Local athlete Tanya Louise has ascended the equivalent of Mt Everest - and then some - after summiting Roys Peak as many times as she could within 24 hours on Saturday (December 12).Tanya called her epic effort the ‘Peak of Possibility’, using it to raise funds for Shine, a domestic violence service provider which played a part in her own personal history.Tanya achieved eight full laps of Roy’s Peak, the approximate equivalent of 120km and just over 10,000m of vertical ascent, finishing in just under 24 hours.Tanya told the Wanaka App she climbed about 1000m more than Mt Everest, therefore “another Roys Peak on top of Everest.”“That was well beyond what I thought I could achieve,” she said.Tanya at the base of Roy’s Peak. PHOTO: Supplied“I genuinely had the best time,” she said, adding it wasn’t until the seventh lap that she started feeling the pain, and realised she “didn’t want to do another one”.Tanya had plenty of support during her challenge: Local trail legends Mal and Sally Law joined her for the first lap, and Brook van Reenen for the second and the final lap. Tanya had only the fourth lap by herself.Each lap took about 2.45 hours to complete, including 10 minutes or so in the aid station for her to eat some food.“It feels a bit like a dream,” Tanya said. “All those people that supported were so amazing - even people climbing the trail were so supportive.”Tanya has been fundraising for Shine for more than a year.“I wanted to raise money and raise awareness,” she said. “I used Shine myself when I left my husband six and a half years ago. They were an amazing support for me and my children.”Tanya said Shine is not well known as an organisation, and while not all of its services are available locally, its free national helpline (0508-744-633) is.“People tend to keep out of other people’s business,” Tanya said, adding that sometimes we do need to get in other people’s businesses and ask questions.People can call Shine if they are worried about people around them.So far Tanya has raised more than $2,000 for the organisation, $1,000 of which came from Saturday’s event and the other $1,000 through previous fundraising. She may not reach her goal of $5,000 soon, but plans to eventually: “It might take a few more mountains though.”Tanya, who has a three year running plan, said her next event will be the Northburn 100 mile race in March. It will be the final of her four South Island 100 mile races, collectively called the Southern Season Miler Challenge. If Tanya completes Northburn she will be the first woman to complete all four races.Donate to Shine here.

The Mount Aspiring College (MAC) show jumping team has won the Secondary Schools’ Showjumping Championship for Otago/Southland, which took place on Sunday (December 6).MAC’s equestrian teams have usually performed well at the event, which is held in Gore each year, but their team win came as a surprise nonetheless.Despite knowing they had ridden well individually, the red sash for the overall team winners wasn’t a given, and the whole team was “ecstatic” when the riders learned of their victory, MAC team coordinator Bernie Hewson said. The team from Blue Mountain College, in Tapanui, was placed second overall.The annual event attracted 12 teams from throughout Otago and Southland for the one day championship which comprised three rounds each for senior riders (jumping at 95cm), intermediate riders (75cm-85cm), and junior riders (65cm).Each round required slightly different approaches; Two phase (where the rider jumps one round smoothly and, if it’s a clear round with no faults, immediately jumps a second round against the clock); Instant jumpoff (the rider clears the fences in the first part of the round then carries on to jump the remaining fences against the clock); and Speed (fastest ride, sometimes taking tighter turns, or a different track to optimise their time). MAC’s team of six riders, all from years 7 to 11, and seven ponies had all scored individual placings in the three rounds of jumping, some even being placed on all three rounds, Bernie said.Team captain Carter Hewson, riding Blockbuster, scored the most points over three rounds in the 95cm class and his twin sister Montana, riding Que, was awarded second highest points in the same class. Bernie attributed the riders’ success to their solid equestrian skills.“We’ve got a really skilled bunch of kids,” she said. Montana, for example, won placings on a horse she had borrowed only 10 days before the champs.“It takes a lot of skill to ride well when you haven’t had the time to build a relationship yet with your horse,” Bernie said. The team comprised Carter Hewson (16), Montana Hewson (16), Bella Edwards (13), Aryn Henderson (13), Sophie Fountain (12) and Lily Cousins (12). The team’s red sash as overall winners will go on display at MAC.MAC physical education teacher and equestrian team manager Nikki Cameron-Small said the team’s win was a fantastic achievement, but the manner in which the students conducted themselves was outstanding. Montana was given recognition for kindness towards her horse and supporting her fellow riders.“I was very proud of the students and how they supported each other,” Nikki said. “The equestrian team has had an impressive year and we are looking forward to building on this momentum in the future.”  MAC’s equestrian team also forms part of the Hāwea-Wanaka Pony Club, which offers coaching and a fun learning environment for all abilities. PHOTO: Supplied

The Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust has announced the appointment of Sophie Kelly to the role of festival director for the 2023 Festival of Colour in Wanaka.Sophie replaces Philip Tremewan, who has programmed every Festival of Colour arts festival, as well as the off-year Aspiring Conversations ideas festival, since their inception in 2005.A Nelson-based dedicated arts advocate with an extensive background in event curation and management, Sophie is the former festival director of Nelson Arts Festival, Summer Events programme and Opera in the Park, as well as festival director of Upsurge Bay of Islands Arts Festival and project manager of Te Ramaroa Light Festival. She is also the current manager of Nelson’s Adam Chamber Music Festival.“I feel incredibly privileged to be taking on the role as artistic director of the 2023 festival programme. I have an enormous amount of respect for the wonderful work Philip and his team have done in establishing and running this much loved festival, and am really looking forward to spending time in such a spectacular region and getting to know the community,” Sophie said.Philip said he was thrilled with the appointment.“I’ve loved working in Wanaka over the years. The town has a huge sense of ownership of the festival and people so much enjoy the roll-out of shows over the festival week.“And I’m delighted to be passing the torch on to Sophie. She’s such a good friend and colleague and we’ve spent many weeks together over recent years, hunting out festival shows in Edinburgh and Adelaide, and checking out arts markets in Brisbane and Auckland.”Philip will stay on to programme the 2022 Aspiring Conversations festival of ideas.Sophie will be in Wanaka throughout the 2021 Festival of Colour (April 12-18) to take part in the running of the festival.

