It is kārearea/NZ Falcon nesting season again, and a local group is asking for sightings of the birds to be reported.The Kārearea Project, led by Cardrona-Treble Cone, is now in its seventh year of research to understand and protect kārearea in Central Otago. Kārearea are about halfway through their nesting season, and the project is following multiple nesting pairs - but it is seeking more to help understand the local population better.Despite being an endemic species, with a high threat classification and low population density, kārearea are poorly studied, project member Tom Reeves said.“Our aim is to estimate the breeding population size and territory size, quantify nest survival rates and causes of nest failures, estimate adult survival rates, and identify management actions that benefit the conservation of this endemic raptor,” he said. “To do this effectively we need to monitor as many pairs and nests as possible.” Tom said the group is interested in any kārearea sightings, especially of pairs, nests or nesting behavior (territorial swooping, pairs returning to a similar spot again and again, fledglings).“We are also interested in any information on threats or fatalities of kārearea (predation, window strike, persecution, vehicle strike, electrocution).”  Tom said the group is interested in reports from across the district. If people observe any of these behaviours they should make a note of location (GPS/map screenshot/detailed description) and what the birds are doing and report the sighting here, email [email protected], or call on 0220203647. “Any photos are a great help too,” he said.People are advised not to approach any suspected falcon nest as this could cause nest failure or injury to themselves or the birds.

Four Square Wānaka’s local owners Sophie and James Brears are celebrating their first year in business, and they say the past 12 months have been all about investing back into the store and the community they call home.Sophie, James and their two children Henry and Georgie outside Wānaka Four Square soon after taking over the business in 2024.The couple, whose children attend local schools, took over the shop last November and have since poured their time, energy and every spare dollar into improving the shopping experience.“We’re here working in the store every day - it's very much a labour of love, so it’s really important to us that our customers can see and feel the positive changes,” Sophie said.James serving customers at the new 'staffed' checkout.Over the past year the pair have upgraded the staffed checkout area, added self-checkouts, and installed new refrigeration to allow for an expanded product range. That includes a growing selection of Wānaka produced goods such as B.Effect beer and kombucha, Pure Icecream, Wānaka Chocolate, Venus Coffee and Red Bridge strawberries.They’ve also refreshed the food-to-go section with improved hot food and salad options, introduced locally made sushi from Sushi-Mii, and Fresh Fusion ice cream will be scooped on site throughout summer.Supporting local is a priority for Sophie and James, who continue to back groups including Wānaka Primary School, Mount Aspiring College, junior hockey, netball, rugby, the Merino Muster and Ben Suncin’s Brain Trust.Ben Suncin collecting for the Brain Injury Association in store earlier this year.Looking ahead, they plan to repaint the store’s interior and exterior (while keeping its familiar façade) and increase their involvement in local events.A photo of the Jolly family standing outside the now Wānaka Four Square when it was the General Merchants Store in 1927 is proudly displayed in the store.To mark the one-year milestone, a birthday celebration will be held on Friday, November 28. The first 100 paying customers will receive free mini doughnuts from White Rabbit and a coffee. A community BBQ will run from 3pm to 5pm, and shoppers who spend more than $30 (excludes alcohol, tobacco and Lotto) will go in the draw to win a hamper. In-store specials, including $1 deals, will run throughout the day.Come in and say hi to Sophie and James and help them celebrate their first year in business.70 Ardmore Street, WānakaOpenMonday - Friday 7.30 am till 9 pmSaturday and Sunday 8 ma till 9 pmPHOTO: Wānaka App & Supplied.

Four writers will be taking it outside this month as part of the Three Lakes Cultural Trust’s Creative Spaces project, and they are inviting locals to pick up their pens and join in.Wānaka's Laura Williamson, Queenstown's Bethany Rogers, and former Wānaka residents Liz Breslin and Annabel Wilson will be presenting 'Field Notes' on Sunday November 30 in and around the Wānaka Scout Den and Eely Point.The four will present a reading from their recent works, followed by a walking workshop, in which participants will take a short easy walk with several stops, each designed to inspire creative flow in a different way."Everyone will get the chance to start a new piece of writing, or to work on something they've already started, through a series of site-specific prompts," Laura said.Annabel said the workshop will involve a "wayfinding approach", whereby walking becomes a writer's tool, bringing together body and mind."We hope you’ll come away with some fresh ideas and connections. And there will be a chance for some kōrero and sharing of our kupu at the end."Participants should bring a pen, notebook, comfortable shoes and a desire to get inspired, Laura said.Running from November 1–30, the Creative Spaces Project is a collaboration between Queenstown Lakes District Council and the Three Lakes Cultural Trust, pairing local creativity with unexpected spaces and places across the Queenstown Lakes District. Field Notes Wānaka is supported by the Upper Clutha Community Arts Council.PHOTO: Wānaka App

