Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has temporarily banned freedom camping at one hotspot.Freedom camping will be banned at Allenby Place, a quiet street near Mount Iron, from next Friday (January 23) until the start of May, while QLDC considers its “long-term suitability”.“Allenby Place freedom camping area has experienced access and health and safety issues relating to increased traffic that are unique to the layout of this area,” QLDC chief executive Mike Theelen said.The narrowness of the accessway into the Allenby Place carpark was causing issues, he said.Three freedom camping spaces had been added at the Wānaka Recreation Centre to account for the reduction.The decision follows a chaotic holiday period around the district where hundreds of freedom camping tickets were issued and hundreds called in to complain about non-compliance, litter, noise and more. Deputy mayor Quentin Smith, who lives on Allenby Place, said he was “really happy about the temporary ban at Allenby and I am certain that other residents and users of Mount Iron will be pleased”.He said he had witnessed campers circling Allenby Place looking for available spots, which were usually filled by early afternoon, people lining up for toilets late at night, and some washing dishes in the drinking fountains and bathrooms - and he was aware of similar issues in other residential freedom camping sites.Related: Freedom camping ‘disaster’ prompts pushback on new bylaw.“Council will receive a report in time for permanent adjustments,” Quentin said. Mike said the Freedom Camping Bylaw had been largely doing its job by directing visitors to 15 pre-determined locations and keeping campers out of most residential streets.“The bylaw is only six weeks old and overall having a positive outcome,” he said.“However, it’s fair to say the sheer volume does create challenges. Since December 1 there have been 3,335 vehicle ‘check ins’ to designated freedom camping spaces alone.”Quentin, on the other hand, was less optimistic about the newly adopted bylaw.“The issues we are encountering over the summer have spurred a new round of engagement with other councils like Mackenzie District, the [Regional Tourism Organisations] like Lake Wānaka Tourism and the local MPs office, Miles Anderson, about permanent solutions.”The council needs more power to control the areas where freedom camping is considered suitable, he said.Group SaveClean NZ has campaigned to have Beacon Point removed as a freedom camping site, citing concerns around sanitation, the effect on the environment and enforcement.Spokesperson Andrea Beryl said she hoped a ban at Beacon Point would follow the Allenby Place one.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand (HNZ) has completed its Central Lakes clinical services plan.It is currently being considered by Minister of Health Simeon Brown, HNZ confirmed.An HNZ spokesperson said it would be up to the Minister of Health if and when the clinical services plan is made public.A clinical services plan helps to determine what future publicly funded clinical services may be required in a given area, how they will be delivered, and where they will be provided.The local review of clinical services began in July and was welcomed by elected members, groups and individuals who have pushed for improved health services.Read more: Mayors, MPs welcome clinical services review.Southern Lakes Health Trust - one of those groups - says the completion of the plan is a “hugely important step forward for our community.”“For years, we’ve been raising concerns that health services and infrastructure in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago are woefully inadequate for our rapidly growing and geographically isolated population,” SLHT chair Tony Paterson said.Read more: Healthcare crisis for Upper Clutha - report.“Until now, it’s been difficult to advocate effectively without the comprehensive data needed to prove it.“We’re confident the clinical services plan will now provide that irrefutable evidence and make our needs impossible to ignore.”When the clinical services plan was first announced, HNZ Southern chief medical officer David Gow said it would look at how needs have changed in this region, with clinical services “the priority” and the location of a regional hospital “the fundamental point of the review”.In late November, HNZ Te Waipounamu community integration group manager Aroha Metcalf said the plan would set a national precedent for how services are delivered in rural and remote communities by responding to population and geography in equal measure.SLHT says it was advised by HNZ that it expected an update in the new year.PHOTO: Wānaka App

