Nine Lake Hāwea fire fighters are preparing to climb 51 flights of stairs in full firefighting kit - and they’ve all completed the Auckland Sky Tower Challenge before.Lorne Capell, Teresa Cotter, Lily Graham, John Cooper, Phoenix Cooper, Africa Barker, Sam Hensley, Benn Cash, and Amie Cotter are all “repeat offenders” in the annual fundraising challenge.This is the third time a group from the Lake Hāwea Volunteer Fire Brigade has competed, and there are just two weeks’ of training left before the team heads to Auckland, Amie said.“Training schedules are up to the individual, but Snap Fitness have very kindly sponsored us gym memberships, so the stair machine has been getting a good workout,” she said.“Our local mountainous terrain is also always a bonus.” The event is a fundraiser for Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand.Every day, eight Kiwis are diagnosed with blood cancer or a related blood condition. It can affect anyone, at any age and any time in life. Last year the event raised nearly $2M, with the Lake Hāwea brigade contributing $11,000, Amie said.“This year we are on track to donate even more,” she said. A hundred percent of the proceeds from a quiz night and auction on Friday (May 9) went directly to the cause. People can also donate here.The challenge will take place in Auckland on Saturday May 24. PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka athletes shone at the 2025 Forsyth Barr Central Otago Sports Awards, held on Thursday night (May 8) at the Lake Wānaka Centre.Snowboarding star Zoi-Sadowski-Synnott was named sportswoman of the year while sportsman of the year was also scooped by a local - Luke Harrold (freeski halfpipe).Other local winners included alpine skier Adam Hall who won para athlete of the year and Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College senior student Ryan Enoka (athletics, karate and rugby) who won the junior spirit of Central Otago award.The annual awards, hosted by Sport Central, bring together 200 people from the region’s sporting whānau to celebrate sporting excellence as well as the spirit, passion, and people who make Central Otago a powerhouse of sporting talent, Sport Central sport and active recreation advisor Jo Knight said.“The judges had an incredibly tough job this year, which reflects the calibre of talent in Central Otago,” Jo said. “The finalists seem to raise the bar every year.” “All categories were hotly contested, with so many national and international champions and multiple athletes breaking local, international and world records.”Sport Central celebrated the 2025 Forsyth Barr Central Otago Sports Awards with athletes, supporters, coaches and more on Thursday night."As Dale Butcher said - the Central Otago recipe for growing great athletes is a winning one.” Jo said Sport Central extends its congratulations to all award winners, nominees, and those who continue to give their time, energy, and passion to sport in Central Otago. “We would also like to sincerely thank our generous event sponsors, whose support makes this celebration possible,” she said.Full list of winners: Gary Anderson Sound and Vision Sportswoman of the Year: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (Snowboard Big Air & Slopestyle)Central Lakes Construction Sportsman of the Year: Finn Butcher (Kayak Cross)Gallaway Cook Allan Junior Sportsman of the Year: Luke Harrold (Freeski Halfpipe)Health 2000 Wānaka Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Heidi Winter (Ice Swimming) Jennian Homes Team of the Year: Sky City Stampede (Ice Hockey)Workplace First Aid Coach of the Year: Nils Coberger (Alpine Ski Racing)Otago Polytechnic Para Athlete of the Year: Adam Hall (Skiing)Ray White Wānaka Junior Spirit of Central Otago Award: Ryan Enoka (Athletics, Karate & Rugby)Wānaka Physiotherapy Senior Spirit of Central Otago Award: Shane Norton (Football)Findex Official of the Year: Adam Nagy (Ice Hockey)John Fitzharris Trophy for Services to Sport: Flick Wallace (Snow Sports)Forsyth Barr Supreme Award - Bruce Grant Memorial Trophy: Finn ButcherPHOTOS: Image Central

The first planting day to improve an area of damaged historic wetland in Dublin Bay took place last Saturday (May 3).WAI Wānaka urban facilitator Trudie Hirst said passionate residents who had been working towards a restoration project within the Dublin Bay reserve joined in 2024 to officially form the Dublin Bay Restoration Group.“With the support of WAI Wānaka, the group gained permission from [the Department of Conservation] to establish a planting project to restore an area of damaged historic wetland within the reserve,” Trudie said.Members of the group (alongside volunteers from WAI Wānaka, Te Kakano Aotearoa Trust and Upper Clutha Wilding Tree Group) made excellent progress on Saturday.Close to 350 plants were planted before a truckload of mulch was applied around newly planted trees; invasive weed control was undertaken; and rabbit netting was attached to perimeter fencing which the Dublin Bay Restoration Group had installed at an earlier date. “The primary objective of this group is to restore and enhance native biodiversity - both flora and fauna - within the reserve and create a safe and inclusive space for the whole community to enjoy and use for recreation,” Trudie said.PHOTO: WAI Wanaka