Snow Sports NZ has announced its new CEO.Nic Cavanagh, who has worked at Snow Sports since 2012, has been selected for the top job.He replaces former CEO Jan Shearer, who resigned in October after three years in the role.Nic has previously held the role of campaign and logistics manager and is currently the high performance director, a role which he will continue to hold alongside the position of CEO.“We are really thrilled to have Nic take on the role,” Snow Sports NZ board chair Jacqueline Cheyne told the Wanaka App.“The organisation has some exciting opportunities as well as challenges coming up and we are absolutely confident in Nic’s leadership abilities, particularly in these unprecedented times”. Jacqueline is also a recent addition to Snow Sports, bringing with her 18 years of experience in financial audit, sustainability and assurance related professional services at Deloitte.Despite upcoming challenges, Nic said he is looking forward to fronting the Snow Sports NZ team.“I am very excited about the opportunity to lead Snow Sports NZ as we head towards the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said. “I feel very privileged to be working with such dedicated staff who are totally committed to ensuring our New Zealand athletes take on the rest of the world and win.”While COVID-19 restrictions had thrown up some significant challenges around qualifying for the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, Nic said he was confident Snowsports has “the plans and strategies in place to ensure our team is safe and are able perform to their potential”.Snow Sports NZ is the national sporting organisation representing the interests of adaptive snow sports, alpine ski racing, cross country skiing, freeskiing and snowboarding. Its purpose is to lead the growth and success of competitive snow sports in New Zealand. PHOTO: Snow Sports

A local man has been honoured for dedicating a quarter of a century to volunteer work as a firefighter.Matt Anderson has received a Gold Star medal from the United Fire Brigades Association (UFBA) for 25 years of service to the Luggate Fire Brigade at the Annual Service Volunteer Fire Brigade Awards. Matt didn't have dreams of being a fireman, he said, but his father asked him to go along to a practice one night to make up numbers and he was quickly hooked. "I don't think I ever stopped going,” Matt said.Nor has he ever missed a practice or training session. Since starting in 1995, he has had 100 per cent attendance. Matt credits this with an understanding family and understanding employers.  "I've had different jobs, but I've always been in the fire brigade before I had a job."Matt with his family, after receiving the award PHOTO: SuppliedMatt admits to being "pretty nervous" on the awards night at the Lake Wanaka Centre a few weeks ago, but that was because he knew that he'd have to get up and do a speech, and that's "certainly out of my comfort zone".  The award itself hasn't changed much for Matt. It did give him cause to look around at the younger members of the team and realise: "Crikey! There are people in our brigade who weren't born when I started."Matt, a born-and-bred Luggate resident, joined the brigade when he was 16-years-old. Being part of the team offers "good camaraderie" and an opportunity to meet people whom he normally wouldn't have met.  While the fire brigade was formed to extinguish and control fires, members are also called to motor vehicle accidents, and often assist on medical calls. Matt doesn’t see any of this as a chore. "It's not a duty looking out for other people. I look after them. They look after me. It's how the world works."He has never been asked to rescue a kitten from a tree, but Matt did attend a call where a puppy had locked itself inside a car by jumping on the door locks. After assessing the situation and realising the dog was not in stress or danger, the brigade called the Automobile Association.Matt has just been made deputy chief of the brigade, an honour and title he felt a "little reserved" about getting because his dad, Rod Anderson, is the fire chief.  "When we go out in the firetruck, we do have a pretty good understanding of each other. We know how to communicate without actually talking. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. I think it's a very good thing."Matt lives in Luggate with his wife, Lucille, and two children, Will and Dot.

The woman who set up St John Outreach Therapy Pets in Wanaka is one of 69 people to be named in the 2020 Order of St John Honour List.Janine Taylor said she was “really surprised” to see her name on the list, but was happy to accept the award if it helped raise the profile of the therapy pets programme.Outreach Therapy Pets is a community service programme delivered by St John in which volunteers share their animal companions with those who live in rest homes, hospitals, rehabilitation units, healthcare facilities and schools throughout New Zealand, helping enhance those people’s lives.“It’s a really rewarding thing just to share our dogs around the place,” Janine said. “They have so much love to give people.”Janine first came across the programme when she was on the SPCA committee, organising the Mutley Dog Show (“a kind of ‘anti-Crufts’ dog show”).She became the team leader for the therapy pets programme when she lived in Kerikeri, a role she held for seven years, and said she was “horrified” to find the programme wasn’t established here when she moved to Wanaka.It took about a year for Janine to go through the bureaucratic process to set up the programme in Wanaka, and it was finally ready to go in 2015.“We go into the local primary schools and children practice reading to the dogs,” she said. “The dogs thrive on the attention they get. They can lie next to a child who is patting them while they read.”The programme also runs in the local library, and some members go to rest homes and visit the elderly with their dogs. The group is also getting involved with Alzheimers and Age Concern, Janine said.“Dogs are wonderful icebreakers. Particularly with the elderly, they are amazing... When we take the dogs along they come out of their shells, and start reminiscing about the dogs they used to own.”There are now 23 people - and 23 dogs - involved in the programme in Wanaka.Dogs are assessed to take part, and they have to be gentle, calm, and affectionate, Janine said.“It’s all about the dog’s personality, how they respond to their owner, and people. We’ve had dogs as small as a chihuahua, right up to a labradoodle.”Janine is now working almost full-time as an administrator for St John in Wanaka. She also volunteers as the therapy pets team leader but is not currently visiting with dogs, as her dog Sharna - who was a therapy pet - has now resigned, and her second dog Bonzo is “a completely bonkers labradoodle” who is too boisterous to be a therapy pet.Janine is now a 'Member of St John'. She attended an Investiture Ceremony at the ‘Transitional Cathedral’ in Christchurch, where governor-general Dame Patsy Reddy awarded her with her medal. PHOTO: Wanaka App

