Wānaka Police have had another busy week in the Cardrona Valley with ice related crashes, including a vehicle rolling, Wānaka acting response manager Sergeant Dylan Hannah-Jones said.While police were attending one crash they were advised of another car on fire at the Crown Range summit, Dylan said.“Police arrived to find a Mazda Demio sized fireball and its driver left out in the cold, unharmed and supported by members of the public,” he said.“Fire crews arrived from Arrowtown and did a great job putting the fire out.” Three drunk drivers were apprehended over the weekend with high alcohol level readings over 700mg/L, Dylan said. “One driver nearly five times over the limit ran out of talent near the Albert Town bridge, driving into the back of another motorist like they weren’t there,” he said. “That driver has since appeared in Queenstown District Court and [been] convicted.” Police have noticed an increase in the use of Surron electric dirt bikes on public roads, Dylan said.“Reports made to police suggest that they are sometimes being ridden by kids, dangerously and at high speed. The use of these types of electric dirt bikes on the road is illegal and the risks are obvious. We encourage the public to report the use of these bikes to police so we can help prevent a serious crash from taking place.”Wānaka Police arrested a man wanted for a string of nine shoplifting incidents last week, and have more shoplifters under investigation. “Wānaka Police won’t tolerate thieves operating in our community and will have no hesitation in arresting and charging people.” The Wānaka Police Station has had more than 15 high value items handed in, including wallets and mobile phones, with many finding their way back to grateful owners, Dylan said. “Great to see that kind of honesty and helpfulness.” “We continue to get reports of ski and snowboard gear getting stolen from cars,” he said, and reminded people to lock their roof racks if they intend on parking up with their ski gear on the roof. Call 111 when you need an emergency response from police, fire or ambulance.Call 105 to report things that don’t need urgent police assistance.Call *555 to report road incidents that are urgent but not life-threatening.To make an anonymous crime report contact Crime Stoppers. PHOTO: Supplied

Completion of the final link in Wānaka’s lakefront shared pathway is one step closer after the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) agreed yesterday (Tuesday July 15) for council staff to progress concept plans.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) senior parks advisor Kat Banyard and community services general manager Ken Bailey shared a concept plan for the remaining section of the shared pathway - just 340 metres from the Dinosaur Park to the public toilets at the end of Dungarvon Street - with the board at a workshop yesterday, seeking direction on the next steps.WUCCB chair Simon Telfer told the Wānaka App he was keen to see the pathway completed so people can use it safely and to showcase Lake Wānaka.“Let’s look at the lakefront and having that continuous pathway that has always been envisioned rather than four fifths of a pathway,” he said. “The most highly trafficked area of that pathway is [currently] a shingle path.”The board sought progress last year on the pathway ahead of the wider stage four of the Lakefront Development Plan.The “iterative nature” of progress was deliberate, Simon said, to avoid residents possibly “waiting for decades” for the entire project to be complete.There is no funding available currently for the shared pathway completion, he said, but the board decided to seek a more detailed design and a more accurate cost estimate, and will then seek funding through council’s Long Term Plan (LTP).The concept plan presented would provide continuous access along the lakefront with a pedestrian/cycleway promenade, in keeping with the completed pathway at either end.The cost of the 370 metre pathway concept was estimated at $700,000.“There’s no bells and whistles on this,” Simon said, but “it’s a big investment”.“It’s a lot but it’s a much bigger meterage [than the completed sections]... It‘s technically not too difficult but there is quite a bit of concrete.“You can’t just get the concrete mixer out and plonk it down,” he said, due to different slopes, stormwater pipes, and other features.Simon said a key discussion point among the board was that the final pathway “doesn’t inhibit overall stage four development”, whether that be a jetty, car parking, or any other development.“We’re comfortable the pathway won’t inhibit any future development,” he said.QLDC deputy mayor Quentin Smith recently introduced concept plans for a new jetty to replace the “past its use-by date” existing jetty, in the same section of lakefront.Read more: Creative designs for ‘long overdue’ new jettyPHOTO: Wānaka App