A Wānaka teenager who has been deemed ‘the fastest girl in Australasia’ has been lauded for breaking 22 Otago records during the 2024/2025 summer athletics season.The achievement of Aspiring Athletics Club (AAC) member and Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) student Phoebe Laker (16) was announced at the Athletics Otago awards night last Friday (May 2).Phoebe now holds all seven female Otago records for the 400m from ages 13 to 19.Further, she also holds the Otago records for women aged 16, 17 and 18 (for which the previous record was set 36 years ago) in the 200m – her secondary event.AAC head coach Michael Beable said, in more than 50 years in athletics, he had “not come across anything like this before”.Last month Phoebe won a gold medal at the Australian National Athletics Championships in Perth.“We can rightly say that she is now the fastest 400m [runner] of girls aged 16 and under in Australasia,” Michael said at the time.“Phoebe is now unbeaten in all her 400m races, across New Zealand and Australia, for the last 27 months, and by very significant margins this season.”Read more: Gold medal for Phoebe LakerPHOTO: Supplied

The Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust (QLCHT) has announced the appointments of Wānaka resident Dave Lindsay and Queenstown resident Jimmy Sygrove as trustees.They replace long-serving trustee Ray Key, who recently retired from his position after nine years serving on the board, as well as filling a new spot on the QLCHT board table.Southland-raised Dave Lindsay followed a 23-year cycle in the world of business and entrepreneurship, during which he founded, led, and ultimately exited a data and technology consultancy in the world of global finance.“Now I’m firmly living in Wānaka, I couldn’t be more excited at the chance to apply my skills and experience to supporting QLCHT’s mission of providing secure affordable homes for residents of our district, regardless of their socioeconomic status,” he said.Jimmy Sygrove, principal advisor and shareholder at Rationale consultancy, has lived in the Wakatipu basin since 2013.  Queenstown trustee Jimmy Sygrove“Bringing up our two young boys in the Queenstown Lakes, I understand the challenges of the housing market, as well as the higher cost of living that families in our district face,” he said.“I feel very fortunate to be able to raise my family here, and being able to help other people make their homes in the district is something I’m really proud to be a part of.”QLCHT chair Richard Thomas said the trust was delighted with both appointments and acknowledged Ray Key’s contribution to the board. “We owe our appreciation to the valuable contribution from Ray, who was a trustee since 2016... While we’re sad to see him leave, we look forward to utilising Dave and Jimmy’s own skillsets,” he said.PHOTOS: Supplied

I’m often surprised by how many people are still discovering what Community Link does. I regularly get asked versions of the same question."If someone can’t afford to live in Wānaka, why don’t they move?" or "I don’t know anyone who’s struggling here—is there really a need for Community Link?"It's not asked unkindly—usually it comes from a place of genuine curiosity. But it points to a deeper disconnect between perception and reality in our community.We see the statistics every month through our foodbank, and more recently I’ve been struck by the findings of the Queenstown Lakes District Council Quality of Life Survey.The number that leapt off the page? Nearly 1 in 3 people in our region either have no disposable income after paying their bills, or can’t even meet their basic costs.Even more sobering: in just one year, the proportion of people with no disposable income has risen from 17% to 25%—a staggering 47% increase. That’s one in four people in our community, and it’s only getting worse.At Community Link, we’re seeing this play out in real time—more families needing help with food, heating, and medical costs. The numbers are one thing. What they don’t capture is the mental strain, the quiet shame, and how incredibly difficult it is for families to reach out and ask for help.Recently, I bumped into a neighbour wearing a beautiful, thick winter coat. I complimented her on how great she looked. Later, she told me she wears multiple layers at home because she can’t afford to heat her house—and she’s started attending church more often because it’s warm.Let’s put this in perspective: Wānaka has roughly 4,000 households. If one in four are under serious financial pressure, that’s potentially 1,000 households who are one unexpected bill away from crisis. And in the current climate, that’s deeply concerning.So when someone says, “If you can’t afford to live here, maybe you should move,” I ask: Why should people be forced to leave a place they love—especially if they’ve lived here for years? Where would they go? And more importantly, what kind of community do we want to be?If everyone who struggles quietly packed up and left, who would teach at our schools? Who’d be at the medical centre, the café, or our emergency services?The good news is, Wānaka is a caring community. Many of us who are fortunate enough to live comfortably are aware that not all our neighbours are in the same position—and they give what they can.I don’t have all the answers, and it’s clear that cost of living pressures aren’t going away any time soon. But we must work together to create a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive—not just survive.This winter, Community Link is running its Cold Kids fundraising campaign to ensure no family has to remain cold. We can’t do it without you.Let’s keep looking out for each other. It’s what strong communities do.Make a donation to Cold Kids, to help ensure local families can stay warm this winter, at the Community Link website.PHOTO: Community Link

