Wānaka’s Robyn van Reenen has been awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for services to the arts in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List.Robyn has been well known in the Otago art community since 1982, and since 1992 has coordinated and managed the Wānaka Autumn Art School.Robyn told the Wānaka App it was “quite a buzz” being recognised for her work.“It’s a real honour but I also appreciate not just the person that nominated me but quite a number of people who do quite a lot of work behind the scenes.”The Wānaka Autumn Art School was started by artist Peter Mitchell in 1990, and Robyn began organising it in 1992 with Dennis Schwarz, who Robyn was quick to acknowledge as having a role “less conspicuous but not less important”.“The idea was we were a small community and it would be really good to bring in more expertise,” she said.The school is held annually at Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College campus and offers some 16 courses in visual, performing, craft and writing arts. It has attracted upwards of 200 students each year, with notable artists from throughout New Zealand and Australia attending to teach.Robyn retired from coordinating the art school at the end of last year, having only missed one - in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions.“We never thought when we started in 1992 we’d still be doing it 30 years later. “I went this year and just loved this year and loved being in a class and not thinking about the rest of it.”Robyn believes creativity is “hugely important” in communities.“It’s so important, whatever your interest, to do your utmost to pursue it. Doing research behind projects is good for your brain, and it is always hard to turn down working with exciting colours.”She also credits the Upper Clutha environment not only for attracting tutors and students, but also for helping spark creativity.“It was a huge help that autumn is a spectacular time of the year to come to a spectacular place.”The art school has been a major part of Robyn’s life, in particular the constant search for tutors.“I always looked for someone who is a good teacher.“Sometimes I’ve found them in strange circumstances. I might be at a social occasion and talking to someone; they’ve been to a class with this person - it appears completely out of the blue.“We’ve hardly ever had local tutors because it’s been such a great opportunity to bring people from all over the country and overseas to Wānaka.”The art school has attracted some excellent tutors, such as Marilyn Webb, Roger Hall, and Fiona Farrell, and despite getting “quite nervous” about asking well known artists to contribute, Robyn was seldom turned down.“For some of them what they were paid was a pittance compared to what they earned as an artist, and for some of them it was a fortune.“One thing that always stood out for me when I was asking people in the early days was [photographer] Andris Apse. He said people had helped him on his journey, and he saw this as an opportunity to help other people.”Robyn felt “quite a big obligation” to do her utmost to meet students’ expectations. “People save up for it, it’s their annual thing they are going to do each year.“It was successful from early on, but I was always conscious that if some things weren’t working out you need to change them.”Robyn has built a range of skills over the years, but the one she singles out as most important is being able to listen.Demand for the annual classes remained constant as the Upper Clutha community grew, Robyn said. “It was never boring; always new people coming, seeing people finding their feet, seeing them at the end of the week with big smiley faces.”Book binding has been her favourite class to attend. A tutor offered the class in 1993 and “thirty years later I still like making books,” she said.Robyn’s other arts involvement include serving as the Wānaka Arts Society secretary (1982 - 1985) and being a founding member of the Wānaka Patchwork Club from 1982. She remains a member of the Upper Clutha Community Arts Council and was chair from 1997 - 2022, instrumental in awarding financial assistance for arts projects. Robyn is also a member of Central Otago Outside the Square (COOTS), a group of textile artists exhibiting biennially and promoting textiles in the art world. She has taught courses on quilting and book binding, and she served on the National Association of New Zealand Quilters’ Committee between 1996 and 1998 and the National Quilt Symposium Committee between 1997 and 1999. Robyn was also a committee member of the Queenstown Lakes Creative Communities Grants between 2018 and 2021.PHOTO: Wānaka App

