The Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB) has made a strong bid to retain the current Wānaka jetty until its replacement is completed.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) had recommended the damaged Wānaka town centre jetty - which staff said was at the end of its “serviceable life” - be removed at the end of the summer.The ageing jetty has been repeatedly damaged after severe weather events, most recently in November, and continuing to maintain it would likely cost between $20K and $25K per year, QLDC staff told the board at Thursday’s (February 12) meeting.WUCCB members, who pointed out that a new jetty could be some years away, said they were reluctant to leave Wānaka in limbo.The jetty was left damaged and partially submerged after severe weather in November. PHOTO: Wānaka App WUCCB chair Simon Telfer said it was a “much-loved piece of community infrastructure” - one which is popular with both tourists and locals.“There’s a lot of people that have kids who manu [jump] off there, grandparents who look at the eels, everything else like that,” he said.“We don’t want it to be a no-mans land for three or four years without something down there.”Calls for a new, upgraded jetty have increased in the past couple of years, and it is one of the WUCCB’s listed priorities. RMM Architects presented four concept designs for new, more inventive interpretations last year.Read more: Creative designs for ‘long overdue’ new jettyBecause there is established support for a new jetty aligned with the end of Helwick Street, work on a replacement could progress while the existing jetty remains in place, deputy mayor Quentin Smith said.One of RMM Landscape Architects’ concept designs for a new Wānaka jetty. IMAGE: SuppliedThe WUCCB voted to recommend that work progress on the new jetty immediately, while keeping the existing jetty in the meantime, with a desired completion of the new jetty within 24 months.It will be up to the full council to make the final decision on the future of the jetty.

Road policing was the main theme for Wānaka Police this past week, including dealing with dangerous driving on the Crown Range and a four-vehicle accident near Wānaka Airport.Queenstown Lakes District mayor John Glover was first on the scene when a Ford Ranger erupted into flames on the Crown Range between 5.30pm and 6pm on Wednesday (February 4), leaving the driver shaken.The mayor said the car had been heading from Wānaka to Queenstown when there was some malfunction of the engine causing smoke and oil to come from the back of the ute. The driver pulled over to a chain-fitting bay and attempted to extinguish it with a fire extinguisher to no avail. “It was a very rapid spread,” John said. “I called the fire in and waited with the driver, who was obviously shaken, until the Arrowtown Brigade arrived.”Arrowtown Volunteer Fire Brigade station officer Alex Holden says two appliances attended the fire. The occupant was uninjured.Local police have been out on the roads this week keeping a visible presence due to the heavy long weekend and Chinese New Year traffic, Wānaka area response manager Sergeant Graeme Hamblett said. An “example of what not to do” is that of a 31-year-old male who has been summoned to appear in the Queenstown District Court this month for a dangerous driving manoeuvre on the Cardrona Valley Road last Thursday (February 5).“The male conducted a highly dangerous overtaking manoeuvre reaching speeds of nearly 150km/h while approaching a blind corner,” Graeme said.“This has put any potential oncoming traffic in an extremely dangerous situation.” “For his efforts, his driver’s licence was suspended on-the-spot, and the vehicle impounded. This is an example of unacceptable driving behaviour which will not be tolerated.”     Following a four-vehicle accident near Wānaka Airport on Monday (February 9) a 41-year-old male was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital with moderate injuries.Read more: Four-vehicle crash closes Wānaka-Luggate Highway near airport“The accident is currently under investigation, however initial indications suggest driver distraction, and unsafe following distances the likely cause,” Graeme said. “The drivers and passengers of the other vehicle involved sustained minor injuries not requiring hospitalisation.”          Graeme issued a warning “to all visitors to the area and locals alike intending on summiting Roys Peak”. Police have received numerous calls regarding inappropriate and unsafe parking on Wānaka-Mount Aspiring Road at the base of the Roys Peak track, he said. This part of the road is well sign posted and marked as a ‘no parking - no stopping’ area due to the road being narrow, in a high speed zone, with blind corners and summits. The local council has issued a significant number of parking infringements over the past week or so due to people blatantly ignoring these signs, he said. “Trampers and alpinists alike, please use the designated parking areas off the road and if they are full come back another day.”Graeme said the acronym ‘RIDS’ used to define factors which significantly contribute to harm on roads: Restraints – Seatbelts including child restraintsImpairment – Alcohol, illicit and prescription drugs including lack of sleep during long tripsDistraction – A common one is being on the smart phone while drivingSpeed – Excessive speed, not adhering to the national and sign posted speed limits. “I’d also like to emphasise the importance of keeping to the temporary speed zones when driving through roadworks, these are in place to keep roadworkers safe - so please respect their workplace,” he said. “Another common driver of harm on our roads is not driving to the conditions, for example not keeping safe following distances on high speed zones, on wet roads, and the morning/evening ‘sunstrike’ times.”     Graeme also reminded people to adhere to advisory speed signs during school drop-off and pick-up to observe and adhere to the advisory speed signs. “Ensure you slow down 20km/h when school buses are doing the drop off/pick up. Keep ourselves and the little ones safe during this summer term.”  Call 111 when you need an emergency response from police, fire or ambulance.Call 105 to report things that don’t need urgent police assistance.Call *555 to report road incidents that are urgent but not life-threatening.To make an anonymous crime report contact Crime Stoppers.PHOTO: Supplied

Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) new elected members are set to earn between $14,354 and $165,197 a year depending on their positions.The lowest earners are members of the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB), who will each pocket $14,354, aside from the board’s chair who will make $28,710.At the other end of the ledger, the mayor will earn a tidy $165,197.These rates are set by the Remuneration Authority and are non-negotiable - though the council does have some wiggle room on how to divvy up its $734,716 councillor pay pot.QLDC’s mayor, deputy mayor and councillors. PHOTO: SuppliedInstead of handing everyone the same cheque, QLDC’s 2026 allocations recognise extra responsibility.Councillors who chair a committee will receive $69,000, while deputy chairs will receive $60,800. The deputy mayor will be paid $77,516.Councillors without additional duties will take home $52,480.QLDC staff said the whole governance remuneration pool had to be allocated.“There is no discretion for the council to pay itself less than the determination provides for.” QLDC had to submit its pay proposal to the Remuneration Authority by mid-December, which elected members retrospectively approved at last week’s council meeting.

After more than two years of work, Queenstown Lakes District councillors last week adopted an independent panel’s recommendations that reshape how - and where - the district can grow.The Urban Intensification Variation (UIV) changes zoning rules to allow more townhouses, apartments and infill housing, and greater density in commercial areas.The process drew strong public interest, with more than 1,200 submissions. Some residents raised concerns about neighbourhood character, property values, infrastructure and shading, while others said more housing supply and choice is urgently needed.Where has QLDC landed on the controversial topic?What the changes mean for local neighbourhoodsThe new Suburban Residential Zone - formerly Lower Density Suburban Residential - will allow for building heights of up to 8m, or about two storeys, and relaxes density rules.The changes won’t enable high-rise apartments, but will make it easier to add a minor dwelling, subdivide or redevelop a site with duplexes, townhouses or infill housing.The new Medium Density Residential A Zone in Wānaka South.The existing Medium Density Residential Zone largely stays the same. However, a new Medium Density Residential A Zone will apply to a large greenfield area between Golf Course Road and Riverbank Road (Wānaka South), allowing buildings up to 11m high - generally three storeys - and greater density, with smaller sections and outdoor living space requirements.More significant change is planned for Three Parks and nearby, where much of the area has been upzoned to the new High Density Residential A Zone. There, buildings of up to 16.5m are permitted, with anything taller than 24m considered discretionary.Deputy mayor Quentin Smith said the independent hearing panel had “gone a long way to reducing some of the flash points” in the proposed UIV during consultation.Rather than broadly increasing height and density across established neighbourhoods, the panel concentrated most added capacity in specific locations.“I think the reduction of heights in most of the residential zones … have gone a way to taking the fire out of this,” Quentin said.Councillor Cody Tucker said the different housing types enabled by the changes will provide flexibility and a better mix of housing stock.“We live in the district that has the least affordable housing in the country, in the country with the least affordable housing ratio in the OECD,” he said. “Part of the answer is more variety. This will provide more choice and options.”Big changes for Wānaka CBDThe decision over how to manage zoning in the Wānaka Town Centre is less likely to be well received, as councillor Nicola King pointed out.“Some of the community members won’t be happy with QLDC….especially with Wānaka town height levels changing,” she said.In the Wānaka Town Centre, permitted building heights will more than double from eight metres to 16.5 metres. The UIV also includes provision for buildings between 16.5m and 20m, plus buildings above 20m tall, which would be considered as discretionary activities.This was a major point of contention for submitters and received significant pushback during consultation.This 16.5 metre scaffolding was erected on Brownston Street to demonstrate the potential impact of proposed UIV height changes for the Wānaka Town Centre. Those changes have been approved and there is some provision to build even taller.At Hāwea’s Local Shopping Centre Zones, on the other hand, much smaller height increases have been green lit - increasing from seven metres to ten metres.Similar patterns feature in the UIV for other parts of the district - more intensification in central commercial zones and upcoming development areas but less change in established residential areas.How did the UIV come about?The UIV stems from central government’s National Policy Statement on Urban Development, which requires councils to enable more housing capacity and remove planning barriers to growth.The policy directs councils to allow denser development near jobs, shops and services, and to plan for towns and cities to grow both ‘up and out’. Queenstown Lakes is classified as a tier 2 urban environment, meaning it must implement the changes.Work on the variation began in 2023, including submissions, hearings and deliberations before an independent panel of commissioners (David Allen, Ian Munro, and Lyal Cocks) issued its recommendations.Under the Resource Management Act process, councillors could accept or reject those recommendations but could not rewrite them.“This is national policy,” councillor Matt Wong said. “We don’t drive intensification anymore.”Nicola said voting on the plan felt like “taking a vote not really making a vote… [but] that’s the law”.Councillors express cautious support - and concernsWhile councillors approved the UIV last Thursday (February 5), some said they would have liked to influence the outcome more, and questioned the long-term impacts, particularly on infrastructure.“There are parts of this I'm still uncomfortable with,” Quentin said. “It’s being highlighted that it’s a tricky position for us as councillors that we don’t get to choose the provisions. He said the council was making a decision with many unknowns, including “unknown implications around infrastructure”.“That is a problem and that’s something we’ll have to grapple with moving forward.”Cody took a different view on infrastructure, saying: “The more density we have, the less infrastructure we need to provide.”He noted that the UIV was “a really contentious issue” and the commissioners had managed to “weave a thin line of everybody being happy enough”.Councillor Gavin Barlett also acknowledged that the UIV required difficult compromises - an imperfect outcome. The UIV is “as good as it’s going to get.”Quentin said he took “some comfort that this isn’t going to result in massive change overnight”.What’s next?Council staff will update the Proposed District Plan provisions and the decision will be publicly notified. Submitters will have 30 working days from notification to appeal the decision to the Environment Court. Once these steps are complete, the new height and density rules will be operative across the district, QLDC said.PHOTOS: Wānaka App

