Wanaka Sun I 24th - 30th June 2021 I Edition 1032

Wānaka Tourism

INSIDE THIS WEEK Sport: Page 15 Views: Page 17 Jobs: Page 18

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Despite mid-winter temperatures, hundreds turned out on the Lake Wānaka waterfront last Saturday to celebrate the 11th Kahu Youth Matariki celebrations. The event acknowledged the Maori New Year where the Matariki star cluster (the Pleiades) signalled the Maori new year and could be seen in the winter sky just before dawn. Kahu Youth manager Richard Elvey said the event was primarily about making a time for the community to get together to enjoy “a multitude of workshops, a community mural painting, face painting, the Bubble Family and the Death Cafe celebrating loved ones that have passed on.” There was something for everyone, he said, and what’s more, it was free The evening culminated in a spectacular fireworks display.

Urgent calls for more accommodation in Wānaka Daisy Watford

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

easonal workers are calling for help from the local community, as they struggle to find a place to live, in what is being deemed one of “the hardest years to find accommodation in Wānaka.”

Hospitality and ski resort workers, who have relocated to Wānaka for the winter season, have

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raised concerns on social media about the lack of rental properties currently available.

Huw Grant, a cafe assistant at Treble Cone Ski Area, said that if the situation doesn’t improve he may have to leave town altogether.

"The hostel that I'm staying at is fully booked from the end of the month and unless I can find somewhere else, I will be unable to stay and work here," he said.

Like many others, Grant has been alternating

between hostel accommodation and freedom camping sites since arriving in Wānaka two months ago.

He is now trying to contact the owners of the former Base Backpackers building, in the hope of finding a possible solution.

“I think the shortage is partly due to Base Backpackers Wānaka closing down. I've heard there were a lot of beds there, so losing that capacity certainly doesn't help,” he said.

The lack of accommodation for the winter workforce could also have a detrimental impact on local businesses, according to Tim Barke, General Manager at Lake Wānaka Tourism.

"Some people have no choice but to leave town, which means they are unable to take on the jobs they were employed for, which then affects the business’ ability to plan and operate effectively," Barke said.

Continued on page 3

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Two chippies have a crack Local and win big!

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Wānaka lavender, lemon verbena and chamomile have been included in a limited edition Rifters gin by two award winning spirit makers, Hamish Bourke and Stuart Clark.

The gin is called “Blossomed” and Clark said: “We want people to think of New Zealand and our natural environment when they taste our gin so we figure the more we put in the bottle, the more that’s likely to happen.”.

The two Central Otago builders, have picked up two medals at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition and another two at the New Zealand Spirits Awards for gins they created just months ago.

The pair, who started distilling gin at Clark’s property in August last year, admit to being gobsmacked by the wins.

“San Francisco is the largest competition of its kind in the world – anyone who is anyone in the spirit world knows about it. We knew our gin was good so we thought we’d give entering a nudge but to take home a gold and a silver surpassed even our expectations.

"To follow that up with two medals here at home is unbelievable; these acknowledgements have far exceeded what we ever thought we would achieve,” said Bourke.

The World Spirits Awards boast a judging panel described as the most respected and experienced experts in the spirits industry and this year the NZ Spirits Awards reported a high calibre of entries.

Clark said the gin was basically “Central Otago in a bottle.

“We forage the botanicals from the property so

it features genuinely local flavours including wild thyme, elderberry and manuka. Our water supply comes from the lakes and rivers of the Southern Alps so it’s a great, fresh drop.”

The pair met in 2012 when Bourke worked as a foreman for Clark, and in 2018 they started talking gin when Bourke was contracted to do some building work on Clark’s shed.

“I was making the shed into a building workshop but we got talking, one thing led to another and now that workshop is home to the distillery where we make the gin,” said Bourke.

Clark said it was a trip to the UK with his wife Kate and family in 2018, where he toured a number of gin distilleries, that prompted the idea to make his own gin.

“I was amazed at how quick the process is but how incredibly complex it is to balance the botanicals. I was over there tasting gins and thinking about all the amazing botanicals I had growing at home … I had to give it a try.”

The pair started trialling recipes in 2019.

“It was a process – there were some fails but plenty of success and, overtime, we refined our recipe and shared it with others who loved it. That gave us the confidence to launch our brand … we've had such positive feedback from everybody so we must be doing something right,” said Bourke.

The pair was now looking to the future and have plans for more experimental gins and an exciting collaboration was on the cards (which they’re keeping under their hat for now).

“We’re hoping this win in San Francisco will help put us on the map – it certainly gives us credibility.

We’ve gone from being two chippies having a crack at gin to cracking the world gin scene … It's exciting.”

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identity elected as patron

PHOTO: Supplied

Patron,and founding member Dick Cotter, with Chief Fire Officer of Lake Hawea Volunteer Fire Brigade, Brent Arthur.

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Local Lake Hawea identity Dick Cotter has been elected as patron of the Lake Hāwea Volunteer Fire Brigade.

For the Brigade, Cotter was the obvious choice.

They needed someone who was “wise, sensible and knew lots,” they said, and Cotter fitted the bill Cotter said the first brigade, or fire party, was formed when the Wānaka Chief, Jim Manson, told him: “It was about time Lake Hāwea had their own fire party.”

Equipped with an old Austin truck and a pump trailer from Vincent County, and local farmers as ‘fire spotters’, the Hāwea Fire Party began in 1968.

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

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Four years later under the NZ Fire Service, Lake Hāwea Volunteer Fire Brigade was formed, and will celebrate its 50th Jubilee in May next year.

The Fire Station was built on donated land, at the top of the hill, to enable the appliance, a Vass Bedford, to be jump started when it failed to go.

All past members were encouraged to make contact either through email HaweaBrigadeJubilee@gmail.com or by contacting an existing member. Jubilee information can also be found on the Facebook page Lake Hāwea Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Members were rounding up old photos to copy and a social night was planned for 28 May 2022.

It can be assured Cotter and fellow Fire Party members will regale the audience with many tall tales and humorous anecdotes.

ORC adopts Proposed Regional Policy Statement

when

@QLDCSportRec

Pat Deavoll

qldc.govt.nz/recreation

Otago Regional Councillors voted in a meeting last Wednesday to adopt the Proposed Regional Policy Statement for Otago for notification on 26 June.

Although staff recommended that it be held in a public-excluded session, Councillors elected to hold the meeting in public, and a recording would be made available online.

The Council was thankful to all those who had input into the new Regional Policy Statement. It had come together in a dramatically shortened timeframe, thanks to the hard work, collaboration, and creativity of those involved.

Staff, iwi, and community representatives on reference panels devoted considerable time and energy to getting it to that stage. The product of their

THURSDAY 24.06.21 - WEDNESDAY 30.06.21

labour was a fit for purpose Regional Policy Statement that gave clear direction on the future management of Otago’s natural and physical resources.

The next step would be public notification on Saturday, 26 June, at which point the Proposed Regional Policy Statement would become available to view, and the public would be invited to share its feedback by making a submission by 3 September.

More information about where and how to do this would be made available closer to that time.

Council also resolved that the new Regional Policy Statement was a freshwater planning instrument, meaning it would go through the freshwater planning process introduced to the RMA last year.

The RPS notification paper could be viewed here: https://www.orc.govt.nz/media/10005/31-rpsnotification-considered-in-public.pdf

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Sun News

Countdown to the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival Doors open on the 19th NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival this Friday, 25 June, in Wānaka.

Despite current global conditions the festival continues to host an incredible line-up of guest speakers, international films and events. Eventspecific funding provided the not-for-profit Trust the opportunity to advertise the event to a broader market, and to encourage travel to the region for the event.

Festival Director Mark Sedon said, “We are grateful to the loyal community we have built over almost two decades and the continued support from the Queenstown Lakes District Council, Otago Community Trust and Central Lakes Trust. The festival content is as incredible as ever with strong themes such as women in adventure, New Zealanders performing on the world stage and gritty expeditions, as well as the usual grassroots rough-and-ready Kiwi flavour. We have invested a significant amount of our marketing spend across New Zealand and Australia to invite people to come to Wānaka and Queenstown for the event. We look forward to opening the doors on Friday and welcoming them in.”

Opening Night includes the Trade Show, Art Exhibition, complimentary nibbles, and live music from Mount Aspiring College students.

The awards for the film and book competitions

will be announced. The evening is social and is often a reunion of festival fans, adventurers and filmmaking enthusiasts. The festival showcases some of the most innovative, technical and ground-breaking adventure filmmaking but it also hosts traditional oratory in its Old-Fashioned Storytelling session.

An impressive panel of storytellers line up to tell tales at this year’s event: Dougal Allan, Brian Alder, Tara Mulvany, Mark Sedon, Scott Simper and Max Quinn will take to the stage.

From his early days Brian Alder has spent his life entwined with the outdoors community. He is best known for being involved in first ascents of some of the most sought-after test pieces, such as the East Face of Pope’s Nose in Mount Aspiring National Park. He now works for the Department of Conservation on threatened species research projects and fills in his time riding bikes and creating bike-packing adventures such as the Tour Te Waipounamu.

Local Wānaka man Dougal Allan has competed internationally in adventure races, multisport events and long-distance triathlons for 15 years.

He holds a degree in physical education and runs a coaching company called DA Endurance.

Dougal is the current Coast to Coast World Multisport Champion and also the course record holder for the Challenge Wānaka triathlon.

Urgent calls for more accommodation in Wānaka Continued from page 1 Barke hopes that the current development of residential properties in the area will provide workers with more options going forward.

"The only way to relieve situations like this is for more rental properties to be available on the market at rates residents and landlords can afford," he said.

But Grant fears that these properties will not be available to the people who need them most.

“I worry that they'll end up as second or even third homes and sit empty for most of the year while others struggle to find a roof over their heads,” Grant said.

In an attempt to help resolve the situation, The Workforce Accommodation Network (The WAN) encouraged the community to rally together.

Carmen Blackler, founder of The WAN, said “It is a problem that we at The WAN believe we can resolve as a community, if we are prepared to think and act a little differently – that is, offering a spare room, sleepout or secondary dwelling to the seasonal workforce.”

Blackler said that while the seasonal accommodation shortage is an issue every year, “we have been advised by local property managers that the number of holiday homes that were previously offered at this time of year has drastically reduced.”

Recent amendments to the Tenancy Act and the introduction of the Healthy Homes requirements are believed to be contributing factors.

Blackler said that The WAN is on hand to support property owners looking to rent out a space for the winter season.

Rather than having to put a tenancy agreement in place, owners and occupiers can put together a “flatmate agreement”.

Camp Hāwea is also offering up their cabins and powered campervan sites to winter workers this year.

The QLDC said that it “recognises the challenge posed by worker accommodation in the district, especially those looking for affordable short-term options.”

