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Belinda lights the way
Santa, snowman, tree and a giraffe are welcoming Christmas to Wānaka.
elinda Donaldson has been dubbed the Christmas light fairy. The swimming coach who moved south to Wānaka from Auckland three years ago has pursued two passions in her new hometown – and blended them. For the last three years she has adorned her home with Christmas lights, “waterfalls”, Santa and blowup Christmas trees, snowmen and... a giraffe. And it’s all for the children, she says. Wānaka Swim Club members gather at Belinda’s home before Christmas to see the lights and for a session of
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Christmas Carols – this year with Roger North on guitar and coach Cameron Stanley on violin. And as her collection of lights and Christmas goodies has grown, so too has the popularity of her Infinity Drive home as a must see on the Christmas lights list. “A few more people are doing it here each year,” says Belinda. “I love to see other people doing it – the children just love it, and older people walk past my hedge, and they enjoy it too.” Chris Hill told the Wānaka Community Discussion Forum: “absolutely fantastic to see this
Christmas spirit. You really gave me a big lift last night after a really tough year.” And Elizabeth Rose chimed in with complimentary comments about the carols… “Belinda Donaldson is Christmas light fairy”. A fairy with lots of elves, it has to be said. Fellow swim coaches Jackson Reardon (chimney duty) and Cameron Stanley and Belinda’s husband Malcolm (roof waterfall technician) do some of the heavy lifting when it’s time to set the stage – as do young members of the swim club who are on light duty.
“And the children come back when it’s time to take the lights down and help put them away,” Belinda said. For 11 months of the year the Christmas lights and displays are stored in the attic. For the festive season they are outside – while the boxes are stacked in the garage, where there is no room for cars. “I’m 60 now - but I’m a kid a heart,” Belinda explains. *The Sun will be in letterboxes again on December 30 and January 6 - send your Festive season pictures to editor@thewanakasun.co.nz and we’ll publish a selection of them.
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Grants list worth close to $1 million Otago Community Trust has announced it will plough over $950,000 into projects in its last funding round for 2021. The major grant, $300,000, was awarded to the Transition to Work Trust to support a new partnership with Innovate HQ to continue delivering the Mana Rangatahi programme, dedicated to supporting pathways for youth aged 18 to 24. Trust chair Diccon Sim said Otago Community Trust trustees were particularly impressed with the success of the Mana Rangatahi programme. He said its close alignment with the Trust’s strategic priority of raising resilience and capacity of youth in Otago gave rise to a strong case for support. A $200,000 grant to Catholic Social Services was also awarded to help the construction of a new Family Support Centre in Dunedin. Mike Tonks, director of Catholic Social Services said the social service agency was excited to be advancing the new build. “The project is particularly focused on providing better spaces for family focused services,” he said. A total of seven Wānaka groups were among more than 50 organisations recognised in the lates round of grants. – See who they were on Page 3.
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Milford airstrip ‘should remain’ Queenstown Airport is backing calls to retain Milford Airport. The Government appointed Milford Opportunities Project Group presented a Masterplan in May for the future of tourism in Milford Sound - and recommended the closure of Milford Sound Airport. The closure of the airfield would mean fixed wing aircraft could no longer operate in and out of Milford Sound Piopiotahi. The Opportunities Group includes Queenstown mayor Jim Boult – but he believes developments in aircraft technology will justify retaining the airstrip. In outlining 14 “key issues” the Opportunities Group it said the aerodrome was not in a sustainable condition, the runway flooded at high spring tide, the tarmac was weakened, and the Cleddau River ground water was undermining the
runway foundation. Queenstown Airport’s current Korero magazine says closing the airstrip would “not only… have a permanent and devastating impact on many general aviation businesses in the district, it would remove an important civil-defence lifeline in the case of a natural disaster or road closure.” General Aviation operators at Queenstown Airport have joined others to form the Save Milford Airport group, highlighting the issues with, and consequences of, the proposed closure. Korero reports Queenstown Airport, alongside the newly formed group, supports the mission to ensure a sustainable tourism future for Milford Sound but not the closure of the airport. “We believe that Milford Airport should remain and can be a positive part of Milford Sound's future.”
Kitten appeal starts The Cat Rescue Wānaka inaugural Christmas Kitten Appeal 2021 has begun. The charity has been dedicated to caring for stray cats in the Wānaka, Albert Town and Hāwea area for the past three years. Trustee member at CRW, Rachel Allibone said the festive season coincides with the start of kitten season and from experience, they start to see kittens appearing around the areas from now until April, as they venture from their nests. At CRW rescued kittens are neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, registered on the Companion Animal Register and receive vet treatments as needed. Rachel said vet bills can be over $3000 per month during ‘kitten season’. “It can be a bit of a worry seeing such large chunks of money going from the bank account each month. The unexpected costs where additional treatment, investigations, or surgery are required always make a significant dent in the coffers too.” Although some funding is raised to meet adoption fees, not all money is recouped so other
Cherry time The annual National Cherry Stone Spitting Championships will be held next Tuesday (December 28) at The Gate on Cromwell’s Barry Avenue. This competition, a feature of the Cromwell Cherry Festival is described as a hit with locals and visitors alike and a way to get out and enjoy the warm Central Otago sunshine. The competition – which
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The airstrip is regarded as an important civil defence line.
PHOTO: Sophie Collins
GREBE DIARY 8 Dcember 19 2021
Investigating mystery deaths
PHOTO: Gabby Mitton
Hector, first kitten of the season was found with his head stuck in a fence.
methods are necessary to top up the income deficit and money raised will be used towards upfront major veterinary expenses for the felines. The not-for-profit group does not have a rescue centre or sanctuary of its own, so cats and kittens are fostered in homes, where they are socialised and learn to be a part of a family. For more information go to www.catrescuewanaka.org.nz – By Aimee Owens attracts hundreds of entries - is open to all entrants and registrations open at 11:30am. “The event is free to attend,” says Kelly Cruickshank-Giles, Community Relationships Manager for the Cromwell Promotions. “A gold coin donation will be welcomed as entry fee for the competition. “If stone spitting isn’t your thing, you can show off your artistic talent in the colouring competition.”
