Nineteen-year-old Wānaka powerlifter Romy Guichard has broken three national records, three Commonwealth records and finished in sixth place after competing at the junior world champs.Romy travelled to Malta for the World Classic & Equipped Sub-Junior & Junior Powerlifting Championships earlier this month, which she had qualified for after just two competitions.Her top lifts were 175kg (squats), 97.5kg (bench), and 207.5kg (deadlift). Romy training in Wānaka in August.While she is “stoked” with her results, Romy told the Wānaka App they were “exactly what I was expecting out of the competition”.Romy learned “a lot” at her first international competition and said she plans to give herself more preparation time in the future.As well as more national competitions, she is aiming to attend the Junior World Championships again next year.“Being 19 in the under 23 class I still have three years to climb up the ranks so I look forward to what next season brings,” she said.Romy has been powerlifting for around four years but did not compete in the sport until last November.She told the Wānaka App she wasn’t “at all” sporty before discovering powerlifting.Now she manages Snap Fitness when she’s not training and says just about “everything” in her life is about the gym and powerlifting.Romy is spending some time overseas before she returns to New Zealand.PHOTO: Supplied

The developer of Lake Hāwea’s Longview subdivision says he is “hugely frustrated” with the information presented by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) staff to councillors last week, saying it did not reflect “real world” analysis.Universal Developments director Lane Hocking was referring to a report from council staff seeking councillors’ approval of a proposed increase - up to 60 percent - for house and land package prices in Longview.Universal Developments had asked for increases of around $300,000 for each of its packages, meaning, for example, the price of a three-bedroom house would increase from $549,000 to $849,000.The report to councillors argued that an increase of up to 60 percent was reasonable “given the increase in demand and market prices, the construction cost inflation, wider costs, the current pressure on building companies, and the significant discount on market rates”.Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust trustee Phil Smith receives 18 land titles gifted by developer Lane Hocking of Universal Developments. Lane said when he saw the council report he told staff he was frustrated.“The data that should be referenced is the building cost inflation for the life-to-date of the project. That shows my total increases over the life is less than the building cost inflation over the same period,” he said.QLDC received advice from an independent quantity surveyor, which showed cost inflation of around 25 percent between 2021 and 2023, but Lane told QLDC housing strategic planner Emily Irwin that analysis did not reflect the “real world”.Statistics NZ figures indicate that building costs in Otago have increased by 65 percent from 2018 to 2024, he said, citing raw data from Otago councils for cost per square metre.Lane said Longview’s house prices come from nine different national group homebuilders “operating in an extremely competitive environment against each other”, adding that means “one can be sure that their pricing accurately reflects the market”.  “The factors impacting pricing are clear and are unquestionably without precedent,” he said.The majority of councillors last week disagreed with the council’s proposal for a 60 percent increase in prices and instead approved a 25 percent increase (based on the building cost inflation estimated by the quantity surveyor), at councillor Cody Tucker’s recommendation. Councillors Barry Bruce, Lyal Cocks, Gavin Bartlett and mayor Glyn Lewers voted against it and the other six councillors endorsed it.Read more: Decision a win for first home buyers - councillorLane said on top of building cost inflation, he is paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to “accommodate the council's failures” to provide wastewater servicing. He said the trucking of wastewater from Longview to Wānaka’s wastewater system Project Pure cost more than $400k per annum, and he expects this cost to “go significantly higher as the population grows”.Read more: ‘Poo trucks’ a surprise to community associationApproximately eight loads of waste are being trucked each week and QLDC confirmed to the Wānaka App earlier this year that it will continue as the subdivision develops, because of the limitation of capacity of the Hāwea Wastewater Treatment Plant.  Longview was approved under the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas (HASHA) Act 2013. Under the legislation a deed sets out affordable housing components including fixed price house and land packages, land resale conditions and restrictions on visitor accommodation.A clause in the Special Housing Area (SHA) deed provides the ability to amend the house and land packages for a limited number of reasons, including a change in building costs.PHOTOS: Wānaka App

