed business leaders to step back from day-to-day operations and reflect on their progress.The winners of the 2024 Wānaka Business Excellence Awards will be announced at the awards gala dinner at Rippon Hall on November 9.Tickets to the awards gala dinner can be purchased here.Finalists for the 2024 Wānaka Business Excellence Awards are:Main Industry CategoriesExcellence in Customer Experience – Supported by Drive AccountingMitre 10 MEGA WānakaThe Next ChapterWastebustersExcellence in Visitor Experience – Supported by Lake Wānaka TourismBike GlendhunzbiketrailsWānaka Helicopter GroupExcellence in Trade & Industrial Sector - Supported by FindexArchitectural + Design LibraryWānaka SolarWānaka StoneExcellence in Primary & Consumer Goods – Supported by Cardrona Alpine Resort and TrebleConeBalance MeRipponSidekick SodaExcellence in Professional Services – Supported by Aspiring LawConstructive ConsultantsGreenhawk Chartered AccountantsMike Pero Mortgages Wānaka & QueenstownSchistrockmedia - The Wānaka AppSpecialist CategoriesStrategy, Innovation & Business – Supported by Batchelar McDougall ConsultingArchitectural + Design LibraryBike GlendhuFluid Visual CommunicationsBest Emerging Business Award – Supported by Air New ZealandGreen FoxnzbiketrailsEmployer of the Year – Supported by EASI NZGreenhawk Chartered AccountantsMitre 10 Mega WānakaWānaka StoneBusiness Sustainability & Environmental Impact – Supported by Queenstown Lakes District CouncilGreen FoxGreenhawk Chartered AccountantsWastebustersCommunity Contribution – Supported by Queenstown AirportFood for LoveWānaka Golf ClubWastebustersPHOTO: Bunker Street Film Co

Reform of the building consent regime will mark the beginning of a "new era for the construction industry", a developers' lobby group says.The government announced on Sunday it would be reforming the building consent system - including reducing the number of consenting authorities.It was also looking at changing who was legally responsible for payouts over defective buildings.The announcement followed proposed 'granny flat' law changes that would remove the need for consents for homes under 60sqm.Minister of Building and Construction Chris Penk said the "cumbersome" consenting system meant New Zealand had some of the "least affordable housing in the world".The system was intended to protect homeowners from defective building work, by requiring it to be inspected and consented by a Building Consent Authority (BCA).A lack of consistency in how the 67 BCAs were interpreting the building code was leading to costs and delays for builders, he said.Among the new options being considered to replace the current BCA system were:voluntary consolidation: allowing councils to pool resources for building consentsregional BCAs: establishing a smaller number of regional BCAssingle point of contact for builders to submit plans to: inspections may be contracted out to existing BCAs or private consenting providers, "creating competition and encouraging specialisation".The government was also looking at changing who was legally responsible for payouts over defective buildings."Under the current settings, councils and their ratepayers are liable for defective work," Penk said."Joint and several liability means councils can be 'the last person standing' available to foot the bill when things go wrong. This creates a highly conservative and risk-averse approach, which contributes cost and draws out deadlines."Property Council NZ chief executive Leonie Freeman. PHOTO: Richard Doran PhotographyProperty Council chief executive Leonie Freeman welcomed the changes as a "bold move", saying they would cut through red tape and deliver faster, more efficient developments."Our members, including the country's leading property developers, investors, managers and property experts, have been clear: the current consenting system is plagued by delays and inconsistencies across regions."It's hindering progress and escalating costs for projects that are crucial to meeting New Zealand's housing needs."Developers had reported wait times over two months for building consents, and up to 18 months for resource consents, she said."This creates a level of uncertainty that drives up costs, slows progress and ultimately puts home affordability further out of reach."Read more:The announcement marked "the beginning of a new era for the construction industry", and the group had been "actively engaging" with the government on the issue all year, she said in a statement."We are fully supportive of the options presented today. Faster, streamlined consents mean faster, more affordable housing, which benefits everyone," Freeman said.An advocate for owners of leaky homes said the government needs to be cautious around any re-introduction of private building consent providers.The president of home owners and buyers association, John Gray, said this was practiced in the 1990s and owners had suffered from the providers' lack of competency."It did not work then and it will not work now, unless they get competent people."And most importantly, that those private certifiers have mandatory insurance to back them for their failures."Gray said many private certifying companies went bust in the '90s because no insurers were prepared to take the risk of insuring them.'Go harder' on building reforms - ACTMeanwhile, the ACT party urged the government to "go harder" on its reforms.ACT housing, building, and construction spokesman Cameron Luxton said the government should also look at letting home builders opt out of building consents, provided they had long-term insurance for the work."That would get councils out of the way completely, for faster, more innovative, and ultimately more reliable building consents."