Not everything goes perfectly in the grebe world. I was most surprised to receive a message informing me that there were two dead grebe chicks on the foreshore, and was I interested? The quick answer is very much so for a variety of reasons. One of those is that we have very little information on age related weights and measurements for this species, thus the opportunity to get measurements was welcomed. However, the finding of a single dead chick is unusual, finding two within a metre or so of each other is very rare and worthy of investigation. One was free of any external signs as to why it might have died, the other, very dishevelled with a gaping hole in its side. The internal organs were missing together with evidence of bones being crushed. I took some basic measurements of both birds, head length, bill length and depth together with foot length. The bill measurements suggested that these were siblings, there being less than 0.5 mm difference in bill length between the two. Dissection of the intact chick failed to show or support any evidence of death caused by trauma. Both the crop and stomach were empty of food, though remnants of feathers were present in the crop. The weight of the intact chick was 363g. We have data of a three-week-old chick injured at the marina some years back weighing in at over 550 grams, suggesting the possibility that these chicks had died from starvation. That could happen if the adult parent was killed or injured as a result of boat contact. It may be coincidence, but just a few days prior I received a message from a lady expressing concern at the behaviour of a speedboat fairly close inshore that went through a family of grebes. I recently met Paul van Klink of Fish and Game on the boardwalk, and he observed that he thought there were a lot of grebes on the lake. I could not resist asking if he went out on the lake often, and if so, could he do a grebe count for me. He assures me he kept to his usual track and was not actively looking for grebe. Notwithstanding, he recorded 47 adults and twenty-six chicks, a total of 73 birds, quite an increase on previous counts. There was another unusual find in the lake last week. Paul found a dead Scaup that had drowned when it became tangled in the weed mat in the lake. Weed mat is being used THURSDAY 23.12.21 - WEDNESDAY 29.12.21
in the more sheltered areas to help control the invasive weed (Lagarosiphon) that is in the lake. I think it is probably better than the use of the herbicide Diquat which is still used in parts of the lake. I am not sure if the bycatch had ever been anticipated. It must be almost six weeks ago that I noted a gentleman on a stand-up paddle-board close to the boardwalk (he was kneeling) clearly looking for something, which he confirmed when I reached him. He had lost a pair of glasses into the water while watching the grebes. This morning, we spied a pair of glasses in a nest on platform eleven. There was a strong northerly out there today, so I thought to try and retrieve them tomorrow. I was keen to show that Grebes are multitalented and or short sighted and retrieve the glasses. I went out later today despite the wind, too late, they had fallen back into the water! – By John Darby
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Trust boost for community groups Wānaka based community groups have benefitted by almost $81,000 from the latest Otago Community Trust grants. Warbirds Over Wānaka Community Trust gets 20,000 to assist with the cost of the 2022 air show and particularly the cost of the training and career aspect of the show. Kahu Youth Trust will use its $17,000 grant to assist with the cost of purchasing a 12-seat van. The Trust has one 10 seat van which is over 10 years old and is in constant use for after school activities and holiday programmes. The Community Trust also noted the sprawling area of The Upper Clutha combined with a lack of any public transport in the area was a real challenge for young people. There is $15,000 for the Challenge Wānaka Sports Trust to assist with the cost of holding the 16th edition of Challenge Wānaka Triathlon Festival from February 13 to 19. Aspiring Gymsports gets a $10,000 grant to assist with the cost of purchasing new gym equipment. It will include lightweight competition grade parallel bars with fit for purpose crash mats. The new parallel bars will in the future allow AGS to hold their own competitions. Hawea Community Association receives $7400 grant to assist with the cost of enhancing the foreshore of Lake Hawea. Fund will be invested in Rowley Bay is on the Gladstone track. The track commences in Hāwea and ends at John Creek and has become a popular walking and cycling route along the southern foreshore of Lake Hāwea. It is estimated that on pleasant weather days an average of 100 people use this track. Upper Clutha Libraries get $6,395 to assist
Where have all the Pittosporum gone?
Thieves stole seven pittosporum plants from this site.
Mint Charitable Trust’s Alpha Challenge provided thrills and spills earlier this month.
with the cost of delivering a Digital Literacy programme, in particular the cost of purchases devices. Under "Bridging the Digital Divide" a partnerships project with the Upper Clutha Libraries and Digital Inclusion Alliance Aotearoa,
free computer classes across a variety of topics and levels will be available. Mint Charitable Trust receives $5000, to support with the cost of preparing a strategic plan.
Seven shrubs planted by the Queenstown Lakes District Council at Albert Town have been pinched. The theft was reported in the December edition of the Albert Town community update. The shrubs, also known as Kohuhu and Black Matipo, were to become a windbreak for the nearby barbecue area at McMurdo Park. The newsletter reports police have been informed “and it would be fantastic if those who removed them had an attack of conscience and returned them. Dreams are free.” The newsletter also reports that some plants it would happily see stolen are for the chop. “The contractor responsible for noxious weeds has confirmed that the broom on the terrace bank is now on the register,” the newsletter reports. “This is great news, and we can now only hope it will be dealt with at the appropriate time.” Broom, imported from the United Kingdom, forms stands in many habitat types and because it dominates low canopy habitats the seedlings of native species cannot establishing.