Prolific, award-winning Wanaka writer Liz Breslin has had a stellar month: picking up prizes from both the International Writers' Workshop and the Queenstown Writers’ Festival.Two weeks ago, November 5-8, Liz won the adult category of the inaugural Queenstown Writers’ Festival Short Story Competition.Dr Maxine Alterio whittled down the entries and chose Liz’s story, The Very Bones, as the winner. "The majority of stories entered in this category were of a high quality, making the task of selecting a short list very difficult,” Maxine said. Liz has also been announced as the 2020 winner of the Kathleen Grattan Prize for a Sequence of Poems, at the annual prize giving ceremony of the International Writers' Workshop.Liz won the $1,000 prize for her sequence of poems, entitled: "In bed with the feminists.” The competition was judged by 2019 winner Siobhan Harvey, who read two of the poems from Liz’s sequence at the award ceremony. “I was so surprised and delighted to get the call to say I'm this year's winner. I worked on these poems during a period on my own in lockdown, so it's really affirming to see them recognised outside my head and my house,” Liz said.Siobhan commended Liz’s winning entry... "for its unapologetic voice, clear vision and assured awareness"."The her-storical narrative and creativity make this a compelling lyrical analysis of feminism both in the contemporary age and in the past," she said.Liz, who sets off this week with fellow wordsmiths Laura Williamson and Annabel Wilson on a poetic tour of the Rail Trail, is also currently working on a play for the Festival of Colour.PHOTO: Supplied

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has appointed a new Upper Clutha liaison manager to support the work of the Wanaka Community Board.Jessica Garrett joins the QLDC on Monday December 7 and will be based in the Wanaka office in Ardmore Street. She replaces Robyn Steel, who originally took up the position in early March 2020 and resigned recently.Jessica has a Bachelor and Master’s Degree in International Studies (Asian Studies), and has previously worked in local government and higher education.Having been working in Canterbury for the past two years, Jessica brings with her experience in governance, stakeholder engagement, and business management, the QLDC said.

A range of academic, cultural and service awards were granted at the Mount Aspiring College’s (MAC) annual senior prize giving ceremony last Wednesday night (November 4) before a packed audience in the college’s gymnasium.The four premier awards were awarded to Siena Shotwell (dux), Michael Gealogo (proxime accessit and best all round boy) and Emily Heath (best all round girl).Siena has attained academic excellence in art design, art painting, english and drama. Next year Siena will be studying law and arts at the University of Canterbury.Michael has attained academic excellence of the highest order in calculus, physics, economics and physical education. MAC said in a statement he has also excelled in his various leadership roles at the school. Next year Michael will be studying engineering at the University of Canterbury.Having achieved a 2020 Class Act award, a World Vision Scholarship and a Duke of EdinburghGold award, Emily has also gained numerous titles in her sport, swimming, and is an active volunteer. She will be studying veterinary science at Massey University.Michael Gealogo, who was also named proxime accessit, with dux Siena Shotwell.Scholarships were awarded to Helene Price and Hannah Craig (leadership); Aimee McArthur (medical); Maggie Miller (hospitality); Olive Pujol, Jack Findlay, Oliver Clements, Meg Breen, Jono Watson, Ryan Schmack, Lukas Schafer, Kiera Gray, Rata Horan, Czaliya Viloria and Ben McNabb (leadership and role-model); Zelda Boyd (engineering); Luca Georgalli, Jessie McKenzie and Owen Lea (music); Siena Shotwell (law); Jaydon Jordi (technology); Quinn Curtis (design); and Katey Donovan (vocational). The prize giving ceremony also celebrated many students’ personal achievements in winning national awards. They are Holly Gibson, Laura Neale, Kiera Gray, Isobel Smith, Cecilia Gardner, Olly Thomas, Siena Shotwell, Luca Georgalli, Jaimee Vink and Ollie Blyth (showquest 2020 national winners); Ollie Blyth (Young Shakespeare national selection); Benjamin Silipo (swimming); Scarlett Norman, Abby Fisher and Georgie Bruce (athletics); Ines Stephani (tennis); Hannah Prosser, Zach Smith, Georgia Prosser, Leo Staufenberg, Jack Findlay, Campbell Wright and Laurie Watson (triathlon).A number of students represented New Zealand in sport and other endeavours this year. Premiere sports awards went to Lukas Schafer (fairplay); Abby Fisher (girls sports); and Campbell Wright (boys sports and international achievement in cross country skiing and biathlon).Cultural awards went to Tawhiri Rupapera (mana pounamu) Jessie McKenzie (te korowai o te maatauranga), Lillian Eastwood (music), Ruby Burke (art), Siena Shotwell (drama), Isobel Smith (speech), and Ollie Blyth (writing).Year 11-13 students also received individual academic awards for highest achievement and high achievement in the year levels. PHOTOS: Supplied

