As it finally starts to feel like summer is on the way, it puts me in a great mood to share that October was another dynamic month for Wānaka’s property market. I’m sure the sellers of 47 houses and 35 sections are also in a great mood, with their sales totalling over $107 million, reflecting what we all know - that our town is a great place to live, holding broader appeal as a premium lifestyle destination. Residential SalesAccording to the October sales data, the median sale price for residential homes in Wānaka sits at around $1.59 million, making a strong contribution to the media’s recent reports of a “$1.6m Central Otago average” and underscoring steady demand despite broader market fluctuations.High-end transactions continued to make waves, with several lakefront properties selling above $3 million and one standout sale reaching $3.8 million. Meanwhile, opportunities for first-home buyers and investors persist, with some homes selling under $900,000, and competition remains tight.Albert Town and Lake Hāwea continue to attract attention, with median prices of $1.58 million and $1.2 million respectively - slightly more affordable options for those seeking more space in lifestyle properties close to Wānaka’s centre. Section SalesSection sales across the Wānaka region remain active, with a median price of around $520,000, indicating good interest in land development.Market Trends and InsightsWell-located homes near the lakefront and town centre are attracting strong interest, often selling above asking price, while properties in outer areas are experiencing more balanced negotiations.What does this mean for buyers and sellers? With interest rates remaining steady and summer tourism on the horizon, buyer confidence is expected to remain stable, presenting some attractive opportunities across various price brackets. As always, if you’re thinking of selling, put your best foot forward from the start: focus on presentation and having an expert help you price your property so that you achieve your desired outcome - whether this is a quick sale or a premium price.Wānaka’s property market looks set to maintain its momentum into the new year, so if you’re thinking about buying or selling in Wānaka, now is the perfect time to connect to make informed decisions in this thriving market.That’s a wrap for October. Take care out on the water, trails, and golf course, or wherever your summer activities take you. I’m sure I’ll see you out there, or somewhere a little more sedate if you’re keen to discuss your property specifically.Tel: 027 222 2092email: [email protected]

The man arrested and charged over a series of cellphone tower arsons in the Wānaka area over the past few months will go to trial next year.Forty-one-year-old plasterer Daniel Miller of Albert Town appeared in the Queenstown District Court on Monday (November 17), charged with intentionally damaging a cellphone tower or telecommunications infrastructure by fire, unlawfully possessing a rifle bolt, unlawfully possessing ammunition, and possessing cannabis.The Otago Daily Times (ODT) reported that Miller was described by police prosecutor Dan Andrew as a "sovereign citizen”.Miller appeared by audiovisual link from prison and told the judge he was “not Mr Miller”, saying “I am a living man standing in my natural state”, the ODT reported.Miller was deemed to plead not guilty of all charges and was scheduled for a two-day judge-alone trial from April 21, and further remanded him in custody for a case review hearing on January 26.Police said the arsons were not only frustrating for police, but posed a serious risk to the community.“The team have worked tirelessly investigating, and we are thankful that no one was hurt as a result of the actions of this individual,” Acting Detective Sergeant Julie Bowman said following Miller’s arrest.“This is a good result for our community and they should feel confident we will always work to hold those to account to carry out such mindless attacks.“Police take these matters seriously, as they have – and continue to have – a significant impact on our community.”PHOTO: Supplied

Hundreds of people lined Bullock Creek on Saturday (November 15) for the Rotary Club of Wānaka Duck Race, with ideal conditions helping push more than 1,500 brightly coloured ducks downstream for charity.Rotary president Marie Fitchett said the club was “thrilled to see the community turn out in such great spirits” after earlier postponements due to weather.“It’s one of those events that brings everyone together; families, businesses, kids, and you can really feel the joy along Bullock Creek,” she said.In the Fastest Corporate Duck race, The Bentley Company (No. 48) took top honours, followed by BestStart Pinnacles (No. 67) in second, and Ali Barbers (No. 18) in third.Wānaka Homestead won the Best Dressed Corporate Competition, ahead of Mitre 10 Mega Wānaka, and Garden Goat Landscaping.The Best Dressed Corporate Duck competition was won by Wānaka Homestead. The Public Individual Race saw Rachael Paton (2474) take first place, with Ferg Collie (2166) second and Joel Luxford (1564) third.More than $13,000 was raised, with all corporate entry funds going to the Upper Clutha Children’s Medical Trust.“The generosity from local businesses and families is what makes this day possible,” Marie said.“Every dollar goes straight back into helping local kids and supporting groups that need a hand.”She also thanked the event’s sponsors: New World Three Parks, Mitre 10 Mega Wānaka, Wānaka Storage Solutions, Print It, Wānaka App, Upper Clutha Messenger, Queenstown Lakes District Council, and Bunker Street Film Co.PHOTOS: Rotary Club of Wānaka

