A couple of good blokes are being hailed as heroes by a delighted Queenstown bride-to-be – one of them her fiancé, after her precious engagement ring was miraculously located under ice at the top of the Crown Range.Remarkables Primary teacher Abby Cavanagh, who moved to Queenstown from Auckland earlier this year with fiancé of four years Dan Weafer, noticed her engagement ring missing on June 29.She’d been walking the Kelvin Heights Track during the weekend, but a search there and post on the Queenstown Community social media page turned up no leads.“I retraced my steps, and we searched everywhere, tipping the bedroom upside down,” Abby said.She’d all but given up hope when Dan started checking videos he’d taken of Abby playing in the snow on top of the Crown Range. “He just had a feeling he should check the videos,” Abby said.Dan and Abby celebrate Ryan’s miraculous find on Thursday night.Incredibly, Dan spotted the ring flying through the air in a video of Abby shaking snow off her freezing hands after a fun snow fight.On Thuersday (July 10) Dan finished work early and the pair went up the Crown Range for a search.“We looked for an hour and a half. I was way too cold, and it was getting dark,” Abby said.Abby posted on the community page asking for a metal detector and was overwhelmed by the response, about half a dozen detectors offered straight away, one from Wānaka.One offer took the prize – Arrowtown man Ryan Domenico de Dominicis, who was keen to try out his new metal detector, not only offered to help but insisted on heading up there well after dark on Thursday night rather than waiting until the next day as Abby suggested.A delighted Abby Cavanagh celebrates being reunited with her precious engagement ring.“We’d only just got home, and Dan went back up to help him. By the time he got there Ryan had already found the ring. He was frothing, so keen to help,” a very grateful Abby said.“Miraculously, it wasn’t damaged or scratched at all and had been sitting there untouched for 11 days,” she said.“The snow it fell in had melted to the ground and it was just sitting in a puddle under a piece of ice.“I’d been throwing snow up into the air and I’ve lost weight lately, so it must’ve flung off while I was shaking my hands out in front of me.“I was just overwhelmingly grateful. I had tears in my eyes and was jumping up and down, so happy.”Abby offered a cash reward which Ryan didn’t want to take but the couple insisted, giving him $100.Abby said she’s hugely grateful to those who offered to help and was blown away by all of those like Ryan offering to go out of their way to help.“This is such an amazing community. People really look after each other,” she said.To top off the tale Ryan just happens to be a wedding photographer, so guess who’s first in line to take the wedding photos next year? And yes, Abby reckons they’d better choose the top of the Crown Range as the photo location.“I think this is a sign. It’s prompted us to finally get married. We always planned to get married when we moved to Queenstown, so this has given us a bit of a kick along,” Abby said, adding that they will be “very careful with the rings”.PHOTOS: Supplied

KiwiHarvest’s 'Souperheroes' campaign has provided over a tonne of soup, stews, and curries to charities in Queenstown Lakes - including three in Wānaka - since launching in May. The food charity collects surplus food and delivers it to those in need, and ‘Souperheros’ started as a small side initiative, KiwiHarvest Queenstown Lakes branch manager Gary Hough says.“What began as a simple idea - aligned with KiwiHarvest’s mission to reduce food waste and support those in need - has grown into something that fills me with pride and hope.”Gary said KiwiHarvest started by collaborating with students from Queenstown's Liger Leadership Academy, working together to find a new way to feed people facing tough times.It soon expanded into a district-wide mission, with primary schools collecting surplus containers (like ice cream tubs and yoghurt pots) and teaming up with chefs at hotels and restaurants to turn excess food into a stockpile of frozen soups, stews, and curries.“The ‘Souperheroes’ campaign has exceeded expectations with over one tonne of food contributed,” Gary said.‘Souperheroes now delivers these meals to 13 charities, including Food for Love, Community Link’s food bank and Kahu Youth Trust.“Over 550 kilograms of nutritious, heartwarming soups and stews have been prepared, with local chefs transforming excess produce from KiwiHarvest and local kitchens into comforting winter meals.“In addition, we’ve received over 450 kilos of canned soups and stews that have generously been donated by our community…”Wānaka Primary School has been involved this year, during the ‘pilot’, but “next year we hope to include all Wānaka primary schools and some Wānaka hospitality businesses”, Gary said.On the back of the success of ‘Souperheroes’, Kiwiharvest has launched its major fundraiser of the year, ‘Cruise for a Cause’: an overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound with RealNZ.“We have come along with local grant support etc in the last couple of years but [we are] still operationally in a deficit of around $20K for the next two years,” Gary told the Wānaka App.“This event we hope will help to bridge that gap for next year and make our operation more secure and sustainable, which has a massive ripple effect for the community.”Find out more about the Doubtful Sound cruise here and more about KiwiHarvest here.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Wānaka Festival of Colour executive director Ruth Heath has been named as the new director of Queenstown’s arts and cultural centre, Te Atamira.The Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust Board said Ruth will step down from the role in early August.The board thanked Ruth for being “an exceptional steward of the trust” during her tenure as executive director.“Her collaborative approach and genuine passion for the arts have strengthened our organisation - from modernising systems and seeing us through tough periods while keeping our festivals strong and vibrant, to nurturing our incredible community of audiences, artists, supporters, sponsors, volunteers and staff,” they said.Ruth Heath PHOTO: Deanna GerlachRuth said the Wānaka Festival of Colour and Aspiring Conversations are “extraordinary festivals and it has been a privilege to serve the trust and this community in bringing these to life”.“A wonderful opportunity now exists for a new leader to carry the vision forward and further strengthen arts leadership in our region.”Ruth said she was “delighted to be joining a special team at a special place”. She is part of the inaugural cohort of Creative New Zealand’s New Leaders Programme, alongside 25 arts leaders from across the country. The Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust Board said the recruitment process for a new executive director is underway.