Wānaka’s new theatrical society, Onstage Wānaka, has finalised the cast for its upcoming production of Blood Brothers.Eight Wānaka residents will take up the various roles in the acclaimed Willy Russell musical.Onstage Wānaka secretary Andrea Beryl said the society was thrilled with the “turnout [and] depth of local talent and the number of new faces” during auditions. “It’s amazing to see how much talent is right here in our community,” she said. “We’re excited to bring together a dynamic cast and crew to create something truly special.”Blood Brothers revolves around twin boys Mickey and Edward, who are separated at birth and brought up in completely different environments. Mickey will be played by Tatum Montecastillio and Edward by Aidan Butler.Natasha Kay Senior, Sophie Omar-McWalter and Maegan Young will lend their names to the roles of Linda, Mrs J and Mrs Lyons, respectively, while Brent Pihama will be the narrator.Chris Winstanley will be Mr Lyons and Greg Ferguson will be Sammy, with both of them also serving in the ensemble alongside seven others: Tana Hansen, Marion Low, Andrea Beryl, Andrew Logie, Katy Rowden, Lindsey Schofield and Kasey Brooks.Andrea said Onstage Wānaka had received a generous grant from Central Lakes Trust, “an incredible boost for our debut production”. “With their support, it’s full steam ahead as our cast and crew dive into rehearsals to bring Blood Brothers to life on stage.”Onstage Wānaka - which was formed to fill a need for a dedicated theatre society in Wānaka - officially launched in March.See also: New theatre group to launch.Blood Brothers, Onstage Wānaka’s inaugural show, will open in August at the Lake Wānaka Centre.PHOTO: Onstage Wānaka

Wānaka’s Community Link says it is seeing an increase in demand for its services from a range of locals including two-parent working families, with a lot of locals “living week to week”.Community Link general manager Kate Murray said the increase in demand raises the question of what sort of community we want to create.“Do we want kids in the community to grow up [going cold],” she said.The local non-profit hopes to raise $60,000 with its ‘Cold Kids’ campaign, which is how much it estimates it will need this year to help the increasing number of local families unable to steadily cover winter heating costsIt’s not just about warm layers: WHO recommends a minimum temperature of 18 degrees within the home. PHOTO: SuppliedKate said the health effects of being cold put stress on the body, which can affect children’s ability to learn at school, among other negative effects. It’s not just about providing warm layers either - the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a minimum indoor temperature of 18 degrees inside the home for physical health.Community Link has projected $60,000 for this year’s heating cost needs following a $45,000 spend last year and early signs of increased demand this winter.The organisation is keenly aware of the increasing number of people struggling to fund the cost of basic necessities.Use of the Community Link food bank, a helpful measure for need in the community, went up 21 percent this March compared to March 2024.More than 100 food parcels from Wānaka’s Food Bank were provided last month, demonstrating an increase in demand - and need - across multiple services. PHOTO: Community LinkThirteen new families who had never before needed the food bank’s services signed up in March and 111 food parcels were provided across the month - a “huge” number, Kate said.Kate said with a lot of locals in difficult financial positions the increase in demand for Community Link’s services “will likely keep on happening”.“We’re not out of the woods. With the cost of living, people are really struggling.”Community Link is not government-funded and it is calling on the local community to contribute to Cold Kids to help ensure every local family has a warm home this winter.All money donated to Cold Kids will go to households who have been assessed to have demonstrable need for support, which is provided either via firewood or a contribution to gas or electricity costs.Make a financial donation at the Community Link website or get in touch at 03 443 7749 if you would like to donate firewood or support the campaign in another way.PHOTO: Wānaka App