Lake Hāwea resident Colleen Carr has been awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for services to the community in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List.Colleen has been active in the Lake Hāwea community for 24 years with community organisations, fundraising and events.She is a familiar face at community events, and when the Wānaka App visited her last week she and husband Errol were working hard on community newsletters and activity planning at the dining room table.The couple moved here in 1998 after 22 years in Sydney, where Colleen taught at private girls’ schools. She started out doing some volunteer work, then Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC) found out about her MA in special education and asked her if she would teach.“I loved MAC,” Colleen said.She took over the extension programme, Rutherford, taught English, and became “very involved” in coaching and administration for netball.“I like to be involved and active,” Colleen told the Wānaka App, and anyone who knows Colleen knows that is an understatement.She has organised quiz nights, village dinners at the community centre to celebrate volunteers and at mid-winter, as well as Christmas picnics. In her ‘spare time’ you may find her weeding the community centre garden.The Hāwea community 24 years ago was “mostly old people”, Colleen said, but an influx of young families began to change the face of the township, and Colleen was concerned many of them did not have family support here.She set up three outreach groups: Hāwea Hangouts, for families; the Wise Ones, for the over 60s; and Haere Mai for people from various cultures who have settled in Hāwea.The Friday evening group for families offers a monthly barbeque and activities for children; Haere Mai offers social events and ESOL lessons, and can attract as many as 60 people to an international dinner.Colleen established a monthly village meet and greet, particularly encouraging new residents to get involved in the community. She entered Hāwea in the Community of the Year event a few times, once placing third nationally. “Great things were happening here,” she said.Colleen retired from MAC about seven years ago, but she’s not one for sitting back and watching the world go by.She has started a local bike group - the Peripatetic Pedallers; and is well known locally for organising the popular annual Town Vs Country Waitangi Day sports contest between Hāwea Flat and Lake Hāwea. The town vs country event has taken a break the past year or so because of Covid-19 but Colleen hopes to find someone who can take over its coordination. An extrovert, Colleen had a happy childhood as the youngest of her family in small-town Ngapara (near Oamaru).“My mother valued community,” Colleen said. “The village brought me up.”She believes that a healthy community flows from “lots of activities which people engage in - which gives a sense of belonging”.“Our theory is, it doesn’t matter how many people come, we make sure they have a good time.“Once they start to get involved, they get to know people. We’ve really been seeing that with our older people now, they’re really supporting each other.”As the Hāwea community grows, Colleen is continuing to welcome newcomers - most of whom continue to be young families.She has concerns about the township’s infrastructure keeping up with growth, but adds: “That has nothing to do with the people”.“We’ll be more than happy to welcome them.”Colleen has been involved with the Lake Hāwea Community Centre committee since 2010 and during that time has held the positions of chairperson, deputy chairperson, and secretary.She has been a member of the Foreshore Management Group since 2010, working to enhance the lakefront reserve, has organised clean-ups around the town, and has undertaken gardening on a voluntary basis around the Community Centre, Hāwea Bowling Club, and other areas. Colleen has also been a member of the Upper Clutha Lions for 22 years.

A newly appointed mental health wellbeing navigator will support mental health initiatives for Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes communities over the next year. Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group has appointed Ella Hitchcock to the role.She will work closely with agencies and networks to help co-ordinate an overall picture of needs and mental health service capacity, facilitate connections, and work collaboratively on wellbeing initiatives, Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group chair Adell Cox said.In addition she will connect people with the support available here.“Ella brings a fresh perspective and real insights into the difficulties our young people are facing,” Adell said. “This will be particularly helpful as we focus on rolling out initiatives like the Youth Mental Health First Aid Programme.”Adell said the impacts of Covid-19 have amplified some of the pre-existing challenges the region faced, as well as bringing new ones, which is why Te Hau Toka has extended its support of the navigator role. “There’s been a lot of great mahi so far but there’s still a lot to do to help our communities recover,” she said.“Our primary goal is to keep people well before they get to the stage of needing acute clinical care so promotion, prevention and early intervention are key.“We need to keep the spotlight on why it’s so important for people to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing and encourage them to seek help early so that they receive the right supports to get them back on track.”Having someone who can navigate the system and act as a connector has proven to be really helpful, she said. Ella, who has a double degree in law and health science, said she was passionate about working alongside communities to improve their health and wellbeing.“I also want to find opportunities to create meaningful, equitable and sustainable change in this space, from grassroots prevention to national policy.” The Mental Wellbeing Navigator role will be funded by the Te Hau Toka group and work out of the Central Lakes Family Services offices across the region.PHOTO: Supplied