Problems at Wānaka’s Project Pure wastewater treatment plant are not comparable to ongoing issues at the Shotover plant, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) says.Recent performance issues at the Wānaka plant during upgrade works led to ponding in disposal fields, surface run-off and nitrogen levels exceeding consent limits.But the upgrades at the facility are now complete and the quality of treated wastewater is starting to improve, QLDC property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery said.He said while the performance issue would trigger comparisons to the issues experienced at Shotover wastewater treatment plant, the two disposal solutions were different from each other, and no long-term problems were expected for Wānaka.“Project Pure’s fields have been operating successfully for approximately 15 years now, have more modest loading rates, and discharge through free-draining soils well above groundwater,” Tony said.“We are investigating the effects of the recent events on the disposal fields and will keep the community informed as we learn more about any remediation activities required.”The upgrades at Project Pure which preceded the ponding involved taking one of the older reactors offline for inspection and upgrades while the remaining two reactors continued to function. Reactor two was successfully upgraded in July 2025 and Project Pure operated on three reactors for a period to confirm performance before proceeding with reactor one.However, while upgrading reactor one, higher flows from winter school holidays and heavy rain events placed strain on the facility’s biological treatment process while only two reactors were available, Tony said. This led to treated wastewater exceeding the consent requirement for total nitrogen, periods where surface ponding occurred across the facility’s disposal fields, and surface run-off from the site during heavy rain at the end of October.The performance issues were raised to Otago Regional Council (ORC) immediately, Tony said.Deputy mayor Quentin Smith said he was “deeply disappointed” by the recent issues at Project Pure.“While I am confident this doesn’t represent a ‘Project Shotover’ scale issue it does renew the need to look at redundancy and resilience issues at Wānaka,” he told the Wānaka App.“There is no question that the rates of growth continue to put pressure on our infrastructure and this is a symptom of that.”Quentin said he was looking at whether the council needs to bring forward the construction of a fourth reactor, expand the disposal areas, or look at temporary emergency storage options. Read more: Upper Clutha Ratepayers Unaffected by Queenstown Wastewater IssuesIn June QLDC was ordered to pay at least $235,000 in costs after the Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant failed, resulting in consistent ponding and treated wastewater being discharged into the river. “As governors, we will need to review what has happened [in Wānaka] to fully understand why and especially in the context of regulatory compliance failures at Shotover and Hāwea treatment plants,” mayor John Glover said this week.PHOTO: Supplied

We’ve all been there – spotting a gadget that looks like it will change our life, only once it arrives, it doesn’t live up to the hype. Business incentives can feel a bit like that, too.So is the government’s Investment Boost scheme the culinary equivalent of discarded spiral slicer in your bottom drawer, or the air fryer that fast-tracks you to home-chef mastery?Let’s break down how it works. Investment Boost allows businesses who buy new assets (or import used assets from overseas) to claim an immediate deduction for 20% of the asset’s cost, plus the usual depreciation. It’s optional, and you might actually be better off not claiming it (you’ll see why in a minute).What does Investment Boost mean in actual cash terms? Say you just bought a fully kitted-out Toyobaru Rangerlux ute for $100,000. Under Investment Boost, you can claim a $20,000 deduction, plus your normal depreciation.However, this isn’t instant cash. That $20,000 deduction offsets your taxable income when you file your return. If your taxable income would’ve been $50,000, it’s now $30,000. For a company taxed at 28%, that means $5,600 less tax – at least, once you’ve filed your return.So hooray, you’ve saved $5,600. Or have you?Here’s the catch. By claiming Investment Boost, you’ve reduced the ute’s tax value by $20,000. You then apply normal depreciation to the remaining $80,000. Using the straight-line rate of 21%, your annual depreciation claim is $16,800.But without Investment Boost, your annual claim would be $21,000. That extra depreciation would have reduced your tax bill by a further $1,176 per year.See what’s happening? Under Investment Boost, you get a bigger deduction up front (and if it’s a commercial building, it’s the only depreciation you can claim). But you pay it back over the asset’s life, so it ultimately doesn’t save you anything. It’s what we call a timing difference in the tax world.It can also lead to more taxable income later – if you sell an asset for more than its tax value, that’s taxable income. So, spiral slicer or air fryer? Depends on what you’re cooking. Get in touch to talk through the best strategy for you.Alex CullTax Partner, Greenhawk Chartered Accountants0800 422 526 | [email protected] | greenhawk.co.nz