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Mt Iron buy revealed Council purchase of Mount Iron Reserve a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity Queenstown Lakes District Council will buy almost 100ha of land at Mt Iron to held as public reserve in perpetuity. Councillors voted unanimously at last week’s full council meeting to support a resolution to purchase the land and act as kaitiaki. The purchase is now subject to final due diligence. QLDC and Allenby Farms Ltd have been working for around 18 months to reach the agreement that will see 67ha on the north, west and southern flanks of Mount Iron and land running along State Highway 84, plus an additional 27ha centred on Little Mount Iron transferred to Council ownership and held as reserve for community use. Queenstown Lakes District Councillor Quentin Smith said he was excited that such a significant and much-loved part of Wānaka was coming into public ownership. “Opportunities like this come along maybe once in a generation. With increasing development pressure around the district, reserves and open spaces have never been so important for community wellbeing,” he said. “Mount Iron is literally the centrepiece of Wānaka being a dramatic example of glacial geomorphology with enormous recreational value. Up to 180,000 people a year currently use the existing tracks and Council’s purchase will open the door not only to a whole range of potential activities like new walking and biking trails but also improved opportunities for active transport routes near the state highway, biodiversity improvements and the ongoing protection of this land
The land the council will buy and establish as a public reserve.
from development.” The Cleugh family will retain 22ha on the north side of Mount Iron. Lynden Cleugh said his family had long seen themselves as guardians of a very special property. “We’ve resisted many approaches to develop and commercialise Mt Iron since Laurie and Brian Cleugh bought it in the early 1960s as a farming operation. Since then we’ve spent countless hours keeping the property free of weeds and wilding pines while maintaining a longterm vision that Mt Iron should at some point be managed on behalf of the community. That way everyone can enjoy this special
place in the middle of our growing town,” said Mr Cleugh. “We purchased Little Mt Iron in 2017 with the sole purpose of it becoming a public reserve along with the main property. It’s a special gem just waiting to be discovered. We’re very excited to finally announce this legacy acquisition for the community and thank QLDC staff for their shared vision.” Council has also commenced discussions with the Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai (DoC) with the prospect that QLDC take ownership of the remaining section of Mt Iron currently owned by DOC.
Environmentalists, council at odds The Upper Clutha Environmental Society says Queenstown Lakes council has resorted to kangaroo courts to write a new district plan. The society failed in a bid to have a court to hear about differences between the two organisations. A statement released by secretary-treasurer Julian Haworth says the society attended a court organised workshop hearing earlier this month. He said that was despite the Society sending a memorandum to the Court 16 days before the workshop saying there remained a significant gulf between what was proposed by the Council and that proposed by the Society. The Society told the council it considered the gulf to be so wide that there was very little prospect of an agreed version of the assessment matters resulting from the workshop. The Court ordered that the workshop hearing proceed. The Society attended in the form of its Secretary/Treasurer Julian Haworth. “The definition of a kangaroo court is, among other things, a court that ignores recognised
standards of law or justice, … a kangaroo court may ignore due process and come to a predetermined conclusion,” Haworth said. “The Society considers that the workshop hearing proceeded in this manner.” He suggested that at the workshop hearing the Court and the Council, “with the help of lawyers from pro-development parties, effectively tried to intimidate and browbeat the Society into accepting wording in the proposed district plan that is contrary to the wording that was arrived at in 2018 after thousands of public submissions and two years of public hearings”. He said due process was not followed. “The Society understands that the Council wishes to expedite completion of the district plan - the Society supports this too - but the process followed was external to the court process. The Society's position is that it must be confident that outcomes under this informal process are equivalent to those that would be reached in the formal court process. The Society is not confident that this is the case.
It has been another tough year, and we’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of our readers and advertisers for your continued support in 2021. From all of us here at the Wānaka Sun, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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Frogs to the rescue New Year’s revellers in the Queenstown Lakes region will have people looking out for them. Red Frogs New Zealand aims to empower young people to make positive life choices and be a voice of change within their culture. The Frogs New Year’s support is the fifth in Wānaka, and fourth in Queenstown, where it partners with Queenstown Lakes District Council, police, St John and security. Volunteers will come from throughout Central Otago, Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson and Wellington Red Frogs response will be in place on the evenings of Dec 29, 30 and 31. Due to being in the orange
setting of the Covid-19 protection framework traffic light system, Red Frogs will not provide its usual chill out zones, pancakes or itsnamesake – Red Frog lollies. Instead, teams will operate a roaming response over the three nights in Wānaka, providing water to patrons and liaising with emergency services. Red Frogs Otago coordinator Ray Thomson said he was pleased the organisation was still able to be present in the region during the new year period while Covid-19 restrictions were in place. “Our volunteers are excited to be in Wānaka – and returning to Queenstown after a brief hiatus in 2020 – for the New Year period.’’
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Red Frogs volunteers will return to Wanaka with an adapted response under the traffic light system over the New Year.
Electric ‘birds’ to fly in
Warbirds Over Wānaka art Easter will feature an electric aircraft, a drone logistics company and a solar space initiative. They will be part of a new Future of Aviation exhibition. Wisk, which is currently trialling its all-electric, self-flying air taxi in the McKenzie Country was confirmed in October and has. The air taxi will be on display at Wānaka. Wisk has been joined by three Christchurchbased companies – ElectricAir, Kea Aerospace and Swoop Aero. ElectricAir operates the only electric passenger plane in New Zealand and its flying display at Warbirds Over Wānaka will be a first. The Pipistrel Alpha Electro is a two-seat light sport aircraft designed for pilot training. It is entirely composite with carbon fibre wings and fuselage, making it light and strong. It's around 70% quieter than a petrol equivalent and produces no exhaust emissions. The Electro can fly for about an hour plus reserves at a fuel cost of approximately $2. The aircraft is based at Rangiora and Christchurch and is used for flight training and trial flights. Kea Aerospace has also confirmed it will be exhibiting at Wānaka. The company is developing a solar powered, remotely piloted aircraft that
PHOTO: Max Paterson
Climate change debate
Swoop Aero aims to provide a drone service for a billion people by 2030.
will fly continuously in the stratosphere for months at a time to collect frequent highresolution aerial images. The zero-emission Kea Atmos will operate at an altitude of around 65,000 feet (20 kilometres), flying far above the weather and conventional air traffic. With a wingspan of 32-metres, the Kea Atmos will be the largest un-crewed aircraft designed and built in the Southern Hemisphere. Swoop Aero, an Australian drone-powered logistics company founded in 2017 will also be at the show. Swoop Aero is aiming to provide services accessible by one billion people in 2030, across a range of industries including health, transport, disaster management, and search and rescue. The company has already used its drones to get Covid-19 vaccines to remote communities around the world.