“The most prominent proposal for worker accommodation has been the Mt Iron Junction

THE WĀNAKA SUN

PHOTOS: NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival

Brian Alder has spent his life entwined with the outdoors community. He is best known for being involved in first ascents of some of the most soughtafter test pieces in the Southern Alps, such as the East Face of Pope’s Nose in Mount Aspiring National Park.

The East Face of Popes Nose - ultimate test piece.

Tara Mulvany will return to the stage in Old Fashioned Storytelling to speak about one of her more hair-raising episodes. She has many solo kayak journeys under her belt and some good tales to tell.

She was the first woman to circumnavigate New Zealand’s three main islands by sea kayak and she completed the first-ever kayak circumnavigation of Svalbard Archipelago. This summer she traversed the Southern Alps on foot.

Mark Sedon, the Festival Director, is also a ski guide, paraglider, kite surfer and adventurer with more than a few stories to tell. He has been ski guiding in India, kitesurfing in Peru, ski touring in Greenland, climbing in the Himalaya and so much more.

Scott Simper is a mountaineer and filmmaker.

Last month he caught COVID in Nepal while making a documentary about Sherpas for a Canadian production company. He reached the

summit and knew something was wrong. He will be at the festival to tell this story.

Max Quinn is a nature filmmaker. He has worked with chimpanzees, penguins, tigers and whales. He grew up in Te Kuiti but was destined to be amongst more exotic animals, in far-off lands. His brushes with tarantulas and burrowing owls in the Tibetan plateau, emperor penguins in the Antarctic, sled dogs in the Yukon, and whales and polar bears mean he has some stories to tell.

The 2021 NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival will run in Wānaka from June 25 to 29, in Cromwell on June 30, and in Queenstown from July 1 to 3. The event will also be broadcast online nationally from June 25 until July 25.

Programmes are available at Paper Plus in Wānaka or The North Face Store at 38 Shotover Street in Queenstown and online at mountainfilm.nz.

– By NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival

The Council Word Sign up for our Winter Road Reports

PHOTO: Wānaka Sun

Seasonal workers are calling for the former Base Backpackers building (pictured) to reopen its doors, amid fears they will have nowhere to live this winter.

The former hostel on Brownston Street closed down at the beginning of the year.

development; however, we are not aware of any other proposals at this stage nor are we aware of any plans the owners of the Base Backpackers building may have.”

QLDC is currently working with the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust to provide more affordable housing in the area.

The draft Spatial Plan, due for consideration by Council on 29 July, proposes appropriate areas of higher-density residential properties that will provide more affordable options in the future.

Grant hopes that the community will open up their doors to support the seasonal workforce.

“The seasonal working community is a friendly and honest bunch and we just want to be able to live somewhere while we work and hit the mountains,” he said.

“Wānaka is an awesome place and there are many of us that want to make it our home and contribute to the community.”

Blackler encourages seasonal workers, who are struggling to secure accommodation, to register with The WAN online.

"Working together as a community, we can help create a better winter for all," she said.

Interested in a daily run down of road conditions delivered to your email inbox every morning?

Then sign up to QLDC’s Winter Road Reports at www.qldc.govt.nz/winter-road-reports

Lakeside Road closures A friendly reminder that Lakeside Road is temporarily closed to southbound traffic between the Marina and Monley Lane, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

A detour is currently in place via Lismore Street and Hedditch Street. Northbound traffic is still able to use Lakeside Road from the Ardmore Street roundabout.

Please note, the speed limit through the worksite along Lakeside Road has been reduced to 30km/h temporarily.

School swimmng sports Wānaka Rec Centre is proud to host swimming events for local school kids.

Hāwea Flat School (18 June) is followed by Upper Clutha Swim Sports (29 June) and the Central Otago Primary School Swim Champs (8 July). There will be temporary closures to some facilities on these days. You can find an online timetable showing which lanes are booked and which remain free for public swimming at qldc.govt.nz/recreation/swim

Super seniors Keep active this winter with fun and social indoor sessions at Wānaka Rec Centre. Try pickleball, table tennis, badminton and more.

Wednesdays 10.00am-11.00am during school terms. $5.00/person including access to the pools after. Advanced bookings not required.

All go for the Wānaka Community Board!

The Wānaka Community Board’s drop-in session is your chance to raise a question or request with a board member in a relaxed environment. The next session is on Wednesday 7 July at the Wānaka Recreation Centre between 12.00pm and 1.00pm. No appointment is needed and no query is too small. On 8 July, the Community Board will be meeting at the Luggate Community Hall. Note that we ask you to pre-register to speak in Public Forum but this just involves a simple online form or a quick phone call. The meeting starts at 10.00am.

StartUp business taster session Do you have a side hustle that you are keen to develop? Come along to the StartUp business taster session where coach Jinene Clark will share how StartUp Queenstown Lakes can support with advice and business coaching. Join the Thursday 1 July session from 5.30pm-6.30pm at the Wānaka Library.

www.qldc.govt.nz

THURSDAY 24.06.21 - WEDNESDAY 30.06.21

PAGE 3

Vaccinations for the rest of Aotearoa New Zealand The COVID-19 vaccination rollout for the general population starts from the end of July.

Our COVID-19 vaccination programme has built momentum steadily since February. We are vaccinating around 100,000 people a week at the moment. In the second half of the year we hit top speed and everyone in New Zealand aged 16 and over will be able to be vaccinated.

Moving to the general population So far, vaccinations have been made available to those most at risk of getting COVID-19 to limit the chances of it getting into the wider population.

With more vaccine supply coming on, and having ramped up our infrastructure, vaccinations for everyone else in New Zealand aged 16 and over (the general population) start from 28 July.

This is a very large group of people. To make this flow smoothly, we will break this down by age bands.

All people aged 60 plus can book their vaccinations from 28 July.

Then, two weeks later, people who are 55 plus. From there, new age bands will be opened up every 2–3 weeks based on confirmed deliveries of the vaccine and the speed of rollout to earlier groups.

By mid to late August, invitations should be open for people over 45. By mid to late September, invitations should be open for those over 35, with everyone else being eligible from October.

Invitations Most people will get a direct invitation to book – either by email, text, phone call or in the post. You will then be able to book through Book My Vaccine, a new national booking system that will be online from 28 July, or phone a new national call centre. Availability of booking slots (the date, time and place you can be vaccinated) will vary between district health board (DHB) regions.

Once you are eligible to be vaccinated, you can be vaccinated at any time. There is no cut off.

Registration

Getting a vaccination Step 1

Receiving an invitation We’ll call or send you an email, text or letter to invite you to book.

Step 2

Make your booking From 28 July, go to Book My Vaccine or call the new national call centre to book both doses, or to register if your age band isn’t open yet.

Step 3

Get your vaccination Have your first vaccination dose.

3–6 weeks later have your second vaccination dose.

If you don’t hear from us, or are concerned, you can register for your vaccination through the new national Book My Vaccine booking system at any time from 28 July.

Important dates 28 July

People 60+

Vaccinations open

11 August

People 55+

Vaccinations open

Mid to late Aug

People 45 +

Invitations should open

Mid to late Sept

People 35+

Invitations should open

October

People 16+

Invitations should open

Other ways to get vaccinated As we go through the year there will be other ways for people to be vaccinated. These will include workplace vaccinations and other targeted vaccination events across the country. For some remote rural communities we will vaccinate all age groups at the same time to make it easier for them. Our successful whānaucentred approach to vaccinations will continue for Māori and Pacific communities and those with disabilities.

Even if your age band isn’t open, everyone aged 16 and over will be able to go to Book My Vaccine to register for an invitation from 28 July. Registration means we will be certain to have your correct contact details and when your age group is opened, you will get an invitation telling you it’s your turn to book.

Find out more at Covid19.govt.nz

PAGE 4

THURSDAY 24.06.21 - WEDNESDAY 30.06.21

THE WĀNAKA SUN

thewanakasun.co.nz

Sun News

A&P Show contributes $28m to local economy Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

The 2021 Wānaka A&P Show brought $28.6 million worth of direct economic benefits to the area; an independent study has found.

The report, prepared by Research First, looked at the total expenditure by visitors, trade exhibitors, volunteers, spectators and competitors over the two-day event in March.

The amount of total direct spending is up $17.7 million on the previous independent economic impact report, undertaken in 2015 (which found that the Show contributed $10.9m worth of direct economic benefits). No economic multipliers have been applied.

Of the $28.6m, Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago District visitors contributed an estimated $15.9m in incidental spend. Non-local Show attendees contributed an estimated $9.4m in total event-motivated spending and $3.4m total incidental spend (not event-motivated).

“The increase in total local dollars is an indicator of the importance of community events in our area,” Wānaka-based report author and Research First insight specialist Liz Morley says.

“The $9.4m figure is the amount of new money brought into the Wānaka economy as a direct result of staging this event. Attendees from outside the local Wānaka area contributed to a third of the expenditure impact.”

The research also found that the event was popular with locals and visitors alike, with 55 per cent of the 45,000 participants coming from the Queenstown Lakes District, with 45 per cent coming from other parts of NZ.

“Of those who travelled from outside the region, the vast majority were South Islanders (94 per cent), but a few came from as far north as Auckland. Covid-19 border closures have of course meant that all attendees were currently living in New Zealand,” the report said.

Those from outside the region generally stayed in Wānaka, and most stayed for more than one night. Of those staying in Wānaka, 50 per cent stayed in commercial accommodation (including hotel, motel, Airbnb, or rented holiday homes).

Of those out-of-town visitors who stayed overnight, the average stay was 3.5 nights.

“The Show continues to grow in popularity every year, especially within our district and wider region, and this latest report demonstrates this,” event manager Jane Stalker said.

“It’s heartening to see that this important community event has helped bring a substantial amount of money into Wānaka after a difficult period for our local economy, due to Covid-19.”

Research also found that 97 per cent of survey participants enjoyed the event and overall experience.

The report was produced with 724 responses from a sample frame of 3402, providing a 21 per cent response rate. Data was accurate to +/- 3per cent at the 95 per cent confidence level.

“We are proud to deliver a nationally-recognised event that people love coming to every year. The Wānaka A&P Show is an important rural and community event, and we strive to make it better each year. The data from this report will help us to make continual improvements to the Show,” Stalker added.

The Show was owned by the not-for-profit Upper Clutha A&P Society. Each year the

PHOTOS: Wānaka Sun

The 2021 Wanaka A&P Show brought $28.6 million worth of direct economic benefits to the area; an independent study has found.

society grants approximately $65,000 in cash This year’s Wānaka A&P Show, held on March and in-kind donations to community groups 13-14, attracted 45,000 people. This was the and organisations through the Show’s Cheers second independent economic impact report Wānaka give-back programme. undertaken for the Wānaka A&P Show.

Scholarship winner flies high Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Ryan Southam has won the Warbirds Over Wānaka Flying Scholarship and has used his funding to get a type rating in a Spitfire aircraft, realising a boyhood dream.

“I remember reading Commando and Battle Action comics as a kid. It was always the flying stories that were first to get read and anything with a Spitfire, or Mosquito or a Russian fighter was always top of the list,” he said.

