Snowfarm opening
INSIDE THIS WEEK Views: Page 13 Jobs: Page 15 Sport: Page 16
Bluebird day.
PAGE 7
Sounds Air Wanaka-Christchurch flights on cards.
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THUR 25.06.20 - WED 01.07.20
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EDITION 980
Wanaka Stakeholders Group comes out swinging Pat Deavoll
editor@thewanakasun.co.nz
ast Tuesday Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) released a 236-page report from Wellington consultants MartinJenkins, purporting to "objectively capture the likely effects of future airport development" in the district. Wānaka Stakeholders Group (WSG) said, on first complete reading, it was disappointed with this report. “The $214,000 spent on QLDC's report has been an inappropriate waste of taxpayers' money and is nothing more than very expensive window dressing which provides cover for the inappropriate decisions that Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) and QLDC intend to persist with once tourism volumes start to return. The money spent on a report aimed at fixing up a flawed process should have been better directed to more pressing community needs - and there are many of them,” chair of Wānaka Stakeholders Group Michael Ross said in a statement released to the media. “WSG will press ahead with judicial review proceedings so that the High Court can determine the issues and the lawfulness of the so-called lease which gives substantial ownership and control of Wānaka Airport and Project Pure to QAC, he said. Back in early February, WSG raised nine key concerns about QLDC proceeding with the report. “Every one of our concerns has proved to be correct, and has been ignored by QLDC and their consultants,” said Ross. “They also ignored an additional set of concerns raised two weeks later.” These included: • That the scenario of introducing just ATRs/ turbo-props into Wānaka Airport was not even offered. And yet this was one scenario which got significant support in our forum. The forums were – we were advised – to
L
PHOTOS: Wānaka Sun
Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) released a 236-page report from Wellington consultants MartinJenkins, purporting to "objectively capture the likely effects of future airport development" in the district.
inform and refine the online questionnaire. We know, you know, and the council knows that this is one option that many people in the Upper Clutha have voiced support for very clearly indeed. • The scenarios do not include deep enough information about each situation, so that people can genuinely provide an indication of their views. Good consultation practice consists of a requirement to give the participant relevant information. “The report tells us nothing we don't already know,” said Ross. “Both the Wānaka and Queenstown communities are opposed to further development or expansion of the sort that is planned by QAC. People in the region are anxious about the environmental and social impacts of significantly increased airport activities. The seven key reasons there should be no commercial jet aircraft operations at Wānaka Airport are environmental impact, over-tourism, poor local democracy,
Phone: 03 443 8000, Top of Helwick Street, Wānaka OPEN: MON-SAT 8AM TO 6PM SUN 10AM TO 6PM
infrastructure, we don’t need it, it has to be big and not future-fit.” Predictably, with the MartinJenkins report in hand, both QLDC and QAC are going to argue that the "economic impacts" of building bigger jet airport capacity in the region far outweighs negative social impacts, which are primarily watered down in the report said Ross. “Environmental impacts are painted as "minor", which in 2020 is just unbelievable,” he said. “The report and the process also ignore the very scenario which the community has been asking for for quite some time (maintain services to Queenstown Airport, and continue with Wānaka Airport as a complimentary hub for general aviation with some scheduled turbo-prop services) even though these were formally raised during "community consultation" and ironically, even though this is the very scenario that the earlier Astral Report, commissioned by QLDC, recommended to them.” “Contrary to statements in the media made by
Chair of Wanaka Stakeholders Group Michael Ross: Every one of our concerns has proved to be correct, and has been ignored by QLDC and their consultants.
Mayor Jim Boult to give the impression that the development of Wānaka Airport is "off the table", recent communications and decisions from council signal that QAC's plans for a jet airport in Wānaka are still in place and will be agreed to by QLDC, he said. “We also believe that QAC's planned jet runway at Wānaka Airport will cost ratepayers millions of dollars - likely $20 million or more - to move Project Pure out of the way, with no additional benefit to ratepayers, but largely at our cost. QLDC's decisions to agree to terms in the socalled lease which enable this to occur have not been discussed with the community, and in our court proceedings, we contend that are unlawful. We believe that QLDC is already committing budget to this, including in this year's Annual Plan. This is also an unjustifiable waste of substantial amounts of ratepayers' money, particularly in the current environment,” said Ross.
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Second anniversary for Feedback wanted on Wānaka-Christchurch flights Southern DHB Bowel Joanna Perry Screening Programme newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz
Protect Wānaka are asking for feedback from Upper Clutha residents on proposed scheduled flights between Wānaka and Christchurch Regional airline Sounds Air, a private company operating flights between Wellington, Picton, Nelson, Blenheim, Taupo, Westport, Christchurch and Kapiti, has proposed a new regular, scheduled service between Christchurch and Wānaka airports. Sounds Air carries around 115,000 passengers each year via a fleet of six Pilatus PC12’s and four Cessna Caravans. The airline is seeking feedback on their proposal of up to 15 return flights a week between Wānaka and Christchurch, with flights every day (up to three per day), via an online survey. The flying time would be approximately 45 minutes, and fares would range from $169 to $279 each way. Booking would be via Sounds Air's website or 0800 phone line. The Christchurch to Wānaka sector would be operated in Pilatus PC12 9 seater pressurised aircraft. These planes cruise at up to 30 thousand feet with nine passengers who can bring 20kg of luggage each. According to Sounds Air Travel & Tourism Managing Director Andrew Crawford, the service could be up and running within six weeks once approval was granted from Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC)- which he was “hopeful” would be received. No additional infrastructure is required at Wānaka Airport - Sounds Air would use the existing runway, terminal building and
Joanna Perry
newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz
PHOTO: Protect Wānaka
The Christchurch to Wānaka sector would be operated in Pilatus PC12 9 seater pressurised aircraft. These planes cruise at up to 30 thousand feet with nine passengers who can bring 20kg of luggage each.
local staff. Crawford said that although a WānakaChristchurch service offered by Air New Zealand between 2004 and 2013 was discontinued due to a lack of demand, their midday flights went at the “wrong time” - instead, a “morning and evening service” was needed. Wānaka’s population had also grown in that time. “From what we’re hearing anecdotally, it’s a service that’s wanted down there,” said Crawford. Wanaka Stakeholders Group Chair Mark Sinclair said that the group had “always been in favour of a turbo-jet service linking Wānaka to key airports,” to “meet demand” without requiring the development of a jet airport in Wānaka. QAC was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press. Feedback can be given via a confidential, independent survey, linked from the Protect Wānaka and Sounds Air Facebook pages and websites. The survey will take three minutes to complete.
WELCOME TO PINNACLES Nature based childcare and education for 0-5 year olds in Northlake.
ENROL NOW We currently have spaces available for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers across our 3 rooms so if you are looking for childcare options please contact us now. Casual bookings will also be available over the entire Winter ski season @ a competitive flat daily rate. Call in soon to meet our lovely teaching team who will make you and your child feel very welcome ! Ph: 03 443 1650 Email: info@pinnacleselc.co.nz www.pinnacleselc.co.nz PAGE 2
Two years after its inception, the Southern District Health Board’s (SDHB) national bowel screening programme has already detected 177 cases of bowel cancer across the district. A further 1,267 people have had polyps removed, many of which could have developed into cancer over time. “These numbers reflect significant, real-life impacts,” said the programme’s clinical leader, Dr Jason Hill. “They are reflective of lives saved and families spared losing loved ones. This programme will have long-term positive effects – by detecting and treating cancers early, we will reduce the future bowel cancer burden in our community.” The programme’s second anniversary passed in late April, a milestone unmarked at the time due to the Covid-19 lockdown. To date, about 55,000 test kits have been sent out to Southern residents, and approximately 37,500 of those have been returned. The programme, which is free for those aged 60-74 who are eligible for publicly-funded health
care, was paused during the COVID-19 response, but is now resuming regular activity. “We’re advising those who received test kits in the mail before or during lockdown, to complete and return their kits as soon as possible,” said Southern DHB programme manager, Emma Bell. “The test kits have a six month expiry date, so it’s important they’re sent back soon.” The National Bowel Screening Programme is an excellent way to detect bowel cancer earlier, with 94 per cent of those returning a positive test currently being offered a colonoscopy within the national target timeframe of 45 days. Of those with positive tests, approximately 8 per cent will have cancer. According to the Ministry of Health, those who receive early treatment have a 90 per cent chance of long-term survival. “We know sometimes people put off doing the test because they are scared of getting a positive result, but early diagnosis increases the chances of having straightforward and successful treatment,” said Hill. Visit timetoscreen.nz for more information about the National Bowel Screening Programme.
