A couple of good blokes are being hailed as heroes by a delighted Queenstown bride-to-be – one of them her fiancé, after her precious engagement ring was miraculously located under ice at the top of the Crown Range.Remarkables Primary teacher Abby Cavanagh, who moved to Queenstown from Auckland earlier this year with fiancé of four years Dan Weafer, noticed her engagement ring missing on June 29.She’d been walking the Kelvin Heights Track during the weekend, but a search there and post on the Queenstown Community social media page turned up no leads.“I retraced my steps, and we searched everywhere, tipping the bedroom upside down,” Abby said.She’d all but given up hope when Dan started checking videos he’d taken of Abby playing in the snow on top of the Crown Range. “He just had a feeling he should check the videos,” Abby said.Dan and Abby celebrate Ryan’s miraculous find on Thursday night.Incredibly, Dan spotted the ring flying through the air in a video of Abby shaking snow off her freezing hands after a fun snow fight.On Thuersday (July 10) Dan finished work early and the pair went up the Crown Range for a search.“We looked for an hour and a half. I was way too cold, and it was getting dark,” Abby said.Abby posted on the community page asking for a metal detector and was overwhelmed by the response, about half a dozen detectors offered straight away, one from Wānaka.One offer took the prize – Arrowtown man Ryan Domenico de Dominicis, who was keen to try out his new metal detector, not only offered to help but insisted on heading up there well after dark on Thursday night rather than waiting until the next day as Abby suggested.A delighted Abby Cavanagh celebrates being reunited with her precious engagement ring.“We’d only just got home, and Dan went back up to help him. By the time he got there Ryan had already found the ring. He was frothing, so keen to help,” a very grateful Abby said.“Miraculously, it wasn’t damaged or scratched at all and had been sitting there untouched for 11 days,” she said.“The snow it fell in had melted to the ground and it was just sitting in a puddle under a piece of ice.“I’d been throwing snow up into the air and I’ve lost weight lately, so it must’ve flung off while I was shaking my hands out in front of me.“I was just overwhelmingly grateful. I had tears in my eyes and was jumping up and down, so happy.”Abby offered a cash reward which Ryan didn’t want to take but the couple insisted, giving him $100.Abby said she’s hugely grateful to those who offered to help and was blown away by all of those like Ryan offering to go out of their way to help.“This is such an amazing community. People really look after each other,” she said.To top off the tale Ryan just happens to be a wedding photographer, so guess who’s first in line to take the wedding photos next year? And yes, Abby reckons they’d better choose the top of the Crown Range as the photo location.“I think this is a sign. It’s prompted us to finally get married. We always planned to get married when we moved to Queenstown, so this has given us a bit of a kick along,” Abby said, adding that they will be “very careful with the rings”.PHOTOS: Supplied

Wānaka Helicopters is marking a milestone this year, with women making up 50 percent of its 2025 Diploma in Aviation intake.This is a significant achievement in a sector where, globally, fewer than six percent of helicopter pilots are female, Wānaka Helicopters CEO Peter Spencer-Bower said.“Wānaka Helicopters is really proud to help more women become pilots,” he said.“We fund our own helicopter scholarship ($5,000) and aeroplane ($2,000) scholarship exclusively for female candidates in each diploma enrolment year.”While global initiatives like the International Air Transport Association’s ‘25by2025’ campaign aim to lift female representation in aviation to 25 percent, female helicopter pilot numbers remain stubbornly low. In New Zealand, support groups such as the New Zealand Association of Women in Aviation provide scholarships and mentorship, but female helicopter pilot numbers are still hovering around three-to-five percent across the OECD.This has been attributed, in part, to a lack of exposure to female role models in the profession.Commercial helicopter pilot Brianna Curtis said barriers based solely on gender have largely fallen away, but the industry still suffers from a visibility problem. “I don't think there are many, if any, barriers based solely on gender, now, that limit women getting into aviation, but… because there wasn't the exposure to it to help make that decision,” she said. “Times have changed a lot… in my experience so far, aviation has been a welcoming, accepting and an overwhelmingly supportive industry for anyone to join, as I suspected it would be.”Wānaka Helicopters says early engagement through school visits, community events and information sessions has played an important role in raising awareness locally. With demand for pilots on the rise, it is hoped this year’s intake numbers signals a lasting shift.Applications for the 2026 Diploma in Aviation are now open. Find more information here.PHOTO: Supplied