Southam said it was everything about the Spitfire that attracted him. “Although the history is very important to me, I find the mechanics and design of the aircraft and engine just as interesting.”

For his type rating Southam flew Doug Brooker’s Ardmore-based two-seater Spitfire, with pilot Frank Parker instructing and Liz Needham, one of only two female Spitfire pilots in the world, giving valuable advice.

“It’s people like Doug, Frank and Liz and many others along the way, who have helped me keep the dream alive. Also, I need to thank the Warbirds Over Wānaka Community Trust for the financial help which ‘sparked a fire to push further’ with my training, ”Southam said Southam had already experienced flying the Yak-3 WWII fighter and offered an interesting comparison with the Spitfire.

“The control harmony, roll rate, general balance and feel are better in the Yak-3 across the speed range but the wing design of the Spitfire is great, very forgiving and it wants to just fly and fly with no real want to let go without warning, whereas the Yak feels a bit more highly strung. It would make for an interesting dogfight. The Spitfire certainly has the turning advantage but the Yak could get in, out and away before things got out of hand.

“Finally, I must say the approach and landing of

THE WĀNAKA SUN

PHOTO: Warbirds over Wānaka

Ryan Southam has won the Warbirds Over Wānaka Flying Scholarship and has used his funding to get a type rating in a Spitfire aircraft.

the Spitfire is a positively gentlemanly affair with a fairly sedate threshold speed of 70-75 knots whereas in the Yak feels like your hair is on fire crossing the fence at 100 knots.”

Southam was now looking to further his formation flying skills with the hope of working into formation aerobatics before too long.

And while he had acknowledged his mentors for helping him to get to this stage, he was also giving back himself by helping a couple of other Warbirds Over Wānaka Scholarship recipients get type-rated in a Harvard.

One of those was Lachlan Falconer, who hoped to be flying with Southam over the next few months.

Two other Scholarship winners were also still in the process of completing their flying time.

Wānaka-born Dan Pezaro had been getting time in an Auckland-based Harvard while Glenn Drower was looking to progress to more aerobatic and formation training over the next few months.

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Sun News

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Wānaka businesswoman enlists refugees

Left to right: World Vision 40 hour Famine Ambassadors Jess Quinn, Caleb Clarke, and Paige Tapara.

PHOTO: Supplied

Students raise money for sub-Saharan Africa Daisy Watford

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

PHOTO: Supplied

Fourteen Afghan women refugees attended the first training session for sewing reusable Christmas products on Sunday June 20.

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Wānaka businesswoman Emma Conyngham is putting out a call for old, but usable sewing machines to give her fourteen Afghan refugee workers in Auckland a chance to make an income.

Coynygham, who instigated her business “Merry Waste-Free Christmas” (WFC) is employing the Afghan women, along with several locals to produce reusable gift bags and Christmas Re-Crackers to produce recyclable Christmas trash “What started as a small craft stall at the Wānaka Sunday Market became an overnight sensation, employing 12 women in the space of one week to meet demand,” Conyngham said.

“Kiwis produce 30 per cent more rubbish on Christmas Day than any other time of year but as we become more aware of our environmental footprint, opting for reusables was a no brainer for thousands of New Zealanders,” she said.

“Last year, New Zealand imported 1.7 million disposable crackers (sounds a lot right?).

However, in 2015, it was over 4.5 million. This drop isn’t because we no longer love crackers -we love them! But as people become more aware of waste, they have chosen to forgo the muchloved tradition.”

Conyngham opened the sewing circle in

Auckland last week because of a shortage of local seamstresses in the Upper Clutha. She previously lived in Afghanistan as an aid worker and knew Afghan women to be skilled seamstresses -- they also enjoyed working from home which suited the WFC production model.

With the help of Fahima Saeid from NFACT (New Settlers Family and Community Trust), the group of Afghan women volunteered to take on the work of sewing for Christmas. The goal of NFACT was to promote social cohesion and interfaith harmony as well as creating educational and employment opportunities for refugee women in New Zealand.

For Conyngham, the inclusion of Muslim women expressed the ethos of her company “I wanted to remove rubbish and stress from Christmas because with five kids it was doing my head in. The product itself is designed to last for life, giving the planet a break from the waste we generate each year. But it has also been great to employ women at home -- often women who find it difficult to find employment. I have one woman in Lake Hāwea who has not been able to work for over a decade due to Multiple Sclerosis but now she’s generating her income. But to then include Muslim woman stepped it up a notch in social responsibility and I think it encapsulates the real New Zealand where we can all get along and celebrate each other’s culture.”

Students from Mt Aspiring College (MAC) have been busy raising much needed funds for the World Vision 40 Hour Famine, this week.

From three legged races to body waxing, the school has put together a whole host of exciting events and challenges.

The World Vision 40 Hour Famine invites young people across the country to take part in a challenge or go without something they rely on for 40 hours.

Between 25 and Sunday 27 June, around 90,000 young people are expected to take part in the campaign with all proceeds going to the current hunger pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa.

Fundraising at MAC began on Monday 21

New $4m factory creates jobs for Wānaka

PHOTOS: Supplied

Wānaka Roofing will create a significant number of jobs for Wānaka.

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Heat your home the easy way

South Island wide

PAGE 6

0800 44 00 14

www.rdp.co.nz

June with the Dean’s three legged race, followed by a cultural committee concert on Tuesday.

Model and body positivity advocate, Jess Quinn, will meet with the students to talk about the campaign, which aims to help children threatened by the current hunger pandemic.

“At times, it can be easy to forget that there are many people around the world living a very different life to us; the World Vision 40 Hour Famine not only brings this to the forefront, but it gives us the tools we need to simply use what we have to make real and lasting change for children who desperately need it,” Quinn said.

Students are asked to bring in a gold coin donation to participate in the events.

The fundraising efforts will provide food, chickens, organic fertiliser, and seeds to families who often go days without eating.

More jobs and a boon for the building trade...

Wānaka Roofing recently opened the doors of a new $4m, 1200sqm factory on Enterprise Drive.

The region has seen a growth in demand for roofing iron that is suited to the local climate, and predictions indicate this growth will continue.

The Freeman Group, which included Wānaka Roofing, made the commitment to build the new facility.

“Using local companies and investing in the local community was a priority for us with this build,” said Glen Rudhall, Wānaka Roofing Branch Manager.

The building itself was designed using a proven formula and built by Breen Construction, a client and supplier of Wānaka Roofing.

“Our relationship with Breen Construction was

THURSDAY 24.06.21 - WEDNESDAY 30.06.21

The factory included a new 38m long dual level roll former, a modern piece of equipment that will work 5 tonne of steel coils through a series of roller stations to produce corrugated and 5-rib cladding profiles.

key to the success of the project,” said Rudhall.

The factory had been built using thermomass composite panels, made in Christchurch. These panels were especially designed to be energy efficient and durable. The panels will insulate the building from the outside and use the internal layer of polystyrene between two layers of concrete to help regulate temperatures within the building, reducing energy costs.

The factory included a new 38m long dual level roll former, a modern piece of equipment that will work 5 tonne of steel coils through a series of roller stations to produce a corrugated and 5-rib cladding profile. Manufactured in New Zealand, this machine was considered the ‘Rolls Royce’ of the industry and could be found in many leading roofing suppliers factories Australasia-wide.

Rudhall said:“We are stoked with the new factory and are delighted to be an active part of the Wānaka Community.”

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Sun News

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Dogs in Mount Aspiring National Park continued

PHOTO: Bicycling.com

An asphalt pump track is significantly cheaper than a modular option and is less maintenance and allows for a wider and more inclusive group of users than a dirt option.

Pump track on the cards for school Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

The Blue Pools track; where walking your dog could result in a hefty fine or imprisonment.

Following on from our dog walking article last week, the Department of Conservation (DOC) has confirmed that rangers have encountered dogs on prohibited tracks in Mount Aspiring National Park.

Nicole Sutton, Senior Ranger Community at Central Otago DOC, said that some dog owners have been taking their pets into the park, unaware of the rules.

“Although there is signage and information on the DOC website, some people appear to genuinely not realise their dog is not permitted into the Park.”

In these instances, “the initial approach of rangers is to explain that the dog is not allowed and ask them to leave the Park,” she said.

Rangers will keep their details on record incase of further offences, which could result in a fine of up to $10,000 or up to 12 months imprisonment.

Under the National Parks Act 1980, it is illegal to take pets into the Park- they may be seized or destroyed.

“There are some areas of Public Conservation Land around Wānaka that people can take their dogs, like the Mount Iron Track (dogs do need to

PHOTO: DOC

be on a lead on this track), Hikuwai Link Tracks, and Butterfields Wetlands Walk.”

Sutton urges dog owners to avoid popular tracks like the Blue Pools and other short walks on the Haast Highway.

“Dogs pose a threat to protected wildlife by potentially disturbing or attacking native bird species, lizards and vertebrates. Dogs can also be a nuisance or disturb other Park users,” Sutton said.

People who plan on boating on Lake Wānaka should also check for stowaways such as rats, before docking up to the nearby islands, Sutton said.

“These islands are a pest-free haven for several plant, bird and insect species that have disappeared or are being severely reduced from the adjacent mainland, including the mountain stone wētā and the Southern Alps gecko.”

For information and to find out conditions that apply to your dog in these areas, visit the Tititea Mt Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre, or refer to the website https://www.doc.govt.nz/ parks-and-recreation/know-before-you-go/dogaccess/where-can-i-take-my-dog.

Te Kura O Take Kārara School has been granted $20,000 by the Otago Community Trust to support the development of a new “pump track.”

For those of you who, like me, don’t know what a pump track is, according to Wikipedia “it is a continuous circuit of rollers, berms, and jumps that loops back on itself, allowing bikers to ride it continuously. It is designed to be ridden completely by riders "pumping"—generating momentum by up and down body movements, instead of pedalling or pushing. Pump tracks are relatively simple to use and cheap to construct, and cater to a wide variety of rider skill levels.”

Te Kura O Take Kārara opened for instruction at the beginning of 2020. During the year they successfully completed a project focused on developing its outdoor community spaces. As a

continuation of this work, it is now beginning the process of developing a pump track.

While this concept was on the Ministry of Education landscape plans as something the school might like to look at developing in the future, it is something that current students have started to investigate and are very keen to see come to fruition.

A variety of pump track models have been investigated including dirt, modular and asphalt. After extensive discussion with the children and teachers, the Friends of the School group and the Board of Trustees, it was decided that an asphalt pump track would be the preferred option. It was significantly cheaper than a modular option and was less maintenance and allowed for a wider and more inclusive group of users than a dirt option. Asphalt was also suitable for scooters, skateboards and wheelchairs, not only bicycles.

Free English language courses for migrant workers Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

A free English language course is being offered to Central Otago staff in the primary sector and their family members to whom English is their second language.

