Ten Upper Clutha community groups made their case for a slice of Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) Community Fund yesterday (Wednesday May 14).The fund, which has $180,000 to allocate district-wide for the 2025-2026 year, supports charities, clubs, and not-for-profit organisations doing good in the community.Councillors and the mayor heard from groups addressing a range of issues from sport and emergency preparedness to biodiversity and senior housing.Aspiring Athletics Club president Kirsten Wyatt told councillors the volunteer-run club was struggling with ground hire costs at the Wānaka Recreation Centre, which she said exceeded the club’s operating budget.“We’re paying $3,500 a year [and] there is no other athletics club in Otago that pays what we pay,” Kirsten said.The club has grown from 35 members in 2018 to more than 150 today (including rising track star Phoebe Laker) but “it’s just unsustainable for us to pay these amounts”, she said.Hāwea Wānaka Pony Club president Kathryn Hutchison made a case for assistance with mowing costs at the six-acre Hāwea Domain site, saying reliable maintenance was crucial to keeping their bi-weekly rallies safe and operational.“[Funding support for mowing] would make a huge difference,” she said.Predator Free Wānaka representative Guy Kennedy told councillors the organisation (formerly known as Wānaka Backyard Trapping) was “on the front line” of predator management in the Upper Clutha.Its volunteers remove 800-900 pests from council and Department of Conservation owned land each year and it wants to increase its operations to have “every corner [of Wānaka] trapped”; a 20-year project.He asked for council support for the funding of a strategic plan which would provide Predator Free Wānaka with information on “the most effective placement of traps, when, which order and how”.Wānaka Business Chamber chair Jo Learmonth requested operational funding for a Wānaka office space for the organisation, “which we have never had before”.The space would include staff desks, hot desking, a boardroom, and a training room open to the community, she said.Emergency preparedness group Wānaka Community Response Group’s deputy chair Matt McPhee asked for funding for radios, which he said would be crucial to the group’s communication plan in the event of a major local emergency. “The reality is if there’s a big earthquake we’re on our own… we’re going to have to rely on the community,” he said. “[Funding the radios would be] a very worthwhile investment into the community.”Councillors also heard from Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust manager Loran Verpillot, who asked for funding to hire contractors for maintenance at its plant nursery.Each year the trust grows approximately 5,000 native plants at the nursery before planting them on public land, but the maintenance associated with the nursery is costly.“The work impacts the community at large and the environment,” she told councillors.Applications were also presented by the Hāwea Charitable Trust (on behalf of the Guardians of Lake Hāwea), Prime Timers Upper Clutha Senior Citizens, Abbeyfield Wānaka House, and the Queenstown & Southern Lakes Highland Pipe Band.Councillors will deliberate on the applications and funding decisions will be made later in the year.PHOTO: Te Kakano Aotearoa Trust

Wānaka Police have dealt with a range of incidents over the past week including theft, drink driving, underage drinking and a suspicious package.Police were called to a party hosted by a 17-year-old on Saturday night (May 10).They were notified of the incident due to “the behaviour of the crowd, which included broken bottles on the road and motorbikes being ridden”, Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said.Fi said there were “many underage drinkers” and no adult supervision.“It is disappointing and frustrating to respond to events such as [this] where there is zero adult supervision.”A few days earlier a 26-year-old was arrested and charged with 25 counts of theft.The offending took place at both local New World supermarkets, Fi said.Later the same day police were called to a rural property on McCarthy Road in Hāwea Flat.“The property owners were alerted to torch lights in the paddock about 50 metres from the house,” Fi said. “This was a rural property and serves as a reminder to ensure that farm equipment is locked and secure to remove the opportunity.”Meanwhile, Wānaka Police have seen a “spike” in car thefts.“Please ensure vehicles are locked and valuables removed,” Fi said.Several motorists were caught drink driving over the past week, including one incident in Hāwea where the motorist was caught with an excess breath/blood alcohol (EBA) reading of 724mcg (far over the 250mcg limit) with three children in his car.A suspicious package was delivered to a private address last week, Fi said.“The package was addressed to someone not associated to the address and the description on the package did not reconcile with the package itself,” she said. “Anything like this, please report the matter.”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: Wānaka App

