Wānaka builder Glen Thurston is continuing to raise awareness about mental health, but his focus has moved from the construction industry to the hunting community. Last week (Friday November 29) Glen was undertaking his anniversary climb of Lake Hāwea’s Corner Peak, following his successful 2022 mission to climb the peak 53 times - matching the number of people in the construction industry who took their lives each year. Almost 300 people joined him across the 53 climbs in 2022, and last Friday half a dozen people joined him on a “perfect day” for the second anniversary climb.Glen said the conversations he had on Corner Peak during the 2022 climbs around “firearms and the hesitation to seek help” made him realise the need to address the barrier within the hunting community.Last week’s annual Corner Peak climb attracted a good number of people. PHOTO: SuppliedIn October 2019, Glen was struggling with mental health challenges of his own. He tried to get help - and had his firearms removed. As he was farming at the time, this “made life really difficult”, he said.The experience uncovered a significant issue within the firearms community: the fear of seeking mental health support due to the potential threat of losing one's licence.“You think if someone's got a firearms license and they're not well, we all know the suicide rate and mental health [challenges in] the farming industry [are] pretty high,’’ Glen said.“If they have that fear of losing their firearms, they're not gonna get help. If you have every single farmer not getting help, just because they don't [want] to lose their firearms, because they need their firearms to do their job. “Long-term, I see this being a massive crisis for the country. We're doing all this good stuff about breaking the stigma and men's mental health ... but in the background, there's this hidden barrier and no one's talking about it, no one's doing anything about it.”In July this year Glen and fellow hunter Sam Manson launched the Mental Hunts website, which provides resources, articles, helplines and events dedicated to integrating mental health with the hunting/rural lifestyle. “I thought it was time to step up ... I'm doing this for everyone else and it needs to change. Otherwise, people will die and it won't be the guns doing it. It'll be the fact that they haven't had the help they needed early.”Glen said he was creating resources specifically to help hunters, and he recognised hunting was good for people's wellbeing.“[There] is nothing you can compare it to, it is mountain medicine. It is meditation in the hills. It's what I do for meditation. I've said it before, but I love the concept of meditation and sitting in my room and meditating, but I'm just really crap at it. My mind wanders, but you get out hunting and you are, you're in that moment.”Glen has also returned as an The Outlet Wānaka guest to talk about how he got involved in helping hunters with their mental health.He talks about the stigma around mental health, the importance of getting help early, rural life and how disclosing counselling or medication for mental health can mean licence holders can keep their guns.

New World Three Parks is celebrating its fifth birthday today (Thursday December 5), with the annual grocery grab competition taking place as part of the celebrations.The winning entrant, local resident Maggie Antone, raced around the store this morning, managing to secure a whopping $1,699.58 worth of groceries during the two-minute ‘grab’."I never win competitions,” Maggie said. “I actually like entering because I work in marketing and I like to see the mechanics of how competitions are run."When it came to her grocery grab strategy, Maggie didn't leave anything to chance. "I had a plan," she said. "I talked to quite a few people, [and] got some pretty good advice, which was [to] hit the proteins, which I did. And then I went for other what I considered high-value items with the intention of trying to raise as much money [as possible] to be donated in kind."New World Three Parks will match Maggie's haul, making a monetary donation of equal value to the Upper Clutha foodbank. Maggie is also chipping in, donating some of her winnings to the food bank.Community Link general manager Kate Murray said the donation “makes a huge difference”.“We're seeing an increasing need which has almost doubled in the past 12 months," Kate said.New World Three Parks customer services manager Biff said the supermarket “always looks forward to our birthday celebration and the annual grocery grab”.“Maggie was a great winner and has been very generous in donating some of her winnings to support the food bank," Biff said.The New World Three Parks Grocery Grab competition attracted 1,184 entries through the Wānaka App.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Wānaka band Power Chutes has played before thousands of people at the TSB Stadium in Wellington and Spark Arena in Auckland, after an invitation from USA rock band Highly Suspect.Highly Suspect frontman Johnny Stevens invited the Wānaka band to open for them in Wellington after front row fans tossed the singer some Powder Chutes merch during the American band’s recent Christchurch show. “Well turns out I’ve been hearing about this band for at least a year from NZ fans,” Johnny said on social media. “So…we’re gonna have ‘em drive their asses out here (Wellington) and open up the stage tomorrow night.”Powder Chutes (Archie Orbell - drums, Clarke West - guitar, Henry McConnell - vocals, and Otis Murphy - bass) went down so well in Wellington that Highly Suspect invited them to Auckland to open for them again. Half-way through the Auckland set, Johnny called singer Henry to the stage without warning and asked him to sing the American band’s biggest hit, ‘Lydia’. Clarke also climbed onstage and took over on guitar, and Otis took over on bass, while drummer Archie grooved along waiting for his chance. The young band members received an ecstatic reception from the crowd.Powder Chutes was formed when the members were Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College students.Their music has been described by NZ Musician Magazine as having “a modern grunge feel, mixed with punk angst and hard rock".Powder Chutes has opened for The Feelers, Dolphin Friendly, Big Sima, East York, Pull Down The Sun, Pieces Of Molly, and The Jordan Luck Band. They also opened the 2023 Gibbston Valley Summer Concert for ZZ Top, Pat Benatar, Stone Temple Pilots and The Angels to 18,000 people and played the main stage at the 2024 Burning Horse Festival.Powder Chutes’ latest single, ‘Scalpel’, has just dropped.

A much-respected long-term staffer was farewelled from Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) last week as she prepares to begin her retirement.Diana Manson, a long-term local whose grandparents moved to Wānaka in 1935, has worked for the QLDC parks service for 12 years, and has liaised with a wide range of community groups during that time.Diana told the Wānaka App she felt lucky to have worked with the parks service, doing council’s “feel-good stuff”.“We do get our share of flak as well, but we do get to do concrete positive things with and for the community, that do make a difference and that people can see,” she said.“That’s what I’ve most enjoyed about the role.”At Diana’s farewell morning tea on Wednesday (November 27) her manager, QLDC parks service delivery manager Clare Tomkins, described Diana as a “calm and steady influence”.“[Diana] is the exemplar of the ability to bring people together to achieve many wonderful projects for the community. Many working bees, planting days, meetings, meet and greets, workshops, presentations etc.“I know we will see plenty of her in her roles as a volunteer on the other side. She will be a very present figure in the community, and I am sure she will continue the wonderful work she does, holding us all to the high standards of engagement she has set.”Diana was farewelled last week. PHOTO: SuppliedDiana said she’s planning to “take a step back, relax and enjoy the garden and the grandkids”, but she also plans to stay involved with some of the groups she has worked with.Those groups include Wānaka Backyard Trapping (now Predator Free Wānaka), Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust, the Hāwea Food Forest, the Wilding Tree group, Upper Clutha Tracks Trust, the Hāwea Foreshore Group, and the regional community associations - and more. She noted that community volunteers aren’t all retired, but are people of all ages working together with “boots on the ground”. “We’re so lucky to live in a community that has people who will freely give their time, and have been doing so for years - working really hard for the community.“That is what makes this community really special, I think.”Diana has spent her life in the Upper Clutha, and was happy to reflect on how the area has changed.“The town has certainly changed and has grown but it has still managed to retain that small-town feel … and a lot of that is to do with the community groups and organisations and their involvement, and the festivals and events … that bring people together. “I think we still have that real sense of community.”

Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) year 13 student and rising cycling star Carter Guichard has signed with a pro cycling team in Europe.Next year Carter (18) will compete in around 30 of the most competitive races in Europe as a member of Nice Métropole Côte d'Azur.“As a Neo-Pro [a professional cyclist in their first year] I know that my role will first be to help my teammates at first and be in the early race breakaways but I also hope to get a handful of standout results for myself,” Carter said.His selection follows a successful year racing in Europe in the Decathlon AG2R under-19 development team, which aims to ‘detect and train the champions of tomorrow’.Read more: Wānaka teen selected for prestigious cycling teamDuring the season Carter made first place in the Tour de la Vallée de la Trambouze, the Tour de Causse-Aigoual-Cévennes, and the Classique des Bourbons.He placed second in the Three Days of Axel and the Prix de la Ville d’Aubenas and placed third in the New Zealand national championships.Carter has a busy training regime: “My typical day looks like between 2.5 and 4 hours of training per day on average both in the gym and on the bike,” he said, “occasionally going up to over 6 hours of training per day.”Carter will spend the next couple of months in Wānaka, training for the 2025 season.In January, he will head to Spain to meet his team for its first training camp of the year.PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka gymnasts returned from the recent 2024 XP New Zealand Gymnastic Championships in Palmerston North with some excellent results.Aspiring Gymsports Club coaches were thrilled with all results, club spokesperson Rae Paterson said.What’s more, the Otago team won the ‘Mahi Tahi’ award for team spirit across all codes, chosen by the event and floor managers.Year 9 Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) student Charlie Nisbet was the first male to be selected for the Otago team. He achieved four apparatus medals: two silver and two bronze.Sami Reid earned fourth place overall.Sami Reid (MAC, year 7) placed 12th overall (from 43 competitors) in her age category - ninth on floor and fifth on bar.There were also strong local performances in the double mini trampoline event. All four competitors in the 11-12 age category (Keira Lam, Lara Beams, Emma Kambe, and Harper-Rose Reid) made the final, scoring in the top eight in New Zealand, with Lara finishing fourth.Harper-Rose also made the trampoline finals; Emma and Lara finished fifth in synchro; and Holly and Katelyn Key won the gold medal in synchro in the 15-16 age category.All Wānaka gymnasts were awarded the GNZ Gymnastics NZ proficiency badge. All coaches received coaching medals, Rae said.PHOTOS: Supplied

Just three Aspiring Athletes Club (AAC) athletes dared to brave the bad weather at The Caledonian in Dunedin last weekend (November 2).AAC coach Michael Beable said it was mostly cold - with rain, and hail – and unhelpful strong winds.Nonetheless, Phoebe Laker, a year 11 Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) student, continued her excellent form from her previous two outings this summer. Running the Mixed Open 400m race, she was the fastest woman, setting a new personal best (PB) of 56.90 seconds.  Her time also broke a set of three Otago records: for women aged 15, 16 and 17. This is at least the fifth time she has broken these records, Michael said.Her time also set new AAC records for all female categories, age 15 and above.“It was an extraordinarily good performance by Phoebe, given the appalling conditions that prevailed at The Caledonian,” Michael said.“In calmer, warmer weather she would likely have gone almost a second faster.”Phoebe had earlier run the Women’s Open race, placing second with a time of 12.37s and winning her age group. It was slightly quicker than her time of two weeks ago, but it was aided by a very strong wind (9m/s). Georgie Bruce was the second AAC athlete who competed on Saturday. She won her race, in Section 2 of the 100m, in 13.60s, and in the Men’s & Women’s Mixed Open 400m, she placed second among the women with an encouraging 63.24s. “This time might have been one or two seconds faster, in friendlier weather,” Michael said.The third AAC athlete competing was Matthew Botting (year 13 at MAC). He was close to his recent best form, with a second placing in the Mixed Open 400m, in a time of 53.36s. He was also sixth in the Men’s Open 100m, with 11.88s.These three, and most of the remaining senior members of the club, will next compete on Saturday week at the Caledonian.They all are looking forward to some quality speed training, which they will be able to do now that they have returned to their training base (the track at Three Parks) for the rest of the summer (and the winter), Michael said.“Delta have done a good job the last month in repairing the 3P ground after football’s use of it in winter. It should mean that the athletes will be able to improve on their speed, sprinting on the safer surface at 3P and with lower-cut grass,” he said.This will help the senior MAC athletes in the club as they prepare for the NZ Secondary Schools Athletic Championships, which will be held in Timaru on December 6-8.PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka dancers were among more than 1,000 top New Zealand dancers who converged at the Regent On Broadway in Palmerston North last weekend for the National Young Performer Awards (NYPA).NYPA is a prestigious competitive annual dance event which gives competitors an opportunity to perform at the highest level in New Zealand.This year Wānaka’s Central Point Dance Studios took its largest ever contingent to NYPA after the dancers achieved qualifying results at regional competitions.They include five classical dancers: Lena Ibe (who lives in Queenstown and travels to Centralpoint each week), Isabel Martin, Olive Sinclair, Olivia Stanley, and Hannah Thomas - who competed against the 75 best classical dancers in New Zealand.Isabel was chosen for the semi-finals, meaning she was one of the top 16 dancers at the national event - a huge achievement for the 15-year-old. NYPA classical nominees Olive Sinclair, Isabel Martin, Olivia Stanley & Lena Ibe. (Absent: Hannah Thomas.)In addition to the five local soloists, Centralpoint also took a lyric dance troupe of 10, which included Olive, Olivia, Isabel and Lena, as well as Mia Waite, Charlotte Martin, Charlotte Sheppard, Ruby McLachlan, Casey Knights-Johnson, and Mikayla Duncan.Central Point Dance Studios owner Briony Martin said she was incredibly proud of the local dancers.She said it was very valuable “for these young dancers to have the opportunity to attend a large event such as NYPA to see and learn from other dancers and other schools and to see how big the dance industry and community is”. “It’s something we don’t always get a chance to do.”PHOTOS: Supplied 

Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) celebrated the commitment and achievement of its students in sport last week (Thursday October 24). Principal Nicola Jacobsen said the awards reflected the determination and skill of students who train and compete in their chosen sports while also fulfilling their other commitments at school. “We have more than 600 students who participate in around 26 different sports at MAC, and as a college, we attend more than 50 school sporting events each year,” Nicola said. “That’s an amazing effort from everyone involved, including our students, our sports department, our teachers, our students’ families and whānau, and our local community and sponsors.”She said it was incredible to see students train and achieve such high standards, including at a national and international level. “Achieving at such a high level takes a particular mindset and helps create a culture of high performance at our school across all aspects of school life. “Our aim is always to support our students’ dreams and these awards are one way we can recognise and celebrate our students’ achievements in sport.” Millie East and Tom Sides won the top achievement awards in senior boys’ and girls’ sports, and the Team Performance of the Year award went to the MAC 4x 400m senior mixed national champion relay team of Cody Armstrong, Matthew Botting, Millie East, and Amaya East. Students who achieved national or international representation in their chosen sport were recognised, and students who are yet to meet the criteria for a Blues Award but who have delivered outstanding performances in one or more sports in a year, were recognised with sports recognition awards. Sport Service Blues were awarded to students who have made a significant contribution to sport, and the coach, volunteer and teacher-in-charge awards were also presented. Sport Performance Blues were awarded to students who have represented the school and their sport at the highest local level for two years, displaying a commitment to their team or club, and upholding the reputation of the school both on and off the field. The MAC Values Awards recognised selected students, coaches, team managers, or teachers-in-charge for reflecting the school’s values in the way they conduct themselves. Full list of awardsMAC Values Awards: Manaakitanga Sport Award Erica Hudson; Whanaungatanga Sport Award Lou Carnie; Aroha Sport Award Kate Watson; Ihi Sport Award Lewis Turner.Sport Service Blue: Will Anderson (cricket, hockey), Jacob Fielding (football), Eva Gilbertson (netball), Sam Harper (golf), Ruby Ives (hockey), Barnes Metcalfe (football), Lucy Radford (netball), Abbey Ragg (hockey), Ania-Kanu Saklani (netball), Tom Sides (rugby, touch rugby), Sam Soper (touch rugby), Lewis Turner (rugby), Lily Wilson (netball). Coach of the year: Ignacio Sande. Volunteer of the year: Mark Watson & Adam Fairmaid. Teacher in charge of the year: Lana Whipp. Sport Performance Blue: Will Anderson (cricket, hockey), Cody Armstrong (athletics), Ella Asberg (netball), Kiana Babbington (rugby), Max Bagley (mountain biking), Amy Benson (hockey), Coco Bentley (netball), Matthew Botting (athletics, hockey), Jackson Clark (rugby), Oisin Corbett (squash), Amaya East (athletics), Millie East (athletics, netball), Ryan Enoka (rugby, athletics), Kalan Evans (mountain biking), Jacob Fielding (football), Sophie Fountain (equestrian), Mia Gemmell (football), Carter Guichard (road cycling), Sam Harper (cricket), Luke Harrold (snow sports), Harry Hope (rowing), Erica Hudson (sailing), Anton Jones (rowing), Thomas Jurczyluk (sailing), Ruby Ives (hockey), Heidi Kendrick (equestrian), Phoebe Laker (athletics), Katie Lawrence (mountain biking), Sienna Marsden (rowing), Annika Massey (rowing), Cam Melville Ives (snow sports), Fin Melville Ives (snow sports), Barnes Metcalfe (football), Josh Moody (triathlon), Otis Murphy (sailing), Imogen Nisbet (sailing), Mabel North (sailing), Nico Pettit (cross country skiing), Baxter Pollard (cross country skiing), Ethan Prince (squash), Kyan Prince (squash), Lucy Radford (rowing), Abbey Ragg (hockey), Hugh Ragg (hockey), Lola Ritchie (rowing), Charlie Roy (rugby), Tom Sides (rugby), Hugo Sinclair (rowing), Eva Small (mountain biking, snow sports), Caroline Smith (rowing), Madison Smith (sailing), Ruby Smith (mountain biking), Sophie Walsh (netball), Kate Watson (rugby), Annie Wells (rowing), Oli Wyeth (sailing). National Representation: Sophie Fountain (equestrian), Noah Burrows (surf lifesaving - IRB, racing), Millie East (athletics), Amaya East (athletics), Matthew Botting (athletics), Cody Armstrong (athletics), Phoebe Laker (athletics), Matilda Verbeck (ice figure skating), Nico Pettit (biathlon), Baxter Pollard (biathlon), George Tucker (karting), Isabel Watterson (alpine skiing), Winifred McAllister Brown (cross country skiing), Eva Small (mountain biking, skiing), Billy Dean (cross country skiing), Sylvia Trotter (skiing).International Representation: Luke Harrold (skiing), Angus Smith (rodeo), Sophie Smith (rodeo), Josh Moody (triathlon), Heidi Kendrick (equestrian), Isabel Watterson (skiing), Baxter Pollard (biathlon), Cam Melville Ives (snowboarding), Fin Melville Ives (skiing). Major Awards: Bayne Family Trophy for girls’ sports: Millie East; Paul Campbell Trophy for boys’ sport: Tom Sides; Team performance of the year MAC 4x400m senior mixed national champion relay team (Cody Armstrong, Matthew Botting, Millie East and Amaya East).Recognition Awards: Oscar Adams (skiing), Raph Anderson (golf), Cooper Arkell (speedway), Cameron Armstrong (athletics & rugby), Cody Armstrong (squash), Isaac Baker (basketball), Naiah Beazley (rugby), Paige Boomsma (mountain biking), Hana Carnie (swimming, cross country, triathlon, athletics), Axel Chandler (skiing), Jessiah Clark (mountain biking), Lilya Cochrane (rugby), Catty David (rowing), Sarah Dougherty (netball), Amaya East (netball), Cory Enoka (rugby), Jared Enoka (athletics), Dominic Franks (hockey), Rui Fukaya (squash), Joel Gemmell (sailing), Hope Green (hockey), Deacon Gwilliam Browne (basketball), Alianna Hay (rugby), Lachlan Hay (rugby), Rosie Hirst (rugby), Kahlarni Hondelink (rugby), Eli Hunt (basketball), Emily Hunt (rowing), Lottie Hunt (netball), Angus Ives (hockey), Poppy Jackson (basketball), Matthew Jurczyluk (sailing, hockey), Lili Kaler (netball), Dan Kettle (basketball), Bede Laming (mountain biking), Madi Lovelock (netball), Sophia McClintock (swimming, rugby, athletics), Janey Mavor (rugby), Campbell Masters (basketball), Sophia Menlove (netball), Xander Mitchell (mountain biking), Charlie Nisbet (gymnastics), Harris Orbell (cricket), Otis Oxley (basketball), Alex Pedersen (rowing), Max Persson (basketball), Sebastian Persson (basketball), William Persson (basketball), Eve Pfahlert (athletics), Will Pascoe (rowing), Grace Pope (netball), Trinity Pullar (basketball), Brodie Radford (basketball), Sami Reid (gymnastics), Meg Ritchie (rowing), Harry Rowden (skiing), Madison Scott (netball), Jack Sides (rugby, triathlon), Tom Sides (multisport), Brynn Smith (mountain biking), Joao Soares (basketball), Jesse Steel (cross country), Jaime Taylor (basketball), Rhys Taylor (basketball), Zavier Taylor (multisport), Liana Waitoa (rugby), Marshall Watson (road cycling), Jodie Wellwood (hockey), Angus Wilton (karting), Finn Woolley (mountain biking), Olive Woolley (mountain biking), Axel Worthington (basketball). Koru Games Awards: Honor Beazley, Naiah Beazley, Emily Boswell, Elsa Gordon, Harriet Grant, Ally Gray, Violet Laughton, Maddie Millar, Billie Picard, Brodie Radford, Zeska Rich, Grace Sullivan, Roko Agalliu, Alex Bartlett, Quinn Bretherton, Rhys Brugman, Finn Butland, Parker Collins, Josh Fielding, Dan Heiler, Harper Norman, Arthur Searle, Charlie Whipp, Mason Wisbey, Issy Asberg, Bailey Blackmore, Paige Boomsma, Hana Carnie, Ayilo Emasu, Gabby Henshall, Honor Jones, Elliot Lovelock, Janey Mavor, Sophia McClintock. MAC Champs Trophies: Athletics: Year 7 Boys Athletics Champion: Willis McCarroll; Year 7 Girls Athletic Champion: Harriet Grant; Year 8 Boys Athletic Champion: Harper Norman; Year 8 Girls Athletic Champion: Hana Carnie & Sophia McClintock; Under 14 Boys Athletic Champion: Lockie Roy; Under 14 Girls Athletic Champion: Vienna Harley; Under 16 Boys Athletic Champion: Hugh Ragg; Under 16 Girls Athletic Champion: Amaya East; Senior Boys Athletics Champion: Tom Sides; Senior Girls Athletics Champion: Millie East.Swimming: MAC Jopson Family Trophy for Girls 11 Years Old: Millie Campbell; MAC Cardrona Ski Field Trophy for Boys Under 11 Years: Winston Harper; MAC Thorne Family Trophy for Girls Aged 12 Years: Hana Carnie; MAC Cochrane Family Trophy for Boys Aged 12 Years: Sam Taylor; MAC Trophy for Girls Aged 13 Years: Stella Harper; MAC Roger Family Trophy for Boys Aged 13 Years: Vinnie Lamb; MAC FJ Muir Trophy for Girls Aged 15 Years: Fleur Jansen; MAC Alpine Helicopters Trophy for Boys Aged 15 Years: Hinato Watanabe; MAC Carson Family Trophy for Girls Aged 15 Years and Over: Taylah Jones; MAC Lynette Wilson Trophy for Boys Aged 16 Years and Over: William Schurink. Cross Country: Junior Boys Cross Country Champion: John Quirke; Junior Girls Cross Country Champion: Hana Carnie; Year 11 Boys Cross Country Champion: Jack Sides; Year 11 Girls Cross Country Champion: Grace Pope; Intermediate Boys Cross Country Champion: Marshall Watson; Intermediate Girls Cross Country Champion: Fleur Jansen; Senior Boys Cross Country Champion: Josh Moody; Senior Girls Cross Country Champion: Lulu Pettit. Adventure Race: Overall three-hour race winners: Cooper Norman, Monty Field, Milo Adams, Ben Soper; Overall six-hour race winners: Jack Sides, Charlie Roy, Hugh Ragg, Sam Soper. Cardrona Alpine Resort Snowsports Trophies: Best all-round female freeskier athlete: Eva Small; Best all-round male freeskier athlete: Luke Harrold.MAC Snowsports Trophies: Female cross country skier of the year: Nico Pettit; Male cross country skier of the year: Baxter Pollard; Male snowboarder of the year: Cam Melville Ives.Beattie Trophy for Netball: Millie East; Wānaka Rowing Club trophy: Annie Wells; Rountree Trophy for Sailing: Erica Hudson; Cameron-Small Trophy for equestrian sports: Angus Smith; Sean Reese Memorial Trophy for rock climbing: Ollie Mann; Heslop Cup for fair play: Kate Watson.

Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) celebrated the service and achievement of its senior students at its 2024 Senior Awards ceremony on Wednesday night (October 30).Josh Moody was named Dux for academic excellence of the highest order, Amy Benson was named Proxime Accessit for academic excellence, and Tom Sides was named Best All-Round Student. Also announced at the event were the college’s new head students for 2025: Ania-Kanu Saklani, Charlie Roy, Ryan Enoka, and Lucy Radford. MAC principal Nicola Jacobsen said the awards also recognised student achievement across a range of disciplines. “We pride ourselves on being a place for all students to grow and be proud of who they are, and encourage our students to not only make the most of the curriculum opportunities available, but to get involved in all aspects of school life,” she said.“We want every MAC graduate to leave our school equipped with the skills and self-knowledge they need to contribute to the common good and flourish in a complex world.”MAC Proxime Accessit for 2024 Amy BensonShe said MAC students’ academic results were “well above” the national average, and the school places strong emphasis on values.“Observing our senior cohort of 2024, I feel very confident our students will go on to make a positive contribution to our society,” she said.The ceremony included performances from the college leavers’ band, the classical group, the jazz combo, the college choir, Angelo Dale performing ‘Crazy’ by Gnarls Barkley, an original song ‘Shapes’ performed by Bryne Bloxham, Otis Murphy and Calum Martineau, and a haka pōwhiri performed by Te Mākahi o Tititea (MAC’s kapa haka group). 2024 Best All Round Student 2024 Tom Sides with MAC Principal Nicola Jacobsen.See the full list of awards recipients below.Academic awardsYear 11 Highest achievement: Noah Moody (mathematics, history, economics and business), Bede Laming (agriculture and woodwork), Francesca Peters (English, geography, event and entertainment technologies), Tommy Cotter (music and level 2 calculus), Denali Emmitt (level 2 statistics), Jack Sides (level 2 physics), Nico Pettit (te reo Māori), Ethan Highsted (science), Georgia Davies (art design), Sophia Menlove (outdoor pursuits), Zoe Gumpatzes (art painting and photography), Phoebe Laker (Spanish), Sam Harper (physical education), Quinn Bailey (computer studies), Millie Slaven (spatial product and design), Laila Wray (food and nutrition), Ashley Beaton (mechanical engineering), Susannah West (drama).High achievement: Jack Sides (level 2 calculus and economics and business), Mikayla Botting (English, drama and level 2 physics), Rhian Telfer, Madi Lovelock (economics and business), Jack Stanley (mechanical engineering), Ruby Smith, Kaitlyn Tooley, Maja Griffith-Jones (English), Dani Maguire, Sam Harper, Zoe Gumpatzes, Kasey Brooks (mathematics), Denali Emmitt, Alianna Hay, Caroline Smith (science), Nico Pettit (maths and science), Susannah West (science and English), Phoebe Laker (physical education), Tommy Cotter (computer studies), Tasmin Murphy, Dougal McConnell (outdoor pursuits).Year 12Highest achievement: Dan McKean (computer studies), Archie Bruce (English), Lachlan Hay (outdoor pursuits and physical education), Grace Thomas (geography and history), Lucy Liddell (chemistry and food and nutrition), Cody Brett (woodwork), Amber Leslie (art painting), Ania-Kanu Saklani (Spanish), Dorothy Anderson (financial capability), Elizabeth Pell (economics), Jessie McNeil (event and entertainment technologies), Max Bretherton (mathematics and statistics), Sam Wilson (music technology), Will Blyth (business), Alex Coupland (psychology), Ayla Howard (photography), Chloe Field (tourism), Monty Brown (gateway), Ryan Enoka (te reo Māori), Sophia Lyon (art design), Chloe Murray (music), Rebecca Blanc (agriculture), Amelia Latchford (biology), George Allwood (mechanical engineering), Mia Waite (drama) Joseph Combe (spatial and product design).High achievement: Ryan Stembridge (psychology and English), Lucy Liddell (biology and English), Dan McKean (level 3 calculus), Lucy Johns, Axel Macdougall, Douglas Wise (English), Cody Brett (outdoor pursuits), Aria Winter, Cholula Brown (mathematics and statistics), Barnes Metcalfe (physics), Midori Osnabrugge (chemistry).Year 13Highest Achievement: Elsa Buckley (chemistry, physics and academic English), Josh Moody (biology and psychology), Ruby Ives (agribusiness and food and nutrition), Will Anderson (gateway and financial capability), Katie Lawrence (statistics and outdoor pursuits), Sophie Walsh (visual art painting), Oisin Corbett (spatial and product design), Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills (economics), Daniel Clark (pathways), Anton Jones (computing), Eva Gilbertson (mathematics and statistics), Otis Murphy (music), Suki Leigh (drama), Mackenzie Hall (event and entertainment technologies), Emily Lovelock (English), Aryenyo Emasu (visual art photography), Hamish Tye (visual art design), Ollie Baldwin (business and enterprise), Sacha Swanson (te reo Māori), Tai Treadwell-Burke (calculus), Tom Sides (history), Hunter Tuck (woodwork), Anna Worsley (materials technology), Annie Wells (Spanish), Taylah Jones (tourism), Lulu Pettit (geography).High achievement: Jodie Wellwood (physics and biology), Hunter Webb, Annie Wells (English), Amber Robinson (geography), Matthew Botting (physical education), Oisin Corbett (psychology), Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills (business and enterprise), Ollie Mann, Sean Byres (outdoor pursuits), Emily Schmidt (mathematics and statistics), Elsa Buckley (biology), Tai Treadwell-Burke (chemistry), Tom Sides (academic English).Special Academic Awards: Tommy Cotter, Dan McKean (science and technology scholarships), Tom Sides (history), Josh Moody (mathematics scholarship), Alyssa Fellingham (outdoor pursuits scholarship), Oscar Leigh, George Allwood, Anna Worsley (effort in workshop), Cody Brett (woodcraft workmanship).National achievements: Olive Sinclair, Olivia-mae Stanley (dance), Noah Burrows (surf rescue), Sophie Fountain (equestrian), Sylvia Trotter (skiing), Nico Pettit (biathlon), Phoebe Laker, Amaya East, Cody Armstrong, Millie East, Matthew Botting (athletics), Lily Wilson (2025 St John National cadet).International achievements: Grace Thomas, Hannah Thomas (dance), Heidi Kendrick (equestrian), Angus Smith, Sophie Smith (rodeo), Josh Moody (triathlon), Fin Melville Ives, Luke Harrold (skiing) Carter Guichard (road cycling), Baxter Pollard (biathlon), Cam Melville Ives (snowboarding).Premier sports awards: Millie East (girls’ sports), Tom Sides (boys’ sports).Service awards: Ben Pell, Zoe Raffills, Neve Brugman, Tom Sides, Lulu Pettit, Aryenyo Emasu, Nicole Power, Caspar Waddington, Jessica Gould, Vida Osborne, Kyan Prince, Tane Haines, Ben McMurray, Jodie Wellwood, Kate Ritchie, Sophie Walsh, Evie Pendlebury, Josh Moody, Abbey Ragg, Annika Massey, Isabella Noble-Kirkbride, Ella Sarginson, Ruby Ives, Emily McCarthy, Lola Underwood-Vize, Lily Wilson, Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills, Lottie Hunt, Will Anderson, Zavier Taylor, Eben McCamish (students in the community with distinction), Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills (students in the community – special recognition), Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills, Zoe Raffills, Sacha Swanson, Josh Moody (house spirit), Lulu Pettit (special recognition - sustainability), Jodie Wellwood, Katie Lawrence (whole-hearted contribution), Zavier Taylor, Daisy Sanders, Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills, Ella Sarginson (special recognition), Ruby Ives (student council recognition).Duke of Edinburgh International Awards: Dani Maguire, Ruby Ives, Jazz Gillespie, Phoebe Gillespie, Ania-Kanu Saklani, Lili Kaler, Ella Asberg, Zoe Gumpatzes (bronze), Chloe Murray, Katie Lawrence, Lola Ritchie, Olive Sedon, Ruby Smith, Tom Sides, Zavier Taylor (silver), Amy Benson, Lucy Radford, Lulu Pettit, Anton Jones (gold).Cultural awards: Rāhana Brett (te ūkaipō), Sacha Swanson (te korowai o te mātauranga).Arts awards: Otis Murphy (wholehearted contribution to the arts).External scholarships: Abbey Ragg, Alexis-Sofia Harvey-Wills, Amber Robinson, Amy Benson, Annie Wells, Annika Massey, Anton Jones, Aryenyo Emasu, Baxter Pollard, Ben McMurray, Coco Bentley, Daisy Sanders, Ella Sarginson, Elsa Buckley, Eva Gilbertson, Freya Hawker, Hugo Corin, Hugo Sinclair, Hunter Webb, Isabelle van der Wilt, Isla Hearley, Josh Moody, Katie Lawrence, Kyla Go, Lena Pollard, Lewis Turner, Lily Wilson, Lucy Laker, Millie East, Neve Brugman, Nicole Power, Renee Cunningham, Ruby Ives, Sacha Swanson, Sophie Walsh, Tai Treadwell-Burke, Tom Sides, Vida Osborne, Zavier Taylor, Zoe Laws.Scholarships: Lily Wilson (medical), Otis Murphy (music), Lottie Hunt (law), Ollie Baldwin (art), Beau Gordon, Kyle Millar, Will Anderson, (vocational), Ania-Kanu Saklani, Tyler Gawn (leadership), Zavier Taylor, Kate Watson, Ben McMurray, Tai Treadwell-Burke (leadership and role model), Lily Wilson (polytechnic and medical).Premier awards: Josh Moody (dux), Amy Benson (proxime accessit), Lucy Radford, Nico Pettit, Ryan Enoka, Toby Mills, Amy Benson, Josh Moody (best all-round students), Tom Sides (best all-round student overall).PHOTOS: MAC