As we get closer to the end of the school year, I start to think about the summer ahead and what it will be like for our young people. Many will have a summer job, some might pick up more responsibilities around the home - like looking after younger siblings - while others will be looking forward to the outdoor activities the summer brings. Navigating some of the freedoms our teenagers seek over the summer break can be tricky, and may even cause a bit of family tension. It’s not easy hearing, ‘You’re the only parent who says no!’, or ‘You’re just so unfair!’ (often with a few other choice words thrown into the mix). Coming back to your family values and age-appropriate expectations - with the law as a helpful guide - can make these conversations easier. These discussions often touch on staying out later, alcohol use, and other potentially risky situations. Local community organisation Path Wānaka connects parents, whānau and caregivers to the tools, knowledge and skills necessary to support young people through their teenage years. Path’s ‘Safe Summer in Wānaka’ information can be found on their website where you’ll also find other valuable resources and support services for parents, whānau and young people. Tips for parents and whānau Know who your teenager is spending time with and where they plan to be.Connect with other parents if your teen is staying overnight elsewhere. Create a safe exit plan. Agree on a code word your child can text if they need an excuse to leave a situation that feels uncomfortable. You can then call and ‘need’ to pick them up - a simple way for your teen to exit safely while maintaining their mana. There are so many ways to make the most of the incredible environment we live in. Spending time with the young people in our lives can be as simple as a walk down the Outlet Track, a visit to a pump track, or cooking and gardening together - small moments that build skills and connection. With a bit of planning and by staying connected, we can make sure this summer is safe, positive, and enjoyable for everyone.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is working on a temporary solution to have the Lake Wānaka jetty open this summer.The jetty was damaged in the severe weather in late November and signs currently warn lakegoers not to use the jetty, which is partially submerged. A QLDC spokesperson said the council had accessed the jetty and conducted an inspection, but was tight-lipped about its condition about whether it is likely to be repaired or replaced long-term.Council staff are working through a “comprehensive analysis and evaluation of all the options”, the spokesperson said.“Once finalised [council staff] will submit a report to the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board for review as we seek direction on the best course of action.”Concepts for a new, reimagined jetty were shared by RMM Landscape Architects earlier this year, which deputy mayor Quentin Smith said at the time he would “welcome and encourage”.Read more: Creative designs for ‘long overdue’ new jettyThe spokesperson said the options for the jetty’s future would be made public at the community board meeting in February.They confirmed the council hopes to have a short-term fix in place so the popular lakefront jetty can be used during the warmer months.“We’re currently working on an interim solution to keep the wharf open and accessible to locals and visitors over summer.”PHOTO: Wānaka App

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has received two abatement notices from Otago Regional Council (ORC) after it breached its consent at Wānaka’s Project Pure wastewater treatment plant.The situation is “disappointing” but QLDC is cooperating fully with the ORC, QLDC general manager property and infrastructure Tony Avery said.“Our teams are committed to ensuring the operation returns to full compliance as quickly as possible,” he said. Earlier this week QLDC said performance issues at the Wānaka plant during upgrade works had led to ponding in disposal fields, surface run-off and nitrogen levels exceeding consent limits.Read more: Wastewater problems strike Wānaka’s Project PureQLDC had been upgrading one of its reactors when higher flows from winter school holidays and heavy rain events placed strain on the facility’s biological treatment process“With the recent upgrade work now complete, and all three reactors operating as expected, we’re already seeing material improvements in the treated wastewater quality,” Tony said. “We will continue to keep the community informed while we work through these issues.”PHOTO: Supplied