Keen sportswoman and Wānaka resident Jane Sharman says she is excited to take on a new role as Challenge Wānaka’s trust and event director.The experienced event manager moved to Wānaka seven years ago and she has held various trust and committee roles and worked at major events like Warbirds over Wānaka and Relay for Life.”I am so excited to be joining the Challenge Wanaka Team,” Jane said.“I am passionate about this event and what it means for our community.“I love the inclusivity of Challenge – ranging from the pro athletes to the primary children and even preschoolers. The recent addition of the adaptive event and the Cross Tri mean that nearly anyone can take part.“I’m looking forward to learning from the many experienced team members involved and also exploring new ways to further develop Challenge Wanaka in our community.”Challenge Wānaka board chair Jessica Garrett said Jane was the “standout applicant” from a field of high quality applicants “and the unanimous choice of the trustees”.“With an exceptional track record in event management, governance and community engagement, we were encouraged by her forward-thinking approach to the role of the trust and our events, and her obvious skills and experience as a leader and motivator,” Jess said.“We very much look forward to welcoming her to the Challenge Wanaka Team.”Jess said the board also wanted to thank the “amazing” outgoing race director Bill Roxburgh.“Bill has been involved in the event for over 17 years and has been instrumental in growing the event into the largest triathlon festival in New Zealand with events for all ages and abilities,” she said.The next Challenge Wānaka Festival will be held from February 15-17, at Glendhu Station.The event is organised by the Challenge Wanaka Charitable Trust and incorporates events to suit all abilities and ages.Find out more here.PHOTO: Supplied

A former Environment Southland chief executive has been appointed as independent chair of a committee that will help shape the future of Wānaka Airport.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) councillors signed off on the appointment of Rob Phillips to the Wānaka Airport Liaison Committee (WALC) in a meeting in late April.“All details have now been finalised and I welcome Rob to this new position,” QLDC chief executive Mike Theelen said.“With more than 22 years’ experience in executive and leadership roles he clearly demonstrated through the recruitment process that he’ll bring the skills, experience and independence required.”The long-awaited WALC was first recommended 12 years ago but it was designated to Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) in the District Plan only five years ago.QLDC has named Simon Telfer as the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) representative on the committee but it still needs to select its other members, which will include representatives from the Wānaka Airport Users Group, commercial airlines and other groups.WALC’s responsibilities will include reviewing complaints relating to airport operations or noise, assisting QLDC (in its role as regulator) and Queenstown Airport Corporation (which manages Wānaka Airport’s day-to-day operations) to communicate and engage with the community, and reviewing progress on any airport development activity, Mike said.Rob said he was looking forward to working with airport-based businesses and the wider community. “Wānaka Airport plays a wide range of roles including that of a hugely respected flight training centre and the home of internationally famous air show, Warbirds over Wānaka,” he said. “The committee will be an important new body taking a helicopter view of relevant activities there. “Given this committee has not existed before we’ll be working initially to shape how we operate in line with our terms of reference.”The council statement did not indicate when other members would be appointed to the committee.In February QLDC said the draft terms of reference for the WALC would be shared with the community once all members are appointed.PHOTO: Supplied 

An adventurous life story of a career as a mountaineer and guide to an accident that resulted in incomplete tetraplegia has won the Nankervis/Bamford NZ Mountain Book of the Year for 2023.The book, ‘Not Set in Stone, was written by leading mountaineer David Vass who is credited with many first ascents and descents in New Zealand. "After many years in Wānaka I have just moved away, and this award makes a truly great farewell present,” David said. “I've been much humbled and gratified by the feedback I've received so far, it seems to have moved people in a similar way to how I felt writing it.”The competition is part of the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival and judges Marjorie Cook, Hazel Phillips and Allan Uren were impressed by the standard of entries.“It was an absolute joy to read through the finalists and live vicariously inside the pages of these amazing books,” Hazel said. “Congratulations to all the finalists, and to our winners, who should be rightly proud of what they've created.”  David will be speaking at the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival in Wānaka on Tuesday June 27 alongside Robbie Burton, whose book ‘Bushline, A Memoir’ was highly commended by the competition judges.Submissions were invited for two categories: Mountain and Adventure Narrative and Mountain and Adventure Heritage.The Heritage Award went to Wānaka mountain guide and adventure photographer Gavin Lang for ‘Seeking the Light’. Gavin climbed all 24 of New Zealand’s 3,000 metre peaks to photograph them and his book captures the tension and drama of mountaineering in Aotearoa, bringing it to life with stunning imagery.  ‘High Risk: Climbing to Extinction’ by Brian Hall takes out the Narrative Award. Brian’s book speaks to an extraordinary era in the history of Himalayan mountaineering, from the mid 1970s to the 1980s, paying homage to the generation of climbers who pushed adventure to the edge.The NZ Mountain Film & Book Festival will run in Wānaka from June 23-27, in Queenstown June 29-30, and online in New Zealand and Australia from June 23 to July 23. Festival passes are on sale now, general ticket sales and the full festival programme will be launched on May 23.The 2023 finalists were:Mountain & Adventure Narrative Award Paul Hersey - The Cold Inside Dave Vass - Not Set in Stone Brian Hall - High Risk: Climbing to Extinction  Mountain & Adventure Heritage Award Derek Morrison - Living the Dream David Towns - Ahuahu: A conservation journey in Aotearoa Gavin Lang - Seeking the Light  The following were Highly Commended by the judges: Beau Miles - The Backyard Adventurer Robbie Burton - Bushline Jeff Smoot - All and Nothing: Inside Free Soloing Carrie Miller and Chris Taylor - A Diver's Guide to the World: Remarkable Dive Travel Destinations Above and Beneath the Surface   PHOTOS: Supplied