The Wānaka Community Board word Like many others, the lockdown period provided some interesting challenges for the Wānaka Community Board (WCB) to continue with business as usual. Skype and Zoom meetings became the order of the day, proving working remotely could be productive and convenient for many of us. I want to share a few topics of interest that have been on the WCB agenda recently. Minor Improvements Budget This budget is used for smaller transport projects costing less than $1 million which have to be agreed with Waka Kotahi (New Zealand Transport Agency) to qualify for a government subsidy. Recently the Upper Clutha minor improvements budget has received scrutiny by the board helping staff to determine the priority of projects. The budget is agreed as part of the QLDC ten-year plan, which is developed every three years in-line with the Waka Kotahi approved programme. It may be reviewed as part of the interim Annual Plan deliberations debated by councillors. A list of prioritised projects is compiled under the Minor Improvements Programme Development Policy based on assessment criteria and weightings. The Community Board provides input as part of this process. Projects can include intersection improvements, pedestrian drop crossings, footpath and drainage upgrades. Currently, the Nook Road and Hāwea Back Road intersection is being upgraded, and an improvement of signage and lines on Ardmore Street is underway. The minor improvements budget is listed as an item within the total budget in the final Annual Plan 2020/21 and forms a small part of the overall transport investments in Wānaka. Any proposed increases in funding projects that sit within the minor improvements budget would need a further review from Waka Kotahi to receive partial funding. The Annual Plan will be presented for adoption at the Council meeting on June 25. If you are keen to check it
THURSDAY 25.06.20 - WEDNESDAY 01.07.20
out, you can access the plan at qldc.govt.nz or drop into any Council office. Wānaka Lakefront Development Progress on Stage Three is well underway with detailed design nearing completion. Several artist impressions have been released showing examples of the proposed boardwalk and wide-scale plantings to maintain a rugged natural look. The Community Board looks forward to work commencing on this stage which will make this underutilised part of the lake front accessible for people to enjoy, allowing a close up ecological experience while enjoying amazing views. Stage Two of the plan was put on hold last year due to some community concerns. The Board and QLDC project team intend to revisit Stage Two concept planning shortly. An important part of this process will be engaging with the community. The aim is to develop a plan that will deliver excellent community outcomes while enhancing this quintessential part of Wānaka Lakefront. The objective will be to preserve the natural character, provide easy access for all ages plus sufficient parking for future needs. Integral to this process will be options for the future of the popular millennium pathway. “Pop in” sessions Finally, the board is reintroducing their community “Pop in” sessions which will be held on the first Wednesday of every month (except January). All are welcome to drop by this Wednesday, July 1, between 12.00-1.00pm. You’ll find us at the Wānaka Recreation Centre meeting room on Sir Tim Wallis Drive. We look forward to helping with questions and feedback on local issues, good or not so good. Whether you want to discuss any of the topics raised here or have something completely different on your mind, you can expect a warm welcome along with a cuppa and biscuit. – A regular update from Wānaka Community Board Chair, Barry Bruce
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Sun News
QLDC revised Annual What do you want Otago to be like in ten years? Plan on the cards Pat Deavoll
editor@thewanakasun.co.nz
Councillors will be asked to adopt a revised 2020-2021 Annual Plan with a significantly reduced average rates increase of 1.59 per cent at the full council meeting today. The original draft Annual Plan, which represented the third year of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC)’s billion-dollar 20182028 Ten Year Plan, was adopted on March 12 for community consultation. At that time, the council was confident it could rely on the Ten Year Plan analysis for the basis of planning, which was before the coronavirus global pandemic which has since dramatically affected the district’s economy and communities. QLDC general manager Finance, Legal and Regulatory Stewart Burns confirmed that having signalled a 6.76 per cent average increase initially, the council had tasked itself with a revised target of 1.8 per cent in line with inflation. “The Council recognised it needed to think differently to ease the effect of any rate increase on the local community, many of which have suffered financially as a result of coronavirus. A zero average increase is not possible without significantly reducing levels of service. The council still needs to maintain and improve the three waters infrastructure and roading networks, collect and process waste and recycling, maintain community venues, parks and reserves, respond to noise complaints and more,” Burns said. At a proposed average of 1.59 per cent (allowing for 3.5 per cent growth), residential rates are now proposed to increase by between $34 and $125 per annum for next year. Most business rates show a decrease to last year, which may offer a much-needed boost to local businesses in this harsh economic climate. “Through submissions, some people have called for the council to look at its staffing, and a significant contribution to the reduction was decreases in staff costs of $4.7m due to a removal of 20 proposed or vacant FTE and the introduction of a salary freeze for the 2020-2021 year,” Burns added. “Additionally, a reduction of $1.7m (34.5 per cent) has been made in contractor costs as our model uses contractors to meet peak demands when needed, allowing us to turn that resource off when it’s not. The revised staffing structure
reflects the expected downturn in demand, especially within consenting activities.” The revised plan has had to take into account significant reductions in revenue and income, much of which has been related to visitor activity. Specifically, this includes: ▶ Tourism Related revenues down by at least 50 per cent, i.e. Shotover and Skyline concessions, turnover based rents, and infringements (reduced by $4.7m). ▶ The forecast Queenstown Airport Corporation Dividend ($5.8m) will not be paid (used 100 per cent to repay debt). ▶ Other user fees, such as resource and building consenting, parking infringements and fees, sport & recreation user fees, are down by 20 per cent (reduced by $2.9m). ▶ Development contribution income down by 22.6 per cent (cut by $4.5m). Despite the reduction in revenue, finding cost savings wherever possible has been essential to ensure the council can invest in the economic recovery it has committed to. A $184m capital investment programme remains within the 20202021 programme to provide a vital stimulus to the local economy. Council is also awaiting news on its application to the government's Capital Infrastructure Partner ‘Shovel Ready’ programme for funding key infrastructure projects that could bring much-needed jobs and investment as part of the recovery efforts. The proposed revised plan still includes investment in local organisations through grants, confirmed QLDC general manager Corporate Services Meaghan Miller. “It is an important part of the Ten Year and Annual Plan processes for the council to be able to provide support for organisations that are giving back to the community. That was of particular importance to councillors, especially at a time like this when maintaining community wellbeing is so vital. Grants do directly impact the rates, and the challenge was to work within a limited discretionary budget. I know councillors would have liked to have done much more, but we have been able to give some important initiatives a boost,” Miller said. The proposed 2020-2021 Annual Plan and accompanying officer’s report can be found on the QLDC website here: www.qldc.govt.nz/ your-council/council-documents/agendasminutes/full-council
BP staff miss out on jobs Pat Deavoll
editor@thewanakasun.co.nz
None of the staff at the Wānaka BP station on Ardmore St was successful in securing jobs at the new BP Connect service station at Three Parks which opens next month. One staff member, who had worked at the BP station for more than 13 years was told he" was not suitable for a job" at the corporate-run BP Connect. Eight staff working at BP 2go are believed to have applied for 13 jobs at the BP Connect service station, but no-one got one. A BP corporate media spokeswoman confirmed that "everyone who applied for a role at BP Connect Wanaka was interviewed following the same process and selection criteria used across all BP Connect company-owned and operated sites". The BP 2go in Ardmore St is closing on August 4, and the BP Connect at the entrance to Three Parks beside the roundabout on SH84 is due to open on August 5.
THE WĀNAKA SUN
PHOTO: Wānaka Sun
ORC is asking people what they want Otago to be like in the future.
Pat Deavoll
editor@thewanakasun.co.nz
Ten-year planning is about to get underway for Otago Regional Council (ORC), and it wants to hear from the community about what kind of region to plan for. Although ORC is only just putting the finishing touches to its annual plan for 2020-21, senior strategy analyst Sylvie Leduc said it’s not too soon to start long-term planning. “We’re asking people what they want Otago to be like because having that information before we start our planning gives us a much better chance of focussing on the right things,” she said. “ORC is the region’s lead organisation for environmental management, and we need to work together with the people who live and work here because we all want what’s best for our environment and our people. “The draft statements we are consulting on were developed from community input into
our Regional Policy Statement earlier this year, and then workshopped with councillors and the Strategy and Policy Committee’s Kai Tahu representatives. Now we want feedback – have we got it right and is there anything we missed?” The ten-year plan (also known as the Longterm Plan) sets out what the regional council will do, its projects, performance targets and financial estimates. The plan is reviewed every three years, with the next one covering ten years from July 2021 to June 2031. Leduc said ORC had come a long way since the last ten-year plan was written and is keen to get started on the next one. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, and we want the community’s tick of approval that we’re heading in the right direction,” she said. Pre-consultation at this stage is not a requirement, but it helps ORC planners to focus on the right outcomes from the outset. Formal consultation on the draft Long-term Plan will occur in the first half of 2021.
SCHOOL HOMLMIDEAY PROGRA Eco-Friendly Crafts Tiakina a Papatūānuku Protect our Earth Mother these school holidays (and always) Making small changes add up to making a big difference. Let’s work together and make an impact. Help us create a healthy, more sustainable future as we make Earth Mother-friendly crafts. Children are encouraged to bring in their own items to use on the day – every bit counts!
WANAKA Mon 6 July Clean empty cans (400g)
Mon 13 July Paper towel rolls (cardboard inner)
Tue 7 July Old CDs/DVDs
Tue 14 July Paper feathers
Wed 8 July Magazines (thicker paper)
Wed 15 July Cardboard boxes (e.g. cereal/muesli bar)
[All Wānaka sessions run 10.30-11.30am]
HAWEA Mon 6 July Useless to useful crafts
Mon 13 July Useless to useful crafts
[All Hāwea sessions run 10.30-11.30am]
MAKARORA Tue 7 July Useless to useful crafts
Tue 14 July Useless to useful crafts
[All Makarora sessions run 11.00am-12.00pm]
Bookings preferred. Free to attend – all welcome. Craft activities designed for ages 5-10 years. Children must be supervised at all times whilst in the library. For contact details and locations visit our website W: codc-qldc.govt.nz
Enriching minds and communities: Te whakapuawai i ka hinengaro me ka hapori
THURSDAY 25.06.20 - WEDNESDAY 01.07.20
PAGE 3
Opens Friday! June 26
T
he NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival started back in the spring of 2002. Since then it has become a regular feature in Wanaka’s event calendar and despite COVID-19’s best attempts, the event is about to thrill and entertain our community yet again. This, the 18th annual festival, will captivate Wanaka crowds live for three days, and will be available nationally online for 10 days, starting Friday 26 June. The NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival is a member of the International Alliance for Mountain Film, positioning the Festival as one of the world’s few true mountain festivals. Thanks to community donations and grants, the 2020 Festival will possibly be the world’s first post-pandemic live film festival, even if it is a little smaller than the usual event. This year’s festival features 4 inspirational speakers, 56 films, literature events live and online, and the popular free family programme. Doors open on the NZ Mountain Film Festival in Wanaka this Friday 26 June, and it runs live until Sunday night, 28 June. Book your tickets online, come along, get inspired; live now, rest later!
NZ Film Makers Descend on Wanaka The number of Kiwi films submitted in the Adventure Film competition has grown each year. The calibre of the filmmaking is world class and the adventures – in true Kiwi style – are creative, inspiring, sometimes a little risky, and of course filled with our own local sense of humour. This year 12 Kiwi filmmakers will be attending the festival to introduce their films and rub shoulders with the audience, adventurers and other filmmakers. The festival often features films that were dreamed up over past Mountain Film Fests, after which filmmakers collaborate, go on expeditions and produce an epic film! You can still get seats for the Pure NZ film shows at the Wanaka Community Hub and Edgewater Hotel.
Ski and snowboard adventures
THE BEST OF THE FEST If you can only catch one session, this might be a good one! The Best of the Fest features 6 award-winning films, including the Best NZ film, featuring Wanaka locals who go on a paragliding adventure in Tanzania, with the ultimate aim to fly from the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. Lhotse, the Best Snow Sports Film, follows Hilaree Nelson and Jim Morrison as they complete the first ski descent of the 8,516m Mt Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain in the world. Breathtaking: K2 - The World’s Most Dangerous Mountain, won the Best Climbing Film; it takes us up the deathly K2 without the use of supplemental oxygen. In The River’s Call, the Best Short Film, we follow seven kayakers through the deep canyons and challenging whitewater of the Rio Apurimac, the farthest source of the Amazon in the heart of the Andes.
Allein, the Best Solo film, takes us to Greenland for a solo sea kayak and climbing expedition. We traverse 70km while climbing 7,000 meters on Wetterstein Ridge without a break! This film won the Best Film on Adventurous Sports and Lifestyles.
