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More records fall for Phoebe
More records fall for Phoebe

08 November 2024, 4:00 PM

Just three Aspiring Athletes Club (AAC) athletes dared to brave the bad weather at The Caledonian in Dunedin last weekend (November 2).AAC coach Michael Beable said it was mostly cold - with rain, and hail – and unhelpful strong winds.Nonetheless, Phoebe Laker, a year 11 Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) student, continued her excellent form from her previous two outings this summer. Running the Mixed Open 400m race, she was the fastest woman, setting a new personal best (PB) of 56.90 seconds.  Her time also broke a set of three Otago records: for women aged 15, 16 and 17. This is at least the fifth time she has broken these records, Michael said.Her time also set new AAC records for all female categories, age 15 and above.“It was an extraordinarily good performance by Phoebe, given the appalling conditions that prevailed at The Caledonian,” Michael said.“In calmer, warmer weather she would likely have gone almost a second faster.”Phoebe had earlier run the Women’s Open race, placing second with a time of 12.37s and winning her age group. It was slightly quicker than her time of two weeks ago, but it was aided by a very strong wind (9m/s). Georgie Bruce was the second AAC athlete who competed on Saturday. She won her race, in Section 2 of the 100m, in 13.60s, and in the Men’s & Women’s Mixed Open 400m, she placed second among the women with an encouraging 63.24s. “This time might have been one or two seconds faster, in friendlier weather,” Michael said.The third AAC athlete competing was Matthew Botting (year 13 at MAC). He was close to his recent best form, with a second placing in the Mixed Open 400m, in a time of 53.36s. He was also sixth in the Men’s Open 100m, with 11.88s.These three, and most of the remaining senior members of the club, will next compete on Saturday week at the Caledonian.They all are looking forward to some quality speed training, which they will be able to do now that they have returned to their training base (the track at Three Parks) for the rest of the summer (and the winter), Michael said.“Delta have done a good job the last month in repairing the 3P ground after football’s use of it in winter. It should mean that the athletes will be able to improve on their speed, sprinting on the safer surface at 3P and with lower-cut grass,” he said.This will help the senior MAC athletes in the club as they prepare for the NZ Secondary Schools Athletic Championships, which will be held in Timaru on December 6-8.PHOTO: Supplied

Local dancers shine on national stage
Local dancers shine on national stage

07 November 2024, 4:06 PM

Wānaka dancers were among more than 1,000 top New Zealand dancers who converged at the Regent On Broadway in Palmerston North last weekend for the National Young Performer Awards (NYPA).NYPA is a prestigious competitive annual dance event which gives competitors an opportunity to perform at the highest level in New Zealand.This year Wānaka’s Central Point Dance Studios took its largest ever contingent to NYPA after the dancers achieved qualifying results at regional competitions.They include five classical dancers: Lena Ibe (who lives in Queenstown and travels to Centralpoint each week), Isabel Martin, Olive Sinclair, Olivia Stanley, and Hannah Thomas - who competed against the 75 best classical dancers in New Zealand.Isabel was chosen for the semi-finals, meaning she was one of the top 16 dancers at the national event - a huge achievement for the 15-year-old. NYPA classical nominees Olive Sinclair, Isabel Martin, Olivia Stanley & Lena Ibe. (Absent: Hannah Thomas.)In addition to the five local soloists, Centralpoint also took a lyric dance troupe of 10, which included Olive, Olivia, Isabel and Lena, as well as Mia Waite, Charlotte Martin, Charlotte Sheppard, Ruby McLachlan, Casey Knights-Johnson, and Mikayla Duncan.Central Point Dance Studios owner Briony Martin said she was incredibly proud of the local dancers.She said it was very valuable “for these young dancers to have the opportunity to attend a large event such as NYPA to see and learn from other dancers and other schools and to see how big the dance industry and community is”. “It’s something we don’t always get a chance to do.”PHOTOS: Supplied 

Business community ready to celebrate excellence
Business community ready to celebrate excellence