Wānaka is seeing a “definite uplift” in Chinese tourists this month for the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar: the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival.Wānaka Business Chamber general manager Glenn Peat said the Chinese New Year traditionally brings a positive flow of international visitors.Wānaka is already seeing an uplift, Glen said, which he expects to continue over February “especially among families travelling together who are often looking for the experiences that Wānaka has to offer”.“It’s noticeably busier during this time… providing a welcome boost to local businesses.”Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism chief executive Mat Woods said China remains “an incredibly important market for Queenstown Lakes”.“[It is] currently our third largest international market, behind Australia and the United States,” he told the Wānaka App. "It has already been a strong summer for Wānaka businesses, and this will give them another timely boost, especially as the celebration falls slightly later this year, helping spread the benefits into a quieter time. Mat said while Chinese New Year is the high-profile travel period, there is also growth across the year, particularly during the ski season and again in spring around Golden Week. “That year-round demand strengthens business resilience and supports jobs,” he said. “The recent visa setting changes, allowing Chinese visitors who hold valid Australian visas to travel more easily to New Zealand, are also already having a positive impact.”The Chinese New Year is a 15-day celebration between late January and mid-February which begins with the new moon and lasts until the full moon. In Chinese communities it is a time to feast and to visit family members.PHOTO: Wānaka App

The installation of a new 18-kilometre trapline for controlling predators and helping restore native wildlife took “a real team effort”.“We had to get the traps into place using a jet boat, then a quad bike and then with a team of volunteers using mountain bikes,” Predator Free Wānaka spokesperson Guy Kennedy told the Wānaka App.The new Newcastle 18 km trapline - which extends from Albert Town to Luggate - is one of the group’s longest.Making the trapline also involved the support of many, including “a whole team” at the Wanaka Community Workshop who made traps.A team at Wānaka Community Workshop made traps.Three people worked on predator monitoring prior to putting the trapline in, Guy said. “This revealed all of the usual suspects; mice, rats, stoats, ferrets, hedgehogs, possums, and cats (which we don't currently target),” he said.Another three or four people put traps into the right location and eight baited and set them. Ten people are rostered to check and re-bait the traps on the line.Volunteers, including a jet boat driver, worked together on the 18km line.Signs of recovery from the group’s various traplines include increased sightings of native birds like the tūī, korimako (bellbird), and kererū, as well as improved nesting success rates in monitored areas.Guy said the group was “over the moon” to receive funding for the latest trapline from both local Rotary Clubs: Aspiring Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Wānaka.“We're always looking for people to join as volunteers and, of course, for people to donate which they can do online on our website,” he said.The Newcastle trapline.“This allows us to grow the trap network more quickly which will lead to more native wildlife in our area.”PHOTOS: Supplied