Outgoing Rams coach Paul Glynn says five years is enough: “I’ve put my heart and soul into it. It’s time to give the boys a different voice.” Paul began coaching the Upper Clutha premier rugby team, The Rams, in 2016. Under his tenure the club won its first premiership in 39 years and reached the semi finals on three other occasions.On the outside Paul is a ‘Southern man’, a tough, no-nonsense, loose forward from Southland. But losing his father when he was a teenager made him realise the importance of community, and how important it is for young people to have a place they belong.“I lost my father when I was 18. When that happens you look for support networks and rugby provided that for me,” Paul said. “I was fortunate enough to be involved in several good rugby clubs, clubs with good strong cultures and I had good coaches around me.”A promising player, Paul was told he’d never play rugby again when he was 25-years-old. “I tore all the ligaments in my knee. I was determined to play again but in the meantime I started coaching and learnt a lot from established coaches.”Thanks to his dogged determination, Paul did get back on the paddock, and after a move to Wanaka in 2008 he played for The Rams. He says the club had an outstanding team but it just didn’t feel right. “The culture just wasn’t there and I didn’t find it enjoyable,” Paul said.“I remember thinking then that I’m going to come back to this team and coach.” Paul returned to Wanaka and took over the head coaching role in 2016. “I came back in 2016 and found a great bunch of young guys, all top mates and they were great guys and a strong group.” Paul says he went ‘hard’ on attitude and culture. “Culture is the number one thing. The key is basic human nature, that sense of belonging to something,” Paul said.The team responded and the boys went to work over the 2017/18 summer and when it came to the 2018 rugby season the boys were fit, but better than that, they were “tight”, Paul said.He said it was a focus on a healthy club culture which laid the groundwork for the 2018 championship victory.“What we achieved in 2018 was absolutely special. The average age of that team was 23 and it was a special year. Those guys will hold those memories for the rest of their lives.”Paul said things worked because everyone was on the same page. “The culture went beyond the team. When we went into the 2018 grand final the physios [Central Lakes Physio] really worked hard to ensure the boys were as fit as they could be. I can’t say enough about Vicky, Lauren, and Anna from Central Lakes Physio & Pilates. They were outstanding and absolutely professional.”The side went on to lose in the semi finals in 2019 and 2020, both times to Arrowtown. “Arrowtown is a club I admire,” Paul said. “They have a great attitude and look after their players. They’ve become a bit of a bogie team for us.“In 2019 we were looking good, we won the premiership but lost in the semi finals. There was plenty of disruption that year with the new club rooms being built and having to play away a lot. When you’re dealing with young guys it doesn’t take much to put them off key, but that was just the way the cookie crumbled.“This year pre-COVID we had the strongest team I’d ever seen at the club, but COVID interrupted preparations and when we got back on the paddock a third of the guys weren’t available. We still made the semis.”Paul says player numbers are growing and many players are missing out on game time. He says it may be time for a new rugby club to emerge. “There is a field at Hāwea and a community centre. A club could start there and build into it. The other option is Upper Clutha Rugby Club [could] operate two teams but it is very difficult to run two premier teams out of the one club,” he said.The club has some very experienced coaches who may be interested in the role of head coach at the club, Paul said. “There are people wanting to be involved and that is what club rugby is about.”The future of the club looks bright and for the club to go forward they just have to look after the players, he said. “As for me, I’m going fishing.”Paul would like to thank the following people: Jason Richan, Robert Nolan, Rob Boller, Hamish Lamb, Paul Cosgrove, Katrina Bristow, Richard Pledger, Gary Reid, Blair Kenedy, and Jai Baxter.Paul's team of the last five years:Blair KennedyMichael DonaldFergus SmithBrendon MurdochGeorge ReedHamish CooperFraser DowlingSam CalderWillie ShortJason RichanJimmy DownsAdam FaulksTyler FordGeorge GilchristBen PurvisScott CunninghamMatthew TempletonTom HudsonJack GilchristJai BaxterOliver StirlingBrodie FlannerySomln PagePHOTOS: Wanaka App