Snowfall over the past week won’t change the closing dates for local skifields, but it has made for memorable spring skiing and riding.Cardrona Treble Cone general manager Laura Hedley told the Wānaka App that “'Powvember' has delivered mid-winter conditions that will see a strong end to Cardrona and Treble Cone's seasons”.“We will be skiing and snowboarding right through to our scheduled closing days,” she said.Treble Cone is scheduled to close on Sunday September 29, and Cardrona to close two weeks later on Friday October 13.New Zealand school holidays begin this coming weekend (Saturday September 28)."It's been amazing to receive this much snow this spring,” Laura said. “With the storms we have had a few more closed and inclement weather days compared to the first half of the season, but we've seen strong numbers on the fantastic powder days we've been lucky to experience this September."The Snow Farm’s last day was yesterday (Sunday September 22). The Nordic ski area had been reporting “incredible winter snow conditions” during the past few weeks.PHOTO: Supplied

The Wānaka A&P Show may have a new attraction next year: the addition of community floats at its grand parade.The show’s management team, which is preparing for the 2025 show (which will take place on March 7-8), said floats would “give community groups a chance to showcase their creativity and talents in a fun, engaging way”. “This new feature will add excitement and celebrate our local community,” the team said.The grand parade takes place at midday on the Saturday of each show, and features all the prize-giving animals being ridden or led round the showgrounds’ main ring.The management team said next year’s show will also feature a new Leisure Horse Section for riders and horses new to the show environment.“It offers a more relaxed experience for those looking to participate without the pressures of competition,” the team said.The Wānaka A&P Show is one of New Zealand's largest agricultural, pastoral and community events.The show has been held at the lakefront showgrounds since 1934. The next A&P Show is scheduled for March 7-8, 2025.PHOTO: Supplied

Universal Developments’ bid to increase house and land package prices in the Longview subdivision by up to 60 percent has been shot down by councillors.Instead, in a narrow 6-4 decision, councillors at Thursday’s (September 19) Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) meeting voted to allow a smaller increase of 25 percent to match the cost of inflation in the building sector.Hāwea Community Association (HCA) committee member Louise Merrall told the Wānaka App the final outcome was “a win for putting the wider community's interests first”.Universal Developments had asked for increases of around $300,000 for each of its packages.Two-bedroom house and land packages, it proposed, should be increased from $499,000 to between $799,000 and $819,000; three-bedroom houses should increase from $549,000 to $849,000; and four-bedroom houses from $599,000 to $894,000.In the meeting many councillors questioned council staff who described the increases as “reasonable”, and asked why market values had informed the recommended increases.“The developer states they cannot deliver due to inflation in the construction sector and that should be the primary determinant for re-pricing, not market prices,” councillor Cody Tucker said.Councillor Cody Tucker said the outcome was a win for the Hāwea community and young people looking to get into their own homes. PHOTO: Supplied“Market prices fluctuate and this development is supposed to be about getting people into their first home at a reasonable price, not renegotiating to ensure there are healthy profits for investors...”Councillors would not usually have a say in pricing of this kind but the Longview development was approved under the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas (HASHA) Act 2013, which exists to enhance housing affordability in high-cost areas. The 34ha site was classified as a Special Housing Area (SHA) in December 2018, with a deed setting out affordable housing components including fixed-price house and land packages, land resale conditions and restrictions on visitor accommodation.A clause in the SHA deed provides the ability to amend the house and land packages for a limited number of reasons, one of them being the change in building costs.Deputy mayor Quentin Smith pointed out that the developer had already had a “reasonably substantial” re-pricing approved in 2021 which increased the prices of the packages by up to $49,000.In addition, Universal Developments had received a “massive benefit” from the SHA process and it had accepted it had to make some concessions because of that, he said.The “significant” price increase council staff recommended councillors approve was not acceptable, he said.Cody said “any increase past inflation is really, sadly, just to justify excess margins and capital gains for the parties involved at the cost of first home buyers”. This “further ridicules the objective of the SHA to deliver on affordable housing”, Cody said.Shortly after this, council staff referred to “commercially sensitive information” that had informed their recommendation and, as a result, the remainder of the meeting was closed to the public.A QLDC spokesperson told the Wānaka App that councillors eventually approved a 25 percent increase based on building cost inflation, at Cody’s recommendation.Councillors Barry Bruce, Lyal Cocks, Gavin Bartlett and mayor Glyn Lewers voted against it and the other six councillors endorsed it.Speaking to the Wānaka App after the meeting, Quentin said during the publicly excluded part of the meeting “it became clear the original prices just would not be delivered”.“The solution put forward by councillor Tucker seemed to be closer to actually providing affordable housing,” he said. “Sometimes politics requires compromise.” “Time will tell as to whether the developer will uphold their end of the deed.”Councillor Lyal Cocks told the Wānaka App his preference would have been to leave the item on the table for further negotiation and he said changing the pricing “is not as black and white and simple as it may seem or we may like”.Basing the price on construction inflation since 2021 and not accounting for other factors “leave us open to an uncertain future for this project and a situation we may not be able to defend”, he said.Meanwhile, Cody said he was “stoked” with the decision.“I think it's a huge win for the Hāwea community and hopefully more than anything, young people looking to get into their first home.”