Hundreds of keen readers turned out for the Rotary Club of Wānaka’s annual book sale last weekend, snapping up all sorts of books and jigsaw puzzles - and helping raise money for local causes.The three-day sale (July 4-6), held at the Lake Wānaka Centre, raised more than $20,000, Rotary Club of Wānaka spokesperson John Huddleston said.“The result was excellent and we’re really grateful for the community's support,” John said. “It’s a big job to make the sale happen and there are many people and organisations involved. But it is well worth it.”John said this year’s book sale had more ‘fresh’ books than previous years due to a huge response from the community to drop off their used books prior to the sale.“The Mitre 10 Mega drop-off response was very good which provided great variety and quality for buyers,” he said.“Jigsaws were also a huge success, very popular.” John said the base price for books was raised this year to keep up with the times.“We always aim to keep our book prices affordable, but like everything, a price rise was inevitable,” he said. Thousands of books and plenty of jigsaws were on sale.“At three dollars, the books still offered great value, and we kept children’s and young adult titles at just one dollar to help families.”All funds raised will help the Rotary Club of Wānaka support local projects and causes, club president Marie Fitchett said.“This is a great result and will really help us support organisations and individuals in our community that need some assistance,” Marie said.“Our club members put in a lot of effort to make the book sale wonderful and I can’t thank them enough.”Marie thanked the many organisations that provided support to help raise funds through the book sale: Wānaka Storage Solutions, Mitre 10 MEGA Wanaka, Queenstown Lakes District Council, Wastebusters, Upper Clutha Transport, The Messenger, and the Wānaka App.PHOTOS: Wānaka App

Snow Farm’s high-country trails will host some of the world’s top cross-country skiers next month as the 30th Merino Muster welcomes elite American athletes and celebrates its first edition as a fully-fledged member of the Worldloppet global ski marathon series. The Merino Muster - a cross-country ski marathon - has been running since 1995 and for the past 14 years it has been an associate Worldloppet member.It now joins 18 other prestigious marathons in the Worldloppet series, placing New Zealand on equal footing with global icons like the Vasaloppet (Sweden) and the American Birkebeiner (USA).Becoming an official Worldloppett member marks a turning point for the sport in New Zealand, race founder Mary Lee said.“The Merino Muster is now part of the world’s premier ski marathon series,” she said.Confirmed to race at this year’s Merino Muster are US cross-country star Jessie Diggins, a World Champion, Olympic gold medallist and 2025 Crystal Globe winner, as well as homegrown talent Campbell Wright.The Wānaka-raised biathlon talent, who now represents Team USA, recently claimed two silver medals at the 2025 IBU World Championships and his own Crystal Globe from this season’s Biathlon World Cup.“Having athletes like Jessie and Campbell here is a major opportunity to raise awareness of cross-country skiing in Aotearoa and inspire new generations to try it,” Mary said.Racers at last year’s Merino Muster. PHOTO: Wānaka AppThe Merino Muster’s signature race is the 42km, but it has three other race options for different ages and abilities.They include the 21km Snow Rake, 5km Straggle Muster, and the 1km Mini Merino for under ten-year-olds.Spectators are welcome and first-time skiers are encouraged to take part in shorter course options, Mary said.The Merino Muster will take place on August 30 at the Snow Farm. 2025 entries are open now.Find more information here.