The free courses will be delivered online, four evenings a week over four weeks, and will be offered at two levels depending on English competency. The courses will have a specific focus on the primary sector and will get underway on 21 June. The courses are pilots to ascertain demand for the establishment of a full-length online English language programme.

The initiative developed out of discussions with representatives from PrimaryITO, DairyNZ, CODC, REAP and the Southern Lakes English College around ways to support migrant workers in our primary sector.

“Farming is becoming more and more technical, and clear communication is vital.

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So, everything that we can do to help improve the English skills of staff is a real win for the sectors,” said Vicky Bowman, PrimaryITO Training Advisor.

Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said it was great to see the initiative underway.

“Migrant workers and their families are a significant and valued part of our community.

I hope that the English language skills gained through the course not only help participants in their work but also in their feeling at home in our community.”

Southern Lakes English College, which is owned by the Southern Institute of Technology, will develop and deliver the course. “It has been great working with the group to understand the opportunity and have the support to move quickly to setup and trial a programme,” said Southern Lakes English College Chief Executive Bharat Guha.

To register or for more information contact: admissions@slec.ac.nz or ring 0800 ENGLISH.

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THURSDAY 24.06.21 - WEDNESDAY 30.06.21

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Sun News

Changes proposed for speed limits around local schools

Wānaka and District Lions Club member Neville Guise (left) and Upper Clutha Rugby Club member Nick Thompson (right) at the unveiling of Wānaka's new AED.

PHOTO: Supplied

Wānaka and District Lions Club donates life saving AED Daisy Watford

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

QLDC is proposing changes to school speed limits.

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Consultation started on Monday on proposed changes to school speed limits throughout the Queenstown Lakes District.

This follows the adoption of the Speed Limits Bylaw 2019, which enables Council to make permanent changes to speed limits following community consultation. The proposed changes were suggested by the community as part of Council’s consultation on the bylaw in 2019.

It is proposed to reduce the speed limit to 30km/ hr within school zones during drop-off and pickup hours in the following Wānaka locations: • Holy Family School • Mount Aspiring College • Wānaka Primary School • Hāwea Flat School Additionally, it is proposed to reduce the speed limit to 40km/hr permanently at Makarora School

PHOTO: Supplied

QLDC General Manager Property and Infrastructure Peter Hansby said the proposed changes would improve safety around local schools and encouraged people to make a submission.

“We are all responsible for making sure kids can get to and from school safely. Slowing things down in these areas will help to make the school drop-off and pick-up process safer streets safer and improve safety and accessibility for children who wish to walk and cycle to school,” Hansby said.

“We welcome all feedback on the proposals and encourage people to take a look at the details and have a say,” he said.

There are several ways to get informed on the proposals with full details available at letstalk. qldc.govt.nz or at any Council office districtwide. Submissions can be made online at letstalk. qldc.govt.nz, emailed to letstalk@qldc.govt.nz, or posted to Queenstown Lakes District Council, Private Bag 50072, Queenstown 9348.

Submissions close on16 July 2021.

Workshops for non-profit groups Volunteer South and Sport Otago invite non - profit groups seeking funding or recruiting more members to take part in a series of workshops facilitated by EXULT. One of the country's leading training providers, EXULT works hard to make their workshops fun, relevant and engaging and have consistently strong feedback from participants. Thanks to the support of Central Lakes Trust and Otago Community Trust the team is able to bring these workshops to the district at the hugely discounted rate of $25$35 per workshop.

“These online workshops will be fully interactive and engaging and are available to organisations across Otago and Southland, so we encourage people to book soon to secure your spot.

“There are three topics - Raising your Profile, Sustainable Funding and Secrets of Sponsorship. Each workshop will take place over two separate online sessions and will provide participants with a range of tools to help make their jobs just that little bit easier

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and their organisations stronger.” said Tiny Carruthers from Sport Central.

The first workshop, Sustainable Funding, takes place over two sessions on June 30 and July 7, 6.00pm-8pm.

Participants will be taken through the importance of creating a sustainable funding plan and how to do so, explore the seven key streams of funding, determine the differences between donations, sponsorship and grants and will provide organisations with simple tricks and tips to raise more money, more often.

For more information and to secure a place contact Gillian at Volunteer South - Central Lakes on gillian@volunteersouth.org.nz 027 506 5705 or Tiny at Sport Central on kcarruthers@sportotago.co.nz 0272 124 290.

Volunteer South is a charitable trust that engages and supports both tūao volunteers and volunteers involving organisations and community groups in the Southern region of Aotearoa New Zealand.

– By Volunteer South and Sport Otago

Following some impressive fundraising efforts this year, the Wānaka Districts and Lions Club has donated an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the local community.

The new life saving device, which was unveiled last week, sits on the external lakeside wall of the Upper Clutha Rugby Club at the A&P Showgrounds.

It will be available 24 hours a day, in the case of an emergency.

Neville Guise, a member of the Wānaka and District Lions Club, said “After losing a close friend and member of the Wānaka Lions, it prompted us to investigate the procurement of an AED to be placed and made

available to anyone in the community.”

"We decided the Upper Clutha Rugby Club was an ideal location as this is a widely used facility for sports, weddings, and other functions through to the A&P Show,' he said.

The AED is also located within close proximity to the lake, making it accessible to as many people as possible, he said.

The Wānaka and District Lions Club has also pledged to cover any future maintenance of the AED. The Wānaka Districts and Lions Club described the device as a "community asset.”

Over the last year, The Wānaka Lions have raised and distributed over $50,000 across many projects including catering at the A&P show, Wheels at Wānaka, and Cavalcade. Other projects include a 4 wheel drive event, selling firewood, and organising quiz nights.

12 JULY TO 23 JULY

SCHOOL HOLIDAY IDEAS AWESOME FUN FOR ACTIVE KIDS AGED 5-12 See customer services for a brochure and booking form, or visit: qldc.govt.nz/recreation

@QLDCSportRec

THURSDAY 24.06.21 - WEDNESDAY 30.06.21

PAGE 9

THE 2021 NZ MOUNTAIN FILM AND BOOK FESTIVAL WILL OPEN THIS FRIDAY!

The 19th edition of the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival will present a wide range of films from around the world that tell stories of adventure sports, foreign cultures, remote travel and the environment. The event is a celebration of adventurous sports and lifestyles presented for explorers, film enthusiasts, armchair adventurers and people interested in the environment or foreign cultures.

The programme boasts a world-class collection of 20 speakers, five workshops and 68 adventure films; this includes 11 world premieres and 23 New Zealand premieres. For the first time in the festival’s 19-year history, New Zealandmade films have won two of the international awards for Best Short Film and Best Adventurous Sports and Lifestyles.

The NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival is a member of the International Alliance for Mountain Film, recognising the NZ event as one of the world’s few true mountain festivals.

Doors open on the NZ Mountain Film Festival at 7pm this Friday 25 June until Tuesday 29 June at the Lake Wānaka Centre and tickets are still available.

The event will run in Queenstown from July 1 to 3 and will also be broadcast online in NZ and Australia from June 25 until July 25.

Tickets at www.mountainfilm.nz Come along, get inspired and then plan your own adventure.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

Tara Mulvany – a Kiwi Adventurer Tara Mulvany is most well-known for circumnavigating the South Island by kayak, and also paddling around both Stewart Island and the North Island, becoming the first woman to circumnavigate New Zealand’s three main islands by sea kayak. Tara was part of a small team who completed the first-ever kayak circumnavigation of Svalbard Archipelago in the high Arctic. She then returned to the Arctic Circle, paddling solo 3600km along Norway’s coast, eventually reaching the Swedish border 89 days later. She will speak in the Women in Adventure session on Saturday 3 July about these trips and also her most recent adventure, a solo traverse of the Southern Alps this past summer. She will return to the stage to tell one of her best stories in Old Fashioned Story Telling.

Showing Sunday 27 June - 7.30pm to 10.30pm.

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THURSDAY 24.06.21 - WEDNESDAY 30.06.21

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OLD FASHIONED STORY TELLING An impressive panel of story tellers lines up to tell tales at this year’s event: Dougal Allan, Brian Alder, Tara Mulvany, Mark Sedon, Scotty Simper and Max Quinn will take to the stage hosted by legendary mountain guide Anna Keeling.

Brian Alder works for the Department of Conservation on threatened species research projects and fills in his time clocking up kilometres riding bikes and creating bike-packing adventures such as the Tour Te Waipounamu.

Local Wānaka man Dougal Allan has competed internationally in adventure races, multisport events and long-distance triathlons for 15 years. Dougal is the current Coast to Coast World Multisport Champion and also the course record holder for the Challenge Wānaka triathlon.

Mark Sedon, the Festival Director, is also a ski guide, paraglider, kite surfer and adventurer with more than a few stories to tell.

He has been ski guiding in India, kitesurfing in Peru, ski touring in Greenland, climbing in the Himalaya and so much more.

Scotty Simper is a mountaineer and filmmaker. Last month he caught COVID in Nepal while making a documentary about Sherpas for a Canadian production company. He reached the

summit and knew something was wrong. He will be at the festival to tell this story.

Max Quinn is a nature filmmaker. He has worked with chimpanzees, penguins, tigers and whales. His brushes with tarantulas and burrowing owls in the Tibetan Plateau, emperor penguins in the Antarctic, sled dogs in the Yukon, and whales and polar bears mean he has some stories to tell.

Showing Tuesday June 29 - 7.30pm to 10.30pm

WORDS AND WINE In this session authors read some of their favourite passages from their books while the audience enjoys

a glass of local Maori Point wine. Van Watson takes the audience down the highland caves of Papua New Guinea in The search for the deepest hole in the world. Lynn Paterson, who circumnavigated NZ alone by kayak, will read from her book Finding Solo. Experience the gut-wrenching exposure and biting cold as Ron Hay personifies the Spirit of the Mountains: told through a lifetime of summits in the Southern Alps. Learn of the adversities and triumphs of early pioneers, hut builders, cavers, trampers and farmers in TABLELAND: The History Behind Mt Arthur, Kahurangi National Park as read by book competition judge Rebekah White. The finale will make you feel Wild at Heart as Miriam Lancewood’s winning book on a life led away from modern society is read by one of her book’s editors, Kimberley Davis, who is based right here in Wānaka.

Showing Sunday 27 June - 5.00pm to 6.00pm SNOW SHOW The Snow Show is an audience favourite. This session will be hosted by local freeskier Craig Murray in Wānaka on Monday 28 June. As usual this session won’t disappoint as we visit Mount Cain on Vancouver Island; a remote peak in Chilean Patagonia; the Ötztal Alps; and some steep and deep in Canada and France. Click in, let’s go!

The award for the Best Snow Sports Film went to Mount Logan from French Director Alex Marchesseau. This film encapsulates the Snow Show ethos: adventure, hard work and reward. The expedition team undertake a journey to climb Mount Logan (5959m) in Canada, then ski, snowboard and monoski down the 3,800 metre ridge. The project takes over 48 days and they travel a mighty 700km.