Queenstown resident Darren Rewi (Ngati Mamoe and Waitaha, Ngati Kahungungu ki Te Wairoa, Rongowhakaata, Ngati Porou) has announced he will stand for mayor of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).He joins incumbent mayor Glyn Lewers, Shaping Our Future executive John Glover, and businessman Nik Kiddle in the mayoral race.Darren (62), who has lived in the district for 32 years, has been involved in a wide range of community and governance roles.“Enabling and empowering all communities from Makarora to Tahuna Glenorchy is a passion,” he said.QLDC voters need to consider leadership, governance and engagement when they choose their mayor and councillors, Darren said.He said he has over 20 years of senior level leadership and governance experience on local, regional and national boards, and has qualifications and experience in strategic and change management.“Along with the wider Queenstown Lakes District community we the elected councillors need to come together to articulate a strategic vision for the next 30 years, not the next election cycle.” Darren said he supports “an open and transparent working relationship” between mayor and CEO, with a “no surprises” policy for the mayor and elected councillors.“There has been a lack of accountability recently which has led to a removal of community support. The councillors and the staff need to focus on reducing costs that have ballooned beyond our need.”He said there is “no point creating reviews and investigations; it’s obvious that there has been poor decision making and now its for the new council and mayor to create an expectation of accountability and that’s a conversation with the CEO”.“We need to look forward and get moving: let’s revisit issues like single designated authority and what contractors are and are not adding value. If they are not, then they are gone. We need with urgency to reduce and remove our reliance on contractors.”Darren said progress on the Regional Deal with central government comes with opportunities and expectations. The government wants to enable growth through productivity, but while Queenstown Lakes is projected to be the biggest population centre for Otago, its productivity rate is 10 percent lower than the rest of New Zealand, he said.“When we work with developers and private investors, once due diligence is done and we agree to move forward, can we enable their projects; we need to unlock the bureaucracy for us to achieve.”“Leadership is key”, he added.Read more: Local ‘regional deal’ progresses to next stage“Part of enabling the community is to utilise iwi and Maori business and the capability they have… The recent investment of Totara Energy to acquire 30 percent of Pioneer Energy is a great example of bringing the capability of nine iwi to the table for the benefit of New Zealand.”As part of the Māori community Darren provided support to the wider community during the Covid-19 pandemic, from which the Mana Tahuna Charitable Trust emerged. Darren has been chair of the trust since it was founded in 2020.He is a trustee of the Sky City Queenstown Community Foundation, vice chair of the Victim Support national board, a ministerial appointee on the board of Herenga a Nuku the Outdoor Access Commission, and Ngai Tahu ki Murihiku representative on the Otago Regional Council Upper Lakes Freshwater Catchment Working Group. Darren is also a local business owner (cultural support company Take Tuia), and was recently the vice chair of the Arts Culture and Heritage Strategy Committee. He was the mayoral appointee as chair of the Welcoming Communities Steering Group.Darren has also been involved with Scouts, football, supporting schools, iwi roles, and contributed for nine years as a volunteer fire fighter. He has led the ongoing restoration of Waiwhakaata Lake Hayes. PHOTO: Supplied

Two of New Zealand’s most decorated winter Para athletes have been named to represent Aotearoa at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.Adam Hall and Corey Peters were officially selected this week, with Adam set to become the first New Zealand Para athlete to compete at six Winter Paralympics – equalling the national record for most Paralympic appearances.“Winning selection for my sixth Paralympic Winter Games is an immense honour,” he said.Adam made his Paralympic debut at Torino 2006, winning gold in Vancouver 2010, another gold and a bronze at PyeongChang 2018, and two more bronzes in Beijing 2022.The Wānaka skier, who was born with spina bifida, will compete in the Men’s Slalom Standing and Men’s Giant Slalom Standing events in 2026.Corey, a three-time medallist, returns for his fourth Games after a brief break to welcome daughter Valentina in 2022, and recover from injury.“Being selected for my fourth Paralympic Games is more than an honour - it’s a testament to years of resilience, growth, and unwavering passion,” he said.Corey, a sit skier from New Plymouth, won silver at Sochi 2014, bronze at PyeongChang 2018, and gold and silver at Beijing 2022. He’s been named for the Men’s Downhill Sitting, Super-G Sitting and Giant Slalom Sitting events.Paralympics New Zealand chief executive Greg Warnecke said the pair’s selection reflects their continued success and legacy.“Both Para alpine skiing legends have consistently delivered on the biggest stage banking an incredible nine Paralympic Winter Games medals between them,” he said.A second team announcement may be made in February 2026. The Milano Cortina Paralympic Winter Games will run from March 6-15, 2026.PHOTOS: Paralympics NZ