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

Have you seen a rook? What about Mediterranean fanworm? Or an Asian Paddle Crab?Otago Regional Council (ORC) wants residents to report sightings of priority pests - and now there’s a new way to do it that makes sure all the right information lands directly in the ORC biosecurity team’s inbox. The new online ‘report pests’ form is a quick way to alert the biosecurity team to priority pests or any potential biosecurity threats in the Otago region, ORC biosecurity team leader Robert Win said.“Priority pests are a significant environmental concern that have either not yet established, or not widely established and have the potential to cause substantial harm, such as Moth plant or the Freshwater Gold Clam,” he said. The form, which can be found on the ORC website, collects pest sighting details, precise location data, and other information for the biosecurity team to investigate.   People can still use ORC’s 0800 number (0800 474 082) to report pests, but ORC is encouraging people to instead use the form - which lets people upload photos and pin the exact location of the sighting - as it is more detailed and efficient.“Citizen science is a valuable way the public can help protect Otago’s environment,” Robert said. “Otago is home to many threatened and taonga species.” “We can help to protect these and the region’s wider indigenous biodiversity if we all work together, especially if Biosecurity staff have timely information on pest sightings and exact locations.”Priority pests in Otago include African feather grass, African love grass, Asian paddle crab, Chilean needle grass, Horsetail reed, Lagarosiphon, Spartina and many more.Find the new pest reporting form here, as well as more information on priority pests, here.PHOTO: ORC

KiwiHarvest’s 'Souperheroes' campaign has provided over a tonne of soup, stews, and curries to charities in Queenstown Lakes - including three in Wānaka - since launching in May. The food charity collects surplus food and delivers it to those in need, and ‘Souperheros’ started as a small side initiative, KiwiHarvest Queenstown Lakes branch manager Gary Hough says.“What began as a simple idea - aligned with KiwiHarvest’s mission to reduce food waste and support those in need - has grown into something that fills me with pride and hope.”Gary said KiwiHarvest started by collaborating with students from Queenstown's Liger Leadership Academy, working together to find a new way to feed people facing tough times.It soon expanded into a district-wide mission, with primary schools collecting surplus containers (like ice cream tubs and yoghurt pots) and teaming up with chefs at hotels and restaurants to turn excess food into a stockpile of frozen soups, stews, and curries.“The ‘Souperheroes’ campaign has exceeded expectations with over one tonne of food contributed,” Gary said.‘Souperheroes now delivers these meals to 13 charities, including Food for Love, Community Link’s food bank and Kahu Youth Trust.“Over 550 kilograms of nutritious, heartwarming soups and stews have been prepared, with local chefs transforming excess produce from KiwiHarvest and local kitchens into comforting winter meals.“In addition, we’ve received over 450 kilos of canned soups and stews that have generously been donated by our community…”Wānaka Primary School has been involved this year, during the ‘pilot’, but “next year we hope to include all Wānaka primary schools and some Wānaka hospitality businesses”, Gary said.On the back of the success of ‘Souperheroes’, Kiwiharvest has launched its major fundraiser of the year, ‘Cruise for a Cause’: an overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound with RealNZ.“We have come along with local grant support etc in the last couple of years but [we are] still operationally in a deficit of around $20K for the next two years,” Gary told the Wānaka App.“This event we hope will help to bridge that gap for next year and make our operation more secure and sustainable, which has a massive ripple effect for the community.”Find out more about the Doubtful Sound cruise here and more about KiwiHarvest here.PHOTO: Wānaka App

