Transpower expected to announce today (Thursday August 22) whether it is adjusting the Alert Contingent Storage Release Boundary to help with power shortageThe sector is in crisis with many businesses closing due to skyrocketing prices.Winstone Pulp International is the latest business that plans to shut two sawmills as a result of high wholesale energy prices.Domestic consumers were also concerned about power prices.Transpower is expected to reveal today whether or not it will let generators take more water from hydro lakes to combat the current power shortage.It wants to increase the buffer applied in calculating the Contingent Storage Release Boundary (CSRB) from 50 GWh to 320 GWh from 1 September 2024 until 1 October 2024.Latest figures from Transpower show national hydro storage is at 55 percent and is among the lowest levels ever recorded for this time of year.'Severe effects' on the environmentThe idea was open for consultation, with 11 submissions made in total.One was from The Guardians of Lake Hāwea, a group who ensure that Lake Hāwea's water quality, biodiversity and ecosystems are maintained and managed sustainable and safely.Chair Geoff Kernick said the group did not agree lifting the buffer was the best solution and said it was likely to have "severe effects on the local environment, with dust storms already occurring each time there is a north westerly wind".Spring snow melt and normal summer rainfall would not be enough to raise the lake to average levels by next winter meaning inadequate water storage to meet national electricity requirements next winter as well, he said.There were also concerns with gravel and silt, he said."There can be a lot of issues with this silt... picking it up with the wind and blowing it down towards town and this has a very negative impact on people, on what people can do, but also on the environment," Kernick said."It is a possibility that the lake level may not recover very quickly if we don't get normal spring rains, the lake level could stay low for a long time, so these aquatic plants would die."Sector at 'crisis point'Auckland University Associate Economics Professor Stephen Poletti was hoping it went ahead."We're in a situation which is a bit of a crisis really, I mean we've got top companies actually shutting down, not just shutting down temporarily, but shutting down permanently so its having a big impact on the economy."So I hope they do relax those contingent reserves, but it's like the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, we never should have got to this situation," he said.However, he said there needed to be more long term solutions put in place.One option would be to prioritise the expansion of rooftop solar throughout New Zealand.Poletti said this would only add significantly to the overall electricity supply, but also help bring down prices.'Use your powers' - MinisterThe Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones said the Electricity Authority needed to "man up" and use its full powers to rein in electricity companies over skyrocketing prices, which has forced at least one large manufacturer to shut down its operations.Shane Jones told RNZ on Wednesday that power companies where celebrating huge profits and the Authority had not been properly exercising its powers over them to ensure proper electricity supply and affordability.

Wānaka Police have dealt with a range of incidents over the last week, including a serious family harm incident yesterday (Wednesday August 21).Wānaka Police Senior Sergeant Fiona (Fi) Roberts said police were called out to the incident in the early hours of the morning.“A 34-year-old male was arrested without incident and will be facing numerous family harm related offences,” she said.Another person is facing numerous charges for an incident last Friday (August 16).The driver fled from police near Anderson Road at approximately 11.16pm.“The vehicle accelerated heavily exceeding the posted speed limit,” she said. “Police lost sight of the fleeing vehicle and located vehicle debris and a dislodged pedestrian barrier.”Fi said police must decide if the immediate risk to safety posed by the fleeing driver justifies an immediate response involving a pursuit and the driver was not pursued on the night.“...however, the male driver has been located and is facing numerous charges including failing to stop for red and blue flashing lights, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.”This was one of a handful of local driving-related offences from the past week.Four people were caught drink driving in Wānaka following breath test screening.“The highest reading was 704 [micrograms of alcohol per litre],” Fi said.The legal limit is 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre.A reading between 250 and 400 can lead to a fine or being given demerit points; 400 or higher can lead to being disqualified from driving and being either fined or imprisoned.Fi said all drivers should be vigilant and expect the unexpected.A younger person was “so engrossed in their phone on Friday, they were completely oblivious to walking out onto a road in front of a vehicle near a busy intersection”, she said.The driver of the vehicle was alert to what was unfolding because they were a police officer in a police vehicle.“Devices are distractions and interfere with safe decisions around our roads/driveways,” Fi said.A lot of drivers were caught out on Monday (August 19) when the cold front came through, she said.“The weather event created many calls for service up on the Crown Range ranging from accidents to people ‘unable to stay on the road’ in the conditions.“A serious accident closed the road, State Highway 6, on the other side of the Crown Range on Tuesday morning.”Fi said a “steady amount” of ski field property is still being brought into the police station from Cardrona and Treble Cone.Anyone who has lost something on the ski field can head into the station to see if it is there.Wānaka Police also have a drop box for anyone wanting to drop off smaller found items outside of office hours.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