Local volunteers have been celebrated for their contributions to our community during National Volunteer Week/Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu, which ended yesterday (June 22).“Volunteers are found everywhere in our communities,” Volunteer South Queenstown Lakes community connector Carol Morgan told the Wānaka App.“They are first responders in emergencies, coaches of sports teams, cleaners of our lakes and restorers of our native habitats, providers of baking and meals for those in need, mentors for tamariki and rangatahi, and supporters of those going through tough times.”Volunteer South has collected more than 50 celebration stories from across the region to showcase the impact of volunteering. These include the Cardrona Adaptive Snow Sports Programme, which has been running successfully for more than 20 years.Adaptive supervisor Katharina Mueller said the programme “couldn’t operate without the help of passionate volunteers who provide on-snow support for people with various physical, cognitive, and sensory abilities”.“Each morning … volunteers assist, encourage, provide a safe environment, and help each guest have a great time up the mountain,” Katharina said. “Whether guiding a sit-ski or offering hands-on support, the volunteers’ impact is profound.”Volunteers include Dylan, a backpacker from the US, who spends her days helping participants in group lessons feel included and supported; retired nurse Ali, who helps participants navigate the bustle of the slopes; and long-standing volunteer Dean, who is known for his skill with the sit-ski.“It’s not just about skiing or snowboarding - it’s about creating possibilities, joy, and connection,” Katharina said.Community Link foodbank coordinator Nicola Plumridge shared her comments about Wānaka Community Workshop’s “quiet champion and community hero”, Barry.“He might prefer to stay out of the spotlight, but Barry’s generosity and quiet dedication speak volumes. He’s the kind of person who doesn’t look for recognition - yet everything he does helps our community thrive,” Nicola said.Barry: the “heart and soul” of the community BBQ.Barry is a volunteer at the Community Workshop; the “heart and soul” of the community BBQ; a talented craftsman who donates his work to the Hospice Shop; a generous provider of boxes of kindling; and a gardener who donates fruit and vegetables to the foodbank, Nicola said.This year’s theme for Volunteer Week was ‘Whiria te Tangata - Weaving the people together’, and Carol said volunteer work “strengthens our communities and truly ‘weaves the people together’ and it should be recognised and celebrated”.Volunteer South supports, promotes, and strengthens volunteering across the southern region, building stronger, more connected communities.PHOTOS: Supplied

Year 12 Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) student Mikayla Botting was awarded first place in the New Zealand Lions Young Speechmaker Contest district final in Gore last weekend.Mikayla - along with Xander Maguire (year 13), Ruby Smith (year 12), and Dani Maguire (year 12) - each presented a five-to-six minute prepared speech, and a one-to-two minute impromptu speech (with one minute's preparation).Mikayla won the event from a field of 18 students from across Otago and Southland, delivering a powerful speech on global gender equality, with a focus on the injustices faced by women in Afghanistan."I chose the protection of equality as my speech topic as it is a very important message to be speaking on in our current world climate,” Mikayla said. “My speech centres around women and girl's rights in Afghanistan and how their equality is destroyed.”She said the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan has “continuously gone unnoticed”, which is “heartbreaking”.From left: Colleen Carr from the Wānaka Upper Clutha Lions Club, Ruby Smith (Y12), Xander Maguire (Y13), Dani Maguire (Y12), Mikayla Botting (Y12), and Joanne Waide (MAC head of learning area English).“This shaped my speech into a plea for awareness, that we all need to remember how lucky we have it in New Zealand and remember how important it is to protect equality. It is equality that protects diversity. It is diversity that allows for human connection." Mikayla said she had undertaken months of research for the competition.“The impromptu speech was scary, but I gained valuable experience from it,” she said.Mikayla will proceed to the national final in New Plymouth on August 2, along with students from Southland Girls and Central Southland who placed second and third respectively.PHOTOS: Supplied

