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Formal consultation on next Annual Plan shelved
Formal consultation on next Annual Plan shelved

13 February 2025, 4:06 PM

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) will not hold formal consultation on the 2025/2026 Annual Plan, following a narrow vote at yesterday’s (Thursday February 13) council meeting.Every three years the council adopts a Long Term Plan (LTP) and in the two intervening years it prepares and adopts an Annual Plan, which sets out spending priorities and determines rates.Normally there is also a public consultation period where members of the community can provide feedback on the Annual Plan in its draft form and - potentially - influence the final Annual Plan.At yesterday’s meeting QLDC corporate services general manager Meghan Miller told councillors there was “no change” in the Annual Plan to the average rates increase of 13.5 percent signalled in the LTP, nor any change to the “level of service” provided by the council.In addition to this, the LTP - which signalled three years of belt-tightening - was only approved in September last year, much later than usual, so full consultation was not necessary, she said.Councillors had mixed feelings on the proposal to cut out formal consultation.Councillor Esther Whitehead said she was “not comfortable taking away the formal process from the community”.Deputy mayor Quentin Smith said he could understand the reasoning for skipping formal consultation but noted that “this is actually the last opportunity for this council to put a mark on the planning for the future”.Other councillors, including Craig Ferguson and Cody Tucker, said the consultation process could bring “false hope” about additional spending that wasn’t realistic.They supported the proposal to skip formal consultation, as did councillor Lyal Cocks, who said the council was still consulting in “lots of key areas”.QLDC will still distribute an information booklet and run an awareness campaign on the 2025/2026 Annual Plan, Meghan said.The community will be able to share general comments on online forum Let’s Talk but there will be no formal submissions or hearings.Public consultation will take place in March on planned changes to user fees and charges for council facilities, which Meghan said must be increased to keep the average rates increase at 13.5 percent.PHOTO: Wānaka App

ECO Fund applications open soon
ECO Fund applications open soon

13 February 2025, 4:04 PM

Applications will soon open for Otago Regional Council’s (ORC) annual ECO Fund.More than $1M is available for projects across Otago which protect, enhance, or promote the environment. The overall funding has increased from $918,000 last year to a total of $1.05M this year.It is spread across six categories and is open to a wide range of applicants, ORC ECO Fund assessment panel chair Alan Somerville said. Every year the ECO Fund has been oversubscribed and people should contact ORC staff now for advice on applying before applications open on March 1, he said. Applications will be open for only one month.Alan said the ECO Fund had supported community-led environmental projects around Otago since 2018.“It’s the communities who know what matters most locally and these funding programmes can empower them to turn those great ideas into action.”Local recipients from previous years have included Friends of Bullock Creek, Hāwea Charitable Trust, Southern Lakes Sanctuary Trust, and many more.To assist 2025 applicants, ORC is running a webinar on February 25 and ORC staff are also part of in-person funding clinics, which are being run by the Otago Community Trust.ORC environmental implementation manager Libby Caldwell the ECO Fund is a great example of the ORC and communities in Otago working together. “These programmes enable communities to either take first steps to begin a new project, or continue and enlarge existing projects, to improve the state of the environment across numerous types of needs,” she said. Find more information about the ECO Fund, including the categories, grant values, webinar and in-person information sessions, here.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Tutors announced for music summit 
Tutors announced for music summit 

13 February 2025, 4:00 PM

Tutors and speakers have been announced for the 10th YAMI (Youth + Adults in the Music Industry) summit, which will take place in Wānaka at the start of NZ Music Month (May 3-4).Musicians from Home Brew, The Teskey Brothers, The Black Seeds, Latinaotearoa, Haz & Miloux, The Nudge, The Nomad, Black Comet, and Gin Wigmore will be joining the summit, as will a number of talented local artists including Anna and Rick Shaw and Laura Lush.Participants will learn to navigate the music industry with workshop and seminar topics covering performance, DJing, songwriting, beatmaking, royalties and distribution, album release, marketing and management. New classes this year include ‘musical matchmaker’, sampling and looping, releasing an album, and vocal and guitar masterclasses.YAMI director Lynne Christie said support from the music industry is vital as most of the crew are volunteers."The staff, tutors and speakers from all sectors of the creative and events industries are incredibly generous with their time and knowledge; they tap into focussed hacks that guide talented artists to the next level," she said.Gin Wigmore, who will be guiding songwriters and composers, said she was "delighted” to be a part of the summit, and award-winning artist Tom Scott (Homebrew, Avantdale Bowling Club, @Peace) said he had heard about the summit through other musicians and was looking forward to mentoring committed performers, writers and producers. Scott's manager Lorraine Barry (who also manages Sir Dave Dobbyn, Aidan Fine, Home Brew, and Avantdale Bowling Club) will also speak and guide at the summit along with Karyn Rachtman of Mind Your Music, who curates the soundtracks for some of the most influential movies and tv shows of the past two decades.Representatives from NZ On Air, APRA, IMNZ and NZ Music Commission deliver an often unheard perspective to steer future recording artists through the next stages of their career.Early bird tickets for the summit have sold out, but standard places for Junior (ages 10 to 13 years), Youth (ages 14 to 18 years) and Adult (ages 19 to 110 years) are still available at Ticketfairy.