Wānaka’s Luca Harrington has won a bronze medal for New Zealand in the men’s freeski slopestyle at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics this morning (February 11), securing the country’s second medal of the Games.The 21-year-old was one of 12 finalists in the three-run competition, alongside fellow Wānaka skier Ben Barclay, with the athletes’ best score counting toward the final standings.Ben was the first competitor to land a complete run, earning a solid score of 69.40. Luca opened strongly with a stylish first run but was unable to land his switch triple cork 1620 on the second jump.Both New Zealanders struggled in their second attempts, with Luca again missing the triple cork and Ben coming off a rail early in his run.Luca regrouped in the final round, delivering a clean, confident run to secure third place on the podium.Norway’s Birk Ruud claimed gold with an outstanding opening run, while American skier Alex Hall, the defending Olympic champion from Beijing, won silver.See the full results here.PHOTO: NZ Team

After a turbulent history, Wānaka Airport has been given “a clear sense of direction” thanks to a report on its future options, which was presented to elected members in Wānaka yesterday (Tuesday February 10).Staff from consultancy firm Egis presented a summary of their final report on the Wānaka Airport Future Review to Queenstown Lakes District councillors and the Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board (WUCCB).The report also makes recommendations for the future planning and management of Wānaka airport, including the development of a masterplan.“We think QLDC and Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) need to rebuild their relationships with the community … a masterplan provides a good opportunity for that,” the Egis consultant said. The project was “a genuine attempt by QLDC to connect with the community”, Egis said, following a loss of trust in the council and QAC, and concerns about airport management - which were common themes in community feedback.“When asked about management at the airport, the idea of local oversight was popular,” the summary says. “We interpreted some of this to be a result of low transparency with the current operating model and financial performance of the community asset. A lack of clarity on future airport development has created a vacuum of information and resulted in mistrust around the airport’s ambitions.”During consultation last year, the Egis project team identified a series of possible scenarios for the airport’s potential future based on the feedback from the two rounds of public consultation and online engagement.The most supported scenario was ‘Scenario 3: Wānaka Airport to be a general aviation airport with domestic routes to Christchurch and/or Wellington’. There was also support for the current uses and users of the airport, and a desire for the airport (which currently operates at a loss) to be financially self-sustaining.Egis said if QAC isn’t on board with the community’s favoured scenario, then the corporation “should probably walk away” and find another operator for the airport.Wānaka Airport is owned by QLDC and operated by QAC under a management services agreement. In 2021, the High Court found that QLDC’s granting of the Wānaka Airport lease to the QAC was unlawful. The judicial review was brought to the High Court by the Wānaka Stakeholders Group, which believed QLDC had not consulted properly and transparently about plans for the airport.Simon Telfer emphasised that Egis’ final report was “not the end game”.“The community board has been asking for this for a couple of years… to give clarity on the strategic direction of the airport for the next 30 years.”Read the summary of Egis’ final report here (item 3 on the workshop agenda).The full report is expected to be delivered to QLDC next week.PHOTOS: Wānaka App

Queenstown Lakes District councillors used last week’s meeting to farewell chief executive Mike Theelen, marking his final appearance at the council table after 10 years in the role.The meeting was his 142nd since taking over in February 2016.Mike, who announced last August he would not seek reappointment, has worked under three mayors and four councils during his tenure.Mayor John Glover noted Thelen’s four decades in local government, including post-earthquake recovery work and his decade leading Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) through rapid growth and Covid-19 disruption.“Even in the short time I’ve worked alongside Mike I’ve seen the high regard he is held in,” John said.“Mike’s first council meeting took place on Feb 24 2016.“Ironically the first public speaker who introduced himself as a Glenorchy business owner was me.“Mike has served as chief executive during Covid…The change the organisation had to make during that time was significant.”Deputy mayor Quentin Smith said Mike had always made himself available to councillors.“I’ve always appreciated your open door and your willingness to always take a phone call, even at odd hours,” he said. “I appreciate the manner in which you’ve undertaken the job.”Councillor Cody Tucker said he had learned a lot from Mike, who had built a strong culture among QLDC staff.“The legacy you leave behind is not only in the work that is there but also the team as well,” he said. “I’m incredibly grateful for the service to our district in the last ten years.”Friday (February 13) will be Mike’s final day on the job.QLDC strategy and policy general manager Michelle Morss has been appointed interim chief executive while recruitment for a permanent replacement continues.PHOTO: QLDC