Twenty-three Wānaka Snowsports Club (WSC) members have each been awarded $500 - taking the amount the club has distributed to year 2-8 “grassroots athletes” to $165,000 since 2013. The money will be deducted from the cost of the young athletes’ 2025 snowsports programmes at Cardrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone Ski Area this season.WSC executive committee member Bonny Teat said many aspiring young snowsports athletes applied for the club's 2025 grassroots programme, following an “amazing northern hemisphere” season for local snow sports athletes - which included a Crystal Globe, X Games’ medals, World Championship medals, Freeride top spots and FIS alpine medals.The club celebrated recently with a pizza party at the Cardrona-Treble Cone headquarters, where members heard from alpine athletes Mathilda and Isabel Watterson and freeride athletes Eva Small and Nico Burrowes, who had all travelled to the northern hemisphere this past season.The speakers were joined by MCs Harry Rowden and Aiden Fitzpatrick, who had both competed in freeride events in Europe.Coach Peter Legnavsky also introduced the new alpine head coach Grant Stockman, as well as Sam Lee (freeride head coach) and Matt Lister (alpine U16 coach).The 2025 recipients of the grassroots awards are: Max Blatch, Jackson Blatch, Elliot Blatch, William Beech, Patrick Beech, Eneko Mazet Brown, Kobi Small, Silas King, Caspar King, Izaac Wu, Axel Chandler, Jimmy Dolan, Kiri Dolan, Dylan Hedley Dunbar, Otto Walshe, Lachie Stevens, Emmie Wyatt, Charlise Wyatt, Spencer Bunbury, Hazel Hardman, Sam Millar, Harriet Millar, and Nico Burrowes.The list includes two snowboarders, six alpine ski racers, seven freeskiers and eight freeride skiers.“Some of the young athletes have aspirations to represent New Zealand like many previous grassroots recipients and others who wish to get enough skills to enjoy our beautiful mountain environment with their families and friends,” Bonny said.Bonny said the regular WSC functions are open to family members, and the next function will be open to the public (from 7pm on Saturday June 21 at Apres, 50 Cardrona Valley Rd). She said this will be an opportunity to meet successful athletes; freerider Ben Richards, freeskier Ben Barclay, alpine athletes Mathilda and Isabel Watterson, and freeski coach Hamish McDougall, who will share footage and talk about their experiences in the northern hemisphere. PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka organisations have received more than $1M in grant support from Central Lakes Trust (CLT) in its last two funding rounds, with around a dozen local groups benefitting from funding.Most of the funding in April and May went to multi-year operational grants, CLT chief executive Barbara Bridger said."We believe in building long-term relationships with our grantees, and offering multi-year grants towards operational costs is one way we support that,” she said.“Multi-year grants provide greater certainty around funding and enable more confident long-term planning for organisations."Seven Wānaka organisations received operational grants totalling more than $800K.WAI Wānaka received $125,000; Wānaka Search and Rescue received $55,000; Community Link received $192,606; Food for Love received $123,934; Kahu Youth received $267,509; M!NT received $45,290; and Wānaka Riding for the Disabled received $12,840.Local groups also secured project grants during the same period.Snow Farm NZ received $42,000 for its base building ablution and water facility; Tarras School received $35,000 for its playground update; and the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust received $97,466 for its new Hāwea River trail. Read more: Progress on river track upgradesWānaka Tennis Club also received $35,000 for its court resurfacing and clubroom upgrade; Youth Search and Rescue Trust received $40,000 for equipment for its new Wānaka branch; and Onstage Wānaka received $19,080 towards its upcoming Blood Brothers production.Read more: Funding to support busy tennis club  Across Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes, more than $8M was granted in the two funding rounds.PHOTO: Supplied

A Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) band took first place in the band category at the Central Otago Regional final of Smokefreerockquest on Saturday (June 14).The ‘Superficial’ band members - Alex Kettle, Tommy Cotter, Harrison Eastwood, Archie Bruce, and Jayden Robertson - will now film a 15-minute music video to be considered for the national top 30, with the goal of reaching the Smokefree Rockquest National Final in Auckland this September. The band is following in the footsteps of MAC band ‘Spoken’, which reached the national finals in 2023.Forty-seven MAC students took part in the event at the Lake Wānaka Centre along with student bands from across Central Otago.Kasey Brooks from ‘Third Party’ received the Musicianship Award. PHOTO: Gareth HodgesMAC co-head of arts Mat Doyle said the students had been rehearsing for months to prepare for the event, with many of them performing songs developed as part of their NCEA coursework.Other MAC musicians were recognised with awards at the regional final: Juno Gerlach ('Juno') received the ZM Lyric Award; Kasey Brooks from ‘Third Party’ received the Musicianship Award; and ‘Superficial’ also won Best Use of Electronic Assistance.Juno Gerlach ('Juno') received the ZM Lyric Award. PHOTO: Gareth HodgesSmokefreerockquest is New Zealand's live, original music, youth event which gives young musicians the opportunity to perform live in a professional setting. The event aims to motivate young musicians to strive for success, to realise the opportunities available in music careers, and to encourage their peers to support original New Zealand Music.Full results of the Central Otago Regional Final 2025:Band category:1st – Superficial – MAC2nd – Stolen Rings – Dunstan High School3rd – 10:37 – Wakatipu High SchoolSolo/duo:1st – George Newhouse – Wakatipu High School2nd – Mala – Wakatipu High SchoolAdditional Awards:Best Vocalist – Singer from Offshore (Cromwell College)Musicianship Award – Drummer from Bad Haircuts (Cromwell College)Musicianship Award – Kasey Brooks from Third Party (MAC)Best Song – Little Road – Wakatipu High SchoolZM Lyric Award – Juno (MAC)Best Use of Electronic Assistance – Superficial (MAC)

Two-time Winter Olympic Games medallist and Wānaka resident Nico Porteous has announced he’s stepping back from Olympic competition and will no longer compete in freeski halfpipe.The 23-year-old is New Zealand’s most successful male snow sports athlete and leaves the sport as one of the most decorated halfpipe athletes in history.“I’ve loved representing New Zealand,” Nico said. “Wearing the fern and competing for my country has been the most incredible experience and I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved.“This wasn’t an easy decision to make but I’m excited to do something new and I feel like the time is right for me to look for a new challenge and new opportunities.”Nico said he is not retiring from skiing - he plans to maintain his level of skiing and remain active in the sport through filming, product development, and other competitive events.“I still love skiing and I want to keep skiing to the best of my abilities and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the sport.“Ultimately, I’m ready for something new. What that looks like I’m not exactly sure but over the past few seasons I’ve enjoyed filming and producing videos, as well as working on gear and product design.“There are also other events, like Natural Selection Ski, that I’m keen to explore. I’m open to new opportunities and excited to see what the next chapter looks like.”Nico made history for New Zealand in 2022, landing a right and left double corked 1620 combination to win Olympic gold in the halfpipe at the Beijing Winter Games.Nico backcountry skiing on his home turf. PHOTO: Miles Holden/ Red BullFour years earlier, he stomped a stunning run to win bronze as a 16-year-old at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.His career highlights also include two X-Games gold medals, a World Championship title, and five World Cup medals - and he is widely credited with helping to drive the progression and creativity of freeski halfpipe and inspire a new generation of Kiwi snow sports athletes.“What I’ve achieved wouldn’t have been possible without an amazing team of people behind me. He thanked his family, sponsors, Snow Sports New Zealand and High Performance Sport NZ.Snow Sports New Zealand CEO Nic Cavanagh congratulated Nico on his career and acknowledged his significant contribution to his sport.“On behalf of Snow Sports NZ I would like to thank Nico for his contribution to his sport - not just the countless titles, podiums and medals, but also for his creativity, his passion and his unwavering commitment,” Nic said. “The legacy Nico will leave on both the freeski halfpipe and wider snow sports community is nothing short of monumental and will endure for generations to come. The entire team at Snow Sports NZ wishes Nico all the best and we can’t wait to see what he does next – it will undoubtedly be great.”