A Wānaka teenager is the fastest girl in Australasia thanks to her winning a gold medal at the Australian National Athletics Championships this week.Aspiring Athletics Club member and Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) student Phoebe Laker (16) travelled with her mother Rebecca to Perth for the event on April 6-7.Phoebe won her first heat comfortably, easing up 60m out from the finish yet still recording a faster time (56.44s) than she did in winning the New Zealand National Champs in Dunedin in March.   In the final she won the Women’s U17 race in 53.87s - a personal best (PB) by 1.47s - and significantly ahead of the rest of the field (1.48s ahead of second place).Phoebe’s time was also 0.32s faster than the WU18 time.“We can rightly say that she is now the fastest 400m of girls aged 16 and under in Australasia,” AAC head coach Michael Beable said.“Phoebe is now unbeaten in all her 400m races, across New Zealand and Australia, for the last 27 months, and by very significant margins this season.”Michael said she ran the race “superbly well”.  “Basically, she ran the whole race on her own from the 50m mark, not seeing anybody else in the race from then onwards. That was the plan, of course, but it was so good to see her execute it so well, including her running posture and nice striding down the back straight, kicking for home at the right time, keeping her form to the finish.”Her new 400m time sets Otago records for girls aged 16-19. She now owns all the Otago 400m records for girls aged 13-19. She also has the Otago records for the 200m, for girls aged 16-18.Michael said it was "remarkable" that Phoebe had achieved this without access to a nearby all-weather surface to train on. Phoebe will now take a well-deserved rest after beginning her competition campaign back in October 2024.PHOTO: Supplied

Former Wānaka resident Don Grant has recently survived an aircraft crash, but he had made it a priority to get a message to the children of Wānaka primary school Te Kura o Take Karara, for whom he was a bus driver.Don’s wife Nicky told the Wānaka App this week that Don wants to let all the students know he’s OK.“He sends his love and wants to let them know he will come right eventually,” Nicky said.“He’s in the best place.”Don (60) is currently in ICU at Dunedin Hospital, where he has undergone a range of surgeries following the aircraft crash in the Dingle Burn Valley (near Lake Hāwea) on Saturday March 29.“He’s improving each day,” Nicky said.“He was beginning to talk yesterday and giving the nurses a hard time. It’s going to be a long haul for him.”Nicky said Don is “gutted” about his friend Ivan van de Water, who died in the crash.Don was cut from the wreckage of the aircraft and flown to Dunedin Hospital.Nicky said she had been “just amazed” at the support Don has had from the Wānaka community, including the Wānaka Airport. Don is chair of the Wānaka Airport Users Group.“So many people have been absolutely incredible, offering their help,” Nicky said.Warbirds Over Wānaka general manager Ed Taylor told the Wānaka App that Don had been volunteer manager at the 2024 airshow.“He was a great volunteer manager because he loves people - and he has aviation knowledge in spades.”Don is also a “relentlessly positive” person, Ed said.“If having a relentlessly positive attitude counts for anything then Don will pull through.”PHOTO: Supplied