The busy holiday period has kept the harbourmaster and the wider waterways team occupied so far this summer, despite mixed weather.Requests and complaints were significantly lower than during the peak holiday period in recent years, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QDLC) waterways regulatory services manager Craig Fahey said.“We’re pleased to report strong compliance with lifejacket use and general adherence to the Navigation Safety Bylaw.”However, activity on the water was not without its issues, with “some ongoing non-compliance”, particularly by jet ski users at Roys Bay, Dublin Bay and Lake Hāwea. Craig warned that the areas are monitored closely and “enforcement action will be taken where appropriate”.He said an increase in jet boat users on the river had also caused some issues.“While most boaties complied with the rules, enforcement action has been required in cases for boats accessing rivers or sections of river that are restricted in the Navigation Safety Bylaw.”‘Buoy Boy’, a Maritime New Zealand campaign with a floating reminder to ‘stay safe and know the rules’. PHOTO: Wānaka Lake SwimmersThere will be new initiatives to keep people safe on the water as the summer continues. They include some free upcoming workshops on small craft/jet ski safety.“These three-hour sessions combine theory and practical on-water skills and are designed to be a fun way to get up to speed with the knowledge needed to enjoy our lakes safely and considerately.”Read more: Free workshops for small craft/jet ski safety This summer also sees the introduction of ‘Buoy Boy’ to the district – a Maritime New Zealand campaign with a floating reminder to ‘stay safe and know the rules’, which QLDC is supporting.“Education and enforcement remain top priorities to keep everyone safe,” Craig said.“The forecast looks to be improving, and we’re sure to see more people out enjoying the lakes and rivers.”

The 2025/26 export cherry season won’t go down in history as a vintage year, but orchardists across Central Otago still have plenty of fruit to pick yet.Rain, wind and hail battered Central Otago orchardists since the beginning of Spring, and Cromwell growers have been battling at least one rain event a week for the past two months.Fortune Fruit in Lowburn has called out helicopters to dry cherries at least seven times, and said any more rain will be disastrous for the orchard.Manager Blair Davidson said this season was “unlike any other,” and he described the ongoing wind and rain as relentless.“Things will get pretty dire if we get more rain.”The orchard had to cull 40% of a block of cherries from rain damage in early January, but many of their later varieties were still on the trees, with 350 tonne still to pick. “There is still good fruit out there, if we get no more rain it will still be an okay season,” Blair said.Panmure Orchards grower Jeremy Hiscock, of Earnscleugh, said the rain came at the wrong times when many growers were trying to get export fruit off to market - particularly cherries.“It’s been a cool summer but we’ve had worse.”The weather also affected harvest windows, with some pickers frustrated with delays having to wait for different varieties to ripen.Leaning Rock in Springvale, has been advertising for pickers all this week across social media, as the fruit has all started to finally ripen.Last year the peak of the summerfruit season in Central Otago was around January 17, but this year it was running at least 2-3 weeks behind.Growers say the cooler season has affected sizing across crops and delayed their maturity, “but if anything it has spread the season out and there should be less pain that way,” Jeremy said.PHOTO: Stock image

A new community building has arrived at the Hāwea Domain, a significant step in the transformation of the 44-hectare public reserve, opening it up to more gatherings and events for the Hāwea community.When it opens - hoped to be by the end of February - the 155sqm building will significantly expand the domain’s facilities, which until now has included little more than a single portaloo.“It’s a super building,” Hāwea Domain Board treasurer Errol Carr said. “One half is one open room that used to be a classroom; this will be a community room for meetings and functions.“The other half contains toilets, a shower, kitchen and smaller meeting room.”Errol said it would serve as clubrooms for the local pony and riding clubs that operate on the domain but also a “community building available for community functions”.It also ties in with the goal of the domain board - an incorporated society with charitable status - to work with Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) to make the most of the domain, which has been a public reserve for around a century.“Our vision for the domain is we see it as what Hagley Park is for Christchurch - an area for sport and passive recreation,” Errol said. It is currently a quiet place used by dog walkers, occasional picnickers and just a few groups. While the domain board is determined to retain its sense of “peace, harmony and tranquility”, the building brings much-needed facilities.“It makes the domain more accessible and more usable for the community at large.” The new 155sqm community building is currently sitting on piles at the Hāwea Domain but finishing touches will be completed soon before it opens to the community. PHOTO: SuppliedGetting the building to the domain has been around 18 months in the making. It was offered to the domain board by Te Kura O Tititea Mount Aspiring College, where it was surplus to requirements after redevelopment, and after fundraising and consenting were complete it was moved on-site in late November.“Now it’s sitting there on piles ready for the remaining work to be done,” Errol said.Once it has a septic tank, water and power connections, water storage tanks for firefighting and car parking completed, the total cost of the project is expected to come in at around $200,000.With a new build of a similar size likely to cost in the vicinity of $650,000, it is a “cost effective solution” which Errol said may well suit the needs of the domain for the next 10–15 years, buying time before a purpose-built community facility is needed.Errol said the board planned to hold an open day event once the building is ready.“There’s so many new people in the Lake Hāwea township and valley - most would not even know the domain is there,” he said.“We want to increase the awareness that this is a community resource and an increasingly important amenity for the Hāwea community.”