Rhythm and Alps has released what organisers say is “one of its most impressive lineups yet”.The annual New Year’s festival is returning for its 14th time on December 30 and its first lineup drop was released this afternoon (Wednesday August 21).Headlining acts will include legendary Kiwi band Shapeshifter, chart-topping EDM-pop sensation Becky Hill, as well as English DJ and RAM Records co-founder Andy C.This year’s festival will feature one of its most impressive lineups yet, organisers said.The initial lineup drop also includes rising star Badger, who is known for his eclectic mix of UK garage, bass house, and jungle; Australian dance royalty Bag Raiders; and South Coast hype machine Big Twisty (DJ set). There’s also Cassie Henderson, Charlotte Plank, Sir Dave Dobbyn, Elemeno P, Grafix, Issey Cross, Oppidan, Rova, Sin & Brook, The Butlers, Wax Mustang, and X Club.Across the different acts there’s everything from early 2000s rock to funkadelic surf-rock, hip hop to drum & bass, and pop to garage.English DJ and RAM Records co-founder Andy C is another headliner this year.Each year Rhythm & Alps welcomes close to 10,000 partygoers and 6,000 campers to the Cardrona Valley for the two-day event. Rhythm & Alps hinted at even more to come for the upcoming festival.“This year, Rhythm and Alps is taking things to a whole new level,” organisers said in a statement.There will be two new stages, some “thrilling” site additions, plus more “incredible” lineup drops.Kiwi rock band Elemeno P are also set to perform at R&A.Tickets for the Rhythm & Alps festival are available here.PHOTOS: R&A/Supplied

A male climber has died today after falling 50 metres while rock climbing in the rocky crags overlooking the Matakauri Park walkway behind Gorge Road Retail Centre on the outskirts of central Queenstown – a popular spot for climbers.Queenstown Police Senior Sergeant Steve Watt says the tragedy occurred around midday and police and emergency services, including St John Ambulance staff and the Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue Team, rushed to the scene.Unfortunately, the man, understood to be with a female companion, had died during the fall and the matter has been referred to the Coroner.He was climbing off a popular track up to cliff faces overlooking Gorge Road, on the right as the road heads to Arthurs Point.Watt says police could not release the man’s age or where he was from, or any further details about his climbing experience, until his next of kin have been advised.Police remained at the scene for some time gathering any items of interest to help ascertain what happened.

Queenstown Lakes ratepayers shouldn’t get too excited about their estimated $485 each share of Queenstown Airport Corporation’s (QAC) record $19.6M dividend, which was announced this morning (Wednesday August 21).Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) share of the dividend - $14.7M - will be used to pay down debt, mayor Glyn Lewers has confirmed. QLDC holds 75.01 percent of QAC shares, so its portion of the annual dividend is $14.7 million, which equates to about $485 per ratepayer.Glyn said this was a “strong result for QLDC”, and around $3.4M beyond earlier forecasts. “The dividend will be used to pay down debt as per council’s adopted policies and it will therefore enable more breathing space for managing council’s debt ceiling,” he said.The council’s average net debt to total revenue ratio over the current draft Long Term Plan’s ten year period is estimated to be 259.5 percent (which is within the council’s limit of 280 percent).The LTP says council’s approach has been to remain within a 280 percent borrowing limit to ensure there is sufficient contingency in case of an emergency event, unforeseen maintenance, or changing legislative requirements.Glyn acknowledged the airport’s strong performance.“As 75.01 percent shareholder for the QAC, QLDC welcomes a very positive year and successful financial outcome for the airport. This is a very strong performance and shows that the strong leadership of the board and the executive has developed and maintained a stable, high-performing organisation that delivers on the needs of the community,” he said.Read more: Queenstown Airport announces record dividend, big plans for infrastructurePHOTO: Supplied