The Kathmandu Coast to Coast is set for another showdown as top-ranked men's elite athlete Hamish Elliot returns to the start line, determined to reclaim the title after a mistake cost him last year’s race. The Wānaka-based athlete claimed his maiden victory in the 2024 Longest Day, stopping the clock at 10 hours, 48 minutes, and 53 seconds. However he failed to repeat that performance last year where he finished in second place behind Australian Alex Hunt after a critical mishap.Early in the race, Hamish suffered a fall at the first river crossing, injuring his knee and losing a soft flask with 200 grams of carbohydrates. The accident left him with just 90 grams of carbohydrates to fuel the final three-hour run across the Southern Alps. “I knew I’d be rationing my nutrition while knowing it would be nowhere near enough to keep me fuelled,” Hamish said. While he managed to maintain his lead throughout the first half of the day, his race began to unravel during the gruelling 70km kayak stage down the Waimakariri River. “I hit a wall just before Hamiltons Rapid and I thought I was out of the race - no power whatsoever. Coca Cola was my only hope but even trying to sip it down on a very empty energy system wasn’t doing much. “To be honest it got tough. I was completely empty.” It was a humbling lesson but one Hamish seems to have learned from with an impressive set of recent race results, including first in the Twizel Hard Labour event, first in the Challenge Wānaka Multisport Race, first in the Mission Mt Somers Half Marathon (a new course record), and third overall in the Clutha Classic Kayak race (first in open men’s).Hamish is tight-lipped about his Coast to Coast strategy this year but admits the mountain run (which he has historically dominated) will be his opportunity to make his move. “I don't give too much away but people can probably read it. I’ll go out pretty hard on the run [and] see if anyone comes with me.” PHOTOS: Early Bird Media

Wānaka snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott has claimed Olympic silver in the women’s Big Air competition at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics this morning (February 10).Zoi secured second place with two clutch jumps after falling on her first attempt, with her best two jumps counting towards the final score."I'm so happy," Zoi told Sky Sport."This medal represents all the people who've helped me get here ... and stay in snowboarding and stay at the highest level, my coaches, my support team, everyone, physios ... as well as my family and friends who support me off the snow as well, this is for all of them."The 24-year-old produced a backside triple cork 1440 in her second jump scoring 88.75 which commentators referred to as “sweeter than a local tiramisu".Her third jump, a textbook switch backside 1260, scored 83.5 for a combined score of 172.25.Japanese rider Kokomo Murase won the gold medal with a score of 179.00 and Korea’s Seungen YU third scoring 171.00.Zoi’s second place finish makes her the first woman to win three medals in the Big Air competition at the Winter Olympics after winning bronze at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and silver at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.Zoi’s next event at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics is the Snowboard Slopestyle qualifying on Monday February 16.Find the Winter Games schedule in your Wānaka App.PHOTO: Wānaka App

New Rules for Investor Visa Holders: What It Means for Wanaka PropertyThe New Zealand Government has passed a targeted change to the overseas investment rules that opens the door for certain investor visa holders to buy or build a high-value home here, under conditions. This change is designed to attract international capital and deepen investor engagement in local communities without undermining protections for New Zealand’s broader housing market.Let’s break down what’s happening, who it applies to, and what it could mean locally.What’s Changed?Under the Overseas Investment Act 2005, most overseas persons are restricted from buying residential land in New Zealand. The Government has now added a new consent pathway for certain investor visa holders. This pathway lets eligible investors apply for consent to buy or build one high-value residential property, while the general restrictions remain in place.For readers in Wanaka and Queenstown, where premium properties are an important part of the local market, this is highly relevant.Who Can Use the New Pathway?The new rule applies to people who hold one of these visas:Active Investor Plus (AIP)Investor 1Investor 2The $5 Million ThresholdTo qualify under the new pathway:The purchase price of the property must be at least NZ$5 million; orThe combined cost of buying land plus building a new home must exceed NZ$5 million.This threshold means the pathway is aimed squarely at the top end of the market.Buying or BuildingEligible investors can either:Buy an existing high-value residential property, orBuy land and build a new homeWhere a build is involved, consent will be granted with conditions such as:A requirement that the house is built;Reporting to the Overseas Investment Office on progress and cost;A potential requirement to sell the land if the build isn’t completed or the combined land and build costs fall below the threshold.When Does It Take Effect?The Government has passed the law change, and it is confirmed that these new provisions will come into effect in early 2026. Until then, current overseas investment rules continue to apply. You can already enter into contracts conditional on obtaining Overseas Investment Office consent once the rules are in force.How You Can Use the PropertyOnce consent is granted:The property can be lived in as a main home;Used as a holiday residence; orUsed to operate a business. The above are subject to compliance with other laws, including local planning laws. There are no use-restrictions under the Overseas Investment Act. However, buying a home this way does not count toward the qualifying investment requirement for the visa.Not All Land Is EligibleThe pathway applies only to residential land that is not otherwise sensitive under the Overseas Investment Act. Residential land means land that is categorised as ‘residential’ or ‘lifestyle’ for the purposes of the district valuation roll. There are other types of sensitive land that are not eligible for this consent pathway, including non-urban (rural) land larger than 5 hectares, some land adjoining the seabed or foreshore, and some land on islands.What This Means for WanakaWanaka’s premium property market is likely to be among the few places in New Zealand where this pathway might see interest, particularly for bespoke homes, lakefront properties and architecturally distinctive builds that comfortably exceed NZ$5 million.This development doesn’t open up the wider housing market to overseas buyers, but it does create a new, controlled opportunity at the top tier of the market. It may support activity in luxury boutique development and bespoke residential projects In SummaryA new overseas investment pathway allows certain investor visa holders to buy or build one residential property worth NZ$5 million or more.This change comes into effect in early 2026. Consent is required and if granted, will be subject to conditions.The policy aims to attract high-net-worth investors while protecting housing accessibility for most New Zealanders.For Wanaka’s high-end property market, this change may bring new interest from international buyers who are looking to invest in New Zealand.For those looking to invest in New Zealand and utilise this new consent pathway, it is important to take legal advice on your specific circumstances. The law comes into effect on 6 March 2026.Caitlin [email protected] Dunmore StreetWānaka