The Wānaka Volunteer Fire Brigade responded to 206 callouts in 2025, a slight drop on the previous year, but one that still reflects steady demand on the town’s volunteer emergency service.The brigade attended around four incidents a week on average, with 48 percent fire-related and 22 percent linked to motor vehicle accidents.Deputy chief fire officer Tom Syben, who was newly appointed on Monday (January 12) and has been with the brigade for 10 years, said the overall number was down from about 250 callouts in 2024.“There were certainly a few less vegetation fires this year just given it hasn’t been as dry towards the end of summer as it normally is,” he said.Wānaka Volunteer Fire Brigade deputy chief fire officer Tom Syben. PHOTO: SuppliedTom said motor vehicle incidents continued to be among the most challenging callouts.“It can have a psychological impact, getting to see scenes that aren’t an everyday thing for most people,” he said. “We take that side of things seriously and we have wrap-around support from Fire and Emergency New Zealand like ongoing counselling.”The brigade currently has 33 volunteers, with recruitment ongoing.“Our volunteers go through about 12 months’ training from joining up to be able to go out on calls, so there is a fair bit of training involved,” Tom said.That training does not stop once volunteers are operational, with weekly sessions held to maintain and build skills.Volunteers take part in an on-call roster, making themselves available for a full week each month.“During that week you make yourself available for all callouts,” Tom said.“The biggest thing for us is availability… especially during work hours,” Tom said. “It takes the right sort of employer to let someone go at the drop of a hat.”The brigade’s target response time is under five minutes. In 2025 the average response time was five minutes and six seconds across all incidents.Tom acknowledged the ongoing support of local service groups, including Lions and Rotary, which continue to assist the brigade in a range of ways.

Two packed weeks of competitive tennis have wrapped up at the Wānaka Tennis Club (WTC), with hundreds of players and spectators turning out for a run of tournaments showcasing strong local and national talent.The Stonewood Homes Open (January 2-4) and the Quartz Reef tournament (January 10-11) were held over consecutive weekends, bringing a steady flow of visiting players to Wānaka, while the Craigs Investment Partners Junior Tournament (January 5-8) gave young players a chance to compete across multiple age groups.WTC president Jeanette Hatten said the standard of play was impressive.“The Open standard was extremely high,” she said. “It is fantastic to have that standard of tennis [in Wānaka] and a lot of people came along to watch.”Jeanette said the summer tournaments continue to draw visitors back year after year.“A lot of out-of-towners … quite a few families come every year,” she said.The Quartz Reef tournament attracted around 90 players and the junior tournament featured players from under-10s through to under-18s.Wānaka doubles pair Marina Sokolnikova (left) and Carolyn Oakley-Brown were runners up in the Stonewood Homes Open women's doublesJeanette thanked sponsors and the large group of volunteers who supported the events.She said the club is in a strong position, with around 400 members and growing interest across all age groups.Results:Stonewood Homes OpenMen’s singles: Dan Milburn defeated Finley HallWomen’s singles: Mackenzie Phillips defeated Jordyn PhillipsMen’s doubles: Dan Milburn and Noa Milburn defeated Ryan Eggers and Gavin MockfordWomen’s doubles: Mackenzie Phillips and Jordyn Phillips defeated Marina Sokolnikova and Carolyn Oakley-BrownQuartz Reef TournamentMen’s A grade doubles: Will Lamb and Jules MumfordRunners-up: Kelvin Tagg and Steve WadsworthMen’s B1 grade: James Every-Palmer and Craig SquireMen’s B2 grade: Bruce Eggleton and Peter McCutcheonWomen’s A grade: Marina Sokolnikova and Jeanette MarstonWomen’s B1 grade: Janelle Rathgen and Daniela ZavalloneRunners-up: Lea and Amy MulveyWomen’s B2 grade: Denise Colton and Meredith MolloyMixed A1: Tony Hawker and Ritzy GillespieMixed A2: Jonathon and Caroline AndrieuxMixed B1: Joshua Joseph and Meredith MolloyMixed B2: Steve Lands and Andrea DalyMixed 120+ Group 1: Max Morrison and Denise ColtonMixed 120+ Group 2: Graeme and Louise WilkinsonCraig’s Investment Partners Junior TournamentUnder 10 boys singles: Carter GoldsmithUnder 10 boys doubles: Carter Goldsmith and Leon TianUnder 10 girls singles: Harper DawsonUnder 10 girls doubles: Harper Dawson and Emu-Ujin ChoidorjUnder 12 girls singles: Maddie SpicerUnder 12 girls doubles: Harper Dawson and Emu-Ujin ChoidorjUnder 12 boys singles: Dashiell MacPherson-MartinUnder 12 boys doubles: Charlie Herd and Torran LugtonUnder 14 boys singles: Damien WheelerUnder 14 boys doubles: Harry Gawith and Dashiell MacPherson-MartinUnder 14 girls singles: Elina WangUnder 14 girls doubles: Charlotte Gilbert and Sophie ShaweUnder 18 girls singles: Katy BrownUnder 18 girls doubles: Annabel Trolove and Elina WangUnder 18 boys singles: Lukas NecasUnder 18 boys doubles: Lukas Necas and Henry CooneyPHOTOS: Supplied