Year 12 Mount Aspiring College (MAC) student Ollie Blyth has been selected for the experience of a lifetime: representing New Zealand in the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand (SGCNZ) Young Shakespeare Company in England in 2021. Ollie and the 23 other Kiwi members will travel to London and have 12 rehearsals with a Shakespeare’s Globe director in scenes from one of Shakespeare’s plays, which they will perform for the public on the Globe stage. During their time in London, members will also take part in workshops, talks, have Q&A sessions with Globe actors and directors, have behind the scenes tours of London theatres. Emily McRae, Ollie’s drama teacher and head of drama at MAC, said she was incredibly proud of Ollie’s prestigious and highly competitive selection. “As an educator there is nothing better than seeing your students excel in their work beyond the classroom,” Emily said. “This is a stunning achievement and thoroughly deserved after an incredible amount of focused hard work.”Ollie (who uses the gender pronouns they/them/theirs) said they were stunned by the news of their selection. “The group of people I'm going with to London are incredibly skilled performers, and great friends. The idea of spending three weeks with them in London, working with high level directors and tutors, and putting on a show in the Globe Theatre still feels unreal.”Ollie entered the regional University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival (as both a student actor and director), where they won Best Student Directed Scene and were selected for the competitive SGCNZ’s National Shakespeare Schools Production 2020 alongside young actors from all over New Zealand. “This was a nine day long intensive programme in Dunedin late last month with 48 other young performers which culminated in two public performances,” they said. Following the programme, 24 students were selected to represent the country in London.While there is a chance that COVID-19 will affect the feasibility of the trip, Ollie is keeping an “optimistic outlook”.“If COVID eases its grip by July, the trip to London is going to be an incredible next step in my journey as a performer.”Ollie has always loved the performing arts and hopes to work in the industry when they leave school. Since moving to Wanaka in 2018 Ollie has been a part of a variety of productions, including Box Theatre productions (the MAC drama department senior theatre company) and school musicals. In 2019 they were also one in a group of MAC students who acted in the devised piece Permission to Speak with Goya Theatre Company as part of the Festival of Colour. “Art has an immense power when it comes to reflecting and influencing society. It's a very life giving experience to be a part of a performance process, and the life skills I've learned as a result have been highly beneficial,” Ollie said. Ollie thanked MAC for its support.“I'm deeply grateful to the school – particularly the drama department – for its support of me throughout this process, as well as the wider community. I wouldn't have been offered this position if I had not been encouraged and supported by my teachers and wider whānau.” PHOTO: Memory of Light Photography

An Auckland deputy principal of a 2,000 student high school has been appointed principal of Mount Aspiring College (MAC).The MAC Board of Trustees (BOT) said they were “delighted” with Nicola Jacobsen’s appointment.Limited statutory manager Madeleine Hawkesby said Nicola, who will begin at MAC at the start of next year, is an ideal fit for the school. “As a leader of teaching and learning, Nicola has a focus on personal excellence. Her ability to collaborate, problem solve and critically analyse will be a significant asset to the college,” she said.“A key strength of Nicola’s was clear and effective communication and I am confident that she is the right person to lead Mount Aspiring College as we move forward together.”Nicola, who is originally from Blenheim, has been at Auckland’s Pakuranga College for the past six years. “I believe that education is for everyone; and to lead a school which serves the whole community is a great opportunity,” Nicola said.The new principal understands the importance of strong community connections and will bring a fresh perspective to the school, BOT chair Ian Hall said. PHOTO: MAC“I’m looking forward to getting to know the community. The staff - who are a valuable asset of the college - the students; who we serve - and the wider school whanau. This partnership is crucial for our youth to achieve their personal best and become the leaders of the future.” she said.Before her appointment to Pakuranga College, Nicola held senior positions at Botany Downs Secondary College. She is a graduate of the University of Canterbury and the Christchurch College of Education and completed a Master’s degree from the University of Auckland in 2019.The recruitment process was led by Madeleine in consultation with the BOT. Madeleine was commissioned by the BOT in early June to complete an analysis of issues at the school, following a critical Education Review Office review last year, the resignation of two members of the board in April as well as long term principal Wayne Bosley’s resignation in May.She identified a raft of issues in a scoping report (released in July), which included an immediate need for strategic and focused leadership.BOT chair Ian Hall said Nicola’s appointment is a positive step for MAC. “Nicola comes to the college with an impressive track record of effective educational leadership and strong academic credentials. The board was impressed by Nicola's presentation to us and by her vision of a high-performing college that caters for the needs of all students,” he said.“Nicola will bring a fresh perspective and she well understands the importance of strong community connections.”Nicola will meet with MAC senior leadership later this term, and will be welcomed officially to the school with a pōwhiri at the start of Term 1, 2021.