A free drug testing service is visiting Wānaka next Friday (September 27), the first in a series of clinics around the district between now and next June.The service, brought to Wānaka by KnowYourStuffNZ, allows people to find out whether their drugs have any unexpected ingredients in them before consumption.The clinic will take place at the Lake Wānaka Centre between 4pm and 8pm.KnowYourStuffNZ said it would be “free, legal, discreet drug checking” with “no names, no judgement, just information.”The drug testing organisation, which is supported by health services, NGOs, and NZ Police, was formed in 2015 with an ethos of harm reduction - a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing the negative consequences associated with drug use.KnowYourStuffNZ general manager Casey Spearin told the Wānaka App the organisation had received a grant from Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) to run a handful of clinics in the district over the next nine months.“We chose early September in Queenstown and late September in Wānaka to try and catch the end of the ski season and the partygoers that travel into the region during the ski season,” she said.“We will have another pop-up in the area before New Year, dates and location to be confirmed. And we will have a number of clinics in early-mid 2025.”Two KnowYourStuffNZ clinics have been held in the district in the past, in December 2022 and December 2023.In the 2020-21 season only 69 percent of substances tested by KnowYourStuffNZ across New Zealand were what people thought they were.All KnowYourStuffNZ services are legal, free and confidential.Find more information about KnowYourStuffNZ and the upcoming clinic here.PHOTO: Supplied

A handful of local businesses and organisations have teamed up to offer free or discounted wellbeing activities this week for Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW).There are free and discounted yoga classes, a discounted dance class and a free suncatcher-making workshop taking place during the week.Soul Yoga owner Keity Garcia, who has helped organise the initiative, said she hoped it offered a chance for a restful, relaxing experience during MHAW.“Our goal is to provide support, raise awareness, and encourage conversations about mental health,” Keity said.“The participating businesses are dedicated to helping individuals and families engage in activities that promote mental well-being and resilience.”Businesses involved with the initiative include the Wānaka Community Hub, ProDanceNZ, The Body Garage, Queenstown Lakes District Council, Community LINK and CanBead.Each has either agreed to host a free or discounted session or provided a location for a class.Classes are: Monday September 23: 8:00 AM - Yoga Class ($6.25) - Paetara Aspiring Central; 9:15 AM - Yoga Class ($6.25) - Paetara Aspiring Central; 1:00 PM - Yoga Class (Free) - Paetara Aspiring Central; 6:00 PM - Yoga Class (Free) - Wānaka Community HubTuesday September 24: 9:15 AM - Yoga Class (donation) - St John's Room (BYO mat); 9:30 AM - Adult Dance Flow ($10) - Paetara Aspiring Central; 2:00 PM - Suncatcher Workshop - ring to book - Wānaka Community HubWednesday September 25: 1:00 PM - Yoga Class (Free) - Paetara Aspiring Central; 9:15 AM - Yoga Class (Free) - The Body GarageFriday: 1:00 PM - Yoga Class (Free) - Paetara Aspiring CentralSaturday: 9:15 AM - Yoga Class (Free) - The Body GarageAside from the suncatcher workshop, walk-ins are welcome for all events.“We invite everyone to take advantage of these opportunities and join us in fostering a supportive community and share this information with those who may benefit from these activities,” Keity said.PHOTO: Supplied