Wānaka Police are thanking residents for their patience on the roads during the busy holiday period and for helping keep the community safe over this time.“As expected, the New Year period brought a large influx of families and young people to Wānaka,” Wānaka Police area response manager Sergeant Darren Cranfield said.“The youth gatherings along the waterfront from 27 December through to 1 January were generally well-behaved, with Police dealing with a few altercations and making several arrests for various offences.”Police still issued over 100 infringement notices for breaches of the liquor ban and underage drinking. “We extend a special thank you to the many parents who came into town to supervise their young people during the festivities - your involvement makes a real difference.”There were very few incidents for Wānaka Police to deal with at Rhythm & Alps, which was “once again a well-managed event”.“Overall, given the large numbers of visitors in the area, it was pleasing to see such positive behaviour across the community.”Over the New Year period, 12 people were apprehended for drink driving, and Wānaka Police have also received complaints regarding excessive charges from out-of-town taxi operators. “While overcharging is generally a civil matter, if a fare is agreed upon and a higher amount is charged without your consent, Police may become involved,” Darren said. “We strongly advise passengers to agree on a fare before entering the taxi.”Darren said Wānaka Police have attended a number of search and rescue events recently.“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the volunteers from LandSAR and their families for their ongoing commitment and support. Their efforts save lives and are greatly appreciated.“Of note, we now have access to a newly developed Wanaka LandSAR drone team, which is proving to be a valuable resource for search and rescue operations.”Darren said roads remain a “key area of focus” for Wānaka Police.“We ask motorists to drive with care and report any dangerous or careless driving to Police by calling 105,” he said.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

A talk in Wānaka is offering homeowners guidance on moving away from gas following news that New Zealand’s natural gas supplies are projected to run out this year.Electrify Wānaka’s free event tomorrow (Thursday January 15) will provide practical tips for reducing household energy costs through electrification and feature insights from Rewiring Aotearoa and the Electric Homes Report.Electrifying a home means replacing current uses fueled by natural gas, propane, gasoline, or fuel oil with electric appliances.While lights, dishwashers and ovens may be electric, there are still many households which use gas for water heating, space heating, plus petrol and diesel for driving.Transitioning households away from gas is one of Electrify Wānaka’s key priorities, the organisation’s co-founder Jonathan Holmes said.Recently revised MBIE data revealed New Zealand’s natural gas supplies have already fallen 27 percent since 2024 and, although the government is investing in new fields, they won’t deliver immediate relief.Using renewable energy is “not just an environmental argument anymore; it's also an economic one”, he said.The talk will focus on the practical and financial benefits of electrification, providing guidance for people looking to future-proof their homes and manage rising energy costs. While there is still uncertainty about the future of New Zealand’s gas for industry and households, costs are expected to rise considerably, and electric systems will be cheaper to operate over their lifetime, if not always upfront, Jonathan said.Learn more about it at tomorrow night’s talk, which will take place at the Wānaka Library from 5.45pm-6.45pm.While it is free attendees are asked to reserve their spot.