Central Otago locals are worried a proposed gold mine will hit industry and devastate the special - and spectacular - natural environment.Santana Minerals believes the hills between Bendigo and Ophir could hold $4.4 billion worth of gold, and started hosting community drop-in sessions this week.The company hopes to submit a fast track application in February if the new law passes, and offer 250 full time jobs living in the surrounding communities.A dirt road winds its way up the hills in Bendigo towards The Canyon at Tarras Vineyards, overlooking vineyards, farmland, the Clutha River and the Dunstan Range.Venue and vineyard owner Hayden Johnston was worried what it would mean for business to have a possible open pit gold mine as a nearby neighbour with all of the noise, lights and traffic."You're transported to a special place and industrialising that with a gold mine so close is just destruction. I'm very concerned that the reason that people enjoy being here so much will be taken away," he said.The Canyon at Tarras Vineyards owner Hayden Johnston welcomes the start of regular community drop in sessions but said they had a lot of unanswered questions.Noise travels far around the valley. He was kept awake by overnight frost fans at cherry orchards, and said the mine would be a similar distance away and likely operating continuously.He did not believe open cast mining fit with the sustainable approach local vineyards were taking, but he welcomed the start of regular drop-in sessions with Santana Minerals in Cromwell and Tarras."Their plans have not been available publicly and also the expert reports that would give us most of the answers to what are the noise levels, what are the visual impacts, what are the sounds, how is the sound going to travel, and those sorts of things, and the containment measures," Johnston said.Central Otago Winegrowers Association board member Donald van der Westhuizen said Bendigo was prime vineyard territory with strong organic production.The area is one of the most parched parcels of land in the country with the Clutha River Mata Au acting as a lifeblood for the region. He was worried about the risks of heavy metals - including arsenic - escaping from the site into the river.Central Otago Winegrowers Association board member Donald van der Westhuizen is concerned about the risks to other industries if the gold mine goes ahead.He was not sure the benefits outweighed the potential cost."Allowing an operation such as what Santana's proposing, you risk already established significant industries within the area. All of which already contribute a significant amount to the local economy and possibly even more so than the proposed mining operation," he said.Visitors were attracted to the natural beauty and their reputation for sustainability, van der Westhuizen said."Anything that poses risk to that reputation poses risk to both Central Otago winegrowers and the tourism industry."Santana Minerals has applied for the mine to be considered under the new Fast Track Approvals Bill, which is still being worked on by the government.Van der Westhuizen thought the fast track process was problematic if it took such a complex project and made a decision in about six months.Bendigo winegrower and Sustainable Tarras representative Rob van der Mark said there were a lot of questions and he was not sure they would get answers if the fast track process kicked in."We simply don't know what we will inherit long term. We don't know what kind of financial bond would be appropriate to fix whatever damage may occur in the future. How long it will take to restore the land," van der Mark said.He was not sure how the company intended to fill the jobs without taking staff from existing businesses or not exacerbating the housing shortage.Santana Minerals chief executive Damian Spring said they would be consulting with locals throughout the process.Santana Minerals chief executive Damian Spring wanted to allay their environmental concerns."Our objective is there will be no effects. That's how it works today you have to put up a proposal that you understand your geology, your environment, your hydrology, meteorology, everything. You combine it and you model it up and ensure that whatever water comes down to the monitoring point meets the quality that's required," he said.The community was generally supportive of the project with a lot of interest at a recent chamber of commerce event, he said."For exploration companies, you're really only as good as your last drill hole because all the money that you plow into the ground comes from your investors so as long as you keep growing that resource to a point where you think you've got a project, then the investors are happy to back you."They would be consulting with locals throughout the process, including if the project was fast tracked, he said."Social licence isn't a piece of paper, it's about relationships so it is getting out there and introducing ourselves in the first instance and then following up with meaningful updates to the information, addressing their concerns where we can, and just giving a level of detail - with time - they can understand what truly is our proposal."The company was starting the conversation with neighbours to give them a sense of what the project might look like and promising to share updates on what the environment was like, what the proposal would be, and how they'd mitigate the impacts on the environment, Spring