Councillors have adopted the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) Long Term Plan, setting out a significantly scaled-back spending plan for the next ten years.Mayor Glyn Lewers said the cost of leaky building claims, as well as other rising costs, had “significantly curtailed” what the council was able to deliver in the LTP, and those factors had put council in a “straightjacket”.QLDC finance manager Stewart Burns, who has had almost three decades with the council, said this was “with no doubt the most difficult” LTP.Close to 1,000 people made submissions on the draft LTP, with many asking for better facilities at the Snow Farm, a Wānaka performing arts centre, improved and new sports facilities, more active travel funding, and much more.While the LTP doesn’t deliver on many of the community’s aspirations, councillors said they still hope to find ways to progress them.“I don’t subscribe to the current government’s view that councils are only about roads and pipes,” deputy mayor Quentin Smith said.“We do need a range of things for our community including libraries, sports fields, and lots of other things.“Over the next two to three years we need to find a way to get those kinds of things back into our programme.”Councillor Lisa Guy said the exclusion of items that are important to the community do not represent a “no”, instead they are a “not yet”, and councillors and council staff would work hard to progress them.Stewart referenced the huge challenge of “finding a balance” between appropriate service delivery and containing skyrocketing rates.The LTP comes with an average rates increase of 15.8 percent, though Wānaka residents get off a little easier, with increases ranging from 10.3 percent to 12.48 percent.“It’s still going to be an unacceptable rates impact for many people,” Quentin said.Wānaka Ward councillor Lyal Cocks said the process had shown that “relying on rates is unsustainable”.He said it showed the “urgent need” to progress alternative options.One small win for the Wānaka community in the LTP is the decision to bring forward $1.2M in funding for Wānaka sports fields and lighting to the 2024-2025 year, with further details and locations to be confirmed.Read the full LTP here.PHOTO: Wānaka App

The altruism of one of Wānaka’s youngest volunteers was celebrated at the Kahu Youth Volunteer Awards last Friday (September 14).Sixteen-year-old Jessie McNeil has done nearly every type of volunteering, from planting trees to working with school volunteer committees and even travelling to Nepal to help with the construction of a school.Jessie was presented with the Supreme Award at Friday’s awards night, a long-running annual event designed to showcase the positive contributions of young people in the Upper Clutha.Jessie is also a member in the Rangatahi-Led Fund group with the Otago Community Trust, a long-serving Upper Clutha Youth Council member, a volunteer with Kahu Youth and a ranger with Wānaka Girl Guides.11-13 category winner Mia Reardon“Volunteering is a way of connecting with other people and making a difference no matter the size,” Jessie said. “For me there's a deep sense of fulfilment that comes from knowing you’re contributing to something bigger than yourself.”In addition to the Supreme Award, the Kahu Youth Volunteer Awards celebrate volunteers across three age categories.14-16 category winner Oscar SearleThey included 11-year-old Mia Reardon, who was the winner of the 11-13 age category, having completed 70 hours of voluntary work over the past eight months.She has volunteered with Te Kura O Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC) in the library, helped with the mural project and Matariki celebrations at Kahu Youth, and supported a range of initiatives at St John. Fourteen-year-old Oscar Searle, who won the 14-16 age category, was recognised for extensive volunteer work on a wide range of multisport events and ski events, as well as with the Wānaka Football Club and Kahu Youth.In the 17-18 category, 17-year-old Ryan Enoka was the winner, having undertaken volunteering as a coach with Aspiring Athletes, at a range of other sport events, and a range of voluntary roles at MAC, among others.Kahu Youth volunteer manager Jo Lewis said she was blown away by the “sheer amount of volunteering” done by the winners, as well as many other nominees.17-18 category winner Ryan Enoka with Kahu Youth Trust chair Randal Dobbs“The interesting thing is that, for these kids, volunteering is not box ticking for them; it comes from a place of altruism,” she said. “They just love the rewards of what they get out of it.”Nominees, winners and supporters made up the 60-strong crowd who attended the awards at the Lake Wānaka Centre’s Armstrong Room, and included live music from MAC band ‘Superficial’.PHOTOS: Kahu Youth