Wānaka AFC prepares for 2025 season with new Southern League team
Wānaka AFC prepares for 2025 season with new Southern League team

12 February 2025, 4:04 PM

Wānaka Associated Football Club (AFC) is gearing up for an exciting 2025 football season as the club enters the Southern League for the first time.The club secured a historic promotion to the Southern League last season and has been busy recruiting talent over the summer."Having a team in the Southern League is a huge step forward for Wānaka football,” Wānaka AFC director of football Ben Sippola said.“It’s an incredible opportunity for our players and the community to experience a high level of competition right here in our backyard." Wānaka AFC director of football Ben SippolaThere will be an influx of talent into the newly formed Southern League squad, including players from top US universities, Canada, the Wellington Phoenix Academy, Christchurch United Football Academy, and other elite football programmes in New Zealand. Around 15 players are relocating to Wānaka to join the team, bringing the total squad size to approximately 20–22 players.To support its growing ambitions, the club is actively seeking sponsorship. Head of sponsorship Nick Engel is spearheading a campaign called the Summit Club, inviting 20 local businesses to collectively sponsor the new team by contributing approximately $2,500 each. The funds raised will be used to upgrade dugouts, and to establish a PA system and video equipment."Financial sustainability is a big focus for us," Ben said."The Southern League comes with added costs, and ensuring we have the resources to meet league requirements while maintaining our grassroots programmes is crucial. The community support has been fantastic so far."Despite its enthusiasm, Wānaka AFC faces challenges, particularly with training facilities. The club anticipates difficulties during the winter months, as the current pitches at the Wānaka Recreation Centre may struggle to accommodate the increased demand. "The facilities are great, but we’ll be stretched to our limits in June and July," Ben said. "We need to start discussions on long-term solutions for Wānaka sports."The Southern League season kicks off with a home game against Canterbury University on March 29, marking a significant milestone for the club and local football fans.PHOTOS: Supplied

Swansong EP from MAC band
Swansong EP from MAC band

12 February 2025, 4:00 PM

A Te Kura O Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) rock band has kickstarted the year with the launch of a swansong EP. ‘Feed the System’ - which features senior students Tommy Cotter (guitar), Toby Mills (vocals), Harrison Eastwood (drums), and Archie Bruce (bass) - is wrapping up after four years together and going out on a high note. A statement from the band said the members made the ‘Hello + Goodbye’ EP to “immortalise the good times”.A fundraiser event at Rhyme X Reason Brewery in 2024 helped the band raise funds for the EP, which was recorded over three days at South Link Productions in Dunedin last year and produced by Nick Roughan, who has worked with a number of artists including Shihad and Head Like a Hole.Vocalist Toby Mills said the Hello + Goodbye EP includes five of the band’s top tracks from the past four years. “From straight down the line hard rock to softer ballads, this release has something for everybody, whether you’re an old metalhead from back in the day or you would rather enjoy it at home with a cup of tea,” he said.Feed the System also worked with the Mount Aspiring College Events and Entertainment Technologies class to finish off a music video for their song ‘Please You’. Watch the music video here.During their four years together Feed the System competed in Rockquest three times and performed alongside many other acts from around Central Otago at a range of venues.In 2023, Feed the System was selected as one of the 10 semifinalists in the Thrashmore competition run by AJ Hackett. The band also had the opportunity to record their song ‘Unicorn’ with Lee Prebble at the YAMI Sounz Summit.Feed the System thanked the MAC music department and music teacher Mat Doyle for their support during their time as a band.Toby told the Wānaka App all band members planned to continue to pursue music in some form beyond high school.“The main goal with our music is to be creative and have some fun working on a number of cool projects,” he said.Listen to ‘Hello + Goodbye’ on all major streaming platforms.PHOTO: Supplied