07 November 2024, 4:04 PM

The Wānaka business community will gather at Rippon Vineyard tomorrow (Saturday November 9) evening for a gala dinner to announce the 2024 Wānaka Business Excellence Awards.The biannual event will attract more than 170 business owners and staff to acknowledge local businesses across various categories and industries."It’s set to be a fantastic evening, celebrating the incredible achievements of our local businesses and the people who drive them forward,” Wānaka Business Chamber general manager Glenn Peat said.“We look forward to a night of recognition, inspiration, and connection within our community."Waitaki MP Miles Anderson and Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) mayor Glyn Lewers will attend the dinner, which will be MCed by local real estate business owner Duncan Good (Ray White Wānaka).During the evening ten awards will be presented across a range of categories including customer experience, visitor experience and industry sectors.The winners of the five main industry categories will be in the running for the supreme award which will be announced at the dinner.The Upper Clutha community had the opportunity to participate in the awards through a public vote in the Wānaka App. More than 1,400 people voted in the People’s Choice Award with just 20 votes separating the top three businesses. This award will also be announced tomorrow night.The Wānaka Business Excellence Awards is organised by the Wānaka Business Chamber in partnership with major sponsor Milford Asset Management.Finalists for the 2024 Wānaka Business Excellence Awards are:Main Industry CategoriesExcellence in Customer Experience – Supported by Drive AccountingMitre 10 MEGA WānakaThe Next ChapterWastebustersExcellence in Visitor Experience – Supported by Lake Wānaka TourismBike GlendhunzbiketrailsWānaka Helicopters GroupExcellence in Trade & Industrial Sector - Supported by FindexArchitectural + Design LibraryWānaka SolarWānaka StoneExcellence in Primary & Consumer Goods – Supported by Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble ConeBalance MeRipponSidekick SodaExcellence in Professional Services – Supported by Aspiring LawConstructive ConsultantsGreenhawk Chartered AccountantsMike Pero Mortgages Wānaka & QueenstownSchistrockmedia - The Wānaka AppSpecialist CategoriesStrategy, Innovation & Business – Supported by Batchelar McDougall ConsultingArchitectural + Design LibraryBike GlendhuFluid Visual CommunicationsBest Emerging Business Award – Supported by Air New ZealandGreen FoxnzbiketrailsEmployer of the Year – Supported by EASI NZGreenhawk Chartered AccountantsMitre 10 Mega WānakaWānaka StoneBusiness Sustainability & Environmental Impact – Supported by QLDCGreen FoxGreenhawk Chartered AccountantsWastebustersCommunity Contribution – Supported by Queenstown AirportFood for LoveWānaka Golf ClubWastebustersPHOTO: Supplied

RealNZ takes supreme tourism award 
RealNZ takes supreme tourism award 

07 November 2024, 4:00 PM

Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone’s parent company scooped the Supreme Tourism Award at the the Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) awards on Wednesday night (November 6).RealNZ’s companies are spread over the lower South Island and in addition to the two local ski fields they include Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound adventures, Walter Peak, TSS Earnslaw steamship, Spirit of Queenstown and more.Judges noted RealNZ’s “unwavering commitment to sustainability” and lauded the business as a “jewel in the crown of the country’s tourism industry”.Its conservation projects include the Cardrona Alpine Resort project to study the Kārearea/NZ Falcon, which was recently extended for another five years.Read more: Five-year milestone for Kārearea studyRealNZ CEO Dave Beeche said the recognition by TIA reflects both the business’ rich history, and RealNZ’s continued commitment to experience delivery and conservation.“RealNZ was founded 70 years ago this year, with a foundation of delivering exceptional experiences while being at the forefront of New Zealand conservation,” he said.“That is a legacy we are proud to continue to this day through the energy and passion of every single team member. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be recognised by the judges for this mahi.”Dave said he was excited to head back to the ‘deep south’ with the award.“It’s up to us to keep shaking things up, going the extra mile, and making a difference so that every guest leaves with a great story to tell,” he said.As well as the Supreme Tourism Award, Real NZ also won both category awards it was a finalist in: the Johnston's Coachlines Tourism Excellence Award (Large Business), and the KiwiRail Tourism Environment Award. PHOTO: Supplied

Council stops enforcing freedom camping, legal costs mount
Council stops enforcing freedom camping, legal costs mount

