Silverlight Studios’ proposal for an enormous film park six kilometres east of Wānaka has been given the green light this afternoon (Wednesday December 8).Buildings as tall as 17m high have been approved for the ambitious $280M film park venture which is set to include replicas of sites in New York, Venice and Paris, alongside a variety of filming, post-production tourist and ancillary buildings and up to 10 sound stages.The approval for the project comes 96 days after the application was lodged. It was approved by an expert consenting panel appointed by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) under the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020. In its decision document, the panel said the “unique” project was a New Zealand-first.“It is essentially a film park that accommodates and provides for all aspects of film making to increase New Zealand’s appeal as a film making destination.”Silverlight Studios is owned by film industry veterans Ra Vincent, Jonathan Harding and Mike Wallis.Decision documents said bulk earthworks on the scenic 332ha site near Wānaka Airport could begin as soon as 2022.Construction of sound stages, an ‘Italian village’ and a ‘seaside village' could take place in 2023; further sound stages, the Paris replica and film tourism sites could be built in 2024; and the New York and Venice replicas in 2025 and 2026 respectively.Earthworks could begin next year at the 332ha film park site, located 6km east of Wānaka. PHOTO: Realestate.co.nzThe company will need to meet a series of conditions, including a requirement to construct temporary on-site accommodation for at least 50 construction workers before any work starts on the site.It will also need to provide a public walking and cycling track running east to west through the site and extending to Stevenson Road and either create a second track running north to south through the site or contribute $900,000 to the construction of the wider active transport network. Plans for the film park were first made public in March this year and it has received endorsements from the district’s mayor Jim Boult and deputy mayor Calum Macleod, the town’s tourism organisation (Lake Wānaka Tourism), its chamber of commerce Ignite Wānaka, and Film Otago-Southland. Others raised concerns about potential increases in noise, traffic, light pollution and visual amenity from the film park, including Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) who advised panel members to “carefully weigh up against the potential adverse effects of the proposal on landscape and the rural character of the surrounding area”.Read more here about the expert consenting panel’s decision to approve the Wānaka film park proposal. The expert consenting panel is considering a second application from Silverlight Studios to provide on-site accommodation for the cast and crew. The decision is due in the new year.

A major expansion of the Lake Hāwea commercial zone has been approved by the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and could be up and running by next summer.The two-storey development, by Matt Laming’s Lake Hāwea Holdings Ltd, may include a restaurant, cinema, six retail spaces, a supermarket and a medical clinic, with a total floor area of 1,666m2.The development on Lakeview Terrace will be located next to the existing Hāwea Store and Kitchen.Also approved are eight visitor accommodation units (four one-bed units and four two-bed units) and parking.The existing Hāwea Store and Kitchen is separately owned. PHOTO: Supplied“I’m bloody relieved to be honest,” Matt Laming told the Wānaka App. He said the application process had taken at least 11 months, which was “far longer than it should have”.Matt said he hoped to break ground on the new development by April at the earliest, although it could be as late as June.“Our real goal now is to have things open and running by next summer. If we can achieve that, that’s fantastic,” he said.A second resource application for a supermarket on a neighbouring site is currently being vetted by the QLDC. Project H Ltd proposes to construct a SuperValue (Woolworths) supermarket on land between Bodkin Street and Parry Crescent.Read more: New supermarket proposed for busy communityMatt said he didn’t think it made sense to have potentially two or three grocery stores side by side in that part of Lake Hāwea, given “the future growth is away from there”.However, he said grocery is not a given for the newly approved development, and there are no grocery contracts in place.Lake Hāwea Holdings Ltd sought to re-develop the Lakeview Terrace site in line with the Local Shopping Centre Zone, which enables small scale commercial and business activities in largely residential environments to reduce the need for locals to travel longer distances to town centres to purchase convenience goods and access services. The QLDC agreed the Lake Hāwea Holdings Ltd application will be processed on a non-notified basis.