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POW Volunteers at the recent summer camp.
More than 20 Protect Our Winters (Pow) Volunteers gathered in Queenstown in early December to discuss climate science and policy. “I think everyone found the science really interesting and alarming,” Lead Advocate Marian Krogh said. “What was more thought provoking for most participants was the gap
PHOTO: Daniel Noguiera
between the knowledge around climate science and solutions and action, policies, that's actually happening. “POW is keen to fill that knowledge-action gap with creative solutions, engaging the outdoor community, and providing them with climate advocacy tools."
Clutha sales lead way Clutha was the dominant factor in rural property sales over the three months to December in Otago, with a full range of sales of dairy, dairy support, arable, finishing and grazing properties. Data released this week by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand shows there were 85 fewer farm sales for the three months ended November 2021 – almost a 20 per cent drop – compared to the same period in 2020. Overall, there were 361 farm sales in the three months ended November 2021, compared to 258 farm sales for the three months ended October 2021and 446 farm sales for the quarter ended November 2020. The Institute noted “vigorous results for a vigorous province” in Otago with a good range of sales of dairy support, dairy and finishing units in the Waitaki district, pursued strongly by Central Otago where finishing and grazing unit sales were dominated by the
THURSDAY 23.12.21 - WEDNESDAY 29.12.21
horticulture sector. In the year to November 2021,1616 farms sold across the country, 238 more than in the year to November 2020. The median hectare price per hectare for farms sold in the three months to November was $37,710 compared to $27,740 12 months earlier. That equated to a rise of almost 36 per cent. Otago was one of two regions to record an increase in the number of farm sales in the quarter compared 2020 - the other was Southland. “The pastoral sector is well represented with strong prices for beef and lamb, which in turn is creating sufficient demand for suitable land that price boundaries are being continually challenged,” Brian Peacocke, Rural Spokesperson at REINZ said. “However, the ever-present dangers of increasing costs, availability of labour and Covid-19 imposed constraints remain a constant challenge.”
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Housing strategy sealed Queenstown district mayor Jim Boult says a new homes strategy adopted last week sets out Council's role in influencing change in the housing system. The Queenstown Lakes Homes Strategy was adopted at a full council meeting last Thursday. Boult said housing was a clear issue in the district and would continue to be without action and leadership. "Housing is a fundamental aspect of individual, household and community wellbeing, and the Homes Strategy provides Queenstown Lakes District Council with a specific scope for housing work and sets out Council's role in influencing change in the housing system through advocacy, partnership and local action,” he said. “We now have 774 families on the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust’s waiting list looking for a place to call their home, and while adequate and affordable housing is a problem in New Zealand, we are particularly affected by housing challenges in the Queenstown Lakes.” The intent of the Queenstown Lakes Homes Strategy is to improve the housing system for residents in the district, by identifying challenges and setting outcomes, goals and actions to address housing affordability. Formal submissions were open on the Strategy in August and September. A total of 62% of respondents were in support of the strategy and another 82% either supported or strongly supporting increases to affordable housing options. A further 60% of respondents supported the draft Action Plan. Planning and Strategy Committee Chair
A total of 774 families are on the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust’s waiting list.
Councillor Penny Clark noted the growing waiting list with the Community Housing Trust highlighted how important the Homes Strategy was to the Queenstown Lakes. “Housing has been a massive challenge for decades and while we acknowledge that we have a long way to go in this space, the Homes Strategy identifies what we need to achieve in the future to ensure more housing created in our district remains affordable for those that need it – the hard-working locals we all rely on,” said Ms Clark. QLDC General Manager Planning & Development Tony Avery said initial general public support had been shown for affordable housing provisions and feedback on zoning as a regulatory method in the council’s Proposed District Plan would be considered early next year.
Camping numbers up Vehicle counts suggest visitor numbers at freeto-use camping areas around Lake Dunstan are up 49 percent compared to last year. Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand, which manages Lowburn, Bendigo, Jacksons Inlet and Champagne Gully camping area, says from mid-October to the end of November, 13,133 vehicles passed through the four sites on the shores of Lake Dunstan. Over the same period last year, 8,804 vehicles called in either for a rest stop, photo opportunity, recreational purposes or to camp
overnight. LINZ Head of Crown Property Sonya Wikitera said there has been pressure on the rubbish bins at some of the sites due to the large number of people passing through. “If the bins are full, we ask people please take their rubbish with them to look after the environment.” Visitor numbers to Pines Camp on the southern end of Lake Pukaki in the Mackenzie. were also up 23 percent compared to the same period last year.
TODD & WALKER Law welcomes Ben King as Partner
We’re proud to announce the appointment of Ben King as TODD & WALKER Law’s first Wānaka-based Partner.