said.Various studies were starting to wrap up, and he said work to understand where the best source of water that didn't impact neighbouring bores was "well advanced and we're comfortable that we've got that under control".They would have 250 full time jobs on their books in the first instance with workers living in the communities within an hours' drive of the mine site and buses to help manage worker fatigue.Cromwell resident Rochelle thought the mine could be great for the region."But we need to prioritise the infrastructure in town before anything big goes ahead because we just don't have the housing for people, we don't have the child care and the options for people to work here as well so that stuff needs to be thought about before they want to bring in a heap of people to be doing that," she said.The view towards the proposed mine site between Bendigo and Ophir.Bannockburn resident Beth doubted there was enough health care, housing and other services to cater for the additional workers."These developments really are only to line the developer's pockets. They say they're going to employ locals. My question is where are these locals currently and what jobs are they leaving in order to work on that project? The businesses that will benefit will be the supermarkets and the petrol stations," she said."Where is the infrastructure for the health support required by ... staff. If they have children, what is the capacity in the schools?"One Pisa Moorings resident, who asked not to be named, said she was on board with the mine if they did the right environmental work."It would be great to create a lot of job opportunities for people. I'd just like to see the land go back not big open mines being left open. That they are actually filled in," she said.If it gets a green light under the proposed Fast-Track Approvals Bill, the Central Otago District Council would not be the consenting authority.Instead, mayor Tim Cadogan said they would be trying to best represent the community's often polarising views on the project."We're going to have to work really hard to get those community views as best we can and to put them in a way that probably isn't taking sides but conveys to the panel, here's the things that are exciting people. Here's the things that are concerning people. Here are the impacts on us as a council as well, which is quite a significant part of this picture for us," Cadogan said.A vineyard in Bendigo.Central Otago is one of the fastest growing districts in the country, putting pressure on housing, infrastructure and services.The sheer size of the proposed mine with its 250 staff was a challenge to consider, he said.But the council would need to walk a delicate line as other big projects - including the Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme - had come to nothing."We're in a difficult position now of having to start thinking how do we cope with that while also going it might not happen and do we want to be predicting or getting ahead of what may or may not happen and what are the optics of doing that," he said.He would like a portion of the Crown minerals levy to go to councils to assist with the housing, infrastructure or other costs associated with a big project like this, saying that council's currently got nothing from a large mine opening in the district apart from some rates.Santana Minerals is working on its pre-feasibility study that will confirm the project, the layout, costs and timing.PHOTOS: RNZ / Tess Brunton

The developer of Lake Hāwea’s Longview subdivision says he is “hugely frustrated” with the information presented by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) staff to councillors last week, saying it did not reflect “real world” analysis.Universal Developments director Lane Hocking was referring to a report from council staff seeking councillors’ approval of a proposed increase - up to 60 percent - for house and land package prices in Longview.Universal Developments had asked for increases of around $300,000 for each of its packages, meaning, for example, the price of a three-bedroom house would increase from $549,000 to $849,000.The report to councillors argued that an increase of up to 60 percent was reasonable “given the increase in demand and market prices, the construction cost inflation, wider costs, the current pressure on building companies, and the significant discount on market rates”.Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust trustee Phil Smith receives 18 land titles gifted by developer Lane Hocking of Universal Developments. Lane said when he saw the council report he told staff he was frustrated.“The data that should be referenced is the building cost inflation for the life-to-date of the project. That shows my total increases over the life is less than the building cost inflation over the same period,” he said.QLDC received advice from an independent quantity surveyor, which showed cost inflation of around 25 percent between 2021 and 2023, but Lane told QLDC housing strategic planner Emily Irwin that analysis did not reflect the “real world”.Statistics NZ figures indicate that building costs in Otago have increased by 65 percent from 2018 to 2024, he said, citing raw data from Otago councils for cost per square metre.Lane said Longview’s house prices come from nine different national group homebuilders “operating in an extremely competitive environment against each other”, adding that means “one can be sure that their pricing accurately reflects the market”.  “The factors impacting pricing are clear and are unquestionably without precedent,” he said.The majority of councillors last week disagreed with the council’s proposal for a 60 percent increase in prices and instead approved a 25 percent increase (based on the building cost inflation estimated by the quantity surveyor), at councillor Cody Tucker’s recommendation. Councillors Barry Bruce, Lyal Cocks, Gavin Bartlett and mayor Glyn Lewers voted against it and the other six councillors endorsed it.Read more: Decision a win for first home buyers - councillorLane said on top of building cost inflation, he is paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to “accommodate the council's failures” to provide wastewater servicing. He said the trucking of wastewater from Longview to Wānaka’s wastewater system Project Pure cost more than $400k per annum, and he expects this cost to “go significantly higher as the population grows”.Read more: ‘Poo trucks’ a surprise to community associationApproximately eight loads of waste are being trucked each week and QLDC confirmed to the Wānaka App earlier this year that it will continue as the subdivision develops, because of the limitation of capacity of the Hāwea Wastewater Treatment Plant.  Longview was approved under the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas (HASHA) Act 2013. Under the legislation a deed sets out affordable housing components including fixed price house and land packages, land resale conditions and restrictions on visitor accommodation.A clause in the Special Housing Area (SHA) deed provides the ability to amend the house and land packages for a limited number of reasons, including a change in building costs.PHOTOS: Wānaka App

Wānaka Business Chamber general manager Glenn Peat says it’s more important than ever for locals to support local businesses.At least three businesses have either closed or announced their closure in the past few weeks.“We’re aware of some closures, including Soul Clothing, Revology, and Wānaka Interiors (retail store), but closures vary across businesses for different reasons, so it's hard to generalise,” Glenn said.“It’s difficult to say if this is a trend or an anomaly, as multiple factors like external economic pressures and consumer behaviour are at play.”Wānaka Business Chamber general manager Glenn Peat PHOTO: SuppliedGlenn said Wānaka’s retail sector, like many others across the country, has faced challenges due to changing economic conditions. Some retail businesses are adapting to the conditions and there is still “resilience” in the sector.“Several businesses [are] adapting through strategies like expanding their online presence, collaborating with other local businesses, and offering exclusive local products to attract both locals and visitors.”“We do empathise with the challenges retail businesses face, both here in Wānaka and across the country, and encourage everyone to support local where possible,” he said.“It’s now more important than ever for our community to support local businesses to help keep our town vibrant.”

It’s not as bad as a pub with no beer, but a supermarket with no alcohol for sale will be the case for nine spots around Otago next month - including Wānaka.Affected New World supermarkets will comply with a ruling to stop selling alcohol for 48 hours next month, as a result of an advertising breach.New World Wānaka is one of nine Otago supermarkets to be banned from selling alcohol after advertising a discount for DB Export 24 packs of beer.The online advertisement said the beer would be discounted by 26.1 percent for customers with a loyalty card, breaching the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act, which says it is an offence to promote or advertise discounts on alcohol of 25 percent or more.A Foodstuffs spokesperson told the Wānaka App that the restriction, imposed by the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (Arla), will be in place for New World Wānaka from 7am on Tuesday October 8 for 48 hours.“Foodstuffs South Island and its stores take their responsibility for the safe advertising, sale, and supply of alcohol very seriously,” the spokesperson said.They said the discount rate advertised was caused by an “inadvertent process failure”.“Since then, we’ve implemented stricter processes to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”While the supermarkets had argued against the booze ban because it would cause financial loss, Foodstuffs told the Wānaka App today (September 17) that it accepted the ruling.“We fully respect the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority’s process, and all affected New World stores will comply with the ruling,” Foodstuffs said.PHOTO: Supplied