Yes, we said monoski…. This is one not to be missed!

Showing Monday 28 June - 7.30pm to 10.30pm

The 2021 NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival will run in Wānaka from June 25 to 29, in Cromwell on June 30, and in Queenstown from July 1 to 3. The event will also be broadcast online nationally from June 25 until July 25. Programmes are available at Paper Plus in Wānaka and online at mountainfilm.nz.

Tickets are still available to most shows online at mountainfilm.nz or from the Lake Wānaka Centre at 89 Ardmore St (from Friday).

Look for the prayer flags!

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THURSDAY 24.06.21 - WEDNESDAY 30.06.21

PAGE 11

Sun Community COMMUNITY NETWORKS WĀNAKA Help and advice

Community Networks:

thewanakasun.co.nz

VOLUNTEER TALK

Julia Larkin, volunteer extraordinaire

offering food support Community Networks and LINK is Upper Clutha’s one-stop community support and connection centre. This month, we’re highlighting the food support services available in the local area.

Community Networks food parcels are there for anyone struggling to make ends meet by taking some of the pressure off day-to-day living costs for a while.

Our foodbank is well stocked with staple items, all generously donated by the Wānaka community and local businesses. Many of our recipients become donors in the future, giving back to a service that helped them through a rough patch.

Pop into the Wānaka Community Hub and speak to our friendly front desk team who will help you pack a food parcel, completely confidentially. They can connect you to further support, like financial advice or a chat with the Community Networks social worker, Heather Clay. Heather can help you consider the bigger picture and find the best way forward.

A lot has changed since Community Networks started providing food parcels in 2010, especially in the last year. Since Covid-19, the need for food parcels has tripled and we’re averaging around 60-70 parcels per month. Our new Food Security Project Manager, Daisy Watford, is working on some exciting projects to minimise food waste in our community and make sure it gets to those who need it most. If you have any ideas, please get in touch.

Food for Love is a registered charity whose 80+ volunteers have been caring for members of our community in Wānaka, Hāwea, Luggate and Queensbury since 2016 by cooking and delivering meals to those in need.

Food for Love supplies around 125 free-of-charge meals per week to over 30 nominees, as well as offering school lunches. These nominees can be individuals, couples or families who may be tackling a range of difficulties, including mental or physical illness, family separation, injury, poverty and domestic harm.

Anyone can be nominated for help via their website (www. foodforloveWānaka.com) and each nomination is treated with privacy and respect. Executive Officer Rebecca (Bex) Sarginson will contact nominees to confirm any dietary requirements and the frequency of need.

“We have had very positive feedback from the people we have helped and their families over the years and it is rewarding to hear back from our recipients, especially when they are back on their feet,” said Food for Love’s Suzanne Jackson.

The Salvation Army offers material welfare through their Wānaka Family Store to those who find themselves in hardship, as well as having a financial mentor and social support worker to support vulnerable community members. Community Networks can refer you, or you can get in touch with Hannelie Potgieter on 021 225 9590 Finally, if you’d like to help, don’t forget that the New World Family2Family Foodbank Appeal is currently collecting donations to help local families this winter. Fill up a bag of non-perishable groceries or purchase a pre-packed one to donate to our local foodbank. No donation is too small.

For more information, call 443 7799, stop in to see us at the Community Hub at 34 McDougall Street or visit communitynetworks.co.nz.

– By Community Networks

Holiday Fun • Stag dos • Birthdays • Fun for all

email: paintballcentral@xtra.co.nz PHONE: (027) 448-5399 TO BOOK PAGE 12

Everyone faced changes in 2020 and many Kiwis saw COVID as a chance to reset their focus. The impact of the pandemic, in addition to entering the empty nest phase of life, certainly changed Julia Larkin’s direction and opened new opportunities for her to both give and receive.

Already going through a change with her kids growing up (now 21 and 23), COVID gave Queenstown based Larkin even more time on her hands by the drastically reducing the demand for her business. When she saw the call on Facebook from Volunteer South- Central Lakes looking for new volunteers in the community, Larkin raised her hand to help in any way. She was soon matched up to provide food vouchers to migrants suddenly out of work.

Larkin and her colleague reached out to the Food for Love team and created a program where those out of work could come in, cook together for others and have a hot meal. The impressive turnout (30-40 people the first time) led to other events like the Christmas Dinner in July where 130 people gathered to share hope and laughter.

The joy of seeing people change from despair to smilingly engaging with their community was so

PHOTO: Volunteer South

uplifting for Larkin that she was gutted when the voucher program was due to transition to different leadership.

She raised her hand again and was asked by the New Zealand Red Cross to be the Wānaka Red Cross Visitor Care Facilitator.

Larkin experienced the joy of working with other Red Cross volunteers and being part of both a local and national team doing what they could to help everyone get through a difficult time.

That was a motivating factor to raise her hand yet again for different roles once the food support transitioned from the Red Cross to the Government directly. She’s a driver for Meals on Wheels, a helper at the Hospice Shop and perhaps most outside the range of her comfort zone, a New Zealand Red Cross Disaster Response Team Volunteer.

For Larkin, someone who always thought volunteering “would be nice to do one day but was never proactive about it,” the experience has truly changed her life for the better. Being useful at a quite difficult time provides “a real sense of worth and fills the void of kids or work transitions.”

– By Susan Merriman, Volunteer South – Central

Central Otago

PAINTBALL PAINTBALL CENTRAL CENTRAL CROMWELL

Julia Larkin: had time on her hands during Covid so launched into volunteering.

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Sun Farming

A monthly column

by Karen Williams, Federated Farmers of NZ Vice-President.

EV push right in intent, unfair in practice for rural families “We made it clear to the Ministers that Federated Farmers supports efforts to reduce transport greenhouse gas emissions.” – Karen Williams

PHOTO: Supplied

Lake Wānaka Tourism General Manager Tim Barke will speak on business plan/regenerative tourism and destination management.

Lake Wānaka Tourism open day Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Lake Wānaka Tourism (LWT) is holding an open day for businesses and the wider community June 30, at the Wānaka Community Hub. Kicking off at 9:15am, there will be two sessions - the first will run from 9:15am to 11:15am, with an afternoon session 1:15pm – 3:15pm. These will be opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of LWT’s role and to learn more about the refreshed Wānaka brand identity.

Lake Wānaka Tourism General Manager Tim Barke says that it has been an important journey for the organisation and has included extensive consultation to gain a deeper understanding of the communities’ values and vision for the future.

“A key theme of the consultation sessions was the need to review and revise LWT’s role to ensure that we have a clearly articulated focus that will drive our brand and strategy going forward,” he said.

The consultation process was expertly led by strategist and facilitator Kate Smith, with the brand identity work being undertaken by design specialist, Britt Davies from Studio Acht - both

of whom will be on site at the open day to talk through the process.

The plan is for a relaxed drop-in session, with some scheduled presentations, and open forums throughout the day.

“This is an opportunity to connect with the LWT Board and team, as well as businesses, and interested community members,” said Barke.

“We encourage anyone interested in the future of Wānaka to come along - you are most welcome to come for an hour or stay for the day.”

Schedule as follows: 9:15am -11:15am Kate Smith and Britt Davies: Wānaka brand evolution; GM LWT Tim Barke and LWT Board Chair Mat Woods: Business plan/regenerative tourism//destination management plan.

Morning tea (provided) and open forum discussion.

1:15pm - 3:15pm Kate Smith and Britt Davies; Wānaka brand evolution.

GM LWT Tim Barke and LWT Board Chair Mat Woods: Business plan/regenerative tourism//destination management plan.

Afternoon tea (provided) and open forum discussion.

The government’s Clean Cars Package has run into a few potholes, particularly in rural New Zealand.

The story has swamped media but just to re-cap the nub of it: the government will offer rebates for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles (up to $8,625 for new and up to $3,450 for used) from July 1. The cost is supposed to be covered by charging ‘fees’ on newly-imported, higher-emitting vehicles from January next year.

Federated Farmers President Andrew Hoggard and I (as Feds transport spokesperson) have written to Transport Minister Michael Wood and Climate Change Minister James Shaw requesting a deferral of those fees on petrol and diesel vehicles for rural New Zealanders where an electric vehicle (EV) is not a practical alternative option.

We made it clear to the Ministers that Federated Farmers supports efforts to reduce transport greenhouse gas emissions.

The finger of blame is often pointed at our ag sector on the climate change front, but scientists, informed commentators and even the Climate Change Commission have recognised that our biggest issue by far is carbon dioxide, and it’s the transport sector where CO2 emissions continue to gallop away. Helping more people to step up to EVs is sound thinking.

However, global motoring giant Toyota was quick to counter talk from the Prime Minister and others that EV utes are not that far away from the market. Toyota has no plans to bring any electric utes to our shores within the next two years.

There’s the possibility of an LDV EV ute from China early next year, but who knows how long the international wait list is for those first vehicles.

We’ve asked the Government to defer the fee at least for light commercial vehicles, such as farm utes, and instead use funding from revenue raised from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Around 9 cents per litre of petrol and 10 cents for diesel is levied as an ETS charge and the government had said this would directed back into emissions reduction actions. Paying the EV rebates fits that purpose very well, and thus all fossil-fuel driven car owners would be contributing, as a proportion to how much fuel they use.

We suggested that arrangement should be in place until affordable and fit-for-purpose EV utes with sufficient power and range are widely available.

We look forward to talking to the government more about this.

As both Andrew and I have pointed out in a multitude of media interview in the last week or two, farmer and farming family use of utes and similar vehicles is far more a ‘must’ than a ‘choice’. Not only are these vehicles everyday ‘work horses’ for a variety of farm tasks, often over rough terrain, when farmers do make trips into town it often doubles up as a mission to stock up on farm-related supplies (fence posts, equipment, chemicals, etc), meaning the boot space is filled up.

Without a viable EV alternative for rural families, the planned ‘fee’ on petrol and diesel vehicles is just another tax.

Local students battle it out at Smokefreerockquest regional finals Daisy Watford

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

It was the battle of the bands as students from Mount Aspiring College (MAC) competed in the Central Otago finals of Smokefreerockquest, at the Lake Wānaka Centre on Saturday 19 June.

High school bands and solo/duo artists, from across the region, rocked it out for a spot in the national finals, as fellow peers came out in their droves to show support.

MAC students and Better Than Nothing members Clarke West, Otis Murphy, Archie Orbell, and Henry McConnell, won second place in the band category.

They join fellow student Daisy Ann (Daisy Orbell), who secured second place in the soloduo category.

Following their success at the weekend, the artists will now have the opportunity to to be selected as one of the top 10 national finalists to play off in Auckland on September 18.

The local achievements didn’t end there as MAC’s very own Max Byrne of Salty Vision won best vocals, while Paige and Ella (Paige Gawn and Ella Miles) won the People’s Choice category

THE WĀNAKA SUN

for their mesmerizing duo performance.

Domenico Robinson and Toby Mills, also from MAC, won the musicianship category.