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Flood joins Lakes Trust
A Christmas with no expectations
Queenstown based Simon Flood has been named as the replacement on the Central Lakes Trust for the late Sir Eion Edgar. Trustees are responsible for managing funds of more than $450 million and granting funds for charitable purposes within the Central Lakes region. Mr Flood, who will become an investment committee member at the start of the new year, was the choice of specialist board recruitment company Stimulus Consulting of Wānaka. Sir Eion retired earlier in the year after 15 years involvement with the Trust and six years chairing the committee. CLT chair Linda Robertson welcomed Mr Flood to the committee, acknowledging Sir Eion’s contribution to the Trust. “His sound financial advice over the years saw the Trust diversify its portfolio of investment and benefit significantly from his expertise.” “The Trust increasingly requires appropriate expertise for decision making regarding investments as over time, the diversification, scale and complexity of the Trust's investment portfolio has intensified.” She said Simon Flood comes to the committee with an impressive resume… “we look forward to the contribution he will undoubtably make over the next two years.” Simon Flood is an experienced business leader with more than 25 years’ experience in the global investment management industry having held senior leadership roles in London, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Getting ready for a Christmas party should be simple. But with a toddler in tow, it's not that easy. Last Tuesday was a busy day for Tobias and I. We had returned home later than planned and I still had a long list to get through before making it to a work party. I had a few work errands to do and Christmas cards to write so we sat in the garden while I worked through my list. All was going well until Tobias noticed a bee in the grass. He then grabbed the bee which inevitably resulted in a nasty sting. This all unfolded very quickly. Before I knew it, Tobias was in heaps of tears and the poor bee was no more. I rushed him to the bathroom to soak his finger in water. This all happened just 30 minutes before the party was due to kick off. After lots of tears and many cuddles, I decided to change Tobias so that my partner wasn’t subjected to a poopy nappy as soon as he returned home from work. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite think it through and I changed him standing up. A second later, Tobias had placed his bare bottom right on my lap. That's right - I now had poop smeared into my pants. As the clock ticked away, I frantically searched for a new outfit. With my ever growing laundry pile, I didn’t have many options.
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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MUM
Simon Flood
He serves on the Board of the Queenstown Airport Corporation where he is Deputy Chair and also chairs the Safety and Operational Risk Committee. He is a trustee of the University of Canterbury Foundation and a member of the University of Canterbury Foundation Finance Committee, as well as a Trustee for the Lakes District Hospital Foundation in Queenstown. Simon and his wife Ei-Mynn live with their two children in Queenstown after moving back to New Zealand from overseas in 2015.
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Contacting us over the holidays Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from everyone at QLDC! Our customer service offices in Queenstown and Wānaka will close at 3.00pm on Christmas Eve and reopen at 8.00am on Wednesday 5 January. Anything urgent can still be reported 24 hours a day, seven days a week by phoning 03 441 0499. Find out about other services and holiday hours at qldc.govt.nz
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All of my pants were in the wash and every top I pulled out happened to have some kind of stain on (see last week’s column for more info on that). By this time, Toby’s finger was hurting again and he was desperately clinging to my leg. My hair was a mess and I was already an hour late. So I gave up, put on my sweatpants, and skulked away to hide under the blanket. I felt sorry for myself because things hadn't gone to plan. But then again, why would it? Life with a toddler doesn’t get easier just because it’s Christmas. There will still always be tears, there will still always be clutter, and there will still always be nappies. We put way too much pressure on ourselves to make things perfect for our families at Christmas. To have a beautiful tree, a tidy home, delicious food, matching Christmas pyjamas, and cute memories to post on social media. In fact we’re more likely to have a tree that's constantly pulled apart, mess everywhere, and an overwhelmed toddler. So instead of putting all my efforts into planning the perfect Christmas, I am letting go of all expectations. It doesn't have to be perfect and the house doesn't have to be Instagrammable. Kids will be kids. Toddlers will be toddlers. And I will still be hiding under my blanket. So here's to a perfectly imperfect Christmas. – By Daisy Watford
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Planning a drink with your picnic? Alcohol restrictions apply overnight between 8.00pm and 8.00am every day in the Queenstown CBD, Arrowtown, Frankton, Wānaka CBD and Hāwea. There’s also a 24hour ban in Queenstown and Wānaka CBDs between 27 Dec and 6 Jan. Check the maps on our website before you pop that cork!
Extra free parking There’ll be temporary free car parks over the holidays at Queenstown Primary School on Robins Road, and the Wānaka showgrounds on McDougall Street. Or ditch the car completely if you can and bike or walk for shorter journeys.
No changes to holiday bin collections There are no changes to kerbside rubbish and recycling collections over Christmas and New Year, so please continue to put your bins out on the normal day.
Latest alcohol licence applications To view all recently lodged applications please visit our website at www.qldc.govt.nz/ services/alcohol-licensing/public-notices
Think before you crank up the volume Please be patient and respectful of your neighbours this summer. If it’s getting late think about turning it down or moving inside, and if someone isn’t doing the right thing, give Noise Control a call 24/7 on 03 441 0499.
Be cool with water Everyone can help save water over our long hot summer and prevent unnecessary water restrictions. For tips and ideas head to qldc. govt.nz and search for water conservation.
Phone: 03 443 8000, Top of Helwick Street, Wānaka OPEN: MON-SAT 8AM TO 6PM • SUN 10AM TO 6PM PAGE 8
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COMMUNITY NETWORKS WĀNAKA Help and advice
Thank you, and Merry Christmas
Devastation of the Pukaki Scientific Reserve by the Pukaki Fire.