Glenorchy resident and Shaping Our Future executive officer John Glover has announced he will run for mayor of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) at this year’s local body elections in October.John made the announcement, the first of its kind for this election, “in response to the many enquiries I’ve received around my intentions for the upcoming election”, he said.John has previously stood unsuccessfully for the QLDC in 2013, 2019, and in a by-election in 2023.John said relationships between QLDC and its key stakeholders “are broken”. “There needs to be a ‘hard reset’ to change that, restore community confidence and return the balance of power back to communities via their elected representatives,” he said.“I will campaign to restore openness and trust, and hope to partner with candidates who also seek to restore a functioning democracy in this district.”John’s proposed policies include inviting a “crown observer” to investigate and report on QLDC’s management of risk, its governance and financial probity around the Shotover Wastewater treatment plant, the Lakeview development, Queenstown’s proposed new civic building Project Manawa, and Queenstown’s arterial road construction.He said he would establish a working group of Upper Clutha community stakeholders “to identify changes that should be made to support ‘one district’ council policies and operations”.He also said he would ensure that all council workshops would be public and live-streamed online unless there were exceptional reasons for excluding the public; amend standing orders to remove the discretion of the mayor to require in-person attendance to speak at public forums; provide procedural changes around the use of a casting vote, and include Notice of Councillor Motions and “any other business” on council agendas “to encourage councillors to actively set the direction of QLDC”.John would undertake a review of how QLDC should store and publish information, he said, “in order to enable speedier and fuller compliance with information requests from councillors and the public”; establish a quasi-independent Information Office to assist those requesting information and monitor the fullness of responses to requests.He also proposed a standalone review of QLDC’s significance and engagement policy “so councillors can readily establish, on the community’s behalf, issues where consultation is expected and how that should be undertaken”.Finally, he proposed that any new civic building for Queenstown be located in the Frankton area to make it more accessible to residents of the Upper Clutha, Arrowtown, Shotover & Jacks Point/Hanley Farm.“Trust is something that is earned, and we don’t need another expensive consultants’ report to place a spin on uncomfortable realities: that’s so symptomatic of the problem,” he said.“We just need to make the necessary changes. Success will be when the community has our back, rather than being on our back.”Local body elections will take place from September 22, 2025.PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka teenager Finley Melville Ives (18) has put down one of the most explosive freeski halfpipe runs in history to claim the 2025 FIS Men’s Freeski Halfpipe World Championship title in Corvatsch, Switzerland this morning (March 31).Finley beat some of the big names in the sport with a stellar first-run score to capture the title.“Honestly, I am in shock,” Finley said. “I can’t believe I landed my run, I am so hyped … I just can’t believe it, it’s so sick.” Finley’s run began with a switch right double cork 1080 Japan, then a left double cork 1620 mute, a left alley-oop double flatspin 1080 mute, a switch left double cork 1080 Japan, before ending with a right double cork 1620 safety. The judges were just as impressed as the crowd and commentators, awarding him a huge score of 96.00, which positioned him at the top of the leaderboard after run one.Finley Melville Ives in action during qualification.Decorated American slopestyle athlete turned halfpipe skier Nick Goepper finished in second place, with two-time Olympic halfpipe medalist Alex Ferreira, also of the USA, rounding out the podium in third.“They’re both my idols, so I honestly can’t believe it,” Finley said. “I’m so stoked to share the podium with them.”Lake Hāwea’s Luke Harrold (16) finished in fourth position making history by putting down the first switch left alley-oop triple cork 1260 mute ever landed in competition during his second run. With just over 10 months until the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games the Kiwi Park & Pipe Team will now turn their focus to spring training camps in the Northern Hemisphere before returning to New Zealand for the domestic season.PHOTOS: Christian Stadler / FIS Park & Pipe

Wānaka’s Luca Harrington (21) has been crowned the 2025 FIS Freeski Big Air World Champion after winning the Freeski Big Air World Championship event in Corvatsch, Switzerland this morning (March 30).This is the first time a Kiwi freeskier has won the Freeski Big Air World Championships and also marks Luca’s first World Championship title. “I am so honoured, this season has been just incredible for me and to top it all off with the World Champs win is such an honour, it is a dream of mine coming true and I am so grateful to be here right now,” Luca said. Luca was the top qualifier into today’s finals, giving him the advantageous position of dropping last into each of the three finals runs.The Big Air format takes the best two scoring tricks (that must be performed in two different directions) and combines them for a total overall score.Luca put down a right triple corked 1980 safety grab for his first run, scoring a 92.00 out of a possible 100. Dropping into his second run, he stomped his one-of-a-kind trademark switch right triple corked 1800 Esco Grab. The judges loved it and rewarded him with a massive 96.75, the highest score of the competition. “Honestly, after my first run I was a little surprised but super stoked on what the judges scored it and that gave me a lot of confidence to send it on my second run,” Luca said.As the last athlete to drop into his third run Luca knew he had secured the victory, but knowing he could execute his first run trick more cleanly, he went all in and put down a textbook right triple corked 1980 safety grab to up his score on this trick to a 95.25 for a total combined score of 192.00, 7.75 points ahead of his nearest competitor.Elias Syrja of Finland secured his first career major podium finishing in second and Beijing 2022 Big Air champion and 2025 Slopestyle World Champion Birk Ruud of Norway rounded out the podium in third. Men’s Freeski Big Air World Championships podium [L-R] Elias Syrja (FIN) silver, Luca Harrington (NZL) gold, Birk Ruud (NOR) bronze.With five World Cup podiums, including two gold, X Games gold and silver medals, New Zealand’s first ever FIS Freeski Crystal Globe and now a World Championship title, Luca’s season has been nothing short of exceptional. Luca will now take a break from competition.PHOTOS: Miha Matavz / FIS Park & Pipe