06 November 2024, 4:08 PM

Freedom camping restrictions in this district are no longer being enforced after the bylaw on freedom camping was revoked by the High Court - following a legal case which may cost ratepayers more than $400,000.A council spokesperson confirmed to the Wānaka App that QLDC has “paused enforcement” of the Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) 2021 Freedom Camping Bylaw.He also confirmed the High Court “formally quashed” the bylaw 2021 on Tuesday (November 5).“The bylaw restricted freedom camping in a number of areas in the district. Without it those restrictions are lifted,” the spokesperson said.He added that campers should not assume they can camp on any public land without checking if any other restrictions apply (such as restrictions under the Reserves Act regarding temporary and permanent accommodation). The national Freedom Camping Act 2011 also requires that vehicles be certified self-contained to freedom camp and QLDC has continued to enforce this. High Court judicial review The judicial review ruled QLDC’s Freedom Camping Bylaw 2021 invalid, removing the restrictions governing freedom campers in this district - in particular where they could camp.The New Zealand Motor Home Association (NZMCA) challenged the bylaw on the grounds it had paid too much attention to “irrelevant” issues, and that it was too restrictive.In the High Court in Invercargill, Justice Osborne agreed, declaring QLDC’s bylaw invalid due to the unlawful influence and consideration of “irrelevant matters”, namely the economic impact on commercial campgrounds and the effects on private property values/amenity (such as the dumping of rubbish and waste affecting neighbouring land and streams).Read more: What now for freedom campingA costly defenceThe Queenstown Lakes district hosts six times as many freedom campers per head of population as any other district in New Zealand - and this is one of the reasons freedom camping was recognised as a problem here.Deputy mayor Quentin Smith told the Wānaka App the NZMCA had shown a “sickening” disregard for this district.“Freedom camping in our district seven or eight years ago was out of control with residents unable to enjoy reserve areas at Lake Hayes, Shotover River, Lake Hāwea, and more,” he said.“Our freedom camping bylaws and enforcement have worked effectively to contain and control the impacts of the freedom camping assault while retaining large parts of our district where self contained freedom camping was permitted.“We make no apology for prohibiting camping within our residential areas and our prime reserves. It would be nice if the NZMCA actually came to see elected members rather than the aggressive, expensive legal assault they have chosen.”This district hosts six times as many freedom campers per head of population as any other district in New Zealand. PHOTO: Wānaka AppThe Wānaka App understands the council’s external legal costs alone in defending the case came to $176,000.Quentin said that figure would not include staff time and internal legal work, and the likely overall cost to ratepayers may be more like $400,000-500,000.NZMCA: ‘A significant outcome for members’In a NZMCA board report for October 2024, association CEO Bruce Lochore called the court’s decision “a significant outcome for members”.Legal costs to Queenstown Lakes ratepayers were “completely avoidable”, he said.“Once again the council have wasted ratepayers’ money on a case they had no hope of winning. It was clear as a bell that they would never get it across the line – and we told them that. But they refused to listen and will have to cover their own costs as well as a portion of ours.” He said he was confident the outcome of the judicial review “completely vindicates the association’s decision to challenge QLDC’s freedom camping bylaw”, adding it would “prevent other councils from making similar errors, enabling more reasonable opportunities for responsible campers to enjoy travelling New Zealand in self-contained vehicles”.What now?A workshop last week for elected representatives and council staff was held behind closed doors to enable council “to obtain confidential legal advice about its position”.QLDC declined to share what was discussed at the meeting.The council has previously said it will review signage around freedom camping. It also plans to appoint four freedom camping ambassadors in the Wānaka Ward, and push the message that there are 12 camping grounds in the region.This week’s formal quashing of the bylaw was expected and “doesn’t change anything” in terms of council’s response, a QLDC spokesperson told the Wānaka App.“We'll continue to update our dedicated Let's Talk page to share information with the community and visitors about our approach to responsible camping this summer, and the development of a new bylaw,” he said.NZMCA did not respond to questions from the Wānaka App.

Campaigns help share Christmas cheer
Campaigns help share Christmas cheer

06 November 2024, 4:06 PM

Community Link is running Christmas campaigns to help ensure all individuals and families in the Upper Clutha can celebrate this festive season.This year’s theme is ‘everyone CAN make a difference’.The one-stop community support and connection centre is partnering with New World Three Parks from next week (November 11) with the ‘Everyone CAN’ Christmas appeal.Until December 22, customers can donate products in-store at New World Three Parks, with products in specially marked trolleys to make donations simple.In a statement New World Three Parks said Community Link does “incredible work supporting the community and [providing] a helping hand to those going through a rough patch”.The company was pleased to be part of Everyone CAN.Locals can also make donations of toys - which will be passed on to families with children ahead of Christmas - at Wānaka Mitre 10 MEGA.Wānaka Mitre 10 MEGA will have toy collection bins open from tomorrow (November 8) until December 14.Gifts are also being accepted at the Wānaka Community Hub.Community Link general manager Kate Murray said the organisation is also accepting donations for anyone who would like to make a financial contribution ahead of Christmas.“When we all give together it amounts to hundreds of pieces of kindness and every piece of small kindness adds up,” Kate said. “All of the team at Community Link are so incredibly appreciative and grateful of the community’s support of the Christmas Food appeal so every family in the Upper Clutha can enjoy this Christmas to the fullest,” she said.Find more information about donating to Community Link here.PHOTO: Supplied

Dunedin Hospital petition presented to Parliament
Dunedin Hospital petition presented to Parliament