Health minister Dr Shane Reti has announced Wānaka’s after-hours health service will finally open its doors in mid-October.The service will be provided by Central Otago Health Services Limited (COHSL) in collaboration with local GPs, St John and Ka Ora, funded by Health New Zealand.“The nurse-led service will be open overnight, seven days a week, from Monday 14 October,” the minister said.“Patients will call their normal healthcare provider and will be triaged over the phone before being referred to the in-person service.”In June the minister announced the service would be available from September, following calls from locals for better provision of healthcare services in Wānaka.A closer look at the new serviceCOHSL, which operates and manages Dunstan Hospital at Clyde, has received funding for a year from Health NZ, but there will also be a patient co-payment for the service.Consultation fees from 11pm for those enrolled with a WellSouth GP practice will be $180 (for those 14 years and over) and free for those under 14. For ACC injuries the fees will be $65 for those enrolled who are over 14, and free for those under 14.Fees are higher for New Zealand visitors ($280 for over 14) and overseas visitors and non residents ($650).Patients will be referred by Ka Ora or Hato Hone St John. Some patients may be transferred from the Wānaka Lakes Health Centre to the Wānaka Overnight Acute Care Service for ongoing observation overnight.After 11pm if people are unwell, they should call their usual medical centre and follow voice prompts to be transferred to Ka Ora (0800 252 672). The patient will then be triaged in consultation with the Dunstan Hospital overnight doctor to determine the best course of action, which may include presenting to the after hours service.An experienced clinical nurse specialist (CNS) will provide the same services as a general practice or a small emergency department with telehealth support from the Dunstan Hospital overnight senior doctor. These services may include (but are not limited to) assessment and observation, point of care blood testing, cardiac monitoring, fluids, pain medication, and minor suture and laceration repair.People should still call 111 in an emergency.Response to new serviceCommunity-led advocacy group Health Action Wānaka has said it was encouraged by the announcement of the after hours service but noted that it was a ‘stop gap’; the group will continue to advocate for a “sustainable after-hours service, such as a publicly funded emergency department,” it said.Health minister Shane Reti said the new service was “an interim solution while Health New Zealand continues to look at alternate models of care that can be provided in the long-term across the region”.COHSL chief executive officer Hayley Anderson acknowledged “the hard work of the local general practice teams and Hato Hone St John in providing after hours and urgent care in the area”. Read more: ‘Overnight acute care service’ on trackThe service will be located at the Enliven Care Centre on Cardrona Valley Road. It will be available for 12 months.PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka Business Chamber general manager Glenn Peat says it’s more important than ever for locals to support local businesses.At least three businesses have either closed or announced their closure in the past few weeks.“We’re aware of some closures, including Soul Clothing, Revology, and Wānaka Interiors (retail store), but closures vary across businesses for different reasons, so it's hard to generalise,” Glenn said.“It’s difficult to say if this is a trend or an anomaly, as multiple factors like external economic pressures and consumer behaviour are at play.”Wānaka Business Chamber general manager Glenn Peat PHOTO: SuppliedGlenn said Wānaka’s retail sector, like many others across the country, has faced challenges due to changing economic conditions. Some retail businesses are adapting to the conditions and there is still “resilience” in the sector.“Several businesses [are] adapting through strategies like expanding their online presence, collaborating with other local businesses, and offering exclusive local products to attract both locals and visitors.”“We do empathise with the challenges retail businesses face, both here in Wānaka and across the country, and encourage everyone to support local where possible,” he said.“It’s now more important than ever for our community to support local businesses to help keep our town vibrant.”