Smokefreerockquest is an annual music competition, where high school bands, solo, and duo performers battle it out for a sought after national prize which includes $22,000 in Rockshop vouchers and a $16,000 NZ On Air recording, video, and promo package.

Past contenders include the likes of Six60, Nadia Reid, Drax Project, and Leisure.

Glenn Common, founder and director of Smokefreerockquest, said the potential of each new round of regional finalists is reflected in a music industry full of past participants.

“It’s fascinating for us to look back at success stories like Kimbra, Marlon Williams and Broods where we could see the star factor right back at the regional level,” he said.

“Each event gives a new cohort of bands the opportunity to take their obsession with music and develop the organisational and stagecraft skills that will help them become another Kiwi music success.”

Indie-pop band No Man’s Land from Wakatipu High School took first place at this year’s regional Smokefreerockquest final.

PHOTO: Better Than Nothing Facebook Page

Wanaka based band 'Better Than Nothing' secured second place at this year's Smokefreerockquest regional finals on Saturday.

THURSDAY 24.06.21 - WEDNESDAY 30.06.21

PAGE 13

Sun Farming

thewanakasun.co.nz

Photographer champions re-gen farming Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Camilla Rutherford is from Scotland, but you wouldn't know it. She has an international accent, she says, the result of having lived in a few countries over the years.

A freelance photographer and a high country farmer's wife, Rutherford lives on The Point Station in the Ardgour Valley near Tarras with her husband Tim Rutherford and two young children.

"About four years ago, my husband started looking into regenerative farming practices (regen farming). I was interested in what this meant for not only our farm but the world as a whole."

Re-gen farming is a movement happening with farmers worldwide, to transition from conventional agriculture into a new way, she says. It's quite complex because every farm is different, but the theory is all about soil health and regenerating soil. If you have healthy soil, it makes for a healthy plant which makes for a healthy animal which makes for a healthy human.

Regenerative agriculture is also known as “agroecology,” and “ecological farming”. Organic farming, permaculture and biodynamics are all examples of regenerative agriculture. But like the range of methods these farmers use, there’s a wide variety of definitions for regenerative farming. At its core, regenerative agriculture is about farming with the environment, not against it.

"It's about biodiversity, increasing the water holding capacity in the soil, so that you reduce the risk of floods and drought, and not using synthetic chemicals. It has incredible environmental and human health benefits. And mental health

Photographer and high country farmerCamilla Rutherford.

Healthy soil makes for a healthy plant which makes for a healthy animal which makes for a healthy human.

benefits for the farming community – farmers feel they are improving the ecosystems on their farms and aren't so open to public criticism. It's a story that needs to be told.

"What are we doing on our farm? It's pretty complex. There is minimal soil disturbance.

We never leave soil bare; have living plants in the ground at all times; use animal integrationgrazing ruminants to build topsoil, and break fences and move the stock daily. We have multispecies paddocks with 20 varieties of plants which all work in symbiosis. And no pesticides."

Rutherford is a photographer and her journey started by taking pictures of her farm. Then she won a grant from Canon New Zealand for a personal photography project and chose to take the re-gen farming theme further.

Rutherford says it's so important to tell a positive farming story. Farmers are being hit left right and centre, and they know they have to change, but re-gen agriculture is a win-win-win.

There is nothing to be threatened by, there are always going to be people scared of change, but it is not an all in. You can start changing your mindset slowly, she says.

Merino New Zealand and Icebreaker are "really on board" and starting to source wool from these reg-gen farmers, Rutherford says.

"It is gaining momentum – it's just the general public who need educating. The movement is trying to get to that tipping point where more people are doing it, and it becomes mainstream.

"One of the big things for me was when I became a mother and began questioning what I was feeding my kids. Do I want the world they will inherit to be better than the one I was given?

This is a hopeful way that solves so many of the world's problems," she says.

Feds says more people, more money needed to take on climate challenges

Feds applauds UK-Australia free trade deal Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

News that Australia and the UK have signed a free trade agreement is a promising step forward in the fight against tariffs and protectionism, Federated Farmers says.

"It reinforces the international rules-based

trading framework and is important for rural producers and global consumers," Feds President Andrew Hoggard said.

The FTA is the first to be signed by the UK since it left the European Union.

"We hope this ambitious and comprehensive agreement helps pave the way for FTA negotiations between New Zealand and the UK," Andrew says.

Rural fuel delivery –– Rural fuel delivery Rural fuel delivery – on time, every time on on time, time, every every time time

PAGE 14

PHOTO: Federated Farmers

Andrew Hoggard: To expect landowners to make land use changes based on the weight of regulation they face, rather than market forces, is unreliable and unlikely to deliver lasting improvements.

Federated Farmers believes the final Climate Change Commission report released last week will need to be backed up with significant investment in improving access to science and technology on farm, and the people needed to operate it.

Back in February Feds was relatively upbeat about the report and the challenges it posed for New Zealanders, and their government.

But there were areas where Feds felt the analysis and the science was not reliable.

As was said back in February, Feds is wary of any policy direction which assumes tougher regulation will force behaviour change.

"To expect landowners to make land use changes based on the weight of regulation they THURSDAY 24.06.21 - WEDNESDAY 30.06.21

face, rather than market forces, is unreliable and unlikely to deliver lasting improvements," Feds President Andrew Hoggard said.

Right now farmers and growers are feeling totally slammed by regulation changes, uncertain international markets and desperate labour force shortages.

"It would have been heartening for us to see the Commission acknowledge these pressures and recommend non-regulatory solutions.

"Now we will wait to see if the government’s Emissions Response Plan, due by the end of the year, can take us further together without slamming farmers and growers even harder," Hoggard said.

– By Federated Farmers

THE WĀNAKA SUN

Sun Sport

thewanakasun.co.nz

MAC 1st XV dominates against Co-ed team The MAC First XV team secured their place in the Premiership division with a dominant 30 -10 win against the Combined Co-ed team last weekend.

MAC showed their intent from the kick off by dominating possession and Lock Harry Gilbertson soon found a way over the line to open up the scoring at 5-0 to MAC. The dominance continued throughout the half with tries to Olie Haines and Thomas Evans which saw MAC go into half time leading 15-0 Tries to Stian Langvik-Owen and another to Thomas Evans saw the lead extend to 25-0 before MAC let their intensity slip and the Combined team were able to get on the scoreboard with 2 tries in succession to take the score to 25 -10.

That was as good as it got for the Combined team however and another MAC try by Dane Bowler put the result beyond doubt, sealing the win 30 points to 10.

The competition is about to get a lot more difficult for MAC as this weekend they travel to Dunedin to take on the competition leaders King High School.

– By Clint Hughes

PHOTO: Clint Hughes

Thomas Evans (MAC) on his way to the try line.

Disappointing loss to Wānaka Premiers

PHOTO: Aliena Seitz

The free wellness event ran simultaneous workshops from 2 pm until the early hours of the evening.

Local event makes yoga more accessible Daisy Watford

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

PHOTO: South City Royals

Royals Will Turner about to score the opening goal as Wānaka players look on.

Wānaka hosted newly crowned ODT Southern Premier League Champions South City Royals in round 3 of the ISPS Chatham Cup at the Wānaka Rec Centre last Saturday.

This was the fifth encounter of the season between the two sides and with Wānaka winning the last game 2-1 the Royals no doubt had a point to prove against the lower placed Wānaka.

The Royals early on showed a sharp and direct approach to their play that had Wānaka on the back foot and in the 20th minute a free kick which was deflected off the Wānaka wall and fell kindly to Will Turner who fired a low shot into the Wānaka net to give the Royals the early lead.

Wānaka then created their best chance of the half when a long ball found Brandon Dickson who fed Steve Pleskun who cut in from the right and looked to shoot but passed to Toa Roode. Roode looked to shoot but one touch too many

THE WĀNAKA SUN

led to the Royals defence robbing him of the ball. In the countering attack Wānaka Captain Thomas Van Hees intercepted the ball but lost possession and the Royals broke quickly to eventually score through their captain Conner Neil.

2 -0 to the Royals.

This passage of play showed the difference between the two teams as the table topping Royals were clinical in key moments at both ends of the pitch while Wānaka lacked the cutting edge when it was needed most.

With the final 10 minutes of the half winding down Royals scored twice when Will Turner hit a rasping volley on the turn after a missed place clearance from a Wānaka defender. Then Ryan Fleming finished from a similar position after Callan Rothmets crossed from the left wing and found the striker un marked at the far post.

Wānaka’s defending of both these goals was poor to say the least.

Half time 4-0.

The second half was an even affair as the Royals looked to see out the game and Wānaka had the unenviable task of trying to score 5 goals to win the one off cup game.

Wānaka continued a direct style of play approach but the Royals defence thwarted them and when Wānaka’s captain Van hees joined the attack for the last 25 minutes it was the Royals who looked dangerous on the counter attack .

Full time 4-0 to the Royals.

With the Chatham Cup run over Wānaka turn their attention to the ODT Premier league when they host Roslyn Waikari this Saturday 2.45pm kick off at the Wānaka Rec Center.

With just two rounds to play before the top 3 teams go in to a south island league and the bottom 5 play a new format the Wānaka team are looking to re group and get back to winning ways.

– By WAFC

THURSDAY 24.06.21 - WEDNESDAY 30.06.21

Over 100 people attended the Lake Wānaka Centre on Sunday 20 June, with their yoga mats in tow, for a free large-scale wellness event that aims to make yoga more accessible to the wider community.

The event, which coincided with the International Day of Yoga, consisted of a series of workshops led by local instructors and wellness practitioners.

Event organiser and Soul Yoga instructor, Keity Garcia, said that the event was a "huge success" with an unprecedented turnout.

"We closed the registrations the day before, with 125 people registered and six workshops fully booked," she said.

The event welcomed people of all levels to take part in a series of yoga and wellness classes.

Garcia hopes that the annual event, alongside weekly community classes, will make Yoga more accessible.

"Wellness is a profitable business but Wānaka's community is lucky to have several options of weekly koha yoga classes."

"Sadly, we don't have a venue where we can teach free classes

year round, which makes it more difficult for us to provide this service completely free of charge," she said.

According to Garcia, this was the first time that Wānaka has held a wellness event in this format.

"This year, we offered more gentle classes and a couple of meditation sessions, bringing more calm and peace, counterbalancing our rushed daily lives," Garcia said.

Six local teachers, two osteopathic doctors, and five volunteers helped organise the event.

The team also raised money for St John and the Cancer Society.

The aim of the event was to bring people together "and create a sense of community."

The event encouraged people to feel better about themselves in a calm and stress free environment in order to improve both mental and physical health.

"Lastly, it helps to show and educate the community that yoga is not only about the physical activity," Garcia said.

Garcia is already looking ahead to next year's event, which is set to be even bigger.