‘Adverse effects’: Wānaka McDonald’s turned down
‘Adverse effects’: Wānaka McDonald’s turned down

12 February 2025, 1:40 AM

It’s a ‘no’ for McDonald’s.Independent commissioners have declined McDonald’s Restaurants NZ’s application for a Wānaka restaurant and drive-through.In the decision released today (Wednesday February 12), the commissioners said the McDonald’s would have too many adverse effects on the rural-zoned site and neighbouring landscape.The McDonald’s team, pictured during the November hearing. PHOTO: Wānaka App“...we consider that the adverse effects on the environment are more than minor…on the approach to Wānaka, the landscape character and the visual amenity values of Mt Iron,” the commissioners said.“The [application for consent] by McDonald’s Restaurants (NZ) Ltd is therefore declined”.Commissioners Helen Atkins (chair), Lisa Mein and Robert Scott said the effects of the McDonald’s on landscape character and visual amenity went “to the heart of the application”.The controversial proposal was the source of significant debate in the community. PHOTO: Wānaka AppThe issues were hotly debated by the McDonald’s team and Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) planners, who had disagreed on whether the site - within Mt Iron Junction, near the SH6/SH84 intersection - was rural or urban in nature. Peter Greene, who co-owns the Mt Iron Junction site earmarked for the McDonald’s (alongside Wānaka businessman Steve Shikker), said he was philosophical about the decision.“From our point of view we’re just the landowner,” he told the Wānaka App. “The commissioners have made their decision and now it’s up to McDonalds. It’s just the way it is.”However, he argued that the site was not rural.“It’s not a rural general site, is it? It’s no more rural than across the road.” Meanwhile Wānaka grocer Jesse Herbert, who campaigned against the proposal, told the Wānaka App he was “ecstatic” with the decision.“I think no matter the decision the process was fair and the town definitely got heard,” he said.The restaurant was proposed for rural-zoned land near the SH6/SH84 intersection. PHOTO: Wānaka AppJesse said he believed someone at McDonald’s “made a real strategic error chasing that site” and he said other, less prominent options may have been more viable. The McDonald’s application for a Wānaka restaurant and drive-through was made public in November 2023 and it had hoped to open its doors by 2026.McDonald’s Restaurants NZ was approached for comment on the decision.

What's on at Kāhu Youth Term 1 (Youth blog)
What's on at Kāhu Youth Term 1 (Youth blog)

11 February 2025, 8:30 PM

At Kāhu Youth, we’re kicking off 2025 with a term full of fun, connection, and adventure! This term, we’re offering after-school clubs, drop-in sessions, and PULSE—our exciting fitness programme. Check out the details below, and click here for more info or to book!After-school ClubsKahu’s after-school clubs are filled with great activities for youth 11years+. Clubs start this week, it's not too late to join! Click here to book and for more info.Games Club Monday, 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Cost = $45.Join Kāhu Youth’s Games Club every Monday at Paetara Aspiring Central.Led by our resident gaming expert, Rayner, this club is your gateway to strategy, creativity, and fun. From board games to Dungeons & Dragons -and even computer gaming - there’s something for everyone.Whether you're a pro or just starting out, come roll the dice, level up, and forge new friendships.Putiputi Adventure ClubWednesday, 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Cost = $150. Sorry, this club is now fully booked.HustleThursday, 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Cost = $85Hustle is all about getting youth moving, encouraging physical activity and play. Activities lined up for term 1 include; beach day (swimming and beach sports), paddle boarding and kayaking, frisbee golf, cricket, pickleball, golf and jet boating!Taika Adventure ClubFriday, 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Cost = $150. Sorry, this club is now fully booked.Drop-In SessionsOur free drop-in sessions are open to youth aged 11+. A safe space to hang out with friends and have fun. Paetara Aspiring CentralTerm 1 Drop-In HoursWednesday: 3:00pm - 5.30pmThursday: 3:00pm - 5.30pmFriday: 3:00pm - 5.30pm Lake Hāwea Community CentreTerm 1 Drop-In HoursTuesday: 3:45pm – 5:30pm Transport Available to Lake Hāwea Community CentreHop aboard the Kāhu van every Tuesday after school from Paetara Aspiring Central (PAC) to our Hāwea Youth Centre, where exciting activities await you! Return transportation to PAC is provided, leaving Hāwea at 5:30pm. Secure your spot in the van (max 10) and join the fun by booking here!Tuesday Drop-In Activities:February 11 - Pickleball February 18 - Water FightFebruary 25 - Clay MakingMarch 4 - Pottery PaintingMarch 11 - Chilled Hang TimeMarch 18 - Bracelet MakingMarch 25 - PickleballApril 1 - MovieApril 8 - Chilled Hang TimePULSE is Back!Attention Year 9-10 students (and special exceptions for Year 7, 8, and 11)! Kāhu Youth, in collaboration with Fit Collective and with support from the Wānaka Police, is bringing back PULSE – an action-packed fitness programme designed to build resilience, strength, and teamwork.Feb 28 - 11 April, with 2 sessions per week.Wednesday 7am - 8:30am and Friday 7:00am - 9.00am.For more information on any of the above activities, please contact us here.Photo Credit: Deeanna Gerlach