Councils want new financial tools to support them other than ratesA poll suggests 58 percent of the public think doing so would make councils more effective, and just 8 percent think rates alone should support services used by touristsThe government has shared no details on its city and regional dealsCouncils, urging the government to give them more ways to fund themselves, are pointing to a poll suggesting the public supports accommodation and tourism levies.They have set up a bed at this year's Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) conference in Wellington to bring attention to what they say is a need to "give rates a rest".The government has proposed some new measures including GST sharing on new build houses, and new "city and regional deals".LGNZ's President Sam Broughton, however, says they've seen little detail on those deals - and councils need support this year."The rating system's broken and we need new tools to be able to fund local government infrastructure and services to people," he said."It needs to happen now, this year, before we get to next year. Councils have been through their accounts line by line to try and make savings and we've still seen a lift in rates this year at unprecedented levels like we haven't seen before. That's due in part just to the cost of insurance being up 70 percent, roads and wastewater systems up 30 percent."At the moment the only funding tool that council has is rates."As it stood, the rates paid by each ratepayer was supporting the infrastructure and services for 51 international tourists, Broughton said."In Mackenzie, their rates have had to go up this year by 1 percent just to clean the public toilets twice a day. We think that's a really unsustainable way to fund infrastructure."Councils had raised the possibility of tourist levies or a bed tax with the government, and Tourism Minister Matt Doocey was interested in how it could be applied, he said.But it did not appear to be a priority for Local Government Minister Simeon Brown."There's no legislation for that, so councils can't do that," Brown said, when asked about tourist levies and bed taxes."What I'm focused on at the moment is around having a regional deal framework which is allowing a much longer-term relationship between local and central government so that we can have that longer-term pipeline of infrastructure."The key thing at the moment I'm focused on is having a framework for regional deals."Broughton said LGNZ had heard few details on what the government's promised city and regional deals would look like, and councils had proposed other financing tools like mineral royalties and extraction.They welcomed the government's moves towards congestion charging, he said, but he wanted local govenrment involved in those conversations.The pollsOne poll showed a majority of people thought councils would be more effective if they had such tools.Respondents were asked between 5 and 7 May: "If your council did the following, would it make them much more effective, less effective, or make no change to their effectiveness: Used a wider range of funding tools other than general rates."A majority of 58 percent said it would be more effective, compared with 11 percent who said less effective, 14 percent who thought it would have no effect, and 17 percent who were unsure.Another question between 1 and 5 August found strong support for tourist fees and charges, asking: "How should the local infrastructure and services that tourists use should be paid for?"Only 8 percent said rates should pay for the lot, with 34 percent saying tourist fees and charges should be used instead, and 45 percent wanting a combination of the two. Another 13 percent were unsure.Both polls were by Curia, and questioned 1000 people as part of wider surveys for a range of clients, with a margin of error of +/-3.1 percent at the 95 percent confidence interval, with results weighted for age, gender and location to reflect the voting adult population.PHOTO: RNZ / Reece Baker

Queenstown Airport has released its financial report for the 12 months to 30 June 2024, which shows a strong operating performance.Queenstown Airport Corporation Board chair Adrienne Young-Cooper announced the board of directors has approved a total dividend for the 2024 financial year of $19.6M – the highest the company has ever paid. An interim dividend of $5.3M was paid to shareholders in February, and the remainder will be distributed this month, she said.“It has been another positive year, with record revenue and passenger numbers. The results confirm the company’s strong recovery from the pandemic and are in line with forecast activity levels.” QAC board chair Adrienne Young-CooperThe report shows the revenue growth over the previous financial year (FY23 ) is 8.5 percent. Passenger movements increased almost five percent over FY23, and the dividend is up 26 percent on FY23 ($15.54M). Adrienne said demand for seats on trans-Tasman flights was noteworthy, while domestic demand remained steady. “We know those flights bring many social and economic benefits for the people and businesses of the Southern Lakes region. Furthermore, they enable us to make a meaningful financial contribution to our community.”Queenstown Lakes District Council holds 75.01 percent of QAC shares, so its portion of the annual dividend is $14.7 million, which equates to about $485 per ratepayer.Adrienne said QAC had delivered more than $35M in dividends since the Covid-19 pandemic.“We are pleased to be in a position to pay a higher than normal dividend this year ahead of significant investment in our infrastructure.”‘Significant’ infrastructure investment for airportAirport chief executive Glen Sowry said a highlight of the year was the completion of a master plan which will guide considerable investment in infrastructure at Queenstown Airport over the coming decade.Airport CEO Glen SowryDevelopment plans for the airfield, the terminal, the landside spaces around the terminal, and services and utilities are now underway, and the resultant capital works programme “will be the largest ever undertaken at Queenstown Airport”, Glen said. The first major project is the installation of an engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) at either end of the main runway, beginning later this month.Glen said Queenstown was the first airport in New Zealand and Australia to install the safety technology, “which exceeds compliance with civil aviation regulations and is a tangible demonstration of our determination to surpass expectations”.Projects in the past financial year include the installation of extra self-service technology, an increase in passenger screening capacity, the opening of a new cafe and bar, and upgrade of the international departure lounge. A bathroom refurbishment programme is underway and Glen said the heating and cooling system is also being upgraded.The company’s annual general meeting will be held in October, when the board and executive team will report on the past financial year, as well as providing an outlook for the year ahead.Adrienne will retire from the board after the AGM, having served the maximum two terms.The full annual report is available to download here.PHOTOS: Supplied