PAGE 15

Sun News

thewanakasun.co.nz

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MUM

Toby's first fireworks Daisy Watford

newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz

After a week of gloomy weather, I desperately search my brain (and google) for some creative indoor play ideas. Pre-Toby, I used to have this idyllic image of what working from home would look like. As you can probably guess, that image didn't involve unbrushed hair and never ending piles of laundry.

Top that off with a fair bit of rain, and it's safe to say that this week has come with a few challenges.

Although Tobias absolutely loves staring at the rain, there’s only so much we can do in this kind of weather.

Once he’s walking, I’m sure we’ll spend heaps of time splashing in the puddles, but, until that time comes, I'll have to start thinking outside the box a little more.

Since having a baby, I have realised how difficult it is to get around Wānaka without a car.

My partner often needs our car for work which means that on days like today, it’s difficult to go anywhere. While that's fine for me, who would happily spend days in hibernation, it's not so good for Tobias, who can quickly develop a terrible case of cabin fever.

Bad weather aside, we somehow managed to make the week work.

Last Wednesday, we went to our first Mainly Music session in Hawea. Tobias absolutely loved this as it provided him with ample time to stare at older kids (just one of his many pastimes).

I have to say though, getting to these groups in time is a task in itself. Firstly, most of them start around the 9:30/10:00 mark, which is a common nap time for many of Toby's friends.

Secondly, if you have read last week's column then you will know that it already takes a long time for us to get out the door, especially at 9am in the morning!

At the weekend, Tobias experienced his very first Matariki celebrations.

In the late afternoon, on Saturday, we all went down to check out the festivities.

In Tobias' usual Tobias style, he didn't give much away. He watched his first haka performance before spotting the giant bubbles from the opposite side of the stage.

As a local band rocked out behind him, Tobias was more interested in the lights that hung from the trees.

Thankfully, we had brought along his ear defenders, as I'm not sure he would have handled it so well otherwise.

I feel the chill in the air and wonder if he feels it too. I notice the crowds of people and wonder if it's a bit overwhelming. I hear the various sounds and wonder if it's sensory overload.

Tobias, on the other hand, just takes it all in figuring out the world for himself.

After about 45 minutes, though, we could see that it was time to make a move.

I was very hesitant as to how he would react to the explosive sounds of the fireworks that evening, especially considering that I jumped out

SNUGZ

The boots for the smaller feet in the family.

PHOTO: Danielle Lillico

Family outings are the best!

of my skin during last year's display.

So, in an attempt not to scar him for life, we decided to watch the fireworks from home.

Luckily, we could see them fairly well from our bedroom window despite a few tree obstructions.

When he encounters something for the first time, Tobias doesn't give very much away. But, as the higher fireworks soared up into the sky, he started to reach out for them.

Even though his bedtime was looming, his curiosity had been sparked. In fact, we spent more

time watching his reactions than the display itself.

So, thankfully, Toby's first fireworks was a tear free experience, and the week itself was pretty productive despite the weather.

I say this after a day of very little activity. A day where we didn't go outside and I didn't make an effort to come up with a fun-filled activity. A day where I spent a lot of time trying to work and little time playing.

My mum0guilt creeps in as I tell myself "Tomorrow will be different."

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Where have all the roses gone?

I am writing in reply to June Turnbull’s letter regarding the missing roses.

Before the roundabout was finished they were temporarily moved to the late Peter Rennie’s property in Golf Links Road and were later replanted by the Wānaka Garden Circle on the bank overlooking Bullock Creek near the Dinosaur Park and what didn’t fit in there, were planted beside the Arts Centre. My wife Sally and I were part of the Garden Circle team that was involved.

The roses were special as they were bred by Sam McGredy a famous rose breeder.

Ian Gazzard

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Animal poisons

ONLY

$99.00 Moana Rd has gone to the farthest southern point of New Zealand (Southland) where the winters are bitterly cold, to find sheep with wool that is 'supercharged' to keep your feet toastie warm!

This wool will give you warmth like no synthetic fibre will.

Now available in-store.

Phone: 03 443 8000, Top of Helwick Street, Wānaka OPEN: MON-SAT 8AM TO 6PM • SUN 10AM TO 6PM PAGE 16

This week we learn that NZ's scientists are experimenting with poison from the Tutu plant to manufacture a product to kill rats.

The promoter of the idea is Shaun Ogilvie. He and Charles Eason are major partners in the Connovation company. A group of Landcare scientists involved in producing evidence to support the use of 1080 saw fortunes being made from the production of 1080 baits. They formed their own company in order to manufacture their own poison baits hoping to capture a big slice of the animal control market. They began making their own poison products and put them forward for approval from the Environment Protection Agency for their release into the environment. Twenty years later they still haven't cracked the market and, from sheer frustration, in 2015 we learned that one of Charlie and Shaun's associates had threatened to put 1080 powder into baby food products unless the use of 1080 was banned.

Tens of millions of dollars per year supports the science behind our use of animal poisons but not a government penny has been given to research into the design of possum traps.

Shaun tells us that a dose of Tutu will kill a rat in half an hour, this is a somewhat shorter time than most rat poisons take to kill and Shaun expects this fact will persuade people to think his research into this poison is worth funding.

Our government has stipulated that any product which takes more than ten minutes to kill will be deemed inhumane and therefore unacceptable. Well Shaun, old chap, a half hour death is just as Inhumane as one that takes 3 hours, 3 days or 3 weeks. By this reckoning all of the rat poisons now in use are inhumane, they all cause secondary poisoning and their residues may stay in the environment for years. They have all been approved for release by the Environment Protection Agency. How many more new rat poisons do we need? Surely all these scientist brains can be put to better use.

John Veysey

THURSDAY 24.06.21 - WEDNESDAY 30.06.21

THE WĀNAKA SUN

Sun Views

thewanakasun.co.nz

EDITORIAL

More great walks would be a good thing

The Milford Track is one of ten Great Walks that this year is attracting a record number of people.

Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

Last week bookings for the Routeburn and Milford tracks opened. The Milford Track was sold out with online bookings within 15 minutes. DOC’s server got overloaded and shut down, such was the popularity. There are I think nine Great Walks in New Zealand (or maybe ten now with the addition of the Paparoa Track) and they include the Milford Track, the Heaphy, Abel Tasman and Routeburn.

Walking these is highly regulated – bookings are necessary, you have to pay and you can only walk a certain distance every day to avoid crowding the huts.

Way back in 1978 my friend Chris and I did a three-month traverse of the Southern Alps, from Foveaux Strait to Cook Strait following the divide. We were very young being 17 years and 18 years respectively – quite capable physically of doing it but psychologically it took its toll on us. We missed family and friends and in those days you didn't see as many people in the hills as you do today. So we got a bit lonely at times. It was worse when the weather was bad.

At one stage, after slogging our way up through Fiordland rain and bog for several weeks we got onto the Milford Track. In some ways, it was heaven- a beautiful track and a warm dry hut every night. A change from our soggy tent. We even carried a weighty pumpkin and a cabbage along with us so that we could

PHOTO: NZ.com

eat decent, nutritious meals. A respite from the dehy food we had become used to.

But we treated the experience with disdain.

No self-respecting tramper/ mountaineer would rate the Milford Track as an achievement.

What's more, we went on to climb up onto the Routeburn Track and treated it the same way. We were better than that. We were way too hardcore and were only using the tracks to get into the more remote, more challenging country.

How times have changed! These days I have a completely different take on it. If we are to manage our burgeoning tourist industry and get value for money from it, we need to be offering more of the likes of the Great Walks. Tourists (and Kiwis) need to be paying considerable amounts of money to enjoy our great outdoors, and they need to be regulated to reduce the impact on the environment. The Great Walks do all this.

Plus they offer a premium experience with a high standard of tracks and huts which can only add to our reputation as a quality international tourist destination.

It's amazing to think that Chris and I did our traverse over 40 years, so maybe it's my excessive age that has changed my opinion.

Whatever, these days I say bring on more Great Walks. The Dart-Rees would be a good example. It would make a great, great Great Walk. Regulate the heck out of our outdoors and support our environment. There is still plenty of country out there for the hardcore as Chris and I discovered.

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.

THE WĀNAKA SUN

Sponsored by

Crimeline

PHOTO: Wanaka Sun

Flannery K Kiriana Constable, NZPD Hi everyone, We felt the colder weather and finally got to see some sun towards the end of the week which was nice. Fingers crossed the mountains get a good dumping of snow soon.

My first week on the Wānaka Police Public Safety Team has been a reasonably busy one.

We received a report of a vehicle broken into near Makarora after the owner had unfortunately broken down and had to abandon their vehicle for one night. Please remember to take valuables from your vehicles and don’t leave any items visible for thieves to see and give them a reason to target your vehicle.

Tuesday, we dealt with a family harm matter of a minor nature. You may have noticed an increase of Police presence along Lakeside Road where there is plenty of roadworks and construction taking place. We will continue to monitor this - I remind you to please slow down along here.

Wednesday morning, we had a motor vehicle vs mob of sheep along Cardrona Valley.

Thankfully the sole occupant received no injuries. We also received a complaint regarding glass bottles having flown off a truck and trailer unit as it left Wānaka. The truck was stopped shortly after which was lucky. A cow on the road near Häwea caused a minor accident, again thankfully no one injured here. A family harm matter was also reported.

Thursday morning, we had a single vehicle crash into a power pole in Luggate which put a lot

THURSDAY 24.06.21 - WEDNESDAY 30.06.21

of peoples power out for the morning. The driver was not injured. We received reports of camo skull image graffiti at the Wānaka skate park. This is not appreciated and a reminder that we do have CCTV around this area so these people will be caught up with.

On Thursday we arrested a person on a warrant for failing to appear in court. They were taken to court the following morning to front the judge.

Another person was served a suspension from driving for 3 months due to excess demerit points.

Saturday, an alcohol checkpoint was conducted for patrons leaving town, over 200 vehicles all complying with the alcohol limits. Well done to this bunch! Unfortunately, in the early hours of the Sunday morning a person was caught with low range excess breath alcohol and received an infringement of $200 along with 50 demerit points. This is often a wakeup call to a lot of people who don’t realise they had that one too many. The bars had many patrons out for the Super Rugby finals, many cleared out pretty swiftly with the Highlanders loss – it seemed to put a dampener on the night for some. Some others partied on a little too hard. A person was found lying in their own vomit and another found sleeping on the grass roadside. Thanks to our good members of the public we managed to get them home safely.

Drugs were seized from a vehicle after a strong smell was noted during a routine traffic stop.

Be patient if you’re travelling to Makarora.

There are a number of traffic lights set up, wait for the green otherwise you could see yourself with a $150 ticket!

Enjoy your week and keep warm.

PAGE 17

Sun Classifieds

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TRADES AND SERVICES INTERIORS

 Small Gib Stopping Jobs  Interior/Exterior Repaints  Bathroom Renovations

WANTED

 Insurance Jobs  Small Extensions  Air BnB Extensions

021 531 977

southernmaintenance@hotmail.com

Live-in Domestic Helper and Child Carer for family of Chinese and NZ descent living in Wānaka district. Must be exsperienced. Please forward CVs to PO Box 798 Wānaka 9343.