Celebrity chef features at A&P Show
Celebrity chef features at A&P Show

11 February 2025, 4:04 PM

The Wānaka A&P Show’s new ‘NZ Life & Leisure Local Larder’ space will highlight top food and drink producers at this year’s show.Billed as the ultimate destination for food lovers, it will offer show-goers a chance to taste some of the best artisan cuisine, both from the Upper Clutha and further afield, and meet the producers behind them.Wānaka A&P Show general manager Jane Stalker told the Wānaka App the producers had been hand-picked to feature “a really nice mix of producers”.They include Taste of the Alps, Cardrona Distillery, Kiwi Artisan, Stir Tea and more.Another major drawcard of the Local Larder is chef and restauranter Peter Gordon (ONZM) who is travelling to Wānaka to provide two cooking demonstrations each day.Whanganui-born Peter has cooked for world leaders including Barack Obama and Angela Merkel, and he has eight cookbooks and numerous award winning restaurants to his name.Jane said Peter’s morning demonstrations (10.30am) will focus on restaurant-style dishes and in the afternoon demonstrations (1.30pm) Peter will teach show-goers how to use the best of what’s in their fridge or vegetable patch."Peter Gordon’s the ‘godfather of fusion cuisine’—he’s got a way of taking fresh, local ingredients and turning them into something delicious,” Jane said. “Whether you’re a keen home cook or just love good food, his live demos are going to be a real highlight."The Wānaka A&P Show - one of New Zealand’s biggest agricultural, pastoral and community events - will return to the Wānaka Showgrounds and Pembroke Park on March 7-8.It will feature traditional drawcards like the equestrian, livestock and home industries events and family-friendly favourites like the Farmlands Farmyard, Rural Village and the entertaining Jack Russell race. The NZ Life & Leisure Local Larder area will be located near the A&P Show office and it will be open from 8.30am-5pm on both show days. For further details see A&P Show in your Wānaka App.PHOTO: Supplied

Council events policy open for feedback
Council events policy open for feedback

11 February 2025, 4:00 PM

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is seeking community feedback on its draft events policy.Events are a key part of what makes the district a great place to live in and visit, QLDC arts and events relationship manager Jan Maxwell said.The policy is being updated to clarify what the community wants from events, including economic benefits and wider considerations such as health and safety, community and environmental impact, she said.“Event organisers in Queenstown Lakes do a great job of putting on quality events while also coping with challenges such as unpredictable weather and strong demand on venues and parks.“The expectations on events, from both the community and participants, have also changed over time. For example, there is more expectation that events operate in a sustainable way.” Council-supported events vary from large-scale shows like Warbirds over Wānaka to smaller volunteer-led community events such as the Queenstown Multicultural Festival.The draft policy sets out eight objectives and four high-level principles that will direct the events QLDC supports. These objectives will be applied across all event-related processes including funding criteria. The Let’s Talk page also details upcoming hui in Wānaka, Queenstown and online where community members will be able to discuss the policy with council officers.     The policy will be most relevant to event organisers who request council funding or want to use council facilities, Jan said. Feedback closes at 5pm on Friday March 7.