One of the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft will make its first-ever visit to New Zealand this Easter, with the USAF F-22 Raptor confirmed for Warbirds Over Wānaka.Airshow general manager Ed Taylor said the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team will perform on all three days of the airshow, which runs from April 3-5, and it represents a major coup.“This is right up there with the biggest acts we’ve ever secured in the 38 years of our event,” Ed said.Only 183 Raptors have been built since the aircraft entered service in 2005, and at a cost of more than $NZ200M each, it is the only US-built fighter never sold to other countries.The fifth-generation fighter is widely regarded as the best combat aircraft in the world, combining exceptional stealth with engines that generate more thrust than any other fighter.One of the Raptor’s standout capabilities is “supercruise” - the ability to fly at supersonic speeds without using afterburners.The aircraft will be flown at Wānaka by Captain Nick “Laz” Le Tourneau, commander and pilot of the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team, which is based at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.“This team displays at all the major airshows in the US and at big military airshows around the world,” Ed said.“To have them come here says a lot about how well regarded the Wānaka show is globally.”Two Raptors will make the journey to New Zealand and operate out of Christchurch International Airport, and Ed said the airport had gone “above and beyond” to ensure the demo team’s requirements can be met.Warbirds Over Wānaka will take place at Wānaka Airport over Easter weekend. Tickets are available through Ticketek.PHOTO: Supplied

Community Link has been named the charity of choice for the 23rd annual Hirepool Charity Classic Trilogy golf tournament, hosted by the Wānaka Golf Club (WGC), with proceeds supporting Community Link’s 2026 Cold Kids campaign.The three-day tournament will bring visitors from across New Zealand to Wānaka in March for a weekend of golf, connection and fundraising. The tournament is a much-loved fixture on the local sporting calendar, and since its inception it has raised more than half a million dollars for local charities, including $45,000 for the Upper Clutha Children’s Medical Trust last year.Read more: Children’s Medical Trust ‘blown away’ - golf tournament raises $45,000Community Link general manager Kate Murray said being selected as the charity of choice for 2026 was both an honour and an opportunity to highlight the real needs within the community.“Wānaka is often seen as a wealthy place, but many local families are living with very little financial buffer,” she said.“The Cold Kids campaign helps ensure children can stay warm through winter, and support from events like the Hirepool Charity [Classic Trilogy] makes a genuine difference for whānau across the Upper Clutha.”Community Link supports individuals and families throughout the Upper Clutha and responded to more than 5,000 requests for help last year. Through the Cold Kids campaign it provides heating assistance, firewood and other essential support to help households stay warm in winter, but it also offers a range of other services. They range from its food bank to one-on-one support and coordination of services like Meals on Wheels and Wheels to Dunstan.Kate said Community Link and the tournament organisers would love to hear from local organisations and businesses willing to support the event through auction and raffle donations, to maximise fundraising for the Cold Kids campaign.The Hirepool Charity Classic Trilogy golf tournament will take place from March 20-22.PHOTO: Wānaka Golf Club

Regular evening closures are planned for the Luggate Red Bridge from next week, as resurfacing and inspection work gets underway on the historic structure.NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said the bridge, on SH8A, will be closed overnight from this Sunday (January 18) through to Thursday March 26, between 8pm and 6am, Sunday to Thursday.“The closures are to allow routine and necessary maintenance that includes deck running board replacements, structural strengthening and checking and tightening of bolted deck connections,” an NZTA spokesperson told the Wānaka App. “The work may also require abseilers working below the bridge surface over the Clutha River/ Mata-Au. All of this work is about ensuring safety of road users.”The spokesperson said the work had been scheduled to minimise the impact on road users and provide work teams extra daylight hours to fit in the work.During the closure period, road users will need to take the detour via Hāwea Flat - Kane Road, Camphill Road, SH6. The detour is approximately 32km and is expected to take around 20 to 25 minutes.The work is part of an ongoing programme to maintain the 1915 bridge, which was designed for much lighter and less frequent traffic than it now carries.There will be no closures on Friday or Saturday nights, and no closures during long weekends.PHOTO: Wānaka App.