Contact Energy is expecting to see the level of Lake Hāwea increase for summer, a spokesperson told the Wānaka App.Contact operates the Hāwea dam and control structure which regulates the flow out of and the level of Lake Hāwea. Lake Hawea is the only significant controlled hydro storage facility on the Clutha Mata Au River, providing water on an ‘on demand’ basis.“Following recent rainfall, Lake Hāwea is back at normal levels for this time of year,” a Contact spokesperson said.“Our teams are currently dealing with high flows and operating within consent conditions and regional flood rules.“Typically, we see lower electricity demand following winter, so we expect to reduce releases from the lakes from now into the spring and summer months.”Guardian of Lake Hāwea Don Robertson said Transpower had requested withdrawing water from hydro lakes in August, which in some cases would have reduced them below their low operating levels. A Transpower request to Contact Energy in early August would have reduced Hāwea’s lake level to two metres below its low operating level (338 metres above sea level/masl) if it had been implemented, Don said.“These requests were in response to low rainfall (low hydro lake levels), less wind than normal and reduction in gas availability for thermal power generation, all contributing to a potential drop in generation capability with concerns about the risk of likely widespread power cuts,” Don said.When the lake gets below a certain level concerns are raised about the risk of windblown silt from the exposed lake bed affecting lakeshore dwellings. Lake bed exposure below 338masl also has the potential to cause widespread mortality of submerged lake plants, aquatic invertebrates and possibly some fish, Don said.“Fortunately the lake level has risen steadily since mid-August,” he said.On Wednesday afternoon Lake Hāwea was at 341.018masl and rising, according to Otago Regional Council monitoring.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Locals can eat out while contributing to a worthwhile charity over the next month, with the ‘Plate Up For Love’ fundraiser now underway.Fifteen Wānaka eateries currently have a ‘Plate Up’ item or dish on their menu and every time a customer orders one, a portion of the purchase price will be donated to local food charity Food for Love.Offerings include doughnuts at Pembroke Patissiere, pitta at Big Fig, the bs burger at b.social, porridge at Scroggin, gnocchi at Francesca, soup of the day at Relishes, and many more.Food for Love general manager Jodie Stuart said this was the second year of the Plate Up For Love’ fundraiser, held in partnership with Bayleys Wānaka, and she was delighted that almost twice as many eateries had signed up to participate in 2024.Thanks to the support of funders, the community and fundraisers like this, the food charity has recently been able to relocate from a storage unit on Frederick Street to a new space on Gordon Road that is double the size, Jodie said.Read more: New home for Food for Love"We couldn't do what we do without the support of local businesses and the community,” Jodie said.Food for Love, a registered charitable trust, was created in 2016 and its mission remains to provide home-cooked meals for families or individuals who are going through a challenging time.Demand has increased dramatically over that time, with Food for Love preparing over 9,000 meals in the last financial year.Whether people are facing physical or emotional challenges, the Food for Love meals allows people “to focus on their wellness and their families during those times,” Jodie said.More than 170 volunteers help prepare, cook and deliver the meals and everything in between and they are the “heart and soul” of the Food for Love operation, she said. ‘Plate Up For Love’ will run until October 15 and the Food for Love team is encouraging locals to give it a go.Anyone who purchase ‘Plate Up’ dish will “automatically be supporting someone else in the community,” Jodie said.Participating eateries include Amigos, Big Fig, b.social, Cardona Hotel, Devour Catering, Dripping Bowl, Federal Diner, Fedeli, Francesca's Italian Kitchen, Hāwea Hotel, Hello Ranger, Pembroke Patisserie, Relishes Cafe, Scroggin Coffee & Eatery, Treehouse, and Urban Grind.Read about each eatery’s ‘Plate Up’ item, or find out more about the initiative, here.Listen to Food for Love's Jodie and Bex on The Outlet Podcast.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Queenstown Lakes ratepayers will face an average rates increase of 15.8 percent for 2024/2025 if councillors adopt the Long-Term Plan at tomorrow’s (Thursday September 19) full council meeting.A report prepared by council staff recommends councillors adopt an average rates increase of 15.8 percent - a little above the proposed average increase of 15.6 percent in the draft LTP.However, there is a silver lining for Upper Clutha ratepayers, whose rates aren’t set to increase as significantly as that.The draft LTP rates proposal allowed for 3.5 percent growth in the rating database, and while actual growth of 3.3 percent lifts rates for some residents, the impact is not even across the district.“In Wānaka-Upper Clutha growth has been 4.3 percent meaning the actual rates increase will be lower than forecast,” the report said.Queenstown Lakes councillors will consider 11 agenda items at tomorrow’s full council meeting.The LTP sets out a council’s spending priorities - including all the services, projects and activities it plans to deliver - over the next ten years, as well as its cost to ratepayers.Presenting the LTP to councillors tomorrow is the culmination of a long process by the council, first preparing the draft LTP, then undertaking public consultation, holding hearings and amending the LTP to reflect the community input.A QLDC spokesperson told the Wānaka App last week that, while “there wasn’t a lot of ability to change what we’re able to deliver in the first three years of the draft programme, changes have been recommended as a result of submissions and deliberations…”“The consultation process was thorough and clearly outlined the challenges and uncertainty council faced while preparing the draft ten-year programme,” he said.Read more: LTP: Arts advocates disappointed, but council work continuesAs well as the LTP and the adoption of rates, councillors will consider another nine agenda items at tomorrow’s meeting.Among them is a review of the navigation safety bylaw, an update to the Longview Special Housing Area deed, and two public excluded items, including a performance review for QLDC chief executive Mike Theelen.The full council meeting will take place at the Council Chambers in Queenstown at 1pm.PHOTOS: Wānaka App