A photographic artist from Wānaka has won two awards at the prestigious New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year Awards 2024.Richard Young was the winner in two major categories at this year’s awards: the landscape category and the wildlife category.“This is my first time entering the competition in several years, so it's particularly rewarding to have my work recognised,” Richard said. The landscape category winner catches a local scene: leaves falling from poplar trees next to the Clutha/Mata-Au River on a misty autumn morning.Richard said he has photographed the same patch of woodland every autumn since 2017.“The concept for this photograph arose from knowing these trees and developing my expression of them. It forms part of a larger body of work called ‘Metaphor’ which explores my relationship to trees within the landscape.”A photograph of two emperor penguins leaping out of a hole at the edge of an ice pack earned Richard his second award at the competition.Emperor penguins burst from a hole in an ice pack in Antarctica in Richard’s second winning photograph.He captured the scene at the McMurdo Sound in Antarctica after hours of observation.Richard’s landscape-focused work has won awards in numerous international competitions, including Best Landscape at the Banff Mountain Photography Competition in 2010, and his work has been widely exhibited across New Zealand, Canada, America and England.He is a full-time nature and landscape photographer and the founder of New Zealand Photography Workshops, which provides photography workshops, courses and tours.New Zealand Geographic said there were more than 6,000 entries in this year’s competition, and “33 deserving winners”.The winning photographs are on display in Britomart in Auckland until the end of November and they will be published in the November/December issue of New Zealand Geographic Magazine. PHOTOS: Richard Young