An extraordinary council meeting will be held on Tuesday (April 1) to address councillor Niki Gladding’s “deliberate disclosure of confidential information” a little over a week ago.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) proposes to discharge Niki from her roles on the infrastructure committee and audit, finance and risk committee.The meeting is an “express response to a request from the majority of council” following Niki’s actions, QLDC stakeholder and democracy services manager Naell Crosby-Roe said.Niki shared information with media and an Otago Regional Council elected representative after a briefing where it was made clear the information was confidential, Naell said.The briefing provided an update on an enforcement order and subsequent mediation process, part of an ongoing legal process still before the courts, he said.It is understood the topic was QLDC’s plan to directly discharge treated wastewater into the Shotover River.Niki’s actions amount to a “serious breach of the elected member’s responsibilities”, Naell said.This is not the first time Niki has been in hot water for sharing confidential information.The Queenstown-Whakatipu ward councillor was investigated by the code of conduct committee for what was found to be a “material breach” of the QLDC code of conduct in 2020 after she released confidential, draft material about Wānaka Airport to a media outlet.Niki was also sent a letter of sanction in July 2024 after “clear breaches” to the code of conduct during a podcast interview, Naell said.Councillors can be discharged from committees or subcommittees as the result of a breach in code of conduct.A council resolution by councillors at a formal meeting is required for the removal of a member from a committee.Councillors will vote on Niki’s removal from the two committees at Tuesday’s meeting.PHOTO: QLDC

Queenstown Airport Corporation’s (QAC) board of directors has a new deputy chair.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has approved the election of existing director Mike Tod to the position.Councillors agreed to authorise mayor Glyn Lewers and chief executive Mike Theelen to sign a shareholder resolution proposing Mike’s appointment at a council meeting last month. QAC subsequently confirmed the election of Mike at its meeting later in the month. “Mike’s contribution to QAC’s governance over the last four years makes him an excellent choice for deputy chair and I congratulate him on his election,” Glyn said.The position became vacant after former deputy chair Simon Flood was elected to the position of chair in October last year. Mike, who joined the board in October 2020, has experience of global aviation across key markets. He is a former member of the Star Alliance Marketing Committee and a current Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.Queenstown Airport is a council-controlled trading organisation (CCTO) with two shareholders - Queenstown Lakes District Council (75.01 per cent) and Auckland Airport (24.99 per cent). It is managed by QAC and governed by a board of directors. PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (24) will be bringing home her career-first FIS Snowboard Slopestyle Crystal Globe after taking the win at the final Slopestyle World Cup of the 2025 season in Austria overnight NZT.Adverse weather conditions forced the cancellation of the Flachau Snowboard Slopestyle final so results were taken from qualification, and as the top qualifier, Zoi was awarded the victory.“It was really fun to ride here after Spring Battle,” she said.“Bummer that we couldn’t run today with the conditions, it was just a bit gnarly. To qualify in first and then manage to get this result and walk away with the Globe feels pretty unreal because I’ve never had one of these before. “It feels pretty good to hold one of these [the Globe].”Despite an already decorated snowboarding career, this marks Zoi’s first FIS Snowboarding Crystal Globe, making her only the second Kiwi to claim the prestigious title after Queenstown’s’ Tiarn Collins’ win in men’s slopestyle in 2022. She admitted that winning the overall title hadn’t been a primary focus. “It wasn’t even on my mind,” Zoi said.“I just wanted to get back into this season strong and healthy coming off my ankle injury last year.”The battle for the snowboard slopestyle Globe was fiercely contested, with Mia Brookes (Great Britain) finishing in second place and Kokomo Murase (Japan) securing third.The 2025 FIS Park and Pipe World Championships in Switzerland (March 17-20) is the final event of the season.Related: Wānaka freeskier makes history with Globe winPHOTO: FIS Park & Pipe