If you’ve been in Wānaka in the past month there is a good chance you’ve seen Victoria Taylor running the streets.Victoria is on a mission to raise awareness and funds for two charities by breaking the world record for the most consecutive days to run a marathon (female). Today (Friday April 14) will be her thirty-third consecutive day running the 42-kilometre distance.“I’m doing it to raise awareness and funds for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand and also the Red Cross to help out the New Zealand Disaster Fund,” Victoria said.“Givealittle have combined the two causes and will split the money 50:50.”The record for consecutive day marathons (female) is 151 and Victoria has set herself a target of 153.“Because I’m breaking a record it’s good to go a couple of days over,” she said.If Victoria completes the challenge she will finish on Sunday August 13, the day of her thirtieth birthday.“I set out with a goal to finish on my thirtieth,” Victoria said. “I wanted to do something for my birthday that had meaning.”Victoria said she runs a similar course each day consisting of three 14-kilometre loops around Wānaka which are tracked on GPS for authentication. She said she also has to video the start, middle and finish and get witness statements each day as a requirement for the Guinness Book of Records.Victoria said she has no special dietary requirements but a Red Bull at the 25-kilometre mark and toasted bagels with marmite keep her going.“I get a massage every week for recovery,” she said. “I’m getting as much sleep as possible. I’m eating and hydrating well.”Victoria said the biggest challenge is staying healthy and the possibility of running in the snow during winter.“I’ll just have to run in it,” she said. “It’s obviously going to be a bigger challenge. The pram situation may make it very challenging.”In 2022 Victoria attempted to break the world record (20 days and 17 hours) for the time it takes to run the length of New Zealand while raising awareness for mental health. She had to abandon that challenge due to a family matter.When Victoria was 19-years-old she ran the length of New Zealand in 34 days to support services for child cancer.Donations of support can be made on her Givealittle page.PHOTO: Wānaka App

With their new houses at Northlake set to be completed this month, nine more Wānaka families can now call Wānaka home with certainty.The homes, which range from $472,000 to $568,000, are the latest to be built with the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust’s (QLCHT) affordable housing model.“To be able to provide a safe, secure and newly-built home to nine of those families means a lot, because we know it’s not just a house – it’s also providing a level of certainty and the ability to feel settled in the local community,” QLCHT chief executive Julie Scott said.Six of the houses will be occupied under the ‘Secure Home’ programme, where people purchase the properties through a 100-year land lease arrangement, with the trust retaining ownership of the land in perpetuity.The remaining three will be rented under the trust’s rental programmes.“The ability to deliver standalone properties at these price points has been a collaborative effort with the ongoing support of both the Queenstown Lakes District Council and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development’s Progressive Home Ownership Fund,” QLCHT chief executive Julie Scott.Julie said she was excited to hand over keys for the nine properties in time for Easter.QLCHT acquired the land in 2021 and construction on the three and four-bedroom properties, started in early 2022.The not-for-profit social enterprise, which exists to manage and deliver affordable housing solutions, continues to face huge demand.“Accommodation is a pressing issue in our district, and we have evidence of that, with 150 people on the waiting list in the Upper Clutha area alone,” Julie said. Some of those on the waitlist have homes in sight - the Breen Homes team which has built the Northlake homes will move on to deliver another 28 homes in Hāwea as soon as the Northlake homes are completed.PHOTO: QLCHT