Tributes have been flowing for long-time Wānaka GP Dr Dennis Pezaro, who died on Sunday (November 16), aged 83.Described by his family as a “devoted country GP for 60 years”, Dennis has been remembered by locals as a welcoming doctor who offered wisdom along with health care.In a speech he gave in 2014, Dennis said he believed “that everyone I met had something in their life, of great worth, to be respected, treasured, enjoyed, and that the healthcare interaction was to facilitate this core of their being, whether with laughter or tears, medicines or hugs, tea or whisky”. Dennis moved to Wānaka, with his wife Olwyn, in 1973 as the town’s only GP, working initially in cooperation with the practice and hospital in Cromwell.His practice grew quickly.“He worked six days a week and on the seventh day he worked as well,” a long term friend of the Pezaros told the Wānaka App.Dennis was “on every committee”, they said.He became very involved in Wānaka life and community projects, including the development of Treble Cone and Cardrona skifields.Wānaka Medical Centre supplied all the early medical services on the skifields and the GPs were granted early recognition as partial radiologists to take x-rays.Dennis has said they “developed significant experience and some expertise in acute trauma”. “On the worst weekend before wrist guards were invented we set 20 broken wrists and my own experience is of reducing about 80 dislocated shoulders and about eight dislocated hips.”Dennis joined the executive team of the NZ Medical Association in 1992 and was chair from 1995-6.He is survived by Olwyn, and his family Sarah and Andrew, Avi, and Kit; Carmel; Daniel and Carolyn, Zac and Aria.A memorial service will take place in the New Year.Note: Some information has been provided by Upper Clutha resident historian Ken Allan from notes of a speech Dennis gave in 2014.PHOTO: Supplied

More families are settling into new Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (QLCHT) homes in Lake Hāwea’s Longview subdivision as the not-for-profit trust reports steady progress on its largest Upper Clutha development to date.QLCHT provides affordable housing for low-to-middle income earners in the district, made possible when it receives land from developers through a contribution process with Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC). QLCHT has received all 58 sections from Longview developer Universal Developments - whose subdivision was approved under Special Housing Area legislation - and more than half have now been built on and are home to singles, couples, and whānau.“Thirty-three homes are complete and allocated under our various programmes with a further 12 currently under construction,” QLCHT chief executive Julie Scott told the Wānaka App. Earlier this week QLCHT said it had a couple of extra properties in Longview which will be ready by February or March next year, and encouraged interested parties to register.They include two-bedroom homes for $430,000 and three-bedroom homes for $485,000 under the trust’s Secure Home programme, which is based on a leasehold ownership tenure.Demand for QLCHT homes is generally very strong because the trust offers a range of housing programmes priced well below the open market, Julie said.More affordable QLCHT homes are in the pipeline at Longview.“The balance, 13 sections, are currently in the design phase with construction expected to commence early 2026,” Julie said.She said the trust was grateful to Universal Developments for the land and to QLDC for facilitating the process.The Longview builds sit alongside a range of housing projects QLCHT has underway across the Queenstown Lakes district.Read more: Family ‘stoked’ with home ownershipPHOTO: Wānaka App

Academy Award–nominated producer Chelsea Winstanley, ONZM, will visit Wānaka next month for a special screening of TOITŪ: Visual Sovereignty and an in-person Q&A. Her appearance is one of the headline moments in Te Atamira’s new ‘Wahine in Film’ weekend programme, which brings a series of screenings and artist talks to Queenstown and Wānaka on December 6 and 7.Chelsea is the first Indigenous female producer nominated for an Academy Award and a producer of the Oscar-winning film Jojo Rabbit.TOITŪ: Visual Sovereignty is her debut directorial feature and goes behind the scenes of the largest Māori art exhibition in Aotearoa’s history, tracking Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art’s record-breaking success as well as the tensions that emerged.The ‘Wahine in Film’ weekend will bring TOITŪ to Wānaka. Te Atamira director Ruth Heath, who recently marked three months in the role, said bringing the screening and Q&A over the hill is a significant and exciting step. “I am thrilled to bring such acclaimed wāhine to our region,” Ruth said. “It is particularly special to welcome Chelsea Winstanley - an artist of international standing whose work continues to amplify Indigenous voices. “Our partnership with Cinema Paradiso is also an exciting first for Te Atamira as we broaden our reach to Wānaka.“I know we have an engaged audience here who love the arts.”The Wānaka screening is part of a wider weekend of kōrero, artist talks, and films featuring Dame Gaylene Preston, Dame Robin White, and Julia Holden hosted by Te Atamira, Queenstown's arts and culture centre.The TOITŪ: Visual Sovereignty film screening and Q&A with director Chelsea WinstanleyWill take place on Sunday December 7 at 2pm at Cinema Paradiso ($21).Learn more about this and other upcoming Te Atamira events here.PHOTOS: Supplied