A report signalling major changes to zoning in the district has been approved.Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) councillors gave the green light to an independent hearing panel’s recommendation report for the Urban Intensification Variation (UIV) last week.The UIV, and intensification generally, involves allowing denser housing and commercial development, QLDC planning and development general manager David Wallace said. The adopted UIV includes a ‘refined’ approach to height and density across the district from recommendations made by an independent hearing panel, comprising independent commissioners David Allen, Ian Munro, and Lyal Cocks.Greater heights and density will be possible on generally greenfield land in ‘Wānaka South’.The plan has been a long time coming - it was first broached in 2023, under direction from the central government National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD) to build ‘out and up’.Read more: Urban intensification: Growth ‘up and out’ proposedThe plan includes a focus on intensification in areas with higher accessibility and proximity to commercial and community services, such as Wānaka’s town centre and Three Parks.Some of the key decisions as part of the recommendations include:A Suburban Residential Zone (SRZ) will enable more flexible two‑storey infill housing by increasing current permitted heights from 6.5m or 7m currently to 8m.The Medium Density Residential Zone (MDRZ) will be retained, and a new zone - Medium Density Residential A Zone (MDRAZ) - will allow greater height and density.Greater heights and density will be enabled on generally greenfield land in Wānaka South, increasing current permitted heights from 8m to 11m and removing density requirements of one residential unit per 250m2 net site area.The High Density Residential Zone (HDRZ) will be retained, with a new zone called High Density Residential A Zone (HDRAZ) to allow for greater height and density at Three Parks.The new HDRAZ will allow for building height of 16.5m and a tiered approach for any building greater than 24m to be discretionary activity.Existing zones and lower height limits in smaller settlements like Lake Hāwea will largely be retained.QLDC council staff will publicly notify the decision and alter Proposed District Plan provisions to reflect the recommendations. There will be a 30-working day period where appeals can be lodged to the Environment Court from the date of public notification of the decision. The panel’s recommendation report, revised chapter provisions, and maps of the changes can all be viewed on the QLDC website.Read more: More residential growth for ‘South Wānaka’ PHOTOS: Wānaka App

Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) science teacher Sarah Graham loves an excuse to learn new ideas and skills.She recently accomplished that and more at a New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) camp for teachers. Sarah was one of around 30 educators who took part in the School to Skies/Seas teachers’ live-in camp hosted by the Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The six-day camp, held at Devonport Naval Base and RNZAF Base Auckland, offers teachers of Years 5 to 13 students insight into the world of the NZDF.“This has been the best week of professional development I have experienced,” Sarah said. “I am really excited to take what I learnt over the six days and share it with my students.” During the camp participants were given hands-on experience in the maritime and aviation industries, designed to provide them with new educational tools and ideas, as well as demonstrate career opportunities for their students.Sarah near the open ramp of a C-130J Hercules in flight, which she said was “amazing” to experience.Sarah took part on a colleague’s recommendation. “I have an interest in military aviation. I also love any excuse for an adventure and learning new skills,” she said. “My brother is in the army reserves, my uncle is ex-army and I have cousins in the air force.” She said she was impressed with the variety of choices for careers. “There’s the opportunity to work in a number of different roles, and they have the ability to change trades, to pursue new pathways.“You’re getting paid to train and study, and there are travel opportunities all around the world.” During the camp the teachers visited HMNZS Aotearoa, the navy’s maritime sustainment vessel and largest-ever ship, and were taken for a flight in a C-130J Hercules. “The Hercules flight was amazing and such a privilege. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” The days were long - 6am to 8pm - but it was worth it, Sarah said. “I am very grateful for the access we have been afforded, and the behind-the-scenes views have been incredibly eye-opening,” she said.PHOTO: NZDF