Not many tourism businesses have been expanding since New Zealand’s borders closed to international visitors, but one local adventure attraction is bucking the trend.Not only is it expanding, Wānaka’s Wildwire (a via ferrata waterfall climb) is embracing regenerative tourism with its new canyoning adventure.Wildwire managing director Mark Morrison said Covid has given the business “the gift of time” to develop a sustainable product that gives back to both the environment, community, and the business’s staff.Moving beyond sustainability Wānaka is embracing the ethos of regenerative tourism, the idea that tourism leaves a place better than it was before. “This means looking at ways for tourism to improve our place, socially, environmentally, culturally, while still providing economic return; reducing the strain on a destination through a regenerative way of thinking,” Mark said.The abseiling adventure will include native planting and clearing predator traps. As part of the new Wildwire adventure, participants will plant a native seedling and clear predator traps along the way.Lake Wānaka Tourism general manager Tim Barke said it has been “uplifting to see progress and expansion in a way that represents the core values of our place” after a difficult few years in the tourism industry.“It’s inspirational to see Wildwire moving forward with such a unique offering that embodies the regenerative approach,” he said.Mark said he was excited to offer people an exciting abseiling adventure as well as “an opportunity to create a legacy”. “Imagine this area in 50 years’ time, and to reflect that we all would have had a part in making it a better place.”Wildwire’s The Full Canyon adventure includes a helicopter ride to the top, 350 metres of waterfall abseiling, and an 80metre zip line to finish. There are two options for an easier or full-adrenaline adventure.PHOTOS: Supplied

Local businesses are in the ‘orange’ setting in the new Covid Protection Framework from Friday December 3.Most businesses are adapting to the new requirements, but some businesses have decided to close their doors, while others will operate with more restrictions to accommodate people who are not vaccinated.Local cafe owner (and Wānaka Community Board member) Chris Hadfield said while he doesn’t “necessarily agree” with vaccine mandates, he and his staff have agreed to follow the rules.“Not only that but we have engaged in conversation with all our regular customers (vaxxed or not) and we are united in our approach. In addition, if we follow other countries then this will be temporary and the new normal will come into full swing.Let’s stop this divisive talk and work through this together,” he said.Some businesses, such as the food truck Dripping Bowl, have decided to welcome unvaccinated customers and will operate contactless pickups in accordance with the framework. Dripping Bowl co-owner Jesse Herbert said on social media they chose to serve everyone regardless of vaccination status and their staff supported the decision.Dripping Bowl operated contactless pickups during Level 3 lockdown in May last year.Southern District Health Board medical officer of health Susan Jack told the Wānaka App businesses which choose to accommodate unvaccinated people are “absolutely within their rights”.“Because we’re going into orange if people choose not to use the vaccine pass there will be certain restrictions on how they operate,” she said.Others, such as the Tarras Country Cafe and The Body Garage (pilates and yoga studio and massage therapy clinic) have chosen to close their doors rather than comply with the restrictions.Under orange, gymnasiums and other member-based businesses like dance studios and sports coaching, can only operate with vaccinated staff and clients.The Fit Collective has advised its members its facilities are open to vaccinated members but will ensure it will continue to offer sessions remotely via Zoom.“We will be brainstorming ideas as to how we can help keep you connected if you choose not to vaccinate,” Fit Collective’s Kim Parry said in a message to members.Kim said it has been a tough couple of years in business.“Like other businesses I have spoken to there is a huge financial impact of losing customers/ members/clients along with the emotional impact of having to implement this system. It is not an easy time for anyone regardless of what side of the fence that you are on. I really feel for those who have chosen not to vaccinate, however I also feel a responsibility to those who have chosen to vaccinate and think that they also deserve respect in the decisions that they have made.” PHOTOS: Wānaka App

The Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand (YHA) says it has been left with no option but to permanently close the doors on its 11 managed hostels, including the YHA Wānaka on Brownston Street, on Monday December 15.YHA New Zealand is a not-for-profit association that was established in 1932 in Canterbury.The extended Auckland lockdown and no prospects of an international visitor market this summer has created market conditions that place YHA in an unsustainable financial position, the YHA said in a statement.“This is a sad time for our staff, our members and our industry. YHA has been a cornerstone of youth travel in New Zealand for 89 years,” YHA general manager Simon Cartwright said.“It has evolved with the fast moving changes of the industry and lead industry thinking both domestically and among the international network. YHA was looking forward to a bright future in 2019 having just opened a new hostel in Tekapo. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has just gone on too long for us to be able to ride it out. Today is a sad day for tourism in New Zealand.”YHA Wānaka currently has three staff who will be affected by the closure. Pre Covid up to ten staff were employed.In late 2020 the YHA completed a restructure to take the organisation through to an expected recovery period over the 2021/22 summer period, while continuing to maximise its domestic revenue.The organisation, traditionally servicing international youth visitors, doubled its domestic guest nights over the past 12 months as it reoriented towards more domestic groups and family stays. Unfortunately, the significant domestic growth has not been sufficient to offset the loss in international guest revenue, the YHA said.The YHA national board and senior management have worked closely with YHA’s primary lender to ensure all prepaid bookings are fully refunded and staff entitlements are retained through the closure period.“YHA staff have been incredible during extraordinary times,” Simon said. “It is an ending none of us wanted but we want to make sure we exit in a way which ensures our people are not left out of pocket.”YHA has a network of 11 hostels it manages directly; YHA Auckland International, YHA Rotorua, YHA Wellington, YHA Christchurch, YHA Lake Tekapo, YHA Aoraki Mt Cook, Wanaka, YHA Queenstown Central, YHA Queenstown Lakefront, YHA Franz Josef and YHA Te Anau. All these hostels will close on December 15.Twenty-three individually owned and operated associate properties will continue to operate as normal.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Students at two local primary schools are now sharing their campuses with bees in a new community initiative. The new ‘Hives in Schools’ programme aims to both increase local biodiversity by pollination and offer a unique learning opportunity for students. Local rent-a-hive company Tiaki Bees has installed the beehives at Wānaka Primary School and te Kura O Take Kārara.Owner Barna Szocs says bees play an integral role in the local ecosystem and the younger they are taught about their importance the better.“The idea is that these schools will have a wonderful educational experience,” Barna said. “Students will be able to immerse themselves in the full lifecycle of the bees, understand how they make honey and why they are so important.”Wānaka Primary School and te Kura O Take Kārara now have beehives on campus.The hives have been placed on specified areas so the flight path of the bees does not disrupt students playing outside and careful thought has gone into the location so there is no greater risk for those with allergies, Barry said. “[Children] will learn to be relaxed around bees and be able to don childrens bee suits, come close to the hive and look inside the boxes,” he said.Natural kids craft brand Honeysticks has co-sponsored the beehives and owner Will Radford said the importance of bees needs to be showcased more to the younger generation. “Bees are vital to the local ecosystem and we support any initiative that focuses on educating people around that.”The schools will receive support from Tiaki Bees and they will receive the honey produced from the hives, which could be used for fundraising initiatives. PHOTOS: Supplied

RealNZ chief experience officer Bridget Legnavsky will play a role in a new national group created to support tourism. The long-time Wānaka resident has been named as a member of the tourism Industry Transformation Plan (ITP) leadership group, tourism minister Stuart Nash announced yesterday (November 17).“The disruption of the global Covid-19 pandemic presents an opportunity to step back and work collaboratively on a vision for tourism of the future,” Stuart said. “The Tourism ITP will focus on actions that all partners can take to address skills and career questions in the industry.” The full list of ITP leadership members is yet to be confirmed but Bridget has been named alongside 12 other members and three co-chairs.The co-chairs include Gráinne Trout, who is the chair of Tourism Industry Aotearoa; John Crocker, the national secretary of Unite Union; and Karl Woodhead, the general manager of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s tourism branch.Bridget, formerly Cardrona-Treble Cone’s general manager, was recently promoted to the new position of chief experience officer with responsibility for all Wayfare Group experiences. She and the experienced ITP team’s first priorities will be skills shortages and career progression in the tourism and hospitality sector, Stuart said.“The first stage of the ITP will focus on ‘better work’ and developing the tourism workforce,” he said.“Like any industry, success depends on those working within it. This means investing more in people, deepening the talent pool, lifting skill levels and ultimately providing better work for those in the tourism and hospitality industries.” The second priority for the ITP will be the environmental challenges posed by tourism, Stuart said.That priority will build on work started by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, the Tourism Futures Taskforce, and the NZ Aotearoa Government Tourism Strategy.“There is a huge opportunity for all of us with a stake in tourism to support and develop different pathways for people keen on a career in the industry,” Stuart said.He expected to receive a first draft of the ITP’s ‘Better Work Action Plan’ for tourism in the second quarter of 2022, after which the group will consult widely. “I’m confident the ITP will transform the industry in partnership across government, business, workers and Māori. Tourism has had its challenges but I echo the Prime Minister’s recent words: he rā ki tua – better times are coming,” Stuart said.PHOTO: Supplied