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) says it is open to alternative wastewater treatments in the future, but its $80M investment underway already addresses future needs.The comment comes in response to a Wānaka resident who has proposed the council rethink its approach to wastewater treatment.Soner Bekir, who represents a distributed wastewater treatment called Algaesys, says the alternative approach is “cheaper, quicker, and removes the dependence on large-scale reticulated sewerage networks”. He said the technology for on-site wastewater treatment “could be used to help the Hāwea plant achieve its discharge limits in a very low risk and quick way (within six months) for a reasonable amount of money (less than trucking waste currently costs)”.Last month QLDC announced it would limit new connections to the Hāwea wastewater network after the facility failed to achieve its 12-month rolling mean for nitrogen levels in its treated wastewater. Soner said the Algaesys method could provide a path to wider-scale local adoption to help fast-track development and take a significant load off of the existing overstretched wastewater treatment plants - and said he had been “trying to engage” with QLDC about this.He believed the council was “locked-in” to out-dated technology, and had “no interest” in thinking differently about wastewater treatment.Algaesys provides technology for on-site wastewater treatment. PHOTO: SuppliedQLDC defended its wastewater treatment plans.In December it committed to an $80M investment which will include major upgrades to the Hāwea wastewater scheme and the Wānaka wastewater network (Project Pure).“QLDC has recently made significant decisions and investment in a number of wastewater treatment infrastructure projects across the district to address current and future needs,” a QLDC spokesperson told the Wānaka App.“Any additional requirements in the future would be undertaken on a case-by-case basis to determine the most appropriate infrastructure solution for the requirements. “Algaesys system could potentially be considered alongside any other viable option for these future needs.”  Read more: Bigger than Ben Hur: Multi-million dollar wastewater upgrades on the booksRead more: Upper Clutha ratepayers not affected by Queenstown wastewater woes

If you haven’t voted in the Central Lakes Trust (CLT) trustee elections yet, it is now too late to submit voting papers by mail - but online or hand-delivered voting is still open.Voters have until Friday (November 21) to either hand-deliver their papers to the ballot box at the CLT office at 190 Waenga Drive in Cromwell or submit their vote online.Online voters will need to use the pin and password which was supplied with voter packs delivered earlier via mail.CLT chair Linda Robertson said it was important locals have their say.“CLT is a community asset and we’d like to encourage everyone from our funding region to have a say in who represents them on our board,” she said.Nine candidates are standing for the five community-elected trustee positions: Mark Christie, Dave Currie, Kathy Dedo, Alexa Forbes, Neil Gillespie, Tony Lepper, Chris Phoon, Michael Rewi, and Trudi Webb.The five successful candidates will join three appointed trustees in guiding how the trust’s funds are invested and how millions of dollars in community grants are distributed across Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes.The Central Lakes Trust, founded in 2000, has distributed more than $168M back into the community and manages assets totalling nearly $600M.Read more: Nine candidates contest five Central Lakes Trust board seats