Bike Wānaka has announced its two youth grant recipients for 2024, who will each receive $1,000 each to help with the cost of bike training, competition or equipment. The recipients are Ruby Smith and Finn Woolley, who both have busy seasons ahead.“The funding from Bike Wānaka will go a long way towards helping me race and train in the upcoming season, and I'm really looking forward to pushing my limits again this summer,” Ruby said.“For the upcoming season, my first race will be the National Secondary Schools MTB Champs, held in Christchurch in early October. I'll be competing in all three disciplines, but my main focus will be downhill.Forty-six volunteers helped to plant more than 200 natives at the newly upgraded Lismore Bike Park last Saturday (August 17).“I plan to participate in all of the races that I competed in last year, which will include national rounds. Ruby said the grant would help her travel to races and training camps, maintain her bike, and contribute towards entry fees and bike park passes.The “standout applicant” received the grant for the second year in a row, Bike Wānaka said.Finn said he planned to use the grant to purchase a season pass for the Skyline Queenstown Bike Park, with the remainder contributing to upcoming race fees and the like.Ruby and Finn were congratulated on their grants by Bike Wānaka last Saturday (August 17) when the organisation partnered with Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust for a planting day at Lismore Park.A Bike Wānaka spokesperson said the event brought together 46 volunteers who helped plant more than 200 natives at the recently upgraded bike park.Read more: Lismore Bike Park transformed, reopenedPHOTOS: Bike Wānaka

The best winter athletes in the world are expected to descend on Kiwi snow for the Winter Games NZ, two and half weeks’ of snow sports action and the biggest snow sports event in the Southern Hemisphere, which starts this Friday (August 23).Winter Games NZ and its resort partners will host ten events across Freeride, Alpine and Park and Pipe at The Remarkables Ski Area, Coronet Peak and Cardrona Alpine Resort.The Games kick off with The North Face Frontier 2* and 4* Freeride World Qualifier events at The Remarkables. The North Face Frontier 2* is a key stop on the freeride pathway in New Zealand, with 120 athletes set to compete.  The North Face Frontier 4*, which has launched many Kiwi freeride careers globally, has a full start list of 60 athletes set to battle it out for Freeride World Qualifier points, including New Zealand’s Jess Hotter.  The action will then head across the Wakatipu Basin to Coronet Peak, where two FIS Australia New Zealand Cup Giant Slalom and two FIS Australia New Zealand Cup Slalom races will be held.   More than 140 athletes are expected to don the Winter Games NZ pink Alpine bibs, including Kiwi alpine ski racing superstar Alice Robinson, double Olympic gold medalist Austrian-Dutch ski racer Marcel Hirscher, and 2023 FIS Slalom crystal globe winner Norwegian-Brazilian ski racer Lucas Braathen.The 2024 Park & Pipe programme at Cardrona Alpine Resort will include two FIS Australia New Zealand Cup (ANC) Premium events and two FIS World Cup events presented by La Roche Posay and Cardrona Alpine Resort.  The FIS ANC Snowboard Halfpipe and Freeski Slopestyle events are crucial competitions for Kiwi and Australian athletes looking to secure the ANC series win and earn themselves a World Cup start for the upcoming 2025 FIS World Cup season.  Preliminary entries in the snowboard halfpipe include Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic Winter Games medallists Lucia Georgalli and Campbell Melville Ives, both of Wānaka. In the slopestyle will be Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic Winter Games gold medallist Flora Tabanelli of Italy and 2024 World Cup podium athletes Ruby Star Andrews and Luca Harrington of Wānaka.The Park & Pipe FIS World Cup programme consists of a Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup and Freeski Halfpipe World Cup. These World Cup events mark the first time a FIS World Cup has been held on New Zealand snow since 2019. They also mark the first opportunity for athletes to earn Olympic qualification points towards the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games.  The FIS Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup is sure to be a heater, with 90 of the top snowboard slopestyle athletes in the world set to compete on Cardrona’s Big Bucks Terrain Park.  Local legend Zoi Sadowski-Synnott will be in action, alongside Beijing 2022 Big Air gold medalist Anna Gasser of Austria and current World Champion Mia Brookes of the UK. In the men’s competition Beijing 2022 gold medalist Su Yiming of China and current World Champion Marcus Kleveland of Norway will be part of a stacked field.  The 2024 Winter Games NZ programme will wrap up with the FIS Freeski Halfpipe World Cup, where Wānaka’s Nico Porteous, Beijing 2022 Olympic gold medalist and China’s Eileen Gu, Beijing 2022 triple Olympic medalist, will compete alongside current World Champion Brendan Mackay (CAN), double Olympic medalist Cassie Sharpe (CAN) and decorated Estonian skier Kelly Sildaru.  PHOTO: Supplied