Community Networks/Link want to say Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and a huge thank you to the Wānaka community for all your support in 2021. To those who donated time, money, clothing or food; to our great team of volunteers; funding partners; support agencies; local businesses; families and individuals – you have all helped us continue and deepen our role as the Upper Clutha’s one-stop community support and connection centre. This year, we gave out 638 food parcels and our front desk staff had 5688 interactions with the community in person, over the phone and online. Our Community Support Fund helped 131 people with the costs of counselling, and 84 with other one-off household costs. A total of 100 individuals were connected at two Link Connection Cafes focused on support services and activities for seniors and families respectively; and 40 people from a mix of community groups and families participated in two seasons of the Link Community Gardens at the Hub. Of course, we couldn't have done this without support. To name just a few examples: both New World stores donated 550 food bags through the
2021 Family2Family appeal; $760 was raised for the Foodbank at the Winter Solstice Splash; local performances of Michael Metzger’s play ‘The Changing Shed’ raised over $6000 for subsidised counselling through our Community Support Fund and New World Three Parks’ second annual grocery grab raised $1,350 for the Foodbank. It’s been a busy year! Our team are taking a break over the festive period, and our opening hours are above. In the meantime, you can visit www.communitynetworks.co.nz for information - and if you need to talk, you can free call or text 1737 24 hours a day to speak to a trained counsellor. A reminder that the first two of five community produce stands are now in place at Wānaka Wastebusters and the Wānaka Community Hub. Anyone is welcome to donate or collect fresh fruits and vegetables, jams and preserves, and eggs and baked goods from the stands – helping us reduce food waste and promote kai sharing across the community. If you find yourself with surplus produce in your garden this summer, just pop it into one of the stands. We look forward to seeing you all in 2022. – By Joanna Perry
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Films and flights
A massive film studio for Wānaka? Oh dear, The Wānaka we moved to because we loved the peace and serenity is on the move again. Worse, I can only imagine that a business such as the proposed new film studios with high-flying stars and directors with great expectations of their importance and so on, will only choose such a remote location if there is an expectation of at least a large national airport – if not an international airport very close by. Maybe not near Luggate – not nice having lots of low-flying planes flying over their film-sets, but near Tarras would do. Let’s hope that the studios have not decided to move here because somebody in authority has promised them an airport in the near future. A film studio would be a massive lever in getting a larger airport to this region. Stuart Landsborough Wānaka
LETTER TO THE EDITOR To submit a letter for possible publication in the Wānaka Sun, please send it via email to editor@thewanakasun.co.nz. Letters can also be sent by private message on our Facebook page. Letters may be edited or abridged. Letters of no more than 300 words are preferred.
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Crimeline Ho ho hooooow are we Wānaka? Fingers crossed the tree is up and everyone is counting down to sharing the season with those around them. So, what happened this last week? The week started with some money being taken out of an account, unfortunately from someone they know. Following this, we attended a vehicle crash on Riverbank Road, thankfully no one was hurt. Overnight on Monday we responded to persons breaking into a garage, three people were caught are being dealt with. I’m sad to say that the burglaries didn’t stop there. We’ve received calls about suspicious persons and people having their cars entered during the night. While I agree that living somewhere that doesn’t require you to screw down everything you own would be sublime, it just isn’t the world we currently live in. Be vigilant. Lock your cars and call us with any suspicious activity. Tuesday saw a search warrant executed for drugs, where drugs were found and then a disqualified driver who didn’t take court rulings seriously and has now lost their vehicle. Midweek, police supported someone struggling with mental health - remember, we are here to help and you’re not in trouble if we come to say hi. Given the traffic light system, we offered education throughout the week to people who weren’t up to speed with certain regulations. This included licenced premises, commercial businesses, and individuals. Later in the week we had reports of more fraud, this time via Facebook marketplace – there is very little protection with buying items this way, so if you’re unsure, don’t risk it. Police responded to a three-vehicle collision on the Hikuwai/Northlake border, thankfully no one was injured. Nearing the weekend things continued to keep us busy with a family dispute, breach of bail, and another vehicle collision. The weekend saw us deal with a trespass and arrest that, when we dug a little deeper under the surface, turned into someone needing some help … remember I said we’re genuinely here to help. There were many parties this weekend all around the area, and it was good to see that
THURSDAY 23.12.21 - WEDNESDAY 29.12.21
PHOTO: Wānaka Sun
people were able to enjoy themselves without losing control, good work. The end of the week also saw a freedom camping dispute out towards Luggate, where tempers were raised. On a side note, a large amount of found cash was handed in to the station in a bag. If this is yours, come in. For those of you who are still at work this week and those who aren’t, have a fantastic week and savour the time you have with those around you. – By Santa & the Elves
Penny Fisher RN MBA
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TRADES AND SERVICES SITUATION VACANT
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ARE YOU OUR NEW EDITOR? A unique position in one of New Zealand’s most desirable communities has become available at The Wānaka Sun. We are looking for a full-time editor who can build on recent changes in our weekly publication and drive up readership on our on-line platform. The successful applicant will be a respected multi-skilled journalist with a reputation for outstanding communication, organisation and leadership – and someone comfortable with a camera and digital media. He or she will constantly update our website and produce a weekly print product filled with breaking news, well subbed supplied content, regular columns and great photography. Our new editor will, ideally, arrive with a sound knowledge of Wānaka. Journalism will be our new editor’s life, not 9-to-5. The successful applicant will see this role as a long-term appointment. Organising content and building contacts will be two of the major strengths of our new editor who will work in the community. Our new editor will be a self-starter, highly motivated and flexible. Mentoring will be available if our new editor requires it.
SALES LEADER CROMWELL
This is a role for a dynamic sales manager to lead, coach and empower a great group of people under a really strong brand with a lot of support structures in place. You will be driven to shape and further-build a strong and successful team. High EQ is a prerequisite and being able to bring out the best in people is a core part of the role. You’ll be passionate about coaching and empowering your team to achieving success, and you’ll like to have fun along the way as culture is a critical part of who we are as a business. It’s a dynamic and competitive industry and you won’t get bored. The Bayleys business is across all sectors of the real estate market – rural, lifestyle, residential and commercial. You will be based in the Cromwell office. You will be part of the wider Bayleys group in the Deep South which has offices in Central Otago, Otago and Southland. The role will be supported by both Bayleys Head Office and the parent company in Queenstown.
If you are looking for a challenging role in a positive, friendly environment, plus the benefits of working in one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, apply today to admin@thewanakasun.co.nz with your CV and cover letter.
If you don’t have your real estate sales licence, you’ll need to get it (we can help with that), and we’ll help with lots of industry knowledge and know-how to get you up and running.