Hāwea Flat woman Anna Shaw will share some of her experience of living in a remote Aboriginal community at the Festival of Colour later this month.The former Te Kura O Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) head of drama will perform her one woman show, ‘Remote Thoughts’ at the Hāwea Flat Hall.Anna also taught music and English at MAC for many years before moving to Wellington to undertake a Masters degree in directing at Toi Whakaari followed by teaching at Wellington East Girls College.But she dreamed of an outback adventure with husband Rick once their youngest daughter Lily (who has also performed at the Festival of Colour) flew the nest.“I’d done a brief stint living in Kakadu and always had a fascination to return to the Top End,” Anna said.After a drink with a friend who had returned from working in Wadeye, a remote Aboriginal community 400km from Darwin, Anna and Rick went home on a foul Wellington night and googled the area.“The first photo that came up was Rick’s step-brother, a well known Australian musician who works in remote communities. The second photo that came up was a very good friend’s daughter who was a lawyer in Wadeye.“They were both signs,” Anna said.“On a whim we thought we’d go and have an adventure. Three months later we were there.”The culture shock was huge, she said. “We had done an induction, stayed in a five star hotel in Darwin and learnt about kinship networks and so on.“Next thing we’re on a plane that almost crashed flying through a storm, then we were dropped outside our new house that had just been burgled.Acclimatisation took a while.“It was an incredible experience and so enriching on many levels, but also so harrowing. It was incredibly tough,” Anna said.All the children she taught were trauma affected and the environment was volatile at times, she said.“You’re constantly treading a tightrope between hope and despair.“Success looks very different to what success looks like in any classroom anywhere else. It’s really important to mark those successes.”On a personal level, the cultural experience was “huge”, Anna said.The couple intended to live in Wadeye for a year but ended up staying four.Anna’s goal in developing ‘Remote Thoughts’ was “to shed light on what it’s really like, and the ongoing challenges of living in community”.“Living between two cultures is never easy. It forces us to challenge any assumptions we may have. “Developing ‘Remote Thoughts’ has been an enriching and confronting experience of putting our time in Wadeye under a microscope, offering an opportunity to process and reflect upon all of the high and lows we lived through.”Anna said since she has been rehearsing the play she’s started receiving lots of messages from friends in Wadeye. “It’s like the people know,” she said.‘Remote Thoughts’ includes storytelling, acting, spoken word, original songs, and visuals.“Be prepared to go on a journey,” she said.‘Remote Thoughts’ takes place at the Hāwea Flat Hall on March 27 and 28. Tickets can be purchased here.

A tourism expert who took the helm at RealNZ during the Covid-19 pandemic has handed in his resignation and made plans to return home as the tourism upswing continues.Stephen England-Hall joined RealNZ (a recreation, tourism and ski company which includes Cardrona Alpine Resort) in February 2021, helping the company prepare for the future.Under Stephen’s leadership the company has restructured, rebranded, refinanced and recapitalised, regrown revenues and is now on a path to recovery, entering the second half of this financial year materially ahead of plan, RealNZ chair Martin Dippie said.“Stephen has done an outstanding job transforming the company and placing the business on a solid foundation to benefit from tourism’s recovery,” Martin said. “The RealNZ and Cardrona brands are in great shape to continue to outperform the market.”Stephen said it was now time for him to head home to his family in Auckland.“As results turn positive and guests return it’s a good time to pass the reins to a new leader to continue the journey for this incredible company.“I’d like to thank the Queenstown, Wānaka, Te Anau and Southland communities for their support of RealNZ during my time with the business and for making me a welcome member of the community.”RealNZ is a leading tourism group which, in addition to the local skifields, owns various tourism experiences like the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves, Queenstown Jet, Walter Peak Farm and more.PHOTO: Supplied

A group formed for friendship and connection is setting up an offshoot group for The Jones generation.The Jones targets people born between 1954 and 1965 and has been instigated by organisers of the Wānaka Social Meet Up which was established two years ago and now has 648 members.“There's a gap in Wānaka for pre-seniors so I created a filler,” organiser Steph Holloway said.“I think we’ve got ten members as we stand today.”Steph said she figured out through her work that a new generation has been acknowledged in the last few years called The Jones, which does not identify with the Gen X or Boomer generations.“It’s no secret I’m 61, I’m thinking where’s my tribe, where’s the people I wanted to meet when I first started this [Wānaka Social Meet Up] and I couldn’t see them,” Steph said.The Jones group is already active and has its own Facebook page.Steph said they have a breakfast catch up and a wine catch up organised, and she expects things like pub quizzes, coffee meet ups, pot lucks, and beach bbqs to happen as the group grows.“There’s lots of lonely people in Wānaka who just want to connect with other humans,” Steph said. “So knock yourselves out, come and join us. You’ll find somebody to do something with.”Find out more about the Wānaka Social Meet Up here.PHOTO: Supplied