A 27-year-old Wānaka climber/snowboarder was airlifted to Southland Hospital after slipping backwards, falling over a steep cliff, dropping twenty metres then sliding another thirty metres into the Grand Couloire on the Remarkables.Police say the man suffered a badly broken arm and possible head injury in the fall from the top of the popular shute, which starts between Single and Double Cone close to the summit of the Remarkables running down to Lake Alta.Remarkables Ski Area ski patrollers assisted an Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter’s paramedic to get to the man, who was believed to have been crossing the Grand Traverse with a skier friend, after they activated a personal locator beacon, around 3pm on Monday (July 7).Police had the Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue Team on standby due to the steep, tricky terrain but they were stood down, with the paramedic able to get to the man.Cliff Rescue Team co-ordinator Russ Tilsley said he believes the paramedic was winched into a point 5-6 metres below the patient, climbing up then winching him out.“I understand they’d come over the top of the GT [Grand Traverse] and stopped halfway to ski Grand Couloire, but conditions are patchy as is usual this early in the season,” Russ said.“He’s probably slipped on ice, but he was a bit beaten up. I believe he may have also injured a rib.”Russ said the snow cover is not that great and it was likely quite icy and people need to be aware that they’re in mountainous terrain and cover can be patchy this early in the season.A St John Ambulance spokesperson said they were notified at 3.12pm on Monday and dispatched two helicopters. The patient was assessed at the scene then airlifted to Southland Hospital in a moderate condition.PHOTO: David Maunsell

Wānaka Festival of Colour executive director Ruth Heath has been named as the new director of Queenstown’s arts and cultural centre, Te Atamira.The Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust Board said Ruth will step down from the role in early August.The board thanked Ruth for being “an exceptional steward of the trust” during her tenure as executive director.“Her collaborative approach and genuine passion for the arts have strengthened our organisation - from modernising systems and seeing us through tough periods while keeping our festivals strong and vibrant, to nurturing our incredible community of audiences, artists, supporters, sponsors, volunteers and staff,” they said.Ruth Heath PHOTO: Deanna GerlachRuth said the Wānaka Festival of Colour and Aspiring Conversations are “extraordinary festivals and it has been a privilege to serve the trust and this community in bringing these to life”.“A wonderful opportunity now exists for a new leader to carry the vision forward and further strengthen arts leadership in our region.”Ruth said she was “delighted to be joining a special team at a special place”. She is part of the inaugural cohort of Creative New Zealand’s New Leaders Programme, alongside 25 arts leaders from across the country. The Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust Board said the recruitment process for a new executive director is underway.

A series of power outages in the Upper Clutha over the past couple of weeks has left some residents frustrated - and raised fresh questions about whether customers should be compensated after unplanned outages.A major outage on the evening of Monday June 30 left more than 2,000 people in Hāwea and Makarora without power for almost three hours. Later that night, a second outage (due to a powerline near the road on Domain Road) saw some residents without power until after midnight.Then this Monday (July 7) another unplanned outage occurred in Wānaka and Albert Town, leaving around 1,200 customers without power for up to 5.5 hours during the day.Resident Jessie Byrne said the outages aren’t good enough - particularly given there is no longer any compensation available to customers for unplanned power cuts.Jessie said she discovered the credit had been removed when she and others approached Aurora Energy after the recent outages.“Power outages are becoming a frustratingly regular occurrence in our area, and the removal of this credit - without [a] clear community mandate - raises questions about accountability,” she said.Aurora Energy confirmed the change, with general manager customer and commercial services Mark Pratt saying its Customer Charter was updated in August following a public consultation in November 2023.“The new charter no longer includes a service level for compensating customers if power is not restored after an unplanned power outage within set timeframes,” Mark said.However, the company has doubled the charter credit for customers who aren’t properly notified of planned outages, from $20 to $40.Mark said the consultation was widely advertised in print, digital, radio, and local apps, and that the majority of those who engaged supported the changes.He noted that Aurora Energy ranks relatively well for unplanned outage frequency, sitting between fourth and eleventh out of 29 national lines companies - one of the reasons cited for removing the unplanned outage credit.But Jessie believes the consultation wasn’t transparent enough. “At a minimum, I’d like to see greater transparency from Aurora, starting with the public release of submission numbers from the 2023 consultation,” she said.“I don’t think anyone expects perfection - power outages happen,” Jessie said. “But when they do, people want to know someone is accountable, and that their experience matters.”Aurora Energy told the Wānaka App it would get back to Jessie, and others, regarding consultation numbers “in due course”.“However we are confident our consultation process was robust and provided opportunities for people to give us their feedback on the proposed changes.”The company says it has several projects underway to improve network reliability in the Upper Clutha.Over the past five years, the company has focused on replacing and upgrading ageing infrastructure. Longer-term, it plans to address network constraints and respond to population growth, economic development and decarbonisation.“The network is sufficient for current demand, but significant investment will be needed to meet the community’s needs through to 2050 and beyond,” Aurora Energy future network and operations general manager Matt Settle told the Wānaka App.A Regional Electricity Development Plan for the area is expected to be released later this year, with more details about future plans.Aurora Energy said it had also offered to meet with the Hāwea community in the coming months to discuss plans to strengthen the electricity network in the area.PHOTO: SuppliedRead more: Aurora apologises for power cut