Year 12 Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC) student Harrison Eastwood has been selected as the first-ever recipient of the Kurano Music Event Grant.Established this year by 24-year-old multi-award-winning musician Rakuto Kurano, the grant offers a unique opportunity for a MAC student to plan and present their own music event, supported by $400 in funding and mentoring by Rakuto.Rakuto visits Wānaka frequently as the artist-in-residence at the Aspiring Lifestyle Village and as artistic director of the Magic Carpet Music Trust, a charitable trust he co-founded with local music patron Lyn Milne, MNZM.Read more: Opening up the world of music: Lyn Milne, MNZMHarrison said the grant was an awesome opportunity and he was excited to see how his chosen event would play out.“My event will feature the band I am in, ‘Superficial', and we plan to play a small ticketed concert at Rhyme x Reason Brewery,” he said."We think it will be a really fun way to put our band out into the Wānaka community, and we plan on having another band support us and play some tunes too.” Harrison said the music course at MAC had helped him rekindle his passion for music and the arts. “Having access to all of the equipment and connections I need to jumpstart myself into the world of music is super cool. Since I began taking music at MAC, I have started practising all of the instruments I love, finding new music, and making new friends. “I'm thinking about pursuing something in the music industry in the future and I definitely give MAC a lot of credit for that, especially the never-ending support of our head of music Mr Doyle.”Rakuto Kurano PHOTO: Heather Joy MilneThis year’s grant selection committee included Kurano, Lyn Milne, and Taylor Williams (Karen Walker International general manager retail and sales). Rakuto developed an interest in event management during his first year at the University of Canterbury, when he realised that musicians can’t simply focus on practising their instruments and wait for opportunities to come their way.“With this in mind, I took the initiative to organise my own events and concert tours and it’s the reason I have established the grant,” he said.The grant is part of a trio of music awards he has launched this year to encourage musical talent at MAC.The others (the Kurano Composition Award and Kurano Musical Performance Award) recognise exceptional skills in composition and performance respectively.

Eighteen-year-old Lily Wilson has been selected as Hato Hone St John’s National Cadet for 2025.Lily was one of six St John Youth who were shortlisted for the role and during the school holidays she travelled to Christchurch for a presentation and interview.Being selected was “pretty exciting”, Lily told the Wānaka App.She said the role will involve ”being the voice of the young people in our youth programme across New Zealand”.“I will be heading to a variety of events to represent youth and meet youth at the same time,” she said.St John Wānaka cadet and Wānaka Primary School student Riley Syben competing at the St John South Island Regional Youth Competitions.Lily is currently the South Island Cadet for 2024. She was the first person from the Wānaka branch to receive the honour, and she is the first person from Wānaka to be selected as the national cadet.She is in her final year of high school this year and next year she will fit in her national cadet duties around studying nursing at the University of Otago.Lily has been involved with St John since she was six-years-old; she said her experiences in St John have inspired her to study nursing. She sees herself continuing to be involved with St John.Wānaka cadets with their awards following the St John South Island Regional Youth Competitions.Lily’s selection as national cadet was one of a number of achievements by Wānaka’s St John Youth over the school holidays.A six-person contingent attended St John South Island Regional Youth Competitions (showing their skills in areas like first aid trauma, drill and healthcare) and returned with great results.Lily, as well as other Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College students Daisy Speak, Tenki Watanabe, Caleb Cotton-Everitt and Blake Cotton-Everitt, and Wānaka Primary School student Riley Syben, took part.Daisy and Riley placed in nearly every event and took out second overall; Tenki and Caleb competed against each other, with Tenki achieving third overall and Caleb second; and Blake and Lily took out first place in their competition.Riley was also awarded the novice award, given to a cadet competing for the first time who amplifies the values of St John.  Learn more about St John youth programmes here.PHOTOS: Supplied