Like many tourism businesses in Wanaka, Eco Wanaka Adventures (EWA) has learned to adapt to the new pandemic world to survive.Pre-COVID, 95 per cent of its clients were international visitors attracted not only by their lake cruising, nature walks, heli-hikes and guided high country walks but also by the opportunity to participate in the company’s signature ecological efforts, planting trees and helping with pest eradication programmes.Now EWA relies entirely upon domestic Kiwi visitors.“We, like many other tourism businesses, have had to lay off staff but we supported many during the lockdown and beyond under the wage subsidy,” EWA co-owner Lee Eadie said. “We are functioning now on reduced staffing numbers but keeping the business open for any trips that do come along.Tree planting on Mou Waho.“We feel this is important so that visitors to Wanaka have a good range of options for activities to do when they get here and to support the local accommodation providers with activities for their clients.”Even though EWA’s most popular tours, such as the cruise and nature walk to Mou Waho and the Rob Roy Glacier guided walk, haven’t had to be substantially changed to cater for the domestic Kiwi market, the company has adapted its approach to the more budget conscious Kiwi traveller, who also tend to have a different perspective regarding their natural environment, she said.MAC students and teacher with the weta motels they constructed for Mou Waho Island. “Kiwis appear more knowledgeable about the natural history of New Zealand, as we would hope they would be, so learning about this does not appear to interest some Kiwis as much but they are interested in the local history, i.e. the settlement of the region and pre-European history of the local area,” she said.From the start of their business in 2006, Lee and co-owner Chris Riley have enthusiastically promoted the concept that nature based tourism businesses, such as theirs, should have an ecological and educational focus.Eco Wanaka Adventures co-owner and guide Chris Riley at the top of Mou Waho.Since early 2007 EWA has been planting native trees on Mou Waho Island to restore the island’s original forest diversity.“We have planted well over 8,000 native trees on the island since then,” Lee said. EWA has also worked in conjunction with the Department of Conservation and Mount Aspiring College (MAC) to install 44 “weta motels” to protect the rare, cryogenic weta and gecko from predation on Mou Waho. Utilising its boat, the company is currently working with Wanaka’s native plants nursery Te Kākano helping provide access for planting programmes along Lake Wānaka’s edge.  High country Heli-Hikes provide breathtaking views.High altitude pest trapping is another conservation effort the company blends in with its Alpine Heli Hikes and guided high country walks. It’s assisting the Matukituki Charitable Trust to establish a new trap line on the edge of Lake Wanaka as well as actively participating in the Trust’s high country stoat trapping programmes.“Chris and I are very keen to continue with these plant restoration and trapping projects... as they are part of the future of sustainable tourism in this beautiful Wanaka environment we are both interested [in] and passionate about,” Lee said.“By helping to restore and protect our wonderful backyard, we, like many Wanaka people, want to make sure we are kaitiaki - the nurturing and caring guardians of this beautiful region for future generations.” “We also find that many of our clients, both domestic and overseas, like to contribute actively to these projects, so the tree planting and trap checking on our tours allows them to do this, in a "hands on" style, in this unique opportunity to "give back" to New Zealand nature.“A win-win situation for all concerned,” she said.Right now Eco Wanaka Adventures is offering a limited time 20 per cent discount (until December 31 this year) off direct bookings for its Mou Waho Island guided tour. Bookings must be made by phone or email and children go free with a paying adult.Lee says this popular half-day adventure which combines a lake cruise, nature walk and wildlife encounter, is an ideal opportunity to “meet the real locals” – Mou Waho’s rare buff weka. The birds’ naturally inquisitive character adds to the pleasure of the walk to the top of the island to visit Arethusa’s pool and enjoy the vast 360 degree views across Lake Wānaka. “We recently had a photographer that took a trip to Mou Waho and enjoyed the island so much he brought his whole family with him on the next trip about one month later,” she said.For further information about the many and varied tours EWA offers click here.PHOTOS: Eco Wanaka Adventures

Long standing international mountain guiding business Adventure Consultants has been pleasantly surprised by the number of Kiwis who have signed up for climbing expeditions and courses in New Zealand’s own backyard.Adventure Consultants general manager Suze Kelly said the business had shrunk by 90 per cent with the temporary loss of its international expeditions following COVID-19 restrictions.In response, the business has focused on its local and domestic tourism market, and created a range of new courses and expeditions.Adventure Consultants has been based in Wanaka for 24 years. The business was established by Rob Hall and Gary Ball in 1992, following their ascent of the Seven Summits in seven months in 1990.Guy Cotter guided on its first commercial expedition to Mt Everest in 1992, and he took over the business in 1996, after Rob died in a blizzard on Mt Everest. Gary had died earlier on Mt Dhaulagiri in 1993.“Before COVID probably 90 per cent of our trips and expeditions took place overseas,” Suze told the Wanaka App, adding the New Zealand operation of mountaineering courses, guided ascents, ski touring and ice climbing was about 10 per cent of the business.About 40 percent of that ten per cent were New Zealand clients, she estimated.Rope skills are on offer with a special local’s deal.“We were very unsure of how many New Zealanders would want to come on trips here,” she said.“We were really happy with how our winter went - it was about double what we were expecting. And we’ve been really nicely surprised with the number of New Zealanders who booked in for trips on the holidays.”The new trips created for local markets are generally shorter, and sometimes without a helicopter component in order to reduce prices. They included a backcountry avalanche course (“We ran heaps of those in winter,” Suze said), a busy ice climbing camp at Wye Creek (behind the Remarkables), ski touring trips at Mt Cook, and Geodome ski touring camps at Camp Creek, Lake Hāwea.The Geodomes make for comfortable camping.Looking toward summer, a lot of the courses are longer (seven, 10, and 12 days) which allows time for bad weather, Suze said.A new rope skills course is being offered as a locals’ deal. The three day technical rope skills is based at Wanaka’s crags, with a snow day nearby. “You learn heaps of rope skills,” Suze said, including industry standard skills for belaying, glacier travel skills, cliff and crevasse rescue. For the locals’ deal people can get a group of four together and pay $800 each. Find more information on the LoveWanaka page.And while the pre-COVID staff number of 16 (at the Wanaka HQ) has reduced, the business has been able to keep between six and eight locally based New Zealand guides busy.Adventure Consultants can help locals who have a goal to climb Mt Aspiring (the west face is pictured).“We’ve been able to provide quite a lot of work for them,” Suze said.She said the wage subsidies were helpful to keep people on as long as possible. “We’ve always been a big family. We’ve been doing as much as we can to keep them on and help them find what they’re going to do next. Most of our staff who have moved on have found other jobs.” The business has been fundraising for their sherpas in Nepal via a ‘Sherpa Future Fund’, “because they don’t have the same social services backup as we do”, Suze said. “We’ve had an amazing response from our international and local clients to that.” As for the future, Suze expects the business to remain focused domestically for another year.  “If things open up internationally for us that will be really helpful,” she said, adding the spring expedition climbing season in Nepal is April/May so they are hoping for more movement by then.“We don’t need to be able to go to those places ourselves - the guides might live elsewhere.”The business also has a film department which offers mountain safety and locations work worldwide.Meanwhile, Adventure Consultants is well equipped to help locals with a goal to climb Mt Aspiring or one of the many other peaks in our backyard.Find more information here.PHOTOS: Adventure Consultants