A community response to the plight of deer farmers in cyclone-hit Hawkes Bay has meant local fencers will fly north to help, complete with their own meals for five days.Wānaka’s Mandy Bell, chair of the Deer Industry NZ, put out the call last Friday (February 24) for people to supply food for fencers heading north, to ensure the visitor would not impose on the already stretched host community.Bex Sarginson of Food For Love had been watching the devastation wrought by the cyclone on TV news and leapt at the chance to help.Within 48 hours, 15 volunteers (new to Food for Love) prepared meals for five days. “What an amazing community we live in - just incredible,” Mandy told the Wānaka App.Mandy Bell PHOTO: Deer NZLast week and this week are two of the most crucial weeks of the deer farmer’s calendar, she explained.Young deer are being weaned, then the stags are back out for mating.However the slips caused by Cyclone Gabrielle have meant many boundary fences in Hawkes Bay are not secure, and farmers are losing stock.“If we don’t help in the next few weeks to get animals in, that’s their next year’s income [gone],” Mandy said.“They don’t like to ask for help, but they’re exhausted.”The Deer Farmers’ Association is coordinating help by volunteers on the ground in a push to have emergency repairs to boundary fences within the next two weeks. Any local volunteers who have experience in fencing and would like to help should contact the main coordinator in Hawkes Bay ([email protected]).Mandy said another option for people to help is to ‘fund the fencers’ by donating money to support the fencers who are taking time off work to help.The first four Wānaka volunteers will head north this week, and Food for Love’s meals have already been flown up.“I want to say a huge ‘thanks’ to Food for Love,” Mandy said.Food for Love coordinator Bex Sarginson told the Wānaka App: “We can’t do it without our community.”“People jump at the chance to help - as long as they know the story,” she said.“For some people it’s the only way they can help.”Fifteen people prepared baking and convenient ‘heat and eat’ meals which will make the visiting volunteers independent of their hosts. The meals were delivered to Food for Love by Monday morning.“We have Edgewater doing lasagnas for next week,” Bex added.She is looking for any businesses which are happy to supply a ‘heat and eat’ meal for five men.The group is also looking for more volunteers to cook: “The more the merrier, if we’ve got another three weeks to go.”Food For Love always welcomes cash donations to “keep the ball rolling”, she said.

Southburn-based farmer Miles Anderson has been selected by local party members as the National Party candidate in Waitaki for the 2023 general election. Waitaki is the Upper Clutha’s electorate and it is also the third largest in the country, encompassing Wānaka, Cromwell, the Maniototo, the Mackenzie Country and North Otago.Miles’ selection follows the announcement that the current National MP for Waitaki, Jacqui Dean, will retire at the 2023 election after 14 years as the electorate's parliamentary representative.See also: ‘Long-serving Waitaki MP announces retirement’Miles said it was an honour to be selected as the local candidate.“I’m standing as National’s candidate because only National can strengthen our economy so we can reduce the cost of living, lift incomes, build the infrastructure we need and deliver health and education services which focus on outcomes, not bureaucracy,” he said.Miles has been a farmer for more than 20 years and has served on the Federated Farmers board and as chair of its Meat & Wool Industry Group. “As a farmer, I will always be a strong advocate for our primary sector.”He said he plans to hit the ground running.“I’ll be getting to work straight away to meet as many people as I can across the electorate to campaign for a National Government.”The Waitaki electorate was represented by Labour (Jim Sutton) in the mid 1980s. Aside from that, it has been a blue seat since 1938.The 2023 General Election will be held on Saturday October 14.PHOTO: Supplied