More than 100 people plan to speak at an upcoming hearing on McDonald’s Restaurants NZ’s controversial bid for a Wānaka restaurant.The hearing will begin in Wānaka on November 25 and could last up to four days.It is one of the final steps in a long resource consent process to determine whether or not the McDonald’s will get the go-ahead.Recent public consultation on the application makes it clear the public are not lovin’ it.Three hundred and thirty-nine of the people who made submissions said they opposed it; just 21 supported it; and another six people said they didn’t oppose it entirely but asked for changes.McDonald’s Restaurants NZ’s plans for a Wānaka restaurant were made public in November last year when it submitted a resource consent application for a restaurant and drive-through that would operate around the clock.Read more: McDonald’s plans for Wānaka restaurantPublic backlash was sharp and swift, with 1,500 people signing an online petition against the proposal within a few days. Approximately another 4,000 people have signed it since.The online petition will not have any bearing on the upcoming hearing, but the hearing panel will take into account the views of the hundreds of people who made formal submissions.Common themes in formal submissions among people who oppose a Wānaka McDonald’s were concerns about litter and packaging, the financial impact on local food businesses, the nutritional value of McDonalds’ food, and the visual effect of the McDonald’s restaurant and signage at the ‘entrance’ to Wānaka.The much smaller group who supported the proposal in formal submissions said it would provide employment opportunities, a rare alcohol-free environment for families, and an affordable option for takeaways.In its application McDonald’s Restaurants (NZ) Ltd said the proposed 445m2 restaurant and drive-through, which would be located just off the SH6/SH84 roundabout on rural-zoned land, would “give rise to significant positive effects”.Independent commissioners Helen Atkins (chair), Robert Scott,and Lisa Mein have been appointed to the hearings panel.The first three days of the hearing will take place at the Lake Wānaka Centre’s Armstrong Room and the final day (if required) will be held at the Luggate Memorial Hall.A final decision on the proposal won’t be made until after post-hearing deliberations by the commissioners, a Queenstown Lakes District Council representative said.PHOTO: Supplied

Community non-profit group Wao is focusing on “purpose driven business” during its annual summit (October 29 - November 2). Wao communications director Arna Craig said purpose-driven business “is the new normal”, and people should “get used to it”. The summit will feature a Better Business Day, designed to equip business leaders to integrate sustainability and purpose into their business operations, she said.“Businesses that align their operations with a clear and authentic purpose not only enhance their brand reputation but also drive innovation, attract and retain top talent, and open up new avenues for growth.“Purpose provides a North Star, guiding decisions that resonate deeply with today’s conscious consumers, who are increasingly seeking out companies that stand for something meaningful,” Arna said.During the session, participants will hear from industry leaders and B Corp consultants who believe that business is the most powerful tool for creating lasting positive change.The programme will focus on strategies for integrating sustainability into every aspect of business, from operations to customer engagement, ensuring that businesses are not only profitable but also responsible and resilient, Arna said.She said the key events at this year’s summit to “propel businesses into operation for purpose” include ‘How to Shift a System’ with Monique Kelly; ‘The What, Why & How of B Corp’ with Tim Jones; ‘Mastering Climate Action Priorities’, a masterclass with GHG experts EAS; and ‘Let’s do Business Better’, a networking event and panel discussion at Wilson and Dorset.Find the full programme here. Early bird pricing is available until September 14.PHOTO: Supplied

More information is now available on Quartz Development Group’s plans to turn the Lake Hāwea Hotel site into residential sections.Early this week the company shared its plans to demolish the existing hotel and create a small subdivision in its place.A new hotel will be built further along Capell Ave, Quartz Development Group managing director Matt Laming said, as part of a precinct with visitor accommodation, private residences, hospitality, retail and entertainment.A resource consent application lodged with QLDC this week shows plans for a 20-lot development.Sections range in size from 600m2 to 810m2 and lots 5-19 will have a consent notice restricting further development beyond a single residential unit, the application (completed by Williams & Co for Quartz Development Group) said. Lots 1-4, which are each 800m2 or larger, “could be subdivided further in the future”.An aerial photo of the Lake Hāwea Hotel site, which overlooks the lake. IMAGE: QLDCA series of retaining walls will provide level lots and maximise views and “the scale of the development will be complementary to the existing and future Hāwea township character”.Matt presented the plans for the redevelopment of the existing hotel site and the development of the new commercial precinct to members of the public at the hotel last Sunday (September 1).Read more: Major changes for Lake Hāwea’s hospitality sceneHe assured them the company would ensure “continuity of hospitality” in Lake Hāwea, while development of the projects are underway.“Our intention is to create vibrant, social spaces and amenities for the growing population here – and if we need to we will establish temporary facilities next to the Hāwea Store and Kitchen to make sure people still have a space to eat and drink socially.”Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is currently vetting the application for the residential lots.Further consent applications will follow for the removal of the hotel and construction of the new precinct.