06 November 2024, 12:08 AM

The government will be urged to ensure the new Dunedin Hospital provides crucial tertiary level health services for the Southern region in a petition being handed over at parliament today (Wednesday November 6).A statement from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) said the current Dunedin Hospital “is in a state of disrepair”.The hospital provides a range of tertiary level health services - including lifesaving care such as surgery and lifesaving and cancer treatments - to patients throughout Otago and the South Island, the NZNO said.The 34,406-signature petition from the NZNO calls for the new hospital to be fully funded as planned after the government in September said it would be scaled back to reduce costs.The proposed downgrades are a false economy, NZNO delegate Linda Smillie said."A scaled back hospital will increase costs over the long term because it will reduce the clinical capacity to care for an increasingly ageing population."Nurses will not be able to provide the appropriate level of care their patients need. This will lead to patient harm and loss of life."Health Action Wānaka (HAW) spokesperson Monique Mayze told the Wānaka App the group supported the NZNO’s advocacy efforts.“Here in the Upper Clutha, we rely on the specialist services delivered in Dunedin because we cannot access many of these services locally,” Monique said.“While some people are suggesting that a reduced spend on the hospital rebuild in Dunedin will translate into more dollars spent on developing healthcare infrastructure in the Central-Lakes area, we don’t believe there is any guarantee of this.”She said even with increased hospital services based in the Central-Lakes area, Upper Clutha residents will continue to require access to more specialised tertiary-level health services based in Dunedin.  “When the new hospital in Dunedin was designed and approved, its scope was based on patient need. That need hasn’t changed. In fact, that need is growing rapidly as our population grows,” she said.NZNO representatives were scheduled to be at Parliament at 12:30pm with the Dunedin City Council delegation led by mayor Jules Radich.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Major South Island civil defence exercise to take place
Major South Island civil defence exercise to take place

05 November 2024, 5:00 PM

Do you have emergency provisions for at least seven to ten days? Civil Defence needs you to know you could be on your own in the wake of a disaster.A major South Island civil defence exercise gets underway this week, with hundreds of people across three regions responding to the aftermath of a major Alpine Fault shake.Experts say the Alpine Fault is overdue a significant shake, of magnitude 8, which would release around 350 times more energy than the 2011 Christchurch quake.The shaking, which lasts for nearly two minutes, finally stops.The Alpine Fault has ruptured over 400km from Fiordland to Lewis Pass, nearly the length of the South Island.The West Coast is completely cut off.Power is out over much of the South Island, and even parts of the North Island.Telecommunications are down.Tens of thousands of visitors and residents - potentially more than 250,000 - are isolated in Queenstown Lakes, parts of Central Otago, the West Coast and Fiordland as roads and rail are damaged or impassable and air travel is suspended.Health services and hospitals struggle to meet demand due to structural damage.A train load of passengers on the Tranzalpine are trapped by landslides.This scenario is nigh on inevitable - overdue by some accounts - and it is one that hundreds of civil defence experts, emergency and military personnel, utility workers and council staff from across the South Island will immerse themselves on Thursday.While it is not possible to predict earthquakes, the AF8 (Alpine Fault magnitude 8) programme, a collaborative project of scientists, local and central government agencies and South Island civil defence and emergency management groups, has found a 75 percent probability of an Alpine Fault earthquake occurring in the next 50 years, and a more than 80 percent chance it will be magnitude 8 or more.The project has examined 8000 years of geological records - one of the world's longest earthquake records - and know the fault has produced a large quake roughly every 300 years. The last one was in 1717.A magnitude 8 earthquake on the Alpine Fault would release around 350 times more energy than 2011's magnitude 6.3 Christchurch earthquake.Phill Mackay, team leader, Regional Emergency Management Canterbury, who will lead the inter-regional civil defence exercise, Operation Pandora. PHOTO: RNZ / Keiller MacDuffFormer firefighter and Regional Emergency Management Canterbury team leader Phill Mackay will be leading the twelve hour exercise.It is a huge operation involving hundreds of people over three regions and has taken months of preparation and planning.Nine South Island councils, the Canterbury regional council and two dozen other agencies, including the defence force and lifeline providers like utility companies will be taking part. The "tabletop" exercise will be controlled from the Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group Emergency Operations Centre office, a purpose built operations room at the heart of Christchurch's Justice and Emergency Services Precinct.The nation's civil defence exercise programme rotates through a four year cycle, from local councils doing local exercises, to regional exercises, to inter-regional events such as this one, involving Canterbury, Marlborough and West Coast civil defence emergency management groups all exercising together, to the fourth level, the national exercise.When the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) held its own exercise, Rū Whenua, earlier this year, they used a nearly identical scenario.While McKay is reluctant to put any potential numbers on the scale of destruction, Rū Whenua's scenario included three different stages, included one six weeks after the quake by which point more than 800 people had died, nearly 12,000 were injured and more than 27,000 people had been displaced.The West Coast and Queenstown were still cut off from the State Highway network, leaving 40,000 people isolated, more than 1500 people without water, and several thousand still without power.AF8's response framework, published in 2018, posits the South to North rupture as the maximum credible event, or MCE, a scenario that represents the most widespread and severe damage possible from an Alpine Fault rupture for the purposes of planning (though "more severe scenarios are also possible").It warns of "highly compromised living conditions from days to months", landslides, rockfalls, liquefaction, damage to buildings, electricity, telecommunications, water, and roads. Other impacts included in the modelling are thousands of minor to moderate injuries, hundreds to thousands serious injuries, hundreds of people potentially trapped, and tens of thousands displaced. Food and fuel supplies will be disrupted, along with agriculture, tourism and industry.AF8 research has thoroughly examined the potential impacts outcomes and vulnerabilities, factoring in hundreds of variables, providing an invaluable tool both for preparedness and for exercises like this one, known as Operation Pandora."That's the beauty of the work that's been done by the AF8 programme over the last seven to eight years - they've given us a realistic, science based scenario, so we can model some of the impacts and consequences. That's enabled us to build this exercise with really robust science and consequences," Mackay said.Mackay said next week's regional exercise was very deliberately set three days after the quake to get past the initial chaos - "families won't know where each other are, workers may not want to come to work, communications and power most likely will be down" - and begin to structure the response."By day three we would be expecting to see support coming out of the North Island and from our international partners ...which is all managed at a national level."Supply lines will be "challenged", power and communication lines will be lost. A lot of people will be trying to relocate themselves on broken roads, while international and domestic tourists could overwhelm airports.The modelling is clear the West Coast won't have power, and while Canterbury's status is a little harder to know, "we should all be planning to be on our own for seven to ten days," Mackay said.That planning frees Civil Defence up to focus on those who most need help, instead of those that are underprepared, he said.But people can become complacent with their emergency supplies, or struggle to afford replacements."It doesn't have to be cupboards full of tinned food and two minute noodles, it could be just knowing where your important documents are, your insurance papers, passport, pet's vaccinations records. Know where your camping gear is. If your family is split up, how would you reconnect without internet? There are lots of little actions you can take to be a little bit more prepared."Personal responsibility is at the core of Mackay's message, something made painfully clear during the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle and the North Island severe weather event."You've got to be responsible for your own actions and your own safety."It becomes "very challenging, very quickly" when disasters strike across a large geographical area."That's going to be the message for Alpine Fault - and to be fair, we need to be saying it more often for a lot more events - is that potentially you will be on your own, because no one can come, sometimes they physically can't come to rescue you."Myself, my team, the civil defence and emergency management sector, can't make New Zealand resilient, we can't make [it] prepared - all we can do is educate people to make themselves prepared."