Aspiring Athletics Club (AAC) head coach Michael Beable has been recognised for his “outstanding impact” on athletics in Otago.Michael was awarded the Norrie Jefferson Trophy for contribution to coaching at the recent Athletics Otago awards ceremony.The organisation said Michael is “a true mentor and leader” who has made “an outstanding impact on athletics coaching, guiding 21 athletes over the past year”.Most of his squad come from Wānaka and are members of the AAC, but a few are pursuing university studies in Christchurch, Dunedin, and Auckland.“Michael has been instrumental in bridging the gap between junior and senior ranks, welcoming younger athletes (ages 10-13) into his training group to ensure a strong future for the sport,” Athletics Otago said. “Michael’s dedication to his athletes is shaping the future of athletics in Otago.”Michael’s athletes have had a phenomenal season, with standout performances including Shay Veitch, who won gold in the senior men’s long jump and 200m at the NZ Track & Field Champs, and a personal best in the 100m at Potts Classic.Michael also coaches Phoebe Laker, who has had a record-breaking season, shattering 18 Otago records in the 200m and 400m, including a 36-year-old record.Read more: Phoebe Laker: record breaker“It's a real honour to receive this recognition from the athletics fraternity in Otago,” Michael told the Wānaka App.“It is so gratifying to see that the value I can add is appreciated, with Barbara’s [his wife] support, not only to develop athletics in Wānaka and beyond, but also to improve the standards to national and international level.”Michael has previously been named Coach of the Year by Athletics Otago, in 2021 and 2023. He also won the Athletics New Zealand Arthur Eustace Award for Coaching (2022/23).

The Wānaka Snowsports Club’s annual ski sale took place on Saturday (May 10), drawing a large crowd and raising tens of thousands of dollars for the local community.Skis stacked three and four deep leaned along the walls, and ski boots overflowed from tables to the floor after a steady stream of locals dropped off gear for resale the previous day.This year’s sale will inject nearly $35,000 back into the community, club committee manager Claire Arkell said.She said the money raised for the club will be distributed to athletes to help them with training and competitions.  “We’re incredibly grateful to the Wānaka community for their ongoing support,” she said. “It’s a privilege to help make skiing more accessible to everyone.”Claire said the committee was thrilled by both the quantity and quality of gear, and by the time the doors opened at 10am a queue of people had already formed down the street. Children’s equipment proved to be the hottest items, with skis, boots, clothing, and helmets disappearing within the first wave of shoppers. Adult and older kids' gear followed with a steady stream of purchases throughout the day.Claire said the sale was “chaotic” at times. “The room was bursting with people hunting for bargains — and there were plenty to be had.”The Wānaka Snowsports Club thanked the volunteers (including club athletes who pitched in), and supporters New World Three Parks, Mitre10 Mega Wānaka, and the Wānaka Presbyterian Church.PHOTO: Supplied

Wanaka's real estate market showed continued resilience in April, with sales volumes reaching their highest level since March 2024.At this time of year we might expect to see a seasonal slowdown, but April’s performance suggests that underlying market fundamentals are strengthening despite the higher inventory levels that have characterized recent months.The total of 44 house sales represents a significant improvement and signals a potential shift in market dynamics that could have important implications for both buyers and sellers in the region.The most encouraging aspect of April's performance is the broad-based nature of the recovery. Beyond just residential properties, the market saw 17 section sales, seven lifestyle blocks, and five apartments change hands, bringing the total number of transactions to an impressive 73 for the month.This diverse spread indicates healthy activity across different market segments, with particular buoyancy noted at the higher end of the market.The median house price remained stable at around $1.55M in April.The section sales deserve special attention, as they represent a meaningful shift from last year's patterns. Unlike the days when land banking was common practice in Wānaka – when investors would purchase sections at relatively low prices with the expectation of capital gains – today's land buyers are primarily intent on building quickly.This transition from speculative land holding to purposeful construction is keeping Wanaka's tradespeople busy and contributing to the ongoing expansion of the town's urban footprint.The Reserve Bank's fifth consecutive official cash rate (OCR) reduction has been a significant catalyst for the renewed market momentum. These consistent interest rate reductions have boosted buyer confidence and improved mortgage affordability, with banks demonstrating a willingness to lend to qualified borrowers.Looking ahead to the winter months, the property market typically experiences a seasonal reduction in new listings. If the current sales momentum continues against this backdrop of reduced new supply, we could see inventory levels begin to meaningfully decline from their recent peaks. This would represent a welcome rebalancing after a period where growing inventory has been a persistent concern for sellers and real estate professionals alike.The early May data points appear to support this scenario, suggesting that April's strong performance might not be a one-month anomaly but rather the beginning of a more sustainable trend.Ray White Wānaka is situated at Sir Tim Wallis Drive Wānaka. Find out more.