Queenstown Lakes District mayor Glyn Lewers and other members of the Otago Central Lakes Health Services and Assets Project have welcomed Health NZ’s clinical services review, which begins this month.The review will look at how needs have changed in this region, with clinical services “the priority” and the location of a regional hospital “the fundamental point of the review”, Health NZ Southern chief medical officer David Gow said.Read more: ‘No hope of much change’ following health roadshow“This is the news from Health NZ we’ve been waiting for,” Glyn said. “Until recently, despite our growth, Health NZ had no plans for expansion in our area. We’re finally on their radar.”Glyn is one of the leaders of the Otago Central Lakes Health Services and Assets Project, along with Central Otago District Council mayor Tamah Alley, Southland MP Joseph Mooney, Waitaki MP Miles Anderson, and Queenstown-based ACT MP Todd Stephenson.The group (which is backed by a charitable trust) has been working with health infrastructure specialist Helen Foot of Markit Consulting since October 2023, with the goal of incorporating public health services alongside existing and planned private providers. A statement from the Otago Central Lakes Health Services and Assets Project yesterday (Monday July 14) said Health NZ’s clinical services review “clears the way for a new hospital in the region that could complement and support existing health services”. “It could be New Zealand’s first large privately-owned and publicly operated hospital,” the statement said.Joseph Mooney said incorporating public health infrastructure alongside current or planned private providers in Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, Wānaka and Queenstown would bring public healthcare closer to home for the area’s growing number of residents and visitors.“We want to work with existing providers and help uplift the service everyone can provide.”Health NZ’s clinical services review is expected to be completed by December this year.David Gow said Health Action Wānaka’s ( HAW) report, ‘Perception versus reality: the true state of healthcare in the Upper Clutha’, was “an excellent start” for the review. Read more: Healthcare crisis for Upper Clutha - reportPHOTO: Supplied

The countdown is on for Blood Brothers, the debut production from Wānaka’s new community theatre society, Onstage Wānaka.The show, which runs at the Lake Wānaka Centre from August 8–16, is the first full-scale musical theatre production in Wānaka in many years.It’s an entirely community-led project, featuring a local cast, live musicians, and a team of volunteers working behind the scenes.Onstage Wānaka is bringing to the stage the internationally acclaimed musical by Willy Russell, which tells the story of twin brothers separated at birth and raised in different worlds — one in poverty, the other in privilege. Their paths cross and intertwine with tragic consequences in what the group describes as a “gripping, fast-paced production full of heart, humour, and unforgettable music”.“Adding to the magic, Blood Brothers will feature a live band, not backing tracks — a bold choice that elevates the theatrical experience and brings a raw, dynamic energy to every performance,” Onstage Wānaka said in a statement.With the all-local cast, there are likely to be some familiar names on the stage.Read more: Cast finalised for Onstage Wānaka’s inaugural productionOnstage Wānaka was formed to fill a need for a dedicated theatre society in Wānaka, and officially launched in March.The group said Blood Brothers marks the start of a new era for performing arts in Wānaka.Tickets to Blood Brothers are available now.PHOTO: Onstage WānakaRead more: New performance group