A Wānaka-based woman once celebrated for turning $50 into a multimillion-dollar business empire is now facing angry investors upset at how recent financial problems have been handled.Anna Ross founded the cosmetic brand Kester Black, which says it makes "natural nail care" and takes a "holistic approach to beauty".In 2021, it was reported that the business had made more than $1.16 million in revenue in the past 12 months.That same year, the Australian-registered arm of the business, Kester Black Pty Ltd, raised more than A$2 million from investors via equity crowdfunding platform Birchal. At that point, the company was valued at A$22 million.However, the company entered voluntary administration on July 9. Hamilton Murphy was appointed administrator.The New Zealand business was put into liquidation the following month, with Waterstone Insolvency appointed. Kester Black Pty was the sole shareholder.Read more: Local business aims globalOne investor, Tahnee Lucas, said they had been told investors would not get any of their money back."I invested close to NZ$3000 so will get nothing for that."Hamilton Murphy would not confirm this but said interested parties would be sent more information soon.Lucas said she had not been able to join a shareholders' call because the Zoom meeting was capped at 100 participants.The business and assets of Kester Black Pty Ltd were sold at the end of July to New New New Pty Ltd, a company owned by Fergus Sully, whom media have previously referred to as Ross's "business and life partner".The sale was for just over A$146,220. A 10 percent deposit was required, and then the remainder was to be paid in 12 monthly instalments.The minutes of a creditors' meeting in mid-August show the deed of company arrangement would give priority creditors a full return of what they were owed, and unsecured creditors about 29c in the dollar.In New Zealand, New New New Holdings is listed on the Companies Office with Ross as the director.The New Zealand Companies Office lists Sully as the sole director of the Kester Black business.The administrator's report said Kester Black Pty Ltd had reported trading losses over the financial years prior to the administration. It had not been able to keep up with its tax liabilities and owed the Australian Tax Office A$62,125.Trading appears to have continued as usual, with nothing in the company's frequent social media advertisements to indicate any behind-the-scenes change - except for "angry" reactions and comments that appear to have been deleted.Lucas said investors were given the idea that it was an "ethical, conscious company"."But the fellow investors I have managed to speak to feel the way there was no communication from the company and the business has been sold to a new company with her husband as the director and kept trading is anything but ethical. Investors are upset and feel it's all been smoke and mirrors as we were sent communications about how the business was doing well throughout the period of our investment with positively geared company updates."There are concerns that the funds raised for the company may have been used for product development, with the new entity now reaping the benefits without any consideration for the original shareholders. It feels as though the company has evaded accountability, and despite accepting the risk of investing, the lack of transparency and communication is troubling."Another investor said they had received positive updates for about three years but now the "rug has been firmly pulled out"."No gratitude, no acknowledgement, no apology."Anna Ross said she was not in a position to comment but would be in touch when she had information to share.The Financial Markets Authority warns that equity crowfunding is risky and while investments might do well, people could also lose all their money.