Self confessed wasp crusader and Mount Iron resident Mary-Lousie (M-L) Schroder is on a mission to eradicate the Upper Clutha of wasps and says the whole community can help.M-L has taken it upon herself, in recent years, to track wasps and kill their nests.“I think wasps are just terrible, they are predators,” M-L said.“The problem we have is that there is nothing that eats them; there is nothing that keeps them down.”M-L said one queen wasp can create a nest with 4,500 wasps and produce 1,000 queens.“Only two percent of queens survive the winter, which you might think is not much, but if you have a nest which producers 4,500 wasps in a season, all out foraging, taking nectar from birds, taking nectar from reptiles etcetera, then you can imagine the damage they do to the environment,” she said.Some simple maths highlights the extent of the problem: one nest produces 1,000 queens and 20 survive the winter to set up nests, which in turn produce 4,500 wasps and 1,000 queens per nest. Mary-Louise says the key is to be assertive when approaching the nest.On those numbers one nest multiples 20 times in one year to produce 90,000 wasps and 20,000 queens.Finding nests is quite easy, M-L said, as wasps fly in a straight line and can be tracked in the evening or morning light.“You can spot them by seeing a continuous line of wasps travelling in a straight line,” she said.“They only travel about 500 metres. The nest is usually quite close.“They are always in a hole, probably about four centimetres in diameter. You can spot it as they get rid of the grass around the edge.”M-L uses ‘No Wasp’ powder to kill the nest: “No dithering, walk forward, put the nozzle in the hole, give it three sprays and walk away.”“You have to be assertive - and don’t get in the way of the flight path. Just watch how they are coming and going,” she said.“If you find a nest just kill it yourself or get someone like me to come and kill it.”This wasp season is not as bad as previous years, which M-L puts down to the public's effort to eradicate nests, as well as weather conditions. She said the cold winter will have killed off more queens than usual and the wet spring made it difficult for those left to establish nests.“If we have a warm winter that is not good as nests can survive the winter,” she said. This Waitangi weekend M-L says she is going to head to John Creek at Lake Hāwea as there are a number of wasp nests there she is keen to destroy.M-L is setting up a website under the banner of Wasp Wasters NZ and said she is happy to be contacted if anyone would like assistance with eradicating wasps. Her number is 027 542 1256.Queenstown Lakes District Council will eradicate pests on council property. They can be contacted here.PHOTOS: Wānaka App

Barbara Bridger says she is excited to take on a new role as the Central Lakes Trust chief executive later this year.Since 2014 Barbara has been in the top job at another prominent charity - the Otago Community Trust - and she has a background in the banking and financial services sector.“I am very much looking forward to my new role at CLT and to having the opportunity to better understand the community’s needs and aspirations and to help CLT respond to those needs as it continues to enhance assets and enrich lives within the Central Lakes region,” Barbara said.The CLT is a charitable trust that grants funds for charitable purposes across Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes. Its previous chief executive, Susan Finlay, stepped down in October 2022.CLT chair Linda Robertson said Barbara was appointed as CEO after a recruitment process which began in November and was supported by external advisers.“The board are delighted with this outcome and look forward to Barbara joining the trust in early April,” Linda said.“She brings a wealth of experience in the philanthropic, management and investment space and is already well known to many within the Central Lakes region through her current role.”CLT was bestowed its asset base in 2000 by the Otago Central Electric Power Trust and, in the time since it has grown it from $155M to $467.It provides regular, monthly grants to worthy causes across the region.Many of these grants benefit Wānaka - a recent funding round included $157,500 operational grant to Community Networks Wānaka; $23,144 for Challenge Wānaka’s junior triathlon festival; $5,000 for the Secondary Schools Sports Association; and $42,582 for Mount Aspiring College for the implementation of the Central Otago Principals Association programme.Learn more about CLT here.PHOTO: Supplied

A 30-year veteran of the hospitality industry has been appointed to the position of general manager for the Ignite Wānaka Chamber of Commerce.In an email to chamber members Glenn Peat announced his own appointment saying that he has a “real passion for engaging, networking and creating positive change”.“I believe that I have the experience to contribute positively to the Wānaka business community,” he said.“My excitement towards this role is to assist in engaging, developing our business community through professional leadership and the opportunity to create positive change.”Glenn is currently the group general manager for the Taco Medic restaurant chain and will continue in that role. Prior to moving to Wānaka in 2018 he managed leading brand hotels in China and India.“We are delighted to have someone of Glenn’s calibre take on this role to help the board refine and deliver its strategy to support the local business community,” Ignite Wānaka board chair Jo Learmonth said.“We are excited about our plans for 2023 and look forward to having Glenn become a recognised face within our business community.”The organisation’s general manager role has been vacant since March 2022 when the former general manager Naomi Lindsay resigned to pursue her own business ventures.Glenn said he looks forward to working with the Ignite Wānaka board to provide opportunities for business growth and success, through strong advocacy, training and networking both within and outside of the region.PHOTO: Supplied