Following numerous complaints about freedom camping on a roadside reserve opposite Puzzling World on SH84, the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) will be restricting vehicle access to the site.NZTA plans to deepen the water table along the length of the site (a rectangular area used for parking) from today (Tuesday May 13), the Wānaka App has been advised.The Wānaka App visited the reserve on Monday morning (May 12), and spoke to a young Italian woman who was camping at the site in her car.She said she was aware of the site by “word of mouth” and during her two week stay in the area so far she was “just moving around the free camping areas”. “For me it’s… temporary because I’m looking for a job and for an accommodation,” she said.Shoulder season made this difficult, she said, and visitors were “fighting each other to get the job and a warm house… [which was] really hard”.“Wānaka is just for fancy people, let’s say. It’s like a rich place for rich people and everything is really expensive,” she said.The woman said she had seen between 10 and 20 vehicles camping at the SH84 reserve overnight.“Most people are thankful for the opportunity” to camp, she said, and her view was the site was tidy and clean with no rubbish.“There’s a bathroom less than five minutes walking from here and then everyone - at least 90 or 95 percent of people are self-contained,” she said.The Wānaka App also spoke to a young French visitor camping in a van at the roadside reserve. She said she was working in the township and was also struggling to find secure accommodation.Read more: NZTA takes action on freedom camping on reservePHOTO: Wānaka App

Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) new 2025 Land Development and Subdivision Code of Practice has now launched.The code sets out the minimum standards that must be met for civil works and infrastructure constructed within new developments and it has been updated following a review and public consultation late last year.The latest code continues to ensure infrastructure across subdivisions and developments is functional, consistent, able to be operated and maintained safely, and built using best practice, QLDC property and infrastructure general manager Tony said.“Given a significant portion of the infrastructure council owns and manages is installed by developers and their contractors, the code provides clear guidelines and standards to be met to ensure this infrastructure meets local conditions and our community’s expectations,” he said.The new code has a particular focus on stormwater management to lessen environmental effects and ensure stormwater systems built today are “suitable for the future”, Tony said.Two hundred and ten submission items were received from a range of submitters on proposed updates to the code, providing insight and technical feedback from practitioners working with the code regularly.The code now incorporates revised design and testing requirements for soakage devices, clarified definitions for catchment types, and updated guidance on blockage factors, among other changes resulting from feedback received through the submission process. Tony thanked those who made a submission, noting feedback received helped the new code to reflect practical issues encountered while subdividing or developing land in the district.“We’ve also identified significant demand for the code’s roading and transport section to be updated, which we now plan to review at a date to be determined in 2026,” he said.The 2025 Land Development and Subdivision Code of Practice was approved for adoption at the full council meeting on April 17.Resource consent applications submitted will now be subject to this version of the code, Tony said.PHOTO: Supplied

The Challenge Wānaka Half has been selected to host the New Zealand Middle Distance Triathlon Championship in 2026, making the local race an official qualifying event for the 2026 World Triathlon Multisport Championships.Challenge Wānaka race director Jane Sharman said this makes Challenge Wānaka a key event in the national calendar for athletes aiming to represent the country on the world stage. “We’re honoured to be hosting the National Middle Distance Championship in 2026 - and even more so in our 20th year,” Jane said.“Athletes will be racing for a national title and the chance to represent New Zealand at the world championships.”It is “a proud moment for our team, our community, and everyone who has been part of Challenge Wānaka’s journey”, she said.Read more: Pioneering technology for Challenge WānakaEarly bird entries for the half (one of a range of races and events offered each year as part of Challenge Wānaka) are now open, giving athletes the opportunity to compete for national honours - and qualification spots - on the iconic triathlon course. Since the first race in 2007, when more than 80 competitors lined up for a full-distance triathlon along the shores of Lake Wānaka, Challenge Wānaka has grown into a world-renowned event, she said.Each year Challenge Wānaka attracts thousands of competitors, both from New Zealand and overseas.Next year is set to be “one of the most memorable editions in Challenge Wānaka’s 20-year history”, Jane said.The Challenge Wānaka Half will take place on February 21.Find more information at the Challenge Wānaka website.PHOTO: Challenge Wānaka