A group of First Foundation scholars are in Wānaka this week learning what sustainability looks like when it’s lived, not just talked about.The scholars — part of the nationwide four-year First Foundation programme — are spending the week working alongside Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust, gaining hands-on experience in native regeneration and community-led conservation.They will also visit Treespace, and Contact Energy’s Clyde site, where they’ll see renewable energy generation in action and learn how large-scale infrastructure plays a role in the country’s sustainable future.First Foundation CEO Kirk Sargent said the trip is part of the foundation’s effort to reduce its carbon footprint while continuing to deliver its work across the country. “We can’t remove travel from what we do, but we can take responsibility for it,” he said.“Supporting a project like the Wānaka Catchment Group through Trees That Count means our offset has a real, local impact.”This year the foundation has directed its Trees That Count donation to the Wānaka Catchment Group’s Wai Ora Project, a local initiative focused on improving water quality and biodiversity through riparian planting, fencing, and farm-based restoration. The Wai Ora Project has already planted 52,000 natives, installed 22 kilometres of riparian fencing, and protected 94 hectares of land from stock.The project has also connected farmers, environmental groups, and schools around shared goals for freshwater health. “Working with groups like Te Kākano, Treespace and Contact Energy helps our scholars understand kaitiakitanga in action,” Kirk said.“They’re seeing how local action and large-scale industry both play a role in New Zealand’s sustainability story.” The foundation’s core mission is breaking down barriers to tertiary education for talented young New Zealanders from low-income backgrounds. Each scholar receives financial assistance, a dedicated mentor, and exposure to the world of work. This week, that “world of work” includes planting, learning about renewable energy, and connecting with community leaders who are shaping a sustainable future, Kirk said.PHOTO: Te Kākano 

Wānaka’s Sam Harper (17) achieved a rare feat on Saturday (November 15) at the Luggate Cricket Ground, scoring a double century (233 runs) and taking five wickets for the Wānaka Cricket Club in its win against Queenstown Coronet.Sam’s 233 (not out) came off just 126 balls and his bowling conceded just one run finishing with figures of five for one.“It [batting] felt good and I was definitely seeing the ball well,” Sam said. “I was pretty happy with it.”Sam said it was the first time this season he’d been asked to bowl, being called on when Queenstown were cruising in its run chase. Despite his “tired legs”, Sam’s bowling stint, in partnership with team mate Will Anderson (4/11), changed the match resulting in a 180 run win.Sam scored 121 for Otago against Auckland at the national under 17 tournament earlier this year.Team mate Jono Homer, who batted with Sam for much of his innings on Saturday, said it was a pleasure to watch.“He was playing all the shots and when someone's in that form you don’t want to stop them facing,” Jono said.“It was pretty noticeable in preseason just the way he [Sam] was hitting the ball - it was just a different sound to everyone else batting.”In just three matches this season Sam has scored a 70 ball hundred and a 19 ball fifty to go with his double century.In a post on social media the Wānaka Cricket Club said that “to have a game like that at any age is almost unthinkable, let alone for a 17 year old”.Earlier this year Sam captained the Otago U17 cricket team at the national tournament where he was one of the top five batters at the tournament scoring a century against tournament winners Auckland.PHOTOS: Supplied