Judges for the 2021 Ignite Wānaka Business Awards said they were impressed by the resilience and innovation of entrants, despite the challenges of Covid-19.In announcing this year's finalists convenor of judges Wayne Hudson said it was great to see so many businesses entering the awards given the various lockdowns they had to endure.“The quality of entries was excellent,” Wayne said. “Judges were impressed by so many businesses’ ability to adapt with Covid.”More than 60 businesses from around Wānaka entered the biennial awards and the winners will be announced at a gala dinner in April next year. The dinner was due to take place on Saturday November 20 but Ignite Wānaka general manager Naomi Lindsay said that was no longer an option under alert level two.Tickets to the awards gala dinner are on sale via the Ignite Wānaka website here.Finalists are (in alphabetical order):Outstanding in infrastructure/trades (supported by Findex): Batchelar McDougall, Dunlop Builders, Mitre10 MEGA, R&R Plumbing, Uppercut Firewood. Outstanding in professional services: Batchelar McDougall, The Film Crew, Ocula.Outstanding in tourism (supported by Lake Wānaka Tourism): Hook, Lavender Farm, Wild Wire.  Outstanding in retail (supported by LOGIC1): Lavender Farm, Mitre10 MEGA, Ocula.  Outstanding in hospitality (supported by Drive Accounting): Lavender Farm, Pembroke Patisserie, Red Star Burgers. Outstanding in innovation (supported by Aspiring Law): Proppy.co.nz, R&R Plumbing, The Film Crew. Outstanding in sustainability (supported by Queenstown Airport): Manage My House, Ripe, Wild Wire.  Outstanding young enterprise (supported by Air New Zealand): The Next Chapter, The Napery, Village Gift. Outstanding not-for-profit (supported by Queenstown Lakes District Council): WAI Wanaka, Community Networks/LINK Upper Clutha, WAO. Resilience and Diversification Award (supported by Todd & Walker Law): Pembroke Patisserie, The Film Crew, Wild Wire.Outstanding employer (supported by EASI NZ): Breen Construction, Manage My House, Ocula. Outstanding individual (sponsored by Cardrona Alpine Resort): Anna Van Riel, Waste Free Wanda; Bridget Legnavsky, RealNZ; Mandy Bell, Wai Wānaka.People’s Choice finalists (supported by the Wanaka App): Dunlop Builders, Lavender Farm, Mitre10 MEGA, The Next Chapter, Ocula, Pembroke Patisserie, R&R Plumbing, The Film Crew, Village Gift. Voting for people's choice will open early 2022.The Ignite Wanaka Business Awards are also sponsored by Raspberry Creek, Entertainment Solutions, Wanaka Marquee & Party Hire, The Messenger, Scope Media, Radio Wanaka, The Film Crew and the Wānaka App.PHOTO: The Film Crew

A small food manufacturing company based in Lake Hāwea is taking on the industry by producing lightweight meals for outdoor adventures in home compostable packaging. Local Dehy owners Frankie Sanders and Emily Warne make dehydrated meals for people going on multi-day adventures, a business borne out of the keen rock climbers' own search for tasty meals suitable for outdoor pursuits. While the company initially sold meals in single-use foil bags, the pair have added a home compostable packaging option to their lineup and recently hit the milestone of selling as many home compostable bags as foil ones.“We are stoked,” Emily said. “It’s so awesome to be able to offer a sustainable alternative for outdoor adventurers.” Emily and Frankie had started cooking and dehydrating their own vegan meals for outdoor trips as they couldn’t find options they liked on the market.“We wanted something that we looked forward to after a long day in the hills,” Frankie said. Emily and Frankie say their home compostable packaging has been a hit with customers.After buying a small commercial food trailer they started making batches of their signature vegan meals and selling them locally and online.Frankie says she never felt wholly comfortable with the waste issue of the foil bags, but they were convenient to use and easy to source, plus most packaging companies had minimum orders of 10,000 bags which was out of the question for the small home-based business. Eventually the couple came across Econic, a Hamilton-based company specialising in home compostable packaging which was willing to produce packaging on the smaller scale Local Dehy needed. They started offering the new packaging in July 2020.“There was massive support for it straight away, but sales of compostable packaging steadily increased last summer, to the point where now sales of both types of packaging are 50/50,” Emily said.While Local Dehy still offers foil bags, Emily and Frankie said they hope market demand will continue to shift in favour of home compostable packaging.Since starting in 2015, Local Dehy has grown to offer a wide range of dehydrated meals, all of them cooked here in the Upper Clutha.PHOTOS: Supplied