“Disappointment” is the initial response from Queenstown Lakes District mayor Glyn Lewers to the government’s decision to triple the amount of the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL).Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Matt Doocey and Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka announced the increase on Tuesday (September 3), saying the move from $35 to $100 will ensure visitors contribute to public services and high-quality experiences while visiting New Zealand. Queenstown Lakes District Council’s submission to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) in June said the distribution of funds from the IVL lacked “the rigour, the scale, and the targeting” to address the real impacts of tourism.Read more: Council underwhelmed by effectiveness of international visitor levy“We haven’t seen a track record of spending that levy in places that really need it,” Glyn said.Glyn Lewers: “The whole tourism structure needs a bit of a shake up.” PHOTO: Supplied He told the Wānaka App the decision to increase the levy provided “no further clarity” on how the money should be spent, with it remaining “opaque in how it’s dished out”, he said.Glyn said he expected the government will once again make accessing IVL funds a competitive process, repeating “the same mistakes”.Glyn said one in three international visitors come through the Queenstown Lakes district; the district provides 20 percent of visitor nights, second only to Auckland; and Queenstown is the third largest airport by international visitors, but IVL spending here “doesn’t stack up”.“The system behind it is flawed. There’s no clarity of purpose,” he said.The tourism industry is disappointed in the decision to increase the IVL, he said, adding that feedback he has had from tourism operators suggests they are also concerned with the direction of Tourism NZ (TNZ. a Crown entity tasked with promoting New Zealand), citing that international marketing “is not hitting the mark”, and “stakeholder engagement has been absolutely lacking”.“You’ll see more from Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism telling our stories overseas,” he added.“Fundamentally the whole tourism structure needs a bit of a shake up. From what I can see we haven’t moved on from the early 90s.”Glyn said QLDC has been talking to central government about these issues and will continue to do so.Lake Wānaka Tourism was approached for comment.The change in the IVL takes place from October 1. 

This year’s hugely successful Warbirds Over Wānaka International Airshow has been crowned ‘New Zealand’s Favourite Event’ for the second time.The airshow took out the People’s Choice award at this week’s New Zealand Event Association Gala Awards Dinner in Palmerston North.Warbirds Over Wānaka event manager Andrena Davis received the award on behalf of the airshow - which won the same award the last time the event was held in 2018.“This was the award we most wanted to win because it’s a public vote and we simply wouldn’t have such an amazing event without our fans throughout New Zealand and around the world who continue to support us in so many different ways,” Andrena said.Warbirds 2024.“We were thrilled when we won this award in 2018 but because of Covid we were not able to defend our title until this year.  “But the six-year gap was no barrier – we had the most successful airshow ever and now we’ve gone back-to-back with this major award, we couldn’t be happier.”Read more: Best Warbirds ever: Organisers blown away by feedbackAndrena said the award is really for the hundreds of people who make the airshow happen. “From all the performers and exhibitors to our wonderful volunteers and management crew it’s a real team effort,” she said.“People keep asking us how we can top this year’s airshow but we are already very excited about some amazing new acts we are looking to bring to Wānaka in 2026.”The next Warbirds Over Wānaka International Airshow will be held at Easter 2026. PHOTO: Geoff Marks

Submissions have been invited from the public on new changes to Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) updated Land Development and Subdivision Code of Practice.QLDC property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery said the latest updates to the Code of Practice would ensure infrastructure across subdivisions and developments was “functional, consistent, able to be operated and maintained safely, and built using best practice”.“The changes we’re proposing have a particular focus on stormwater management to lessen environmental effects and ensure stormwater systems built today are suitable for the future,” Tony said.“Given a significant portion of the infrastructure council owns and manages is installed by developers and their contractors, the Code of Practice provides clear guidelines and standards to be met to ensure this infrastructure meets local conditions and our community’s expectations.”Overall, stage three of the draft Land Development and Subdivision Code of Practice has more than 130 proposed changes, including updates to the standard drawing set; new appendices; specific parameters for assessing and designing for stormwater catchments; and additional requirements and methods for designing and using stormwater treatment and soakage devices.The changes are part of the third stage of a review which has been underway since 2020.The draft Code of Practice is available on QLDC’s consultation website Let’s Talk and upon request in council offices, and comes complete with current guidelines and proposed changes clearly marked.Feedback can be made by emailing [email protected] up until Sunday October 6. Once staff have reviewed and considered all feedback, the draft Code of Practice will go before QLDC’s Infrastructure Committee for endorsement in November, then to full council for adoption in December this year.