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has confirmed it intends to accept and abide by the recent decision of the Environment Court regarding the rezoning of part of Wānaka’s 50-hectare Sticky Forest. In a 131-page decision made public in late July, precedent-setting development potential was approved for 19 hectares of the forest, which is adjacent to an Outstanding Natural Landscape (ONL).The appellants in the case were granted extensive development rights which would include residential and large-lot zoning for more than 100 houses, with potential for houses to be built across the ridge.QLDC chief executive Mike Theelen said the council had engaged with the court process to zone the land appropriately and “council’s objective throughout the process was to ensure that the zoning took into account complicated considerations regarding the block”.“These included the need to recognise and provide for the relationship between Māori, their culture and traditions and their ancestral lands and sites, as well as protecting the values of the Dublin Bay outstanding natural landscape that’s located both within and to the north of Sticky Forest.”The area is held by the Crown for around 2,000 descendants of 57 original Maori grantees who were given the land under the South Island Landless Natives Act in the 1960s as substitute land for settlement redress after they lost ownership of the Hāwea-Wānaka block known as ‘The Neck’.  QLDC had previously turned down a proposal to rezone part of Sticky Forest after one of the grantee’s descendants, the late Mike Beresford, sought permission to have about 20 hectares of the forest rezoned to allow for residential development. QLDC’s decision was appealed to the Environment Court - and Mike says QLDC now stands by the decision of the Environment Court. “The Environment Court conducted an extensive process and received evidence from a range of experts on these matters. It has balanced these considerations and issued its decision on how the land should be zoned,” Mike said.Deputy mayor Quentin Smith has also released a statement on the decision. “Firstly and most importantly no one is questioning the legitimacy of the treaty settlement and appropriate compensation for the beneficiaries,” Quentin said.tWalking and biking trails on Sticky Forest.“Unfortunately in my opinion this was never an appropriate piece of land for settlement but we are forced to accept the ruling of the court,” he said. “Any hope of the Crown considering any other more appropriate compensation (land or financial) is long gone.”  “The outcome however is one that is difficult for the community in Wānaka who have long valued the informal access to Sticky Forest.”A network of mountain biking and walking tracks have been formed throughout the area which are used regularly by members of the public and maintained by local groups. “From a Resource Management perspective the decision is intriguing and appears to establish some interesting case law that we will continue to come to terms with,” Quentin said. “Hopefully there is still some opportunity to work with the landowners to achieve some good outcomes for the community for recreation and to ensure the remaining landscape values are protected.”Established houses below Sticky Forest, from Peninsula Bay.Read more: Sticky Forest gets green light for residential developmentMike said the Environment Court decision includes a number of directions on steps required to finalise the district plan framework that applies to Sticky Forest.“Council is working with the parties to progress those steps,” he said.PHOTOS: Wānaka App

This season four youth players have debuted with the Wānaka Associated Football Club (AFC) First Team, playing in the ODT Men’s Southern Premiership. “The Men’s First Team has historically been primarily made up of international or overseas players who now call Wānaka home,” Wānaka AFC director of football Ben Sippola said.“While this is still the case, there is now a huge emphasis on the development of Wānaka youth and providing them with a clear pathway to play senior football at the highest level locally.”Ben said this was on the back of a “fresh approach” from Wānaka AFC to create a more cohesive connection between the junior, youth and senior club and the academy.The young First Team players include Zack Adams-Bigg (14), one of the youngest players to debut for the First Team, who has been included in the squad multiple times and started the match in a 1-1 draw with Roslyn Wakari AFC. There’s also Barnes Metcalfe (16), a goalkeeper who has played the season with the Men’s Reserve Team. Barnes made his starting debut for the First Team at home against Northern Hearts a couple of weekends ago where he kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win. MJ Dvoracek (15) and Joe Miller (16) also made their debuts early in the 2024 season. Wānaka AFC started incorporating the top youth players into full-time training with the senior men’s group in October 2023. Ben said this had created “exponential growth and resulted in lots of opportunities and the continued development of Wānaka youth”. A number of the club’s youth players will also be part of the 2024 U17 Boys National Youth League squad, which Wānaka AFC is running on behalf of the Central Otago region. “The Wānaka AFC First Team are now closing in on the end of the season, and we have our sights set on a second-place finish in the league, which would be our best ever finish,” Ben said.“The Wānaka AFC U15 Youth Development League team have also had their best ever season, with four games left to play.”PHOTO: Wānaka AFC