The new general manager at Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital Queenstown, Tim Capill, started in the role late last year.Tim, who began his career as a nurse, came to the hospital from Swedish medical device company Senzime, where he was sales director for the Asia Pacific region. He has experience in healthcare and medical industries, and has held senior leadership positions in New Zealand, Australia, and the Asia Pacific region.“We’re thrilled to have someone of Tim’s calibre take the reins at our very special hospital,” Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital Queenstown chair Andrew Blair said in a statement to media.“He brings to the hospital team great strengths in commercial and general management and a passion for customer experience and patient care. “I’m confident he will continue to enhance Southern Cross Central Lakes Hospital’s reputation as a provider of quality treatment and patient care.”Read more: New Queenstown hospital improves local access to health careTim said he was excited about the opportunity.“I’m looking forward to working with the team and clinicians to retain the special culture already in place and support the hospital to grow and serve the needs of the region’s residents,” he said. Andrew also acknowledged the dedication of current general manager Judith Kissel, who led the development and opening of the hospital during the past two years.Southern Cross CLT Limited is a 50-50 venture between the Central Lakes Trust and Southern Cross Healthcare Limited. Southern Cross is New Zealand’s largest independent healthcare organisation and Central Lakes Trust is a charitable trust supporting the Central Lakes area by granting funds for charitable purpose. The joint venture forms part of the CLT’s social impact investment portfolio. PHOTO: Supplied

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) property and infrastructure general manager Peter Hansby has died after a short illness.Peter had a 35 year career in engineering and infrastructure, and was described by QLDC acting chief executive Meaghan Miller as “a special colleague and, for many, a true mate”.“Our thoughts and condolences are with Pete’s family at this time,” she said.Peter has been a contractor, a consultant and a client within the infrastructure environment. He held a number of roles with QLDC from 1994 to 2004 including consents engineer and roading engineer. He was a Civil Defence Local Controller and a valued part of the team that responded to the 1999 floods. In 2004 Peter worked for City Care Limited for Christchurch City Council and became the Southern regional general manager. He was appointed emergency response manager for City Care following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, a period in his career that he recently said prepared him for any future challenge no matter how big. Peter took on a short but critical stint with Aecom as director of the Christchurch re-build in 2013 and started his current role back with QLDC in November 2014 as infrastructure general manager, extending his responsibility to later becoming property and infrastructure general manager.Meaghan said Peter was a tireless campaigner for improving the way people lived, worked, travelled and played in the district and was a key member of the Kā Huanui a Tāhuna Project Alliance Board. “He was an enormously respected and valued member of the QLDC executive leadership team,” she said. “If there is one small comfort we can all take from Pete’s loss it is that his legacy can be seen right around the district in the multitude of projects he was very proud to deliver. He was passionate about his work, passionate about the Queenstown Lakes District and enormously proud of his family.”PHOTO: Supplied

Warbirds Over Wānaka’s (WOW) new event manager has a lifelong connection to aviation. Andrena Davis is a plane junkie, a licensed pilot and regular airshow attendee, making the experienced event manager and photographer a perfect fit for the role.She replaces Mandy Deans, who has retired after 14 years.“Mandy has left big shoes to fill but I’m very excited about taking on the challenge of bringing together a fantastic airshow at Easter 2024,” Andrena said.“I have a passion for getting things done and thrive on seeing an event come together with attendee experience my number one priority.”Andrena’s passion for aviation was first sparked after a ride in her father’s glider as a child.She went on to take flying lessons before gaining her pilot’s licence with the Otago Aero Club.Andrena grew up in Dunedin and spent most of her childhood holidays in Wānaka so she is familiar with the area, WOW general manager Ed Taylor said.More recently she has been based in Wellington and the Wairarapa where she has worked as a professional photographer and in event management, including working on the Wings Over Wairarapa Airshow.Ed Taylor said he was looking forward to having Andrena on board as WOW gears up for its 2024 airshow.The last Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow was in 2018 and both the 2020 and 2022 events were cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions. “We are already in the early stages of planning for the next airshow which by all early indications is going to be a huge event,” he said. “By the time Easter 2024 rolls around it will have been a long six years between airshows and we know there is plenty of pent-up demand for our event from around New Zealand and overseas.”The 2018 airshow attracted 55,000 visitors over three days from both New Zealand and overseas and injected around $42M into the regional economy. PHOTO: Supplied