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Two members of Wānaka’s Better Building Working Group have spoken at the Registered Master Builders Association Constructive Conference in Wellington, taking the group’s message of smarter building to a wider audience.The Better Building Working Group, which was established after the 2018 Wao Summit, consists of more than 40 members - architects, builders, tradies, developers, suppliers and mental health experts.Its vision is for better building, zero waste, and mental health and wellbeing.Steering committee member Monique Kelly, who spoke at the Wellington conference with fellow committee member Aaron Thule, told the Wānaka App that being invited to speak was recognition of the group’s work in tackling construction waste and educating on “climate smart” building.Better Building steering committee member Monique Kelly. “It was an amazing opportunity to represent the group at Constructive and talk about how we're slowly and quietly getting on with shifting the system in the Southern Lakes,” she said. “Our local action is now starting to have a ripple effect into national thinking.”But, she said, it was hard not to feel overwhelmed by the need for change in the building sector.“While navigating a slowing economy, we're faced with the urgency to build hundreds of thousands of affordable, climate-smart houses to deal not only with the current housing shortage, but also start to prepare for future population projections.”Meanwhile, Monique said, the government is “kicking the can down the road” on housing. “They've stopped all of the Kainga Ora housing projects, which has suddenly dried up the pipeline of work of many building companies around New Zealand and put our ability to build enough houses for our future population into jeopardy.”Monique said that leaves the onus on housing trusts such as the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust to “pick up the slack”.“They've also put on hold the proposed Building for Climate Change amendments to the Building Act which is needed to make us on par with other OECD nations.”“We seriously need some long term, cross part thinking in how we are going to build communities into the future,” she said.Monique said build-to-rent models are available, and communities need to “think outside the box” when it comes to building smarter and more efficiently.Social innovation at a local level is also required, she said. “The Better Building Working Group facilitated by Wao is an example of how this can happen in the real world.”PHOTOS: Supplied

Queenstown Airport has released its financial report for the 12 months to 30 June 2024, which shows a strong operating performance.Queenstown Airport Corporation Board chair Adrienne Young-Cooper announced the board of directors has approved a total dividend for the 2024 financial year of $19.6M – the highest the company has ever paid. An interim dividend of $5.3M was paid to shareholders in February, and the remainder will be distributed this month, she said.“It has been another positive year, with record revenue and passenger numbers. The results confirm the company’s strong recovery from the pandemic and are in line with forecast activity levels.” QAC board chair Adrienne Young-CooperThe report shows the revenue growth over the previous financial year (FY23 ) is 8.5 percent. Passenger movements increased almost five percent over FY23, and the dividend is up 26 percent on FY23 ($15.54M). Adrienne said demand for seats on trans-Tasman flights was noteworthy, while domestic demand remained steady. “We know those flights bring many social and economic benefits for the people and businesses of the Southern Lakes region. Furthermore, they enable us to make a meaningful financial contribution to our community.”Queenstown Lakes District Council holds 75.01 percent of QAC shares, so its portion of the annual dividend is $14.7 million, which equates to about $485 per ratepayer.Adrienne said QAC had delivered more than $35M in dividends since the Covid-19 pandemic.“We are pleased to be in a position to pay a higher than normal dividend this year ahead of significant investment in our infrastructure.”‘Significant’ infrastructure investment for airportAirport chief executive Glen Sowry said a highlight of the year was the completion of a master plan which will guide considerable investment in infrastructure at Queenstown Airport over the coming decade.Airport CEO Glen SowryDevelopment plans for the airfield, the terminal, the landside spaces around the terminal, and services and utilities are now underway, and the resultant capital works programme “will be the largest ever undertaken at Queenstown Airport”, Glen said. The first major project is the installation of an engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) at either end of the main runway, beginning later this month.Glen said Queenstown was the first airport in New Zealand and Australia to install the safety technology, “which exceeds compliance with civil aviation regulations and is a tangible demonstration of our determination to surpass expectations”.Projects in the past financial year include the installation of extra self-service technology, an increase in passenger screening capacity, the opening of a new cafe and bar, and upgrade of the international departure lounge. A bathroom refurbishment programme is underway and Glen said the heating and cooling system is also being upgraded.The company’s annual general meeting will be held in October, when the board and executive team will report on the past financial year, as well as providing an outlook for the year ahead.Adrienne will retire from the board after the AGM, having served the maximum two terms.The full annual report is available to download here.PHOTOS: Supplied