Māori language (te reo Māori) is being given a local boost by the growth in Te Ao Māori at Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC), as well as the increasingly visible presence of the school’s kapa haka group.The role of Te Ao Māori and kapa haka is growing in the school community, and the school wharenui (meeting house, which was opened at the beginning of 2023) provides a focal point.The Wānaka App visited the wharenui ('Te Puna Wānaka') on Tuesday afternoon (September 17) - during the nationwide Māori Language Week (Te Wiki o te Reo Māori).“It’s really special to have this space here,” MAC Te Ao Māori teacher Candace Carroll said.Te Reo teacher Raihania Chadwick weaving flax baskets (kono) with year 13 students Sacha (left) and Tai.The wharenui is used for kapa haka practice, Māori performing arts, and language classes, and has been used to host visiting groups.Candace said the kapa haka group caters for students from year 7-13, and it performs five or six times a year at community events, such as the powhiri for new Cardrona staff, and the recent opening of the Snow Farm’s new base building. On Tuesday, the focus was on poi.Thirteen-year-old Alice Chaly said she “really enjoyed” being involved with kapa haka, adding the indigenous culture is “more celebrated here” than in her native Australia.Alice said the community aspect of kapa haka was a drawcard. “We’ve got a close bond,” she said.MAC has events running throughout Māori Language Week - including flax weaving and poi practice - organised by MAC’s student-led cultural committee.  Today (Wednesday September 18) MAC’s annual house haka competition will take place, and this evening the term’s whānau hui will be held. On Friday the kapa haka group will visit Te Kura Take Kārara, helping “build connections” between the schools.MAC head Te Reo Māori teacher Kaz Roberts said she had seen “a lot of positive change” during her time at MAC, and was grateful for a senior leadership team “that has supported kaupapa Māori initiatives”. “Te Reo Māori is a compulsory part of our junior curriculum and students are able to take Te Reo right through to NCEA Level 3,” she said.“We are fortunate to be able to introduce Māori Performing Arts into our junior modules and we are starting to see benefits school wide. For example, we are developing our cultural competency in upskilling our students and staff in how to welcome visitors with a mihi whakatau or pōwhiri.“It has been fabulous seeing other learning areas implementing different tasks and using Te Reo Māori such as a PE class that were using mau rakau at Lismore Park [on Wednesday morning]. All of this helps to normalise Te Reo Māori and weave it back into something that connects us all as New Zealanders.”Every year since 1975 New Zealand has marked Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - a time for all New Zealanders to celebrate te reo Māori and to use more Māori phrases in everyday life. This year's theme (September 14-21) is 'Ake ake ake – A Forever Language’. PHOTOS: Wānaka App

It’s not as bad as a pub with no beer, but a supermarket with no alcohol for sale will be the case for nine spots around Otago next month - including Wānaka.Affected New World supermarkets will comply with a ruling to stop selling alcohol for 48 hours next month, as a result of an advertising breach.New World Wānaka is one of nine Otago supermarkets to be banned from selling alcohol after advertising a discount for DB Export 24 packs of beer.The online advertisement said the beer would be discounted by 26.1 percent for customers with a loyalty card, breaching the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act, which says it is an offence to promote or advertise discounts on alcohol of 25 percent or more.A Foodstuffs spokesperson told the Wānaka App that the restriction, imposed by the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (Arla), will be in place for New World Wānaka from 7am on Tuesday October 8 for 48 hours.“Foodstuffs South Island and its stores take their responsibility for the safe advertising, sale, and supply of alcohol very seriously,” the spokesperson said.They said the discount rate advertised was caused by an “inadvertent process failure”.“Since then, we’ve implemented stricter processes to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”While the supermarkets had argued against the booze ban because it would cause financial loss, Foodstuffs told the Wānaka App today (September 17) that it accepted the ruling.“We fully respect the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority’s process, and all affected New World stores will comply with the ruling,” Foodstuffs said.PHOTO: Supplied