Ki Tahu iwi representatives led a poroporoaki on Monday (March 10) to farewell three people who all died while in the outdoors in the Wānaka area last month.The ceremony, for the friends and family of the three, was also attended by Wānaka Police, Wānaka Search & Rescue and the Department of Conservation.The people remembered were: Hector Gaston Artigau (who was last seen near Rob Roy stream), Maelle Favergros (who fell on Mt Brewster), and Claire Connell (who was found in Timaru River).Read more: Search for Hector moves downstreamTramper dies near Brewster HutDead woman namedThe bodies of Claire and Maelle were recovered but Hector, who is believed to be located in one of the deep pools in the canyon, has not been recovered.Read more: Search for Hector ‘most difficult’ SAR operation yetPHOTO: Supplied

A young local rider is taking on equestrian events in this week’s Wānaka Show (March 7-8), hoping for “a good day” with her ponies.Boh Fairmaid, 11, has been riding and competing since she was just five years old.She will be riding Ashton Eye Candy in the section C showing; jumping My Masterpiece in show jumping and ‘round the ring’; and riding TF Straight talk in working hunter and show jumping.Boh’s mother Sarah told the Wānaka App that Boh hopes her ponies have “a good day” at the Wānaka Show.“She has two young ponies that will need to deal with a big atmosphere so that will be their challenge,” she said.Boh attended show jumping and the Show Hunter Nationals in Christchurch this year and won the Category C Championship title on TF Straight Torque. Ashton Eye Candy - a pony Boh has taken from green broken - recently won the supreme exhibit at the Mt Benger Show. Boh also won the ‘rising star’ category A show hunter on My Masterpiece at the national championships.Boh has been competing in equestrian events since she was five-years-old.“After the showing season is over Boh hopes to go eventing in the autumn,” Sarah said.Keep an eye out for Boh and her ponies on both Friday and Saturday at the Wānaka A&P Show.PHOTOS: Supplied

A picnic in a paddock with a Hollywood star and 140 special guests has benefited Dunstan Hospital.The event at Sir Sam Neill’s Two Paddocks vineyard was a celebration of wine and good food for all of its wine club members, but also turned into a fundraiser as well.The Two Paddocks Posh Picnic raised $35,300 and Sir Sam matched it dollar for dollar.He personally presented Dunstan Hospital chief executive Hayley Anderson with the $70,600 donation yesterday.“This is something close to my heart, particularly as they have been very good to me here recently when I needed some pastoral care.”The Two Paddocks Posh Picnic in Earnscleugh with 140 guests from its wine club. Sir Sam said he was aware staff in the health sector were overworked and underfunded, “and that’s why we are doing our little bit to help.”“And I want this to be a reminder to the wider community about how important this place is.”  He said Dunstan Hospital services were vital and central to the community, and the work was challenging and onerous, also exacerbated by an increasingly aging population.“People not only get old but come here to get old,” he said of the Central Otago district, “and I count myself as one of them.”Sir Sam was diagnosed with stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma - a form of blood cancer - in 2022, and underwent chemotherapy treatment after his cancer diagnosis.  When asked how his health was he said “remission was a wonderful thing.”People enjoying the posh picnic who came from as far away as The United States and Singapore to be involved. PHOTO: Anda Bulgakova from BrandStories The 77-year-old has been in many leading roles in both dramas and blockbuster movies and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1991 for his services as an actor.At the 2007 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DCNZM).When knighthoods were returned to the New Zealand royal honours system in 2009, those with DCNZM or higher honours were given the option of converting them into knighthoods. Sir Sam chose not to, saying at the time the title of Sir was "just far too grand, by far,” according to Wikipedia.However, in June 2022, he accepted redesignation as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.Hayley said she was incredibly grateful for the donation to the hospital, and an announcement would be made about where it would be used, in due course.“Health is tough and good news doesn’t come along every day, so when it does and to this extent, this gift is a significant one.”She said Dunstan Hospital was an incredible place, and reiterated Sir Sam’s sentiment “we don’t realise how important our health and services are until we need them.”The hospital had a significant range of services that many people were not always aware of, and 85 per cent of people were able to be treated onsite at Clyde.“We are facing significant financial headwinds and they will continue, and every day we’re thinking about how can we deliver more, fund more, and how can the community support us.”