The Snow Show is an audience favourite and as usual you will see some familiar faces on the big screen! Hank Billous and Hamish McDougall all make an appearance and this year we watch the first ski descent of the 8,516m Mt Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain in the world! We ski steep Alaskan spines as well as urban lines, and we ski under the northern lights and the Australian sun. We chase epic conditions, deep pow, steep lines in Pakistan and basically get ready for winter with this smorgasbord of adventurous ski and snowboard flicks
Online Festival Pass The 2020 festival runs in Wanaka and Queenstown from Friday 26 June until Sunday 28 June.
Or you can see all the Festival films online at a time of your choice with our popular Online Festival Pass (June 26 to July 5).
Tickets are still available online for most shows, at mountainfilm.nz PAGE 4
THURSDAY 25.06.20 - WEDNESDAY 01.07.20
THE WĀNAKA SUN
thewanakasun.co.nz
Sun News
The first event since lockdown - go enjoy
PHOTO: Supplied
The LoveWānaka, Supporting Local Stories can be watched in a playlist on the LoveWānaka NZ Youtube page.
LoveWānaka, Supporting Local Stories mini-series premieres Joanna Perry
newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz
One and a half tonnes of apple crumble, That’s the amount of crumble that Lucas Parkinson of Ode Conscious Dining sold to the Wānaka community during his post-lockdown ‘Save Ode’ fundraiser. After a public call for support went viral, Ode was inundated with crumble orders from Wānaka locals keen to help keep the beloved restaurant afloat. That’s just one of the many stories that embody the spirit of community for which Wānaka is renowned, and that Lake Wānaka Tourism (LWT) and Ignite Wānaka had hoped to foster with their LoveWānaka, Supporting Local campaign. Now, these stories are highlighted in a mini- series that premiered on Monday, June 22. Covering eight unique stories of businesses who adapted their operations at a critical time, these short-form videos show the power of community. From sold out promotions to Koha activities, with one business even becoming a tour operator turned grocery-deliverer for the vulnerable. “When the initial campaign kicked off in Alert Level 3, our main goal was to rally the community around businesses that were able to open. Encourage people to order take-out, shop online or buy gift certificates, to support local,” LWT Media and Campaign Manager Gizelle Regan said.
PHOTO: NZMFF
Tara Mulvany, who completed the first-ever kayak circumnavigation of the Svalbard Archipelago in the high Arctic, will talk about her adventures.
Pat Deavoll
editor@thewanakasun.co.nz
The 18th NZ Mountain Film Festival will open tomorrow in Wānaka and Queenstown. After months of uncertainty, festival director Mark Sedon is delighted to open the doors on the event. He said, “We are incredibly pleased to have made it to this point and to be able to bring these amazing films to our audience. Filmmakers work for years putting together expeditions, production and entering films, and we are stoked to be able to screen their hard work both online and at our live events this year. To ensure all of our loyal fans can see the guest speakers we have just announced we will be live streaming all of the talks for free on our website and Facebook.” Tickets are still available to many events and can be purchased online at mountainfilm.nz The charitable trust adapted its focus early in the planning stages of this year’s event. The goal became to safely deliver the event in line with current guidelines, maintain the ethos of the festival, celebrate adventurous sports and lifestyles by bringing the adventure and filmmaking community together, and deliver a financially sustainable event that would set the trust up to deliver a full-scale event in 2021. With a keen focus on festival fans, ticket prices have remained low, and free family shows and free talks online will be offered. Sedon said, “We have endeavoured to add value where we can and ensure the event is as accessible as possible to our audience through the free family shows and free online talks. We are grateful for the continued support from our sponsors, funders and patrons, and long-time festival fans.” Free family shows are screening at 11 am Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 at the Community depending on need and demand,” Day said. On Thursday 18 June, the first tenancy support Hub. These are free, one-hour family shows that service was run for all locals who needed advice include some epic adventure films. Adults cannot on reduction in rents, tenancy fixed terms, flat sharing agreements and more. The Hub is now also being extended to offer sessions for those seeking to retrain, reskill, or change careers. Partnering with the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT), Otago Polytechnic, Queenstown Resort College and local English language schools, the Kia Kaha Queenstown Lakes Hub will be able to guide Penny Fisher RN MBA people towards the right choices for them 027 343 4776 in training. QLDC Economic Development Manager Peter Harris said the Hub can add value to both employers, employees looking to upskill, and those who need to retrain. Professional Trustworthy Friendly Reliable “We aim to help businesses access available support and connect people with opportunities,” Household help, Harris said. Meal preparation, Specific information sessions for individual Outings companionship, sectors and types of training such as construction Shopping carer support. or agriculture will be scheduled in the coming days. Session times and dates will be shared on www. pennyshom ecare.co.nz the QLDC Facebook page and website. “When we moved into Alert Level 2, we continued to drive that message as more businesses were able to return to operation. We’ve started seeing ‘LoveWānaka’ pop up everywhere. On car bumpers, in shop windows, in the New Worlds. “LoveWānaka now has a life that extends far beyond the Alert Levels, and LWT and Ignite Wānaka would like to thank the Wānaka community for their incredible support of local business. It’s been really incredible seeing the community get behind this campaign,” said Regan Jessie Byrne, Digital Marketing Executive at LWT, said the initial phase of the LoveWānaka, Supporting Local campaign was “a massive success and went beyond expectation.” “We had over 160 businesses upload offers, and tracked tens of thousands of visits to the campaign landing page, from a town with a population of only 8,900. It was encouraging to get so many messages of support through our social media channels,” she said. Plans to continue to spread the word of LoveWānaka are underway, including merchandise and community events. Stickers and posters are available to all members of the community and can be picked up at the Wānaka i-SITE on Ardmore Street. The LoveWānaka, Supporting Local Stories can be watched in a playlist on the LoveWānaka NZ Youtube page.
Kia Kaha to include skills, training and tenancy support Pat Deavoll
editor@thewanakasun.co.nz
As the Queenstown Lakes community begins to recover post COVID-19, the Kia Kaha Queenstown Lakes Hub is expanding to meet the escalating needs of the whole community. After initially opening to meet the immediate needs of migrants looking for support with visas, returning home and immigration, the Hub has now been confirmed to run for at least another month with an extended range of services to support the entire community. Immigration support services will continue with an additional three sessions this week. These sessions will provide a range of support and information, and can connect people to other services such as emergency accommodation. Queenstown Lakes District Council [QLDC] community recovery lead Marie Day said as wage subsidies end, the needs of the entire community will grow. “The Kia Kaha Queenstown Lakes Hub will be there to provide information and support for those who need it. We plan to expand services
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attend without a child, and bookings are essential. Speakers include our local Jo Haines, speaking about her travels across Georgia, Armenia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan by bike. Geoff Spearpoint will talk about his life in the NZ backcountry and his book The Great Unknown, which won the NZ Mountain Book of the Year. Tara Mulvany, who completed the first-ever kayak circumnavigation of the Svalbard Archipelago in the high Arctic, will talk about her adventures, and we will also hear from Scott Donaldson. The latter became the first solo kayaker to successfully paddle from Australia to New Zealand. Each of the talks will be shown online on the festival web site and Facebook page. The event is scheduled to run live in several venues in Wānaka and Queenstown simultaneously from June 26 – 28 and nationally online from June 26 to July 5. The events will include the popular opening night, guest speakers and award-winning films. The trust received over 188 entries in the filmmaker competition, and 54 films are included in the programme, including nine world premieres and 13 New Zealand-made films. The movies make up the sessions in these categories: NZ Pure, Snow Show, Environmental and Cultural and the free family shows. Each session includes award-winning films. The Pure NZ session will consist of the Hiddleston/ MacQueen Award - Best NZ Film. During every festival, the charitable trust raises money for its grant scheme. This year the funds from the national tour will go towards the project to support people with disabilities into outdoor activities, encourage youth to undertake safe adventures in the outdoors, support environmental support initiatives, and promote healthy and active lifestyles. Applications open July 1 and can be made on the festival website. Tickets and the full festival programme are available at mountainfilm.nz
Here when you need us the most
Penny’s Home Care
THURSDAY 25.06.20 - WEDNESDAY 01.07.20
Opening hours: Monday—Friday 8:30am—6:00pm 03 443 0725 • aspiringmedical.co.nz • 23 Cardrona Valley Rd
PAGE 5
Sun News
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Government provides boost for catchment improvement Pat Deavoll
editor@thewanakasun.co.nz
sustainable farming practices is very encouraging and a strong endorsement of our work with the primary sector," said the Trust's chief executive, Nick Edgar. "This is a critical time for farmers to up their game and have a lasting positive impact on our freshwater ecosystems. The funding will effectively double the Trust's on-ground network of regional coordinators supporting farmers across New Zealand,'' Edgar said. Adair said New Zealand's food and fibre products were in demand globally because of their high quality and our strong farming and growing credentials. "Producing and exporting high-value products will be vital to New Zealand's recovery from COVID. By putting more resources into helping our farmers and growers to integrate more sustainable practices, we can clean up our waterways, and also create jobs and boost our agriculture export and tourism offerings," she said. The New Zealand Landcare Trust is an independent charitable organisation that focuses on effective catchment management to improve land and water quality. They currently support around 75 catchment groups nationwide.