Wānaka Tennis Club is set to be the venue for the southern region’s premier tennis teams event this weekend.Four teams make up the Division One Southern Region Senior Teams Event entries - Southern Lakes, Otago, Southland and a combined North Otago/South Canterbury team.The Southern Lakes team - made up of Wānaka and Queenstown players - has had a firm grip on the trophy over the past 20 years, winning all but two of the titles, and the team plans to come back with “all guns blazing”, Wānaka Tennis Club says.“The team will be playing all day Saturday (November 22) and Sunday morning (November 23) at the Wānaka courts and members and public are most welcome to come along to watch and support your local team.”The Southern Lakes team features an “absolutely stacked line up” on the men’s side, the club said. It includes the Milburn brothers Dan and Noa who are both number one ranked juniors in New Zealand for 17-and-under and 15-and-under respectively, and Queenstown tennis legend and two-time Wimbledon quarter finalist Ben McLachlan.Also on the lineup is Doug Bohaboy, who reached a career high ranking of number 250 in singles on the ATP world tour and played at the highest level of US college tennis; former New Zealand junior representative and US college tennis scholarship player Harry James; and New Zealand Davis Cup legend and former world top 200 player Alistair Hunt.The women’s line up may not feature international pros but there are some great local players, the club said, with Wānaka locals Katya Burgess, Sally Currie, and junior standout Kaitlyn Tooley taking the court.Recent addition to the club Marina Sokolinkova, who impressed the crowds at the Wānaka Open women’s final in January, is making her Southern Lakes debut, and Wānaka coach Amanda Trail (a former WTA world top 500 player) may be called on as a doubles specialist. Saturday evening is a particular good time to head along and catch some of the action.“A few of the top feature matches will be played on Saturday evening from 5pm with the BBQ going and drinks at the bar,” Wānaka Tennis Club said. PHOTO: Supplied

The MetService has issued an Orange heavy rain warning for the headwaters of Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea from midnight tonight (November 17) until 2pm Tuesday.A front over the Tasman Sea is moving towards New Zealand. It is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain overnight.Between 100 to 140mm of rain is expected about the main divide, and 70 to 100mm within 15km farther east.Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.Anyone heading into Mt Aspiring National Park is advised to take extra care or delay travel.

Locals are being invited to hear from health officials about health service planning at a session in Wānaka next week.Health NZ Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) says it will share information “about the current and future health needs of Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes, along with an overview of health service planning currently underway”. The health service planning review followed months of advocacy by public figures, health advocacy group Health Action Wānaka, and residents for better access to health services in this region.At a rural health roadshow in Wānaka in July, HNZ staff said they would come back to Wānaka at the end of August with the findings from the clinical review, which needed to be “done and dusted” by December.At an HNZ information session for stakeholders last month, the agency talked about hospitals, primary care, diagnostics, specialist care, and maternity services, in terms of what will be needed in the future.Read more: Who is shaping the future of Central Lakes health?“They also acknowledged that they are looking at factors like road conditions, weather temperatures, and just how easy it is or isn’t - at certain times of year - to get between the different towns,” Central Otago District mayor Tamah Alley told constituents after the meeting.Tamah said HNZ “reiterated that their clinical services planning will inform the ‘what’ is needed, not necessarily the ‘where’ it’s needed - and the ‘how’ will be determined once we know the need”.The outcome would be an options paper for minister of health Simeon Brown, “not necessarily a ‘here’s where we’re going to build a hospital’”, she said.Read more: Health services review in Upper Clutha to focus on needs, not locations.Next week’s information session is an opportunity for locals to hear directly from officials about progress on the review.It will be followed by a panel Q&A session with HNZ leaders, and HNZ said locals will have the opportunity to speak informally with health leaders and local government representatives.The session will be held at the Lake Wānaka Centre on Tuesday November 25 at 1.30pm. Register here.There will also be an online session on Wednesday November 26 at 5.30pm.PHOTO: Wānaka App