Man not located despite wide search
Man not located despite wide search

11 February 2025, 5:25 AM

The police say a missing man has not been located, despite a large-scale search of the Rob Roy Stream area today (Tuesday February 11). Argentinian backpacker Hector Gaston Artigau, 21, has been missing at Mt Aspiring National park since last Thursday (February 6), when a friend he had been hiking with saw him fall from a rock into the river.Police and Wānaka Search and Rescue (SAR) carried out extensive planning and preparation on Monday for a large-scale search which began at 7am this morning.The man was seen falling from a rock into the Rob Roy Stream. PHOTO: Wānaka AppThe search included an aerial scan of the Rob Rob Stream area using underwater cameras, and searchers included police and specialty search and rescue units such as Land SAR canyon, river rescue, and sub alpine SAR.“We have yet to exhaust every conceivable possibility and will endeavour to do this to our full capability,” a police spokesperson said yesterday.A spokesperson confirmed at 5pm today that the man had not been located.Meanwhile a Givealittle page has raised over $9,000 to bring Artigau’s mother from Argentina to Wānaka.Erin Bennie of Leaning Rock Cherries in Alexandra set up the fundraiser.“Myself, friends, co-workers are trying to organise financial aid to help his mother come to New Zealand to be closer to the search for her son,” Erin said.“The money will be used to go towards flights, visa, translator, and other associated costs.”Erin said Hector worked the cherry season at the orchard. “He was a valued team member, we would like to do whatever we can to help his mum,” she said.

‘Satisfying results’ for Luggate
‘Satisfying results’ for Luggate

10 February 2025, 4:04 PM

The Luggate Community Association (LCA) is celebrating a year of progress, collaboration and long-term projects coming to fruition.Luggate’s public facilities are being well used, new initiatives like a Lilliput Library and food pantry and new businesses are popping up, and local events are adding to the sense of community and vibrancy in Luggate, according to outgoing LCA chair Rod Anderson.“For me [2024] has been a very satisfying year as instead of complaining about not getting things done we have had a number of satisfying results,” Rod said at the recent LCA AGM.The “greatest news” of the past year was the announcement that the Luggate drinking water scheme upgrade has been brought forward, Rod said.Last year’s AGM was dominated by concerns over the timing for the long-awaited upgrade, which had been deferred until 2027, and whether the existing supply had the capacity to cope until then.After a faster and cheaper delivery method was discovered, and the upgraded system (comprising two new supply bores, access to a new water source, and a new ultraviolet treatment plant) is now due to be operational by the coming summer. “It is great to see it cross the line,” Rod said.Rod said the Luggate Memorial Centre was being used by “an increasing number of varying groups” and the new playground, which officially opened in May last year, “is getting used more each day”. “It was a great asset when the farmer’s market was held [in Luggate] just prior to Christmas.”He said the food pantry, Lilliput Library, ‘Story Walk’, and information board about Luggate Creek were all great additions to Luggate.Rod also thanked volunteers who had contributed to the continuation of Luggate’s green waste scheme, which he said was a “giant plus to the community”, as well as volunteers who helped with the local predator trap line, which “has already helped to improve the bird life” on the Devil’s Nook walking track.Rod said a new business was operating from the former Upper Clutha Transport garage in Luggate, which had attracted visitors, and a new coffee cart “is also creating a stopping point for travellers”.It could be “a sign of things to come…” Rod said.Rod thanked LCA members for all their hard work and “commitment to the life of the village”.Judy Thompson was appointed as the new LCA chair during the AGM and Rod is now the deputy chair.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Champions and contenders join lineup for Challenge Wānaka 
Champions and contenders join lineup for Challenge Wānaka 

10 February 2025, 4:00 PM

More than 2,900 athletes will compete across a range of events at the Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wānaka Festival this week (February 13-15).The multi-day celebration of endurance sport draws thousands of athletes and spectators to the region, and this year’s race features a revamped swim, bike, and run course.Christchurch-based professional triathlete Mike Phillips, who has competed at Challenge Wānaka five times, is one of the familiar faces returning to the Challenge Wānaka Half on Saturday.Seasoned competitor Tom Somerville will also take on the new course this year, along with professional triathlete Michael Tong. New Zealand athlete Tom Moulai, a former NCAA track star, is another athlete eager to test himself on the updated course, and Australian athlete Bailey Powell, a former elite hockey player who recently moved to Wānaka, will make his debut at the event this year. Auckland-based triathlete Xander Marsh, former champion Craig Savage, and local triathlete Laurie Watson will also take on the challenges of the updated course.The women's field at the Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wānaka Half showcases homegrown talent, with local standout Danielle Donaldson returning after winning the overall age-group title in 2024. Just a week after conquering the Kathmandu Coast to Coast and being crowned the 2025 World Multisport Champion, Deborah Lynch will make a quick transition from multisport to triathlon for the Challenge Wānaka Half.Local pro triathlete Bec Clarke, who is still recovering from injury, will compete in a team, aiming to retain her title as the fastest female swimmer.The triathlon festival will include more than 2,100 children competing in the Puzzling World Mini, Junior and Intermediate Challenges, the Mitre 10 Mega Adaptive Challenge, and Secondary Schools Challenge on Friday. PHOTO: Supplied

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