The Ministry for Primary Industries is providing an extra $3 million to the New Zealand Landcare Trust to improve New Zealand's waterways and promote sustainable management practices. The funding from the Productive and Sustainable Land Use Programme will help the NZ Landcare Trust to employ up to seven new staff, to provide vital services across the country to clean up waterways and promote more PHOTO: Supplied sustainable practices. Foot-stomping Riesling grapes before they go into the wine-press at Māori Point, while maintaining a safe "This new funding will increase the trust's distance. national coverage and enable them to employ a new team of regional coordinators to work with the farming community to integrate sustainable land and water management practices into their farming systems," said MPI's deputy directorgeneral Agricultural and Investment Services, Karen Adair. The new funding continues the government's were very different,” she said. Joanna Perry support to farmers and others to help them make At the same time, however, Harris said that newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz environmental and freshwater improvements. this year’s cool Otago summer was “far from ideal "The assistance from the government to The 2020 grape harvest will be remembered as for Otago wine-growers” compared to that in support both economically and environmentally the “lockdown vintage” around local vineyards, Marlborough and Hawkes Bay. “December was cold and wet, making vine according to Māori Point winemaker John Harris, looking back on the challenges this year’s flowering uneven and prolonged with limited weather and the global pandemic have posed to fruit-set,” he said, noting that crop yields of Pinot Noir at Māori Point were around 25 per cent Central Otago wine. With the picking season colliding with the below normal. “January weather was also cooler than usual, start of the Covid-19 lockdown in New Zealand, many vineyards in the area faced logistical but eventually the grapes ripened and our main complications with their usual harvesting harvest started at Easter.” In Wānaka, where it is generally cooler than processes. “Our vineyard team comprised mountain elsewhere in Central Otago and the weather “can guides isolated at home in New Zealand, be different here than 50km down the road,” Mills said Rippon produced “healthy fruit, rather than our usual family and friends, and discussions about climbing Everest, rather than clean fruit, with good acidity and flavours.” Harris agreed that lower crop loads caused by grandchildrens’ film making,” said Harris. At central Wānaka vineyard Rippon, socially the cooler weather meant that vines were not distanced picking also called for logistical stressed. “Fruit quality was very good, and the 2020 adjustments - including two winery teams working in shifts, so that if somebody in one team wines will be remarkable for their intense flavours,” he said, adding that white grapes were fell ill, the other could continue working. PHOTO: Supplied The Central Otago location and climate did relatively unaffected. Communications Manager Alex Kerr said that Snow Sports NZ were “delighted to welcome guests to our newly “So, all in all, wines of exceptional quality, renovated facility on Thursday last week and proud to show off our world-class operation.” buy our vineyards more time to prepare for this. but less volume than normal. Pinot Noir wine however. Murphy to redesign and revamp the centre. Joanna Perry “Central Otago is one of the last regions to is maturing in French oak barrels, Rosé will be “After completing the original fit-out in 2012, I newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz pick, and, within Central Otago, Wānaka is one bottled this week with Pinot Gris to follow, and was excited to be invited back to redesign the new Riesling will spend a few more months in the Snow Sports NZ’s recently renovated High High Performance Centre,” said Murphy. “It was of the last,” said Rippon spokesperson Jo Mills. “When lockdown was announced, we were still tank,” said Harris. Performance Centre officially opened last great to be involved in the project and work with “The proof will be in the pudding,” concluded Thursday, June 18. two weeks from picking. That gave us a fortnight all the familiar faces at Snow Sports NZ and High for our team to stay contained, stay healthy, and Mills, looking one to three years down the line; Communications manager Alex Kerr said that Performance NZ again. to work out how to navigate through the harvest this year’s red wine won’t be bottled for another Snow Sports NZ were “delighted to welcome “Being a high performance athlete for more and winemaking period under those conditions. year. “You never know until it’s in the glass.” guests to our newly renovated facility on than a decade was definitely an advantage to We can’t wait! We had no delays, but the logistics of harvesting Thursday last week and proud to show off our understanding their requirements right from the world-class operation. Our athletes and staff are first design meeting. With additional storage, a loving working together in this new space and the new mezzanine floor to increase the gym area, new offices and dedicated physio/medical rooms, feedback has been fantastic.” The Winter High Performance Programme the new space is far more fit-for-purpose,” he said. Kerr said the renovations, which were delayed has been managed by Snow Sports NZ since 2012, and enjoyed significant success in that by one month due to Covid-19, had “transformed time. Wānaka athletes in the programme include the space into a performance health centre, Nico Porteous and Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (both operating alongside the gym and dry land bronze medallists in the 2018 Olympic Winter training facility. This allows our team to operate more effectively with our athletes and encourages Games). The centre on Anderson Road was first a multi-disciplinary approach to performance.” In addition to the planned renovation of the opened in April 2013 in collaboration with High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ), gym and consult rooms, lockdown provided Sport NZ and Snow Sports NZ to provide an opportunity to upgrade the dryland training winter sport athletes with a base to train off the facilities; a dry slope and mini ramp have been mountain, and medical and rehab consulting added to complement the existing trampoline rooms for illness and injury diagnosis and facility. “The new facility will not only support the management for athletes. After the rapid growth of the programme, and current world class athletes but it also caters the needs of its athletes, over the last decade, for the next generation of snow sports athletes, Snow Sports NZ enlisted the original Wānaka looking to the 2022 Winter Olympics & architect and paralympic snowboarder Carl Paralympics and beyond,” said Murphy.
Reflections on the ‘lockdown vintage’
Snow Sport NZ new High Performance Centre opens
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THE WĀNAKA SUN
Sun News
thewanakasun.co.nz
Starting Wānaka life in lockdown Joanna Perry
newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz
As cases of Kiwis stranded overseas become increasingly prominent, Interior Designer and Life Coach Stacey Anderson talks to the Wānaka Sun about her family’s experiences starting life over in Wānaka after the Covid-19 outbreak forced them to prematurely abandon their life in Bali. “In 2019, we decided to get off the hamster wheel, sell a lot of our belongings, rent our house in Timaru, and book a one-way ticket to Bali to spend some quality time together as a family whilst redesigning our vision for our life. With our children being two and four at the time, we realised that if we were going to go, now was the time. Friends and family had a million questions that, granted, we didn’t have the answers to, but we realised these were all fear-based obstacles that people allow to get in their way. Whilst we didn’t have the answers, we had an unshakeable faith in ourselves to figure it out as we went. Within eight weeks, we were gone. We had five incredible months living in Bali, and fell in love with the ease of a minimalist nomad lifestyle. We swapped roles - so the kids got to explore the beauty of Bali with Dale (joiner/builder), whilst I coached online and worked remotely on Interior Design projects from cafes and co-working spaces - and made amazing memories together. We had decided that, eventually, we would return home to NZ, so that we could give the kids the same kiwi lifestyle we were so lucky to have. Wānaka was a pipe-dream, but, as fate would have it, a perfect little opportunity arose to purchase one of the last properties in Riverside Residence. With a completion date of early 2021, we decided
to continue travelling until it was ready and make the most of this opportunity before settling the kids into a new hometown. Then Covid-19 hit. Naturally, family at home were concerned, but it seemed like a fear-driven media frenzy for a while, so we let it fall off our radar. As the situation started to escalate around the world, Facebook group chats started to be flooded with people trying to make their way home, getting stuck at the borders, and having to redirect flights only to have them cancelled last minute. It all started to feel like a logistical nightmare. We had a trip booked to Thailand, but with their cases climbing, we didn’t know if we would get back into Bali. It was all too hard, and the freedom lifestyle we’d come to know and love was feeling less free by the day. A feeling just came over me to get home. Dale agreed, and within 24 hours we were beginning our long journey home. Given we couldn’t risk contracting the virus and jeopardising our flight home, we left without saying any goodbyes to our friends. My Aunty offered her holiday home in Wānaka for our two week self-isolation. Our parents rallied together and packed a car full of some winter clothes and groceries to tide us through, which was dropped at the airport for us. We were prepared for a pretty sterile environment; on leaving Bali, we were heattested and the tension was quite high, but when we arrived in New Zealand, it was like nothing was even happening. No masks, no sterilizing, no social distancing, just a pretty normal vibe. We didn’t know what to make of it. When we eventually made it to Wānaka and turned on the news the next day, we were even more confused. Fear-based headlines and breaking news updates showed that cases were rising and border security was tightening. Absolutely everything
PHOTO: Supplied
We are looking forward to making new friends, hitting the slopes this season, and enjoying everything Wānaka has to offer.
being reported felt contrary to our experience. Ten days into our self-isolation period, NZ went into Alert Level Four lockdown. We’d been so looking forward to getting back to see our family, but were forced to sit tight and hatch some new life plans. Thankfully, the kids were well conditioned to making fun with nothing, so we were probably better prepared than most for the mental challenges of lockdown. It became increasingly clear that the chances of getting back to Bali were dwindling, so we decided that we would settle into Wānaka nine months early. Once again, doors opened. We had family friends looking for tenants for their property, which just so happened to be perfect for us. Dale
landed a job building (when we were starting to lose hope that anyone was going to be hiring), so by the time lockdown was lifted, we emerged ready and eager to start our new life in Wānaka. Indie (5) now attends Wānaka Primary School, and loves it. George (3 on Saturday) has started Montessori a few days a week. Dale is back to his craft, and I am back to “the Mum juggle” - albeit a far more minimalist one; our storage remains packed away,and I’d almost happily throw away the key. Covid-19 wasn’t part of our plan, but it’s all part of our journey. Maybe our digital nomad dreams will have their time again, but, for now, we are looking forward to making new friends, hitting the slopes this season, and enjoying everything Wānaka has to offer.”
Bluebird skies and great snow at Snow Farm opening Joanna Perry
newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz
Snow Farm NZ General Manager Sam Lee said he had been “blown away” by the local response as the ski area opened to cross-country skiers and snowshoers last weekend. Lee told the Wānaka Sun that in terms of “pure numbers,” it was “one of the best openings” Snow Farm had ever had. “We weren’t expecting it after having to scale back due to Covid-19,” he said, “but it was like it never happened - except for the lack of international accents.” Demonstrating the success of Lake
Wānaka Tourism’s LoveWānaka, Supporting Local campaign, Lee said that it had been “consistently heartwarming” to see such high numbers of locals supporting the resort and taking up the deals on offer. Even people who had lived in Wānaka their whole lives but never been to Snow Farm were making a “considered effort” to support, he said. “And it’s a great time to come up, because of the inversion.” Wānaka locals who have already enjoyed activities at Snow Farm agreed in their multitudes, with reports of “gorgeous sunshine” and “lovely snow.” Vicki Wise, who signed up for a cross-
country lesson with a group of friends, said she heard a member of staff say “they didn’t think it would be that busy.” “The lesson was really good, but I did manage to fall on my bum three times, which is embarrassing because I’m a normal ski instructor,” she added. Pip Gillespie said she had “an awesome day” skating on Sunday. “The snow was good and the grooming tracks were great too. It was so nice to be above the clouds. It was really busy, and great to see so much support.” She added that “lots of people were just up playing in the snow, and tubing too” at the Snow Fun Zone and Tubing Hill.
New Zealand String Quartet celebrates Beethoven’s 250th Birthday No Beethoven celebration can be joyful enough. It’s almost like celebrating the birthday of music itself. - Leonard Bernstein
PHOTO: Sylvia Jansen-Dean
Wānaka locals in their multitudes reported “gorgeous sunshine” and “lovely snow.”