EVERY LETTERBOX EVERY THURSDAY Is your Wānaka Sun delivered every Thursday?

If not, email your address to admin@thewanakasun.co.nz or phone us on 03 443 5252

SITUATION VACANT

SITUATION VACANT

JOURNALIST REQUIRED

Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust, Wānaka

Be part of the small team responsible for producing our popular weekly newspaper.

• You will have the relevant journalism qualifications, and a minimum of two years' experience writing for a recognised media organisation.

• You will have existing local contacts and the ability to connect with the wider community.

• You will also have an eye for community news, strong writing ability and photography skills, and the ability to meet strict deadlines.

Based in Wānaka with an immediate start, the hours for this position are flexible.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a passionate journalist who enjoys a challenge! If this sounds you, please forward your application with your CV and cover letter to:

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

The Southern Lakes Arts Festival Trust runs two flagship arts and idea events for the region.

The seven-day Festival of Colour is a biennial arts festival held in the Wānaka area featuring music, theatre, talks, visual arts and dance. Called the 'best little arts festival in New Zealand', the next biennial Festival of Colour takes place in April 2023. The smaller Aspiring Conversations ideas festival runs in off years.

Based in Wānaka, the Executive Officer is a new leadership role in the organisation. The EO reports to the Board and works alongside the Artistic Director to deliver a successful festival each year and manage the ongoing running of the Trust.

The successful candidate will have proven event management experience, be able to establish and maintain positive stakeholder relationships, lead a team with a positive attitude, and have demonstrated ability at fundraising.

You will have experience in accounting and financial reporting, and have excellent communication skills.

You must also have outstanding organisational skills and the ability to keep all the systems running effectively and efficiently, often under pressure.

If you have all of the above plus a strong commitment to, and understanding of, the local and regional community together with a fine sense of humour, we want to hear from you.

Applications by midday Friday 16 July.

Information and applications: tremewan@central.co.nz

The Wānaka Sun, PO Box 697, Wānaka, admin@thewanakasun.co.nz

PAGE 18

SERVICE

THANKS

Wānaka Pharmacy is your local pharmacy.

We’re the big pharmacy at the top of Helwick Street - open from 8am until 6pm 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 a volunteer to assist our van driver Danny on a Thursday with pickups and deliveries. If this sounds like you, please pop into the store for some more information.

Lifting of furniture will be required.

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 Wānaka 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.

SUN TEAM WĀNAKA’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER ISSUE 1032

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 Editor: Pat Deavoll • 0274 487 741 editor@thewanakasun.co.nz Journalist: Daisy Watford • 021 736 740 newsdesk@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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Sun Classifieds

thewanakasun.co.nz

PUBLIC NOTICE

N o t i c e b o a rd | P a p a P ā n u i Consultation on recommended new speed limit reductions around the district’s schools in accordance with Speed Limits Bylaw 2019 | Kā Ture Pae Tere 2019

Hearing of submissions to the Lake Hayes Estate, Shotover Country and Bridesdale Reserve Management Plan – Council Chambers, 10 Gorge Road, Queenstown. Thursday 26 July 2021 at 10.00am.

Queenstown Lakes District Council is inviting feedback on recommended permanent and variable speed limit reductions around thirteen schools within the district.

Meeting dates, times and venues are subject to change. All of the above meetings are open to the public. Some meetings may have items of business that will be discussed with the public excluded, as set out by the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

This follows the adoption of the Speed Limits Bylaw 2019, which enables Council to make permanent changes to speed limits following community consultation. The proposed changes were suggested by the community as part of Council’s consultation on the bylaw in 2019.

Queenstown Lakes District Council – Council Chambers, 10 Gorge Road, Queenstown. Thursday 29 July 2021 at 1.00pm.

Mike Theelen CHIEF EXECUTIVE

It is proposed to reduce the speed limit to 30km/hr within school zones in the following locations.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

RESOURCE CONSENT APPLICATION

Arrowtown Primary School Glenorchy Primary School Kingsview Primary School Queenstown Primary School Remarkables Primary School St Joseph’s School Shotover Primary School Wakatipu High School Holy Family School Mount Aspiring College Wānaka Primary Hāwea Flat School

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT 1991 Details of the resource consent application and submission forms are available in the offices at Queenstown Lakes District Council, 10 Gorge Road, Queenstown; 74 Shotover Street, Queenstown and 47 Ardmore Street, Wānaka during normal office hours (8.00am to 5.00pm). You can also download these from our website www.qldc.govt.nz/services/resource-consents/notified-resourceconsents#public-rc or via our edocs website using the RM number as the reference www.edocs.qldc.govt.nz/Account/Login 1. Charlies Trust (RM201024) What is proposed: Application under Section 88 of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) to subdivide Lot 1 DP 342981 into two allotments and to identify a new 770m² residential building platform on proposed Lot 2 with a 2900m² curtilage area. The proposed lot sizes are as follows: Lot 1: 1.899ha

It is proposed to reduce the speed limit to 40km/hr permanently in the following location.

Lot 2: 1.025ha

• Makarora School

Access to both lots is proposed via the existing right of way from Halliday Road.

Specific details for each location can be found at letstalk.qldc.govt.nz

Consent is also sought to change condition 6 (vi) of Consent Notice 6750000.3.

Any person or organisation has a right to comment on the recommended speed limit reductions and the Council encourages everyone with an interest in the changes proposed for the Queenstown Lakes District to do so.

The location in respect of which this application relates is situated at:

Get informed:

ADDRESS FOR SERVICE FOR APPLICANT:

Details of the recommended speed reductions are available at the following places:

Charlies Trust C/- Matt Suddaby matt@chasurveyors.co.nz C Hughes and Associates PO Box 599 Wānaka 9343

• Online letstalk.qldc.govt.nz • At Council offices and libraries across the district How to make a submission: Feedback opens on 21 June 2021. We value your input on the recommended speed limit reductions. Here’s how to share your views: • Complete the submission online form at letstalk.qldc.govt.nz • Email your feedback to letstalk@qldc.govt.nz • Post to Queenstown Lakes District Council, Private Bag 50072, Queenstown 9348.

56 Halliday Road, Wānaka (Lot 1 Deposited Plan 342981 held in Record of Title 176400)

The Council planner processing this application on behalf of the Council is Tim Anderson, who may be contacted by phone at 03 443 0122 or email tim.anderson@qldc.govt.nz.

Submissions will be received until 22 July 2021, and must be served on the Consent Authority, Queenstown Lakes District Council, Private Bag 50072, Queenstown 9348 or email rcsubmission@qldc.govt.nz. These must be dated, signed by you, and include the following information:

Submissions close on 16 July 2021.

Late submissions will only be accepted where exceptional circumstances apply. All submissions will be treated as public information.

This notice is in accordance with the Local Government Act 2002.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Your name, email address (preferred), postal address and telephone number.

Details of the application in respect of which you are making the submission including location and the Resource Consent number.

Whether you support or oppose the application.

Your submission, with reasons.

The decision you wish the consent authority to make.

Whether you wish to be heard in support of your submission.

Any person may make a submission on the application, but a person who is a trade competitor of the applicant may do so only if that person is directly affected by an effect of the activity to which the application relates that:

Meeting Schedule for July 2021 Subject to change. Last amended: 17 June 2021

a) adversely affects the environment; and b) does not relate to trade competition or the effects of trade competition.

Public Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 46 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 that meetings of the Council will be held as follows, during the month of July 2021.

You may make a submission by sending a written or electronic submission to Queenstown Lakes District Council (details below). The submission should be in the format of Form 13. Copies of this form are available on the website www.qldc.govt.nz/services/resourceconsents/application-forms-and-fees#other_forms

Resource Consent Hearing (Stoneridge Trust RM200734) – Crowne Plaza Hotel (Level 3), Beach Street, Queenstown. Tuesday 6 July at 9.00am.

Wānaka Community Board – Luggate Hall, on the corner of Hopkins Street and State Highway 6, Luggate.

Thursday 8 July 2021 at 10.00am.

Resource Consent Hearing (J & K Timu and H Simmers RM200872) – Armstrong Room, Lake Wānaka Centre, Ardmore Street, Wānaka. Monday 12 July at 10.00am.

Community & Services Committee – Council Chambers, 10 Gorge Road, Queenstown. Thursday 15 July 2021 at 10.00am.

Address for Service for Consent Authority: Queenstown Lakes District Council

Email

rcsubmission@qldc.govt.nz

Private Bag 50072, Queenstown 9348 10 Gorge Road, Queenstown 9300

Phone Website

03 441 0499 www.qldc.govt.nz

Dated: 24 June 2021 Signed by QUEENSTOWN LAKES DISTRICT COUNCIL

Planning & Strategy Committee – Council Chambers, 10 Gorge Road, Queenstown. Thursday 15 July 2021 at 1.00pm.

Private Bag 50072 | 47 Ardmore Street Wānaka Phone 03 443 0024 | www.qldc.govt.nz

YOUR AD WILL REACH THE MOST LOCALS ONLINE IN www.thewanakasun.co.nz

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THURSDAY 24.06.21 - WEDNESDAY 30.06.21

PAGE 19

Sun Cromwell

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In Search of Cromwell: The Legacy of a Forgotten Painting Pat Deavoll

editor@thewanakasun.co.nz

University of Otago Associate Professor Thomas McLean will be speaking at the Cromwell Museum on ‘In Search of Cromwell: The Legacy of a Forgotten Painting.’

In this presentation McLean examines the history of Maguire’s once-famous painting, exploring the Victorian fascination with Oliver Cromwell and the English Civil War. He will also explore the production and distribution of nineteenth-century prints, a technology that allowed a painting to remain in Britain but its image to become well known across the British Empire – including New Zealand. Finally, McLean will turn to New Zealand’s own ambivalent engagement with Cromwell and his legacy.

Background: In 2019, a large Victorian print, entitled Cromwell Refusing the Crown of England, came up for auction in Dunedin. The engraving was made after an 1859 painting by Thomas Herbert Maguire. While Maguire’s painting is all but forgotten today, it was one of the most celebrated images of its time. But what was a large print of this painting doing in New Zealand?

Thomas McLean is Associate Professor in English at the University of Otago and previous president of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society. He is the author of The Other East and Nineteenth-Century British Literature: Imagining Poland and the Russian Empire (2012), editor of Further Letters of Joanna Baillie (2010), and co-editor of a new edition of Jane Porter’s 1803 novel Thaddeus of Warsaw (2019). He writes regularly on art, literature, and migration, most recently for the Los Angeles Review of Books.

PAGE 20

PHOTO: Supplied

presentation McLean examines the history of Maguire’s once famous painting, exploring the Victorian fascination with Oliver Cromwell and the English Civil War.

THURSDAY 24.06.21 - WEDNESDAY 30.06.21

THE WĀNAKA SUN