Queenstown resident Darren Rewi (Ngati Mamoe and Waitaha, Ngati Kahungungu ki Te Wairoa, Rongowhakaata, Ngati Porou) has announced he will stand for mayor of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).He joins incumbent mayor Glyn Lewers, Shaping Our Future executive John Glover, and businessman Nik Kiddle in the mayoral race.Darren (62), who has lived in the district for 32 years, has been involved in a wide range of community and governance roles.“Enabling and empowering all communities from Makarora to Tahuna Glenorchy is a passion,” he said.QLDC voters need to consider leadership, governance and engagement when they choose their mayor and councillors, Darren said.He said he has over 20 years of senior level leadership and governance experience on local, regional and national boards, and has qualifications and experience in strategic and change management.“Along with the wider Queenstown Lakes District community we the elected councillors need to come together to articulate a strategic vision for the next 30 years, not the next election cycle.” Darren said he supports “an open and transparent working relationship” between mayor and CEO, with a “no surprises” policy for the mayor and elected councillors.“There has been a lack of accountability recently which has led to a removal of community support. The councillors and the staff need to focus on reducing costs that have ballooned beyond our need.”He said there is “no point creating reviews and investigations; it’s obvious that there has been poor decision making and now its for the new council and mayor to create an expectation of accountability and that’s a conversation with the CEO”.“We need to look forward and get moving: let’s revisit issues like single designated authority and what contractors are and are not adding value. If they are not, then they are gone. We need with urgency to reduce and remove our reliance on contractors.”Darren said progress on the Regional Deal with central government comes with opportunities and expectations. The government wants to enable growth through productivity, but while Queenstown Lakes is projected to be the biggest population centre for Otago, its productivity rate is 10 percent lower than the rest of New Zealand, he said.“When we work with developers and private investors, once due diligence is done and we agree to move forward, can we enable their projects; we need to unlock the bureaucracy for us to achieve.”“Leadership is key”, he added.Read more: Local ‘regional deal’ progresses to next stage“Part of enabling the community is to utilise iwi and Maori business and the capability they have… The recent investment of Totara Energy to acquire 30 percent of Pioneer Energy is a great example of bringing the capability of nine iwi to the table for the benefit of New Zealand.”As part of the Māori community Darren provided support to the wider community during the Covid-19 pandemic, from which the Mana Tahuna Charitable Trust emerged. Darren has been chair of the trust since it was founded in 2020.He is a trustee of the Sky City Queenstown Community Foundation, vice chair of the Victim Support national board, a ministerial appointee on the board of Herenga a Nuku the Outdoor Access Commission, and Ngai Tahu ki Murihiku representative on the Otago Regional Council Upper Lakes Freshwater Catchment Working Group. Darren is also a local business owner (cultural support company Take Tuia), and was recently the vice chair of the Arts Culture and Heritage Strategy Committee. He was the mayoral appointee as chair of the Welcoming Communities Steering Group.Darren has also been involved with Scouts, football, supporting schools, iwi roles, and contributed for nine years as a volunteer fire fighter. He has led the ongoing restoration of Waiwhakaata Lake Hayes. PHOTO: Supplied