There are only a few days left for locals to enjoy a “last supper” at long-standing Wānaka cafe, Ritual, says co-owner Chris Hadfield, as the cafe will close its doors on Wednesday (November 19).Chris and his husband Paul Tregea bought the cafe in 2005, after dreaming of opening a cafe for ten years.While Paul has worked in hospitality for years, it was “completely foreign” to Chris, whose background was in finance.The pair moved south from Wellington, but “took one look at Queenstown and said ‘no’”, Chris said. They soon discovered their ideal destination lay over the hill in Wānaka. The Wānaka Sun ran this story when the pair bought the cafe in 2005. IMAGE: SuppliedIn 2005 there were only a handful of places you could get coffee in Wānaka, including Ritual, Relishes, and Kai Whakapai. Over the past 20 years that scene has been transformed with many new hospo businesses established.But the regular Ritual customers have always known what they like, and consequently there have been “bugger all” changes to the cafe’s menu in the past 20 years, Chris said.There has been plenty of change elsewhere, though.On their first day at the cafe Chris and Paul made $890, and thought “We’re going to be rich”, Chris said.Turnover increased over the years, but the Covid-19 pandemic and now the cost of living have changed the scene.“We’ve lost the families,” Chris said. “There’s not a financial safety blanket now.”Compliance issues have become more complicated and more expensive, he said.Chris recalled their very first health inspection was undertaken by one of their regular customers, who turned up in a white coat, carrying a clipboard, saying “this is my day job”.That inspection took 20 minutes, and they were told to “buy a new nailbrush”.Now an inspection can take three to four hours, he said, and cost considerably more.And while Wānaka once had two distinct shoulder seasons, Chris said by the time Covid arrived, “the shoulder season was basically non-existent”.“There was a dip,” he said, but now “shoulder seasons are back”.A wall of memories at Ritual Cafe. PHOTO: Wānaka AppSocial change has also been a feature for the cafe owners known as “the only gays in the village”.Chris enjoys standing out from the crowd, so he has mixed feelings about having “been assimilated into the heterosexual community”.He said he and Paul haven’t had a Christmas Day for 20 years - Boxing Day is their busiest day of the year, so Christmas Day is spent prepping at the cafe. While they’re now looking forward to a sleep-in on Boxing Day, Chris said they will miss the social aspect of the cafe.“The best part of the job - and the only reason I get out of bed: customers.”Chris, a member of the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board, said once his cafe career is concluded he plans to focus on three key areas for the community: The Heart of Wānaka Plan for the the CBD, the development of a new arts facility for the area, and improving active transport connectivity.

Hearings on a proposed Super Liquor store in Lake Hāwea concluded in Wānaka on Friday (November 14).Keyrouz Holdings Ltd’s plans for a 300-square-metre store in Hāwea’s Longview subdivision attracted more than 500 objections from residents and health experts, who had the opportunity to voice their concerns in person during the three-day hearing.The opposition centred on the risk that a new liquor outlet would increase alcohol-related harm in the small community.Objectors cited national statistics on alcohol related harm as well as the findings of the 2023 Upper Clutha Youth Voice Survey, which found significant binge drinking among local teenagers.Many also spoke from personal experience witnessing both teen and adult drinking.The applicant also made its case for the Super Liquor outlet, which it said would fit in “really well” in Hāwea’s new commercial precinct. District Licensing Committee (DLC) members Chris Cooney, John Mann and Lyal Cocks have been tasked with deciding whether or not to issue an alcohol license for the Super Liquor, which already has resource consent.They will consider written closing submissions once they are received. “Once the DLC has all final closing submissions it will then take time to assess all the information and write up its decision,” a Queenstown Lakes District Council spokesperson told the Wānaka App. “There is no timeframe prescribed in legislation within which it needs to release the decision – it’s up to the DLC and could be before Christmas or in the New Year.” Once the decision is issued, it will be released to all parties. “If any parties don’t agree with parts of the decision and consider the DLC has erred in law they can lodge an appeal to the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (ARLA),” the spokesperson said. “ARLA would then hold a public hearing by way of a rehearing of the matter, but no new information could be introduced.”PHOTO: Supplied

Talks on the proposed Regional Deal for inland Otago were back on the agenda on Monday (November 10) though members of the public weren’t invited to listen in.Representatives from the Central Otago District Council, Otago Regional Council, and Queenstown Lakes District Council met online for a workshop held under public exclusion.Central Otago Mayor Tamah Alley said the session was about getting any new committee members - of which there are “at least three” - up to speed on where negotiations with central government are at.According to the meeting agenda, discussions were closed to the public to avoid jeopardising the councils’ negotiating position with Wellington.It stated that while there is public interest in the deal’s development, premature release of information could lead to commentary that disadvantages the councils in negotiations — and could even risk the process being abandoned altogether.A new chair and deputy will be chosen at the committee’s first formal meeting next month.The Regional Deal aims to secure long-term investment and coordinated planning and is one of three being negotiated for New Zealand’s fastest-growing regions. The region is pushing for new revenue-generating options such as a local visitor levy and mining royalties to ensure “growth pays for growth”; the upgrade and future-proofing of electricity supply (including grid extension, and rooftop solar and battery funding schemes for ratepayers); and a private-public health model that combines visitor/resident numbers for funding.In September consultant Conor English - the brother of former Minister of Finance and Southland MP Bill English - was appointed lead negotiator on behalf of the three councils.