Crimeline: Crown Range fatality lamented
Crimeline: Crown Range fatality lamented

05 November 2024, 4:06 PM

Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said police went from celebrating a zero road toll over Labour Weekend to lamenting a serious motor vehicle accident on the Crown Range on Sunday (November 3).Sunday’s accident left one person dead and three people seriously injured.It was the third motor vehicle accident on that stretch of road since Labour Weekend, Fi said.She advised people travelling between Wānaka and Queenstown give themselves an extra half hour to take some of the pressure off.Last year the Wānaka App made an official information request to the NZ Police and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency asking about the accident and injury rates on the Crown Range, as well as the most common type of accidents there.The figures from 2000-2023 showed there had been five fatal accidents (and six deaths) on the road, all of them since 2013. The figures showed a total of 460 crashes.Crash Analysis System (CAS) data received at that time showed the crash contributing factors recorded for crashes identified 910 factors in crashes since 2000. (A crash is normally attributed to multiple contributing factors therefore there will be more factors than crashes.)The most cited contributing factor was ‘road factors’, at 228. Next was poor handling (172), inappropriate speed (114), and poor judgement (106).Read more: The Crown Range in numbers: six deaths; 460 accidents, 100kphIn other road policing this past week, two drivers were caught driving without a licence and a 48-year-old male was arrested for driving while disqualified.There have been five cases of EBA (excess breath/blood alcohol) in the past week, with one at 770mgms/litre and four between 250 to 400mgms/litre.Fi advised people who are out enjoying a drink to get a ride home, adding that a taxi fare might be less inconvenient than not having a driver’s licence.In other incidents, a 48-year-old male was arrested for breaching bail. Bail was opposed by police and the man appeared in court on Tuesday (November 5).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

Food rescue charity expands Wānaka operation
Food rescue charity expands Wānaka operation

05 November 2024, 4:04 PM

Food rescue charity Kiwiharvest aims to further expand its rescue network in Wānaka in 2025.The organisation’s Queenstown Lakes base may be over the hill in Queenstown but it has also been redistributing excess food in Wānaka for almost four years.KiwiHarvest Queenstown Lakes branch manager Gary Hough said Kiwiharvest collects from New World Three Parks, New World Wānaka and Woolworths Metro twice each week.The food is dropped off to Food for Love, Community LINK Food bank and Kahu Youth, Gary said.Gary said six “local legends” - Phillipa Jones, Martin Hill, Kit South, Barry South, Craig Sudron and Myra Van Den Begen - had significantly bolstered Kiwiharvest’s local operation.“They all give up time and use their own vehicles to make collections and drop-offs on a Tuesday and Friday,” he said.“Since they started our twice weekly collections there in early 2023 they have rescued 15,000 kilos of food from ending up in landfill and that equates to over 34,000 meals worth of food being redistributed to the three charities there for free.” Next year Kiwiharvest will be providing the local team with a Kiwiharvest refrigerated truck and an e-bike and trailer to make collections and drop-offs easier.It is also looking to expand its collection in Wānaka to include cafes.Kiwiharvest’s mission is to tackle food waste and promote food security throughout New Zealand.Find ways to get involved here.PHOTO: KiwiHarvest