As it finally starts to feel like summer is on the way, it puts me in a great mood to share that October was another dynamic month for Wānaka’s property market. I’m sure the sellers of 47 houses and 35 sections are also in a great mood, with their sales totalling over $107 million, reflecting what we all know - that our town is a great place to live, holding broader appeal as a premium lifestyle destination. Residential SalesAccording to the October sales data, the median sale price for residential homes in Wānaka sits at around $1.59 million, making a strong contribution to the media’s recent reports of a “$1.6m Central Otago average” and underscoring steady demand despite broader market fluctuations.High-end transactions continued to make waves, with several lakefront properties selling above $3 million and one standout sale reaching $3.8 million. Meanwhile, opportunities for first-home buyers and investors persist, with some homes selling under $900,000, and competition remains tight.Albert Town and Lake Hāwea continue to attract attention, with median prices of $1.58 million and $1.2 million respectively - slightly more affordable options for those seeking more space in lifestyle properties close to Wānaka’s centre. Section SalesSection sales across the Wānaka region remain active, with a median price of around $520,000, indicating good interest in land development.Market Trends and InsightsWell-located homes near the lakefront and town centre are attracting strong interest, often selling above asking price, while properties in outer areas are experiencing more balanced negotiations.What does this mean for buyers and sellers? With interest rates remaining steady and summer tourism on the horizon, buyer confidence is expected to remain stable, presenting some attractive opportunities across various price brackets. As always, if you’re thinking of selling, put your best foot forward from the start: focus on presentation and having an expert help you price your property so that you achieve your desired outcome - whether this is a quick sale or a premium price.Wānaka’s property market looks set to maintain its momentum into the new year, so if you’re thinking about buying or selling in Wānaka, now is the perfect time to connect to make informed decisions in this thriving market.That’s a wrap for October. Take care out on the water, trails, and golf course, or wherever your summer activities take you. I’m sure I’ll see you out there, or somewhere a little more sedate if you’re keen to discuss your property specifically.Tel: 027 222 2092email: [email protected]

The man arrested and charged over a series of cellphone tower arsons in the Wānaka area over the past few months will go to trial next year.Forty-one-year-old plasterer Daniel Miller of Albert Town appeared in the Queenstown District Court on Monday (November 17), charged with intentionally damaging a cellphone tower or telecommunications infrastructure by fire, unlawfully possessing a rifle bolt, unlawfully possessing ammunition, and possessing cannabis.The Otago Daily Times (ODT) reported that Miller was described by police prosecutor Dan Andrew as a "sovereign citizen”.Miller appeared by audiovisual link from prison and told the judge he was “not Mr Miller”, saying “I am a living man standing in my natural state”, the ODT reported.Miller was deemed to plead not guilty of all charges and was scheduled for a two-day judge-alone trial from April 21, and further remanded him in custody for a case review hearing on January 26.Police said the arsons were not only frustrating for police, but posed a serious risk to the community.“The team have worked tirelessly investigating, and we are thankful that no one was hurt as a result of the actions of this individual,” Acting Detective Sergeant Julie Bowman said following Miller’s arrest.“This is a good result for our community and they should feel confident we will always work to hold those to account to carry out such mindless attacks.“Police take these matters seriously, as they have – and continue to have – a significant impact on our community.”PHOTO: Supplied

Hundreds of people lined Bullock Creek on Saturday (November 15) for the Rotary Club of Wānaka Duck Race, with ideal conditions helping push more than 1,500 brightly coloured ducks downstream for charity.Rotary president Marie Fitchett said the club was “thrilled to see the community turn out in such great spirits” after earlier postponements due to weather.“It’s one of those events that brings everyone together; families, businesses, kids, and you can really feel the joy along Bullock Creek,” she said.In the Fastest Corporate Duck race, The Bentley Company (No. 48) took top honours, followed by BestStart Pinnacles (No. 67) in second, and Ali Barbers (No. 18) in third.Wānaka Homestead won the Best Dressed Corporate Competition, ahead of Mitre 10 Mega Wānaka, and Garden Goat Landscaping.The Best Dressed Corporate Duck competition was won by Wānaka Homestead. The Public Individual Race saw Rachael Paton (2474) take first place, with Ferg Collie (2166) second and Joel Luxford (1564) third.More than $13,000 was raised, with all corporate entry funds going to the Upper Clutha Children’s Medical Trust.“The generosity from local businesses and families is what makes this day possible,” Marie said.“Every dollar goes straight back into helping local kids and supporting groups that need a hand.”She also thanked the event’s sponsors: New World Three Parks, Mitre 10 Mega Wānaka, Wānaka Storage Solutions, Print It, Wānaka App, Upper Clutha Messenger, Queenstown Lakes District Council, and Bunker Street Film Co.PHOTOS: Rotary Club of Wānaka