Baby Mia slept peacefully in her Moses basket at her parents’ home in Northlake this afternoon (Monday August 19), unaware that she was the poster baby for Wānaka’s new primary birthing unit, Rākai Kahukura.Mia was the first baby born at the unit, a little over two weeks after Rākai Kahukura opened its doors to expecting families.She was delivered on Wednesday August 12 to parents Caroline Gray and Michael Warwick, with the help of midwife Peta Hosking and student midwife Emily.“It was so quick,” Caroline told the Wānaka App. “We just popped down the road, got settled in the centre, and did the breathing...” Caroline said labour had kicked in around 5pm at their home on August 12. Within three hours things had progressed and they made the call to travel five minutes along the road to Rākai Kahukura. By 11pm, Mia was in their arms.“I have to admit, this experience has been enjoyable. I’m incredibly grateful,” Caroline said. It was markedly different from the birth of their son Hayden, two, who was born in Dunedin Hospital after a three-week stay at a Dunedin AirBnB for Michael (and their dogs), and in hospital for Caroline, after it was found that the baby had moved into an unstable birthing position.“When Hayden was born we didn’t have continuity with our midwives,” Caroline said. “And it’s made just such a difference to this whole first week, and the birth, and the [family] bubble, to stay in Wānaka, be at home, have our actual midwife.”“I’m so excited for other mums to have that going forward, as someone who didn’t get it the first time.” This time around, Michael and Hayden stayed at home in Northlake and “bounced back and forwards” between home and the birthing unit, allowing Hayden’s routine to be maintained and making the transition easier.“It’s the best outcome we could have hoped for,” Michael said.Like many Wānaka parents, Michael and Caroline don’t have their own parents close by, which made the birthing unit even more valuable. Caroline said when she heard the opening date was to be July 29 she sat at the kitchen bench and wept with happiness.She acknowledged the “decades of rallying” by midwives and mothers to advocate for the unit, while women faced uncertainty around outcomes and options - including an hour’s drive to the Charlotte Jean birthing unit in Alexandra, or more than three hours’ to the base hospital in Dunedin.Caroline said Wānaka was fortunate to have experienced midwives and lots of services to support families. “Now the centre [has come in] - that one thing [will] lift it all up a level. I hope the other mums and dads can just lean into it. It’s finally come.”Caroline said it has been “a big year” for the couple, who returned to Wānaka after a few years away.“This is the little cherry on the top to be able to have our daughter here in town.”Rākai Kahukura, on Albert Town’s Monteith Street, is able to support “at least” 50 births and approximately 350-400 families each year, Te Whatu Ora Southern director of midwifery Karen Ferraccioli told the Wānaka App at a pre-opening event last month.The birthing unit supports low-risk, non-instrumental births; has options for post-natal stays closer to home; and provides early childhood services for 0-5 year olds including vaccinations. PHOTO: Wānaka App

Recent criticism of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) - specifically the suggestion that it should be put under statutory administration - is “hilarious”, according to mayor Glyn Lewers, and “silly” according to councillor Lyal Cocks.Recent opinion pieces posted on social media by Wānaka resident Grant Bisset, former QLDC councillor Neville Harris, and former mayor Warren Cooper have criticised the council for issues such as multiple failed council projects and the accusation that senior staff have too much control. The Wānaka App asked the mayor for his response to the criticism at a Wānaka Business Chamber event last week. “Well, I find that hilarious,” Glyn said. “... they’re saying staff have too much control. You do realise the commissioner gives the staff a hell of a lot more control? All it does is sort out the politicians.”Tauranga City Council councillors were sacked in December 2020 following council infighting and commissioners were appointed. The city faced substantial structural challenges and complex work programmes.“The reason why the Tauranga council imploded is because… they were under pressure from high growth,” Glyn said, adding the Tauranga council was planning a new civic centre and new roads - “all the things we are planning here”.The only thing that changed after commissioners took over from councillors, he said, was that “they put their pedal on the growth”.Grant Bisset has said QLDC staff and elected representatives lack the “qualifications, skills or experience” to do complex tasks; and some elected representatives and staff have “strong social or ideological agendas but lack the understanding to deliver on them”.This has led to escalating debt, he said. Grant also cited projects such as Project Manawa (QLDC’s ambitious $50M plans for new offices and a civic centre in Queenstown, which is under review) and the council’s proposal for inclusionary zoning, which was recently declined by a hearing panel.“The ratepayers of the Upper Clutha need to support the call for statutory administration of the QLDC to steady the ship and get us on course for a future that isn’t out of control debt and failing projects,” Grant said. Glyn said “the only reason a commissioner comes in is if council is not meeting its statutory requirements”; it has “nothing to do with” a lack of confidence from ratepayers. Wānaka based councillor (and former deputy mayor) Lyal Cocks told the Wānaka App he believes much of the current criticism is about speculation rather than specifics.Lyal Cocks says governance has not broken down at QLDC. He acknowledged that QLDC can do better in some areas and that previous decisions can be difficult to defend at times.  “We have also inherited some challenges which have put pressure on our funding,” Lyal said.“Debt is not out of control because we have to comply with government and the Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA) borrowing and debt limits. Those limits restrict any 'out of control' behaviour.”When things go wrong for the council, fixes are often quick, Lyal said. He cited the cryptosporidium breakout in Queenstown late last year as an example (Following the outbreak QLDC installed protozoa barriers into water supplies around the district to satisfy the government's new requirements.)Lyal said QLDC is not a council where governance has broken down, and said “there’s no way the government would even look at statutory management”. The suggestion was “silly”, he added.“We’re not doing too bad considering the continual growth pressure on our district,” he said, adding that it’s often “the smaller things and questionable spending that really annoy people”.He said there is often a “minority” of people slamming the council on social media; he and other councillors do receive some messages from disgruntled ratepayers; but he expected real concerns will be raised in submissions to the Long Term Plan (LTP) and during the LTP hearings. Submissions on the LTP are due to be released later this week.PHOTOS: Supplied