The Hāwea Community Association (HCA) has had a busy few years, and the past week has been no different, holding two significant events and assessing a second supermarket proposal for the community.The HCA held its AGM last weekend (Saturday November 6) and today it will host a 'Hāwea Visioning Forum', hosted by Shaping Our Future (SOF).The forum aims to identify a set of key priority issues that need to be addressed in the short to medium term but will also look further to the future of Hāwea in 30, 40 or 50 years’ time. “The ideal outcome would be to have a clear idea of what the values and the vision are for our community,” HCA chair Cherilyn Walthew said.The association expects a hot topic at today’s event to be a resource consent application from Project H Ltd to construct a SuperValue (Woolworths) supermarket on land between Bodkin Street and Parry Crescent, close to the existing Hāwea Store and Kitchen - and neighbouring another proposed commercial development for which resource consent has been sought.Lake Hāwea Holdings Ltd, owned by Wanaka businessman Matt Laming, submitted a resource consent application late last year for a complex of commercial, retail, office and visitor accommodation use, including a restaurant, cinema, retail spaces, supermarket, medical clinic and visitor accommodation.Read more: Big changes proposed for Lake Hāwea commercial zoneProject H Ltd spokesperson Ray McLeod, a long term Lake Hāwea property owner and part time resident, told the Wānaka App he bought the land in 2004 with the intention to create something which worked for the community“We’re pretty excited. We worked really, really hard on the design,” he said. “We wanted the building to look right… we didn’t want to plonk downtown Wānaka in Hāwea.”The proposal is compliant in all respects apart from the size, which exceeds the “permitted activity” size of 300sqm by 150sqm.Ray said the project team has run a scale model for the space (independently of Woolworths) and believe the larger scale is more appropriate.“We’re fronting it; we’ve said it doesn’t work any smaller than that for the community or the investors,” he said.Ray said the design is “basically self contained”, with car parking, a service lane, and allowing flexibility to work with neighbouring developments. He said Project H Ltd has previously spoken to Matt Laming about the proposals, and remains “happy to reopen discussions”.The SOF session will take place at the Lake Hāwea Community Centre from 9am to 2pm today (Saturday November 13).Cherilyn said the HCA is still looking for new office bearers: chair, vice-chair, and an additional person for the association’s communication team. IMAGE: Supplied

Tourism group Wayfare has changed its name and announced a new focus on conservation.The Wayfare group of tourism and ski companies (Real Journeys, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Treble Cone, Go Orange and the International Antarctic Centre) is now named RealNZ.“For us, business for good is about creating enduring value through conservation, that is enabled by tourism,” CEO Stephen England-Hall said.“Conservation has always been part of what we do but we’re committing to making it our focus.”  New Zealand’s first tourism chief conservation officer Paul Norris was recently appointed to lead a dedicated sustainability team for RealNZ. To celebrate the new name, a ‘RealNZ for good’ day would see each of RealNZ’s employees offer up skills to assist New Zealand’s environment or community for at least one workday a year.“Conservation work already takes place during the course of some of our team’s workdays, but this would see at least 1,000 additional days donated for conservation or community project work,” Stephen said Stephen said the group had needed to regroup and adapt to be successful under very different market conditions. “A period of acquisitions had led to complexity and inefficiency over the last few years, and with the market changing, left us with an unsustainable model. It also created a cluttered mix of brands and businesses, which were difficult for our visitors to find and navigate and for our teams to share their expertise and work across,” he said.  While Cardrona Alpine Resort, Treble Cone and the International Antarctic Centre maintain their individual brands as RealNZ experiences, there would be considerable efficiencies in bringing all the tourism brands under one umbrella, he said.Former Department of Conservation director-general Lou Sanson applauded RealNZ for being “the first tourism company that’s dedicated a position to conservation in New Zealand”. Stephen said the change to RealNZ is largely a digital transformation and that rebranding would only be done when vessels and coaches are due for repainting.PHOTO: Supplied