The Upper Clutha Rams have powered their way into this year’s Central Otago Premier Rugby Competition final, defeating Maniototo 18-9 in a hard-fought semi-final on a wet and muddy home pitch at the Upper Clutha Rugby Club on Saturday (July 12).The defending champions crossed for two tries and kept Maniototo try-less in challenging conditions, earning a well-deserved win and the chance to secure back-to-back titles.“We went alright, conditions were tough,” Rams’ coach Alex Dickson said.“Scrum was awesome. The boys went well.”Among the standout performers was No.8 Jake Burtenshaw, who carried strongly throughout the match and handled the slippery ball with impressive composure. He was ably supported by hooker Scott Cunningham, who marked his 100th match for the Rams with a typically industrious performance.With heavy rain falling during Saturday’s match in Wānaka, it was always going to be a forward-dominated battle. The Rams adapted well, dominating at scrum time and applying pressure through consistent defence and territory.The scoreboard ticked over with two well-taken tries, plus a penalty and conversion, while Maniototo’s points came from three penalties.Despite the slippery surface, the Rams stayed composed and played to the conditions, shutting down Maniototo’s attacking threats and taking their chances when they came.Coach Alex Dickson credited his side’s discipline and forward pack for getting the job done.The win sets up a blockbuster final against Wakatipu this Saturday (July 19) at home. Wakatipu secured their finals spot with a convincing 26-7 win over Alexandra in the other semi-final played in Queenstown.Alex is calling on supporters to turn out in force for the final.“Numbers and noise would be good,” he said.Kick-off for the final against Wakatipu is this Saturday (July 19), at the Upper Clutha Rugby Club at 2.30pm.Rams’ Points:Tries: Ben Mckeich, Andrew HorneConversion: Brodie FlanneryPenalty: Brodie FlanneryPHOTO: Wānaka App

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

Central Lakes Trust has awarded more than $1M in its latest funding round, including a quarter of a million dollars for a sought-after local preschool.Wānaka Preschool Early Learning Childhood Centre will use the grant towards a renovation and expansion of its pre-school building, which will allow it to expand its roll.The preschool currently has 62 children between one and five attending. Manager Lo Stevenson said the preschool receives enquiries about spaces on a daily basis.Other grant recipients in this funding round include the Upper Clutha Presbyterian Church, which was granted $15,000 towards the cost of having two youth workers. Wānaka Community Patrol - which works closely with police as extra “eyes and ears” to assist them and other agencies to build safer communities - received an operational grant of $2,500.Plenty of other grant recipients also operate district-wide and benefit Wānaka in some way.One of them is the Queenstown Electrification Accelerator Programme, which received $220,000 to establish a team to develop momentum and accelerate movement to alternate energy sources.CLT said while the name of the programme includes Queenstown, resources, educational materials, events, package deals, and capability building will be made available to everyone throughout the region.“We are thrilled to support this initiative,” CLT chair Linda Robertson said. “It’s an exciting step toward a more resilient and low-emissions future that ensures all our communities have access to clean, affordable energy.”A total of 24 organisations received funding in the funding round.Central Lakes Trust, a charitable organisation working to support groups in Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes, distributes grants each month.PHOTO: Wānaka App

A Queenstown Lakes District Council application to discharge wastewater into the Shotover River has been escalated to the Environment Court.The council, which began pumping treated effluent into the river in March, retrospectively applied to Otago Regional Council (ORC) for two resource consents in May.In June, it requested for the case to be handled by the Environment Court. On Friday, ORC confirmed it had approved the request.Consents manager Alexandra King said the council agreed, in part, because the applications would still be publicly notified."It's a pragmatic decision, and this approach ensures security of the public notification process and the opportunity for public participation is based on having complete and accurate information, and is consistent with the requirements of the RMA," she said.In its application, QLDC stated direct referral to the Environment Court would save all parties "considerable time and money". It also stated the result was "very likely to be appealed, irrespective of the outcome", regardless of whether the decision was made by ORC or the Environment Court.As well as seeking consent to discharge wastewater into the river, QLDC applied to dig a channel in the riverbed and divert the Shotover River, so the discharges would reach flowing water.Earlier, ORC raised several concerns with QLDC's application and asked the council for more information to support its claim the discharge would have "less than minor" impacts.QLDC originally had until July 11 to respond, but on Friday, ORC said the deadline was extended to August 11. In the meantime, ORC would continue to monitor the Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant.Two abatement notices and 10 infringement notices have been issued since early 2024, including some against the discharge of treated wastewater to land on the Shotover Delta.PHOTO: RNZ / Tess Brunton

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