OUT&about Wānaka will be launching a new charitable trust, community projects, and “next level” plans for Wānaka’s Pride Week 2024 at an event on Sunday August 25.In September last year the advocacy group organised Wānaka’s inaugural Pride Street Party, which attracted a strong community turnout of nearly 2,000 people.The celebration at the Lake Wānaka Centre featured everything from live music and DJs to spoken word and poetry, a craft market, food and beverage stalls, a ‘living library’, and an information market with LGBTQI+ resources.  Read more: Community comes out to support Pride Street PartyNow OUT&about is launching a charitable trust, with the key values of “respect and empathy, unity, empowerment, pride, and inclusion”, OUT&about media spokesperson Nisse Perry and festival director Ollie Harcus said.“By bringing people together, connecting, and embracing each other's differences, we aspire to create a more inclusive and understanding society in Wānaka, where every individual, regardless of their age, gender identity or sexual orientation, feels valued and celebrated,” they said. Nisse and Ollie said the group is building on the work of other local rainbow programmes (such as Queers & Beers and Queer Quarterly Reads) and is developing programmes to support parents and caregivers, and create wider support networks within the region.“We look forward to working with a range of community groups and to support them as our wonderfully diverse community grows.”The pair said that while Wānaka’s Pride Street Party 2023 was “one to remember”, this year’s event will take Pride “to the next level”.The week-long Pride festival (November 11-16) will culminate with the Pride Street Party at the Lake Wānaka Centre. “This exciting community event will have a range of activities, entertainers, and community groups involved,” Nisse and Ollie said.“We look forward to welcoming you on our journey to promote love and acceptance within the Wānaka and Upper Clutha community.”Everyone is invited for morning tea at the launch of the charitable trust and the community projects at the Wānaka Community Hub on Sunday August 25 at 11am. Please RSVP to [email protected] by Friday August 23. PHOTO: Wānaka App

The long-awaited fit-out of Kahu Youth’s new space at Aspiring Central is well underway.Kahu Youth chair Randal Dobbs told the Wānaka App that construction work was approaching the mid-way point and he hoped the youth club would be back in the transformed space around the end of September.Randal said the time between moving into its mostly bare premises and beginning the fit-out had been put to good use.“Over that six or eight months we were able to look at our original plans and take in the input of how young people were using the space,” he said.“We’ve changed partitions; we’ve got more creative spaces; we’re going to have a music room.“It really is a multi-use space…the fit-out will reflect original plans and changing plans.”During the fit-out planning period around 150 young people contributed to a mural that runs the full-length of an interior wall.It is one of the few parts of the premises that won’t be changed during construction.Read more: Mural breathes life into new spaceRandal said Kahu Youth was particularly pleased to have so much space at Paetara Aspiring Central, which includes a large outdoor area (formerly the garden centre when Paetara was a Mitre 10).Since Kahu Youth didn’t want to pause its operations while construction was underway its programmes have been “going out into the community”.He said Te Kura O Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC) had been very generous, providing space on a daily basis.Kahu Youth had also “consolidated operations in Hāwea” during construction.“We’re up and operating and we’re more mobile at the moment,” he said.Funding support from a range of donors has made the Kahu Youth fit-out possible.PHOTO: Deanna Gerlach