Problems at Wānaka’s Project Pure wastewater treatment plant are not comparable to ongoing issues at the Shotover plant, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) says.Recent performance issues at the Wānaka plant during upgrade works led to ponding in disposal fields, surface run-off and nitrogen levels exceeding consent limits.But the upgrades at the facility are now complete and the quality of treated wastewater is starting to improve, QLDC property and infrastructure general manager Tony Avery said.He said while the performance issue would trigger comparisons to the issues experienced at Shotover wastewater treatment plant, the two disposal solutions were different from each other, and no long-term problems were expected for Wānaka.“Project Pure’s fields have been operating successfully for approximately 15 years now, have more modest loading rates, and discharge through free-draining soils well above groundwater,” Tony said.“We are investigating the effects of the recent events on the disposal fields and will keep the community informed as we learn more about any remediation activities required.”The upgrades at Project Pure which preceded the ponding involved taking one of the older reactors offline for inspection and upgrades while the remaining two reactors continued to function. Reactor two was successfully upgraded in July 2025 and Project Pure operated on three reactors for a period to confirm performance before proceeding with reactor one.However, while upgrading reactor one, higher flows from winter school holidays and heavy rain events placed strain on the facility’s biological treatment process while only two reactors were available, Tony said. This led to treated wastewater exceeding the consent requirement for total nitrogen, periods where surface ponding occurred across the facility’s disposal fields, and surface run-off from the site during heavy rain at the end of October.The performance issues were raised to Otago Regional Council (ORC) immediately, Tony said.Deputy mayor Quentin Smith said he was “deeply disappointed” by the recent issues at Project Pure.“While I am confident this doesn’t represent a ‘Project Shotover’ scale issue it does renew the need to look at redundancy and resilience issues at Wānaka,” he told the Wānaka App.“There is no question that the rates of growth continue to put pressure on our infrastructure and this is a symptom of that.”Quentin said he was looking at whether the council needs to bring forward the construction of a fourth reactor, expand the disposal areas, or look at temporary emergency storage options. Read more: Upper Clutha Ratepayers Unaffected by Queenstown Wastewater IssuesIn June QLDC was ordered to pay at least $235,000 in costs after the Shotover Wastewater Treatment Plant failed, resulting in consistent ponding and treated wastewater being discharged into the river. “As governors, we will need to review what has happened [in Wānaka] to fully understand why and especially in the context of regulatory compliance failures at Shotover and Hāwea treatment plants,” mayor John Glover said this week.PHOTO: Supplied

We’ve all been there – spotting a gadget that looks like it will change our life, only once it arrives, it doesn’t live up to the hype. Business incentives can feel a bit like that, too.So is the government’s Investment Boost scheme the culinary equivalent of discarded spiral slicer in your bottom drawer, or the air fryer that fast-tracks you to home-chef mastery?Let’s break down how it works. Investment Boost allows businesses who buy new assets (or import used assets from overseas) to claim an immediate deduction for 20% of the asset’s cost, plus the usual depreciation. It’s optional, and you might actually be better off not claiming it (you’ll see why in a minute).What does Investment Boost mean in actual cash terms? Say you just bought a fully kitted-out Toyobaru Rangerlux ute for $100,000. Under Investment Boost, you can claim a $20,000 deduction, plus your normal depreciation.However, this isn’t instant cash. That $20,000 deduction offsets your taxable income when you file your return. If your taxable income would’ve been $50,000, it’s now $30,000. For a company taxed at 28%, that means $5,600 less tax – at least, once you’ve filed your return.So hooray, you’ve saved $5,600. Or have you?Here’s the catch. By claiming Investment Boost, you’ve reduced the ute’s tax value by $20,000. You then apply normal depreciation to the remaining $80,000. Using the straight-line rate of 21%, your annual depreciation claim is $16,800.But without Investment Boost, your annual claim would be $21,000. That extra depreciation would have reduced your tax bill by a further $1,176 per year.See what’s happening? Under Investment Boost, you get a bigger deduction up front (and if it’s a commercial building, it’s the only depreciation you can claim). But you pay it back over the asset’s life, so it ultimately doesn’t save you anything. It’s what we call a timing difference in the tax world.It can also lead to more taxable income later – if you sell an asset for more than its tax value, that’s taxable income. So, spiral slicer or air fryer? Depends on what you’re cooking. Get in touch to talk through the best strategy for you.Alex CullTax Partner, Greenhawk Chartered Accountants0800 422 526 | [email protected] | greenhawk.co.nz