Challenge Wānaka organisers are advising residents and visitors to plan ahead, with significant road closures and traffic delays confirmed around the 2026 Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wānaka Festival of Triathlon in February.Events run from February 19-21, with the festival hub based at Pembroke Park.​Ardmore Street alongside Pembroke Park will be closed from 3pm Wednesday February 18 through to 8pm Saturday February 21, with traffic detoured via Brownston Street.Sections of McDougall Street and Wānaka-Mt Aspiring Road will also be closed at various times from Wednesday to Friday that same week for youth events, with detours in place via Brownston Street, Meadowstone Drive and Old Station Avenue.​On Friday February 20, Wānaka-Mt Aspiring Road from the Sargood Drive roundabout to just past Whare Kea Lodge will be under a hard closure from 12.30pm to 2.30pm, with no vehicle access at all between 1pm and 2pm. The most extensive closure will be on Saturday February 21, when Wānaka-Mt Aspiring Road from McDougall Street to Treble Cone will be closed from 5am to 1.30pm for the Challenge Wānaka Half, with access limited to residents and businesses holding a special pass.​Additional Saturday impacts include one-way or closed sections on McDougall Street, Dungarvon Street, Lakeside Road and Beacon Point Road, and delays of up to 30 minutes around the Sargood Drive and Old Station Road roundabout during the peak bike leg. Residents needing essential access on Wānaka-Mt Aspiring Road during Saturday’s closure are asked to email [email protected] in advance to arrange a special access pass.​Full closure details and maps can be found here.IMAGE: Challenge Wānaka

Plans are in the works for a substantial subdivision on the south side of fast-growing Albert Town.An 8.6-hectare site north of the Cardrona River could be turned into a 42-lot development if Southern Ventures Property Ltd’s resource consent application is approved.Part of the subdivision would adjoin existing homes in the area known as ‘old’ Albert Town, which has seen much less development in recent years than on the other side of the state highway.Some new lots would be next to Kinnibeg Street and Carlow Street, and sections are proposed to range in size from 514m2 to 916m2.The part of the site located further south, beside the Cardrona River, is planned for two substantial wetlands, green spaces, walkways, and a neighbourhood reserve. This would give both residents and visitors more direct access to the river and the Cardrona River Trail.The 8.6 hectare site on the south side of Albert Town. IMAGE: SuppliedThe site includes a mix of zoning and planning constraints, which the proposed development aims to manage through its lot layout, wetlands, and open spaces.The northern portion is lower-density suburban residential, while the southern part is rural lifestyle. It also has a building restriction area and identified flood hazards, along with a small rural-zoned section.Substantial earthworks - about 55,000m3 of fill - would be required to lift the residential areas to mitigate flood risk, application documents said, and separate applications have been lodged with Otago Regional Council concerning this.The proposal follows a surge in Albert Town property prices, which have risen more than 200 percent in the last ten years, from an average asking price of $553,500 in 2015 to almost $1.8M in 2025.Queenstown Lakes District Council is currently considering the application.Read more: Albert Town prices rise 200% in a decade