Ten local dancers were selected last week to perform in Royal New Zealand Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty in Dunedin next month (November 14-15).The Wanaka dancers, aged 9 to 12-years-old, who attend ballet lessons at Dance Wanaka and Pointe Central, will perform in children’s extra roles as pages, Lilac fairies and Garland dancers, alongside the country's most prestigious ballet company dancers.Dance Wanaka teacher Anna Thomas said she was enormously proud of the local dancers, particularly after learning that nearly half of the children selected for the Dunedin show are Wanaka dancers. Pointe Central is run by former professional ballerina Briony Martin. Previously operating from a gymnasium, Pointe Central opened its studio doors in June this year when it took over the former Vet-Ent building on Anderson Road.The four Pointe Central dancers selected to perform the ballet in Dunedin also competed at the New Zealand Dance Awards in Christchurch this week; (L-R) Luke Gendall, Isabel Martin, Mia Waite and Mia Cohen.Briony said six of her dancers, aged 11 to 13-years-old, attended the auditions with the Royal New Zealand Ballet in Dunedin last week. “Travelling through the snow to get there was quite a mission,” she said.All six were called back for a final audition from which four were selected and immediately started rehearsals, she said. “They’re all going to be on the stage for quite a bit and it’s such a beautiful ballet to be part of,” she said.She said attending auditions was part of the process of becoming a dancer. “There’s always a lot of disappointment for those who don’t make it but it’s a big learning process as well.“You win some and lose some but every opportunity they have [to audition] is a chance to learn and grow and become that much more confident and more able to handle the process.”It’s a big commitment for their families too, she said, as these children, who are competing in Christchurch this week at the New Zealand Dance Awards, will spend the next three weekends attending ballet rehearsals in Dunedin.A large troupe of dancers from Wanaka dance studios, including Dance Out Loud and Pointe Central, are participating in the national dance awards which finish on Saturday October 10.Briony said the Wanaka dancers had been competing well amongst the 200-300 dancers from all over the country.“For some of the kids just getting up on stage is their biggest achievement,” she said. “They’re holding their own and really doing Wanaka proud.”PHOTOS: Supplied

A talented young Mount Aspiring College (MAC) band has been selected from more than 100 applicants to perform at the RenewArt exhibition next week.The alternative rock band Better Than Nothing, which comprises four MAC students, is one of three bands that has been chosen to play at the community showcase.“It’s great to be selected. To be included with some really great, creative people is inspiring for us,” the band’s drummer Archie Orbell said.The up-and-coming band has had many performing opportunities: While performing outside Kai Whakapai, they were invited to go on tour with Christchurch band Troika, and an invitation to play at the Burning Horse Festival in Southland was tossed inside their guitar case at the same venue on a different day.After returning from RockQuest in September, the band stopped for a meal at Pig & Whistle in Queenstown. Someone noticed their gear and invited them to play a couple songs. It didn’t take long before all of the 20-something female patrons were dancing along to their music.Members of the band include Henry McConnell on vocals, Clarke West on guitar, and Archie Orbell on drums - all 15-year-old Year 10 students - and 13-year-old Year 9 student Otis Murphy on bass. Better Than Nothing. PHOTO: SuppliedThis is Otis’s first year as bass player, but Better Than Nothing has been together for over three years.The band performed at Matariki and Welcome to Winter and was the only band playing on the closing day at Treble Cone. This summer they have gigs booked at Hook and closing day at Cardrona.Inspired by Sticky Fingers, Royal Blood, and Imagine Dragons, Better Than Nothing has a 30 minute line-up of original songs, and a list of cover songs.The band’s growing reputation is getting them noticed, and their “sound guy” Oscar Goodwin is good at securing gigs for them, but it’s their “very cool” music teacher Mat Doyle who offers the most help in finding opportunities for them to perform. The band members all agree the school music department is “incredible”. Mat reckons the band is “relentless in their search for gigs or recording opportunities”. He sees them as very capable musicians but credits their success to their friendship and their love of music.The band members’ dads play an important role in their success as well. With band members not legally old enough to drive, transportation to and from events, as well as rehearsals, becomes an issue.Locations like Treble Cone have no sound or electronic equipment already set up, so everything has to be hauled up the mountain and put into place. The dads play the roles of roadie, manager, driver, financer, and PR guy, which might not make them famous, but it’s better than nothing.Check out the Better Than Nothing Facebook page.RenewArt was created to celebrate the local arts scene, create a paid opportunity for artists and provide a series of free events for the community, with a shared theme of ‘renewal’. It will take place in Wanaka on October 16 and 17, and in Queensown on October 9 and 10.