A weak 3.1 magnitude earthquake caused slight shaking in Wānaka tonight (Sunday, August 18).The earthquake struck at 8.18pm 30 kilometres north-west of Wanaka at a depth of 3 kilometres.GeoNet described it as 'unnoticeable'.There have been no reports of damage.IMAGE: GeoNet

Rocco Jamieson (18) won the first stop of the 2024 FIS Australia New Zealand Cup (ANC) Snowboard Slopestyle series at the Remarkables Ski Area yesterday (Saturday, August 17). Rocco put down two solid runs, standing out from the rest of the field with his progressive jump and rail tricks to take the win with a score of 88.67, six points clear of second place.“It feels really amazing to take the win here … at home in New Zealand, it feels really nice,” Rocco said.“I tried to do creative tricks that no one else was doing, I did a double sloth roll pullback which I don’t think anyone else did, I wanted to add a little of my own flavour to the run.”Wenlong Yang (China) finished second and Oliver Martin (USA) rounded out the men’s snowboard podium in third.Wānaka freeskier Finley Melville Ives (18) secured a podium finish, taking second place in the men’s freeski category.Finley put down the single most technical trick of the men’s freeski competition, a double corked 1260 mute grab, and was pleased to take home the silver medal in what he described as a very competitive field.Kai Martin (Australia) took the win with a technically sound run that was very well executed and Ruka Ito (Japan) finished in third.The event saw 95 athletes from eleven countries competing in the first Slopestyle Australia New Zealand Cup (ANC) event of the 2024 season, with the points counting towards the overall ANC series. The Kiwi or Australian winner of the series will be granted a personal FIS World Cup start for the upcoming Northern Hemisphere season, a hugely valuable opportunity for those athletes with their eyes set on the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. The next stop for the 2024 ANC series will be a premium-level event, with additional points up for grabs, as part of the 2024 Winter Games NZ programme. The snowboarders will compete in the first ANC halfpipe event of the season, with the freeskiers taking on the slopestyle course from August 26 at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

Progress is being made on stage five of Wānaka’s Lakefront Development Plan (LDP), which runs from the marina to just beyond the Wānaka Yacht Club.The $2.3M project is a continuation of Te Ara Wānaka – a shared pathway from stage three (adjacent to Lakeside Road) to the yacht club and the start of the Eely Point track.New parts of the shared pathway are now in place and “looking great”, a Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) spokesperson said.The construction team has finished part of the pathway, created a mountable kerb, and it is working to prepare for a future retaining wall along the bank between Lakeside Road and the boat and trailer parking area.  The marina car park will be regraded to tie in with the shared pathway, and new signage, drainage, safety and urban landscaping works will also be undertaken.Over the next few weeks, the team aims to finish timber screening on the toilet block, start installing the new retaining wall, and complete some minor asphalt parts in the marina car park, the QLDC spokesperson said.All the works for stage five are scheduled to be completed by the end of October.Read more: Lakefront development construction to occur over winterPHOTO: Wānaka App

New pest control measures along the northern end of Wānaka Lakeside Trail are the result of a community partnership involving local residents, WAI Wānaka, Te Kākano and Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).Gates with cattle grids and ‘doggy-doors’ now enclose a newly rabbit-proofed area stretching roughly from the eastern end of Waimana Place to the south end of Beacon Point Beach.“The aim is to control pests – mainly rabbits – before planting the area with more natives to help restore biodiversity,” a QLDC spokesperson told the Wānaka App.New rabbit fencing near the Beacon Point Road Beach.He said QLDC was approached by WAI Wānaka after they were contacted by a group of locals keen to restore and protect their local ‘patch’. “Council is always happy to consider supporting such volunteer efforts and our Parks team offered to assist.”QLDC contributed to the cost of infrastructure including the fencing, cattle grids, doggy-doors and farm gates, and the remaining funds have been raised by the community.Swing gates will be installed soon to maintain access for those with reduced mobility, the spokesperson added.The area will be planted with more natives to help restore biodiversity, QLDC said.A gap between the end of the fence and the lake’s edge is the result of land management changes, the council spokesperson explained.“The fencing extends as far as possible on council-managed reserve and stops where land closest to the lake itself is managed by LINZ.“It is designed to contain rabbits as much as possible and allows for more targeted pest control.” The spokesperson said the infrastructure and pest control won’t be limited to one location.“Other groups of neighbouring residents have made it clear they’re also keen to improve their own area. The collective efforts of these groups will have a really positive impact on pest control and biodiversity along this entire stretch of lakefront much enjoyed by locals and visitors,” he said.“Council looks forward to working further with the community to achieve these ends.”PHOTOS: Wānaka App