Four football-mad boys have each dribbled a football for a combined 40 kilometres to raise money to provide kids in the Pacific with food.The four Te Kura o Tittea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) year 7 boys - Ben Jurczyluk, Thaddeous Foster, Ethan Collins-Mckeown, and Liam Koehler - undertook the ambitious challenge on Saturday (June 14). The boys started at the Outlet boat ramp, and each dribbled a football to Wānaka; twice around Pembroke Park, and finally into a goal to mark the 10km mark.Their efforts were part of the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, raising funds to help families in the Pacific region farm climate-smart crops and plant mangroves so they can feed their children in a changing climate.“The boys smashed their challenge and had lots of fun along the way, footballs ending up in all sorts of challenging places to extract with feet,” Ethan’s mother Liz said.The boys had lots of fun along the way, and had to extract the footballs from all sorts of places. “There were some tired 11 year olds [on Saturday night].”The boys are just $200 off their goal of $1,500. People can support the cause here.The boys’ efforts were supported by the Wānaka Football Club.PHOTOS: Liz Collins

A Lake Hāwea athlete’s life-long interest in multi-sport adventure has led him to explore the Wānaka origins of the sport: The Alpine Iron Man event.In 1980, a collection of skiers, mountaineers and canoeist were helicoptered to End Peak, where they skied down until the snow ran out, ran downhill with skis strapped to steel-frame packs, and paddled leaky canoes through the freezing Motatapu River to the finish, “where they became the world’s first multisport athletes”, Matty Graham told the Wānaka App. “It was [a] tough, chaotic, and totally unique event that started what we now know as multi-sport and adventure racing.”Matty said his early love of multi-sport grew from watching the Coast to Coast athletes from his childhood home on the West Coast.A poster for the second Alpine Iron Man event. PHOTO: SuppliedA degree in physical education and many multi-sport adventures later, he took on the 40th Coast to Coast race wearing and using gear from 1983 (the first year of the event). His exploits are captured in ‘The Old School Coast to Coast’, filmed by Deane Parker and Dylan Gerschwitz.Deane and Dylan are teaming up with Matty again for a new film about the Alpine Iron Man, the brainchild of Robin Judkins - who went on to create the Coast to Coast event.“The Alpine Iron Man wasn’t just ahead of its time - it was completely outside of it,” Matty said.“I think this is a piece of history that needs to be captured and a worthwhile story that needs to be told.” The event took place annually for a decade in different locations and courses around the lower South Island.Wānaka’s Sandy Hazeldine at the start line of the 1980 Alpine Iron Man event. PHOTO: The Southland Times.Now, more than 40 years later, Matty plans to head into the hills to retrace the original course and capture the story behind it. “We’re not trying to recreate the race - health and safety would never allow it,” he said.“We’re trying to capture this piece of history that underpins all modern multisport and adventure races around the world. These sports have shaped my life to a great extent personally and professionally as I know they have for many others as well.” Matty said the planned documentary “aims to immerse viewers in the spirit of the Alpine Iron Man, through interviews with original participants, recreations of key segments, and investigate how this event was the catalyst for multisport and adventure racing around the globe”. The film will also celebrate an era “when rules were loose, people made things happen, and adventure was everywhere”, Matty said. The filmmakers have launched a Givealittle page inviting those who love multisport, adventure racing, mountain culture, and a good old kiwi yarn to chip in and be part of the journey back in time. All donations will support the film crew cost, archival work, and interviews of those who helped create this slice of Kiwi history, Matty said.

Wānaka food charity Food for Love is asking the community for support after a huge increase in demand. Nominations for Food For Love’s volunteer-led service - which delivers fresh, home-cooked meals to people navigating challenging times - have increased by more than 144 percent in the past two years.“We want to continue to help everyone who is referred to Food For Love, but with nominations growing so quickly, we need help,” Food for Love general manager Jodie Stuart said.Food for Love might receive a nomination when someone is recovering from surgery, grieving the loss of a loved one, living with dementia, struggling with the challenges of aging, recovering from an accident, and the like.“We attribute the huge growth we have seen to a range of factors, including rapid population growth, more locals knowing who we are and what we offer, as well as a lack of other services that can support the community with meals,” Jodie said.“Behind every nomination is a story - it could be a neighbour recovering from chemo, a mum in the NICU with her baby, a family facing sudden loss, or a loved one with mental health struggles.”To help meet the growing need, Food For Love is asking locals for support.“By making a donation to Food For Love, you are helping us show up for those who need it most,” Jodie said.This June, Food For Love has added an extra incentive to get in behind their organisation, offering the chance to win a trailer load of dry firewood for donations made during the month. Everyone who makes a donation (no matter how big or small) will go in the draw to win a trailer load of dry firewood, with the winner set to be announced on July 1.People can donate to Food For Love (account number: 06-0943-0840857-00) using their full name as the reference; DONATION as the particulars, and using the code FIRE.

Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) won the Southland/Central Otago Regional Showquest Competition at the Civic Theatre in Invercargill on Monday (June 9).The MAC team was also awarded Excellence in Dance, Recognition in Music, and Recognition in Art; and year 13 student Mila Culpitt was named Whetū Rangatahi (Star of the Show). MAC's piece - ‘Wahine Toa’ - was a journey through the history, resilience and leadership of four pioneering women representing the past, present and future of Aotearoa. “We chose the Wahine Toa theme because we wanted to honour the powerful women in New Zealand’s history who fought for justice and equality,” MAC team co-leader Grace Thomas (year 13) told the Wānaka App.MAC team co-leaders Grace Thomas (front left) and Mila Culpitt (right).“Telling the stories of four pioneering wahine (women) was our way of showing that the journey towards equity is something we all share. We wanted to connect the past with the present, and remind everyone that the steps we take today are built on the courage and unity of the women who came before us.” Showquest is a nationwide performing arts competition in which students present original stage performances combining art, music, dance, drama, culture and technology. The creation and execution of performance pieces is entirely student-led.MAC’s cast and crew comprised 58 students from years 7 to 13, and included experienced dancers as well as students performing on stage for the first time. The Showquest team was led by Grace and Mila.Mila Culpitt, who was named Star of the Show.The pioneering women were performed by Ruby Keene (Kate Edgar), Olive Sinclair (Dame Whina Cooper), Hannah Gillespie (Dame Jacinda Ardern), and Mila Culpitt (Kate Sheppard); the choreographers were Olive Sinclair, Mila Culpitt, Hannah Gillespie, Mikayla Duncan, and Holly Fitzgerald; and the stage manager was Kate Wilkes. Students were supported by MAC drama teacher Lisa Clough and arts coordinator Joanna Hewson-Williams.The performance included original dance choreography across five types of dance: contemporary, lyrical, neo-classical, hip hop and jazz, as well as student-produced music, voice-overs, visuals and lighting. Mila said it was a highlight watching as the performance came together.“I really enjoyed participating in Showquest because our performance was meaningful and powerful, shining a light on the strong women who have paved the way for us today,” Mila said.Fifty-eight MAC students were involved in creating and performing the winning show.“It also brought our school community together, uniting juniors and seniors and creating a new community of people that all share the same love for dance.” Grace said the team grew in confidence and together they turned their vision “into a performance we could all be proud of”. A video of MAC’s performance will be submitted for judging in the national (online) final. PHOTOS: Supplied

Opening up the conversation about the ‘D-word’ - death - is behind the latest collaboration between local women Liz Maluschnig and Su Hoskin.Liz and Su have run the local Death Cafe since 2019, offering space for a conversation about death with the view to making the most of life. More recently, they have begun offering a service to the community called Final Acts of Kindness, which offers guidance and support to people whose loved one has died or is dying.“The people who love you most are the people who will care for you the best,” Liz told the Wānaka App. “We want to make every part of the death process personal and meaningful to the loved one and their family… people don’t realise you can go from the deathbed to the grave or the crematorium without a professional involved.” This approach takes planning, however, she said. “There’s a lot to know about so you need to be prepared.”She gave the example of a local man who died recently, with a “very loving” funeral where “his community of friends gathered together and everyone contributed something to help fulfill his wishes”.It was “a Rolls Royce service” at a low cost, she said.“That’s why we run the Death Cafe, so people can start talking about the D word without being squeamish, especially preparing for death and doing things alternatively or sustainably .”This weekend (Sunday June 8) Liz and Su are bringing a ‘Death without Debt’ seminar to Wānaka.The seminar will be led by Fergus Wheeler, one of the people who set up the Death Without Debt movement in New Zealand. He will talk about funeral planning, wills, powers of attorney, probate, advance care plans, and more.Su and Liz will talk about how people can keep their loved one at home during and after death, how they can take care of their body, make their own coffin, and even make a shroud. People can also do the related paperwork themselves, and use their own car to transport their loved one.“We’re just saying - hey, there’s a different way to do this,” Liz said. “This is not for everybody. I imagine it would only be two percent of people. Some people just like to do things differently.”She said a DIY funeral is more sustainable, eco-friendly, and natural, as well as being lower cost. The average price of a funeral in New Zealand is over $10,000 (and higher in Wānaka) but a ‘Death Without Debt’ funeral could cost closer to $2,000. Death without Debt will take place at the Wānaka Community Hub on Sunday (June 8) from 11am - 3pm. The Death Cafe takes place monthly, with the next scheduled at 3.30pm at Edgewater on June 16.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Wellington-based photographer Nick Netzler will return to Wānaka later this month to share an exhibition he has created following an eye-opening experience with WAI Wānaka.Nick travelled to Wānaka earlier this year as part of Creative NZ’s Pacific Arts Nature Residencies, where Pasifika photographers capture the stories of New Zealand’s rural communities, and he says he was struck by Wānaka landscape and how the community looked after the land and its resources.“This was a whole new experience for me. As someone from urban Wellington, spending time with WAI Wānaka and their community really opened my eyes,” Nick said.“I was surprised by how familiar it felt, like working with whānau. The way we came together and valued the environment felt very natural for me from a Pasifika worldview.”Nick’s residency was one of two in the 2025 pilot, and WAI Wānaka partnerships lead Michaela Blacklock said the organisation was thrilled to be involved with the debut.“This has been a fantastic initiative and opportunity for WAI Wānaka,” she said. “To have Nick spend time with the team, in action, seeing and learning what we do and documenting it visually, is exciting.”Nick said the experience was “a big learning curve seeing how hands-on and practical the work is to keep the waterways healthy and flowing”.“I was in awe of the beautiful Wānaka landscape and the community’s efforts to protect it.”Nick will be back in Wānaka on Thursday June 19 to present a digital photography exhibition and give an artist talk about what he learnt during his time with WAI Wānaka.The event will take place at the Wānaka Community Hub from 6.30pm.Light refreshments will be provided before Nick’s presentation, WAI Wānaka said.It’s free to attend but attendees are asked to RSVP - by emailing [email protected] - to keep track of numbers.PHOTO: Nick Netzler