Following an “enormous” number of applications for the role of principal of Wānaka Primary School (WPS), the school board has announced the successful applicant.Rob Rush, who is currently principal at Clearview Primary in Rolleston (near Christchurch), will begin at Wānaka Primary in the new year.Long-serving principal Wendy Bamford will retire at the end of this year.WPS board chair Brendan Hearle said the number of applicants for Wendy’s role has been “double the normal response rate in New Zealand”.  Rob has more than 20 years’ experience in education.“We had applicants from all over New Zealand and overseas which is testament to the hard work that all of the teaching staff and management have put into this school, hence making it known as one of the best schools in New Zealand,” he said.Rob comes with a wealth of experience with over two decades in the education sector in New Zealand, Brendan said.“Rob has both been a teacher and principal of several schools in both the North and South Island and is a keen mountain biker and multisport athlete so will fit in well to our community,” he said.“The Board would like to formally welcome Rob to the Wānaka community and we look forward to working with him from 2025 onwards.”PHOTOS: Supplied

Wānaka author Kate Gordon-Smith has tapped into everything she loves about dogs and children’s adventure stories when creating the second book in her Red Collie Mysteries series for young readers aged seven to ten. Maddison McQueen and the Disappearing Dogs continues the adventures of ten-year-old Maddie and her red-and-white Border Collie, Ruby, who readers met in the first Red Collie Mystery, Maddison McQueen and the Cupcake Mystery, which was released earlier this year.In the new book, Kate continues with the Wānaka setting, fast pace, and short chapters of the first book but delves into a more complex mystery when Maddie’s best friend’s puppies are stolen. “The feedback I’ve had about the first Red Collie Mystery has been enormously encouraging,” Kate said.“There’s nothing better for an author to hear that readers really enjoyed their book and are keen to read the next story in the series.” Among the reviews for Maddison McQueen and the Cupcake Mystery, Leila Austin writing for The Sapling said: “Sure, this book might be cute and sweet, but it’s not at all shallow. Gordon-Smith has done an artful job of writing a rip-roaring plot but sneaking in all kinds of thoughtful details that give her world a rare depth for a junior fiction series.”“Writing the Red Collie Mysteries has been so much fun and my own red-and-white collie, Kenzie, makes me laugh and gives me ideas for the books all the time," Kate said. "Maddie’s fictional dog is a mix of Kenzie and our first much-loved Border Collie, Ruby, who was very smart and not nearly as goofy and noisy as Kenzie." Kate is working on the next two books in the series, both of which she intends to release next year.Kate's books are available at Paper Plus Wānaka.

Three local organisations have teamed up to bring neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis to Wānaka to talk about parenting teenagers.Nathan, who has a background in child counselling, teaching and social service management will present ‘The Teen Brain’ on Monday October 14 at the Lake Wānaka Centre.During adolescence, parts of the teenage brain “shut for renovations”, Nathan says.He will present research-based tips and practices to help enhance parents, caregivers and teenagers cope with this “tricky time”.‘The Teen Brain’ is being facilitated by Path Wānaka (formerly Wānaka Alcohol Group), Community LINK and Central Otago REAP after a handful of locals secured the date.“The three organisations jumped in to make this happen as we are well aware of Nathan’s credentials,” Central Otago REAP education lead (schools and ECE) Julie Musumeci said.She said the local community was very lucky to have someone of Nathan’s calibre and experience here for the second time.Attendees can be “completely comfortable and confident” that any tips or advice they receive is the right, evidence-based information, Julie said.Anyone with children or whānau in their pre-teen or teen years will benefit from the talk, she said.Path Wānaka chair Randall Dobbs told the Wānaka App Nathan spoke in Wānaka in 2016, with a session on pre-school and primary children and another on teenagers.“He was really good,” Randall said. “He was full of energy and gave great examples.”“I would expect for this event he will put on a really good show.”The talk is the first to take place since Path Wānaka’s refresh, which has included a new name, a bolstered operation, a revised mission statement and a status as an incorporated society and registered charity formalised.Read more: Refresh for Path WānakaRandall said Path Wānaka aims to be a “central source” for the sort of high quality information on young people and parenting which people like Nathan provide.‘The Teen Brain’ talk will take place on Monday October 14 at 7pm at the Lake Wānaka Centre.Tickets are $30, plus booking fee. Buy tickets here.PHOTO: Nathan Wallis