Community theatre society, Onstage Wānaka, which produced last year’s musical, Blood Brothers, is preparing to audition locals for its new show, ‘That Bloody Woman’.The rock-concert style show brings humour and energy to a story many New Zealanders will recognise: Kate Sheppard’s campaign that led New Zealand to become the first country to allow women to vote. “We chose That Bloody Woman because it’s high-energy, funny and tells one of the most powerful stories in New Zealand’s history,” Onstage Wānaka president Andrea Beryl said.It shows the realities women faced in the late 1800s and the journey Kate Sheppard took to get the Electoral Bill passed and change history.Onstage Wānaka will hold auditions from February 28 to March 1, Andrea said.“So far we’ve had a great response, but if there are any males out there thinking about it… we’d love to hear from you,” she said. The show will tell a familiar story with humour and energy, promises Onstage Wānaka. Onstage Wānaka will also host an information evening about the auditions next Thursday (February 19) at the Lake Wānaka Centre for those who want to find out more about the show and what’s involved.That Bloody Woman was written by Luke Di Somma and Gregory Cooper, and has been performed across New Zealand since 2015. The production will be directed by Lisa Clough, with Graeme Perkins as musical director. Choreography will be led by Nina Hermanns, with Hannah Gillespie as assistant choreographer.All information about the auditions can be found on Onstage Wānaka’s website.The Lake Wānaka Centre curtains will be drawn on That Bloody Woman from July 10-18. PHOTOS: Supplied

Wānaka-Luggate Highway/State Highway 8 is closed near Wānaka Airport following a four-vehicle crash this afternoon (Monday February 9).A police spokesperson said emergency services received reports at around 2.30pm of a crash near the intersection of Stevenson Road and the highway.Hone Hato St John said one ambulance, one PRIME responder, and two helicopters responded to the accident.“One patient, in moderate condition, has been airlifted to Dunedin Hospital,” a St John spokesperson said.“Two further patients, both in minor condition, were assessed and treated at the scene.”NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said the accident is causing delays for traffic in the area and emergency services are providing directions at the site.

Santana Minerals will not know whether its Bendigo-Ophir gold mine can proceed until late October, after a decision to set the project on the longest assessment timeframe requested by local authorities.The decision follows a January conference where councils, government agencies and iwi argued the project was too complex to be assessed within the shorter timeframes initially sought by the applicant.In a formal minute issued under the Fast-Track Approvals Act, panel convenor Jane Borthwick confirmed a 140-working-day timeframe for the decision, with the expert panel due to begin work on February 25 and a final verdict required by October 29.Jane said the scale and technical complexity of the application, along with the number of unresolved issues and the fact the proposal falls under several different laws and agencies, justified both the extended timeframe as well as the appointment of a seven-member panel.Outstanding information requests and the likelihood of expert conferencing, mediation or hearings were also factors in her decision.The Bendigo-Ophir proposal, lodged by Matakanui Gold Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Santana Minerals, includes open-cast and underground mining above Cromwell.At the January conference, Otago Regional Council, Central Otago District Council and Department of Conservation all argued the project could not be properly assessed within a compressed fast-track timeframe, citing the size of the application, the number of matters still in contention, and concerns about the pace and depth of pre-lodgement engagement.Iwi Kā Rūnaka also raised concerns about the scale and longevity of the project’s potential effects, including the possibility treaty settlement issues could arise.Jane said if such issues were triggered during the process, additional time would be required for the panel to consider any amendments, though the overall statutory timeframe could not be extended.The mining company initially sought a 30-working-day decision period and later indicated it would accept 60 working days.“The applicant has not persuaded me that 60 working days is an appropriate timeframe,” Jane said.“The application is substantial in scale and technically complex...more complex than the nearest comparable case.”The expert panel will be chaired by Hon Matthew Muir KC, with members Gina Sweetman, Philip Barry, Roger MacGibbon, Tim Mulliner, Peter Kensington and Douglas Johnson, bringing expertise across mining, planning, environmental science, hydrology and geotechnical engineering.A panel nominee put forward by Central Otago District Council was not included.Santana Minerals chief executive Damian Spring said the confirmation of a firm decision date marked an important procedural step for the project, providing him a “clear line of sight”.“From our perspective, certainty around process and timing is what matters, and we now have that.”He said while a shorter time frame was preferable, the company was now focused on working constructively with the panel and other participants in the fast-track process.Participant comments on the application are due on April 10, with the company’s response on April 17.A spokesperson for mine opposition group Sustainable Tarras said group members were "relieved" to see the longer decision-making timeframe and the larger sized panel of experts."We are cautiously optimistic that this panel will be able to identify the gaps in the data, the overstated economic case, and the underestimation of environmental impacts," the group said in a statement released after the decision was published."We also remain hopeful that the panel will invite a wide range of affected parties, including ourselves. We have therefore taken steps to engage experts in areas where we believe we can add evidence to what we understand the agencies will be submitting."