Snow Sports NZ is benefitting from a shake-up in ski and snowboard funding, with a new International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) revenue-sharing system underway.FIS will distribute €30 million (around $54M NZD) over three years to its 75 national members - which include Snow Sports NZ - through its new centralised broadcast rights deal, the FIS Media Rights Centralisation Agreement (MRCA).All member nations receive equal payments, regardless of whether they host World Cup events.“Everyone gets the same amount - €400,000 [more than $781,000] - and that’s a lot of money, especially for smaller nations,” FIS president Johan Eliasch said.He highlighted the impact for countries like New Zealand and Greece, which have traditionally not received commercial revenue due to their limited hosting opportunities.“Before, if you didn’t host events, you didn’t get anything,” Johan said. “Now, everyone benefits just by being a member. That’s a big change.”Snow Sports NZ has already received the first of three FIS MRCA payments, with the final instalment due in the 2026/27 season. “Once the FIS MRCA comes into effect in 2026/27 Snow Sports NZ is excited at the potential benefits that the MRCA will return,” Snow Sports NZ CEO Nic Cavanagh said.He noted that while no details about future MRCA profits or their distribution had been released, the organisation was hopeful the centralised system would deliver greater returns for FIS, which could be shared among the 75 members.Another change set to have benefits in New Zealand is the recent vote by FIS council members in favour of an increase of up to 20 percent in prize money for FIS World Cup events across all disciplines.Ten percent of the additional prize money will be guaranteed by FIS and the additional 10 percent is on a voluntary basis for each local organising committee.“This increase will directly impact New Zealand snow sports athletes who receive World Cup prize money from the start of the 2025/26 season,” Nic said.PHOTO: Supplied

Submissions on Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) new draft Freedom Camping Bylaw 2025 are now open. QLDC said the draft bylaw was informed by “a robust technical assessment” that identified and examined which areas of the district need to be protected.Under the draft bylaw, freedom camping will be allowed in certain areas but subject to specific conditions including time restrictions, only using specified parking spaces, leaving no waste, lighting no fires, and a requirement for vehicles to be certified as self-contained with a toilet and grey water facilities.Key proposals in the draft bylaw include: Prohibiting freedom camping on most roads including any on-road vehicle parking spaces (i.e parallel, angle, etc spaces) located within the district’s built-up urban areas. Allowing freedom camping with restrictions in 158 carparking spaces across 15 specified areas in the district. Allowing freedom camping on most rural roads (including any areas off the active road corridor such as off-road laybys), subject to restrictions such as how close to the road a freedom camper can park themselves.  Read more: Freedom camping bylaw proposes 158 free sitesThese rules would apply on QLDC-controlled land and some New Zealand Transport Authority Waka Kotahi land.Freedom camping at the Luggate Red Bridge. PHOTO: SuppliedThe draft bylaw does not propose to regulate freedom camping on any reserve land or privately owned land. Camping on reserves will continue to be administered under the Reserves Act 1977. Find more information and make a submission here.  There will also be a public drop-in session in Wānaka next week: 5-7pm on Tuesday (July 15) at the Wānaka Recreation Centre and at the Queenstown Events Centre the day before (5-7pm Monday July 14), as well as an online webinar held on Monday July 28 at midday (details and registration information are available on the Let’s Talk platform). The results of the consultation will be considered by a hearing panel made up of councillors and will help to inform any changes to the draft bylaw ahead of it being adopted.The bylaw is expected to be finalised and in place before summer 2025-2026. Last year the High Court quashed QLDC’s 2021 Freedom Camping Bylaw, leaving the district without freedom camping restrictions - apart from restrictions under the Reserves Act regarding temporary and permanent accommodation, and the national Freedom Camping Act 2011 which requires that vehicles be certified self-contained to freedom camp. Last month QLDC mayor Glyn Lewers acknowledged “the challenges and frustrations” freedom camping brought to some residents this past summer. “No one wants to see any visitor using our pristine waterways for washing, nor do they want to see toilet paper where it shouldn’t be,” he said. “Sadly, that’s been the experience for some.”Read more: Freedom camping bylaw ‘by summer’