Queenstown resident and former mayoral candidate Nik Kiddle has announced he will run for mayor of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) later this year.Nik contested the mayoralty unsuccessfully in 2019 against incumbent Jim Boult, following his opposition to Boult’s bed tax proposal.Nik was a member of a tax equity lobby group which said the proposed levy (five to ten per cent applied to visitor accommodation in order to help fund tourism infrastructure in the region) would have disastrous consequences for accommodation providers’ profits.The former owner of Villa Del Lago now says it’s time for “big improvements” at QLDC, starting at “the top”.“New leadership is vital to rebuild a trusted well functioning team,” Nik said.“The mayor must return to forging consensus among elected representatives and opening up the council’s administration to community led views.“No more back room deals, no more selling out to drive corporate profits. Transparency and information sharing must become the new norm. Care with ratepayers’ money must dominate decision making and prioritisation must deliver first on core business.”Nik said while QLDC rates have been increasing there has been “a deterioration in the quality of life here”. “This council has got us into a great deal of trouble over sewage, transport and housing. Productivity is suffering. Neighbourhoods and the environment are suffering. All these issues need fresh leadership to drive improved outcomes.”  Nik said QLDC’s relationship with central government also needs to be improved. “We’ve got a golden opportunity now to grab new resources. But we need a leader focussed on options that exist, instead of peddling a pipe dream of new law so council can tax business turnover.“This must be our focus now without distractions over outdated complex ideas. Current leadership is mired in the past and needs to be swept aside to achieve success.” He criticised a lack of compliance with regional standards, and public transport decisions which “fail to take account of our district’s unique needs, whether it’s school buses or miles of traffic cones, traffic jams and drawn out roading ‘improvements’.”  “We can do way better. The best strategy to improve our council is to vote for change and ‘tick Nik’,” he said.Glenorchy resident and Shaping Our Future executive officer John Glover announced in April that he will contest the mayoralty. Read more: John Glover to contest mayoraltyLocal body elections will take place from September 22, 2025.PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka’s Ellesse Mote Andrews has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours for services to cycling.Ellesse (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu) is a world champion cyclist and four-time Olympic medallist. She became the second New Zealander to win three medals in a single Olympic Games, and now ranks as New Zealand’s sixth most successful Olympian. Ellesse grew up in Luggate and attended Wānaka Primary School and Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC, where her mother Angela taught music) until her final two years when she attended St Peter’s in Cambridge.“It was the right move for me and my family, but I was always gutted not to be a MAC survivor of all seven years,” Ellesse told the Wānaka App.Ellesse said she loved growing up in Wānaka, where she was “exposed to so many amazing sporting opportunities and amazing people along the way”. “I also loved my creative side and have so many amazing people in the community who played a part in influencing that side of my life too. Coming back to Wānaka feels like I’m coming home - the most special memories and very special people.”Ellesse set a new world youth record at the 2017 Junior Track Cycling World Championships and was recognised with the Halberg Emerging Talent Award. She went on to win three gold medals and a silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games, and two golds and a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics. Ellesse Andrews in action. PHOTO: Cycling NZIn 2023, Ellesse became the first New Zealand female sprinter to claim a world title, winning gold at the World Championships. She was recognised as Cycling New Zealand Road and Track’s Female Track Cyclist of the Year in 2022 and 2023, and has been a top-five finalist in the High Performance Sport New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year category for three years running. “It is so special to be receiving this honour,” Ellesse told the Wānaka App this week. “But I think it’s important to acknowledge the amount of people who have influenced me in my cycling journey. I want to say thank you to all of them too as I would not be where I am today without them.”Through her role in the Athlete Leaders Group, Ellesse has been an important advocate for her teammates, and a key driver of applying tikanga Māori to Cycling New Zealand’s programme. She has given back to the community through speaking engagements, mental health awareness campaigns and voluntary roles at community events, including Cambridge’s Cycling Festival.Ellesse (centre) with her parents Angela and Jon at the World Champs in Italy, 2017. PHOTO: SuppliedSport and recreation minister Mark Mitchell said the 2025 Honours List recognises “the outstanding depth of talent, dedication, and leadership across New Zealand’s sport sector”.“My congratulations to all our sportspeople honoured this year. Your contributions continue to shape New Zealand’s sporting legacy and inspire us all,” he said.