After an action-packed 4 weeks of school holiday adventures, we’re kicking off Term 1 with more adventures full of fun and connection. We’re offering after-school clubs, drop-in sessions, and PULSE—our exciting fitness programme. Check out the details below, for more info and to book visit - kahuyouth.orgAfter-school ClubsKahu’s after-school clubs are filled with great activities for youth 11years+. Clubs start back Monday 9 February, it's not too late to join! Games Club - Monday 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Cost $45.Come and be part of our Kāhu gaming community with Youth Worker (and resident nerd) Connor, where like-minded youth can hang out, play, and enjoy gaming together. Putiputi Adventure Club - Wednesday 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Cost $150.Fully booked. Creative Corner - Tuesday 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Cost $50.Creative corner, facilitated by our crafty Youth Worker Bridie, is a place to come and express your creative side through art such as painting, ceramic and design. Fitness Club - Friday 3:30pm - 5:30pm. Cost = $100 Our boxing sessions are returning through the Kāhu Friday Fitness Club. Expect boxing, strength training, and wellbeing work that will push you, build confidence, and teach new skills.Drop-In SessionsOur drop-in sessions are free and open for rangatahi 11yrs+ for general hangouts with friends and fun. Activities are youth led and can include; pool, air hockey tables, basketball, arts and crafts and more.Our youth centres are safe, inclusive spaces and are supervised by Youth Workers. Youth are able to come and go as they please, we are unable to supervise youth once they leave the centre. Paetara Aspiring Central - Term 1Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday, Friday 3:00pm - 5:30pm Lake Hāwea Community Centre - Term 1Tuesday 3:45pm – 5:30pm Ride the Kāhu Van to Hāwea Youth Centre!Every Tuesday after school from PAC, hop on the van to Hāwea Youth Centre. Heading back? We leave Hāwea at 5:30pm. Only 10 spots -  bookings here.Lake Hāwea Community Centre - Drop-In Activities:Tuesday 10 February - Arts & Crafts afternoonTuesday 17 February - Pool tournament Tuesday 25 February - Disc Golf Tuesday 3 March - Marble Races Tuesday 10 March - Chill & Movies Tuesday 17 March - Melty Beads Tuesday 24 March - Gaming DayTuesday 31 March - Sports Day PULSE is Back!Attention Year 9 -10 students! Kāhu Youth is bringing back PULSE – an action-packed fitness programme designed to build resilience, strength, and teamwork.When: Starting Wednesday 25 February and finishing Friday 27 March, 2 sessions per week, Wednesday 7:00am – 8:30am and Friday 7:00am – 9.00amWho: Year 9 & 10 students (Year 7, 8 and 11 by exception)Cost: FreeFor more info and to book visit - kahuyouth.orgPaetara Aspiring Central, 35 Plantation Road, Wānaka

The Guardians of Lake Hāwea are concerned that continued high lake levels will result in more cases of erosion and land loss along Hāwea’s shoreline.Guardians of Lake Hāwea chair Dave Currie told the Wānaka App the group has been working with Contact Energy and Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), and is waiting to hear from Otago Regional Council (ORC), following multiple slips and significant land loss along the face of the cliffs below Flora Dora Parade last month.“We’re a bit grumpy,” Dave said.In January lake levels were approaching the maximum height of 346 metres (which Contact is consented to operate up to), and on January 10 heavy rainfall raised the lake over 346m.The high level combined with gale force northerly winds caused multiple slips around the lake and “significant land loss” along the Flora Dora cliffs, Dave said.The Guardians met with Contact Energy, which committed (with the help of QLDC) to provide temporary fencing above the cliffs to ensure community safety.However, Dave said, it remains clear Contact wishes to maintain lake levels close to 346m through until the end of winter to help provide for winter power needs.“... at this level more severe weather events may result in further slips occurring,” he said.“We feel that track infrastructure is now increasingly at risk.”While Contact has consent to operate at this level, the Guardians have reminded the company of its consent obligation to avoid and mitigate the impact of erosion, Dave said.“In 2024 they produced an erosion management plan with a number of options on how infrastructure would be protected, these have not been discussed with us in detail nor a preferred option agreed to.”Dave said the Guardians believe one of the options in the plan, “or something else more appropriate needs to be urgently agreed to, consented and actioned”.“As a result, we are making extensive representation to [ORC], the regulator in this matter, to determine why these consent provisions have not been met, and how they plan to ensure action is taken.”The 2024 plan required Contact to identify actions to avoid, remedy or mitigate erosion on the lake margins and adjacent land adjoining Lake Hāwea township.It also required Contact to submit a new plan to ORC within two years, in consultation with QLDC and the Hāwea Community Association.