Chief ombudsman Peter Boshier says he wants to hear from residents who have views to share on Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) commitment to openness and transparency.Peter announced last week he plans to investigate official information practices at QLDC, as well as two other councils and two council-controlled trading organisations (CCTOs).The investigations are part of a regular programme of looking at local authorities’ practice of and compliance with the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.Peter said he will conduct surveys of staff at each organisation and members of the public as part of this work.As in all investigations, he will be looking for “examples of good practice and areas that can be improved”, including whether the leadership of each organisation has established a “culture of openness”.Peter will also look at whether staff responsible for responding to official information requests have been given the right training and guidance, and look at meeting practices including informal meetings and workshops where relevant.“Council is fully supportive of being one of the agencies participating in this latest round of a routine process,” a QLDC spokesperson told the Wānaka App. “[We] look forward to any insights or possible opportunities to improve our internal processes that result.”Queenstown Lakes residents who would like to complete a survey on the topic - which might be residents who have requested information from the council, or attended a public workshop, meeting or informal meeting organised by the council - can do so here.The QLDC spokesperson said the council will also promote the survey on its channels. Wellington City Council and Marlborough District Council will also be part of the investigation, as will CCTOs Auckland Transport and Wellington Water.Peter said he had investigated 18 councils since he started the work in 2018.PHOTO: Supplied

The recently formed Creatives of Wānaka group (CoW) will take a close look at musical theatre next month.The group has met several times since its formation in May, with a regular meeting on the first Wednesday of each month at the Wānaka Community Hub (with the support of Queenstown Lakes District Council).Read more: Creatives of Wānaka band together with new groupCoW member Kathy Dedo told the Wānaka App the first four meetings brought together creative individuals from many different disciplines, including visual art, music, theatre, events, and festivals.“Many ideas have emerged, often event-oriented with some energy around planning a multidisciplinary fringe festival at some point in the future,” she said.“More than anything, Creatives of Wānaka has been a useful platform for kōrero and sharing among the wide range of creatives.”The group has also focused the next few monthly hui on specific topics, welcoming anyone who may be interested in that specific creative area.This month (September) local artist Sonia Kiki Jones welcomed new members and the group focused on visual arts. The meeting included the prospects of holding more exhibitions and the importance of connecting with other artists, Kathy said.October’s focus will be musical theatre, with an open invitation for people who have an interest in producing, directing, singing, acting, dancing.“There is a history of successful theatrical societies in the Upper Clutha in years gone by, but with no current society local thespians have gone further afield to perform or direct in neighbouring communities’ productions,” Kathy said.“The musical theatre buffs in Creatives of Wānaka are keen to test the appetite for locals to consider our own community-led production, and warmly welcome anyone to come along for the kōrero.”The meeting will be held on Wednesday October 2 at the Wānaka Community Hub from 6-8pm.Anyone with an interest who can’t attend may contribute their ideas via email ([email protected]).People can follow the group’s Facebook page for updates.

This Friday (September 20) marks the beginning of Clean Up Week, which encourages people to collect litter in their local area.Clean Up Week is an annual, nationwide event organised by Keep New Zealand Beautiful (KNZB) and it runs until next Friday (September 27).KNZB mobilises as many as 70,000 volunteers for Clean Up Week each year - cleaning up beaches, picking up litter, removing graffiti, planting trees and much more.“In 2023, we had 67,200 volunteers register to take part in 627 clean up events across Aotearoa,” KNZB said in a statement. “Volunteers collected a total of 652 tonnes of waste over an area equivalent to 5,728 rugby fields.”Wānaka has a strong clean up week track record, with schools, youth clubs, community associations, service clubs and more getting involved.One of the local clean-ups this year will take place on Friday at Bremner Bay, where locals can enjoy a sausage sizzle after the event (3pm-5pm).As in previous years, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) will support the event by offering free disposal of litter collected during Clean Up Week at its Wānaka and Frankton transfer stations. “We just ask that the person dropping off the litter is the same person stated in the event registration form, that they have ID, and bring the digital token provided as part of the registration process with them to show to the transfer station staff,” a QLDC spokesperson said. “We’re also encouraging people to use reusable and sustainable clean-up kits using everyday items like buckets and gardening gloves. For those without, we offer loanable litter kits from Queenstown, Frankton and Wānaka libraries. Each kit includes a pickup tool, high-vis vest, cut-resistant gloves and a reusable bag.” The Keep New Zealand Beautiful website also has a list of events that people can join, or they can create their own event.Clean Up Week is sponsored by Waste Management, Enviro NZ and Mars Wrigley.PHOTO: Supplied