Community funding platforms Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown have raised $100,000 and they plan to distribute it to worthy organisations and projects.The platforms have opened applications for their 2025 Impact Grants, which will support charitable organisations delivering frontline climate, conservation, and biodiversity projects in the district.“These grants are about empowering the incredible organisations already working so hard to protect our rohe (region),” Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown community fund coordinator Ash Bickley said.Eligible organisations can now apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Funding has been made possible by generous contributions from visitors, tourism operators, and local businesses committed to protecting the region’s natural environment, Ash said. “The ongoing support from the visitor industry has been inspiring, showing a real commitment to not just sustaining, but regenerating, the places we love.”The grants will support charitable organisations delivering frontline climate, conservation, and biodiversity projects in the region. PHOTO: Jordan SiobhanSince their inception in 2023, Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown have brought industry volunteers together to plant 6,500 native trees, connected numerous visitors to volunteer opportunities, become hubs for sustainable travel information, and invested over $32,500 via endowment funds. “This is about building a regenerative future for our region,” Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism CEO Mat Woods said. “These funds are a direct result of visitor and business generosity and are a unique example of how tourism can support real, on-the-ground environmental action.”Past recipients of Love Wānaka and Love Queenstown’s Impact Grants include Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust, Predator Free Wānaka (formerly Wānaka Backyard Trapping), WAI Wānaka, and the Upper Clutha Wilding Tree Group, among others. Find more information, including full eligibility criteria and application details, here.

Last week was a busy one for Health Action Wānaka (HAW), whose members attended not only the rural road show in Wānaka with Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey, but also met with Health Minister Simeon Brown in Auckland.HAW steering committee chair Monique Mayze told the Wānaka App that Simeon appeared “very receptive” to what HAW had to say.“We shared with him the many challenges our community is facing when it comes to accessing healthcare, challenges which are compounded by our geographical isolation and rapid growth,” she said.HAW also gave the minister a detailed overview of each of the group’s ‘quick wins’, identified in the group’s report ‘Perception versus reality: the true state of healthcare in the Upper Clutha’.The report, which was released in April, identifies significant unmet needs, systemic barriers, and a lack of strategic health planning for the Upper Clutha.Read more: Healthcare crisis for Upper Clutha - reportFrom left: HAW’s Trish Fraser with Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey, Miles Anderson MP, ADL chief executive Clive McArthur, ADL Central Lakes service leader Warren Scott, and Rural Minister Mark Patterson last week. PHOTO: HAWThe quick wins identified by HAW are: Introduction of psychiatric consultations via telehealth for NGO and community frontline mental health and addiction services in this region within 12 months.Delivery of a publicly funded blood collection service in Wānaka within two years.Increase in local access to publicly funded radiology services via the government’s $30M funding boost announced in July 2024.“The minister committed to discuss the three ‘quick wins’ with Health New Zealand and to come back to us with a plan,” Monique said.“We will be meeting with Health New Zealand senior officials in the coming weeks, and will seek an update from them on what progress has been made.”She said HAW also discussed the National Travel Assistance scheme with the minister, and explained the difficulties people have when seeking to meet the eligibility criteria to receive compensation for health-related travel.He “expressed surprise at the problems we identified and was keen to learn more”, she said, and HAW plans to write to him with more information on the issue.“We want to see the scheme re-designed so people in rural communities like ours can be fairly compensated for mileage and accommodation costs incurred as a result of having to travel so far to access healthcare services.The travel assistance scheme was one of a range of issues also raised at the rural health roadshow on Tuesday (July 1), as was a clinical services review of the district currently underway by Health NZ.HAW believes locals should not have to wait until the review is completed to see action on the proposed ‘quick wins’.“Our quick wins respond to well-documented health service inequities in the Upper Clutha community, and there is no reason why steps cannot be taken now to start implementing the solutions we have proposed,” Monique said.Read more: ‘No hope of much change’ following health roadshow