Complaints about freedom campers on a roadside reserve opposite Puzzling World on SH84 have led the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to limit access to the site.From tomorrow (Tuesday May 13) NZTA will be restricting vehicle access by deepening the water table along the length of the site (a rectangular area used for parking), the Wānaka App has been advised.This follows numerous complaints to NZTA and Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) about freedom camping there.NZTA has been in talks with QLDC and the Department of Conservation (DOC) about how best to deal with the camping on the reserve.The land is outside QLDC’s jurisdiction. QLDC would only have enforcement powers over the land if it were restricted for freedom camping through a bylaw (after council making a determination to include NZTA's land in its bylaw).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. Read more: Council to blame for freedom camping open slather - NZMCAQLDC has begun developing a new bylaw. Meanwhile, an NZTA spokesperson told the Wānaka App on Friday (May 9) the agency was “in the process of limiting access to the area”, which he said was officially “DOC land adjacent to the state highway corridor”.In March this year QLDC summer ambassadors reported “concerning levels of non-compliance” among freedom campers visiting the district, citing evidence collected of littering, campers toileting in the bush, toothpaste spit, and non-self-contained vehicles. Read more: Washing lines, fire pits, toileting - a ‘non-compliance’ summer of freedom campingThe Wānaka App approached Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board chair Simon Telfer for his perspective on the issue.“It will be frustrating for some locals that NZTA have decided to close access to this vehicle park,” he said.  “However freedom camping and the associated toilet paper strewn behind nearby bushes was getting a bit out of control. As current government policy is to invest heavily in marketing New Zealand internationally but to not provide substantive funding for tourism infrastructure, these pressures are going to escalate. “The huge pressure on the [Wānaka Watersports Facility] toilets at Stoney Creek is another example. It shouldn’t be local residents who fund the infrastructure for freedom camping and Wānaka Tree ‘hop off, hop on, head out’ visitors.”The Wānaka App was advised that people wanting to access the Mount Iron Reserve will still be able to walk or bike in and out of the reserve from the site opposite Puzzling World, and they can park at the reserve using the SH84 carpark or the Allenby Place carpark.   PHOTO: Supplied

The organisers of Wānaka Pride Week have called for a revamp of the Lake Wānaka Centre to make it more inclusive and accessible.Out & About chair Ollie Harcus told the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) at Thursday’s (May 8) meeting the centre should be more of a “community-focused venue”.It should be an inspiring place to host events which is well utilised by the community, Ollie said.The non-profit group hosted the 2023 Pride Street Party and parts of 2024’s Wānaka Pride Week at the centre but accessibility limitations curtailed the organisation’s ability to make the most of the space, he said.“The big one for me is accessibility,” Ollie said. “We don’t have a disabled bathroom or a stairlift.” “With Pride being an accessible event, we can’t use half the space,” he said, referring to the second floor of the centre.Ollie also said he believed it was time to update the foyer, which features photos of influential locals.“Let’s work together to look at that and make it a little bit more diverse and meet our community’s needs,” he said.Ollie said he represented Out & About Wānaka and other community groups he was a part of who wanted to see the centre “brought to life”.He asked the WUCCB to dedicate between $50,000-$100,000 from the Wānaka Asset Sale Reserve to the project.Board chair Simon Telfer told the Wānaka App that Ollie “raised some very good points”.“The Lake Wānaka Centre can look a bit tired, especially when hosting contemporary and inspiring events,” he said.Simon said he has already asked Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) if any investment is planned for refurbishing the venue, and making the upstairs more accessible.He said he also asked council if any thought had been given “to revitalising the lobby area to make it more contemporary and reflecting of Wānaka in 2025”.“There are ongoing discussions about building a new performing arts centre in Wānaka,” he said. “Given QLDC's financial constraints, we need to balance any refurbishment cost of the current asset with the potential of the current centre serving a different purpose should a new one be built.”Read more: ‘We want your ideas’ - community boardPHOTO: Wānaka App