The Craigs Investment Aspiring Art Prize is underway in Wānaka for its 19th year, opening on Friday night (January 9) at Holy Family Catholic School. The event drew a crowd of about 300 people.The annual exhibition, which raises funds for Holy Family Catholic School, has grown into a nationally recognised event, attracting entries from artists across Aotearoa and showcasing a wide range of contemporary work.Holy Family Catholic School principal Jane Rush said the art prize had evolved significantly since its early days. She said the show had become “a prestigious nationwide event celebrating the creative spirit from every corner of Aotearoa”.“Because it is now nationwide, the task of selection is more challenging than ever,” Jane said.Runner Up Carol Bucknell’s ‘House Proud’.She said the art prize delivers more than $30,000 a year to the school, providing vital support for students and families. “This support allows us to provide the best possible educational opportunities, specifically, for helping us maintain smaller class sizes, ensuring that a child’s foundational learning sets them up for life,” she said.Jane said the funding also allows the school to expose students to a world of creativity, opening their eyes to new ways of seeing and understanding the world.This year’s judging panel included Julia Hutchinson, director of the Hutch gallery in Dunedin, and Polly Gilroy, manager of PG Gallery 192 in Christchurch.Holy Family Catholic School principal Jane Rush centre with judges Julia Hutchinson left and Polly Gilroy.Julia said the exhibition reflected both quality and variety. She described it as a “strong and diverse collection of work,” and said “the standard across all of the submissions was exceptionally high”.Read more: 150+ works for Aspiring Art PrizeThe supreme winner was awarded to David Craig for his work ‘Wānaka Audible Landscape’.“[This piece] instantly caught both of our attentions, rather than depicting the land literally the work expresses its essence through emotive gestures, layering textures in a dynamic interplay of thick and thin oil,” Julia said.The exhibition will remain open to the public until 4pm today (Monday January 12), giving people the opportunity to view the works, support local education and engage with contemporary New Zealand art. Entry is $5.Find out more about the Craigs Aspiring Art Prize here.Prizes:Merit Award - Alecia Koenigsberger’s ‘To go to the pool'.Best under 400mm x 400mm - Madeleine Cunliffe’s ‘The Inheritance of Silence’.Best art work under $1000 - Lynn Brocherie Millar’s ‘Dancing above the Ngahere’.Best Landscape Artist - Alicja Gear’s ‘As above so below; as within so without; as the universe so the soul’.Runner Up - Carol Bucknell’s ‘House Proud’.Supreme winner - David Craig’s ‘Wānaka Audible Landscape’.PHOTOS: Wānaka App

Wānaka freeskier Finley Melville Ives (19) dominated the Aspen Freeski Halfpipe World Cup today (January 11), claiming gold by a wide margin in Colorado.Finley topped qualifying and backed it up in finals, landing a technical first run with massive amplitude for a score of 95.00 that no one could touch. His second run served as a victory lap, marking his third World Cup podium and extending his lead in the 2025/26 Freeski Halfpipe standings.“I had such a good training, so I said to my coach I am going to go hammers for my first run and I was stoked, I can’t believe it held,” Finley said.“I am just trying to have as much fun as possible when I’m skiing, and skiing is my happy place.”Finley beat a star-studded field, with Team USA’s Hunter Hess in second and three-time Winter Olympian Nick Goepper in third. Wānaka’s Gustav Legnavsky (20) placed ninth.Finley currently leads the World Cup standings for the 2025/26 Freeski Halfpipe World Cup Tour.Earlier in Aspen, Kiwi snowboarder Dane Menzies (20) grabbed bronze for his first World Cup podium at the Snowboard Slopestyle event. The Park and Pipe competition continues over the next couple of weeks, with the LAAX Slopestyle and Halfpipe World Cups, and the prestigious Aspen X Games on the calendar.Watch Finley's run here.PHOTO: Andrew Wevers / FIS Park & Pipe.

Queenstown Lakes deputy mayor Quentin Smith says he will push for changes to the district’s new freedom camping bylaw following a chaotic holiday period.The bylaw - introduced after the previous version was overturned in the High Court - allows freedom camping at 15 locations around the Queenstown Lakes District including a handful in Wānaka, most of them carparks.Allenby Place, where Quentin lives, is among the designated freedom camping zones - and he said the Christmas and New Year period had been “a complete disaster”.“While compliance with the three spots per night has increased, all the other impacts have remained, and some cases increased,” he said.He described campers circling Allenby Place looking for available spots, which were usually filled by early afternoon, people lining up for toilets late at night, and some washing dishes in the drinking fountains and bathrooms.The freedom camping zone at Beacon Point “has also had similar issues,” he said.“The DOC carpark has been heavily abused with up to 75 vans some nights and morning users being completely shut out,” Quentin said. “Regular walkers and users of Mt Iron track have been displaced in favour of turning them into full-scale campgrounds.”He said the freedom camping zones at the Wānaka Recreation Centre, Camphill Bridge and the Luggate Red Bridge Reserve had also been “heavily utilised”.   Between December 1 and January 5 Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and its contractors issued 364 $400 Freedom Camping Act infringements across the district and another 37 $800 Reserves Act infringements.Residents contacted the council 282 times regarding freedom camping issues, including more than 120 reports about Upper Clutha sites. Over the same period, QLDC also dealt with camping in many “no freedom camping” zones, including Ardmore Street, Aubrey Road, Brownston Street, Dungarvon Street, Gunn Road, and Lakeside Road.A QLDC spokesperson acknowledged it had been a “busy summer so far”, with its daily monitoring including the responsible camping ambassadors, twilight patrols of sites by Cougar Security, and then nighttime enforcement.While the teams had been doing a good job monitoring and enforcing the bylaw, the council is “throwing a lot of costly resources at a problem we shouldn’t have,” Quentin said.Introduced after NZMCA legal action overturned the previous bylaw, the new bylaw represents a compromise under pressure, that has proved deeply unpopular with residents.Quentin said the behaviour of campers this summer “reinforces that the previous bylaw was largely correct for our community and the position we have been pushed into by the NZMCA legal action is untenable”.Although the bylaw is already in effect, the QLDC CEO has delegated powers to make changes, and council could also consider amendments at a future meeting, he said.There are a number of people “gathering evidence and data to challenge the bylaw” and he encouraged residents to record complaints to [email protected].“At the very least,” Quentin said, he will personally push to remove freedom camping sites from residential areas.PHOTO: Wānaka App 