An annual pay packet of $479,486 has been approved for Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) boss Mike Theelen.His performance review process took account of council’s performance against its capital works programme, resource consent delivery, and the council’s credit rating, with the final pay decision based on national benchmarking advice.QLDC mayor Glyn Lewers said Mike had demonstrated “capable and strong leadership” throughout his tenure and in particular during the past year. “Rapidly changing government priorities, major capital investment needs, maintaining high-quality levels of service to the community, and responding to the myriad needs of significant and sustained growth in the district is a relentless challenge,” Glyn said, adding that Mike continues to tackle the challenge “head on”.Councillors approved the remuneration package at their meeting last week (Thursday September 19), following an annual performance review process completed by the QLDC chief executive performance review committee, which comprises mayor Glyn Lewers and councillors Lyal Cocks (Wānaka) and Lisa Guy (Arrowtown-Kawarau).Lyal told the Wānaka App he acknowledged it may be difficult for ratepayers to comprehend a 15 percent pay increase for the council CEO after the delivery of an austere Long Term Plan.“The role is a big role,” he said, adding that Mike is managing a range of issues based on “political decisions”, including the controversial Manawa and Lakeview projects.“CEOs are fair game for anything that goes wrong. That’s why he gets paid the big dollars, because the buck stops with him.”The performance review process was facilitated by independent specialist consultants, Decipher, and the chief executive position was benchmarked with local government market data. The position had not been assessed since 2019 as the last review (due in 2021) was paused due to the Covid-19 response. CEOs’ pay is benchmarked against the local government rate and market rate, and Lyal said QLDC has resisted using the market rate and instead stuck to the local government rate.“We did it as a process, we did it based on benchmarking, based on his performance, and that’s where it’s at,” Lyal said.Mike’s key performance indicators (KPIs) are reviewed each year and last year new KPIs were included, for example more detail on council’s capital expenditure and “quick wins”.Mike performed well on ‘quick wins’, such as the council’s “quick and effective” response to the cryptosporidium outbreak late last year, and the response to the directive from the Local Government Commission for QLDC to prepare an action plan to address perceived inequities with the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Ward.Lyal pointed out that, on a per capita basis, QLDC staff service more resource consents than any other council in the country, including Auckland.Glyn said in the past year, QLDC council delivered 88 percent of the capital programme (a substantial increase from previous years). “Maintaining council’s AA- credit rating in a notably challenging economic environment has been a further achievement,” he said.Glyn also cited Mike’s influence on “a positive workplace culture” and “highly engaged staff committed to serving the community”, as well as Mike being respected at a regional and national level in championing the district’s needs.Glyn said council is an increasingly complex business and the Queenstown Lakes district has ongoing growth challenges and fiscal constraints.“Few people can deliver on this and fortunately for us Mike is one of those who can,” Glyn said.“I continue to thoroughly enjoy working alongside Mike and his team who are forward-thinking, innovative and dedicated public servants.” Mike joined QLDC as chief executive in February 2016 and was reappointed for a further five years in November 2020 (effective from February 2021).PHOTO: Supplied

The altruism of one of Wānaka’s youngest volunteers was celebrated at the Kahu Youth Volunteer Awards last Friday (September 14).Sixteen-year-old Jessie McNeil has done nearly every type of volunteering, from planting trees to working with school volunteer committees and even travelling to Nepal to help with the construction of a school.Jessie was presented with the Supreme Award at Friday’s awards night, a long-running annual event designed to showcase the positive contributions of young people in the Upper Clutha.Jessie is also a member in the Rangatahi-Led Fund group with the Otago Community Trust, a long-serving Upper Clutha Youth Council member, a volunteer with Kahu Youth and a ranger with Wānaka Girl Guides.11-13 category winner Mia Reardon“Volunteering is a way of connecting with other people and making a difference no matter the size,” Jessie said. “For me there's a deep sense of fulfilment that comes from knowing you’re contributing to something bigger than yourself.”In addition to the Supreme Award, the Kahu Youth Volunteer Awards celebrate volunteers across three age categories.14-16 category winner Oscar SearleThey included 11-year-old Mia Reardon, who was the winner of the 11-13 age category, having completed 70 hours of voluntary work over the past eight months.She has volunteered with Te Kura O Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC) in the library, helped with the mural project and Matariki celebrations at Kahu Youth, and supported a range of initiatives at St John. Fourteen-year-old Oscar Searle, who won the 14-16 age category, was recognised for extensive volunteer work on a wide range of multisport events and ski events, as well as with the Wānaka Football Club and Kahu Youth.In the 17-18 category, 17-year-old Ryan Enoka was the winner, having undertaken volunteering as a coach with Aspiring Athletes, at a range of other sport events, and a range of voluntary roles at MAC, among others.Kahu Youth volunteer manager Jo Lewis said she was blown away by the “sheer amount of volunteering” done by the winners, as well as many other nominees.17-18 category winner Ryan Enoka with Kahu Youth Trust chair Randal Dobbs“The interesting thing is that, for these kids, volunteering is not box ticking for them; it comes from a place of altruism,” she said. “They just love the rewards of what they get out of it.”Nominees, winners and supporters made up the 60-strong crowd who attended the awards at the Lake Wānaka Centre’s Armstrong Room, and included live music from MAC band ‘Superficial’.PHOTOS: Kahu Youth

Māori language (te reo Māori) is being given a local boost by the growth in Te Ao Māori at Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC), as well as the increasingly visible presence of the school’s kapa haka group.The role of Te Ao Māori and kapa haka is growing in the school community, and the school wharenui (meeting house, which was opened at the beginning of 2023) provides a focal point.The Wānaka App visited the wharenui ('Te Puna Wānaka') on Tuesday afternoon (September 17) - during the nationwide Māori Language Week (Te Wiki o te Reo Māori).“It’s really special to have this space here,” MAC Te Ao Māori teacher Candace Carroll said.Te Reo teacher Raihania Chadwick weaving flax baskets (kono) with year 13 students Sacha (left) and Tai.The wharenui is used for kapa haka practice, Māori performing arts, and language classes, and has been used to host visiting groups.Candace said the kapa haka group caters for students from year 7-13, and it performs five or six times a year at community events, such as the powhiri for new Cardrona staff, and the recent opening of the Snow Farm’s new base building. On Tuesday, the focus was on poi.Thirteen-year-old Alice Chaly said she “really enjoyed” being involved with kapa haka, adding the indigenous culture is “more celebrated here” than in her native Australia.Alice said the community aspect of kapa haka was a drawcard. “We’ve got a close bond,” she said.MAC has events running throughout Māori Language Week - including flax weaving and poi practice - organised by MAC’s student-led cultural committee.  Today (Wednesday September 18) MAC’s annual house haka competition will take place, and this evening the term’s whānau hui will be held. On Friday the kapa haka group will visit Te Kura Take Kārara, helping “build connections” between the schools.MAC head Te Reo Māori teacher Kaz Roberts said she had seen “a lot of positive change” during her time at MAC, and was grateful for a senior leadership team “that has supported kaupapa Māori initiatives”. “Te Reo Māori is a compulsory part of our junior curriculum and students are able to take Te Reo right through to NCEA Level 3,” she said.“We are fortunate to be able to introduce Māori Performing Arts into our junior modules and we are starting to see benefits school wide. For example, we are developing our cultural competency in upskilling our students and staff in how to welcome visitors with a mihi whakatau or pōwhiri.“It has been fabulous seeing other learning areas implementing different tasks and using Te Reo Māori such as a PE class that were using mau rakau at Lismore Park [on Wednesday morning]. All of this helps to normalise Te Reo Māori and weave it back into something that connects us all as New Zealanders.”Every year since 1975 New Zealand has marked Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - a time for all New Zealanders to celebrate te reo Māori and to use more Māori phrases in everyday life. This year's theme (September 14-21) is 'Ake ake ake – A Forever Language’. PHOTOS: Wānaka App