Scholarships recognise excellence for MAC students 
Scholarships recognise excellence for MAC students 

05 November 2024, 4:00 PM

Twenty-one Te Kura O Titea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) students are set to begin their further education and training with financial support from Central Lakes Trust (CLT).CLT distributed scholarships valued at $2,500 each to the MAC students and another 47 high school students from Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes at a ceremony last month.In total, the scholarships are worth a combined $170,000.The selection process, managed by six secondary schools in the CLT region, evaluated candidates on more than just grades, CLT chair Linda Robertson said."Success takes many forms," Linda said. "By looking at students' overall achievements and qualities, we recognise excellence across all aspects of life." At the ceremony, which took place in Cromwell, guest speaker Sarb Johal shared insights on how AI is shaping the world both in opportunity and responsibility, Linda said.CLT has been distributing high education scholarships to Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes students for the past 18 years."Including this year’s allocation, we’ve supported 634 young people with scholarships of more than $1.8 million,” Linda said.MAC recipients this year included Coco Bentley, Eva Gilbertson, Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills, Ruby Ives, Anton Jones, Zoe Laws, Annika Massey, Ben McMurray, Josh Moody, Baxter Pollard, Lena Pollard, Abbey Ragg, Daisy Sanders, Ella Sarginson, Tom Sides, Hugo Sinclair, Zavier Taylor, Tai Treadwell-Burke, Sophie Walsh, Annie Wells, and Lily Wilson.CLT is a charitable trust that offers financial support for charitable initiatives, including monthly grants to a range of organisations.Its goal is to improve the lives of residents in Central Lakes and create lasting positive impacts in the region. Learn more about CLT here.PHOTO: Supplied

‘Stand-out’ applicant appointed to QAC board
‘Stand-out’ applicant appointed to QAC board

05 November 2024, 3:59 PM

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has appointed experienced business and governance professional Dr Don Elder to Queenstown Airport Corporation’s (QAC) board of directors. Mayor Glyn Lewers said Don, who was appointed on October 30 at the QAC AGM after approval by councillors at a recent meeting, was a “stand-out candidate with a wealth of experience and knowledge”.“His long governance experience in transport, infrastructure and major projects, energy, construction, finance, tech startups and risk management will add further depth to the board’s expertise in key areas as the airport continues to deliver for our community and visitors.”Queenstown Airport is a Council-Controlled Trading Organisation (CCTO) with two shareholders: Queenstown Lakes District Council (75.1 percent) and Auckland Airport (24.9 percent).  Don fills a vacant position on the board following the internal election of Simon Flood as chair in September. Simon had replaced Adrienne Young-Cooper who stepped down from the board after completing the maximum number of terms under QAC’s constitution.Don said he was excited to join the board.“The strategic future of Queenstown Airport is intrinsically linked with the future of our district and wider region,” he said. “QAC’s ten-year plan describes an innovative airport that serves the region well. I’m looking forward to supporting my colleagues on the board and the management team in delivering this vision for QAC’s shareholders and the local community.” Don’s current directorships include Pioneer Energy, Wenita Forestry, Canterbury Seismic, and several social service charities.   In addition to his appointment, two existing QAC directors – Andrew Blair and Mike Tod – were reappointed at the AGM.PHOTO: Supplied

Filipino teacher named as Crown Range crash victim
Filipino teacher named as Crown Range crash victim

04 November 2024, 10:30 PM

Tributes have been paid to a Filipino teacher killed in a crash on the Crown Range on Sunday (November 3).Married mother-of-three Joyce Fesico, known as Madoy, was on holiday in New Zealand, attending her niece's wedding.She died on the mountain pass in a two-car crash shortly before 4pm. Three other people were seriously injured, while others sustained moderate and minor injuries.A Givealittle page, created by her sister Mia De Los Santos (O'Riley) to fund repatriation, says she had dedicated her life to teaching high school students in Baao Camarines Sur for many years."She was actually due to retire comes January and was looking forward to endless days with family and love of gardening," it reads."Whilst she was enjoying her short visit to New Zealand, she refrained from posting pictures as our province got ravaged by floods a week prior to her untimely death. She deemed it inappropriate and insensitive."She was kind, considerate, chill, and funny. She was our confidante. She leaves behind a husband, three children and many grieving family, friends, and students."Dozens of her pupils have posted tributes online."Hello Mommy Joyce, also known as Ma'am Joyce Fesico, thank you for teaching us, thank you for being our second mother, thank you for telling and sharing your story that helps us grow our knowledge about life," one reads."Your way of teaching is very special. You taught us how to fight, not physically, but mentally. Your lessons will always be unforgettable, and we will always carry them until our last breath. You've been an exceptional teacher for caring about your students and treating them like your own kids. Our memories with you will be special and unforgettable."Police have not yet formally confirmed her identity. The Serious Crash Unit examined the scene for several hours.PHOTO: Facebook