Applicants must be legally entitled to work in New Zealand.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Our core values are; professionalism, family, respect, great communication and honesty. If these line-up with who you are, and the role seems a good fit we encourage you to get in contact. To find out more about this exciting career opportunity please contact David Gubb in the strictest of confidence on 021 758 298 or email david.gubb@bayleys.co.nz Queenstown and Southern NZ Realty Ltd, Licensed under the REA Act 2008
N o t i c e b o a rd | P a p a P ā n u i REMOVAL OF MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS FROM THE QUEENSTOWN LAKES OPERATIVE AND PROPOSED DISTRICT PLANS 23 December 2021 Under section 55 of the Resource Management Act 1991, Queenstown Lakes District Council gives notice of amendments that were made to the Proposed District Plan and the Operative District Plan on 17 December 2021. In the Proposed District Plan, Standard 29.5.1 Minimum Parking Requirements was removed, and Table 29.4 Minimum Parking Requirements was amended to retain only coach, emergency and heavy vehicle parking provisions. In the Operative District Plan, Policy 5.1 Minimum Parking Requirements and Standard 14.2.4.1(i) Minimum Parking Space Numbers were removed. Cross references to these provisions have also been removed. These amendments are mandated by the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020. Want more information or help understanding the changes? Visit https://www.qldc.govt.nz/national-policy-statement-urban-development for further information. A duty policy planner is also available during normal office hours for questions on the amendments. Call 03 441 0499 (Queenstown) or 03 443 0024 (Wānaka) or email pdpenquiries@qldc.govt.nz. This notice is in accordance with section 55(2A)(b) of the Resource Management Act 1991.
Private Bag 50072 | 47 Ardmore Street Wānaka Phone 03 443 0024 | www.qldc.govt.nz
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SUPPORT WORKER NEEDED!
We currently have an excellent opportunity for a Support Worker to help our clients with personal care and home help. Shifts available evenings & alternate weekends. Qualifications/experience preferred but not required. Please call 0800 002 722 or email Lucy.Fagan@nzhealthgroup.com
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SERVICE
THANKS
Wanaka Pharmacy is your local pharmacy. We’re the big pharmacy at the top of Helwick Street - open from 8 to 6 Monday to Saturday and 10 to 6 on Sundays. Ph 443 8000. The Salvation Army Family Store is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturdays 9.30am to 4pm and most statutory holidays. We look forward to seeing you in our wonderful store.
Thanks to everyone who comes to Wastebusters to donate goods, shop and recycle. Your support helps us work for zero waste and a resourceful community.
WANTED The Salvation Army Family Store requires good quality household goods, if you can help this would be appreciated. Your donations can be dropped at 48 Helwick street or phone for a pick up 443 5068
NOTICE Cut rags (100% cotton) and drop cloths, only $7 for a big bag. Now in the yard container at Wastebusters. Open 9-5 seven days. Business Networking International. The Wanaka chapter of BNI meets weekly at 7am Tuesday morning. Great networking opportunity to grow your business. Contact Randal Dobbs for information 021 973 043 The Salvation Army Family Store is able to collect your donations, this service is available one day a week please phone the store on 443 5068 to make a booking.
STORAGE
Clean, dry, safe storage available now. Ezystor Self Storage, 12 Gordon Road, Wānaka, Ph: 021 242 1630. TRADES & SERVICES ADVERTS FROM
$50 +GST
SUN TEAM WĀNAKA’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER ISSUE 1058 Free delivery to Wānaka, Cromwell and surrounds, PO boxes in Makarora, Cromwell, Haast, Wānaka, Albert Town and Hāwea. Also distributed to businesses in the Wānaka business district Average circulation: 15,000 weekly. Phone: 03 443 5252 • Fax: 03 443 5250 News Editor: Roy Pilott • 027 4500 115 editor@thewanakasun.co.nz News tips: editor@thewanakasun.co.nz Advertising: adrep@thewanakasun.co.nz Admin: Benn Ashford • 021 956 740 admin@thewanakasun.co.nz Mail: PO Box 697, Wānaka Deadlines: Display Advertising 4pm Friday prior to publication. marketing@thewanakasun.co.nz 03 443 5252 Classified Advertising 5pm Monday prior admin@thewanakasun.co.nz Subscriptions: $175 within NZ (including GST) per year. Overseas rates on request. Remittances to PO Box 697, Wānaka, NZ.
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Lakefront timeframe set Work on a detailed design for Stage Five of the Wānaka Lakefront Development Plan will begin early in the new year and construction should be complete by June 2023. Feedback on the concept plan for Stage Five has closed, and community input will now be used to shape the design for the area running between Wānaka Marina and the Yacht Club. Queenstown Lakes District Council General Manager, Community Services, Thunes Cloete thanked the community for sharing feedback on the plan in November, noting that generally people supported active travel, improved safety and an increase in native planting. “Our main objective with Stage Five is to provide continuous access to pedestrians and cyclists, guiding recreational users safely through what can be a busy space, especially in the summer months,” said Dr Cloete. A shared pathway is planned to run along
the eastern side of the area, creating a seamless transition for people heading along Lakeside Road and the newly completed Stage Three site, and on to the Eely Point track. Stage Five will also see native planting on the bank adjacent to Lakeside Road and the Marina, with some enhancement of planting on the lake’s edge and additional work to be considered. Dr Cloete added that while previous iterations of design had indicated an opportunity for increased boat and trailer parking spaces in the area, by reclaiming some Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) land at the lake’s edge, this feature would not be included in the detailed design for Stage Five. “Unfortunately, the limited number of parking spaces Council would be able to provide has been weighed alongside the potential cost per space and the consent requirements, and we’ve made the decision to rule this out of scope,” said Dr Cloete.
The opening of stage three of the development attracted 300 people in October.
Safety at Christmas time
The winners of the Vogel Trophy, pictured with club president Gary Vogel (left) were Meg Bryant, Lisa Summers, and Dugald Henderson.