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THURSDAY 25.06.20 - WEDNESDAY 01.07.20
Wanaka Medical - Leading the Way
PAGE 7
Sun News
Robyn Brighouse: volunteer super-star and within the Welfare Needs Assessment team Pat Deavoll clearly have the potential to be emotionally editor@thewanakasun.co.nz draining and Brighouse admits that the biggest Robyn Brighouse was born in Waiuku in South challenge is accepting that occasionally there is not Auckland but has lived in the Upper Clutha for a happy ending and she recognises the importance of maintaining a volunteer-life balance. 30 years. She is however extremely proud of her A committed volunteer ever since moving to involvement. Wānaka, Brighouse has volunteered in various roles, “Looking back, I feel proud that using my skills and for the last nine years has been on the Incident and experience to contribute to the Wānaka SAR Management Team for Wānaka Search & Rescue. team effort of finding missing people, providing More recently Brighouse registered to support closure for families, and rescuing the coronavirus volunteer response those in trouble. There’s a real buzz which is being coordinated by when you hear over the radio that the Volunteer South – Central Lakes. team in the field has located a missing She had the relevant experience and party. was keen so undertook the training “In my civil defence role, it is at the and has been volunteering within end of the shift when you realise the the team since mid-April. team has assessed and assisted 100As one of 80 volunteers Brighouse 200 people, mostly young migrants, volunteers three days a week to with advice and food to survive for call and speak to individuals who the next week. ” have requested support through When not volunteering Brighouse the Queenstown Lakes District PHOTO: Volunteer South keeps herself busy studying part Council (QLDC) website in order For the last nine years time for a Diploma of Dementia to determine their needs and get Brighouse has been on them the support needed. At the the Incident Management Care. She also loves tramping, peak the team were calling up to 400 Team for Wanaka Search skiing, movies, reading, travel and & Rescue. more recently following coronavirus people a day. updates. In the future she is keen to explore ways “Volunteering is a great way of using my skills in which she can assist people with dementia and and knowledge to give back to the community their care partners. and assist people in need. It could easily be When asked what she would say to others who myself, a family member, or a friend in a similar are considering volunteering Brighouse’s advice situation requiring assistance, and it would be is clear. comforting to know help is available. “Choose something that you are interested “I gain a sense of achievement in helping people, in and go for it. It can be challenging and time it provides the opportunity to learn new skills and consuming, but you’ll meet new people, have fun, gain knowledge and I love the social interaction learn new skills, and give help to people requiring and working in a team.” said Brighouse. assistance or benefit to the community.” Both her role with Wānaka Search and Rescue
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Meeting our local achievers
Jo Haines’ Film and Book Festival talk sold out
“You don’t have to be young, and you can do it with a lot less gear.”
Joanna Perry
newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz
Long-distance cyclist Jo Haines will be speaking at the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival this month about her three-month adventures all around the globe with her partner, Alan Cutler. Their trips over the years include South America, Australia, India, USA and - most recently - Georgia, Armenia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in 2019, the subject of her sold out talk on Sunday, June 28. Haines is excited and a little nervous about the talk, which will also be broadcast online as the festival goes digital for the first time in order to accommodate its smaller set-up - which was necessary given uncertainty around what Alert Level New Zealand would be in when June 26 rolled around. Haines and Cutler had always spent time in the mountains, climbing and tramping, and were first inspired to try long-distance cycling after a friend of theirs took a long-distance trip through South America. After a bicycle trip to Samoa - “carrying snorkel and masks and Sunday whites” - the pair decided to try cycling from Santiago, Chile to Ushuaia, Argentina in 2012. Haines recalled that they felt like “weekend warriors” on their three month trip, surrounded by cyclists who had started in Alaska over a year and a half ago, and would end in Ushuaia at the tip of South America. Most cycle tourists take a year to five years to complete a trip. Haines and Cutler have since taken three
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THURSDAY 25.06.20 - WEDNESDAY 01.07.20
PHOTOS: Jo Haines
further trips in the incredible scenery of South America, and Haines compared it to cycling down the New Zealand West Coast thirty or fourty years ago. “The villagers receive you so well,” she said. “It’s like going back to countries where you can freedom camp anywhere and there’s not much traffic.” For them, adventure cycling is total freedom. “The only thing that’s planned is where we fly into and where we fly out of. Everything else is just a line on a map,” she said. Heroes of packing light, they carry around 8kg with them in soft luggage which hangs off the bike - much more sophisticated than the heavy panniers when they first started out - and travel anywhere between 30-100km a day, depending on the altitude. And at 57 (Haines) and 63 (Cutler), “young people look at us and our small set-ups and where we are, and they go, ‘woah’,” said Haines. “You don’t have to be young, and you can do it with a lot less gear.” They still have many trips left on the bucket list. High on Haines’ is the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico - although, in current circumstances, it’s sadly not looking likely for this summer. Haines and Cutler were fortunate not to have any trips disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak this year; friends of theirs who had been cycling in South America for four or five years only made it home to New Zealand “by the skin of their teeth” before the coronavirus lockdown. In this brief interlude to their adventures, though, Haines’ website, alberttown.co.nz, hosts a stunning back catalogue of their tales from the saddle.
THE WĀNAKA SUN
Sun Environment
thewanakasun.co.nz
Whio dog honoured Pat Deavoll
editor@thewanakasun.co.nz
The contributions of conservation paw-sonality Neo the Whio Dog, a German short haired pointer who located whio throughout New Zealand have been recognised after he died earlier this month at home in Opotiki at the age of 15. Neo was involved extensively in work to map whio populations, as DOC, alongside partner Genesis Energy established a network of sites where intensive trapping and breeding assistance are undertaken to boost whio numbers in the wild throughout New Zealand. Neo also became a founding member of the Conservation Dog Programme, continuing in his role finding whio. Dogs’ super-smelling abilities mean they can sniff out difficult to locate whio, with the ability to indicate scent from even a feather. As well as his help in monitoring whio numbers, Neo located nests, from which eggs are collected to be used in captive breeding programmes. Handler, Department of Conservation Ranger Andy Glaser fondly remembers Neo’s first encounter with whio on the Te Waiiti River
in Te Urewera. “As we both sat on the side of the river together, the gentle breeze suddenly shifted and brought the scent of whio to his nose and he went into a sitting point. However, not being an easy posture to hold sitting; he gradually toppled over like a felled tree, rigid as a board even when he hit the ground. But he gracefully got back up again and switched to a straight foreleg point.” In addition to getting his nose and paws dirty in the sniffing and searching business, Neo was a paw-bassador for whio, visiting schools and community groups. “As his popularity grew, he was requested to attend advocacy events demonstrating his highly skilled nose in finding a single feather the kids would hide,” Andy says. His legacy will continue to be carried by his grandson Beau (a fully-certified whio detection dog) and his great-grandson Max (an interim certified whio detection dog), who have stepped up to fill the big paw prints their grandad Neo has left behind. Neo had his own facebook page and was the face behind many whio and Conservation Dog Programme campaigns. He will be sorely missed by his human family and all that loved him.
Record numbers book Great Walks
PHOTO: Department of Conservation
Contrary to expectations, opening week bookings are significantly up on previous years.
Joanna Perry
newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz
The Department of Conservation (DOC) reported record opening week results on the eight Great Walks that opened for 2020-21 bookings last week. The Great Walks open on varying dates in October for the peak summer season that runs until the end of April. “With a 36 per cent increase in overall bookings for all walks that opened, we couldn’t have hoped for better results,” said DOC Heritage and Visitors director, Steve Taylor. “Contrary to expectations - despite border restrictions and the devastating impact of Covid-19 on so many New Zealanders - opening week bookings are significantly up on previous years. 6,267 bookings have so far been made for the eight Great Walks that are open for booking. 92 per cent have been made by New Zealanders, an increase from 69 per cent last year. Taylor said this demonstrated “a huge domestic appetite to explore our home and connect with our natural
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and cultural heritage.” “Whether in Te Anau, Taupo, Westport, Queenstown or Nelson – those undertaking Great Walks will all be doing their bit in communities across Aotearoa, visiting food stores for much-needed provisions for treks, enjoying a well-deserved meal or coffee, or staying a night or two in local accommodation before or after undertaking the walk. Fees from Great Walks bookings are channelled back into maintaining these premier, natural experiences,” he said. “This time spent in nature is an investment in both our own health and wellbeing and our recovery as a country.” While hut spaces on the walks are already at 75 per cent capacity, Taylor advised there would still be opportunities for those happy to camp or flexible with dates. Further Great Walks opportunities are set to become available as repairs progress on the Milford and Routeburn tracks. Bookings for these walks are expected to open in July or August 2020.
A south island kākā that the park team released into the wild last week.
PHOTO: Kiwi Birdlife Park
One week left of koha for kiwi Joanna Perry
newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz
Queenstown’s Kiwi Birdlife Park has been offering a ‘Koha for kiwi’ programme for the month of June to combat a drop in ticket sales as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The park usually attracts thousands of visitors every year, and is recognised nationwide for its conservation efforts, but after 34 years of operation, its international visitor numbers have dried up. Like many others, it is targeting its domestic and local markets with deals and packages to help keep the doors open and wildlife programmes running. And for the month of June, it has launched a ‘Koha for kiwi’ programme to help raise awareness and keep the wolf from the door. The Kiwi Birdlife Park holds and displays over 23 species of native wildlife as part of nationallymanaged programmes, takes part in a number of breed-for-release programmes, and has planted over 18,000 native plants providing essential food and shelter to wild native birds. Park owner and director Paul Wilson said he was “painfully aware” that tourist numbers would be “very, very low” in the coming months. “While it’s scary to open the gates for koha donations only in June, we recognise that we need to raise awareness of who we are and what we do with New Zealanders who’re being encouraged to explore their own backyard,” he said. “We have a product that we are very proud of and this is a
great opportunity to share it with as many Kiwis as possible.” The park is the first New Zealand facility accredited by Australasia’s Zoo and Aquarium Association for providing ‘positive animal welfare’ and recently completed a $1 million state-of-the-art kiwi display house, the largest in any park in the country. Park Manager Paul Kavanagh called the koha campaign a “huge success.” “The basis behind the month was to generate as much publicity and awareness about our work as possible, and in that regard, we have been really happy” he said. “The weekends have been especially busy with over 300 visitors some days. It has been really special for staff to share our park with so many interested kiwis. “We are very proud of how far we have come in our 35 years and it has been a great opportunity for us to showcase this. Covid-19 has been the biggest challenge that we have ever faced, and it is the support of locals that will get us through this difficult time.” “With one week left of the campaign, we are trying to have one last push to get as many people to visit us as possible to see our conservation work in action. For the rest of winter, we will still be offering great value products for kiwis, with half priced day tickets on offer, so be sure to come visit us.” The koha donation programme will run until June 30. Pre-booking is not required and admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.