If Silverlight Studios creates a public path from Wānaka’s outskirts to its proposed film park site it will win the approval of the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust (UCTT), trustee John Wellington says. John has made a submission to the expert consenting panel considering Silverlight Studio’s application which requests the provision of such a path be a “formal condition” of the development proceeding.“The trust believes that the completion of a 2.9km separated and protected shared path along SH6 from Wānaka township to the western boundary of the development would address environmental compensation concerns, safety issues, help mitigate traffic volume challenges and create legacy infrastructure for the Wānaka community...” John said.Initial conversations with Silverlight Studios and their advisers about the path had been “positive,” a statement from UCTT said.The proposed shared pathway has gained written support from the Albert Town Community Association, Hāwea Community Association, Luggate Community Association, Mt Barker Residents’ Association, Wānaka Community Board, Upper Clutha Environmental Society and Bike Wānaka.An artist’s impression of the proposed Silverlight Studios film park. IMAGE: Silverlights StudiosIt is also supported by Active Transport Wānaka (ATW), which alongside UCTT has procured a feasibility report that confirms the viability and costs of the pathway.The recently approved Queenstown Lakes spatial plan envisions an active transport path linking Wānaka, Wānaka Airport and Luggate.“There’s now an expectation that developers enhance the town’s active transport, both within their development and connecting to the wider network,” ATW representative Simon Telfer said. “It’s all part of the social licence of doing business in our town.”Active Transport Wānaka representative Simon Telfer said the community now expects developers to “enhance the town’s active transport”. PHOTO: SuppliedJohn’s application on behalf of the UCTT also requested the formal realignment of two legal roads dissecting the film park site and asked that they maintain a 20m width. Silverlight Studios applied to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) for fast-tracked consent to transform farmland near Wānaka Airport into a film park complete with studios, production offices, a film school, and replicas of famous cities, earlier this year.The application is currently being considered by an expert consenting panel and the UCTT is one of 20 groups and individuals which have made submissions.

Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) has continued its commitment to pay at least the living wage as it increases wages this month to $22.75, up from $22.10. “Anecdotally we know the cost of living in the Queenstown Lakes district is higher than other areas in New Zealand and this commitment is just one of the ways we can help our team thrive and enjoy all that the region has to offer,” QAC people and culture manager Kate Walton said.The company operates Queenstown Airport and manages day-to-day operations at Wānaka Airport and it’s one of just five-or-so local living wage accredited employers which has had its status endorsed with the Living Wage Movement. To become accredited, employers must pay all of their staff at least the living wage, which the Living Wage Movement considers the hourly wage a worker needs to pay for the necessities of life and participate as an active citizen in the community. QAC people and culture manager Kate Walton says paying the living wage is part of being a good employer.The Wānaka Living Wage group was formed in March this year to raise awareness of the living wage locally. Founding members include Jon Henning (Public Service Association), Kate Murray (Community Networks) and Rev. Damon Plimmer (Upper Clutha Anglican Parish).“Since that first meeting, more have joined the conversation, including business leaders and community advocates,” Damon said.  New Zealand is a low-wage economy compared to similar countries like Canada, Australia and the UK - ranking 18th out of 35 for its average hourly wage - and only 275 businesses across the country are currently living wage accredited.“We know many are doing it tough at the moment,” Damon said. “What is encouraging are those employers already paying at or above the living wage.” Revology co-founder Monique Kelly says paying the living wage is particularly important due to the high cost of living in Wānaka.Ignite Wānaka Chamber of Commerce general manager Naomi Lindsay said some of the barriers to living wage accreditation for local businesses included the requirement to pay all staff, including teenagers, the living wage, and the “huge downturn” as a result of Covid-19.Some businesses might not offer the living wage but offer other perks like subsidised accommodation, she said.Wānaka’s Revology has been an accredited living wage employer since the store opened in late 2019.Co-founder Monique Kelly said her business paid the living wage to support and retain staff, particularly considering the “high price of living in Wānaka”. “We have found that the youth in the team contribute just as much,” she said. “It’s about how well they perform in store. We pay the price for the job to be done [and] put the time into training them and making sure they’re comfortable...”The living wage emerged as a response to growing poverty and inequality in New Zealand.The $22.75 hourly rate is calculated each year by the New Zealand Family Centre Social Policy Unit, reflecting the basic expenses of workers and their families such as food, transportation, housing and childcare. Damon said businesses and individuals in Wānaka who want to learn more about the living wage can get in touch with him ([email protected]) or Kate ([email protected]).PHOTOS: Supplied

The proposed Tarras airport would be able to serve short-haul international destinations such as Australia and parts of the Pacific, according to a preliminary aeronautical assessment of the site.The assessment says the site could support an airfield with a single runway of at least 2.2 kilometres and possibly up to three kilometres.Christchurch International Airport Ltd (CIAL) revealed plans to develop a jet-capable airport on 750ha of land at Tarras in July 2020.CIAL project director Michael Singleton said the preliminary assessment is simply a small step forward for the project.“The findings are encouraging but they’re not final. This assessment has given us the confidence to undertake the next stage of more detailed analysis to determine a preferred single runway alignment,” Michael said.Two potential runway alignments have been identified: one aligning to the Lindis Valley and Lake Dunstan; the other to the Hāwea valley and Lake Dunstan.Two runway alignments have been identified in a preliminary aeronautical assessment.“This initial assessment shows both options enable safe and efficient operation of various aircraft types, including new generation narrow and wide-body jets, freight, turboprop and small passenger aircraft,” Michael said.The preliminary assessment found both alignments would enable aircraft to connect to existing flight paths and would have similar emissions profiles. CIAL said noise impacts have yet to be technically analysed. The next phase of analysis will take between six to nine months after which CIAL expects to be able to identify its preferred runway alignment. Michael says a number of studies will be part of the project’s ‘planning and validation’ phase, which is expected to run to 2023. “It won’t be until they’re completed that we can make a decision on whether to take the project into the next phase – getting the required operational and planning approvals.”Details of the preliminary aeronautical assessment can be downloaded from the project’s website.PHOTOS: Supplied