A more than two-decade-long campaign to reclaim Lake Wānaka from an invasive aquatic weed has reached a major victory, Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) says, with 40 kilometres of shoreline now successfully cleared.  “This milestone marks a real triumph for the beautiful Lake Wānaka ecosystem and for everyone who treasures this iconic place,” Land Information minister Chris Penk said.  “For the first time since 2013, Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) has been able to shift the lake’s containment line, the invisible boundary separating weed-free and infested waters, marking real progress in a long and determined fight to turn the tide in our favour.” Lagarosiphon grows extremely quickly and forms dense, thick mats, and left unchecked it can choke waterways and smother native plants.  “All it takes for a new invasion is a tiny fragment carried by a boat, a fishing line, and lake users moving between different bodies of water,” Chris said.  This clearing work is funded by LINZ, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), and Otago Regional Council (ORC), with support from the Lake Wānaka Aquatic Weed Management Committee, which includes LINZ, QLDC, ORC, Department of Conservation, Guardians of Lake Wānaka, Kāi Tahu, Wānaka Marina Limited, and the Fish and Game Otago Region.Chris said the clearing of lagarosiphon was “a testament to the sustained commitment” of LINZ, its partner agencies, local groups, and the wider community. “Innovative control methods, particularly the use of hessian mats, have been vital on the frontlines, acting like underwater shields that suppress lagarosiphon while allowing native vegetation to regroup and reclaim ground.  Work to continue to control lagarosiphon in other parts of the lake will continue. “Ultimately, the goal for LINZ is to keep pushing that containment line further south towards Roys Bay near the Wānaka township, and we will need every ally we can get,” Chris said.“I want to acknowledge the lake users who have been diligent in checking, cleaning, and drying their gear and to urge them to keep up the good work,” he added.“Their ongoing vigilance is crucial to preventing this aquatic enemy from regaining a foothold and to ensuring we maintain the progress we have made.”  PHOTO: NIWA

Wānaka author Shirley Deuchrass has learned “a lot” about the subject of her latest book: the native long-finned eel.Shirley, who has written biographies, history and fiction, said as a grandmother of 12 her latest books have focused on children.Mark and the Monster Eel is a picture book for three to seven year olds about a boy who is scared of eels because his sister tells him they will eat him.“I believe that the story is worth publishing, for two reasons,” Shirley told the Wānaka App.The book’s colourful illustrations are by MAC student Amber Leslie. IMAGE: Supplied“Because kids are scared of something and it creates an opportunity for teachers and parents to say ‘what are you scared of?’; and the other thing is we’re losing our native long finned eel in leaps and bounds.”Shirley said not enough is known about why the number of native eels is declining, but in her view there is one obvious culprit.“It certainly doesn’t help that we have two dams [Clyde and Roxburgh] in this area,” she said.She explained that the eels breed just once, at the end of their lives. The mature eels swim to the Tongan Islands to lay their eggs. When hatched, the larvae float back to New Zealand and the tiny eels (elvers) swim upriver.While eels can slither past obstacles in their quest, dams are too challenging.Mark and his Grannie. IMAGE: SuppliedContact Energy runs a native fish management programme to assist fish migration pathways - including eels. The elvers are collected and transported past the Roxburgh and Clyde Dams, before being distributed into lakes and rivers.Some mature eels are moved in the opposite direction, but most are lost to the dam turbines, Shirley said.This is the “adult story” underpinning Mark and the Monster Eel, she said, and it’s one she hopes more people will become aware of.The book is illustrated by Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) student Amber Leslie, who worked with Shirley to bring her vision into colour.“The really cool thing is I managed to get a student in her last year at college to do the art work,” Shirley said. “She’s a clever girl.”Mark and the Monster Eel book will be launched at Wānaka Library at 4pm on Wednesday November 26.