Empowering the next generation of emergency responders
Empowering the next generation of emergency responders

04 November 2024, 4:04 PM

Youth Search and Rescue (YSAR) is opening a branch in Wānaka next year, and the organisation is seeking applications to the three-year programme from the next generation of emergency responders.YSAR is a New Zealand charity dedicated to helping secondary students build personal, life, and leadership skills through hands-on authentic training, YSAR NZ branch support specialist Kelly Hoskin told the Wānaka App.She said the organisation’s purpose is to empower the next generation of community volunteers within the search and rescue and emergency management sectors.“It's a three-year journey that empowers young people to gain emergency management skills, build career pathways, and make life-long friends,” Kelly said.“It is really exciting to get things up and running in Central Otago.” YSAR’s youth development and training programme is offered to secondary school aged students in the classroom, on site with sector partners, and in the outdoors. The programme is delivered via Wednesday evening classroom sessions throughout the first three school terms, reinforced by six practical weekend exercises (which include formal courses with sector partners such as Coastguard and LandSAR) throughout the year and culminating in an end of year exercise. The young members are “the next generation of community volunteers”.Students learn skills such as bushcraft, first aid, search and rescue techniques, geospatial mapping, and leadership skills. Kelly (who is based in Alexandra) said YSAR is relatively new to the South Island with the Dunedin and Christchurch branches welcoming their first cohorts at the start of this year.The Wānaka branch manager will be Aaron Power. Applications are open now for the programme, which starts in February 2025. Young people aged 14-15 who are interested in finding out more or applying for the programme can find more information here. PHOTOS: Supplied

Summit aims to guide talented musicians
Summit aims to guide talented musicians

04 November 2024, 4:00 PM

Registrations open this week for the Wānaka non-profit music summit Youth + Adults in the Music Industry (YAMI).YAMI has earned a reputation for bringing top musical talent and industry heavyweights to its summits, and it is preparing to celebrate 10 years of delivering the Wānaka event at the 2025 summit, which will take place on May 3-4.Past summits have featured Troy Kingi, Anika Moa, Ladi6, Barnaby Weir, Tiki Taane, Moana Maniapoto, Jon Toogood, Julia Deans, Anna Coddington, Dave Dobbyn, Kings, and Bella Kalolo, as well as members of The Beths, L.A.B., Fat Freddy's Drop, and Shapeshifter.Next year's lineup will be announced in February but pre-registrations have already opened and tickets for places to the summit will go on sale this Thursday (November 7).Participants are taught how to navigate the music industry with workshop and seminar topics covering performance, DJing, songwriting, beatmaking, royalties and distribution, marketing and management.The biennial summit was the first to welcome rangatahi and adults, with 10 years old being the minimum age to attend.Most of the crew are volunteers, and YAMI director Lynne Christie acknowledged that support from the music industry was vital. “The tutors and speakers are incredibly generous with their time and knowledge,” she said. “They are able to tap into focussed hacks that guide talented creatives to the next level.”Yami ambassador Barnaby Weir (The Black Seeds, Fly My Pretties) said he was proud to have supported the summit since its beginnings in 2014. “It's not easy in the creative industries. This summit shows the participants that there is a network, there is support,” he said.Funding applications are underway, and registrations for YAMI open this week.