Farming lobby group Groundswell NZ has confirmed a second nationwide protest against what it says are “unworkable regulations”.Groundswell NZ said the protest on Sunday November 21 will be of a scale and impact that will be significant in New Zealand’s history, calling it “the mother of all protests”.The group is asking protesters to travel into their local town by 1pm on the day “in your ute, your tractor, your truck or car, or march along on foot if you wish”. At 1.35pm they are asking people to play radio station Newstalk ZB, which will broadcast a statement from Groundswell.The plans follow the national Groundswell NZ ‘howl of a protest’ in July this year, which included a parade of more than 140 vehicles and supporters through the Wānaka CBD.At that time Groundswell NZ called for a halt to all environmental regulations and gave the government an ultimatum that further action would be undertaken if “sufficient moves from the government” were not made to address concerns by August 16.In response to the July protests, prime minister Jacinda Ardern said it was important the country stuck to the commitments it had made on freshwater and climate change, which would help New Zealand maintain the value of its exports.Lake Hāwea farmer Richard Burdon said many local farmers are still concerned about the plans the government is looking at imposing. “They have not been well thought through,” Richard said. “The farming community is still keen to keep protesting until such time as the government is prepared to sit round the table and communicate better.”Groundswell NZ spokesman Bryce McKenzie said there is widespread concern about various “unworkable regulations” being “rammed through” by the government.“We are not against the need for regulation or the need to care for the environment”, Bryce said.“We are saying there are much better, proven solutions to addressing environmental issues than the one size fits all approach being legislated by the government.”Richard said protest activity in the Upper Clutha is yet to be confirmed.Groundswell NZ is also planning a gathering at parliament in February 2022.PHOTO: Wānaka App

A community watchdog group has shared its conditional support for the proposed Wānaka film park.The Upper Clutha Environmental Society (UCES) says the social and economic benefits would “far outweigh” the adverse land effects of the $280M film park.Silverlight Studios applied to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) for fast-tracked consent to transform farmland near Wānaka Airport into a film park complete with studios, production offices, a film school, and replicas of famous cities, earlier this year.Plans for the film park were first made public in March and it has received endorsements from the district’s mayor Jim Boult and deputy mayor Calum Macleod, the town’s tourism organisation (Lake Wānaka Tourism), its chamber of commerce Ignite Wānaka, and Film Otago-Southland. The UCES has now added its support.UCES secretary Julian Haworth’s submission on the proposed film park has the society’s “in general” support because of the positives, “especially in terms of employment and economic diversity”.It also “mainly supports” the design of the proposal because it integrates buildings into the landscape while leaving large areas of the site undeveloped. However, the society has concerns about the scale of development adjacent to the Outstanding Natural Landscape zoned Clutha River corridor, one of a number of issues which “must be taken into account when consideration is given to granting consent,” Julian said.Julian made a series of consent condition recommendations, including a comprehensive landscape masterplan to be developed for the site; a no-build covenant for areas proposed to be retained as open rural land (excluding temporary structures built for less than six months); and a requirement that no buildings or structures should be permitted within 200 metres of the northern boundary of the subject site.Julian also suggested Silverlight Studios finance half of a dedicated cycle track, which could be used by the whole community, between the SH6 West Coast junction and the film park’s entrance.He also said he assumed that the 35-residence subdivision already consented on the site would be surrendered if the film park is consented. Silverlights Studios was given government approval to apply for a fast-tracked consent application under special Covid-19 rules and an expert consenting panel will consider the application.