Significant investment into supporting native species and tackling invasive pests in national parks has been announced by conservation minister Tama Potaka.The minister has announced $22M from the International Visitor Levy (IVL) will go to restoring unique wildlife in national parks, islands and other popular visitor sites over the next three years.He said the funding is split between supporting native species and tackling invasive pests - giving birds, bush, marine life and landscapes respite to recover.“We’re putting $4.15M into expanding predator control, plus $11.5M on the recovery of highly threatened species, including tara iti, at national parks and popular sites so visitors can enjoy thriving natural areas where their funds have contributed.”Mt Aspiring National Park is listed as a potential location for boosted predator control operations in response to the beech mast forecast for 2026.       Last year, nearly three-quarters of international visitors said they did a hike, walk or tramp while in New Zealand, and around half visited a national park. “Conservation-related tourism is worth around $3.4B a year,” Tama said.The minister said people fly to New Zealand with the dream of enjoying our world-class environment, and the government wants to make that experience “even better” for them.Budget 2025 has allocated $55M per annum to the Department of Conservation for new investments from money raised under the new $100 IVL rate. PHOTO: Supplied

Police are appealing for public assistance following significant damage to a cellular tower on Lindis Pass-Tarras Road (State Highway 8) on Saturday (July 6).Cromwell Police were called to the scene at around 10.50am, where they found a tower had been extensively damaged between Forest Range Station and Goodger Road.Detective Phill Hamlin said the tower plays a vital role in keeping people connected in an alpine area known for limited reception.“Cellular service is especially critical in this rural and alpine area,” he said.“Rural areas tend to rely on fewer cell towers to cover larger areas, and damage to these towers can cause significant reduction or complete loss of cell service in the area.”Detective Hamlin said police are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen suspicious behaviour at or near the tower and is asking anyone who travelled along Lindis Pass-Tarras Road between 7am and 1pm on Saturday, July 6, and has dashcam footage, to please get in touch with police.Anyone with information is asked to contact police by calling 105 or reporting online with reference number 250707/0047.Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

The Upper Clutha Rams have secured top spot on the table after two rounds of the Central Otago Premier Rugby Competition, grinding out a hard-fought 17-6 win over Wakatipu at home on Saturday (July 5).The Rams exploded out of the gates at the Upper Clutha Rugby Club, lifting their game to a new level in the opening 20 minutes with ferocious defence and crisp attacking execution. They crossed the line twice in that opening period and held a commanding 12-3 lead at halftime.Rams head coach Alex Dickson said the team had finally delivered the kind of performance they had been building toward.“Ecstatic – what defence! We really hit our straps, been waiting all year for it,” he said.The second half, however, saw the Rams come under sustained pressure as ill-discipline crept into their game. Ten penalties in a 30-minute spell saw them pinned deep in their own half, but Wakatipu were unable to break through thanks to a steely Rams’ defensive wall.Wakatipu slotted a penalty in the 69th minute to close the gap to six points, but it proved a turning point in the Rams’ favour. From the restart the Rams worked their way into the Wakatipu 22 for the first time in the half, and sealed the match with a decisive try.The defensive effort was led by prop Fergus Smith and second five Oliver Stirling, who were relentless at the tackle. Lock Andrew Horne put in a powerful shift and flanker Arthur Boutillier was physical and disruptive throughout.The win also ensured the Rams retained the White Horse Cup, now in its 100th year. As the final holders of the cup this season, the Rams name will be engraved on the historic trophy.Upper Clutha now prepares to face Maniototo in Wānaka on Saturday (July 12) in a home semi-final. Wakatipu will play Alexandra in Queenstown in the other semi-final.Points:Tries: Jack East, Oliver Stirling, Jake GreerConversion: Brody FlanneryTable:TABLE: TribePHOTO: Wānaka App

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