Best foot forward The Hāwea Bowling Club has tapped into a whole new market with a successful Friday night “barefoot bowls” competition. Sixteen teams of three players each have competed in the new competition which has been organised by the club to promote lawn bowls and build community spirit in Hawea. The president of the Hawea Bowling Club, Gary Vogel, is delighted with the success of the new competition. “It’s been wonderful to see so many people enjoying bowls for the first time and having a lot of fun at the same time,” he said. The club has provided experienced bowlers to assist those players who are new to the game, and there has been a great social atmosphere each
night of the competition. At a final night presentation, just before Christmas, Gary and his wife, Susan presented the new Vogel Trophy to the winning team of Meg Bryant, Lisa Summers and Dugald Henderson. All teams were awarded prizes that had been supplied by Bowls New Zealand. A second competition will start in the New Year, with another 16 teams already entered. “It’s actually been successful beyond our best hopes,” Gary said. The club has gathered some new members who intend to play more the game seriously, and some additional social members as well. With the success of this year’s inaugural competition, the club intends to promote this new competition on an ongoing basis.
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Title held Wānaka’s Richie Muir and Queenstown’s Christine Buchanan teamed up successfully for the second year in a row to win the Central Otago Mixed Pairs Title this month. The event was held in Queenstown on their two artificial rinks - one that has just been replaced. This was no easy task given the quality of the 11 other Pairs teams.
Feeling the pre-Christmas pressure? Got a to-do list as long as your arm? Take a moment, have a breather, and make sure you don’t become one of the growing number of Kiwis who injure themselves in the preChristmas rush. Figures from ACC show more than 130,000 Kiwis injured themselves in the three-week leadup to Christmas last year, and the numbers are increasing every year. But while pre-Christmas injuries reached a five-year high in 2020, injury claims in the twoweek period that follows have tailed off. “The lead-up to Christmas can be extremely busy around the home – building Christmas presents, decorating the tree, and cooking up a storm,” says ACC injury prevention programme leader James Whitaker. “This time of year, there are also lots of festive celebrations toasting to the end of the year and the summer ahead. “If we take the time to assess the risk in all these situations, we can avoid injuries and keep doing our favourite things with the people we love to spend time with.” ACC figures show injury claims between December 1 and 25 increased every year over the past five years, jumping from about 125,000 in 2016 to almost 134,000 last year. Men averaged almost 69,000 injury claims each year, while women averaged about 62,000. The most common cause of injury was a loss of
balance or control, followed by lifting, carrying, or straining. However, injury claims in the period between December 24 and January 6 dropped off over the past three years, down from about 72,000 in 2018-19 to about 68,000 in 2020-21. “The festive season in Aotearoa is peak time for preventable injuries, so take a breather, slow down, and you’ll increase your chance of staying injury free,” Whitaker says. “We haven’t seen as much of each other as we’d like this year, so with the relatives crowding in the kitchen, friends enjoying a few drinks, and new presents being tested, houses are rife with hazards.” ACC launched the ‘Have a hmmm’ injury prevention campaign in April, based on research that shows 90 per cent of injuries are predictable and therefore preventable. The campaign challenges people to take a moment to consider the potential life-changing impact of their actions on themselves, their whānau, and their community. “When we get injured, it harms others,” Whitaker says. “The flow-on effects relating to last year’s injuries extended to many families, friends and work mates during a time that should be full of joy and celebration. “ACC wants New Zealanders to ‘Have a hmmm’ before they get stuck in this holiday period.”
The Games will go on The Otago Community Trust New Zealand Masters Games will go ahead form February 5 to 13 under an orange or green traffic light status for the region. Under protocols announced this week, entrants and supporters will be required to have Covid Vaccine Passports validated at check-in in order to take part in events. Participants will receive a Games Accreditation Pass. Games staff, contractors and volunteers are also required to be fully vaccinated. The Games will take place in a variety of venues around Dunedin, and organisers say they are working with Sport New Zealand to ensure best-practice safety guidelines and protocols are followed around spectator management. “We’re delighted that the Games are going ahead as planned under the new traffic light
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system,” says Games Manager Vicki Kestila. “With 64 sporting or fun events on offer – including everything from netball or running to cornhole and jigsaw racing – the 2022 Games is set to be the best yet.” The Otago Community Trust NZ Masters Games alternate between Dunedin and Whanganui on a biennial basis. Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins says the Masters Games is one of the city’s premier drawcard events, bringing in around $3.1m to the city in revenue every second year. “But over and above the economic value is the buzz and energy that the event brings. With thousands of competitors and supporters travelling into Dunedin to take part, the city comes alive with a sense of camaraderie, healthy competition and fun. It’s definitely one of the city's favourite events.”
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Zoi wows them in the States
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott scored an impressive win in the Women’s Snowboard slopestyle finals at the invite-only Dew Tour last weekend. The 20-year-old from Wānaka celebrated her first Dew Tour podium of her incredible career. “I am pretty stoked, Dew Tour was the first invite only competition that I ever got invited to so to come back and do well, I am super stoked. The speed was there this morning and I managed to do what I wanted to do”. Zoi took control of the competition right from her first of three morning runs, laying down a technical, stylish run. Her rail section consisted of a transfer to the wall ride, boardslide 270 out on the flat down and a 270 on, out switch on the down bar with a slight revert on landing. Although the speed was proving an issue for some riders Zoi carried her speed into the jump section, linking together a switch backside 540, a frontside 720 melon grab with a back 900 and was rewarded with an 88.50 that put her in the top spot. Coming into run two Zoi wanted to clean up her run and improve the execution. She did just that and upped her score to a 95.00. She sat comfortably in top spot going into her third and final run and commentators wondered if she would just take it easy knowing she was sitting in a really good position - but that wouldn’t be the case. Zoi replaced the switch backside 540 with a huge switch back 900 to the delight of the crowd and the commentators. The judges were also impressed, scoring her 97.75, rendering her untouchable by her competitors and a huge seven points ahead of second place Enni Rukajarvi (Finland) and Kokomo Murase (Japan). At the same event Hamilton’s Nico Porteous finished10th in the men’s Ski Superpipe Final after finishing third in the qualifier.
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott
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PHOTO: Kennon Bright
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