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) says it is open to alternative wastewater treatments in the future, but its $80M investment underway already addresses future needs.The comment comes in response to a Wānaka resident who has proposed the council rethink its approach to wastewater treatment.Soner Bekir, who represents a distributed wastewater treatment called Algaesys, says the alternative approach is “cheaper, quicker, and removes the dependence on large-scale reticulated sewerage networks”. He said the technology for on-site wastewater treatment “could be used to help the Hāwea plant achieve its discharge limits in a very low risk and quick way (within six months) for a reasonable amount of money (less than trucking waste currently costs)”.Last month QLDC announced it would limit new connections to the Hāwea wastewater network after the facility failed to achieve its 12-month rolling mean for nitrogen levels in its treated wastewater. Soner said the Algaesys method could provide a path to wider-scale local adoption to help fast-track development and take a significant load off of the existing overstretched wastewater treatment plants - and said he had been “trying to engage” with QLDC about this.He believed the council was “locked-in” to out-dated technology, and had “no interest” in thinking differently about wastewater treatment.Algaesys provides technology for on-site wastewater treatment. PHOTO: SuppliedQLDC defended its wastewater treatment plans.In December it committed to an $80M investment which will include major upgrades to the Hāwea wastewater scheme and the Wānaka wastewater network (Project Pure).“QLDC has recently made significant decisions and investment in a number of wastewater treatment infrastructure projects across the district to address current and future needs,” a QLDC spokesperson told the Wānaka App.“Any additional requirements in the future would be undertaken on a case-by-case basis to determine the most appropriate infrastructure solution for the requirements. “Algaesys system could potentially be considered alongside any other viable option for these future needs.”  Read more: Bigger than Ben Hur: Multi-million dollar wastewater upgrades on the booksRead more: Upper Clutha ratepayers not affected by Queenstown wastewater woes

If you haven’t voted in the Central Lakes Trust (CLT) trustee elections yet, it is now too late to submit voting papers by mail - but online or hand-delivered voting is still open.Voters have until Friday (November 21) to either hand-deliver their papers to the ballot box at the CLT office at 190 Waenga Drive in Cromwell or submit their vote online.Online voters will need to use the pin and password which was supplied with voter packs delivered earlier via mail.CLT chair Linda Robertson said it was important locals have their say.“CLT is a community asset and we’d like to encourage everyone from our funding region to have a say in who represents them on our board,” she said.Nine candidates are standing for the five community-elected trustee positions: Mark Christie, Dave Currie, Kathy Dedo, Alexa Forbes, Neil Gillespie, Tony Lepper, Chris Phoon, Michael Rewi, and Trudi Webb.The five successful candidates will join three appointed trustees in guiding how the trust’s funds are invested and how millions of dollars in community grants are distributed across Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes.The Central Lakes Trust, founded in 2000, has distributed more than $168M back into the community and manages assets totalling nearly $600M.Read more: Nine candidates contest five Central Lakes Trust board seats

Wānaka Tennis Club is set to be the venue for the southern region’s premier tennis teams event this weekend.Four teams make up the Division One Southern Region Senior Teams Event entries - Southern Lakes, Otago, Southland and a combined North Otago/South Canterbury team.The Southern Lakes team - made up of Wānaka and Queenstown players - has had a firm grip on the trophy over the past 20 years, winning all but two of the titles, and the team plans to come back with “all guns blazing”, Wānaka Tennis Club says.“The team will be playing all day Saturday (November 22) and Sunday morning (November 23) at the Wānaka courts and members and public are most welcome to come along to watch and support your local team.”The Southern Lakes team features an “absolutely stacked line up” on the men’s side, the club said. It includes the Milburn brothers Dan and Noa who are both number one ranked juniors in New Zealand for 17-and-under and 15-and-under respectively, and Queenstown tennis legend and two-time Wimbledon quarter finalist Ben McLachlan.Also on the lineup is Doug Bohaboy, who reached a career high ranking of number 250 in singles on the ATP world tour and played at the highest level of US college tennis; former New Zealand junior representative and US college tennis scholarship player Harry James; and New Zealand Davis Cup legend and former world top 200 player Alistair Hunt.The women’s line up may not feature international pros but there are some great local players, the club said, with Wānaka locals Katya Burgess, Sally Currie, and junior standout Kaitlyn Tooley taking the court.Recent addition to the club Marina Sokolinkova, who impressed the crowds at the Wānaka Open women’s final in January, is making her Southern Lakes debut, and Wānaka coach Amanda Trail (a former WTA world top 500 player) may be called on as a doubles specialist. Saturday evening is a particular good time to head along and catch some of the action.“A few of the top feature matches will be played on Saturday evening from 5pm with the BBQ going and drinks at the bar,” Wānaka Tennis Club said. PHOTO: Supplied