With generous support from locals, the Family2Family food appeal is progressing well at both local New World stores, with close to 300 bags donated so far.The annual appeal, which runs at New World supermarkets around the country, is designed to provide access to food and everyday essentials for New Zealand families experiencing hardship.Shoppers at New World can donate a pre-filled bag worth $20, or fill a bag with items of their choosing, and drop them off at the in-store collection points.All local donations will go to Wānaka’s Community Link food bank, which provides food to local households in need.Demand for the food bank doubled last year and it is on track to increase again this year, Community Link manager Kate Murray said, making the donations more helpful than ever.Read more: Food bank demand at all-time highNew World Wānaka owner Stuart Hope said on Friday (May 9) that around 200 bags had been donated so far the store was “grateful to every customer who’s taken part”.“Family 2 Family is all about locals helping locals, and our whole team are right behind it.”Meanwhile at New World Three Parks, scan coordinator Gina Ursua said the campaign was off to a strong start, with 87 bags donated by Thursday afternoon.Shoppers can buy a pre-filled $20 Family2Family bag in-store or online, or fill a bag with items of their choosing.New World Three Parks will be donating an extra $2,000 to Community Link in addition to its donated bags.The Family2Family campaign will run at both stores until May 25.As well as the option of filling or purchasing a bag to donate in-store, online shoppers can also opt to donate a bag, with New World dropping off the bag on the purchasers’ behalf.New World nationwide spokesperson Giselle Bleakley said the campaign gives shoppers “an easy and practical way to make a difference”.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Nine Lake Hāwea fire fighters are preparing to climb 51 flights of stairs in full firefighting kit - and they’ve all completed the Auckland Sky Tower Challenge before.Lorne Capell, Teresa Cotter, Lily Graham, John Cooper, Phoenix Cooper, Africa Barker, Sam Hensley, Benn Cash, and Amie Cotter are all “repeat offenders” in the annual fundraising challenge.This is the third time a group from the Lake Hāwea Volunteer Fire Brigade has competed, and there are just two weeks’ of training left before the team heads to Auckland, Amie said.“Training schedules are up to the individual, but Snap Fitness have very kindly sponsored us gym memberships, so the stair machine has been getting a good workout,” she said.“Our local mountainous terrain is also always a bonus.” The event is a fundraiser for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand.Every day, eight Kiwis are diagnosed with blood cancer or a related blood condition. It can affect anyone, at any age and any time in life. Last year the event raised nearly $2M, with the Lake Hāwea brigade contributing $11,000, Amie said.“This year we are on track to donate even more,” she said. A hundred percent of the proceeds from a quiz night and auction on Friday (May 9) went directly to the cause. People can also donate here.The challenge will take place in Auckland on Saturday May 24. PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka athletes shone at the 2025 Forsyth Barr Central Otago Sports Awards, held on Thursday night (May 8) at the Lake Wānaka Centre.Snowboarding star Zoi-Sadowski-Synnott was named sportswoman of the year while sportsman of the year was also scooped by a local - Luke Harrold (freeski halfpipe).Other local winners included alpine skier Adam Hall who won para athlete of the year and Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College senior student Ryan Enoka (athletics, karate and rugby) who won the junior spirit of Central Otago award.The annual awards, hosted by Sport Central, bring together 200 people from the region’s sporting whānau to celebrate sporting excellence as well as the spirit, passion, and people who make Central Otago a powerhouse of sporting talent, Sport Central sport and active recreation advisor Jo Knight said.“The judges had an incredibly tough job this year, which reflects the calibre of talent in Central Otago,” Jo said. “The finalists seem to raise the bar every year.” “All categories were hotly contested, with so many national and international champions and multiple athletes breaking local, international and world records.”Sport Central celebrated the 2025 Forsyth Barr Central Otago Sports Awards with athletes, supporters, coaches and more on Thursday night."As Dale Butcher said - the Central Otago recipe for growing great athletes is a winning one.” Jo said Sport Central extends its congratulations to all award winners, nominees, and those who continue to give their time, energy, and passion to sport in Central Otago. “We would also like to sincerely thank our generous event sponsors, whose support makes this celebration possible,” she said.Full list of winners: Gary Anderson Sound and Vision Sportswoman of the Year: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (Snowboard Big Air & Slopestyle)Central Lakes Construction Sportsman of the Year: Finn Butcher (Kayak Cross)Gallaway Cook Allan Junior Sportsman of the Year: Luke Harrold (Freeski Halfpipe)Health 2000 Wānaka Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Heidi Winter (Ice Swimming) Jennian Homes Team of the Year: Sky City Stampede (Ice Hockey)Workplace First Aid Coach of the Year: Nils Coberger (Alpine Ski Racing)Otago Polytechnic Para Athlete of the Year: Adam Hall (Skiing)Ray White Wānaka Junior Spirit of Central Otago Award: Ryan Enoka (Athletics, Karate & Rugby)Wānaka Physiotherapy Senior Spirit of Central Otago Award: Shane Norton (Football)Findex Official of the Year: Adam Nagy (Ice Hockey)John Fitzharris Trophy for Services to Sport: Flick Wallace (Snow Sports)Forsyth Barr Supreme Award - Bruce Grant Memorial Trophy: Finn ButcherPHOTOS: Image Central