Maccas proposal vetoed by QLDC planner 
Maccas proposal vetoed by QLDC planner 

04 November 2024, 5:30 AM

A council planner has recommended the proposed Wānaka McDonald’s restaurant be turned down weeks ahead of a hearing to decide whether it can set up shop in Wānaka.More than 300 members of the public have already asked in public submissions that the McDonald’s be refused, with thousands more adding their names to an online petition against it.It will be up to independent commissioners at a hearing at the end of the month to have the final say on whether McDonald’s Restaurants NZ can set up a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week restaurant and drive- through at Mt Iron Junction.In the meantime Queenstown Lakes District Council senior planner Andrew Woodford has added his voice to the chorus of opposition in a recently released council report.Andrew said the proposed 445m2 McDonald’s, which would be built on rural-zoned land at the foot of Outstanding Natural Feature (ONF) Mt Iron had a handful of “primary issues”.They included the proposal’s effect on the rural character of the zoning, its “lack of integration into the site”, which he said “detracts” from the Mt Iron ONF, and other “adverse visual effects”.The development, “urban in nature and scale”, does not respond appropriately to the context and location, he said.While members of the ‘No-McDonald’s’ camp may support Andrew’s argument, he disagreed with many of the reasons submitters gave to oppose the McDonald’s - including the impact on local business and view that it would have a negative impact on Wānaka’s image as a whole.It was “a matter of personal choice for customers as to where they may wish to purchase food”, he said, and hard to quantify the “potential adverse effects on the Wānaka image or ‘vibe’”. “If submitters are solely concerned that McDonald’s could be established in Wānaka, then such a development could occur as of right subject to zoning provisions either in Three Parks or the Wānaka Town Centre…”.Read more: Maccas: ‘Spoiling the community’, ‘providing opportunities’McDonald’s plans for a Wānaka restaurant became public in November last year and the response has been deeply divided.During public consultation earlier this year 340 people made submissions opposing a Wānaka McDonald’s and just 21 made submissions in support of it.Common themes in formal submissions among people who oppose the proposal were concerns about litter and packaging, the financial impact on local food businesses, the nutritional value of McDonalds’ food, and the visual effect of the McDonald’s restaurant and signage at the ‘entrance’ to Wānaka.The much smaller group who supported the proposal in formal submissions said it would provide employment opportunities, a rare alcohol-free environment for families, and an affordable option for takeaways.More than 100 submitters plan to speak at the upcoming hearing, which will begin on November 25 and could last up to four days.While the hearing will be over by the end of the month a final decision on the proposal won’t be made until after post-hearing deliberations by the commissioners.PHOTO: Supplied

Easter trading policy up for discussion
Easter trading policy up for discussion

03 November 2024, 4:06 PM

Should shops in Queenstown Lakes be allowed to open on Easter Sunday?Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) wants members of the public to weigh in on this question, to help inform its proposed draft Easter Sunday Shop Trading Policy 2025.Easter Sunday is a restricted trading day under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990 (Act) which requires shops to remain closed, except for certain shops under certain conditions. However, shops in Queenstown Lakes have been allowed to trade on Easter Sunday since 2017 because of an amendment to the Act which enabled councils to adopt policies to permit shops to open on Easter Sunday. QLDC’s Easter Sunday Shop Trading Policy in 2017 has now expired.Council staff are proposing the new policy allows all shops to open on Easter Sunday again.Allowing shops to open supports local businesses who benefit from tourist trade and provides greater options for the large volume of visitors to the district over this time period, council staff said.It is only applicable to Easter Sunday and does not include Good Friday or Easter Monday.The policy would also not apply to the sale or supply of alcohol, which is regulated under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.Copies of the draft Easter Sunday Shop Trading Policy 2025 and submission information can be found online here, at QLDC offices and all libraries.The final policy is expected to be presented to councillors for adoption in March 2025.Public input closes on November 30.PHOTO: Supplied

Exhibition to support Aitutaki environmental project
Exhibition to support Aitutaki environmental project

03 November 2024, 4:04 PM

Wastebusters is taking its zero waste expertise to the island of Aitutaki to help identify waste minimisation actions that will help protect the natural environment. The initiative to support the island, located 250km north of Rarotonga, was sparked after Reset Urban Design co-director Garth Falconer completed a spatial plan for Aitutaki.Garth said Wānaka and Aitutaki share the growing challenges of waste management in communities that welcome significant numbers of tourists each year.He approached Wastebusters about collaborating with Aitutaki for positive environmental outcomes and to help build on the small recycling scheme on the island and was met with a resounding ‘yes’. Wastebusters' advisory role will focus on recommending tangible action for the local communities and visitors to take positive steps towards waste minimisation and protecting the natural beauty of Aitutaki, Wastebusters’ business development manager Sophie Ward said. “We’re excited to be part of this initiative and to have the opportunity to work with Aitutaki’s government, businesses, and community leaders to develop waste minimisation strategies tailored to their needs.”While the project has been endorsed by all involved, there is no public funding for it.As a first step in fundraising for the project, Garth is holding a fundraiser exhibition early next month.The exhibition, to be held at Pembroke Wine and Spirits on November 11, will feature 12 of the established artist’s oil paintings. All proceeds from the exhibition will go towards the Aitutaki project.The exhibition will take place from 5pm and all are welcome.Wastebusters is also accepting donations and, as a registered charity, it can provide tax receipts for any donations.Sophie said both Wastebusters and Aitutaki will benefit from the project.“With many people from Wānaka and Aotearoa visiting Aitutaki, this partnership offers a chance to reinforce the connections and shared values between our regions, focusing on local strengths and exchanging knowledge to create effective solutions.”PHOTO: Reset Urban Design 

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