Wanaka barrister and mediator Dr Deb Inder has been appointed to the Committee of the Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (CRAANZ), a coalition of non-governmental organisations, families and individuals that promotes the rights and well-being of children and youth through advocacy and education.Deb has also recently completed her PhD thesis and, while the milestone is a huge accomplishment, Deb says it’s just the beginning of making change.“When you finish your PhD you think you’re going to change the world, then you finish and realise it’s just the beginning of the work,” she said. Drawing on her experience “at the coalface” (Deb was admitted to the bar in 1998 and has many years experience working in family law), Deb’s thesis covered a largely unexplored topic: children’s participation rights within the the New Zealand family justice system.“Being in practice I would see children coming out of the court process saying ‘my participation was a waste of time’ or saying ‘no one listened to me’,” Deb said. Delving further, she discovered that there was no clear best practice in family court when it comes to children’s participation. “It launched me on this journey,” Deb said. “How do we let children participate in our legal system? Is there a better way in which we could have children participate that is supported by research and theory?”“A big part was identifying what those barriers were to children effectively participating,” Deb said. She found they included attitudes towards children, a desire to protect children from conflict, concerns about how participation could affect parents’ authority, and concerns children could be ‘coached’ to say what one parent wanted them to. But many of these concerns weren’t realistic, she discovered. “There is a lot of misunderstanding of what’ children’s participation means.”“Children often said they actually don’t want to make the decisions but they want to have a say in things that are affecting them,” Deb said. “They would say: ‘We don’t want to be making the choices but we do want to be heard and listened to’.”She found what children wanted to have a say in were often little things that gave them a sense of agency: maybe a child wanted the handover between parents to take place at a different location, or it was important to them they had access to their bicycle regardless of which parent they were staying with.“A lot of their messages are really simple but really prophetic as well,” Deb said. “I really look at the children's needs as opposed to the parents’ wants.”During the time working on her PhD Deb created a model for best practice for children’s participation in the justice system which she said could be applied globally.Now that her PhD is completed, it’s getting that information - her research and model - out into the world that is her next big task. But Deb is already creating opportunities to apply her research and experience: she is currently working on an article to be published in an academic journal and in coming months she will meet with a working group from the New Zealand family law section responsible for making submissions on a significant Bill. Deb received her PHD in absentia after the graduation ceremony, scheduled for August 29, was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Her thesis is titled: Children’s Participation Rights within the Context of the New Zealand Family Justice System.PHOTO: University of Otago

A local business has clocked up more than 20 years providing value-for-money entertainment for both locals and visitors.Crossfire Wanaka offers a unique combination of targets to hit and ways to hit them, including clay bird and target shooting, archery, mini golf, and a driving range.“It’s a family run business on a local family-run farm - I don’t think there’s anything like this anywhere else in New Zealand,” long term employee Jamie Norman said.Jamie has worked at Crossfire for 18 years, and says the business has grown over the years.“It’s a place where people of all ages can come, from five-year-olds to grandparents.”Crossfire attracts lots of family groups.“I find once locals find out about the place they’re surprised at all the activities available,” he said, adding he sees familiar faces year after year.Jamie has heard Crossfire described as “a great ‘down day’ activity”.“It’s a great place to come for a family activity and birthday parties, but it’s also great for stag parties, hen parties, work dos, and Christmas parties,” he said. “It offers a whole afternoon of activities at a low cost.”Locals are often surprised at the range of activities, Jamie says.Jamie said Crossfire has been well supported by the local and wider local community since COVID-19 hit.“Our expectations were really low, and we’ve been really happy. The response is definitely respectable,” he said.“We’ve totally underestimated the amount of money Aucklanders spend in Australia on short stays, and they’ve moved down here and spent their money.”However, since Auckland went into alert level three, there has been a slow down in North Island visitors. Since the alert level was lifted to two last Sunday (August 30), more North Islanders have been “drifting in”, but not groups such as you would see in the school holidays, Jamie said.Crossfire offered special ‘two for one’ deals in May, and will look at offering something similar in October.“That’s our biggest concern - the shoulder season,” Jamie said.“But we’re fortunate - we fit in a range of activities and we’re a good, middle of the road NZ activity. And we offer activities that can be done whatever the weather.”“People can spend $13 and get value for money,” he said.Crossfire Wanaka, at 9 Mount Barker Road (the corner of SH6 opposite Wanaka Airport), is open seven days, from 10am to 5pm.PHOTOS: Supplied

Courtney McGergor, a retired artistic gymnast who represented New Zealand at the 2016 Olympics, visited Wanaka’s Aspiring Gymsports on Saturday (August 29).Aspiring Gymsports coach Rae Paterson said she had contacted Courtney seeking her support and encouragement for Bella Soper, the club’s top senior gymnast.Bella won the beam and earned second place in the floor competition at the NZ championship last year. She was disappointed when COVID-19 prevented her from attending her first NZ team trial in Wellington in May. “It was a difficult time for the young gymnast with a bright future,” Rae said.Courtney McGregor presented Bella Soper with a pictorial record of her achievements at the 2019 NZ Champs.Courtney sent an encouraging email to Bella and accepted an invitation to visit the club, and her visit coincided with preparations for the young gymnasts’ first competition in Dunedin in the National Super Series (September 12-13), Rae said.On Saturday, 10 gymnasts (including four gymnasts new to the competitive squad) performed for friends and family in a practice competition. The squad gymnasts were joined by other club members after the competition for an informal chat with Courtney.Courtney accompanied each group during the practise competition then spent time with Bella working on beam skills. Courtney talked with the gymnasts about her experiences representing NZ at the World Games, the Olympics, her team training in the USA, training hours, and her favourite and least favourite moves.Courtney demonstrates one of the most important moves for gymnasts to master: the handstand.She emphasised working hard, putting in your best effort, and trusting your coach, and also shared a few secrets on how she deals with nerves before a competition.“Her visit was very inspiring for all the gymnasts and attending members and families,” Rae said.The Aspiring Gymsports squad members are: Step 1 - Lara Beams, Keira Lam, Stella Kearns, Charlise Wyatt; Step 2 - Mea Allison, Honor Jones; Step 3 - Ivy Campbell; Step 4 - Fleur Jansen, Lucy Wellington, Vienna Harley; Step 8 - Bella Soper. Boys level 2 - Marshall Watson, Charlie Nisbet; Level 3 - James Watson. They will all compete in Dunedin on September 12-13. PHOTOS: Supplied