The first planting day to improve an area of damaged historic wetland in Dublin Bay took place last Saturday (May 3).WAI Wānaka urban facilitator Trudie Hirst said passionate residents who had been working towards a restoration project within the Dublin Bay reserve joined in 2024 to officially form the Dublin Bay Restoration Group.“With the support of WAI Wānaka, the group gained permission from [the Department of Conservation] to establish a planting project to restore an area of damaged historic wetland within the reserve,” Trudie said.Members of the group (alongside volunteers from WAI Wānaka, Te Kakano Aotearoa Trust and Upper Clutha Wilding Tree Group) made excellent progress on Saturday.Close to 350 plants were planted before a truckload of mulch was applied around newly planted trees; invasive weed control was undertaken; and rabbit netting was attached to perimeter fencing which the Dublin Bay Restoration Group had installed at an earlier date. “The primary objective of this group is to restore and enhance native biodiversity - both flora and fauna - within the reserve and create a safe and inclusive space for the whole community to enjoy and use for recreation,” Trudie said.PHOTO: WAI Wanaka

Residents should expect more noise than usual at Wānaka Library over the next couple of weeks.Starting on Monday (May 12), the local library - which is the busiest of all eight libraries in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago - will be undergoing renovations.There will be a reduction in library space availability over the renovation period, which is expected to wrap up by Friday May 23. A Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) spokesperson said the council was excited to be adding “a small meeting/programme room” for community and staff use.“We look forward to sharing more about this once the work is completed,” the spokesperson said. “For now, we’d like to thank library users in advance for their understanding with a bit of noise and disruption likely over the next two weeks.”Wānaka Library members checked out more than 270,000 books in the past financial year and approximately 120,000 people walked through its doors.Library-goers may want to take the chance to check out the smaller Hāwea Library while renovation work is underway (open Mondays 10am-midday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10am-5pm and Saturdays 10am-2pm).Find more about all the things on offer at local libraries here.PHOTO: Wānaka Library

Queenstown residents Brett and Hollis Giddens - the soon-to-be owners of historic Hāwea Flat church St Ninians - are interested in community ideas for how the church should be used.Brett told the Wānaka App he and his family are “incredibly grateful to become the next caretakers of such a special local landmark”. “At this stage, we haven’t settled on any plans beyond exploring some landscaping ideas to beautify the grounds,” he said.“We've got a lot to work through at this point and don’t take ownership until the end of the year, but we're keen to get input from the community about possible uses.”Brett said he and Hollis are “not new to heritage buildings - or churches for that matter”.The couple has restored the Waikākā Church and Hazelnut Cottage at the base of Coronet Peak, as well as bar and restaurant, gin gin, on New Regent Street in Christchurch.A group of Hāwea residents looked at ideas for the community to buy the church when it came up for sale in November 2024. Ideas for the church included a music venue, a cafe, art space, a venue to host courses and other events, as well as a museum.Read more: Community hopes for churchThe 87-year-old church was listed for sale because the Hāwea congregation had “outgrown” it, according to minister Reverend Aaron Johnstone. Hollis and Brett Giddens The congregation plans to build a new church within the Longview subdivision at Lake Hāwea.PHOTOS: Supplied

The Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) says it wants the community’s ‘bold ideas’ after confirmation a fund for local projects is set for a sizeable deposit.The sale of the final slice of council-owned land at Scurr Heights may push the value of the Wānaka Asset Sales Reserve (WASR) to “up to eight figures”, WUCCB chair Simon Telfer said.And with new guidelines giving the WUCCB the “ability to influence” use of the fund, now is the time for the community to share its big ideas, Simon said.“We want our partners in the community coming to us with…really bold community ideas,” Simon said at yesterday’s (Thursday May 8) WUCCB meeting.The WASR has always been earmarked for Wānaka projects - and its funds have helped enable things like the Wānaka pool and Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) purchase of Mt Iron - but the new guidelines provide a “really clear pathway for decision making”, Simon said.They help clarify roles, strengthen governance, and better align the WASR with strategic priorities and legacy outcomes, according to QLDC, and the new guidelines say the WUCCB “plays a key role as a strategic partner in ensuring that the WASR is used effectively for community benefit”.WASR funds have supported projects like the Wānaka pool and the purchase of Mt Iron, and WUCCB chair Simon Telfer told the board he wants to hear from the community on bold ideas. PHOTO: SuppliedBoard members celebrated the milestone at yesterday’s meeting.WUCCB member John Wellington said most members stood for the idea to reempower the board - “and this is a step towards that”.Councillor Cody Tucker said the board’s previous role was “like a Santa Claus with very limited money or no elves”, however, with the changes to the WASR guidelines, the board “has the chance to have real power”.The WASR has around $3.4M in it at present and the remaining Scurr Heights land could be “ready to market” by spring, according to a QLDC representative.

Wānaka Rowing Club recently took delivery of three new boats which will help the growing membership of masters and juniors to row, train and compete. Club members met last month to name, bless and launch the new boats in a ceremony and karakia conducted by club captain Tristan Hughes, with a waiata sung by Alanna and Troy Brett. “Since then the boats have been enjoyed in both social, developmental and racing situations by club rowers of all ages and abilities,” club spokesperson Lizzie Ritchie said.Lizzie said the club was grateful to several funders for making the procurement of the boats possible, “enhancing the experience of many of our current and future rowers”.The Lion Foundation and the Grassroots Trust jointly funded the purchase of the Laszlo coxless quad/four named ‘Shane Gibson’. Left: Shane and Tracy Gibson with daughter Holly. Right: Jaime, Anna-Kate, and Daisy Hutter. AAW Jones Charitable Trust funded the purchase of the newly named double boat ‘Jaime Hutter’ and the quad ‘Te Waiatakaia’.Ngai Tahu gifted the club with the name Te Waiatakaia, the original name for Mount Iron. Lizzie said it was a name the club would “treasure”.“Shane Glibson has filled many roles within the club and is an encouraging and driving force for club members of all ages. He rarely misses a training session,” Lizzie said.“Jaime’s involvement with the club goes back many years and he has helped introduce plenty of new rowers to the sport and was club treasurer for 15 years.”She said naming the boats recognised the “selfless input” of both men and their families “to build the club and develop and encourage new and existing rowers”.PHOTOS: Supplied

Almost 70 tickets were gifted to community members at the recent Wānaka Festival of Colour, thanks to the ‘Pay it Forward’ initiative.The checkout option allowed ticket buyers to donate the cost of a ticket to someone who might not otherwise have been able to attend, festival executive director Ruth Heath said. “Thanks to the generosity of our amazing festival-goers, we were able to gift nearly 70 tickets - valued at $2,765 - through Community Link Upper Clutha to families, solo parents, over-65s, and others in our community who were genuinely surprised and grateful,” she said.“For many, the festival wasn’t something they’d considered attending - and the chance to experience it brought unexpected joy.”Ruth said donors felt great about giving, the festival gained ticket sales, and recipients enjoyed unforgettable festival experiences - “a true triple win”.Community Link general manager Kate Murray said the initiative was “a treat many of our clients wouldn’t have thought possible”.“We’ve already seen first-hand how powerful it is for people to be given the opportunity to attend events like these. It’s not just about the show itself – it’s about offering people moments of fun, connection, and belonging,” she said.Wānaka Festival of Colour took place from March 29-April 26. The festival’s next event will be next year’s Aspiring Conversations (March 27–29, 2026).Become a Festival of Colour donor here.PHOTO: Supplied