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PAGE 9
Sun Farming
Auckland department store bans alpaca wool
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A monthly column by Kim Reilly, Regional Policy Manager, Federated Farmers South Island.
It’s not ‘war’, but it is a fight to preserve local democracy
PHOTO: Pixabay
PHOTO: PETA
Smith & Caughey's has made the decision to ban alpaca wool from its stores after claims of cruelty to the animals.
Pat Deavoll
editor@thewanakasun.co.nz
Auckland's oldest department store, Smith & Caughey's, has made the compassionate decision to remove all alpaca wool from its stores and put in place a policy against its sale. The decision comes after PETA provided the retailer with video footage of workers at Mallkini – the world's largest privately owned alpaca farm in Peru, responsible for 80 per cent of the global production of alpaca wool – holding struggling, crying alpacas by the ears as they were roughly shorn with electric clippers, causing some to vomit out of fear. "We applaud Smith & Caughey's for its swift and compassionate decision to ban alpaca fibre from its stores," said PETA spokesperson Emily Rice. "Very soon after viewing the footage of egregious cruelty towards these gentle animals, the department store responded with a policy against alpaca wool, an ethical and eco-friendly move that we hope will inspire others to follow suit." The recent investigation found that workers at Mallkini slammed alpacas – some of whom were pregnant – onto tables, tied them to a medieval-
looking restraining device, and pulled hard, nearly wrenching their legs out of their sockets. The quick, rough shearing left the animals cut up and bleeding from deep wounds, which were sewn up without adequate pain relief. PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to wear" – notes that in addition to causing gentle alpacas immense suffering, the production of alpaca wool is also terrible for the planet. The Higg Materials Sustainability Index ranked alpaca wool as the second most environmentally damaging material after silk, noting that it's six times as harmful as polyester and more than four times as damaging as modal, viscose, rayon, lyocell, acrylic, and other vegan materials. Smith & Caughey's joins a growing number of fashion retailers and labels around the world that have turned their back on alpaca, with Esprit moving to phase out the wool immediately after viewing the investigation footage. Gap Inc. (which owns Banana Republic, Athleta, and other brands) and H&M Group (which owns eight brands) have cut ties with Mallkini's parent company, the Michell Group, which is the leading exporter of alpaca fibre.
Rural fuel delivery –– Rural fuel delivery Rural fuel delivery – on time, every time on on time, time, every every time time
PAGE 10
Attempts to make it look like it is ‘farmers versus the environment’ are insulting to the farmers out there day in, and day out, getting the job done, keeping on top of weeds and pests, planting riparian areas, managing their land and looking to what might be done better as understandings and evidence bases grow.
Recent events at Otago Regional Council have people scratching their heads. The current ORC chair has stated in the media that movements to replace her represent “war”, after it was revealed under the Official Information Act that she had emailed the minister for the environment, asking if he would intervene if key council votes didn’t go her way. The chair also advised the minister that Federated Farmers [Feds] was ‘trying to stop water planning in Otago’ and ‘dominating meetings in small towns’. Firstly, let us clear those allegations up. On 3 April 2020, Feds was a joint signatory on a letter to ORC, along with DairyNZ, Beef+Lamb NZ, Horticulture NZ, Deer Industry NZ and the New Zealand Pork Industry Board, asking council to defer notifying further plan changes during the COVID19 lockdown, to ensure those most impacted could have a fair say. With people confined to their ‘bubbles’ and unable to attend meetings to view presentations and discuss solutions, delaying time frames during COVID19 was something other councils and central government agencies across New Zealand were already willingly doing. As an organisation representing members across Otago, Feds was concerned that ORC continued to run public meetings in midMarch, despite the importance of social distancing during an international pandemic. Feds asked that instead of continuing full-steam ahead, that in light of COVID19, timeframes were slowed down, to ensure quality planning and appropriate public input. Feds message was that rushed plans and poor consultation benefited nobody, least of all the environment. Asking for sensible timeframes and fair participation during a pandemic lockdown is not trying to ‘stop planning’. Feds were very aware of the responsibilities of regional councils and rural resource users in this regard. The fact that members of Federated Farmers staff and elected Executives turned up to local meetings on these critical plan changes was to ensure those most impacted still had their voices heard.
THURSDAY 25.06.20 - WEDNESDAY 01.07.20
This isn’t ‘dominating small town meetings’; this is doing what our members pay us to do - represent their interests and inform good regulation. Comparatively, it is not a reflection of democracy to ask a government minister if they could intervene if votes do not go the way an individual councillor desired. This is not the way our government system works, or at least should work. The Local Government Act 2002 states that the purpose of local government is to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities. Local Government NZ provides the following advice: “One of the strengths of local government is the opportunity it allows for citizens to be directly engaged in the process of governing their own towns, cities and regions. The practice of self-government enhances our understanding of citizenship while ensuring public services are responsive to the needs of the communities they are designed to serve.” Current issues before ORC are not about farmers versus those who speak for the environment. It is about the principles of democracy, fairness, and quality regulation. Attempts to make it look like it is ‘farmers versus the environment’ are insulting to the farmers out there day in, and day out, getting the job done, keeping on top of weeds and pests, planting riparian areas, managing their land and looking to what might be done better as understandings and evidence bases grow. Farmers are already on board the path of environmental improvement. Catchment groups are growing in number; industry and levy body meetings on good management practice, innovation and new technologies are now regular events in rural towns across Otago. Federated Farmers is not ‘anti-regulation’. It recognises there is a need to review and improve regional rules and regulations. But we do want balanced, clear, realistic, and well-informed regulation, to ensure the investments farmers are making on-farm enable them to meet their regulatory responsibilities.
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Funding success for Waste Free Wanda Pat Deavoll
editor@thewanakasun.co.nz
High-fives are being thrown all round in the Wānaka Creative Arts sector this month, with the announcement of a successful outcome in the latest Creative NZ funding round. Anna van Riel is one of the first of several Wānaka artists to announce her funding success, after applying for $31,500 to create a high-quality pitch video for her 1980’s children’s rock opera Waste Free Wanda. Anna van Riel pitched the project with the support of Katalyst Media’s Pedro Pimentel, who is set to film and create the final product for the project. “Waste Free Wanda was created off the back of our local non-profit group Plastic Free Wānaka”, said Anna. “As a children’s performer I felt it was really important that tamariki had something that supported them in making positive shifts for our planet. Something they could bring their families along to, and feel like it was empowering for everyone”. The 35-minute interactive musical follows the story of a primary-aged kid called Wanda, played in a one-woman performance by Anna van Riel. Upon discovering she is the lost heir of an ancient earth-keeping tribe, Wanda sets about righting her town in a positive way, through the sharing of actions, catchy lyrics and simples swaps in daily life. The show has so far toured the Queenstown Lakes District after its creation was funded as an initiative under the QLDC’s Waste Minimisation Fund. Funding has come in three’s for van Riel, who was also a recipient of the Otago Regional Councils ECO Fund, receiving part-funding for a full regional Otago tour. She also learned last week she had gained financial support from the Central Lakes Arts Society to create a collection of lyric videos in
Wānaka Swaps is taking place on August 15 -16 from 10am to 4pm.
Charitable local runs clothing swap Ollie Blyth
journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz
PHOTO: Anna van Riel
Anna van Riel is one of the first of several Wānaka artists to announce her funding success, after applying for $31,500 to create a high-quality pitch video for her 1980’s children’s rock opera Waste Free Wanda.
order to provide a fun sing-a-long session for kids around waste reduction in the upcoming global event Plastic Free July. “As a rural artist in the Deep South I’ve put a huge amount of effort into generating performance opportunities for myself, while aiming to align with my passion for caring for the environment, and delivering fun content to kids. It really feels like it’s starting to pay off,” she said. Pedro Pimentel is one of the other local art creators waiting to hear back from Creative NZ, along with Anna’s brother Jeromy van Riel, who has applied for funds to create a body of carving work to exhibit in the region.
COMMUNITY NETWORKS WĀNAKA Help and advice
Community Networks hosts Kia Kaha welfare sessions Community Networks and LINK Upper Clutha hosted two QLDC Kia Kaha welfare sessions at the Wānaka Community Hub on Tuesday, June 16 to provide information and advice on Covid recovery. . The morning session was open to employers looking for information to support those of their employees who might need additional help in these unusual times while the afternoon was aimed more directly at individuals from the local community. Fifteen employers registered for the morning session and 35 people attended in the afternoon. Following initial presentations from experts including Immigration New Zealand, lawyers and advisors, travel agents, MSD, and Community Networks , and social workers, attendees were able to benefit from one-on-one meetings to get advice on immigration (of particular interest to migrant workers), legal matters, repatriation and travel, and welfare and financial needs. Community Networks staff were available to offer information on accessing social and welfare support. Many migrant workers attended, keen to understand their options as the labour market
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PHOTO: Pixabay
changes around them. Community Networks and LINK have been fully engaged with the welfare response alongside other social service agencies. Community Networks has coordinated provision of food, warm bedding and clothes and firewood, and budgeting advice requested via the QLDC welfare registration. People have also sought counselling and mental health advice, which can be supported through the Community Support Fund. Community Networks has been very busy in recent months supporting the local community, most notably through the food bank which has been in great demand. During lockdown this was restricted to the provision of food vouchers but now that we have come down through the COVID alert levels, it has been possible to restart the provision of food parcels to families in need. There is also a greater demand for access to subsidised counselling services supported by the Community Support Fund, and to budgeting advice for families. – By David Baker
Amidst growing financial uncertainty, Upper Clutha local Emma Edwards has organised a clothing swap to benefit those in need. Wānaka Swaps was originally planned for May, but will now take place on August 15 and 16 from 10am to 4pm on both days. The funds raised from the event will go directly to a local charity of the community’s choice. Edwards said that, “I was inspired by my good friend Lexi who runs one every year in Revelstoke, Canada where I used to live.” Edwards is hoping to gather community interest and run Wānaka Swaps as an annual event. “I am working on Wanaka Swaps alone but have had great support,” added Edwards, “QLDC have granted free use of the Armstrong Room at
The Lake Wānaka Centre for the swap. We are working with Community Connections to link with families and individuals who will benefit from having free entry.” Entry to Wānaka Swaps is $5 if you donate clothing, and $10 if you don’t. Attendees must also bring their own reusable bags. All of the proceeds from the event will be donated to a local Wānaka charity. To have your say on which charity, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/ r/6KJJSDR. On the day of the Swap, attendees will be able to vote for one of the top three from this initial survey. In addition to this, Edwards has set up a raffle to further fundraise, “Many local businesses have donated incredible items to the fundraising raffle that is being run in conjunction with the Swap. You can follow us on Instagram @wanakaswaps to see all the prizes.