Three ‘hot lap’ experiences at Cromwell’s Highlands Motorsport Park aboard the V12-powered Aston Martin Vulcan Supercar (the only one in the Southern Hemisphere) will be up for grabs this summer, with all proceeds being donated to Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.Formula 1's Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson will be at Highlands for just one day: Tuesday December 23.  Liam was the first ambassador of the Tony Quinn Foundation and recently met with a large group of Highlands members at the Singapore Grand Prix in early October.“I caught up with [Highlands CEO Josie Spillane] and TQ in Singapore and in passing said that I’d love to drive the Vulcan,” Liam said.  “Josie didn’t even let TQ respond, it was an immediate yes – and we locked in the date and the idea that we could do something special for charity then and there.“The Tony Quinn Foundation and everyone associated with it have been great friends of mine and more than just supporters so I try to support them where I can. It’s good for New Zealand and the sport so I like to help, especially when I’m home.”Josie said the opportunity for a hot lap in either the Vulcan or with a Formula One driver would normally be “near impossible but we’re thrilled to make it work and do it for a great cause”.“Tony is super generous with allowing us to use the Vulcan for charity, and we’ve raised over $250,000 to date for various New Zealand charities,” she said.“This is very personal for me. My friend Lou was just 44 years old when she lost her battle with breast cancer, and I’m so excited that we have been able to pull this together.”As a bonus, one of the three charity hot lap experiences will be claimed by a lucky winner thanks to the new Highlands GT Partner Shaw and Partners Financial Services, who will donate the money otherwise raised in the auction.  The remaining two Vulcan ride experiences with Lawson will be auctioned to the highest bidder with all proceeds going to charity.Shaw and Partners will provide the ride experience, plus flights and accommodation for the winner.  The remainder of the day will be a chance for Kiwi motorsport fans to ride with Lawson in one of the Highlands Lamborghini Fast Dash cars, with just 20 rides to be available for just $399 via the Highlands website.  Breast Cancer Foundation NZ chief executive Ah-Leen Rayner said the organisation was “absolutely thrilled” Liam will lend his time to help New Zealanders affected by breast cancer. “The chance to experience an exhilarating lap with Liam in a supercar is a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and every dollar raised will directly support breast cancer patients through their greatest time of need. “With nine women diagnosed with breast cancer in New Zealand every day, we are so grateful to the teams at Highlands and Shaw and Partners for initiatives like this that can drive real change.”Enter by completing the form here, or by auctioning for a ride.

Are you concerned about alcohol harm in communities and its impact on children’s health and wellbeing?A new University of Otago study has found that New Zealand children are exposed to unhealthy marketing 76 times every day, from junk food and alcohol to gambling promotions. It’s a sobering reminder of how much influence these industries have on young minds, and why community voices matter.Over four days, a group of twelve-year-olds wore small cameras that photographed everything they saw. The results, published in Social Science & Medicine, gave parents and researchers a rare, unfiltered look at children’s daily worlds, and it wasn’t pretty.Children were exposed to nearly 250 percent more unhealthy messages than healthy ones. Junk food dominated at 68 sightings a day, with Coca-Cola topping the list. Beer brands led the alcohol ads, and most gambling promotions came from Lotto and TAB.Lead researcher Professor Louise Signal says this constant exposure chips away at the values families work hard to build. “The saturation of harmful marketing undermines the guidance parents give at home, replacing it with the influence of multinational corporations,” she says.Co-author Associate Professor Leah Watkins adds that children simply can’t recognise the persuasive intent of advertising until around sixteen, leaving them especially vulnerable. Those living in disadvantaged areas see even more of this marketing, compounding existing inequalities.The researchers point out that strong government rules work. There’s no tobacco marketing in the footage, because it’s banned. Yet self-regulated industries like junk food, alcohol and gambling continue to flood children’s spaces with harmful messages.Here at Path Wānaka, we see this as another reason to keep supporting parents and communities to have open, informed conversations about alcohol and wellbeing.If you’d like to understand more about how marketing and alcohol affect young people, Alcohol Healthwatch is hosting a free “Kids and Alcohol” workshop offering practical tools for families and communities.Participants will workshop practical solutions with experts and colleagues to reduce harm from alcohol and its marketingWorkshop is held online:When: Tuesday 18th November 2025 – 2:00PM to 4:00PMWhere: Online – Teams link will be sent to those who register to the event through the Jotform belowCost: FreePlease feel free to share these details with others who may be interested in attending. Please RSVP HERE. Register by Midday 17th November.Presenter:Professor Louise Signal is Co-Director of the Health Promotion and Policy Research Unit at the University of Otago, Wellington and a lead investigator on Kids’Cam and Kids Online. Louise is a social scientist with a PhD in Public Health. She has worked and conducted research in health promotion for over 30 years. Her research interests include tackling inequities in health and healthy public policy.