WAI Wānaka is thanking its growing network of volunteers for removing more than 1.3 tonnes of rubbish during local beach-clean ups over the past year.The figure is included in the organisation’s recently-released 2024–2025 Impact Report, which acknowledges the contribution of hundreds of volunteers involved in beach clean-ups, citizen science, research and neighbourhood-based environmental projects.The clean-up events alone resulted in 1,370 kilograms of rubbish being collected, while separate citizen science programmes gave participants regular opportunities to contribute data through initiatives such as Litter Intelligence surveys, stream health assessments and environmental monitoring.Volunteers removed more than 1.3 tonnes of rubbish during 2024-2025 beach clean-ups. PHOTO: SuppliedCommunity members also supported microplastics research, contributing 60 hours of volunteer lab time, assisting with research to show how activities on land and in water affect local rivers and lakes, WAI Wānaka said.Urban action groups operating across five urban catchments contributed 446 volunteer hours, with neighbours working together to restore native biodiversity and improve water quality through planting, plant maintenance and pest control.WAI Wānaka’s Adopt a Drain programme also grew significantly over the year. By inviting residents, schools and businesses to ‘adopt’ stormwater drains, the initiative aims to reduce stormwater pollution and raise awareness of the link between urban runoff and freshwater health.The organisation’s Adopt a Drain programme has also grown, and expanded out of the Upper Clutha. PHOTO: Wānaka App Participation increased from 58 adopters in the 2023–24 financial year to 105 in 2024–25, and the programme’s impact has now extended beyond the Upper Clutha, with Otago Regional Council adopting Adopt a Drain for rollout across the wider region.Beyond hands-on work, the organisation connected with 1,918 people through events during the reporting period.WAI Wānaka chief executive Cat Dillon said the organisation’s work would not be possible without volunteers, which extended beyond these contributions and also include “content creators to tech wizards to subject matter experts sitting on advisory boards”.Read the full WAI Wānaka impact report here.

Residents and visitors can brush up on their small craft and jet ski skills this month with a series of free water safety workshops.Organised by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) in partnership with Maritime NZ and Coastguard NZ, the workshops will cover everything from essential safety theory and trip planning to practical on-water skills.They are designed to “help locals and summer visitors enjoy our lakes and rivers with confidence and care,” a QLDC representative told the Wānaka App.The programme is supported by a share of $848,000 in government grants targeted at reducing harm in high-risk recreational water environments. QLDC is one of 30 councils to receive funding for the community education initiatives.“QLDC is grateful for this funding which will help support a community education programme relating to small craft safety including a focus on jet-skis,” the representative said.“In addition, we’re hosting pop-up stalls at ramps and busy areas throughout the summer in conjunction with WAI Wānaka and the QLDC Harbourmaster as well as our two workshop partners.” The two Wānaka workshops will take place on January 18 and 25 at the Marine Rescue Centre at Eely Point. All sessions will run from 9am until midday.They are open to people new to boating or jet skiing or anyone who is just looking to refresh their skills, the QLDC representative said.“Spaces are limited and we expect them to fill up so anyone interested is encouraged to get in quick by emailing [email protected] with their name, contact details, preferred session and type of craft.”PHOTOS: Wānaka App