MON 6 – FRI 17
JULY 2020
SCHOOL HOLIDAY IDEAS Awesome fun for active kids aged 5-12 See customer services for a brochure and booking form, or visit: www.qldc.govt.nz/recreation
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Opinion: There has never been a better time to try yoga Joanna Perry
newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz
PHOTO: Esther Riess
Garcia said the event was a “great success,” with 70 people attending the event on Sunday alongside 10 volunteers and teachers.
International Yoga Day comes to Wānaka Joanna Perry
newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz
June 21 2020 marked the 6th International Yoga Day, with the theme “Yoga for Health – Yoga at Home” recognising the social distancing measures still being observed by most countries. Here in Wānaka, where yogis were lucky enough to be able to join together, the day was celebrated with a free event at the Lake Wānaka Centre, preceded by free and koha classes at many yoga studios around town in the days leading up. Event organiser and Soul Yoga owner Keity Garcia said she started planning for the event in February with a view to bringing together yoga teachers from Wānaka, Hawea, Luggate, Cromwell and Alexandra for the first time. “All the teachers talked about this and all of us believe that the lockdown created more stress for the majority of people, because they needed to manage working from home (something
new to them), with kids, or studying online, the uncertainty about jobs, financial instability, etc,” she said. “Adding to that situation, we had the fear of catching the virus and being ‘locked in.’” “I started to plan the event in February, but had to stop because of the lockdown. I restarted the planning when gatherings of people were allowed again, and, thankfully, by the event date we didn't need to keep the safe distancing rule any more, although we had prepared the event for this.” Garcia said the event was a “great success,” with 70 people attending on Sunday alongside 10 volunteers and teachers. The event was divided into two two hour sessions, focusing on sun salutations, meditation, hatha yoga and yin yoga. One attendee said that she felt “privileged” to be a part of this unprecedented event, and to “have the chance to come together with beginners and advanced yoga students alike after such a difficult time in all our lives.”
Last Sunday was International Yoga Day, marking six years since the United Nations sat down in December 2014 and agreed that awareness of the “many benefits of practicing yoga” needed to be raised worldwide. The idea was first suggested by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said: “Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action ... a holistic approach [that] is valuable to our health and our wellbeing. Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature." International Yoga Day coincided with Yogathon NZ - Health for Humanity, a two-week nationwide campaign to raise the awareness of the science of yoga for everyone, and do heaps of (108,000) sun salutations. This year’s campaign is extra special because, as well as hosting free classes for all ages, abilities and tastes in studios across NZ, Yogathon NZ has gone online for the first time - allowing participants to learn about yoga in the comfort of their own homes, and in line with physical distancing guidelines as well. “In 2019, we were successful in meeting and exceeding our national target with participation from over 20 cities around the country. This year we are planning to make it even more accessible by making the event online,” said Ajay Agrahari, Yogathon NZ National Coordinator. “Adjusting to the environment we found ourselves over the past month, we have seen an increase in demand for online access to yoga classes, enabling people to practice in their own space and time.” Both of these events have coincided with what has been one of the most traumatic global events in recent history. COVID-19 has had a significant impact on how we interact with others, go about our lives, our work, study and many other aspects of our lives. Robyn Shearer, Deputy DirectorGeneral, Mental Health and Addictions said “COVID-19 may have significant, long term
effects on people’s mental wellbeing.” “The impacts of COVID-19 may be felt for some time and some of them may be out of our control. But that doesn’t mean mental distress is inevitable. Just like physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing is something that we can strengthen with practice. The stronger our mental wellbeing is, the better we’ll be able to cope with uncertainty and stress. “If we all act now and pay attention to our mental wellbeing - practicing good mental wellbeing techniques and accessing support when we need it - we can avoid a spike in mental distress in months to come,” said Shearer. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness - and just as Narendra Modi and the UN recognised, yoga can be a huge asset in helping us pay attention to our mental wellbeing. On top of its well-known physical health benefits (reducing stress, improving flexibility and strength, etc), researchers are now beginning to understand more about yoga's therapeutic benefits for mental health concerns. In fact, some research indicates that yoga can be an effective treatment for many of the most common reasons why people seek psychotherapy. Yoga has been shown to help reduce anger, reduce anxiety, improve sleep, decrease post-traumatic stress and improve mood. So, I think all could afford to do more yoga right now. And with the plethora of free online resources available around the world, including free Yogathon classes, plus great beginner’s deals at local studios in Wānaka and nearby areas, we can actually all afford to do more yoga right now, in whatever shape or form we fancy. “There has never been a more appropriate time to talk about Health for Humanity,” said Yogathon NZ Auckland coordinator Komal Shah. “This event presents us with a unique opportunity to participate in, as well as create a time where the essence of Yoga can be shared with as many New Zealanders as possible.” Yogathon NZ will run until Saturday, June 27. For more detail and an online session timetable, visit the Yogathon NZ Facebook page and website (www.yogathon.org.nz).
Honey for health Pat Deavoll
editor@thewanakasun.co.nz
FREE
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Phone: 03 443 8000, Top of Helwick Street, Wānaka OPEN: MON-SAT 8AM TO 6PM SUN 10AM TO 6PM PAGE 12
1. A good source of antioxidants Raw honey contains an array of plant chemicals that act as antioxidants. Some types of honey have as many antioxidants as fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants help to protect your body from cell damage due to free radicals. Free radicals contribute to the aging process and may also contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Research shows that antioxidant compounds in honey called polyphenols may play a role in preventing heart disease. 2. Antibacterial and antifungal properties Research has shown that raw honey can kill unwanted bacteria and fungus. It naturally contains hydrogen peroxide, an antiseptic. Its effectiveness as an antibacterial or antifungal varies depending on the honey, but it’s clearly more than a folk remedy for these kinds of infection 3. Heal wounds Manuka honey is used in medical settings to treat wounds because it’s been found to be an effective germ killer and also aids in tissue regeneration. Studies show that Manuka honey can boost healing time and reduce infection. Keep in mind that the honey used in hospital settings is medical grade, meaning it’s inspected and sterile. It’s not a good idea
THURSDAY 25.06.20 - WEDNESDAY 01.07.20
to treat cuts with honey you buy from a store. 4. Phytonutrient powerhouse Phytonutrients are compounds found in plants that help protect the plant from harm. For example, some keep insects away or shield the plant from ultraviolet radiation. The phytonutrients in honey are responsible for its antioxidant properties, as well as its antibacterial and antifungal power. They’re also thought to be the reason raw honey has shown immune-boosting and anticancer benefits. Heavy processing destroys these valuable nutrients. 5. Help for digestive issues Honey is sometimes used to treat digestive issues such as diarrhea, though there isn’t much research to show that it works. It’s proven to be effective as a treatment for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria, though, a common cause of stomach ulcers. It’s also a potent pribiotic, meaning it nourishes the good bacteria that live in the intestines, which are crucial not only for digestion but overall health. 6. Soothe a sore throat Have a cold? Try a spoonful of honey. Honey is an old sore throat remedy. Add it to hot tea with lemon when a cold virus hits you. It also works as a cough suppressant. Research has suggested that honey is as effective as dextromethorphan, a common ingredient in over-the-counter cough medication. Just take one or two teaspoonfuls, straight.
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EDITORIAL
Otago in ten years? Pat Deavoll
editor@thewanakasun.co.nz
Being a true blue Crusaders-supporting Cantabrian, who misses the bright cold winter days of Christchurch devoid of these damn inversions, I’m not quite sure. Ten-year planning is about to get underway for the Otago Regional Council (ORC), and it wants to hear from the community about what kind of region to plan for. ORC is asking people what they want Otago to be like in ten years because having that information before it starts planning gives it a much better chance of focussing on the right things. It needs to work together with the people who live and work in Otago because they want what’s best for the environment and its people. The ten-year plan (also known as the Longterm Plan) sets out what the regional council will do, its projects, performance targets and financial estimates. The policy is reviewed every three years, with the next one covering ten years from July 2021 to June 2031. So what are the right things? I think water quality and the environment must come first and foremost. ORC says it’s the region’s lead organisation for environmental management. So it must rise to the challenge of creating a profile for the environment that works for everyone, both rural and urban. Farmers must be taken into consideration – their livelihoods sustain a large part of the regional economy, so there must be some give and take with water quality and environmental factors to make farmers lot a fair one. Then there is roading and infrastructure which must be balanced between urban and rural. Otago has some of the most remote regions in the country- take the Maniototo- and these cant be left to linger without sustainable infrastructure and roading. The roads of the Maniototo regularly close during winter because of snow – I believe the Dansy’s Pass
Wanaka way back? Or as it is now?
PHOTO: Nikki McKay
road is closed at the moment- and consideration must be given to those lonely communities who suffer through this. Should the roads be cleared on a more regular basis? I think so. The towns- I don’t know too much about Dunedin- but I imagine it is not without the detractions of any other major city in New Zealand. Roads, policing, infrastructure, development must be allowed to go ahead to create a more attractive town than I remember when I was last there five years ago. Dunedin is dreary- but it needn’t be if some more money were spent on it. Then it would attract more tourists, who wouldn’t just pass through on the way to the albatross colony. Then there is Queenstown and Wānakawhat a debacle. Half the community wants development to fast-track, half it wants the towns to go back to the way they were 30 years ago. I’m with the latter. My memories of Wānaka when I first visited back in the early 1990s was of a delightful backwater with one or two restaurants open in the evening and copious parking at any time of the day. Now we have one of the biggest New Worlds in the country and a Mitre 10 that is going to reach a similar status. Do we need these? Really? But who am I to say? I’ve only been in Wānaka for three months. I miss Canterbury and am (unfairly) continually comparing the two. What do I know about what Otago-ites want from their regional council? I don’t. So please have your say.
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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.
Crimeline In response to our Facebook post: Are you feeling pressured to get back to your car because of parking restrictions, to the detriment of spending more at local businesses, and supporting them when they really need it? Ray: Think it through QLDC. You want people to come and spend money in the shops to help the economy but will not allow free parking and will even ticket them if they stay too long. Has anyone told you that most of our tourists are locked out at the moment? Janet: Make 30 minutes 60 in Wānaka. At least then you can sit and have a coffee.
Peter: Maybe this is an area that in reality QLDC looks at. How necessary is it really?
Kate: In level 3 in Queenstown I couldn’t get a park to buy takeaway coffees on numerous occasions because people just stayed in the same park all day. Businesses need turnover of car parks. Boab: Even though it's dead in town and lots of people are skint. Andrea: A holiday from paying for parking would be beneficial until the end of the year until retailers get back into full stride surely.