An intensive leadership programme with a strong track record of success will be taking place in Wānaka this month for the first time.  Well established in Otago and Southland, the Leadership Academy is a five-week course designed to help participants be better equipped for leadership roles and opportunities and connect them with successful leaders across a range of industries.It is being brought here by Ignite Wānaka, and general manager Naomi Lindsay says the programme will help build up Wānaka’s businesses and community leaders. “As the business support organisation for Wānaka, we wanted to play a role in ensuring our business and wider community has strong leadership today and in the future,” Naomi said. “In times of stress and crisis, we need strong leaders to help rebuild our communities and help businesses, our people and communities thrive.” The academy will take place over six weeks starting this month (there’s an April academy available to sign up to as well) and in each six-hour session participants will learn about leadership from seasoned experts including Dunedin Airport CEO Richard Roberts, Ministry of Social Development southern regional commissioner Jason Tibble and Wayfare chief experience officer Bridget Legnavsky. By the end of the academy, which also includes reflective learning sessions, attendees will have a good understanding of what is required to be a significant leader in their own organisation or in the wider community, Naomi said.  The Wānaka Leadership Academy is registered with the Management Capability Development Voucher Fund through Regional Business Partners Network (RBP) growth advisors. Vouchers may be provided to a business where the growth advisors have identified a need for management training to support the business owner to grow and innovate their business, Naomi said. There are just four places left in the October round of the Wānaka Leadership Academy so anyone wanting to take part should get in touch as soon as possible, she said. Find more information about the academy on Ignite Wanaka's website. PHOTO: Supplied

A Wānaka-based beauty entrepreneur is taking the next step with an equity crowdfunding offer with the goal of raising $2M to help fund expansion. Kester Black founder Anna Ross created her ethical beauty brand in 2014 and after success in the Australian and New Zealand markets, she now aims to accelerate its expansion into the US and Europe. Anna was born-and-bred in Otago and last year she moved from Melbourne to Wānaka. The Kester Black company offers vegan, sustainable and cruelty-free, certified carbon neutral beauty products like lipsticks and nail polishes, which have won 27 global awards. The move from a big city to a small town has been a fairly smooth transition for both Anna and the business and going global is a big undertaking but “Wanaka has everything and everyone we need,” she told the Wānaka App.  Kester Black’s revenue has grown 53 per cent over the past year.“Apart from the occasional trip to Cromwell to pick up time sensitive deliveries from Mainfreight, everything is fabulous,” Anna said. “We love our NZ post driver Anna, she's super efficient, responsive and lovely to work with.  “Overall, the customer service we are receiving here is of much higher standard than anywhere else in the world where we do business. And being able to sneak off early to ski outweighs any of the challenges.”  The clean beauty industry, part of the broader commercial wellness movement, is projected to generate nearly $22 billion globally in 2024, up from $11 billion in 2016, according to Statista. Kester Black’s revenue has grown 53 per cent over the last year and will expand its product range as part of its global growth plans. The brand is already partnering with high-end retail stores Liberty London (UK) Dover Street Market (France) and Nordiska Kompaniet (Sweden). “The bigger retailers have caught onto the fact that consumers want brands that are sustainable, have clean formulas and ethical products,” Anna said.  Funds from investors will go towards stock, infrastructure, product and packaging development and marketing. “An equity crowdfunding campaign is an opportunity to introduce the Kester Black brand beyond our customers and the beauty industry,” Anna said.  “We are excited about the opportunity for investors to become part of the Kester Black growth journey.” PHOTOS: Supplied

Queenstown Lakes businesses can continue to claim the wage subsidy while Auckland is at Alert Level 4 and 3. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in the daily 1pm update, clarified the rules around support for businesses as most of the country moves down to Alert Level 2 tonight. "All businesses remain eligible to apply for the wage subsidy so long as any part of the country is in level three or four," she said. "So, that means, for instance, a business in Queenstown, which is in level two, can still apply. "You still need to meet the eligibility criteria of a 40% decline in revenue over the previous two-week period. "But I want to assure businesses that the Covid economic supports stay in place as long as, for instance, Auckland is at those higher alert levels. "That, in part, is recognition of the fact that one part of the country can have a knock-on effect on other parts of the country."There were more than 66,000 vaccination doses delivered yesterday. Almost a third of people over the age of 12 in New Zealand are now fully vaccinated, and 60% have had at least one dose. The PM also announced that NZ is in the final stages of buying extra vaccine supplies from other countries, to meet the surge in demand following the community outbreak of Delta. Masks are required on public transport and ride-sharing services, and also shops and public buildings, such as libraries. But they are not required for customers and clients in hospitality venues, swimming pools and gyms, although staff must wear them.