Debate has erupted in Wānaka at a hearing on a proposed Super Liquor store in Lake Hāwea - with company representatives defending the bottle store and health experts and residents warning of alcohol related harm in the small community.At the centre of the debate are Keyrouz Holdings Ltd’s plans for a 300sqm+ store in Hāwea’s Longview subdivision, which would operate 12 hours a day, seven days a week.Its application for a liquor license attracted more than 500 objections and Southern District Health Board medical officer of health Dr Michael Butchard told the District Licensing Committee yesterday (Thursday November 13) that no other license had a greater proportion of the community object to it.Among objectors’ concerns is the fact Super Liquor would be the first business to open in Longview’s commercial precinct.“A bottle store before a GP is not the right order,” Michael told the committee.He said there were many reasons to deny the license, including a known youth drinking culture, likely heavy episodic drinking in the adult population, and geographical isolation of health services.He referenced the 2023 Upper Clutha Youth Voice Survey, which found 66 percent of local young people had consumed alcohol, with 31 percent reporting binge drinking at least monthly. “Each new off-license increases the odds of binge drinking,” he said.A day earlier the applicant had laid out its case, with Super Liquor Holdings national operations manager Greg Hoar saying the company had the “utmost regard for the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act”.A liquor licensing hearing for the proposed Hāwea Super Liquor is underway at the Lake Wānaka Centre this week. PHOTO: Wānaka AppGreg said the store would “fit in really well” in the Longview neighbourhood.Glen Christiansen (the chief executive of Keyrouz owner, Gate Group) implied a bottle store was inevitable - and a Super Liquor was the right operation."I do believe that Lake Hāwea will get a bottle store at some point, and that we are the suitable operator due to our great history and strong operational standards…" he said.John Young, lawyer for the applicant, said many of the objections lodged were “template objections”, arguing they lacked author authenticity and were “likely to carry less weight.” Longview resident Lisa Riley, who has spearheaded community opposition to the Super Liquor, pushed back on this when she spoke yesterday.“With respect, that is wrong,” she said. “The community asked Communities Against Alcohol Harm, a national charity, to assist in the use of a digital platform to make it easier for people to understand the law and raise objections."She said she wanted to highlight the “bigger picture”.“If this license is granted Lake Hāwea will have 10 licenses for a population of 2,340,” she said.“That’s three times the density of neighbouring Albert Town and more than double the national average.“We simply don’t have the infrastructure to absorb more alcohol related incidents.”She said community opposition was “not about prohibition”.“It’s about the law doing what Parliament intended, protecting families, children and communities from predictable harm”.The hearing continues at the Lake Wānaka Centre today (Friday November 14).

Locals are being invited to share their views on how dogs are managed across the district, as part of a review of the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) Dog Control Bylaw 2020 and Dog Control Policy 2020.All councils in New Zealand must regularly review their dog control bylaws, and QLDC’s current bylaw, adopted in June 2020, is due for review. QLDC is also reviewing its Dog Control Policy to take a complete look at dog ownership and management across the district.The policy outlines how dogs are managed in the district to promote responsible ownership, ensure dogs are well cared for, and minimise risks to people and other animals. The bylaw sets out where dogs are allowed, how they must be controlled, limits ownership to two dogs per property unless licensed, requires owners to clean up after their dogs, and mandates that female dogs are confined while in season.People can fill out a survey to give feedback on how the current policies are working.The survey asks a range of questions, including whether or not people agree with dogs being on leash on public footpaths and other places (such as cemeteries, playgrounds, skateparks); and whether or not they agree with dogs being off leash in most reserves across the district (including council parks, domains, recreational areas, and open spaces). Should dogs be off leash in reserves across the district?The survey also asks how people feel about dogs being off-leash on walking and cycling trails, and whether or not it may be appropriate to introduce on-leash rules in sensitive environments such as wetlands and reserves with native plants and wildlife. “By reviewing our Dog Control Bylaw and Policy, we’re making sure these rules still make sense for our district today, and into the future,” QLDC says.Dog ownership in New Zealand is guided by the Dog Control Act, which promotes responsible dog ownership and keeping communities safe. The act requires every council to have a Dog Control Policy and they may also have a Dog Control Bylaw to support how the policy is implemented.QLDC will undertake a formal consultation process on the bylaw in 2026.PHOTOS: Wānaka App