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Dave: If Queenstown wants Kiwis to come to town, they need to relax on the parking as the majority of them will be arriving in cars and motorhomes, not so many travelling by air or bus so all these vehicles will somehow need to be accommodated. Word will soon spread if the visitors get ripped with charges and fines.
Chirnside K Kim Sergeant, NZPD Kia ora Wānaka. It has been a sad and heartbreaking week for police around the country as we lost a colleague in such tragic circumstances in Auckland. Our thoughts are most definitely with that constable’s family and his close colleagues. It has otherwise been a hectic week for the Wānaka constabulary. There was a spate of nuisance thefts this week, with three push scooters and a bicycle stolen from public places. If anyone has come across abandoned scooters, bikes or other property of value, please bring it to the Police Station so we can reunite them with their owners. It wasn’t a great week on the roads in our area. We attended three vehicle crashes and caught seven people drink- driving. The lowlight being a driver who went the wrong way around a roundabout and found themselves heading straight towards a police car. Not what he expected to see during that reckless stunt. What we hope to see are several licences cancelled in the coming weeks as a result of this week’s driving. Early on Saturday morning, an intoxicated man was unconscious on a suburban street, when he was hit by a slow-moving car. This incident could have been far worse, but thankfully there were no serious injuries. However, it highlights the risks of not preparing your ride home from town and
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travelling alone. Falling asleep anywhere on a cold winter night could be harmful, let alone the middle of a road. Friday and Saturday night were busy in town. It is great to see the public out again, enjoying themselves. One patron took the partying to the next level and created a melee in the Night n Day at 2 am on Sunday. He is known to police and will be having an enforcement visit from us in the coming days. We were fortunate on this instance not to have severe injuries from this unprovoked attack. We can only surmise that an argument fuelled this over a thermonuclear pie. Wānaka Police have had to make two arrests in the past week concerning separate family harm incidents. Arresting members of our community is not what we want; however, violence is never ok, and on these occasions, court action has been necessary. We have been pleased to see friends being supportive and recognising when their friends are in violent relationships and supporting them in coming forward to police. There is a continuing trend for Facebook marketplace frauds. With victims in Wānaka and offenders out of town, and vice versa. There is no security in purchasing online when the money is deposited before the goods are received. Please be cautious. Ice and snow are setting in so take extra care on the roads.
PAGE 13
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Please send sports results to sports@thewanakasun.co.nz by Tuesday at noon. Results should be unformatted and presented in the body of the email. Wanaka Bridge Club Results Monday – AJ McKenzie Pairs 3: North/ South 1st Murray Pryde Jenny Pryde 56.94% 2 Clare Scurr Diana Warring 54.17% 3 Martin Jacques Andrew McLennan 53.94% East / West 1st Alan Cushnie Paul Cushnie 56.25% 2 Sheryl Strudwick Jan Anderson 55.56% 3 Mark Harry Jane Hamilton 53.94% Final Ladder: 1st Alan Cushnie Paul Cushnie 59.26% 2 Mark Harry Jane Hamilton 56.60% 3 Murray Pryde Jenny Pryde 54.86% Wednesday – Pisa Pairs 1: limited results available adder after 1 round 1st Sherril Harries Jude Gunn 66.11% 2nd Bridget McCaughan Sonya Adams 60.83% 3rd Jacqui Roberts Deb Budden 54.21% East/West Friday 19 June : North/ South: 1st Ena Leckie Laraine Shepherd 58.33% 2nd Jenny Pryde Marion Furneaux 58.33% 3 Ken Roberts Boyd Ottrey 56.35% East/ West: 1st Lynne Fegan Maggie Stratford 64.29% 2nd Joy Baxter Barbara Waterworth 58.73% 3rd Jacqui Roberts Morag Chisholm 55.56%
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Cut rags (100% cotton) and drop cloths, only $7 for a big bag. Now in the yard container at Wastebusters. Open 9-5 seven days. Business Networking International. The Wanaka chapter of BNI meets weekly at 7am Tuesday morning. Great networking opportunity to grow your business. Contact Randal Dobbs for information 021 973 043 The Salvation Army Family store is able to collect your donations, this service is available one day a week please phone the store on 443 5068 to make a booking.
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.
SERVICES Wanaka Pharmacy is your local pharmacy. We’re the big pharmacy at the top of Helwick Street open from 8am until 7pm every single day. 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.
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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: Ollie Blyth • journalist@thewanakasun.co.nz Joanna Perry • 021 736 740 newsdesk@thewanakasun.co.nz Advertising: 03 443 5252• marketing@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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MAC first XV: did best but no go
Ryan Schmack of Mac taking on Semisi Taeiloa of Otago Boys.
Mount Aspiring College (MAC) first XV played last year's champions Otago Boys at the high school last Saturday in the first round of the Otago premier schools rugby competition. Otago Boys won the game 28-0, scoring four converted tries in the first half but were kept scoreless in the second half. Despite the loss, this was an overall positive result for the MAC team against their much-fancied opposition. They matched Otago Boys physicality well, and the defensive effort of the team was pretty impressive considering MAC had several players in their debut games in the first XV competition. This result will give them a lot of confidence going forward into the season. The game was played with plenty of enthusiasm but overall could be described as messy and error-ridden. Being the first game of competition and with limited pre-season games, both teams looked out of sorts at times and adapting to the new breakdown interpretation also produced plenty of penalties. Otago Boys did not take too long to open their scorecard with a lineout five meters from their line, and their bigger forward pack was able to drive over for the first try after five minutes. MAC competed well and was able to match
PHOTO: MAC
their physicality, but was not able to sustain any momentum for too long, either making unforced errors or being penalised. Otago Boys were able to capitalise on this with quick ball handling and scored twice in the corners. A chance for MAC to get on the scoreboard came around the 25-minute mark with a penalty conversion attempt, but it was unsuccessful. An enterprising quick tap got them within range of their line and put pressure on before losing the ball. This was as close as MAC really got for the rest of the game In the last minute of the first half, Otago Boys found space after a breakthrough by their number eight and scored again in the corner. Their goalkicker was very good and converted all four tries. As both teams tired, the game opened up a bit more. Despite numerous scoring opportunities, Otago Boys were never able to get over the try line. Dogged defence and a great attitude by MAC forced the errors, and Otago Boys were never able to finish off. Likewise, Otago Boys were never able to put any real pressure on their line as they either made a mistake or were penalised. So no more points were scored. – By Clinton Hughes
PHOTO: MAC
Mount Aspiring College U15 Colts rugby team played Waitaki Boys High School U15's in Oamaru on Saturday. MAC coach, Gareth Howley, was pleased with his team's performance and impressed by how well they worked together throughout the game. He said it was a positive, strong and exciting start by MAC who went on to beat the home team 41 - 10. Players of the day were Jake Green and Eligh Hollegien.The photo shows Eligh Hollegien with ball in hand supported by teammates Hayden Watson and Will Collins.
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• Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to develop effective business relationships
• Excellent communication, presentation and negotiation skills • Self-motivation, resilience and the ability to achieve objectives and goals within company guidelines
• A strong sense of accountability and an attention to detail • Ideally a formal qualification in business or marketing This is a fantastic opportunity for a passionate Sales Executive who enjoys a challenge! If this sounds like you, please forward your application, including covering letter, resume and two professional referees to: PHOTO: MAC
The Under 14 MAC team played Dunstan as the curtain-raiser of the First XV game, dominating them to run away with the game 108 - 7. The game started fairly evenly but once the MAC boys started running and using the width of the field the Dunstan team tired and were unable to keep up. A confident Mac team piled on the points in the second half of the game. Player of the day was Henry McConnell.
THE WĀNAKA SUN
Benn Ashford, The Wānaka Sun, PO Box 697, Wānaka, admin@thewanakasun.co.nz
THURSDAY 25.06.20 - WEDNESDAY 01.07.20
PAGE 15
Sun Sport
Wānaka Premiers take on Queenstown Rovers at home
Number 17 Brandon Dickson, number 10 Lee Eaton and far side Jacob Lange in action.
PHOTO: WAFC
thewanakasun.co.nz
The first match for the Wānaka Associated Football Club [WAFC] premier team in the Otago Daily Times premier league took place on Saturday at the Recreation Centre in Wānaka against Queenstown Rovers. Both teams started with the intention of playing attacking football, and there were halfchances at both ends in the first ten minutes. The game remained scoreless until the twenty-second minute when Wānaka took the lead with a goal by Fletcher Cavanagh. Rovers were next to score in the thirty-second minute to level the scores at 1-1. Rovers scored again to go 2-1 up at a half time lead. The second half saw a formation change for Wānaka to curb Rovers threat in the wide areas, but Rovers scored again to go 3-1 up five minutes in. Besides being down, there was some great passage of play from the Wānaka team who were creating chances. Wānaka was finally rewarded when Toa Roode was introduced off the bench to replace Steve Pleskun, who had a strong game. Adam Hewson played a delightful through ball for Roode, and his diagonal run saw him beat the Rovers keeper to the ball. Roode rounded the keeper and calmly slotted the ball into an open net. Rovers then scored again to make it 4-2. Coach Ian Bell introduced fresh legs in the final quarter to spark a comeback, but Rovers added two more goals to secure a 6-2 victory. The WAFC senior team travelled to Queenstown
to take on Wakatipu United at the Event Centre. Playing on the main oval pitch the game didn’t start very well for the Wānaka team with Wakatipu opening the scoring on the six-minute mark. Wānaka took the goal on the chin and came back with a goal of their own 20 minutes later by left-wing Jacob Lange tying the score at 1-1. Unfortunately just before halftime Wakatipu got another goal to go into the break with a 2 - 1 lead. Unfortunately, the second half started the same way as the first with Wakatipu getting another goal six minutes into the half with some excellent play. Unfortunately, things didn’t get much better for Wānaka with Wakatipu getting another two goals to win the game 5-1. On an inverted afternoon in Alexandra, the youth team squared up against a large Alexandra A team, that included several Vanuatu international footballers. What was always going to be a tough proposition was made all the harder by only a small squad of players being available. After a typically sleepy first 10 minutes, Wānaka awoke with the score already at 2-0 and showed that with persistence they could play some attractive football. Changing shape to a more defensive position also allowed the boys to play the ball out from the back with a little more confidence. After halftime came a much-improved performance and an excellent second-half showing from Blake Laing. Posting an 8-1 defeat is not the greatest outing, but heads remained high throughout, which is heartening for such a young squad. – By Leon Roode
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